Penn State Football
Penn State Student-Athlete Postgame Press Conference
vs. Iowa – September 23, 2023
Offense
Drew Allar | QB | Sophomore
Q: You guys controlled the time of possession throughout the game, was that the game plan throughout the week, kind of unusual?
A: It caught up with me in the second half I think I realized that our first drive we took seven minutes off the clock, it's also a credit to the defense and special teams. The defense caused a lot of turnovers again this week, and that's why our offense was back on the field so much and I think that we did a good job of being efficient and taking what the defense was giving us.
Q: Coach talked about not getting bored on offense and taking what the defense gives you, getting six, seven yards at a time, it's the same thing as a quarterback you have to make the decision not to throw it deep and take your check downs. Talk about how you managed the game in that regard?
A: We stress that every week in the quarterback room taking what the defense gives us. After we take it and march down the field then they're going to have to eventually come up and take that stuff away and that leaves them vulnerable over the top. That's our mentality as an offense especially with the offensive line that we have and the running backs that we have we can just run the ball and give them body blows the whole time with how physical we can be in the run game and that really opens up everything in the pass game as well.
Q: Drew you knew coming into this game that it was going to be a gritty grind it out kind of game, what does it mean to win a game like this?
A: Yeah, I think that we're finding different ways to win, Iowa is a very tough defense, they're a very sound defense and play very physical and like you said they're kind of like a bend don't break defense. I think that they held their own a couple of times when we were driving to score and put us behind the sticks and we kind of hurt ourselves with penalties. I think that it's just one of those games where you have to take care of the ball and not force anything that is not there because they do a great job of capitalizing on offensive mistakes that's kind of what I learned throughout the week watching their defense the turnovers they do force is kind of like quarterbacks forcing things that are not there and they're very good at capitalizing on those mistakes. I think that we did a really good job tonight of protecting the ball.
Q: Did you feel like they got tired because you were on the field for a long time? You guys had 50 more plays at one point in the game. Did you kind of feel that a little bit especially in the second half?
A: Yeah I would say that we felt it a little bit we started popping a couple more runs than what we did in the first half and I think that we did a good job of keeping our foot on the pedal and not letting up just because college football is a weird game where anything can happen momentum can swing back to the other team so I think that we did a good job of not relaxing and just keeping our foot on the pedal and doing what we're supposed to do on the offensive side of the ball.
Tyler Warren | TE | Junior
Q: Two touchdowns tonight talk about what kind of went right for you guys, especially in that second half for the offense.
A: Yeah, I think we just stuck to our plan, it wasn't the fastest of starts in the first half but just trusting Coach Yurcich and trust our offense. I think our game plan showed up towards the second half.
Q: How good did it feel to have two touchdowns in front of this white out, 110,000 people for you personally?
A: Yeah, it was a great experience being out in the white out game. I was probably more excited for Khalil Dinkins' touchdown just seeing him, a guy who's worked hard and a young guy, getting a touchdown in an environment like this was really special.
Q: How do you develop the record with the two of you guys? How's that going to go over the last couple of months or maybe even over the last year?
A: Yeah, I think it starts as soon as last season ends. He's in there with the receivers and the tight ends all through winter, all through spring, then just having a good camp was important which I think we did as an offense and then just having these games underneath his belt, keep stacking them up has been really good.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith | WR | Jr.
Q: James talked about the coaches not losing patience with getting four or five yards at a time, what is that like as a player in a game like this? To keep that patience?
A: Obviously, we want to have big plays, big passes down the field but we knew what type of game this was. It was going to be a dogfight. Just stay patient, trusting the process. And when that time comes, opportunity comes your way, make the best of it.
Q: What does it mean to show you can win a game like this?
A: I feel like it was a statement win. We're a tough team we play in the trenches just like they do. I feel like we executed better today. It was a dogfight, we were prepared for this, it's who we are.
Nick Singleton | RB | Sophomore
Q: Do you feel like the run game is growing into form right now when the offensive line is finding where they can exert their work?
A: Yeah, I showed off my emotions a little bit just normally with a big run, and helped my team get the best position to win the game. So shout out to the linemen who made that happen.
Q: You guys had the ball for over 45 minutes in this game do you feel the offense was on the field the entire time?
A: We just wanted to control the clock and run the ball like we did. We made adjustments in the second half, stuck to our game plan of running it, and moved the ball down the field.
Q: Iowa is a unique team, they don't throw a lot of tricks at you and they're great tacklers. What's that approach like as a running back?
A: They're a good team. The linebackers are really good, they can tackle very well. So we just tried to move the ball down the field and waste time. Trying to drain them to get them tired so that we can take the deep shots.
Olu Fashanu | OL | Junior
Q: How does it feel to win here, you're just adding on your senior defense to do its job with a shutout. What does it feel like?
A: It's a great feeling. Complimentary football. We knew from the game last week, that the defense completely had our backs. At times we felt that we didn't reciprocate. So for us to go out and have a complete team effort the way we did today was a great feeling.
Q: As an offensive lineman when you guys are in situations where it's third and short or fourth and short and you're going for it, what does that mean to you guys that they have that confidence in you?
A: It means the world. It's all the credit in the world to Coach Trout just for continuing to develop us. It means a lot that Coach Franklin and the offensive staff have that trust in us to do our thing.
