THE MODERATOR: Questions for Justin.
Q. The first play last week wasn't called, in the script. Where did that come from?
JUSTIN SHORTER: We've ran that play a few times during the week. It was a call, just like any other play, normal play. Went out there, seen the safety, the safety was low, the corner was in man coverage, so I just took advantage of it. He was playing outside leverage.
I seen it, that's why I was smiling, which is a good play. Hopefully next week we do the same thing.
Q. 230 yards in the past two weeks. What have you and Anthony got going?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say all the work we put in since last year, since I got here. We've been throwing multiple times, the same stuff over and over and over and over again. Now it's starting to show on the field. The work is starting to pay off.
Q. Can you speak to preparation, what's changed here in the past couple weeks?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'd say definitely after practice we've definitely taken more time and really try to focus on details, really doing all the small things after practice, so that way it can show up on the field. That's the after-hour work you do in the dark is going to come to the light eventually.
Q. (Question about passing yardage.)
JUSTIN SHORTER: I definitely say week to week it's been pretty good. You definitely just want to see get better and better each week. We just try to go back to the drawing board and just try to put more work than we did last year.
I know me personally, I always come back, Sunday is really my last day thinking about the game. After Sunday I throw it out, it's a brand-new start for me. I just try to really put in the work, like I have nothing. We all try to do the same thing.
Q. The 75 yarder, is that the first time you scored on the first play of a game?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I think so, yeah. Maybe high school I might have one time, I think. I'm not sure.
Q. You can't remember?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Might have been. I'm not sure. It was definitely a good one. I'm definitely thankful.
Q. Where have you seen Anthony grow the most this season?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would definitely say his confidence and his ability to throw, his arm. He over there right there (smiling). I would definitely say his confidence. I feel like now he can rip the ball, put it there. He's definitely confident with his reads.
Q. What do you think of going through game week when they script that play up? Look forward to Saturday?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Like every single play they put on there, whether that's a deep ball, short ball, any route, I really try to sit there and just think of myself just catching that ball and scoring.
Q. Does it get you excited as a player for the coach to come out that aggressive on the first play?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Absolutely. Even if we (indiscernible) off the ball, I'd still be coming down 100% to knock out the safety, that way Nay' Quan or somebody else...
Q. First play of the game, are you concerned maybe he will overthrow you?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Not at all. I'd say I definitely have full trust in him, in his arm. We've probably made that same throw thousands of times before. I should be able to close my eyes and run it in, just fall in there, because we've done it so many times.
Q. Has the mindset changed now that you know if you get open, the ball's coming your way?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'd say definitely not always. Sometimes I have routes that's meant to take the safety outside, Ricky can get the ball, meant to cover up, the opposite safety can get a crossing route.
Every time I run a route, I always expect to get the ball. If I don't, it's not the end of the world. I'm always ready to turn and block for my teammates.
Q. What do you remember about that trip home from Missouri after the overtime game last year?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Very, very sick feeling. I just do not like losing at all. I've never been like that. We can play you know, I lose, I'll be upset the rest of the night. I really say we have that sick taste in our mouth. We're going to come here, play by play, give it 100%.
Q. What do you think about Hill's return, his journey?
JUSTIN SHORTER: He's a great player. Seeing the journey he's been through is just very, very inspiring to me, just really shows me I'd say anyone that knows the story could show you that if you persevere, put in the work, you can do anything.
He's back. They had him out for half the season. He's come back now making plays, out there starting. That's an inspiration. I'm blessed to go against him in practice. He gives me a great look. Really just iron sharpens iron. I'm definitely happy to have him out there on defense. Trust him 100%.
Q. Caleb Brantley showed you what he can do. How excited were you to see that?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Once they called the play and I seen Coach KC call it, I just started pointing. You can probably see it on TV if you look on the sideline. I knew the whole time.
CD, he's going to be very, very scary probably next year. He's going to be super, super scary, just what he can do. He's just so quick, he's fast, he has all those tools. He's going to be a very, very good player.
That's just him doing what CD does, so...
