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University of Massachusets Athletics
Postgame Quotes: September 18 vs. Eastern Michigan
Head Coach Walt Bell
Opening Statement
“We made too many mistakes as a football team today. They’re a good group and you can’t play football that way. We started finding our rhythm to move the ball on offense, but we did not find our footing on defense today. We had critical special teams error in terms of the punter that got rubbed, we got bailed out by the defense. But again, just too many critical errors when you’re playing a football team that’s as good as they are.”
On getting off to better starts
“It’s something we emphasize every day, obviously I’m not pushing it well enough, but that’s one of our things that matters is starting fast and execution. We were in a little bit of a hurry, a little bit of a rush, and you throw the ball before it was expected and it ends up going off of OC’s hands and getting picked off. It’s execution. That’s on us as coaches.
On Brady Olson’s performance
"He did some things that you wouldn’t expect a freshman to do, but he also did some things that a really young player does. He’s a tough kid, physically tough, mentally tough kid.”
On the Melvin Hill fumble
"You should have your wrist up. Anytime there’s contact you take your second hand over to the wrist, I don’t think he did either of those things and it’s poor coaching.”
On the performance of the wide receivers
At times we executed well. When everything’s as it’s supposed to be, we’re a pretty good football team. I thought the biggest thing today was that it was the first time since I’ve been here that we actually looked explosive at times. And now, the way they play defense let us have the ability to do that, but I’m excited for those guys where it was the first time that they’ve probably been explosive on the perimeter since I’ve been here.”
On Josiah Johnson
“Josiah’s got a really interesting role. He came in as a quarterback and he’s 6’5” and almost 230 pounds. He’s tough enough to block, can make plays in space, he’s great perimeter blocker, he’s learning to play in line as well. We struggle with short yards and goal line, and it’s a huge point emphasis. We got two situations today they scored two touchdowns.
“I think the thing that’s most impressive about Josiah is how invested he is in the football game.”
On Ellis Merriweather
“I don’t know many plays we played today, but he played in every one of them, and also played on special teams. We’re down to one healthy scholarship running back and we don’t know if we’re going to get Kay’Ron Adams back. It’s really unfortunate but it’s kind of out of our control. We’re thin right now. It’s tough. I thought he fought his heart out.”
On Carter Scudo
“Carter’s a great athlete and obviously as we continue to elevate the roster, he’s going to have more and more competition, but the one thing I do know about him he’s going to be the guy who makes himself irreplaceable. I don’t know what his role’s going to be some day, but I know that he’s going to be on the field.
"That’s a guy who works every day with an unbelievably positive attitude and he’s going turn into one of our best special teams players. He was a wide receiver when he started here and then he moved to running back because we had some issues from a depth standpoint, but anywhere we need him to go he does a fantastic job. He’s going to be a contributor for the next four years.”
Redshirt Junior Running Back Ellis Merriweather
On his workload against Eastern Michigan
“I am appreciative that Coach Bell trusts me to go out there and take that many carries. The offensive line worked their butts off and gave me a lot of room. I still feel like I am coming to my own as a running back. I probably left some stuff on the field today and I just have to go out there tomorrow and watch the film, learn from my mistakes, and execute better.”
On gelling with the offensive line
“Coach Bell has really done a great job at getting that chemistry together. They work their butts off at practice, they are out there before practice, and I feel like the chemistry as a whole as a running back and the offensive line has grown.”
On how the run game fits into the UMass offense
“Coach Bell prides himself in being a run first team. The way today’s, game was happening, passing was the best option just so we could get more points on the board. Passing should be balanced as best as possible but we pride ourselves in being a tough power run team.”
On Brady Olson’s demeanor in the first half
“Brady is one of the most composed guys on the team. He is the first in the building. He is still a young guy, so of course he is going to make mistakes. He is still trying to get his feet wet, so we pride ourselves in giving him more time to make the right decision. I don’t judge him for making mistakes. He is still learning. I think he has been exceptional for the situation that has been placed on him.”
On getting off to better starts in the game
“We just have to execute from second one. That’s on us. We weren’t there when we needed to. We’ve started out kind of flat the past couple games we need to understand what we are getting ourselves into, how we need to respond, how we need to bring the energy when we first walk out there onto the field.
On his production today against Eastern Michigan
“Coach Bell was calling plays that he knew I would be able to run up to the best of our levels. The offensive lines definitely worked their butts off and gave me lanes. As an offensive running back, the greatest thing I can do is have two pick-ups. I know I am still coming into my own. I don’t feel I have played the best game ever, the stats may have shown that but I still feel like I left some meat on the bone. I missed a drive, there were things I feel like I could have done better.”
On having Coach Bell calling the plays on offense
“I don’t think it has really been too much different (from last season), it is just the fact that last year was COVID season. We went back and forth with quarantine where we weren’t able to mesh and gel as well. Now we were here all summer, since the beginning of May. We have been working our butts off, doing walkthroughs and meetings. I think we really had a lot more time to understand the offense and what we need to do to execute the offense. I do really appreciate how the team has come together and we are really putting a lot of work to execute the plays to the best of our ability.”