Q: Iowa's a pretty physical team. To have that kind of performance against that kind of team, could you speak to that?
A: It was a great win. Just going into the game we knew Iowa's defense was going to be a challenge. I think all of the guys, not only in the O-Line room but on the offense, knew the challenge that we had ahead. It was just the way that we prepared. We had a really good feeling going into this game that we were going to go out there and execute and that's what happened.
Defense
Chop Robinson | DE | Junior
Q: That was one of the most dominant games that we've seen around here in a long time do you guys feel that way?
A: Yeah, so coming into this game we knew they were a heavy run offense, so our mentality throughout this whole week was stop the run. The only way to do that with this d-line was dominate the man in front of us. That was our mentality this whole week and that's what we did to stop the run.
Q: Did you feel like as the game went on you guys were in complete and total control?
A: I feel like once that first drive came you know, and every person was whipping the man in front of them I felt like, "OH YEAH," we got control of this game.
Q: Is that the best defensive performance as a team that you guys have had since you've been here?
A: As I can remember, I think so, but of course as a defense we can get better. That was a good game for us because we know what we're capable of and we showed it, and we only get better from here.
Q: How do you get better after this performance?
A: Just keep practicing and preparing like we did this week. Keep going day by day and take it one day at a time.
Jaylen Reed | DB | Junior
Q: When you guys shutting out the other team is that something that you talk about on the sideline?
A: Not just the sideline, the main thing for the defense is to not let anyone score. Coach Manny [Diaz] harps on that a lot and if your defense is not letting people score it's hard to win, cause if you don't score you don't win.
Q: What is the combination of your team's talent level and Manny Diaz's schemes when you put all of that together do you feel like maybe you're the best defense in the country?
A: We all feel like we're the best defense in the country and we feel like we're the best team in the country, not just defense. But day in and day out it goes back to our preparation and our fundamentals and techniques we go through it every day so when it comes to a game it culminates in success, so we love that.
Q: With all the talent in the defensive room do you feel like there is competition between you guys at each position to see the field and be the best at that spot?
A: There's competition in every room and every position so there is going to be competition every day for the rest of the season, and it doesn't matter if it's game one or game 12. It makes everyone better and it helps the team out getting better like that.
Dani Dennis-Sutton | DE | Sophomore
Q: We got a look without the defensive tackles a couple times, more ends and linebackers in the front seven, is that fairly new? Do you think it worked today pretty well?
A: Yeah, we just put that in this week so Coach Manny [Diaz] is trying to switch things up and I think it's going to work for us. I think it definitely worked today. It worked all week in practice and I think it's going to work for the next games.
Q: We saw Chop [Robinson] bullrush a guy pretty efficiently. I guess when Manny [Diaz] put that in what excited you about it? What intrigued you about it?
A: Obviously, me, Chop [Robinson], and Adisa [Isaac] are some of the fastest guys on the D-line so it just adds another element of speed to that D-line and Chop can pass us from anywhere. He can pass on from inside or outside. So, Coach Manny is just trying to use him everywhere and put pressure on the interior guys too because a lot of the time those guys aren't the best blockers so if you put Chop in, his speed and like you said his power on the bullrush and things like that they can't block them and then obviously me and Adisa on the edge is going to be fun.
Q: How is it playing for someone like Manny [Diaz] who is always working to get you guys on the field in different looks and different packages? What's that process like coming up with those things for you guys?
A Coach Manny, he's creative. Like you see in his defense we have so many different things. We have drops. We have stunts. Sometimes we are just straight gone, sometimes we take the receiver like we have a bunch of different things that Coach Manny does, and it is fun. It's a fun defense to play in. Like I said he's coming up with different things on defense that use all of our different specialties. And like you said, the three men with me, Chop, and Adisa on the prowler on the third down package that we have is going to be a lot of fun. Especially later in the season when we get a groove of things even more. It's going to be amazing.
Adisa Isaac | DE | R-Senior
Q: Was there a point where you sensed frustration on Iowa's part that they weren't really able to do anything, offensively and how good does that feel when that happens?
A: That's probably one of the best feelings when you feel the offense, you know, trying everything but they can't get no movement. And then obviously you know we're having fun on top of that. So, obviously, we focus on what we do on our part but it's definitely a great feeling. You know just seeing everybody make plays and have fun while doing it. That's what we do it for.
Q: Chop [Robinson] just seems to keep getting better and better. Is there something about his game that maybe you feel like maybe is not appreciated, or that maybe goes under the radar?
A: I feel like he's just overall a good player. And as you can see week by week, he's just added more to his toolbox and get in a rhythm and more comfortable. And I feel like that's all it is, you know, the more reps you get, the more you start to do things without thinking about it. You know, once you take the thought out of it, you start to fly around way faster and make more plays. So, I feel like that's what he started to do, just, stop thinking too much.
Q: Iowa's two best drives in terms of yards, were their first two drives in the game. Do you feel like as the game went on, you guys got stronger as a defense?
A: Oh yeah, definitely we try to pride ourselves on starting fast so that was kind of a big part emphasis from last week. You know, try not to give up early yards, and give the offense confidence and momentum. We try to take it early. So once you felt like it was getting out of hand at first, you know, we came back to our ground rules and just play fast and dominate.