WATCH: Georgia players discuss challenge ahead taking on Texas
ATHENS, Ga. — Four Georgia players have had the chance to talk to reporters this week before the Bulldogs head west to Texas to take on the Longhorns. Trevor Etienne, Dan Jackson, Cash Jones and Nazir Stackhouse all know the type of test that they’ll be up against in Austin, and all of them are embracing it.
DawgsHQ shares partial transcripts of each as well as videos from their respective interviews for you below. Be sure to check out the DawgsHQ YouTube channel so you’ll never miss an interview!
On playing a complete game as an offense…
“We definitely want to get better each week, and that’s something we strive to do as a team. But I feel like no, we haven’t played a great game of football offensively yet, and that’s just something we have keep working at and get better at throughout the season.”
On areas of improvement for Georgia…
“I’d say just doing a lot more of the small things right: eliminating turnovers, executing, just going out there and starting faster, attacking early, just the small things really.”
On lessons Georgia learned from Alabama, using those to prepare for Texas…
“Like I said, just starting faster and eliminating the turnovers. Playing on the road in this league is hard. It’s hard to get a win. Going out there and winning moment by moment and trying to control the game early is something we definitely want to focus on.”
On improving against explosive plays to prepare for Texas…
“We talk about it every week. Being able to win your 50-50 balls, your 50-50 match ups, that’s something we’re going to go out to practice and work on today, a lot, and something we stress every day. We talk about it every week. The number one way to eliminate explosive plays is your effort and your technique, obviously. The overall effort and running to the ball, that’s how you eliminate explosives.”
On working from being a walk-on to a consistent player for Georgia…
“I think, in terms of me, I’ve always had that confidence and belief in myself, but I’ve had a lot of help and support through family and friends and coaches along the way who’ve encouraged me and given me that confidence too, when I might’ve lacked it. It’s easier for me when I’m playing against guys who are very similar and give it their all every day at practice and having confidence in them. It helps me when I know where my help is on the field and just the great coaching staff that we have here, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
On his analysis of Texas’ offense…
“It’s another great SEC opponent. They have a very explosive offense. Great skill players, great running back, great quarterback, but thankfully so do we and we see that every week in practice. It’s like every other week, the work that we’ve put in on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, is going to give us the confidence to go out there and do what we need to do.”
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#78 Nazir Stackhouse | Sr. | DL
On his durability, staying on the field…
“Regardless of the circumstances, I try to do whatever it takes to get into practice even if something hurts, or an injury is aging me. I always try to fight to stay in practice. It might seem that way from the outside, but my availability has always been something important to me. So even if it’s a couple of reps or more reps in practice, I always like to fight to stay in and practice with the guys.”
On facing former Georgia player Bill Norton on Saturday…
“Bill was always a guy who wanted to learn more and become a better player on the field. From what I can remember, we had a really deep room full of guys, and Bill was just one of those guys who was just itching to get on the field and just be a better player. It’s great to see him at a program that is familiar to our play, and he’s doing big things there as well.”
On Georgia DL coach Tray Scott’s impact on the defensive line group…
“Tray Scott has a big impact on just my performance and my technique, he definitely helped me with my confidence on the field. I’ve only built up that confidence from my freshman year to now. Listening to his philosophies and his way of the game and his passion for it just helps me play for him harder as well as Kirby Smart.”
On playing against Texas…
“I’ll definitely have a lot of family at that game. I’m excited to be in Texas, but it’s just another game for us, we’re going to focus on what we’ve been focusing on so far and do our best to win the game.”
On his experience playing high school football in Texas…
“Personally, I feel like Texas high school football is the hardest to play in just because of the big stadiums, fans getting into it and it’s like a cult out there. It’s different from everywhere else but it’s going to be a good atmosphere on Saturday and I’m excited.”
On keys against Texas’ run defense…
“Good communication, coach Bobo (Mike) and coach Smart (Kirby) are going to put us in the best situation possible to win. We’re going to trust the process and stay on our assignments as best as we can.”
