WATCH: Atonio Mafi, Datona Jackson talk improved run game, LSU prospects up front
One of LSU's defining traits is their big linemen, regardless of what side of the ball they're on.
UCLA football right guard Atonio Mafi and defensive lineman Datona Jackson will be two of the Bruins matching up with those imposing Tiger linemen, and they talked to the media about what they expect from Saturday's game. Mafi also touched on his continued transition from defense to offense, and Jackson detailed his big interception versus Hawaii last week.
Atonio Mafi
When did you find out you were starting? Overall thoughts on performance?
I found out sometime during the week, but honestly, we rotate a lot at guard so it doesn't really matter as far as we're all getting playing time and we're all just trying to help the team. And it felt to be pretty good to be up there, finally back on offense, felt like high school again, back to the offensive side and it felt really good to be playing O-Line.
Rewarding to see Charbonnet and Brown succeed?
Man, those two backs, they're as good as any back in the nation. Our job is just try to get them to open space and you guys can see what they do. They're great backs, and definitely just getting them to the second level and just let them ball out. The film doesn't lie, those are some really good running backs.
Looking slimmer? Weight and training changes in transition to O-Line?
Right now, I'm at 356 as of this morning. I'm feeling good and I just want to keep getting in better shape and just continue to play to the best of my abilities, that's kind of the goal right now.
LSU defensive line unlike anything you've ever faced in college?
I mean, obviously every team in – everyone in Division I football has a scholarship for a reason, so everyone's good and you can expect they're at their college for a reason. So I'm excited to play for sure, they definitely present a good challenge for us and we're just excited. We've had a good week of practice, we've been working hard, communicating and it should be fun.
Ever miss the defense or your old position?
No, not really. I mean, defense is fun, you get a lot of recognition, you get to make tackles and stuff, that's cool, but being on the field when you score a touchdown, there's nothing like it. It's really fun having to be there with the boys, with the running backs. And I don't know, something about offense is just more appealing to me, personally. I like blocking and I just find it more fun to play. No hate against no D-Linemen or any of the boys in the other room, my roommate's still playing D-Line, Ty. But offense is, I just feel like, is a better fit for me.
Completely moved on emotionally and mentally to O-Line?
Yes sir, definitely I'm all in on offensive line, I'm not looking back at defense, those my first two years here, all in on offense for sure.
D-Line feel like you abandoned them?
Oh no, no. It's all love. Obviously, they're doing just fine without me, you can see last year's performances and last game, last week, they didn't skip a beat or anything, so it's all love for sure.
Confident in how much you've picked up O-Line or still learning?
I think coach Frye and the other boys, the room has definitely caught me up to speed very quick. Obviously, every week, there's always a chance to get better, but I can't be more grateful to the boys: Jon Gaines, Alec, Sam, Paul Grattan, all those boys that have been playing O-Line for a while, they really took me under their wing and helped me even though we're the same age and everything, later on in our years, but they're helping me out, getting me used to the position. And I'm feeling good, I feel good with where I'm at right now. Obviously there's so much more that I know that I can achieve just listening to the boys and to coach.
Jumping on the Charbonnet Heisman train with Bo Calvert?
Yes sir, for sure. Yeah, he's got my bid. I mean, if I had a vote ... Zach got it for sure.
DATONA JACKSON
Interception?
I just saw some of my teammates put a lot of pressure on the quarterback and I saw how he was dropping and it looked like he was running a screen, so I was just staying vigilant and seeing that he threw the ball in my vicinity, I just reached out and made a play.
Challenges of LSU offense?
I feel like we just have to be ourselves. We have a game plan and we have to execute our game plan to the best of our abilities. We’re going against a former national championship-winning team, so we’ve just got to play our game plan and execute that.
Extra excitement knowing they won a national championship 18 months ago?
Yeah, I think it does. I think it adds a lot more eyes on it [please check that he said this, I couldn’t make it out clearly] and it’s something that draws attention to people and everyone wants to perform when they have eyes on them, so I think that does create that.
Seen anything from LSU quarterback?
Yeah, I’ve noticed that he’s going to be a dual threat, but that’s part of our game plan, we’re planning to put a lot of pressure on him to make him force decisions, so I feel like we have to execute and make him play [inaudible].
Help that you played mobile QB last against Hawaii?
Yeah, I think it keeps everyone in their rush lanes knowing that we’ve got to watch him so he can’t sit in the pocket.
How far has program come since you got to UCLA?
Yeah, so I think this year we’ve increased the building blocks of the younger guys, there’s a lot of younger guys that we’ve got out here, but everyone’s starting to age into their roles really well, and the coaches, they’re helping with that, showing us how to be leaders so it’s not coach-led, it’s player-led, so we’re trying to work our way to being a player-led team.
How have you found a role without Osa?
I expect myself to carry myself like I always have, just be one of the leaders on the team and executing the defense. You know, we all try to help one another be the best that we can on the field, so all we look to one another to execute the plan and I feel it works with everyone on the defense.
Young D-Linemen who got time last week?
Yeah, Jay and Tiaoalii, they’re going to be some big guys, they’ve just got to stick with the program, trust the coaches and they’ll be able to carry the torch for sure.
How confident is the defense after Hawaii?
I would say that our overall confidence is very high. You know, we’re going to stick to our game plan and play our type of game no matter what we face, we’re not going to let anything try to shake us, we’re not going to make anything bigger than what it is, we’re just going to go execute our plan the best we can.
How high is defense's ceiling?
I mean, I feel like we just have to be strong throughout the season, really, if we’re able to just execute what we go, set out to execute every week, then I don’t see a ceiling being put on anything.
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