Brent Venables Quotations

Whether recognized nationally or not, we still feel we have a defense that's got a lot of very, very good players and some of the best at their positions in the country. Hopefully on Tuesday night you'll be able to see that.

Whether or not he's ready, it's irrelevant because he's going to play. There's a pecking order of what you have going into the year. He was where he was and now he is where he is. I feel comfortable with Alan and he'll be capable of helping us.

Just busted coverage. It's a matter of consistency, not having busted assignments. You can't do that.

I thought it was okay, pretty good. We pressured a lot from different places. As far as a straight four-man rush, in passing situations, it's hard to gauge that right now. We'll have to see.

We'll find the guys that want to play and want to prepare. This is a long season, so we have to make these guys respond.

We practiced most of two-a-days without him. It would have been worse if he would have practiced this whole time and then lose him now. Guys got valuable reps and you have to count on them.

This was a great win for us. I think this was about as good as we've played against a pretty good opponent.

We're going to be fine. It's a good group. It's not like we're limited in ability. We have ability.

You feel that for them where they've got a lot to prove, and you're right there with them.

The top-line guys in the Washington area this year are as good as anyone in the country.

Athletically he is as good as they come. But he's not where he needs to be as a player.

Athletically he is as good as they come, ... But he's not where he needs to be as a player.

You're very concerned about tackling him and being in all the right fits. He's smallish back there, so you kind of lose sight of him. He's a fabulous player.

It's amazing when you're playing consistently and not giving up big plays, the perception is now all of a sudden you're playing dominant defense. But over the long haul, in time you're going to give up some plays here and there.

They can expose you athletically without proper technique. That's what well-coached teams do.

You've got to do a good job of disguising what you do without confusing yourself.