Comments from Georgia Tech players Anree Saint-Amour, Jalen Johnson, Tobias Oliver, Parker Braun and Jordan Mason following the Yellow Jackets’ 49-21 defeat of Virginia Tech Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va.
DEFENSIVE END ANREE SAINT-AMOUR
“We feel like anytime we go into a game, we should be able to dominate the other team. As long as we execute what the coaches are telling us to do and playing hard and playing with all our heart, I feel like we can dominate anybody.”
On getting quarterback Ryan Willis out of his rhythm:
“Once the blitzes starting coming in more and everybody started to getting the pass rush, it started to make him a little bit nervous and that was a big change in the game.”
On defense settling down after first two possessions:
It definitely looked like a shootout in the beginning. But I felt like the defense just needed to relax. Everybody needed to relax. We were kind of up on our toes a little bit. We didn’t get ’em planted in the beginning. That’s something we need to do better. We need to come out from the beginning and finish the whole game.
LINEBACKER JALEN JOHNSON
“It was a crazy couple plays. We had a lot of penalties and stuff, but we’ve just been working on staying in our lane. We did a good job getting down there and it just bounced off his facemask and right into my hands. That was pretty awesome.”
On stopping Virginia Tech:
“I think we just try to make them one-dimensional, just stopping the run and making them pass more, and I think we just did a good job with that tonight.”
QUARTERBACK TOBIAS OLIVER
On physical condition after 40 carries:
I feel great. I’m a little banged up, but I feel pretty good.
On run game’s effectiveness:
They started overplaying a lot of things. They had a lot of stunts early in the game. In the second half, they kind of slowed it down because we started hurting them outside. But they started overplaying a lot and we started getting behind it, so it was pretty good.
On if he thought he would be the starter:
“Yeah. In the bye week, TaQuon (Marshall) wasn’t really practicing. He was banged up from the week before, so again, I didn’t prepare any differently. I prepare every week the same. So even if I didn’t start, I knew I would get in because TaQuon wasn’t healthy enough.”
On fatigue:
“I felt fine. First quarter, a little bit. I had to catch my second wind. But going into the second quarter, I felt great. I was fresh.”
On his role going forward
“TaQuon had two weeks off. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back to starter. I mean, he’s earned it. He’s a senior, but then again, I want TaQuon to know that, at the end of the day, he doesn’t need to kill himself. If he needs to come out for a couple drives, then I got him. He’s got my help.”
LEFT GUARD PARKER BRAUN
On beating Virginia Tech for a third consecutive year:
“It’s kind of surreal isn’t it. we’ve been kind of touch and go this year so far, but it’s good to beat them again.”
On playing in Lane Stadium:
“It’s such a great environment. I wish we could get people like this in Bobby Dodd to come out and support us. That would be great. Because the environment here is fantastic.”
On Tobias Oliver:
“He’s such a good, physical runner. He’s got no problem cutting up field and really getting the extra yards.”
B-BACK JORDAN MASON
On Tobias Oliver:
“Tobias was on his grind tonight. I don’t know what kicked into him. I don’t know if he had some wienies before or something. I don know what he had, but my boy was showing out tonight. He came through for us. He opened it up for me and Jerry (Howard).”
On controlling the game:
“They’re not experienced, so I was kind of hoping this game would end up like this. You’ve got to be experienced enough to play with us, so we just ran the ball on them. We really didn’t have to pass a lot.”
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