Tyrique Stevenson blog: Happy I made big play to help us win on Saturday, now we have to prove a lot of people wrong vs. Florida State

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CB Tyrique Stevenson will have a weekly blog all season at CaneSport.com. In this edition, Stevenson talks about the Virginia game and where the team goes from here.

GREAT DEFENSIVE BATTLE SATURDAY, AND WE NEVER FLINCHED

The Virginia game was a heck of a game for both of the defenses. To go out there and just hold each team to a minimum of field goals, that’s just an amazing job by both defenses. And the funny thing is I was telling our defense toward the second quarter, whoever flinches first, what defense flinches first (i going to lose) and we can’t be the ones that will flinch first.

Knowing that we couldn’t be the ones that flinched first was kind of nerve-racking, but you also have to just go out there and play your game. Each play has its own identity. If you go out there thinking about `Oh, I can’t mess up, I can’t mess up,’ at the end of the day you’re going to mess up. We just put that to the back of our mind, knew we had to play hard as a defense. Every game we have to do that, but this game we knew we really had to buckle down.

It was a great feeling knowing that everybody out there is on the same page, that every guy out there wants to win, every guy out there was ready to execute to the highest extent. It just felt good going out there as a defense and playing a great game. I’d say it was the most we were locked in as a complete defense and everyone being on the same page. I’d say Virginia this past game was the best game as far as the D line, linebackers and secondary all locked in as one.

Going into a game, we always expect a defensive battle. Going out there we always want to be the best defense. We say this little chant befoe the game. James (Williams) brought it to us from high school. The end of the chant is `If they can’t score, they can’t win.’ We go out there every week trying to be the best defense and cause the most turnovers.

As the games keep going on we are understanding that we can be one of the best defenses in the country. We have one of the top D lines in the country, so we just have to put everything together so we can ride out smoothly.

THE PRESSURE WAS THERE, AND I’M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A BIG PLAY

In games you feel pressure, but at the same time it should be fun. As a defense you should want to have your back against the wall, should want to be out there when it counts. As a defense that creates more of a family vibe between the guys on the field, knowing that each and everybody has each other’s backs. So it’s pressure, but this week was more fun that all the guys were locked in, ready for the challenge in front of us.

As for the pass breakup I had in overtime? All game me and 3 (Dontayvion Wicks) were just having little words, nothing disrespectful, but just on that last play I kind of knew it in my head – it’s their best receiver out here, a 1 on 1 matchup, they definitely are going to throw it. I was waiting on it all game. You know, it presented itself like I knew it would. But just on that play, credit to him for the release he did. I don’t think too many people did that release on me and he didn’t do that release all game. So credit to him for that release. But I just knew the ball was coming. I just knew crunch time they’re going to their best guy. On defense, I’m one of the top guys on this defense so it was a battle of who wanted it more.

He kind of walked off the line of scrimmage. As a defender you’re used to people running off, making a quick decision. Him walking off, kind of paused my mind for a second because I’m trying to figure out what he’s going to do. He released to the fade, which is a great release for him in a great, critical time. But I pretty much knew what was coming, just had to figure out how he was going to get there. He did his best to get there and as a defender you never can panic. Just finish the play out and if you have to go to the ground with him you have to go to the ground with him.

He caught the ball, then when we both were on the way down I happened to pull it out at the last second. I don’t even remember doing that. I remember feeling the ball and pulling through it. Went down and saw the ball was out. All instinct, no thinking, no nothing, just your body is going back to your training really. And that’s what always happens in moments like those, moments where guys have big plays, shake a lot of people and things like that. It’s instincts, they’re not thinking. It pretty much goes back to how you train. So if you train hard, train on the things you need, nine times out of 10 your body will kick in and finish it for you.

For me, I’d say a few times these last few weeks I’ve been working on making sure my hand is between the ball and the receiver or making sure my hands are between the catch radius and everything. I get a couple of extra reps after practice with players, couple of reps after our late night meetings and just try to work on it. It was really instincts, me working on it for the last few weeks. It was just amazing that my body was able to handle that for me while honestly I wasn’t even there until I stood up and saw the ball was out.

