Everything Kirby Moore Said During Tuesday's Cotton Bowl Press Conference
The Missouri Tigers offense has been nothing short of spectacular throughout their historic 10-2 season. First-year offensive coordinator Kirby Moore has made a tremendous impact since his arrival, and as the No. 9 Tigers prepare for the Cotton Bowl against No. 7 Ohio State, he reflected on the journey.
Here's a full transcript of what Moore said during Tuesday's press conference.
On wide receiver Luther Burden III:
This season, Luther's made some huge strides, is taking the next steps within his game and his approach off the field as he takes care of his body from a mental standpoint. He's playing faster. We all know his abilities and he's done a great job this season with the ball in his hands.
On quarterback Brady Cook:
Work ethic is second to none. Offense starts with him. The things we asked him to do at the line of scrimmage. Taking care of the ball and really being the starting point in terms of commanding the offense... Last January he had a procedure after the season, so he wasn't available for spring ball. But from a mental standpoint he was glued in. In meetings, it felt like he was practicing with just the amount of detail and communication. In the summer there's more access so we were getting a feel for his strengths and we continued that through fall camp to early in the season. We were able to win but I wouldn't say we played our best on offense. That third game against Kansas State his confidence really grew. We did some things that he was really comfortable with and it comes back to execution, which carried over the rest of the season.
On offensive tackle Javon Foster:
Anchor. He's played a lot of football. We emphasize the outside zone and he's just been a huge anchor within the offense, pass protection and locking down that side...Javon is a very reserved guy, but you can tell that he loves football and competing. I think he just came back to really take the next step as a player.
On running back Cody Schrader:
His ability to make guys miss, extra yards, the guy is a quarterback playing running back. I know all of you guys have gotten to know him, but he watches film on the bus, the meeting room, working out at the hotel, the guy is unbelievable.
On wide receiver Theo Wease Jr.:
Huge part of our jump on offense. The success he had early in his career, coming to Missouri, just taking command of that receiver room with Luther, Mookie (Cooper) and Mekhi (Miller). He's been a huge bright spot for us...His experience and maturity have been tremendous towards the other receivers. The work he's put into it on a consistent basis has helped him treat it like a true pro, which has carried over within our whole offense.
On his contract extension:
I feel very positive about where we're at and where we're going. I think there are a lot of moving parts in college football right now and we have a lot of continuity moving forward to next season. I'm excited about that. We have a tremendous group of players and staff. It's our offense, not my offense. Just working with those guys on a daily basis has been really enjoyable this year.
On the offensive line's stability:
There's a sense of freedom that those guys are going to consistently do their job. The matchups in the SEC are sometimes difficult. You look at the Florida 2-minute drive where we had some big completions. The one thing no one talks about is that we didn't get any pressure. Those guys did a tremendous job. Defense knows we're throwing the ball and Florida's got a good d-line. Third-and-17, fourth-and-17, huge completions and it starts up front.
On meshing his system with head coach Eli Drinkwitz's:
It starts with watching every game, practice and individual cut-ups from last year. Terminology too because you still have to feel comfortable calling it. The big thing for me, my parents were educators and when you're communicating with the guys you have to tell a story for things to go together. When new guys come onto campus, those guys have to adapt to your system. Outside zone within the run game had done really well here, so we stuck with that. There were a few things in the passing game like play-action that we adjusted. But it was an open book and we just went to work on that.
On what he's looking forward to next year with players being familiar with his system:
We'll start that when we get done with this game in January. Self-scout, evaluate things we did well and can improve on, things that other teams do in college football and the NFL that do really well and it might fit us. We're going to explore those things throughout January and February.
On what he's emphasized to his players about the venue:
I've been here a few times because of my brother (former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore) Our guys have played in some cool settings within their experience in the SEC. Coach Drink is covering that really well, but it still comes back to execution, taking care of the ball, being explosive, establishing the run, scoring in the red zone and executing on third downs.
On what's stood out about Missouri throughout his first season:
The players really embrace the work during spring ball, fall camp and the season. Toughness Tuesday, Winning Wednesday, Thorough Thursday, Fast Friday, our guys are students of the game and I love working with them.
On how the players have impacted him and made him a better coach:
The amount of options we give them on the line of scrimmage has allowed some freedom to let their talent and ability to see things fast and make us right instead of having the perfect call.
On how he gained his team's trust to buy in:
I don't think that happens in one day as it's over time. I don't care what the level is, in terms of building relationships and showing that we could take the next step as an offense. Over time we had some success in practice and throughout fall camp there was also really good defense across the ball. It didn't happen all at once but it carried over into some games.
On the moment the offense hit its stride:
There were certain points in the K-State game that felt really good, but we then got stagnant in the second and third quarters. We came back in the fourth quarter, but we're never a finished product. There are still things that even in practice today that we have to improve on and detail up. That's why I love our guys though because I don't think they're ever satisfied and they've always got something to prove.
On what stands out about Ohio State's defense:
It starts with personnel. They've got some pretty good players right up front. Linebackers, specifically (Tommy Eichenberg) does a great job in terms of play recognition. The secondary, you look at point totals of 7-or-8 games under 12 points, and I give them credit for that. (Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles) does a really good job of making the variety of defense really sound. That's really good coaching and teaching and their guys are executing really well.
On players with little-to-no snaps who have stepped up in bowl practices and impressed him for next year:
That was more back in Columbia. We had some good-on-good younger guys that are taking the next step like (running back) Jamal Roberts. Quarterbacks are getting better. We'll keep working at that as we get into spring ball.
