WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsAn Interview with LSU's Blackwell, Taylor and Claiborne

THE MODERATOR: Will Blackwell, Brandon Taylor, and Morris Claiborne. LSU, are you on the line? We've got offensive lineman Will Blackwell right here.

Will, good afternoon. How are you? While we wait on questions for the media, would you mind just discussing the Tigers season as you get ready to play for the SEC Championship on Saturday night.

WILL BLACKWELL: We're fortunate enough to get through this season 12 0. Had a lot of tough challenges, had some road challenges. Just excited to pick it up and go to Atlanta from here.

Q. Will, you guys have played some unbelievable defenses in some big games this year. Just wondering, looking at Georgia now that you've had time to look them over, do they compare favorably to Alabama or your guys' defense?

WILL BLACKWELL: They're a very good defense. They've got a lot of athletes that can run, some big guys up front. Linebackers that do a great job of getting downhill and getting to the ball and making the tackle. I'm not one to compare defenses. I think that depends on what you consider good in a defense. As you know, different people have different opinions of that type of thing.

Q. Just wanted to talk about your running game. You guys can throw in three or four guys every game. How much does that help to wear down a defense?

WILL BLACKWELL: I think it helps to wear down a defense in the sense that our guys don't get as tired. We got fresh legs here at the end of the season. We've got three, four, maybe five guys that can all run the ball and run it hard. The main thing, the best thing for us is we don't have to put the whole load on one guy. When one of those guys comes in, he can just pound it as much as he can and look forward to getting a little break.

Q. How much has that helped to open up the passing game? Seems like Jordan's been passing the ball a lot better since you guys have been able to rotate all these running backs in and same thing for Jared as well.

WILL BLACKWELL: That's the name of the game. You've got to be able to run the ball to throw the ball. That's the philosophy we've taken on this season. Any time we can throw it, obviously we're doing a pretty good job at running it.

Q. Will, can you just talk about you guys are in the unique predicament. You all have everybody in the outside world saying, hey, it doesn't matter if LSU wins this game Saturday or not. They're playing for the National Championship. What has that kind of been like for you guys to deal with, and how do you all approach it knowing that everybody from the outside has their opinion about that?

WILL BLACKWELL: That's one thing about this team that really doesn't bother us. That's the outside talk and the outside noise. Going back to August right at the end of camp, we've had problems. We've had adversity that we've dealt with. We've had a lot of people on the outside say a lot of different things. As you know, that hasn't really slowed us up, hasn't stopped us at all. We do a very good job around here keeping things on the outside on the perimeter and not letting them affect us in any way.

Q. Could you just talk about your guys' abilities to go on runs. You fell behind 14 0 the other day, closed on a 41 3 run. You took a game against Auburn and made it 42 3 in just a few minutes. It seems like those runs are being key from a lot of different directions. What is it like to be part of that and get those things going? How does the team feel emotion wise once they really get going on one of those things?

WILL BLACKWELL: To give a credit to our defense, Tyrann Mathieu, Mo Claiborne, and defensive line and those guys, they do a great job of taking the ball away. Any time you can take the ball away in an opponent's territory, it gives us a huge boost because we don't have to worry about playing on a long field. We don't have to worry about turnovers because, if we do turn it over, we're already down there.

It simplifies the game plan for us. Any time you get good field position, it makes things a lot easier for the coordinators and the players as well.

Q. Will, you guys have had the bull's eye on you pretty much the whole year. Can I ask the time the coaches weren't around, I know the mantra is one game at a time, especially in this conference, no doubt about it, but do you guys give yourself a little time to dream sort of what's going on? Have you guys talked about the upperclassmen what this could mean? Did you project a little bit maybe to this moment?

WILL BLACKWELL: It's always a dream to go undefeated and to be in the SEC Championship with a chance to go to the National Championship. We haven't really sat around and talked about. Of course we've had some conversations, like I said, dreaming about it and just thinking about how amazing it could be. It's been fun. It's been a good ride. It's nice to share the stories with the guys like myself that were around here since 2007 and understand what it takes to get there.

We're not focused on the National Championship game at this present time. We're just worried about getting to Atlanta and bringing home another SEC Championship to LSU.

Q. You mentioned you were part of that thing in '07 when you guys handled your business completely. Did you tell some of the younger guys, not necessarily the media, the radio, the newspapers, but when you're walking around campus and everyone is telling you how great you are, to kind of understand what that really is and what that's really not.

WILL BLACKWELL: Yeah, you said it well. It's more about Baton Rouge and about LSU and about Louisiana more than it is about the national recognition or the trophies or anything like that. I feel like this team, last few teams we've been able to bring this state together. It's really meant a lot to the people around here that we've been as successful as we have been.