Making that play felt great. At the moment my energy was towards 3 because of the back and forth we had. After I calmed down I just realized I brought some juice to my team. And just I’m happy to be in that predicament and be able to put the team on my back when they needed it. I could have gotten too excited and gotten a penalty, so I’m happy I just walked away, walked past Blades, past Corey, but I felt that was just the energy and the good mindset I have to get away from 3 as much as I possibly can, not put my team in a stupid situation.

My mindset with 3 – it all goes down to a dog mentality, I’m going to beat you before you beat me. I’m more prepared for this than you and I feel I’m better than you. So it puts you in more of a dog mentality, that I’m going to make him quit before I actually do. It puts you in the mindset of let’s go, let’s work. Everybody hasn’t got it, but me, I’ve got it. And I was just willing to work on every aspect of the game. You have to be mentally strong in this game, just be a dog. Have to want to go out there and dominate the man across from you.

Also for a corner your feet and hands – you have to be able to move in front of these guys. These guys are fast, shifty. These guys know what they’re going to do, you don’t know what you’re going to do. So the best thing as a DB is feet and be able to have hands, separate from blocks, finish through the ball or rip the ball out, be able to hold and make a tackle. We always have the saying `Feet before hands’ because if you use your hands before feet you’re dead. Best thing as a corner, safety, anyone covering somebody the best thing to have is elite footwork. And there’s always times you have to be able to knock the ball away. When the ball is in the air it’s really a 25/75 percent chance on their end because they see the ball, know where they’re going and their quarterback has chemistry and knows where to put it. You’re always at a disadvantage, but if you believe in yourself and trust your technique and just put in the work you the majority of the time will come out smelling like a rose.

LEONARD TAYLOR GETTING HUGE BOOST OF CONFIDENCE

Leonard Taylor is a young bull in my eyes. I played with him at two different high schools, played with him on the basketball team in high school. He’s always been a younger guy to me but just seeing him going out there and doing his thing makes me happy. To see him striving for excellence, being dominant like I know he can is a lot of joy and happiness for me that he’s out there doing his thing.

It should give him a huge boost of confidence, but at the same time it’s on us to stay up on him and make sure the standard he is capable of and is upheld within himself.

WE WANT TO PROVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WRONG VS. FSU

Florida State, it’s going to be a great game. Florida State coming in with a great offense, their quarterback makes their team go. They have a couple of good receivers this year. Just I feel like us preparing and us attacking the week and the playbook is going to give us an advantage. I’m excited for it, excited to have the opportunity with the guys on this team to go out there and prove a lot of people wrong this week.

Last year’s game against Florida State I didn’t actually soak it all up until the third quarter when I realized what type of game this was, where I was, what type of environment I was in. Definitely a crazy game. It came down to the last straw, and I’m pretty sure this game will come down to the last straw and I just believe that we are going to go in and prepare hard to put ourselves at an advantage.

The atmosphere at the game, I’m excited. Pretty sure this game will be sold out, so I’m very excited about the fans coming in and being a big part of it. Just cheering us on, giving us the support we need.

Growing up I didn’t really follow Miami vs. Florida State, but I always knew what type of rivalry it was. Growing up and seeing it – the teachers put it in your face. I had some friends, older guys and cousins, people from the neighborhood that played at Florida State, played here. It was always around, but I never knew the aspect of it till I actually got to college.

Now it feels special to be part of it. Like coach DVD said, you’re going to have a good season, have everything, but the only thing people are really going to remember is did you win anything and what’s your record against Florida State? Being part of this series, having the opportunity in this game does mean a lot to contribute to this long series.

I think the key to winning will be preparation and dedication. What team wants it more, what team came in prepared more, what team makes less mistakes. Just the team that’s more prepared and the team that actually wants this game the most will win.