Los Angeles, Calif – On Sunday morning, members from the Florida State offense and Oregon defense met with the media to discuss the Rose Bowl game on New Years Day.
Here’s a short summary of what representatives from Florida State offense had to say about Oregon.
Florida State running back Karlos Williams on Oregon’s defensive line
They’re very, very athletic, very long guys, use their hands, play with their feet very, very well. Take on blocks very well. Be able to shed blocks and make plays, keeping containment on the edge. The nose guard is very active, very low centered guy, can play with his hands and stays low to the ground. They’re very fast and athletic, just like much of our defensive line. We have guys like Mario.
I believe No. 96, No. 91 on their defense. He’s very active, makes plays all the time. Every time we turn on the film, he’s going after the ball and chasing after the ball. He stays very, very active.
We’re going to have a challenge before us, but we’re going to step up to that challenge, and we’re preparing every day.
Jameis Winston on whether Florida State will play Oregon differently without Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
I said a lot of times, and I don’t mean to come off as arrogant, but we don’t discriminate. Even if he was on the field, we were going to be looking forward to playing him.
It’s going to be a football game. Things happen in football games. Things happen at football practice. Like I said, it’s a team thing. It’s not just attacking one player or picking on somebody. If we see some matchups – because I believe we’ve got the best receiver in the country in Rashad Greene and the best tight end in Nick O’Leary, and I believe our other guys are pretty good too.
We don’t fear nobody. Richard Sherman get out there and line up against us, we wouldn’t throw away from him neither.
Florida State co-offensive coordinator Randy Sanders on implications of Ekpre-Olomu injury
Personally, I’m glad we’re not playing Richard Sherman.
First of all, I hate it for the young man. He’s an outstanding football player. Injuries are part of the game. It’s an unfortunate part of the game. You hate to see it to happen to anyone, period, but especially someone of his stature, what he had achieved to get to this point in the season and have it happen in practice, it’s really heartbreaking.
But at the same time, him not being there, no question will diminish a little bit of their defense, but it’s not like the player they’re putting in behind him is not good. Oregon doesn’t get to – you don’t get to a position to play in a game like this without having good players, and they’ve got more than one. So we know whoever comes in will be a good player.
That being said, we also believe, if we do what we do well, then we’ll be fine because the guys we go against in practice each day are pretty good too. I’m not saying they’re as good as him or better or anything else, I don’t mean that, but it’s more about us taking care of our business, our process than it is necessarily who’s on the other side.
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt