9/27-28: Florida footballers speak to the media

A number of Florida Gators players spoke to the media on Monday and Tuesday as the team takes a look back on its 48-14 home victory over the Kentucky Wildcats and ahead to its match-up against the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road on Saturday.

Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Addazio, redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley, senior defensive end Duke Lemmens, redshirt senior wide receiver Carl Moore and redshirt sophomore cornerback Jeremy Brown all had plenty to say…which you can read after the break!

OC ADDAZIO
On how running back Jeff Demps’ injury is healing: “Obviously he’s a great player, but Mike Gillislee, Emmanuel Moody and those guys will ramp it up. You saw that on the field. We’re going to run. We’re going to roll. Jeff will be ready to roll.”

On combating Alabama’s defense: “We anticipate seeing a very talented and really coordinated scheme defense that we’re going to face with some multiplicity. […] I think they’re just an outstanding defense. I really do.”

QB BRANTLEY
On Saturday’s game against Kentucky: “It felt good. I think it was a great team win. We got out starting real well out of the gates. Everyone was clicking. The offensive line was doing a great job, the receivers were doing a great job, the running backs also. Overall I thought it was a really good team win, and I was really happy with it.”

On Alabama’s defense: “They’re a great team. Their defense is great every year. We’re just going to have to spend a little bit more time in the film room and be ready for them, be prepared.”

On playing in Tuscaloosa, AL: “Neyland [Stadium] was definitely a good little taste for it. It’s tough to prepare for it. I think more is you just have to prepare mentally. You know what you’re getting into. Try not to let the crowd affect you too much. Hopefully prepare well enough this week where the crowd isn’t a factor where you can just concentrate on what you have to do every play.”

On he and freshman QB Trey Burton getting comparisons to the Chris Leak / Tim Tebow combination: “I like it. I’m a fan of it. I’m not going to be the guy running the ball like Trey does. But you know what, that’s a big part of our offense. I think we need to be able to implement that in our offense, so I think it’s great.”

On if the players are being reminded about last year’s loss: “It doesn’t really have to be brought up too much. It’s always in the back of your head. We know what happened in the past and we’re going to prepare like it’s any other game, really.”

DE LEMMENS
On Alabama RBs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson: “Not only is that probably the best running back corps maybe in the history of college football with those two, but they have a great O-line and it’s a great task for us. That is why you come to Florida, for games like this.”

On if Ingram’s talent is concerning: “I mean, he’s a great running back and there’s no doubt about that, I respect him. But I’ve never been scared of another football player. I go against big Carl Johnson every day, if he doesn’t eat me, I’m good.”

WR MOORE
On if Saturday’s performance has made him more confident: “My confidence has always been up, it’s just a matter of us going out there and executing. That’s what we did last week.”

On if teams cover him tougher on third down now: “If that’s the case, someone else will be open, so we’ll keep getting first downs. That will be fine.”

On playing in Tuscaloosa: “It’ll be loud, but every game is loud. We go through practice, we go through the speakers being loud, so we’ll be prepared for it.”

CB BROWN
On how the defense will improve from last year: “Defenses are most effective when it’s a gang tackle, when you have 11 hats on the ball. So looking at last year, missing a lot of tackles, that’s something we’re going to emphasize in practice.”

On Alabama’s pass catchers: “They have three, four receivers who could start almost anywhere in the country.”