Mondays with Bobby, featuring Mitchell Henry

Comments from Western Kentucky defensive coordinator Nick Holt, defensive back Arius Wright and linebacker Xavius Boyd after Wednesday’s practice.

Nick Holt

 Defenses keying on Andrew Jackson, allowing Xavius Boyd to prosper? “No, they’re not keying on Andrew. It’s just Xavius is a good football player, too, and he’s been in position to make some plays and he’s made some nice plays for us.”

    Xavius Boyd: “I think he has good size and he’s a good athlete, runs real well, lanky and he has a lot of good game experience and he plays fast. He has good speed for a big kid.”

    USA running QB: “Well, they run a lot of the read-option and some of the other runs that go on with a mobile quarterback. We gotta stop the run, we’ve gotta do a better job of that than we have the last two weeks.

“Then when they do throw it, he’s mobile, he can extend plays and he’s accurate and he’s a much-improved football player. He’s doing a heckuva job.

“We got our work cut out for us because he can run and he can throw the ball pretty well.”

    WKU D-line vs. USA O-line: “Our advantage – I don’t know that yet. We’ll have to wait and see how the game unfolds. We haven’t done a great job up front as of now. Last week we got pushed around.

“This is a game where we gotta bounce back and show what we can really do. I don’t really know if we have an advantage at this point over those guys. It remains to be seen. We need more production out of our defensive line and our linebackers as well.”

    This week’s practice: “I think some guys are getting better. We’re getting some of the freshmen, some of the young guys more reps and they’re starting to get it, starting to play real fast, or faster I should say.

“I see the young guys improving, yeah, and some of the guys that have played a little bit more, they’re progressing, but I see a little more improvement with some of the newer kids.”

    Matheny vs. Kentucky’s Whitlow: “I think he’s mobile like Whitlow. They have a lot more quarterback runs, South Alabama does, than some of the other schools that we’ve played. He’s a good football player and started off this season playing really well.

“They have more gun runs, more quarterback-type runs for him in their offense than some of the other schools that we’ve played. He’s featured more.”

    Veterans helping out youngsters: “I think there’s been some good leadership there. I think that’s something we’re trying to improve on everyday. We need to try and be more vocal out there with our older kids. That’s something that’s an ongoing process. We need to improve in that area.”

    USA’s backup QB: “They do the same plays, really, with either guy. The gameplan doesn’t change much between the two quarterbacks. They still run the same plays with either quarterback. Not that big of difference at all.”

Arius Wright

    Xavius Boyd and Andrew Jackson: “Drew and X, they both help us out a lot with run plays, play-action pass – everything. Having them two in the middle, it definitely helps us out in the secondary as safeties with everything.”

    Boyd ever feel disrespected? “Honestly? Drew gets his shine because he deserves it. He works hard. Doodie, X, I think he should get just as much, honestly, in my opinion, because he holds it down just like Drew does. It’s just him being overshadowed by. No. 4 in the middle.”

    USA receivers: “They have a small, little slot receiver that they like to go to. He’s a pretty good player, been watching him on film, in and out of his breaks, his cuts, catching the ball.

“Their quarterback, pretty accurate when he throws it, so we just gotta make sure we cover ‘em up every second they come off the line.”

    Smaller guy vs. Bigger guy: “Honestly, I prepare the same way. Every football player, he’s gonna line up and he’s gonna have the same mindset I have: To win. I don’t like to, ‘Oh yeah, I’m gonna do something different with him and him and him.’ I just go with my same mindset.”

Xavius Boyd

   How has your game improved? “Really just learning the game and being able to play faster. Every year I’ve learned the game a little bit more, allowed me to play faster and improve every year.”

 South Alabama: “I’ve seen something similar to Tennessee, what Tennessee do. They’re pretty technique-sound, they got some big guys at the tight end spot, a couple good running backs. They looking good.”

 Tennessee game translate to this week? “I think that’ll give me a good advantage, seeing the same thing.”

Filed under: Football, Talkin’ bout the Tops