Transcript: Brian Johnson on Florida Gators Offensive Firepower, Redzone Issues & Georgia Defense
Florida Gators Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson met with local media on Tuesday. He recapped the No. 8 Gators initial redzone issues against the Missouri Tigers, the eventual firepower with Kadarius Toney and what it will take to the defeat the Georgia Bulldogs stout defense.
As a valued GatorBait subscriber, we are offering this transcript in full.
Curious what dictates not being able to run successfully in the red zone like the other night?
“Yeah, we’ve got to be better in our red-zone production. Could have called that a couple of times. They were kind of playing the pass early on. So we tried to switch in the second half and got one (can’t hear).. … and Kadarius had the long run. It was kind of adjusted to what they were doing within the course of the game plan. They had switched up a little bit in the red zone and we were able to make the adjustment on the fly. You’d like to see us get touchdowns on those first two red-zone possessions. We talk so much about the ability to score touchdowns down there is critical if you want to be great offensively. We weren’t able to get that done early in the game, but made a nice adjustment and guys made plays in the second half when we got back down there.”
Lamar Traskson had a big game?
“He did. He did a great job. He was everything we needed him to be in terms of his decision making, his willingness to go get first downs. He prepares and he played well. Honestly, we didn’t get off to as clean of a start as we would have liked, but we settled in and started making some plays and got things rolling.”
You were a freshman in ‘04 with Alex Smith, then you coached Dak in 14-15. Is Kyle playing at that level?
“Yeah, he’s playing really, really well. He’s been fairly clean through the first four games. He works his tail off in terms of preparing for the game plan, understanding the looks he’s going to see. He has a very natural feel for the game and understanding coverages, understanding how we’re putting it all together and plays with great anticipation, kind of sees stuff happen before it happens. He’s playing at an extremely high level right now. The challenge is to make sure we’re consistent each and every week and continue to play at a high level.”
Is it at that level where you think he deserves to be in the Heisman conversation?
“You know I think obviously that’ll be up for debate but he’s playing as good as anyone right now in college football.”
Qualities that maybe he has that those two guys had? I know he’s not quite the runner, but what does he have that Alex and Dak did have?
“Yeah, I think just his overall understanding of how to get ready to play in a game, of really breaking it down and for understanding what you’re getting, understanding leverages of defenses, understanding how teams are trying to take away what you want to do. And then being able to get to a second, third, fourth or fifth read in progression.”
I know you don’t like comparisons. I know he’s not Brian Johnson ‘08. “Not many people are.”
On how much it helped Kyle Trask to get equal repetitions in the past, to be in the position he's in now
"I think it's absolutely huge how we train the quarterback position in terms of making sure that guys are getting reps in practice. You know, I tell those guys all the time, 'this is the one sport where you practice more than you play,' and I think it's very, very important that guys get a great feel and a great understanding of how to become a great practice player, and have it translate to the game. So, for all three of those guys, when we first got here - the first two years we were here -, between Emory (Jones) Feleipe (Franks) and Kyle (Trask), through that first spring ball, fall camp, the season, second spring ball, fall camp, the season, they were all pretty much even reps in terms of practice reps. Now, obviously Feleipe had played the games, so he had those game reps and the game experience. But, you know, for us, it was really no surprise that Kyle went in and played well because he's always performed really well in practice."
On if Kyle Trask is like a gym rat because he's always finding ways to throw the ball around
"Yeah, well I think even during the quarantine, he threw it with (Florida Gators softball CF) Jade (Caraway), with his girlfriend Jade, so, yes he loves football. You know, he's a fantastic young man, he's very, very diligent about his preparation, he wants to be a great football player, he has an unbelievable desire, and he's very self-motivated, and I think that's a great quality to have, not only in football but in life, in general. So, Kyle's one of those people, he's going to be successful, regardless of what he does."
On facing an elite defense like Georiga, and if players are taught to expect tighter windows, etc, difficulty? "Yeah, definitely, I think you try to put a plan in place to give your guys a chance to be successful. But, the reality of it is when you play a defense that's full of great players, you know, you're gonna have to make plays. Whether it's breaking tackles, you know, I think the biggest thing is obviously making contested catches, and straining to finish blocks. Because when you play a team that has great players on both sides, it's gonna come down to those details, and this is obviously a huge game and our guys are excited to go out there and get a chance to compete."
Have you noticed anything about this rivalry that's different from schools that you've played for or coached?
"Yeah, I think just the uniqueness of it, of being in Jacksonville there's something that's obviously a little bit different than some of the rivalries that I've been a part of whether it was Utah-BYU or Mississippi State-Ole Miss. But you know rivalries in college football, and it's definitely a great game to be a part of. We're looking forward to getting to Jacksonville on Saturday.
How good is this Georgia defense?
Yeah, they're extremely talented, they're well-coached, they're disciplined. They don't make a lot of mistakes. And like I said earlier, it's going to be about strain and finish blocks, making contested catches, breaking tackles. You know, I think those guys do a fantastic job of having the scheme organized and putting their players in position to be successful. And they have great players as well, so it'll definitely be fun to get out there and compete and a good matchup.
Have you voted?
Early, I did it like two weeks ago, so it's good.
How does their defense change with injuries? Yeah, I think, you know, look. LeCounte is one of the best defensive players in all of America. Instincts that he plays with, the plays that he makes, he has a great understanding of their schemes. He's played, I think he's a three-year starter, maybe a four-year starter. But he's played a ton of football, and he does a great job. Really, really hoping the best for him. Obviously, you don't want to see anyone get into an accident like that. But they recruit well, so it's not like they won't have anybody that's not talented come out there and go play, so I don't know if it - it won't change the scheme much. I think they're going to do what they do defensively. It'll just be somebody that's younger, and they're probably not as much experienced. When someone is having a night like KT did, can you give it to "the hot hand" for receivers like you can for running backs? "For sure. I think it's a fine line between, like I always say, we always have certain stuff where we're trying to force the ball into his hands, but the majority of the time it was predicated on the coverage that we were given and the ball's coming his way. So, I think that's the uniqueness of our offense is that we have the ability with all five skill positions that those guys can make a direct impact with the ball in their hands. So, guys kind of made plays all over the field, whether it was Pitts or Kadarius or Cope had a couple big plays and Grimes had some big plays. So,you know, we have some guys that can do some damage once you get the ball in their hands. But yes, if a guy is going off and you have a matchup, I think the one thing you can do is just try to continue to exploit that until the defense stops it.
Dan said Georgia defense has answers to questions; is it just about finding the right questions to throw at them?
"Yeah, for sure. I think it's a chess match going back and forth. Trying to find, you know, what the best matchup is, how you can exploit certain looks that they provide and I'm sure it's the same, same thing on their end so, you know, like I said they have an excellent system and they recruit great players to go play in that system so you know I think the biggest thing is us going out there and playing at an extremely high level and doing what we do to go win the game.”
Each team and season have their own identity but you’ve faced Kirby three years in a row now. What is it about his system that makes it tough on offenses?
"I think the biggest thing is you know like is you know with the—you got to make body on body catches and you got to find a way to get first downs. You know first downs are critical. You can't have the, you know, the administrative jump off side penalties and get into first and 15, second and 15. And then you got to, you got to make big plays in long run situations, though, so it's not a, you know, very, very—they're very well coached so it's not like a lot of bust and stuff on defense, where you get guys just screaming free. So you got to find a way to create different matchups and use it to your advantage.”
You’ve played in a Holy War, Battle of Brothers, so as a player what goes through your mind in a rivalry week and how do you handle the emotions this week and then funnel that into Saturday?
"You know, it's great question. I think for, and a place like here is really unique. It’s the most unique place I've been to in terms of rivalry because you know it feels like you play so many rivalry games throughout the course of the year so you know it's very interesting. Everybody knows that Florida Georgia is a very big game. And you got a chance to put yourself in a position to be, to win the SEC East and get to Atlanta so guys have to be ready to go play, but not, you know they don't have to try to do too much. Put a great plan in for them, go out there and play competent, play fast and let their ability to take over.”
What about for you as a player, when you played in those games?
"Um, you know as a player, not, not too much I mean because we're so ingrained in our routine in terms of, you know, your preparation getting ready for the week. And then, quite honestly once the ball is kicked off all that stuff goes out the window anyway and you’re focused on what you need to do to go make plays and win the football game so you know from a preparation standpoint, not much change.”
Dan said you wanna win the SEC East, the SEC and National Championship. Does it feel like that road has always gone through Jacksonville?
"For sure, um, you know you've got two great teams playing against each other. And, you know, it's definitely gonna be a 15 round heavyweight fight, and we got to be, got to be ready to go out there and play, to our standard each and every snap.”
Florida’s offense has really struggled against Georgia past couple of years against Georgia. What has gone wrong and what has changed to not let it happen again this year?
"I think the big thing is staying on the field, obviously, you gotta be on the field to score points. You got to get first downs. All right, keep the chains moving and once you get down in the red zone you got to make contested type plays in the red zone to come away with seven and not kick field goals. So, you know, we have some great players on offense, and they have great players on defense so we got to do a great job of putting our guys at positions so they can go and make plays on a consistent basis.”
Comments