Transcript: Brian Johnson on Kyle Trask's Ascension, Emory Jones and Kentucky's Stingy Defense
Florida Gators Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson met with local media on Monday night to discuss the ascension of Kyle Trask since last season's Kentucky game, the defense the Wildcats bring to the field on Saturday and the usage of Emory Jones.
As a valued subscriber, we are offering this transcript in full.
Still kind of amazed of Kyle Trask stepped in last year at Kentucky?
“Not really. He’s always, you know, performed well when he’s had an opportunity he’s performed well at practice. He continued to prepare. He was ready for his moment. That’s the epitome of what you want from somebody on your team, that when their number’s called they’re ready to play at a high level. Kyle was no exception to that, it’s something … injuries are a part of the games. It’s very unfortunate. But it’s also nice when guys can step in and play well despite not having any game reps.”
By end of game how much more confident in Kyle and offense going forward with Feleipe?
“I was extremely confident in terms of what we would be able to accomplish. The style of play would really highlight Kyle’s talents and what he does really well, and play to the strengths of him. He was ready to go. I’m not sure we - I think we ran the ball two or three times once Feleipe went out and kind of just threw it all over the field. He made some good reads. He made some great plays and we were able to get out of there with a win.”
Emory now waiting his turn, how impressed by patience, sticking to process?
“I can’t say enough about Emory Jones. He’s a fantastic young man. He’s super intelligent, very dynamic as a player and every time he’s had an opportunity to get in the game he’s been prepared and played well. So, I think those obviously play well off of each other and they set a great example for each other. Kyle’s a great example of being ready when your number’s called. When you have that type of testimony in your own position room I think it adds a ton of value. Emory’s very smart. He understands that he’s a much better player than he was when he first got here, and he’s continuing to improve. So is Kyle, as well. It’s really about our development and our practice habits and how we practice each and every week and making sure we’re making steps forward to become a better player.”
How impressed are you with what the tight ends have done in Kyle Pitts’ absence
“It will be great to get him back, obviously he’s one of the best players in America. That’s always a positive. You can never say enough about what those guys have done. Hats off to Coach Brew making sure they were ready to go. But very similar to what we just talked about with Kyle (Trask). Injuries are a part of the game. They’re a very unfortunate part of the game. You have to put yourself in the position to be prepared when you’re number’s called. Certainly those two guys were able to do that and continue to play well in Kyle’s absence.”
Kentucky is 5th in points per game but 10th in yards per game, what type of defense do you think they are?
“I think first and foremost they are very well coached. Give a ton of credit to their coaching staff. Their scheme is really, really sound and they have really good players. The unique challenge that Kentucky presents is that they have a ton of length. They have the ability to be versatile and be multiple in what they present to offenses. Ultimately what it’s going to come down to is our execution, particularly in situations. We talk a little bit about last week when teams start to play the style of defense where you’re getting a ton of drop eight and they’re playing the pass first you have to think a little bit more in micro and, hey, it is about getting first downs and how can I use these three to four plays to get a first down? Ultimately if you get enough first downs you get in the redzone and that’s when you have to execute and score touchdowns. I’m confident we’ll put a great plan together and give our guys a chance to go execute.”
Christmas lights before Thanksgiving?
“You know my stance on this has changed now that I have children. Prior to my kids wanting to decorate before Thanksgiving, I probably would have been anti-decorations before Thanksgiving. But now that I have a four and a six year old, and a one-year-old, they’ve been up for about a week. Especially in their rooms. They got a chance to decorate their room and the Johnson household has some Christmas decor.”
Looked like Kyle Trask didn’t wear wristbands at Vandy? New?
“No, it wasn’t a change. We kind of always have that stuff ready to go. It was no change in terms of how we operated with the plays.”
Dead period, challenging of recruiting?
“Yeah, it is definitely a very unique challenge. But everybody’s under that same circumstance and that same unique challenge. You’ve got to find a way to figure it out and be about solutions and not complain about problems. We have a great recruiting staff. Ultimately recruiting is about relationships so you’ve got to still find ways to continue to build relationships, whether it’s via FaceTime, via Zoom, any other virtual setting that you could imagine. You’ve got to try to be very cutting edge and creative and find a way to do something different.”
Dan talks about Kyle’s decision making. Sometimes he throws into really tight windows. You ever watching and thinking, Oh, gosh, that one’s going to be tight. I might not have done that myself?
“There were a couple of throws on Saturday where it was like, ‘Oh, no, no. Yes, yes, yes.’ You get a little different perspective from up in the box. But, everything always looks different through his eyes when you’re at field level. When you’re playing in that type of game, where there’s a ton of (players in the secondary), you’ve got to do a great job of managing those. I thought the receivers did a great job of not stacking behind defenders and Kyle maneuvering and sliding in the pocket to give those guys times to come free. When you’re watching on the film, the windows were not as tight as you would have initially thought watching from the press box.”
Do you think everything looks wide open to him?
“Yeah, I think he has a good feel for where people are and he plays with great anticipation, so he can see stuff happening a little bit early. I think that allows him to play with a great feeling.”
He and Dan have talked about discussions they have when they come off the field. They’re talking about the one they missed. Having been in those shoes, what are those conversations like?
“It’s just coaching. You want to constantly coach every play on the drive and not take something for granted. I think that’s where you see a ton of growth in terms of playing quarterback in the ability to digest and really discuss what just happened on the previous drive to get yourself ready to go execute on the next drive. We talk a lot about, you might get the same look but you still have to play each play independently, so to speak. Just because you got a certain look the previous drive. … we’re talking about potential adjustments off that look, or different. … not necessarily even if you made a bad decision, there may have been a time where you could have made a better division. It’s just constant communication about that. Kyle does a good job of relaying what he’s seen and he can describe in great detail of what’s going on through this process.”
On how defenses are playing the pass more against Florida and how it changes the playcalling/adjustments made this season. "You know, I think the biggest thing is, obviously you have to just be very, very aware of extra defenders. You know, obviously, your structure when teams drop 8 and have a three-man rush, there's generally going to be somebody in the window where you would normally throw the ball or complete the ball. So, you have to do a great job with your eyes and reading defenders and it just forces you to be patient as a play-caller. And like I said, and really take a step back and just think a little bit more micro in terms of, 'OK, how can I use these three plays to get a first down, so I can get another set of three plays. You know, because the thing that hinders you is obviously anytime you get a negative play or you take a sack or you drop a ball and they put you in situations where you're third and, you know, extra-long and you have to try to complete a pass when everyone knows you have to throw it against a drop-eight coverage, that becomes a little bit more challenging. So, you want to put yourself in a position to where you have the threat to run the ball and get yourself in third-and-mediums and third-and-shorts."
On how hard it would be to come into a situation down two scores and rally a team and if he was able to pull it off if he had ever been in that situation. "No, I can't recall having a situation like that. But, you know, I think it just goes to really highlight his mental makeup and his physical and mental toughness and what he's all about, how he prepares. It just says a lot about him as a person and just the type of stuff he's made up of, you know? And those type of intangible qualities are really what you want in a quarterback."
Comments