Quotes from the Star-Bulletin on 12/29

About how JJ had practice start at around 7:30am, the day after their first 11pm bed check, Blaze said:
“I think he was just making sure everyone was in their room for curfew." (HSB)

Asked if this was back to normal since they practice in the morning at home, Blaze said:
“Back home it’s 3 a.m. I don’t think this is normal.” (HSB)

About how they work against Colt in practice, GM said:
"I've had the opportunity to defend a lot of great quarterbacks, whatever. The great ones. John Elway. Warren Moon. Dan Marino. But he's the most accurate, or right in there with those guys, and he's got a good arm. It has really helped us get better as a defense. We're 19th in pass efficiency because in practice he forces us to be on people. Colt Brennan's a big-time player and I think he's underestimated, really." (HSB)

About how Colt will be successful in the NFL, former NFL defensive coordinator GM said:
"I see him going very high because he can do what the good ones do. He's got it, whatever it is. He's got accuracy and that's so important. Plus he's mobile in the pocket. He hasn't been as mobile this year because he's been hurt with that ankle." (HSB)

About how Colt has been able to handle the extreme spotlight on him and all of the demands on his time, GM said:
"He's a rock star in Hawaii. I think he's handled himself unbelievably. He has a lot of pressure on him. He has a lot of decisions he's going to have to make. He's a loose kind of guy and he's getting a lot of great advice from (UH head coach) June (Jones). He cares about people. He really cares about the people in Hawaii. He is into this team. That's why he came back. He wanted all this to happen and it has happened. And that's pretty special. To be honest, this is really a special group of guys." (HSB)

About how NY Times reporter Pete Thamel interviewed him, graduate assistant Brian Kajiyama said:
"Colt recommended me to him, so that demonstrated that players see me as more than just someone who hangs around." (HSB)

About interviewing Brian K, Thamel said:
"He's a good interview. He's funny and bright." (HSB)

About how GM doesn't blitz the safeties or commit them to run support as much as Glanville did, Jake Patek said:
"Last year every snap was pretty much cover 3. But Coach Mack likes to have all four secondary players back together." (HSB)

About how GM told him that he wasn't going to be left on 1-on-1 D all the time, Myron Newberry said:
"Coach McMackin preached playing as a team, and that's what we did, all season. When he came in, he said I did a good job last year, but he was going to get me some help, I wasn't going to be on an island all the time." (HSB)

About how the CBs can be more aggressive when they have safety help nearby, Desmond Thomas said:
"If they know help is up top, I wouldn't say they take more chances, but they can be more aggressive. If we play according to the rules (of the scheme) and the playbook, we're in sync and we can make plays." (HSB)

About how they CBs may be short but they have played really well this year, Patek said:
"Our corners aren't that big, but they play big. They're not going to let a height disadvantage bring their play down. They're playing with a chip on their shoulder but they're not going to let it get to them." (HSB)

About how they often left the CBs 1-on-1 during their final 4 games of the season, Desmond Thomas said:
"We know we can play nine in the box sometimes and they can hold their own." (HSB)

About how Georgia QB Matthew Stafford will hurt their D if he gets a lot of 1-on-1 chances with WRs on DBs, GM said:
"If you try to load up on the run he can certainly hurt you with the pass." (HSB)

Patek said that it is all about:
"doing what we need to win each game." (HSB)

Asked if he's looking forward to playing indoors, Colt said:
"I love it. I don't know what it is. The ball has a way of cutting through the air that you can't get when you play outside. I know our guys can't wait to run on that fast track. We're going to have an outstanding time throwing the football around in there. We're going to have some fun." (HSB)

Asked if Georgia has an advantage of practicing at the Superdome while they practice at the Saints' facility, JJ said:
"No. We'll get in there on Monday during our walk-through. That's all we'll need." (HSB)

Praising UH's defense, Georgia offensive coordinator Bobo said:
"Colt Brennan and the receivers are really all you hear about when you watch the news. But when you turn on the tape you get a different view. They play extremely hard and physical and create a lot of turnovers. Hawaii is 12-0 for a reason. In several games this year they have had to come back and win, and while the offense scored, the defense made the stops needed. They will play with a tremendous amount of pride, just like we will and we look forward to the challenge. However, it's like any other game you play, it's going to come down to how we execute offensively. We need to take care of the ball while also taking advantage of our opportunities when we have a chance to make some plays." (HSB)

Asked if the long layoff will hurt their offense, which had been on a roll, Bobo said:
"The key for us is execution when it comes to offensive continuity. Time off definitely concerns you. But Coach (Mark) Richt has done a good job of planning our practices. We were able to get a number of practices in at our campus in Athens. We've had three very competitive practices so far here in New Orleans. You want to practice against speed and you want to practice good-on-good and we've done that a lot here at Georgia. I just don't think rust sets in because we are competing on a daily basis. Anytime we step on the field we are ready to compete and have some fun." (HSB)

Looking forward to playing again, Moreno said:
"I can't wait to get back on the field. We know Hawaii is going to play hard and physical football. We have to do the same. Our goal is to move the football on the ground consistently. And be balanced by throwing the football when we need to. We've had a great season, but we want to close out with a win this year to set us up for next season." (HSB)

About how the key for their offense is to stay out of third-and-long, Georgia QB Stafford said:
"They do some strange things on third down. The only team that blitzes as much as them is Georgia Tech, and they come after you on every down. I think if we can stay out of those third-down situations by moving the ball on the first two downs, we should be all right. They have a great offense, but their defense is good, too." (HSB)

About how their offense has to stay aggressive because UH can score quickly, Stafford said:
"We can't get complacent and just try to do one phase of the offense. One of the reasons we were so successful this year was our offensive balance. If the long ball is there, we have to take it. They force a lot of turnovers, so we have to take care of the football as well." (HSB)