Opening Statement
“We made too many mistakes as a football team today. They’re a good group and you can’t play football that way. We started finding our rhythm to move the ball on offense, but we did not find our footing on defense today. We had critical special teams error in terms of the punter that got rubbed, we got bailed out by the defense. But again, just too many critical errors when you’re playing a football team that’s as good as they are.”
On getting off to better starts
“It’s something we emphasize every day, obviously I’m not pushing it well enough, but that’s one of our things that matters is starting fast and execution. We were in a little bit of a hurry, a little bit of a rush, and you throw the ball before it was expected and it ends up going off of OC’s hands and getting picked off. It’s execution. That’s on us as coaches.
On Brady Olson’s performance
"He did some things that you wouldn’t expect a freshman to do, but he also did some things that a really young player does. He’s a tough kid, physically tough, mentally tough kid.”
On the Melvin Hill fumble
"You should have your wrist up. Anytime there’s contact you take your second hand over to the wrist, I don’t think he did either of those things and it’s poor coaching.”
On the performance of the wide receivers
At times we executed well. When everything’s as it’s supposed to be, we’re a pretty good football team. I thought the biggest thing today was that it was the first time since I’ve been here that we actually looked explosive at times. And now, the way they play defense let us have the ability to do that, but I’m excited for those guys where it was the first time that they’ve probably been explosive on the perimeter since I’ve been here.”
On Josiah Johnson
“Josiah’s got a really interesting role. He came in as a quarterback and he’s 6’5” and almost 230 pounds. He’s tough enough to block, can make plays in space, he’s great perimeter blocker, he’s learning to play in line as well. We struggle with short yards and goal line, and it’s a huge point emphasis. We got two situations today they scored two touchdowns.
“I think the thing that’s most impressive about Josiah is how invested he is in the football game.”
On Ellis Merriweather
“I don’t know many plays we played today, but he played in every one of them, and also played on special teams. We’re down to one healthy scholarship running back and we don’t know if we’re going to get Kay’Ron Adams back. It’s really unfortunate but it’s kind of out of our control. We’re thin right now. It’s tough. I thought he fought his heart out.”
On Carter Scudo
“Carter’s a great athlete and obviously as we continue to elevate the roster, he’s going to have more and more competition, but the one thing I do know about him he’s going to be the guy who makes himself irreplaceable. I don’t know what his role’s going to be some day, but I know that he’s going to be on the field.
"That’s a guy who works every day with an unbelievably positive attitude and he’s going turn into one of our best special teams players. He was a wide receiver when he started here and then he moved to running back because we had some issues from a depth standpoint, but anywhere we need him to go he does a fantastic job. He’s going to be a contributor for the next four years.”
Redshirt Junior Running Back Ellis Merriweather
On his workload against Eastern Michigan
“I am appreciative that Coach Bell trusts me to go out there and take that many carries. The offensive line worked their butts off and gave me a lot of room. I still feel like I am coming to my own as a running back. I probably left some stuff on the field today and I just have to go out there tomorrow and watch the film, learn from my mistakes, and execute better.”
On gelling with the offensive line
“Coach Bell has really done a great job at getting that chemistry together. They work their butts off at practice, they are out there before practice, and I feel like the chemistry as a whole as a running back and the offensive line has grown.”
On how the run game fits into the UMass offense
“Coach Bell prides himself in being a run first team. The way today’s, game was happening, passing was the best option just so we could get more points on the board. Passing should be balanced as best as possible but we pride ourselves in being a tough power run team.”
On Brady Olson’s demeanor in the first half
“Brady is one of the most composed guys on the team. He is the first in the building. He is still a young guy, so of course he is going to make mistakes. He is still trying to get his feet wet, so we pride ourselves in giving him more time to make the right decision. I don’t judge him for making mistakes. He is still learning. I think he has been exceptional for the situation that has been placed on him.”
On getting off to better starts in the game
“We just have to execute from second one. That’s on us. We weren’t there when we needed to. We’ve started out kind of flat the past couple games we need to understand what we are getting ourselves into, how we need to respond, how we need to bring the energy when we first walk out there onto the field.
On his production today against Eastern Michigan
“Coach Bell was calling plays that he knew I would be able to run up to the best of our levels. The offensive lines definitely worked their butts off and gave me lanes. As an offensive running back, the greatest thing I can do is have two pick-ups. I know I am still coming into my own. I don’t feel I have played the best game ever, the stats may have shown that but I still feel like I left some meat on the bone. I missed a drive, there were things I feel like I could have done better.”
On having Coach Bell calling the plays on offense
“I don’t think it has really been too much different (from last season), it is just the fact that last year was COVID season. We went back and forth with quarantine where we weren’t able to mesh and gel as well. Now we were here all summer, since the beginning of May. We have been working our butts off, doing walkthroughs and meetings. I think we really had a lot more time to understand the offense and what we need to do to execute the offense. I do really appreciate how the team has come together and we are really putting a lot of work to execute the plays to the best of our ability.”