Everything Georgia Football QB Gunner Stockton Said After UGA's 45-17 Win Over Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE - Here is everything Georgia Football QB Gunner Stockton said after the Bulldogs’ 45-17 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks:
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On his 62-yard run
GUNNER: Um, my job was the easiest on that. So, uh, I'm just glad that we got it sprung and ran a good route.
Q: Were you a little disappointed you didn't get into the end zone? You were pretty close.
GUNNER: Yeah, pretty close. Um, you know, I'd love to, I'd love to score, but uh, we had a good, good field position there.
Q: How do you assess overall how your team reacted on the road in an SEC environment?
GUNNER: I thought we had a good game. Um, definitely, I'm not... There's definitely stuff to clean up, but, um, you know, on the road I thought we handled it pretty well. Um, started fast and, uh, you know, anytime you're on the road it's gonna be tough. But, um, I thought, you know, early kick, um, we came out ready to play.
On running the ball
GUNNER: Yeah, we were having, um, you know, we were rushing about, I think we averaged about five or four yards. Um, so that's kind of, that's our goal. So, um, five yards. So, um, you know, whatever, whatever we need to do, we'll do. And, um, I thought, you know, our line did a good job with, you know, had good movement and being physical in the run game.
Q: You have more touchdowns than incompletions so far this season. Just what's been working so well for you, especially in the passing game?
GUNNER: I think, um, you know, if I'm just focused on doing my job and, um, doing what Coach Bobo's taught me and Coach Frieder, and um, you know, trying to get to our playmakers and just playing each play as its own play is, um, I'll do a good job.
Q: How have you, you know, connected with Craig Dandridge so quickly, and what makes him so dangerous?
GUNNER: Craig- Yeah, Craig, that, that route he ran, um, you know, at the end, he did, he did a great job, um, heading up a safety and, um, making him, making him, um, look a little silly. So, uh- But he's just, he's a really good route runner and, um, you know, he, he works every day, and he does a good job with that, and he's, he's fun to be around.
Q: So what was it like taking your first, first sacks today? It was- Were you expecting that pass rush to be, you know, be able to get back to you today?
GUNNER: Yeah, just, I just got to get the ball out a little, little faster.
Q: When you have two freshman offensive linemen, do you go a- up to them and say, "Hey, what'd you see?" Or do you talk to them in between? Or how does that work?
GUNNER: Yeah, we had, um, you know, last year it was Donnie and, and Juan. So, um, I thought they've done a good job with, um, you know, Z. Z's been doing a great job. So, uh, you know, it's, you know, it's, it's gonna happen. Like we, you know, everything's not gonna go perfect. So, um, it's all about how you respond and, um, you know, the next play mentality, so got to get, got to get a little bit better.
Q: Do you have to make sure to pick them up, or can you be rough on them? Can, do you have to lift those guys up and encourage them?
GUNNER: Oh, you're talking about the linemen? Oh, yeah, yeah.
Q: Yeah. Do you talk to them, "Hey," you know, "come on," or is it more of a support?
GUNNER: Yeah, it's more of a, you know, support. Um, you know, for me it's a couple of them I wish I could've got the ball out, uh, a little faster, so, um, you know, it wasn't all, all on them. It wasn't the line giving up a really true sack. So, um, but they, uh, I thought they did a good job. It was more of a, "Hey, let's go next play and respond."
Q: Do you feel like you've done a better job as far as getting down after, after these scrambles?
GUNNER: I think so, yeah. I've done, I kinda learned a couple lessons last year. Um, you know, when I, when you need to get a yard or two, um, and when you need to slide, so, um, trying to do a better job of that.
Q: On that, that one run down the sideline, I think it was to Georgia sideline, what did you, it just opened up? Or you had almost 100 yards rushing positive today. What was that like on that run?
GUNNER: It, we, uh, we had a bunch of good blocks. Uh, like I said, it was, I did the easiest part, uh, just running. Um, but everybody, you know, blocking downfield, and sustaining and straining, um, they did a great job. And I think it was London that had a really good block on that as well, and, uh, Donnie running down, downfield. So, um, you know, I got to the sideline, tried to, tried to run as fast as I can.
Q: That looked a lot more like you in Rabun. Did, did it feel like that? Because sort of the game has slowed down so much now for you at this late stage in your career at Georgia that you can, you know, play like you did sort of like you were in high school?