Q. That game against Alabama when neither team could get in the end zone with touchdowns, was that a game that maybe the O line just didn't execute maybe quite as well as you could have or Alabama's great defense or just a combination? Or it's just a rare game where neither team could score a touchdown in that game?

WILL BLACKWELL: Just a little bit of both. Two best teams in the country going at each other, it's going to be hard to get any points you can. Fortunately for us, it came down to field goals, and we were able to come out with a win. Alabama's a great defense. They're huge up front. Got some tremendous linebackers in Upshaw and Hightower. They're a tough team to play against.

During that game, we had some offensive miscues, but a lot of credit could be given to them for stopping our game plan.

Q. Along that line, Georgia defense has climbed to one of the top in the country, top five and so forth. Do you expect that same kind of challenge this coming Saturday to get your offense going?

WILL BLACKWELL: Yeah, we focus on that challenge every week. We've faced a lot of good defenses. Our plan has been to run the ball. Hopefully, we'll be able to come out there and execute that this Saturday.

Q. Hey, I wondered, from a player's perspective, all the things that you guys have sort of navigated through this year, what has Coach Miles' role been in that? Is he one of those guys that sort of has the perfect mentality to sort of make it through some of those type things, Will?

WILL BLACKWELL: No doubt. Coach has done a great job of helping us block everything out. We've had distractions off the field. It's tough for guys our age to deal with that when there's no leadership. That's one thing we don't worry about here. Coach Miles and the seniors of this team have done a great job of coming together and helping us focus on really where we're trying to go.

Q. Is he one of those guys that can play good cop and bad cop at the same time, can be tough and hard when he needs to but also can go the other route too?

WILL BLACKWELL: Oh, no doubt. That's makings of a great coach. You can't always be too harsh, and you can't always be too soft. You have to find the fine line of what's right and what's wrong. If anybody's done a good job of that, it's been Coach Miles.

Q. Will, what kind of problems does Jarvis Jones present for you guys at the line?

WILL BLACKWELL: Well, the biggest problem we're going to have with him is blocking him. He's made a lot of tackles this year, big physical guy. He likes to use his hands. He likes to get downhill and make tackles. We've faced some linebackers like that. They're tough to block. So that's definitely going to be the biggest challenge for us.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you for your time. We have safety Brandon Taylor. Brandon, good afternoon. How are you?

BRANDON TAYLOR: How are you doing?

THE MODERATOR: Good. While we wait on questions from the media, would you mind addressing LSU's season as you begin preparations to play for the SEC Championship on Saturday.

BRANDON TAYLOR: It's been a great season, like a dream come true, especially for a senior coming back off of injury. Couldn't ask for anything better. We've just got to keep pressing and driving because we know the season isn't over yet.

Q. Brandon, I just want to know, from what you've seen of Aaron Murray, what kind of problems does he pose? He's been really hot the last few games, his 19 touchdowns to 6 interceptions since the midpoint of the season. What can he do that kind of concerns you guys?

BRANDON TAYLOR: He actually can run a lot better than people actually think, and he's probably one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the SEC. He knows how to manage a game well, and he limits his mistakes, and he doesn't make very many of them.

Q. From what you've seen, do you think that he might be the most talented quarterback you guys have faced this year?

BRANDON TAYLOR: Yes, sir, he really is because he was probably one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC last year, and he's just continued to keep doing that this year.

Q. Hey, Brandon, with all you guys with so many play makers back in the secondary, all you guys have made big plays this year, how do you guys kind of keep the egos in check? Who's the leader back there, and how does that dynamic work seeing as all you guys are regarded nationally as big time players?

BRANDON TAYLOR: I'm kind of like the leader back there, but we really don't have we never really had a problem with egos because we know we're all back there pressing for one goal. It's really kind of like a little competition back there between us like who can make plays and stuff. We all add up our tackles after the game and stuff like that.

We just know that we have to stay humble, and it can be taken away from us as fast as we got it.

Q. A lot of people are saying nationally it doesn't matter if LSU wins this week or not. LSU is playing for the National Championship. When you hear stuff like that, does that make it how do you guys approach this week? Does it make it any different? Does it seem weird to say you guys are playing for it all whether you win or lose this week?

BRANDON TAYLOR: It is kind of weird. We don't look at it like that. That's kind of like a distraction to us because, if you win the SEC Championship, you get two rings, and that's what we've been playing for. It wouldn't feel as great going to the National Championship if you don't win the SEC Championship because we feel it's not right. We've just got to keep playing hard and win the SEC Championship because that's been one of our goals this year.

Q. Brandon, I noticed that you were chosen to wear the No. 18 out there. What does that honor mean to you, and how would you explain it to maybe people who aren't as familiar with LSU's history as you all are?

