Week 1 Soundbites: Defense Media Availability
August 27, 2019 | Football
SEATTLE – Washington football defensive players and coaches met with the media Tuesday morning ahead of the Huskies' season opener against Eastern Washington Saturday. Read some of what they had to say:
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH PETE KWIATKOWSKI
(On the challenges Eastern Washington presents) "The quarterback. He's the guy that stirs the drink, he makes them go. Very athletic. We could get a good pass rush and he can make you look stupid. We have to do a good job of playing with good leverage and keep getting numbers on him when he's scrambling. He's been very productive running the ball. He's the number one focus, then always with the run game. I know [EWU head coach] Aaron Best, he was the center when I was coaching there and I know what he's all about. Their offensive line is tough and nasty just like he was, and they want to run the ball. They want to pound it."
(On the number of freshmen in the Husky secondary's two-deep) "It's a new year, see how these guys – they've all gotten better. Now it's time to go show it. I want to see those guys go out there and play fast, play physical, and play smart. Make plays. All the work they've put in in the weight room, practices, and the film room. Saturday is your time to shine. Can't wait to see those guys go cut it loose."
LINEBACKER KYLER MANU
(On his relationship with fellow linebacker Brandon Wellington) "It's awesome. [Wellington] and I are always messing around with each other out there. We know how to have fun and we know when to be serious at times. Our film study is really good. Since we're seniors, we know the defense like the back of our hand. It's more just getting a feel for each other now. Over the spring and summer, we've got that little flow together now… Every game is a special opportunity for us, especially because we did have those elite players in front of us these last couple seasons. We're both very excited and pumped for the season."
(On his experience learning from former Husky linebackers) "It's awesome, just seeing the way that they mentally prepare game-in and game-out. Every practice, just showing the effort that they have and honing in on little details. Ben [Burr-Kirven] was always jut flying to the ball even if it was 30 yards away from him. Learning from them was big for me these last several years."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JIMMY LAKE
(On his feelings ahead of Saturday's season opener) "It's going to be fun to watch these guys play against somebody else. We've been battling against our offense all spring long and all training camp long. They know our defense and we know the offensive plays that are getting run at us. It's going to be fun going against somebody else. I think our guys are ready to hit somebody else."
(On the depth in the secondary compared to previous seasons) "I think we're still trying to produce that depth. I think we have some talented players that haven't played football. We've got a lot of guys where this Saturday is going to be their first college football game. We have a lot of guys where this Saturday is going to be their first non-redshirt game… Then, we have some established veterans like Myles Bryant, Elijah Molden, Brandon McKinney, and Keith Taylor that have played a lot of football and have made some critical plays for us. It's a good balance, but we need to continue to produce that depth."
DEFENSIVE BACK MYLES BRYANT
(On whether the Husky secondary has anything to prove this season) "I feel like every year, we have something to prove. Just going out there and trying to be the best secondary that we can, trying to be the best in the nation. That starts in practice, so going out there and practicing hard every day and practicing the details and making the best out of every practice that we can. Then carrying that onto the field, I feel like that puts us where we need to be."
LINEBACKER BRANDON WELLINGTON
(On Saturday's season opener) "It's exciting. We've put all the work in dating back to winter going into our spring and summer. It's finally here, but it flew by. It feels like yesterday we had just finished last season. It kind of snuck up on us but at the same time, we're prepared and we're ready."
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH PETE KWIATKOWSKI
(On the challenges Eastern Washington presents) "The quarterback. He's the guy that stirs the drink, he makes them go. Very athletic. We could get a good pass rush and he can make you look stupid. We have to do a good job of playing with good leverage and keep getting numbers on him when he's scrambling. He's been very productive running the ball. He's the number one focus, then always with the run game. I know [EWU head coach] Aaron Best, he was the center when I was coaching there and I know what he's all about. Their offensive line is tough and nasty just like he was, and they want to run the ball. They want to pound it."
(On the number of freshmen in the Husky secondary's two-deep) "It's a new year, see how these guys – they've all gotten better. Now it's time to go show it. I want to see those guys go out there and play fast, play physical, and play smart. Make plays. All the work they've put in in the weight room, practices, and the film room. Saturday is your time to shine. Can't wait to see those guys go cut it loose."
LINEBACKER KYLER MANU
(On his relationship with fellow linebacker Brandon Wellington) "It's awesome. [Wellington] and I are always messing around with each other out there. We know how to have fun and we know when to be serious at times. Our film study is really good. Since we're seniors, we know the defense like the back of our hand. It's more just getting a feel for each other now. Over the spring and summer, we've got that little flow together now… Every game is a special opportunity for us, especially because we did have those elite players in front of us these last couple seasons. We're both very excited and pumped for the season."
(On his experience learning from former Husky linebackers) "It's awesome, just seeing the way that they mentally prepare game-in and game-out. Every practice, just showing the effort that they have and honing in on little details. Ben [Burr-Kirven] was always jut flying to the ball even if it was 30 yards away from him. Learning from them was big for me these last several years."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JIMMY LAKE
(On his feelings ahead of Saturday's season opener) "It's going to be fun to watch these guys play against somebody else. We've been battling against our offense all spring long and all training camp long. They know our defense and we know the offensive plays that are getting run at us. It's going to be fun going against somebody else. I think our guys are ready to hit somebody else."
(On the depth in the secondary compared to previous seasons) "I think we're still trying to produce that depth. I think we have some talented players that haven't played football. We've got a lot of guys where this Saturday is going to be their first college football game. We have a lot of guys where this Saturday is going to be their first non-redshirt game… Then, we have some established veterans like Myles Bryant, Elijah Molden, Brandon McKinney, and Keith Taylor that have played a lot of football and have made some critical plays for us. It's a good balance, but we need to continue to produce that depth."
DEFENSIVE BACK MYLES BRYANT
(On whether the Husky secondary has anything to prove this season) "I feel like every year, we have something to prove. Just going out there and trying to be the best secondary that we can, trying to be the best in the nation. That starts in practice, so going out there and practicing hard every day and practicing the details and making the best out of every practice that we can. Then carrying that onto the field, I feel like that puts us where we need to be."
LINEBACKER BRANDON WELLINGTON
(On Saturday's season opener) "It's exciting. We've put all the work in dating back to winter going into our spring and summer. It's finally here, but it flew by. It feels like yesterday we had just finished last season. It kind of snuck up on us but at the same time, we're prepared and we're ready."
Players Mentioned
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