GUNNER: Yeah, I, um, you know, just taking each play and doing what I'm coached. Um, you know, truly, um, seeing what the defense, um, has given us and then the play call, it just kind of depends on that. Um, just doing, doing my job and going through my reads and playing ball.
Q: Where do you guys think you stand after three games? I mean, so many of the top teams are just blowing people out, and everybody's trying to figure out who's the top four teams or five. But what do you feel about Georgia right now?
GUNNER: You know, I think, I think we got a good football team. Um, you still got to attack, attack each practice and each week. Um, 'cause any, any given S- Saturday you're gonna get, you know, anybody can get popped. So, uh, you know, truly attacking each week and, uh, getting, getting after it.
Q: Have the practices been more difficult this season than they were in the past, or are they about what they've always been like? I think- How, how critical are practices for y'all because Kirby never stops sort of talking about them in relation to games?
GUNNER: Yeah, I think truly, um, you know, the way we practice it's, it's, it's tough, and that's the way it should be. Um, Coach Smart does a good job of, you know, applying pressure, all the coaches do, of making practice a little harder. And, um, I think that, that gets you ready for Saturday.
Q: What's the most pressure you've felt at practice?
GUNNER: Um, every day.
Q: You had a ball that I think traveled 43 or 44 yards in the air and got Dandridge in stride. Is that ... How big is it to do it on a game day? I know you didn't do it in practices all the time, but do you think teams are gonna try to test you like that with your run game, bring guys up close to the line?
GUNNER: Yeah, a lot of teams, they kind of do a lot of different ways. It's just like, "Hey, we're gonna max blitz you," and try to, um, load the box up, or they're gonna drop out and play coverage. It's kind of, you know, depends on what they're, what they're playing. You got to play each play. You can't drop back there for everyone who max blitz and try to take four hitches. Um, or when it's they drop eight, you got to, you know, assess the pocket and do what you got to do. You got to play each play as its own play.
Q: But for you to hit somebody in stride, like you said, 43 air yards, I mean, obviously you had an incredible weapon in Zachariah Branch last year, it just made sense. But, you know, for you to put it on a line like that, that deep, how, how big of a pick me up or confidence boost is that for you, a big play to go deep like that?
Gunner: It's awesome. Um, I mean, we do it, like you said, and I've done it a lot in practice. And, um- Yeah, I can do it.
On Khalil Branes
Football's smart, man. Guy watching film, the guy, the guy comes in early, he's like preparing his body, like he, he ready to play like every single time he steps on the field I think definitely on the road you got to be able to communicate at a high level and, um, 'cause on the road, you know, SEC it's going to be loud and, um, you just got to communicate and do your job and do it at a high level.
Q: I know it was hot. I'll bet the on-field temperature had to be over 100. You haven't played a complete game yet. I mean, I, I know you like seeing the other guys get chances, but is there a part of you that wants, wants to be out there for every snap or how do you take it when, when you're getting, coming out of these games and you're having such a strong performance?
GUNNER: You just, I don't know, you just, you know, I just keep playing until they say get out. So, um, that's the way you got to be and, um, just take it serious as it's own series.
Q: Are you, are you... I don't, surprised isn't the right word, but you led the nation in pass efficiency through two games. It looks like you and Coach Bobo really found something. Can you talk about where you guys are at as far as him knowing your strengths and understanding of the offense?
GUNNER: I think it goes back to, um, you know, in practice repping it and, and doing what we do. Um, you know, we do a bunch of scenarios, um, in practice and, um, you know, really attacking practice and doing that, so.
Q: Sometimes when you talk to guys like Juan and Juan specifically, how big he is, do you ever have- One more minute, one more minute. Do you ever have angst talking to a guy that big that's protecting for you when you got to get on him, I guess? I don't know how much you get on the young or the offensive lineman. So you get on... Do you... All right, let me start over. I know it's, it's loud in here. What's it like to get onto the offensive lineman? They're bigger than you are. Juan is a big person. Drew, you've known forever. What's it like? I mean, you, you're going to say that you get, need to get the ball out quicker, but what's it like when you got to get onto them?
GUNNER: It's like anything else. Like, um, it's, it's at the end of the day it's a job and, um, you know, if I'm not doing my job, I get, you know, somebody yells at me, it's like, all right, I got to do it. So, um, yeah, there isn't, there isn't a, uh, egos on this team. That's the cool part. Um, everybody's just trying to do their job and do it at a high level.
GEORGIA: All right, that's it, guys. Thank you. Thanks, man. Appreciate it
