Coachspeak

Here’s what Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Elko and coordinators Jay Bateman and Collin Klein had to say about the Miami Hurricanes, and what Miami Coach Mario Cristobal had to say about the Aggies:

Elko on Miami quarterback Carson Beck:

“Really talented kid. Obviously has a lot of experience playing in these types of games, played in these types of venues. So he certainly will come in and I’m sure be very comfortable. An elite arm talent, (he has) the ability to make throws all over the field. I think he sees the game really well. He’s played a lot of college football and is certainly a seasoned quarterback that’ll be a big challenge for us.”

Elko on the Miami offense:

“I think it starts with the experienced quarterback. He does a really good job of delivering the football, sees things really well, knows where to go with the ball, is able to get out in a really timely manner. They’ve got a really talented group of wide receivers, and that helps. They can create separation and get open quickly. And then I think they’ve done a really good job of winning the chains and putting themselves into third down situations that they can manage effectively.”

Elko with a quick overview of the Hurricanes:

“Extremely talented, very athletic. Defensively, they’re very long. They’ve got a lot of players that can run and hit. They’re very good on the front. And then offensively just a very explosive group of skilled athletes that can make a lot of plays in space … I think (they’re) very physical. They try to really control the line of scrimmage. You can see (Cristobal’s) demeanor and his mindset and how they play. They’re a big, physical, powerful team.
They’re going to be very aggressive in how they come after us.”

Elko on All-American WR Malachi Toney:

“The amount of ways he can impact a game, how explosive he is when he gets the ball in his hands, and then obviously for a very young kid I think he’s got really elite route-running skills and separation. Creating separation. So I think when you look at him on tape it’s really hard to believe you’re watching a true freshman. He’s extremely talented.
He’s extremely dynamic and certainly a kid that has been a handful for everyone that they’ve played this year.”

Klein on the Miami defensive front:

“Their front seven is really, really good. They really get after the passer. They get off and shed blocks. They pursue the football and keep you on edge schematically. You can’t just fall asleep and take things for granted. So it’s a really good unit.”

Klein on the Miami secondary:

“Well, I think they have really, really good length. I think they run well. They really are tight in the quarterback’s eyes and are able to track the football. You can see that they pattern match and understand what teams are going to try to do to them in certain coverages. They play smart and play fast and they play really hard.”

Bateman on the Miami offense:

“I think it’s really good. They’re a really good team. I feel like I’ve been recruiting against them my whole life, so I know a lot of those kids. I think Mark Fletcher Jr., the running back, is a really good player, physical. No. 6 (CharMar Brown), the backup, is really good player, physical. That’s where it starts, right? I think Coach (Mario) Cristobal – they’re going to be big up front. They’re going to block you. They’re going to hand the ball off to the running backs and they’re going to make you tackle the running backs. They do a really nice job that way. Obviously, (quarterback) Carson Beck’s a really good player. He was at Georgia when I was at Florida. We defended him. He’s got great arm talent. He’s big, played a ton of football. So I think you’re there. I think maybe the best player we’ve played the whole year is No. 10, the slot receiver, (Malachi) Toney. He just plays so hard and he blocks people. They throw him screens, he breaks tackles. They put him in the backfield and he throws it or he runs it. What a tremendous player he is. So he’s going to be a real challenge for us. So, yeah I think they’re really good. I think they’re physical and they know how they want to play football. I’ve got a lot of respect for their defensive coordinator and how they play defense. It’s going be a real challenge.”

Bateman on Miami’s offensive scheme:

“I think there’s some similarities to Auburn with the physical run nature of how they want to run the football, maybe a little more skilled. But no, and I think Mike (Elko) has told you this too; I think this is the best offense we have played. I think it’s the most complete offense. They’ve got a number of kids on our team that are going to be drafted really high. I think it’s going to be real challenge. I think they do a really good job.”

Cristobal on Kyle Field and the 12th Man:

“That’s one of the best atmospheres in all of college football or pro football, I imagine. I mean, I’ve been there actually four times: once here at Miami, once when I was at FIU, twice at the University of Alabama. So I’ve been there four times, and all four times it’s a maniacal scene.”

Cristobal with a quick overview of the Aggies:

“Big, strong, fast, explosive. You have elite playmakers in all phases, from their quarterback, their wide receivers, their defensive fronts – most sacks in the country. As explosive as you can get with a Heisman quarterback.”

Cristobal on the A&M offensive line:

“I think their trenches really stick out right away. Again, big and physical. I know their strength coaches really, really well. I know how they train. Those guys are built to go deep into November, December, January and play at a high level.

“Top to bottom, a team that doesn’t have weaknesses and one that has been playing at a high level all year.”

Cristobal on A&M QB Marcel Reed:

“He’s a true dual-threat guy, but he could very easily be one of the other at the highest level at any point in time in the game. And his ability to extend plays improvise, he can do it as a drop-back passer. He could do it as a dual threat guy, and stretch run it option, run it triple option it, design quarterback runs, just break contain and head downfield, or just extend the play, find somebody open down the field. Very strong arm, very accurate, tremendous competitor. Probably the part that sticks out the most, a lot of guys have athletic traits like that, but what sticks out about him is, he just doesn’t allow the previous play to affect him. He just rolls. And he’s been one of the biggest factors in their surge this season. I think he should be one of the Heisman finalists.”

Cristobal on A&M All-American WR KC Concepcion:

“The more you watch tape on (Concepcion) – everyone knows how fast he is, they don’t understand the incredible body control he has. Once he has the ball in his hands he’s really tough to bring down. Plays with a great, low center of gravity. Very physical, very tough.”

Cristobal on the Aggie defensive line and unanimous All-American Cashius Howell:

“A very talented front – explosive, highly technical defensive front. They win their one-on-ones. … (Howell)’s the total package. He’s got it all, every move and then he’s a relentless competitor.”

Cristobal on the Aggie defensive scheme:

“They get you in difficult third down situations. The combination of bluff and bringing it that they present is what makes it difficult. Therefore you see free hitters.”