“These guys have got to continue to play hard because the work is going to pay off.” -Derek Mason following a 31-14 loss to Georgia on Saturday.
Opening comments:
“I have to congratulate a very good Georgia team. They played hard. They made the plays they needed to make. We had a hard time stopping [Georgia running back Nick] Chubb. We had guys try, but you have to make plays. We had opportunities to win the ball game. These kids didn’t give up on playing this game. They continued to play hard.
“Georgia brings a lot of pressure defensively and kept us off-balance. We finally got into a hurry-up offense and it gave us some momentum.”
On getting turnovers:
“We have to finish. There were opportunities to be had… If Oren [Burks] comes down with that one, he probably runs it back because the only guy who can make a play on him is the quarterback… We have to keep working for opportunities and cash in.”
On QB Johnny McCrary’s red zone turnovers:
“He’s trying to hard to make a play… We had a opportunity to get some points [and] kick a field goal if we had to.
“If we can fix our red zone problems, it will be good for us. We’re racking up yards, but not points.”
On Vanderbilt’s issues running the football today:
“[Georgia] loaded boxes, eight- and nine-man boxes. It was hard to find running creases. [Georgia] did a good job of doing it.”
On Georgia’s punt return touchdown:
“We didn’t get off blocks. There was a good block right where he made the cut. He did a nice job of running in open space. We have to get better at getting off blocks.”
On Chubb’s yards after contact:
“He did a lot today. It’s hard to bring him down with just one guy… Any time you’re trying to tackle a running back of his caliber with one person, it’s tough.”
On the success of Vanderbilt’s hurry-up offense:
“Match-ups were in our favor. We were able to get a good balance with it. We had one or two good runs and then could decide between a run or a pass. Johnny [McCrary] is more comfortable in that position, so it’s something we’re going to have to look at.”
On getting pressure on Georgia’s quarterback:
“I thought we did a good job of putting a lot of pressure on their quarterback. He was 11-for-21 [passing]. We didn’t force them into throwing more.”
On the need to establish a lead early:
“Momentum is important. We have to be able to create momentum… In a game like today where we dominate time of possession, it doesn’t matter because we aren’t scoring.”
Mason: “We should’ve gone to a high tempo offense a little earlier.”
— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) September 13, 2015
Mason: We are close (to winning), but we just have to keep grinding. — Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) September 13, 2015
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
