Q. How would you just evaluate the offensive play so far and how have you guys progressed through six weeks?
ETHAN WHITE: I think at times it's been good. One thing we need to work on is probably our consistency, just eliminate the negative plays, getting ourselves behind the sticks at times.
But I think what helps is having multiple guys that can play, six or seven guys that can really play.
Q. Second half, you guys ran for more than 200, four runs over 30. Is that what the identity of this offense can become, do you think?
ETHAN WHITE: I think part of the identity of this offense is kind of doing what the defense allows. So Missouri in the first half was kind of moving a lot. They gave us different looks. And then the second half kind of just felt them out better and had a better idea of what they were trying to do.
Q. And you've kind of adjusted?
ETHAN WHITE: As an offensive line, we kind of felt them out more.
Q. I asked Billy about adjusting, and he's like, didn't really go there. But you guys saw something and kind of capitalized, do you feel?
ETHAN WHITE: I wouldn't say adjustment as much as they come in, they're a good group on the defensive line. So feel how they play double-teams, single blocks, just they play different than the group we played last week. Just kind of getting used to that.
Q. How big of a factor is that? How to figure out what the other team is doing? Does it take a couple of series to really figure things out and make those adjustments?
ETHAN WHITE: Preparations during the week definitely helps to have an idea of what they're going to do, but you come in running the ball well, teams are going to move, they're going to slant. So it does probably take a series or so just to have an idea how they're attacking you that week.
Q. Having six or seven guys, can you speak to the progression you've seen with Austin and Richie so far? I think you guys have said you have that five to one philosophy, and they've expanded to six to seven equals one.
ETHAN WHITE: Austin and Richie made leaps and bounds as players individually and kind of fitting into the unit better. I think Richie, he's just versatile. He can play all three inside. As well as Austin, he can play both tackles.
Just having them in practice and games and just being ready at all times helps.
Q. What's it like blocking for Trevor and Montrell in the run game? What's the chemistry like as far as what all three are doing up front?
ETHAN WHITE: All three of our backs are elite, in my opinion. Especially with Anthony back there, you have to worry about the quarterback running. As an offensive line, you try to cover things up and let the backs do their thing. Give them a crease, and they'll be out of there.
Q. I heard you were like 400-something pounds, and you're kind of svelte compared to where you were. Talk about the transition you made with your body and how much of a challenge it was to get to a point where you're a big, strong offensive lineman and not this eclipse.
ETHAN WHITE: I think it's just a learning process. Getting to college, learning more about the nutrition, the strength and conditioning, and kind of how your body responds to different stimulus and what you put in.
It's just learning that takes time, and it's something that kind of happened over the years.
Q. You're 3-1 in one-score games this year. You struggled with that the last couple years. What's changed? What do you attribute that ability to pull those close ones out to?
ETHAN WHITE: I think as a team we've just kind of gotten better at eliminating some of the silly mistakes, some of the penalties. It's kind of the self-inflicted errors. We've just tried to eliminate those.
Q. LSU is a team kind of similar to Missouri, a lot of talented guys up front. How do you view that challenge?
ETHAN WHITE: The SEC teams, they're all going to be good up front, especially LSU. We're going to look at how they try to attack offenses, but it's really about what we do, it's not about what they do.
If we go out there and execute the game plan and use our techniques, we'll be all right.
Q. What do you remember from LSU's trip here two years ago?
ETHAN WHITE: I remember it was a crazy environment, the fog rolling in at the end of the game. That was just a wild night.
Q. In terms of the series in general, what are your thoughts on it? It seems to be the best crossover rivalry for years now.
ETHAN WHITE: For sure. Well, for me personally, when I was young, this is one I'd always watch. This was always a big game. So being a part of it, it's awesome.
Hopefully we can swing it our way a little more than it has been in recent times.
Q. You've watched it a lot, huh?
ETHAN WHITE: Yes.
Q. Do you have a memory or two?
ETHAN WHITE: Probably when Vosean hit the quarterback right at the goal line, right at the end of the game. That was crazy.
Q. Where does the shoe toss rank in terms of crazy, wild things you've witnessed?
ETHAN WHITE: It's up there. It's up there.
