Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel
Opening statement…
“First of all congratulations to Georgia. They did the things necessary to win. It was a night of defenses. I’m very proud of the way our defense played. Those are difficult losses, as we continue to struggle on offense. It was just our kicking game at times, and that return at the end, I thought we got a little tired return-wise. They got some returns that helped them a little bit. Other than that we punted pretty good. Kickoff return was not very good. We just have to keep improving, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”
On the goal line stand for Georgia…
“We had a quarterback-center exchange problem, and we also had a signal problem. So we made two mistakes on those three plays. Generally what happens, when you have offensive problems, it’s pretty easy when we break it down on film to tell where the breakdowns are. It was execution, and we’re not doing a very good job of that.”
On special teams play in the fourth quarter…
“We got tired. Most of our players on the punt team are defensive players. They’re going out there and they’re getting tired, and (Georgia) did a good job on returning, too. Those are a couple of first downs we gave up each time on those. Prior to that we did an exceptional job, I believe. The kickoff return, they had really good hang times. They were longer hang time than we wanted, more difficult that it is. But we have to do a better job blocking; getting the ball to the 17, 18-yard line on returns is not good enough.
On the running game…
“They seemed like they always had somebody unblocked. That’s not very good, obviously.”
On the play of the Georgia defense…
“They have a good scheme. They’re good players. They get the matchups and they get off blocks. Look at what our defense did. They’ve got a heck of an offensive line. Look at how our defense played those guys. They’re going to win some battles. We’re not winning enough battles, and that’s frustrating.”
QB Drew Lock
On scoring drive in second quarter…
“I definitely thought that [momentum] was going to be the case there. We were going with a fast tempo and we kept hitting our plays and we were getting good looks against them. We were rolling…to not come out with a touchdown there is another thing that is just killing us.”
On not scoring from the 1-yard-line early in the game…
“You want to say that it doesn’t [weigh on you], but it’s probably there half of the time in the back of your head before you go out for the next play.”
C Evan Boehm
On the team’s inability to run the football…
“Once their linebackers saw run they were right down there every time. We need to do a better job of getting everybody covered up. Georgia did a good job of getting on our edges…when they got on the edge they shot the linebackers and we just didn’t come off fast enough"
On the line’s play…
"This is a trenches league. If you can’t win in the trenches you can’t win a football game. I think our defensive lineman did a great job tonight. Our offense just has to get rolling. We have to pick up our confidence and pick up somewhere and start rolling."
DE Charles Harris
On the loss…
"It’s very frustrating…With our defense versus their defense, it was obviously a defensive game. We couldn’t ask for any better situation or any better team, they just came out on top. Shout out to Georgia, they are a great team and they are an aggressive team. They are a great offensive team and great defensive team, but we played great as well."
Opening statement…
“First of all congratulations to Georgia. They did the things necessary to win. It was a night of defenses. I’m very proud of the way our defense played. Those are difficult losses, as we continue to struggle on offense. It was just our kicking game at times, and that return at the end, I thought we got a little tired return-wise. They got some returns that helped them a little bit. Other than that we punted pretty good. Kickoff return was not very good. We just have to keep improving, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”
On the goal line stand for Georgia…
“We had a quarterback-center exchange problem, and we also had a signal problem. So we made two mistakes on those three plays. Generally what happens, when you have offensive problems, it’s pretty easy when we break it down on film to tell where the breakdowns are. It was execution, and we’re not doing a very good job of that.”
On special teams play in the fourth quarter…
“We got tired. Most of our players on the punt team are defensive players. They’re going out there and they’re getting tired, and (Georgia) did a good job on returning, too. Those are a couple of first downs we gave up each time on those. Prior to that we did an exceptional job, I believe. The kickoff return, they had really good hang times. They were longer hang time than we wanted, more difficult that it is. But we have to do a better job blocking; getting the ball to the 17, 18-yard line on returns is not good enough.
On the running game…
“They seemed like they always had somebody unblocked. That’s not very good, obviously.”
On the play of the Georgia defense…
“They have a good scheme. They’re good players. They get the matchups and they get off blocks. Look at what our defense did. They’ve got a heck of an offensive line. Look at how our defense played those guys. They’re going to win some battles. We’re not winning enough battles, and that’s frustrating.”
QB Drew Lock
On scoring drive in second quarter…
“I definitely thought that [momentum] was going to be the case there. We were going with a fast tempo and we kept hitting our plays and we were getting good looks against them. We were rolling…to not come out with a touchdown there is another thing that is just killing us.”
On not scoring from the 1-yard-line early in the game…
“You want to say that it doesn’t [weigh on you], but it’s probably there half of the time in the back of your head before you go out for the next play.”
C Evan Boehm
On the team’s inability to run the football…
“Once their linebackers saw run they were right down there every time. We need to do a better job of getting everybody covered up. Georgia did a good job of getting on our edges…when they got on the edge they shot the linebackers and we just didn’t come off fast enough"
On the line’s play…
"This is a trenches league. If you can’t win in the trenches you can’t win a football game. I think our defensive lineman did a great job tonight. Our offense just has to get rolling. We have to pick up our confidence and pick up somewhere and start rolling."
DE Charles Harris
On the loss…
"It’s very frustrating…With our defense versus their defense, it was obviously a defensive game. We couldn’t ask for any better situation or any better team, they just came out on top. Shout out to Georgia, they are a great team and they are an aggressive team. They are a great offensive team and great defensive team, but we played great as well."
