Mike Yurcich | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Q. What makes their defense so successful?
A: I think they're a team overall, and looking at them defensively, that I think they have a really good culture.
I think their coaching staff has really done a good job of sustaining success there, and I think you see that when you put the film on, I think you see a tough, disciplined football team. I think it starts there. I think that's what makes them, in simple terms, a really good team, is that they play with physicality, they know their assignments, they're disciplined, they're very well-coached, and they're a team that has done it repeatedly and had success. It makes sense, right.
Q. Your last couple weeks of practice, what have you gotten out of it?
A: It's been great. Early on, you kind of phase it. You try to develop your younger guys as much as you possibly can, so the reps get shared, and you get to rest the older, more experienced players. Guys that maybe are dinged up, but maybe guys that are so well-versed in the offense like, Sean [Clifford], to where you can sacrifice some reps there early in bowl prep to where it's more developmental, get back to the basics.
Then as you get closer, you get more game-plan specific and get your guys that are going to be significant contributors the majority of the reps. It's another, I don't know, whatever it is, 16 practices, so it's additional spring ball, so you've got to utilize it and try to maximize your development as much as possible with that.
Q. How do you guys get off to a good start against this team?
A: Well, you get off to a good start by playing fast, and so no hesitation and call the plays that we feel will keep us on schedule. At the same time, the plays where we're going to be explosive, as well.
We've got to get our running backs involved. We've got to get our tight ends involved. We've got to get our receivers involved. So, trying to make sure that we have a good balance with that and trying to find the mismatches and trying to create space, playing with some tempo at the same time. All those sorts of things help in starting fast and making sure that we're doing a great job of getting on top early.
Sean Clifford | QB | R-Sr+
Q: Has it sunk in that you're in the last week of your Penn State career?
A: Yeah, it definitely has. Just with the events and everything, it's been a blast. That's kind of what I have going for me compared to the younger guys who are thinking about going to the next level. I'm ready for it, I knew it was coming. I've been able to really recognize that and enjoy these last moments and just have a blast this week. It's been so much fun.
Q: You talked about how happy you were to play in the Rose Bowl. You're here now. What does it mean to you? Do you pinch yourself?
A: There's been numerous times I've had to kind of pinch myself or snap myself into reality. Liam [Clifford] and I were talking about it. It's just so surreal sometimes. What I've experienced and what we've been able to do as a team. Now to be able to be here, in my last game, is so cool; to be able to recognize that and enjoy the moment and just have so much fun.
Q: With the excitement and emotion of your last game, how do you stay locked in?
A: I think once you're in the practices and film room, it's just being there, being in the moment, being present. I've done it so many times now, it's not like I'm thinking about going to Disneyland and then can't lock in. It's a very important game and I understand the magnitude of it. It's easy to lock in and lock out. It's not as difficult as you think.
Theo Johnson | TE | So
Q: What do you feel is the next step for you improvement-wise and where you want to be?
A: Really just polishing things up and being an elite run blocker. I think I'm pretty good, but just being more technical on the things that I do and just making sure that everything that comes to my hands, I catch. Really just being a menace and aggressive in my run-blocking as well as my pass-protection phase of the game.
Q: Can you reflect on the changes you guys have made in the run game and why it's been successful?
A: Really the big thing is just how much it was emphasized in the offseason. The big thing the coaches were saying is you have to be able to run the ball when everyone in the stadium knows you're running the ball. With some of our short-yardage packages, we've been able to do that well. Just with how much that was emphasized and worked in practice, we had no choice but to get it right. It helps when you have the running backs we have this year and the things they're doing are huge for us. It really comes to a point where you have to buy-in mentally and when we see the short-yardage package, we get excited to go out there and do that, because everyone knows we're doing it and we've done it so well.
Q: What is it about the T-Formation that can cause problems?
A: It's really the versatility of the formation and how well we execute the blocking schemes. When you've got Brenton [Strange] coming with a full head of steam and Kaytron [Allen] and Nick [Singleton], it's hard to stop those guys.
Juice Scruggs | OL | R-Sr
Q: A lot of guys who declare for the draft opt-out of the bowl game. You and a couple other guys on this team are playing? Why is that?
A: I just think it's the culture here. Since Spring workouts, Winter workouts, that's been our theme: resilience. We've been fighting and fighting and I think it's only right to go out there and fight one more time with this group of guys. It's the last time we're going to have this group of guys in the same locker room. I think we all just want to go out there and get a ring that says "champion" on it.
Q: What would it mean to go out with a win on Monday? What is the future of this program?
A: To be honest with you, it would mean a lot to me to go out on top as a Rose Bowl champion. That's a perfect story. For the program, it's just momentum for next year. As you've seen, we have some great young talent and that would just be momentum for them to go forward.
Q: What have the conversations been like with the other seniors as you head into your final game?
A: It's definitely bittersweet. I was talking to [Nick] Tarburton. We came in together and just how fast it went. Felt like yesterday we just got here as freshmen, trying to figure out what we were doing and now it's our last college football game. It's kind of surreal. It's going to be emotional for sure, after the game. I'm just trying to enjoy it right now.
Mitchell Tinsley | WR | Sr+
Q: What does it mean to end your college career in the Rose Bowl? Did you ever imagine you would be playing in it?
A: I can say it's a dream come true. The first Rose Bowl I ever watched was USC vs. Texas and Reggie Bush was my favorite player, so it came full-circle. I imagined it, never knew if it was actually going to happen or not. But yeah, it's cool to actually be here and be in LA for a week. It's a dream come true.
Q: Is it tough to balance the fun of the bowl with the work to win on Monday?
A: I don't think so. I think everyone's handling that really well. There's a time for play and a time for work. The main goal while we're here is to win this game. We're going to enjoy ourselves while we're here, but for me and the rest of the team, we're ready to focus and get the win.
Q: When you look at Utah, do you see a similar team in how they're made up and physical at the line of scrimmage?
A: I definitely think they're tough for sure. I haven't really watched their offense, but on defense they do a lot of good things. They're well-rounded as far as defensive linemen, second level defenders, linebackers and DBs. I think they're well-rounded and a tough defense, but if we execute the way we know how to, we should come out on top.
Tyler Warren | TE | So
Q: How has the competition within the tight end room with Brenton [Strange] and Theo [Johnson] made you better?
A: Just having two dudes like that who are great tight ends and working with them every day. Working against them and with them, it makes me better. I tell people all the time, to learn to block, I was just watching Brenton Strange. I feel like he's one of the better blocking tight ends you'll see. Theo's taught me a lot. He's a great route-runner. He's also a great blocker. Learning from them has definitely made me a lot better.
Q: What impact do you think the three of you have had on this team?
A: Just bringing a mentality where we'll do what's best for the offense each week. That kind of speaks to our offense as a whole. We're not a very selfish group. We've got dudes who will do what's great for the cause, not for themselves.
Q: What is it about Utah's defense that makes them successful?
A: I think it's just the effort and motor they play with. They have great players, but then you add the effort they play with and playing to the whistle like they do, that's what makes them great.
Tight End Tyler Warren