Q. When did you notice this is a guy that had some ability? Have you tried to take him under your wing a little bit?
JUSTIN SHORTER: We all do. We all try to show him what to do, what not to do. He just knows how to do it by himself already. He's very, very natural at what he does.
Definitely first day at camp, seeing him one on one, I was shook, because he kind of did his crazy move on someone. I was like, Whoa.
He has great hands can jump up get the ball, run right past here. A calm player. I like him a lot.
Q. (Question about helping Anthony this week.)
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would definitely say just having trust, whether it's us being able to do our homework, which if we receive pressure, to field something like that, we have a slant, we should be able to speed it up. We should know he has someone, people trying to pressure him, trying to get in his face.
I'd definitely say just having knowledge of the defense, we can help him. Some routes you might have to run a little bit faster because he may not have that much time.
Q. Is that what you're seeing on film?
JUSTIN SHORTER: You can just tell. You see Hopper obviously, he in there. He's a very, very good player, very fast dude. They usually like to send him up the middle a little bit, blitzing off the edge. We should definitely be able to notice that and try to speed up.
Q. What has the adjusted practice week been like and how fresh do you feel?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I feel pretty good. Really how fresh you feel is based on how you take care of your body, if you put in the extra time in the training room, the cold tub and stuff, you know you're going to feel good. If you don't, you're not. It's really how we all take care of our body.
It was nice having that practice yesterday with no pads on. That was pretty nice.
Q. Did this affect your mom?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Hurricane day, we were throwing still. After this, I have to go back and catch some.
Q. She didn't get a sore arm or anything like that?
JUSTIN SHORTER: No. If she does, she wouldn't tell me 'cause we just grew up like that. If you had a problem, you suck it up.
Q. 75-yarder, would she hit you?
JUSTIN SHORTER: 100% sure. Absolutely.
Q. How have you enjoyed the GatorMade program?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I had my favorite life experience I've ever had. Just changed my whole perspective on life, really how I look at things.
Miss Savannah back there, she does a great job. I feel like that's definitely a program that's going to help a lot of boys become men in this program, which is I feel like a lot of us need.
Q. How did it change your life, Greece?
JUSTIN SHORTER: The first time leaving the country. Really just seeing something else, seeing how other people live, someone else's culture for a change. That really opened my eyes up. I was kind of like, Whoa.
They call it wanderlust where you want to travel the world and do stuff. Now I just want to travel everywhere now after doing that now.
Q. What was your highlight of the trip?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would definitely say the last day, Miss Savannah sat at my table, too. We were at this beautiful restaurant where you could look over, the sun was setting, you could see an island out there, the water, the ships. It was just breathtaking. I'll never forget that.
Q. Trying to fill up the passport?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Hopefully. When I feel like we have some free time, but we have some work to put in first. Football first.
Q. Ventrell was talking about using his platform to raise money for hurricane relief. What does that say about him?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I've seen that, the fundraiser that he has started. It's definitely heartbreaking just to see everything that's happening in this world. Even more than that, it's just heartbreaking to see what all those families have to sit and go through. They got water up to their things. I couldn't imagine. In Gainesville we were blessed just to get some wind, not really have any bad flooding.
I think what he's doing is awesome. I feel like I'm definitely going to look into trying to get people helping so we can go out there and make a change because that's what life is about.
Q. Justin, you're trying to get your first win in SEC play this week at home. How do you stay even-keeled and understand you have to get this win?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Absolutely. I would say we definitely -- I feel like it starts on day one. Started on Monday. Honestly Saturday night after the game.
What you do day to day is going to determine. Coach always says you always win the game through the week. I definitely say just taking it day by day. Like today we all went out there and practiced hard, we're focused. Tomorrow is more of a cleanup day. Hopefully tomorrow is a clean day, Friday and Saturday go out there and play super, super hard, play your heart out.
Q. (No microphone.)
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would definitely say winning is the goal each week. Everyone has to do their job, do what we can do. I'd say we can really win every single game, but that's if 11 people on that field is giving 100% effort and doing what they can do. That's when we're going to win the game. Turnovers is definitely a big thing. You have to hold on to the ball. Defense and special teams also.
Appreciate y'all.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports