Everything Rhett Lashlee said previewing SMU-BYU

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee met with the media on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s matchup vs. BYU. Here’s what Lashlee said with reporters to kick off game week.

Opening statement: “Excited to be playing again pretty quick on Friday night against BYU. Obviously a great opponent, Kalani Sitake is a good friend and a great coach. You can already tell they’re much improved from a year ago. Really explosive on offense, can run it and throw it. Quarterback’s playing great and defensively, they’re big up front. They got a really good pass rusher off the edge and I think their linebackers are much improved from a year ago. So excited to be in Ford Stadium Friday night, ESPN and get a chance to try to get our third win.”

On SMU’s win over HCU: “I thought we played pretty well. We did what we were supposed to do. I think offensively we had 42 knockdowns, ran for 370 yards. So that was good to control the game that way. I think defensively, three turnovers are big. We got off the field a lot on third down, stopped the run. So we did the things we needed to do, cut the penalties in half, still could be better there. So we responded well and we started fast. I think, what, 28 points in the 1st quarter. So that was good. Obviously, the challenges just only increase starting this week.”

On short week vs. BYU: “It’s one less day, but BYU does the same thing. Early in the year, hopefully, you’re physically in a little bit better shape. So it’s a quick turnaround. We’ll do what we can to be smart in the next 72 hours, to be as fresh as we can. I think at the end of the day, both teams got to play in the same amount of game prep time and physicality, resting time. So I think we’ll be all right.”

On beginning the run of power conference matchups: “Ten straight power games is what we asked for. That’s what we wanted. I think there’s been a lot of buzz around our program, which is great. There’s a lot of overzealous people out there prognosticating what we’re supposed to do. I mean, there’s no pressure on us. We’re not supposed to win these games, right? I mean, if you look at history, the four teams that went to the Big 12 last year, none of them had a winning record in their first year. Now, we haven’t had that many bites yet, but I don’t think, and y’all can fact check me. I don’t think we won a home game against a Power Four opponent since 2010. Now, we’ve probably only had ten games at home. We haven’t played one even every year at home. We just need to relax and go play. I think we got a good team. We’re not there yet.

“Just into Week 3, we’re still in that early season process where you’re trying to figure out your identity and who you’re gonna be on both sides of the ball. We have faced adversity already early on in the season and we responded well. But some of these things kind of baffling. To me, we’re the underdog every week. Doesn’t matter what the line says. We’re not supposed to come in and beat everybody. Now, on the flip side, our guys are confident. I think they know that we can compete at this level. I think they feel good that we belong, so we have to go out and show that, but there’s no pressure on us, only the pressure we put on ourselves.”

On first two weeks of college football, ACC games: “If you watch college football the first week and a half. I say week and a half because we were part of the Week 0 group. I think there’s a lot of parity, it’s hard to win. You look across the SEC, the Big Ten, the ACC, the Big 12. A lot of non-conference games that were really tight. You look at our conference, you see, I think, Georgia Tech and Boston College are really good football teams. I already know what kind of talent Florida State has, so I have a feeling they’ll rebound, but it’s hard to win. 

“Nevada goes and beats Troy. You got in most cases, 17, 18 to 23, 24-year old kids going to school, now with NIL, and all these things. It’s just a lot. I think that’s why you have the inconsistency maybe week-to-week. Honestly, it doesn’t really surprise me. I think that sometimes a lot can get made of it week-to-week. Like, well, that happened last week, so you assume it’s going to happen this week. Then you get the total opposite. It’s just too early in the season to really know. Every week, you got to be ready to play. You got to play well to have a chance to win, or you’re probably not going to, no matter who you’re playing.”

On what he’s learned about SMU: “It’s a good question. I think we’re still, even though we got a veteran group, we did bring in new pieces. Usually somewhere in that second, third, fourth game, you settle into the identity of your team. So we’re still kind of figuring that out. I have learned so far that that we’ll respond. I think we responded well in-game at Nevada when things weren’t great at all. We found a way to dig deep and respond to the situation. I think we responded last week by coming out and starting fast and playing well and addressing some of the things that were an issue the week before. That part is encouraging because you’re not gonna play great all the time. Your offense is gonna go through tough streaks. Your defense is gonna struggle at times, (special) teams. It’s the teams that can just kind of go to the next play, go to the next drive, go to the next game, so to speak and respond that are gonna do well. I’ve learned that and then there’s probably a lot of the things we’ll still keep learning.”

On SMU quarterbacks: “Preston’s our starter. He earned that job. He is the starter. He’s gonna start and he’s gonna play a lot. I still think you’ll see Kevin. The last game was the way it went. We kind of played back and forth a little more than we probably normally would, but it was good to get both those guys a lot of drives.

Even Keldric in there, but yeah, nothing’s changed. Preston’s our starter, and I think they’re both playing at a really good level. They’re both valuing the football. They’re both putting the ball in the endzone when they’re out there a lot. We’ll continue to go as is, and I think BYU should be ready for both of them.”

On BYU offense: “I think you always gotta expect to. They really went with one guy in the first game for the most part so I think they’re confident in their quarterback. I think he had four starts a year ago, played really well in the first game. 20-of-30 for a lot of yards, a lot of explosive passes. They present a lot of problems because they’re big up front. They got a good downhill running back so they can run the football right at you and just sustain and control the game. But they like to take their shots, their play action stuff off of it. They’ve got two really good receivers. They got really good tight ends.

“They’re a problem offensively and I think you saw that as the game went on. They really opened up in the second half, again, it was their first game so sometimes offenses, it takes them a little bit to get their footing and then they were really efficient. The (Gerry) Bohanon kid, we’re familiar with him. He’s from Arkansas. He spent time at Baylor and somewhere else I can’t remember. He’s a talented dude who can throw it and run it. So I wouldn’t be shocked to see anything.”

On SMU QB Kevin Jennings: “You learn guys both as the play caller and just as the coach. Like I said, I think I got asked the other night. I think the one thing he’s done, the ball security was a little out there the other night, but he didn’t fumble it. He’s valued the football really well in the two games he’s played. We’ve moved the football when he’s in there. So I think what we’ve learned is different as last year when he was making his first career start, a lot more unknowns, I think we have a pretty good idea what we’re gonna get with Kevin. He acts like a veteran guy who’s played and should. I think he’s got a lot of confidence.”

On SMU DT Tank Booker: “I think it’s been big internally because d-tackle was gonna be an area. You look at games in our league, people are running the ball a lot more in the ACC. You’ve got to be able to stop the run. If you can stop the run and limit explosive plays, that’s the formula on defense. It doesn’t matter your scheme. If you can’t stop the run, they control the ball. You don’t ever have the ball. Then you got to sell out at times and they’re gonna get explosives. Having a guy like Tank in the middle to kind of anchor the unit there. I think a guy like Jared Harrison-Hunte has played really good. I think Mike Lockhart, Kori Roberson, Jonathan Jefferson. I think all those guys have done a really nice job. Sometimes they don’t get all the — Tank scored so that’s why we’re talking about Tank — But other than that, maybe the sack numbers aren’t there. Maybe the tackles aren’t there. But the push they make.The other night on the strip sack, it was because Jared Harrison-Hunte put the guy in the quarterback’s lap, allowed Jahfari to get the sack and Tank was there. There’s no question having a guy that is nicknamed Tank on the inside is a positive.”

On freshman Derrick McFall: “It was good to see him. That’s kind of what we thought we were getting. He played slot receiver part time his senior year at Tyler. He can catch the ball, which he didn’t really show the other night. You see his burst, you see his explosion. It was good to get him some game action because you just never know at running back as the season goes on who you’re gonna need and when you’re gonna need him. I wouldn’t close the book on him this year at all. At the same time, I think you saw a flash of his talent. Then once he’s had a year in a college weight program, I think you’ll see his physique and all that kind of change and catch up to where he could carry a load as a running back. So it was good to see.”

On SMU’s group of running backs: “That’s what we’d love to have. If you look at our guys, they complement each other well. I mean, you got Brashard who’s a running back that also has receiver abilities out of the backfield. Same thing with McFall. But then, I mean, Jaylan Knighton catches the ball well. LJ catches the ball well. He’s more of your downhill guy. The more versatile those guys are, the bigger problem they are for a defense. No different than someone like RJ Maryland is a matchup problem at tight end. We definitely like those guys. It’s good that several of them can do the same kind of type of things.”

On BYU defense: “They make you earn everything. New defensive coordinator from when we played them two years ago. They played well early last year. They had a rough patch, schedule was tough. They had Oklahoma and Oklahoma State beat the last two games last year and lost them late. They were up big, especially in the Oklahoma State game. What I saw the other night is they don’t give up explosive plays. They’re big up front. So their size is a problem because it’s hard to move in the run game. I think they’ve got good juice off the edge to rush the pass though. So we’ll be tested at tackle when we do throw the football. I think their linebackers are much improved. They just look faster, look a little more sudden than who they were playing with last year. Then like I said, their structure on the backend, it’s similar to us in that the way they play their single-high stuff and have the ability to play two-high as well. I don’t wanna call it bend but don’t break. They just don’t give you a lot of explosive stuff. They keep it in front. They make you earn it. They don’t beat themselves. They don’t turn people loose, which as an offense causes you to execute extremely at a high level and be balanced. Otherwise, you’re gonna struggle.”

On SMU P Isaac Pearson: “It’s cool. Obviously, Australian guys are different. They’ve had a lot of success. We’ve had a lot of success with the punters. So I think his position helps that backstory allow him to play. But he’s got a great attitude. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s always in a good mood. He’s grateful to be here. He’s a great team member. I think that what allows him to do a good job back there. He had a great fall camp. I expect him to hopefully not get too much action, but have a really good fall.”

On relationship with BYU coach Kalani Sitake: “We didn’t know each other much other than knowing of each other until my first year here, I went to the Coach’s Classic in Pebble Beach around Memorial Day. He was there. It was my first time going, obviously. We got to hang out and spend some time there. Super nice guy. Then we ended up playing them in the bowl game the first year. We spent a ton of time at the bowl, just at activities and whatnot. There’s not a better, just human being, coach, ambassador for our game in college football than Kalani. There’s no ego. He wants to win and compete for his team, but he does it with class, character. His teams always represent them that way. So I have the utmost respect for him. Then, because of that bowl game experience, where I guess we went for two and didn’t get it, so he got to get this necklace for his wife that I didn’t get to get for mine. Because of that experience, we’ve just stayed in touch. Then, of course, we go back to Pebble each year and get to spend some time there. Like I said, just consider him one of the really good guys in our business. He does it the right way. There’s no question his team takes on his personality. They’re tough, they’re physical, they don’t beat themselves. They can run the football, they can play good defense, but they do it the right way. Like I said, I hate that we have to coach against him again twice in three years, but when we’re not coaching against each other, I like him a lot.”