Q. What are the challenges you associate with pass protection for a quarterback who's so mobile? You have your back to a guy who could be anywhere. How challenging is that?
ETHAN WHITE: I wouldn't say it's a challenge as much as you've got to be more locked in at all times.
With a quarterback who can't move as much, you kind of have an idea of where they could be, all stationary. With Anthony, you have to block till the whistle on every play because at any moment he could pull the ball down and just scramble out of there.
Q. Again from two years ago. That fog, was it cool to play in? Was it weird? Was it eerie? What was that for you guys?
ETHAN WHITE: It was kind of just weird because at the beginning of the game there was no sign of it, anything. At the end it was a close game, when the fireworks would go off for the touchdowns there in the fog, it was just an eerie experience.
Q. Did you see the one that York hit, the 57-yarder? We couldn't even see.
ETHAN WHITE: I couldn't really see it from the sideline that well. I heard the fans not go very crazy, so I had an idea it went in.
Q. Everything was normal from a playing standpoint. The fog looked crazy for us, but down there it was too?
ETHAN WHITE: Yeah, from my standpoint, the offensive line, we could see everybody. I don't know about the receivers or the quarterbacks.
Q. Could you see the shoe fly in all of that fog?
ETHAN WHITE: No, I wasn't paying attention to that.
(Laughter).
Q. Does losing two in a row to LSU add any extra weight to this game?
ETHAN WHITE: For sure. You want to win all your games obviously, but especially in a big rivalry, 0-2 is not something that's acceptable to University of Florida.
Q. You guys are fifth in the country in fewest sacks allowed and fourth or fifth in the country by average yards per carry by your backs. What does that say about the cohesion of the offensive line right now?
ETHAN WHITE: I think it's a good stat, but stats can sometimes be misleading because, when you've got somebody like Anthony back there, it's hard to sack a quarterback like that. He can run out of it. He can make guys miss.
When it comes to the backs, those are just talented guys. You just cover them up, and they can make one or two people miss at the line and just go.
Q. What do you remember about Anthony last year? Coming in, he played at an incredible level.
ETHAN WHITE: Last year you just remember the physical things he did, hurdling people, outrunning people. I think that's the difference between this year is now mentally he's taken that next step.
Q. Just like what's -- so was there -- did that surprise you how quick -- how easily he came in and did that? We've seen some glimpses, but this was LSU, not USF?
ETHAN WHITE: In practice you see him do stuff like that, you see those crazy plays. When he gets in the game and does it, it's not really surprising because we've seen it happen before.
Q. With Billy Napier, the offensive line a point of emphasis since he took the job. I wonder how that makes you feel as far as offensive linemen and how that's shown on the field so far?
ETHAN WHITE: I think it gives the unit a sense of responsibility that the team kind of goes as the unit goes. So it just holds guys to a higher standard.
Q. Coach talked about the challenges of preparing for a first year staff. It's the first time he's had to do it in this position. Could you speak to that as well, especially from an offensive lineman's standpoint against what's a really talented defensive line at LSU?
ETHAN WHITE: I would say the one thing for game planning that's difficult is you kind of are is to watch the previous teams the coach was at. You have to spend more time on personnel and individual players rather than watching team stuff from games in the past?
Q. Is that difficult because how well recruited this defensive line in particular has been?
ETHAN WHITE: I don't know about difficult. You just have to manage your time differently as opposed to a different week.
Q. Do you often encounter differences in what you study in another team and what you see in games like this where it is kind of limited and you have to study a team that a coach isn't working at anymore?
ETHAN WHITE: It happens sometimes, but I feel like whether the coach is at that team or at a previous team, most coaches do similar things and kind of just game planning that with the personnel they have.
Q. Do you have an appreciation for what Des Watson is going through from the weight loss aspect? Not that you were ever his size, but do you know what I'm talking about?
ETHAN WHITE: It's cool because my locker has been next to Des for a couple of years. Talking to him, trying to give him any advice through his journey. He's starting to see how losing the weight can affect his play and make him a better player, and he's going to keep doing that.
Q. Did you feel that once you lost a certain amount?
ETHAN WHITE: Sure. Once you see results, it makes it easier to keep going.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports