Urban Meyer

Excellent win, I’m very proud of our guys. I’m going to start off by saying that I really love our coaching staff. The competitive team that showed up to Knoxville was a result of Coach McCarney and Coach Addazio, the way they went after these players. We made the determination that the way we are going to win this game is to play great defense, be a tough outfit and take care of the ball. Our Tuesday practice was as physical a practice as I’ve been around. Those kids came out as a result of our coaches and our players believing in our coaches. It was 106 degree heat index (on Tuesday), we went over a 35 play, inside drill. What that is, is a tough drill where you just put the ball in their hands and run it at each other. We had to stop the run and we had to run the ball in the Tennessee game. We did and we did. How did that happen? Because the stars lined up right, we hear all these different theories. But no, it’s because we practiced really, really hard on Tuesday and got ourselves game ready. Why does Major Wright on our punt team run all the way down at the beginning of the third quarter 57-yards and get clipped. He looked like he had been shot out of a cannon. Here is our starting free safety running down 57-yards getting clipped and we get a 65-yard net change of field position. That’s how you won that game. It is because that right tackle on punt coverage shot out of a cannon down the field. It is because Coach Heater and the player believing in the coach and getting the job done. That’s how you win that game. Once again I am very proud of coaching staff and our players with what they are doing right now.

Plan to win: Great Defense-Tennessee was held to 258 yards. We feel that they have as good of personnel on their offensive line as anybody.

We never take away from our opponent. Never. Their Running Backs are tremendous players. To tackle like we did, I’m very proud of that.

Thirty-six percent we held them on third downs; that’s three weeks in a row. We forced three turnovers. Three red-zone possessions they were down in there and only scored once. That is an element of toughness.

Turnovers- we were plus three for the night. That’s plus nine on the year. Statistically, when you win the turnover battle, you win that game.

Redzone- we were 4 of 5. I disagree, we were 4 of 4. I don’t count that last one. We are 10 of 10 on the year and I thought our guys performed well. The one thing that we are not doing well is to score (in the red zone). Scoring touchdowns and that is going to come back and get us. A negative that occurred (during the game) and has a couple times this year is not scoring. Jonathan Phillips I think is doing a wonderful job, but we would like to become a little bit better scoring touchdowns in the red zone.

Kicking game- I don’t think we have had this happen before, but we were 10 of 10. We hit every goal. That’s against a big time opponent in a big time atmosphere. On the road in front of 107,000 people, to accomplish 10 of 10 goals, you are going to win that game. Third downs- We were 61.5 percent, Tennessee was 36 percent. The field position battle was a tremendous advantage for the Gators.

Champions on defense: Lawrence Marsh- the relationship between him and the position coach is just phenomenal. Coach McCarney is a high-energy guy, Marsh is not. Marsh quickly became a high-energy guy.

Justin Trattou- Really playing well, 88 percent grade out.

Joe Haden- Playing the best football of his career.

Ryan Stamper- Very valuable member of this team.

Ahmad Black- Graded out 92 percent.

Major Wright and A.J. Jones.

Player of the game was: Brandon Spikes.

Offensively- Tim (Tebow) graded out a champion. Louis Murphy, Percy Harvin. Statistically I know we aren’t there. I know there are a lot of questions that why there aren’t a lot of catches, but those guys are really playing well. Carl Moore graded out 90 percent. Deonte Thompson 80 percent. Moody, didn’t play a ton of plays, but was very productive when he was in there. Chris Rainey, Tate Casey, Aaron Hernandez.

The offensive player of the game was: the Offensive Line. That was:

Trautwein, Pouncey, Pouncey, Watkins and Jim Tartt. They controlled the line of scrimmage.

Couple of comments: about the new clock rule. In the game we had 46 competitive plays on offense. If you turn the ball over and the other team has 80 plays, you just say stop them and get the ball back. I’m not a fan of the clock rule, I feel like they are cheating the fans.

More importantly the players. The players need more plays. We are scoring at 51.4 percent clip. Every time we get the ball we are scoring over 50 percent of the time. Last year we led the country at 54 percent.

So, it is not that big of a difference.

On special teams

"I love football players. I love the game. That’s our passion.

There’s no better way than being on the kicking team. To start the game with 52-yard kick return. That takes the wind completely out of that stadium. From that point forward, it wasn’t the same. Two years ago, it was totally different. We had six drives in the whole game.

Three times we started on the plus side of the field because of a turnover and good returns. The second big play was on 3rd and 13 on our own 26 yard line, it was 49-yard net play (pass to Harvin). We completed that pass than on top of that have the 15-yard penalty. We went on to score a field goal, when we started on our own 5-yard line. Third big play, on 4th and 9 on the Florida 10 our punter (Chas Henry) jogs onto the field and hits a 64-yard net punt. That helped to switch the field position into our favor. How did that happen? Well, first of all a hell of a punter. But, also because Kestahn Moore and Major Wright are running like they were shot of a cannon down the field. One got clipped and the other tackled the returner. The ball was in the air for 57 yards and we were down there that fast."

On the defense creating a mentality:

" That’s football. Its way too early to say that though. I like this team because of their approach and their professional attitude. But, it is too early to say that."

On controlling the line of scrimmage:

"I’ve got to say, we are scoring 51 percent of the time. We’ve also played three good defenses. I see the same thing though. I see the score sheets, and I say "Where are the points, where are the yards, what are we doing here?" Then at the end of the day, it is alright. We are taking shots down the field. The three teams that we have played have made a conscious effort to keep the ball in front of them. They want to force us to run the football by keeping four defenders deep. Last year, we had a major issue on defense and we felt like we had to score every time that we got the ball. There are a lot of different reasons we have a different style of play this year. One is we have to take care of ball, play for good field position. The only negative I can say right now, is when you get down into scoring position you have to knock it in and score a touchdown. If we don’t turn that around, at some point that is going to get you in this conference."

On the defense:

" It’s a surprise. The chemistry on defense now is where you want it.

It’s still early though. We have faced three young quarterbacks, but we have faced some tremendous running backs. I saw what the Miami running back did against Texas A&M. We’ve played a good run defense so far. I don’t know if we have been challenged by the pass yet thus far.

That’s what I am anxious to see. Hawaii and Miami’s QB’s are going to be really good players but they are still young. But, I am very proud of the way that they are stuffing the run right now."

On the plan to win working:

"The LSU game of two years ago was very similar. Tennessee our first year (2005) was very good as well. We blocked a field goal, we stopped a fake punt and we scored when we got into the red zone as well as playing great defense. To our team it has always been prioritized, maybe I’m just talking to the media about it a little more and it is getting more publicity."

On how to make the plan to win work

"Great defense is a result of taking care of the football. I’ve got a great example, Charlie Strong was the defensive coordinator against Miami in the Chick-Fi-la Bowl. I counted five times where the defense jogged out to play defense at midfield. You can’t play great defense at midfield. The field position chart that I show to the team all the time, says the percentages are way up at midfield. Great defense is not allowing the opponents offense not to start anywhere near midfield.

That’s why we put such an emphasis on ball security, on punt coverage and kickoff coverage so that we can pin them right down in there."

On Aaron Hernandez

"Great job. He is almost a grown man. Last year, he was not. He has really grown up and matured. He’s a product of Mickey Marotti, John Hevesy, the University of Florida and our OSL (Office of Student Life).

He’s here at the right place at the right time. He came here as a young child and he has really grown up and he is playing like it. He walks like it, he talks like it, he goes to class like it. I’m really proud of him. He is going to have a great career in football."

On Jonathan Phillips

" I had a lot of confidence in him. I put him into the Aaron Hernandez category. He is the product of a great program, a great university, a great coaching staff, a great OSL, a great strength program. I had confidence he was going to make it, because he does in practice."

On a +9 turnover margin

" Our guys are very well taught. They live it, they love it. Kenny Carter (RB coach) has done a tremendous job. Dan Mullen has always been functional as far as taking care of the football. We spend a little more time than the average team on ball security and you can see it."

On Justin Trattou and Carlos Dunlap

"They are both vastly improved. Justin has always been a high-energy type of guy. He’s up 260 now, last year he played at 250. He is a growing man and he is playing real hard. Last year, Derrick Harvey played 70 plays a game and you just get worn out. We’ve got a nice rotation going; those guys are playing about 30 something plays."

Tim Tebow

On the offense:

"I don’t think our offense scheme is exactly how it was in 2006, but we are focused on controlling the ball, controlling the clock, our turnovers, good defensive position; all things we’ve done pretty well so far.

On his consecutive pass attempts without an interception "Honestly, I don’t remember. I didn’t know it was a record.

It’s a great record and probably gets overlooked by a lot of other records."

On field position

"When our opponents punt the ball and put us deep into our own territory, we’ve been focusing a lot on getting at least two first downs, to give our defense better position. That is accomplished by controlling the ball and establishing a rhythm."

On Ole Miss

"Our team is pretty grounded and focused. We won’t be too worried about not taking Ole Miss seriously. They are very talented and have a lot athletic ability. They lost a few games they should have won, but still are a very good team. Their coaches are doing a really good job of corralling that. They will get some big wins this year."

On what percentage of the playbook has been used "The playbook is all there, thankfully we haven’t had to use.

We’ve tried to run some different things, which have worked for us.

We haven’t felt the need to open up with the leads we’ve had early on in games."

On improving as a quarterback

"I’ve gotten better at making good reads, managing the game, and being content with not having to make the big play. We did a good job of not forcing things against Tennessee."

On who gets the ball during the game

"The coaches make those decisions based on the players’ demeanors, their play in practice, their focus, and who’s got the edge at that moment in time."

On how the new clock rules have changed the game "The new clock rules have taken at least two or three drives away from us. It’s really frustrating because we feel that the longer we play, the better we get, and the better opportunity we have to beat people. We’re only getting around 50 plays in a game, opposed to last year when it was close to 70 plays. That’s just the game now."

About Coach Meyer stressing the importance of special teams "Coach Meyer is extremely passionate about special teams. Everyone who is involved with it is equally as passionate and focused on performing well; they make it their whole world. A lot of teams take special teams for granted, but here it’s a privilege to be a member of the special teams squad. Coach rewards guys to who well, which is why I think guys try so hard and sacrifice their bodies to do so well."

On starters wanting to play special teams "Starters have been asking to play on special teams for two years now. I’ve asked to play on special teams, but I only made it on hands team my freshman year. Guys ask all the time to have a chance to play special teams."

On Florida’s efficiency

"I think we’ve been pretty efficient, not as explosive, but we scored five out of six times we had the ball against Tennessee. We wanted touchdowns instead of field goals, but we’ve executed well and haven’t turned the ball over. We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing well and hopefully hit on a few more explosive plays."

On the team’s priorities

"The most important thing is winning championships. As a player, you love making big plays and scoring a lot of touchdowns. I think I’ve matured and improved my game. I think we can do those things we did

last year; we’re going with a different approach. When I’m called

upon to make those plays, I’ll make them. I’m trying to be smart and win games."

On his ability to make changes to the game plan "Coach Meyer and I are always communicating. The coaches have been doing this for a very long time and are extremely intelligent, so I ‘m going to listen to what they say."

On ball protection

"Taking care of the ball has always been a huge priority to us. In places like Neyland Stadium, with the crowd against you, not taking care of the ball can put the team in bad situations."

On TE Aaron Hernandez success this season "Aaron Hernandez had a great off season. He worked really hard to understand our philosophy, game plans. He having success and making big plays. Aaron’s passionate about what he does. I think that is what makes him a great player. Aaron is also extremely versatile. He’s hard to cover, because he’s so big and strong. He can pick up blocks and provide good pass protection. We’ve also seen him make runs downfield."

Chas Henry

On becoming a more confident kicker

"I’m feeling a lot more confident this year, than I did a year ago.

It’s hard not to when you look at the play of the guys up front.

Coach Meyer puts a lot of focus on special teams and gives our guys a lot of credit here. The positive attitude only increases our confidence and the things we can do for the team."

On his teammates

"All the credit goes to my blockers and gunners, because I have that extra time to focus on getting off a good punt. The gunners can get down the field so fast, so it puts a lot of pressure on the punt returners and contributes to downing the ball a lot."

Jonathan Phillips

On building confidence

"It felt good to kick three field goals in an environment like Tennessee. I didn’t realize I would be kicking so much there, but it definitely helps a players’ confidence to do well there."

On senior long-snapper James Smith

"James is great guy. He takes people under his wing and does things right on and off the field. He is someone we can all look up to."

Emmanuel Moody

On the offensive line

"The offensive line was just pancaking people. They made the lanes available for me to run through. From there I just tried to run hard.

It felt great."

On Coach Meyer stressing the importance of handling the ball "We play in the SEC, where a turnover can cost you the whole game.

We’re playing to win and protecting the ball is a big part of our game plan.

On coming to UF

"I had a good feeling in my heart. Florida was on a high, coming off a championship, so I wanted to check them out. The people of Gator Nation had a lot to do with it.

Major Wright

On his play

"We worked really hard in the off season, which allowed me to transition into the season with more ease. I’ve improved on watching film, studying time and quarterbacks has made it much easier for me.

On the defense

"We’re playing pretty well, but I feel our special teams made the difference in the games for us. The punting has been great; their coverage has been providing us excellent position. Brandon James has made the most of his opportunities to do things with the ball as well."