BRANDON TAYLOR: It means a lot to me. It means more than any big play I ever made in the game because it was given to me by a former player that wore 18, Coach Miles, and the training staff. It symbolizes what it means to be a person what it means to be a Tiger on and off the field, basically the leader of the team. You have a big voice on the team and stuff like that.

You've overcome adversity. With me overcoming my foot injury last year and working back to be back in the starting lineup of a great defense.

Q. What went on in your mind when you got the word you were going to wear No. 18?

BRANDON TAYLOR: There was a lot going on in my mind. It took a lot because I got to talk to Matt, and he actually had the same foot injury I had his junior year, and the next year they came back and won the National Championship in New Orleans. It means a lot to me because I know those players want me to represent the number very well.

Q. A.J. Green was a great receiver at Georgia the last three years. They've really got the balance this year. Some young guys have stepped up, five or six guys that can catch the ball. Is that the way you see the Georgia receivers? How would you comment about that?

BRANDON TAYLOR: They're very talented and a very fast group. A lot of people say Arkansas receivers are the fastest group in the SEC, but Georgia, they are very fast. I know No. 12, I played against him my sophomore year, and he actually kind of got away from me that year too. They actually have the most talented tight end in the SEC.

Q. Hey, Brandon, how are you today?

BRANDON TAYLOR: I'm doing good.

Q. Brandon, the whole idea you guys have had this bull's eye on you all year, it's pretty amazing you guys seem to handle your water quite as well as you did. Did you feel that way about this team?

BRANDON TAYLOR: Yes, sir, because the coaches, they let us know, with us winning that big game in Dallas against Oregon, we knew we were going to have the bull's eye on us because with us being LSU, we're going to get everybody's best game. So the coaches by way of practice, we probably had the hardest practices since I've been here. So we just prepared that way and played that way.

Q. I know there's still work to do with this game coming up and the possibility of a National Championship game. When it's all done, I'm sure you're aware of who you guys have beaten. Do you want to maybe declare it, if it does go all the way, you guys did it as well as anybody who's ever won one of these titles when you look at who it is you had to beat to get there?

BRANDON TAYLOR: Yes, sir, because we've been on a tough road playing dominant teams week in and week out. Our bodies are kind of worn down and stuff like that. So we know that we've been through the struggles. It would be very nice to just go out there and win and look back on and see who we beat to get there.

Q. I just wonder obviously, this defense is one of the best in the country. Do you allow yourselves as defensive players to kind of compare yourself to Alabama. Is Georgia in that conversation at all in terms of being nationally dominant defenses?

BRANDON TAYLOR: Yes. They're playing in a dominant conference just like us, and we see the best teams week in and week out in the SEC, and Georgia has the second best run stop defense in the country. It just shows how dominant they are on defense.

The first two games, it really was like a letdown for them. They just bounced back from that and showed how dominant they are on defense.

Q. Being a senior on that team and having seen the way that you guys have recruited over the years, when you recall the depth on your team now, do even you as a player sort of get taken back? You've got Kenny Hilliard, your fourth tailback to play this season. Eric Reid doesn't play this week. Other guys step in. Tyrann doesn't play. Just the depth of this football team, even for a player, how staggering is it?

BRANDON TAYLOR: It's a good team to be a part of because week in and week out it won't be any letdown if anybody gets hurt or anybody isn't playing that week because we have so much depth and talent. Backups have just as much talent as the starters. We put somebody right in. They know the playbook very well and the scheme. All you've got to do is have attitude, and that's enough for this team.

Q. When you look at everything you guys have had to sort of battle through this year, what has Coach Miles' role been and sort of the way he's gone about it and sort of walking that fine line of being really tough on some guys but also being a guy that you guys feel like you can go to when you need to?

BRANDON TAYLOR: That's just all part of his job. He's like our father away from home because he disciplines us, and we keeps us with a straight level head. He tells us what we can't do and what we can do and what's right and what's wrong. We just thank him for that.

THE MODERATOR: Brandon, thank you very much.

Mo Claiborne is here. Mo, good afternoon. While we wait on questions from the media, can you talk about the LSU season and your berth in the championship game on Saturday.

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: The season's been great. We've put in a lot of work, and it's paid off.

Q. What do you think about the Georgia wideouts and the overall Georgia offense you'll be facing this week?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: I really haven't watched any film yet. We'll start on that today. But from what I've seen, previous games I watched on TV, they're pretty good with their scheme, and O lines are pretty balanced with the run and the pass.

Q. Hey, Mo, I know you have guys from Alabama, Florida, some guys from Georgia, but when you talk about a state school and the possibility of a National Championship staying in, you have such a large group of guys from Louisiana. Have you guys ever kind of talked about that idea, that this many guys from that state have this opportunity now laid out in front of you?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: No, we really haven't discussed that, but now that you mention it, it's pretty interesting to me. No, we haven't really like actually discussed that really.

Q. The idea of the pressure being on from first game on a neutral site, obviously a nationally ranked opponent, you guys have handled your business really well. Can I ask, some of the other guys were talking about Les Miles' role in all that? He said he didn't coach very well in '08 and '09. He said that last night. You've been around this team for several years. Have you seen any differences where you thought, wow, this was working for everybody, including the coaching staff?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Coach Miles has put a lot into this program. He's been with us from day one from on the field issues to off the field issues. He's been on it, and he's been a great coach. Not only a great coach on the field but off the field also. He helped us through a lot, and he's just been loose this year. He's just letting us go out and play.

We feed off that energy that he brings to the table, and we go out and perform at our best.

Q. Little looser than the last two years?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Yes, I would say so. Yes, sir.

Q. What you've seen and you know about Aaron Murray, does he compare to any guys that you've played?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Like I said, I really haven't watched too much film on it. We get started with that today.

Q. What do you know about him? Do you know anything about him?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Not really.

Q. Mo, Brandon was just on here saying I asked him about the secondary, and he said sometimes you all add up big tackles after the game. I'm just curious, who's winning the battle this season? Who do you say has made the most big plays back there for you guys?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Our secondary as a whole, we've made a lot of plays. You just can't point just anyone out because the whole secondary as a whole, we've made a ton of plays.

Q. Do you have a favorite one that you've made? You had that 89, 90 yard pick against Tennessee that got you going, and you also had the huge one in Tuscaloosa that was such a big game. Or am I missing one? Do you have a favorite play you've made to this point?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: My favorite one is the interception I got against Alabama.

Q. All you guys are play makers. How do you keep the egos in check that you all have back there? All you guys are getting a lot of national attention. How do you kind of stay so grounded and focused each week?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: It's easy. We just stay humble, and we keep working. We know that we want to be the best. We just can't stop we can't be satisfied to where we're at. We got to keep putting the work into it and be better the next week.

Q. Mo, staying on the same lines of the secondary, how much fun have you guys had this season working together compared to maybe last year or any other seasons you've been there?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: We have had so much fun. We do a lot of things on and off the field. Not saying that we didn't do that previous years, but we do much, much more as a unit on and off the field. We go out, and that's what we try to do. We try to go out and play hard, but most of all have fun doing it.

Q. Obviously, you guys aren't going to think that you're going to struggle during the season, but to play at the level that you have in the secondary this season, does that even surprise you guys at all?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: No, not at all. We knew coming into the summer when we were doing seven on sevens, we were going to have a good year. We just have to put the work into it and go out and prove it.

Q. Hey, Mo, wanted to ask you about your teammate Tyrann Mathieu. What makes him such a vicious hitter? He's forced a lot of fumbles. He's not really the biggest guy in the world.

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Just having that heart and just having that mindset that I'm going to do it. He's going to get the ball out. You don't just see that in the games, but you see it in practice. The way he practices, he practices always trying to get the ball out. The coach stresses that, and he does a good job at it.

Q. Have you talked to Pat Peterson once this year?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Yes, after every game. As a matter of fact, he just texted me a minute ago.

Q. What's been his take on your team and the way you've played this year?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: He's loving it. Before he left, he told us that we just keep working, and we're going to be good. He said he knew we were going to be at where we're at right now. He's excited for us.

Q. I wonder there's not many teams out there that could lose a player of his stature really when you look at not only him but Calhoun and Drake up front and actually be better next year. What do you think that says about your depth and the talent you all have been able to stockpile the last year or two?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: It's amazing when you can not only replace those type of guys and just with the guys we have now, but like I said earlier, we have a young team and some guys who have seen those guys do it previously. They want to do it better, and they're just going out and putting the work into it.

Q. Mo, have you seen over the course of the season your defensive line is so active, so much in the backfield. Do quarterbacks sometimes I don't want to say it becomes easier, but is it a little bit easier when you see guys maybe throw it a little quicker, and you guys jump routes so they can't wait as long as for guys to get in? Can you talk about your work and the DB world?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: It's amazing. We try to work together. We get those guys to get in and put pressure on the quarterback and make him do things he don't want to do with the ball. And we try to cover our guys as long as we can. As long as it takes those guys to get to them, we try to handle our business as well.

This year they did a tremendous job getting in the backfield, making the quarterback do some things they didn't want to do. When he makes a mistake with the ball on the secondary, we try to jump on it.

Q. Have you seen at times during the game itself where a guy might be looking to get rid of it a little bit too quickly and you guys have the advantage?

MORRIS CLAIBORNE: Yeah, I've seen it plenty of times when guys are trying to hit routes or whatever. But the defensive line is in his face, and he can't get to it.

THE MODERATOR: That's going to wrap it up. Thank you for your time today. We'll see you at the Dome on Friday.

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