Q. (Indiscernible) his willingness to move inside?
RICKY PEARSALL: It just shows his versatility. But he's a really good player.
Q. What are some of the things that you think need to happen with this offense to get started faster on the road? We just talked to Billy and he said that's huge for you guys this week. What needs to happen, do you think?
RICKY PEARSALL: Just continuing to emphasize that in practice each and every day. I think that's where it starts, first and foremost, is you practice how you play. So come to practice with great energy and encourage all the guys as a leader.
Q. (Indiscernible) a win, Billy said a couple weeks ago after that loss on the road to Kentucky that there was a little bit of embarrassment. Are you guys sensing that maybe there's a sense that you want to show a little bit of redemption on the road going back?
RICKY PEARSALL: For sure. I think all the guys are well aware of we haven't played our best ball on the road. So just continuing to emphasize that throughout the locker room. And we've got to highlight that each and every day.
We obviously know best that we haven't been playing our best ball on the road. So continuing to nail that into all the guys' heads. And everything's got to be even more detailed throughout this week heading into that environment.
Q. How much (indiscernible) would it to be go into a bye week with some momentum not letting the loss hangover before pivotal end of the month?
RICKY PEARSALL: It will be really good for the guys just to have another win and have back-to-back wins. I think that's going to be really important for the team.
Q. Is there anything operationally, like, once the ball is live that you feel like you guys need to do better that maybe through six weeks look at and go, this needs to improve for sure?
RICKY PEARSALL: I think it's more of we've got to continue to build that momentum within the start of the game and come out playing fast. I think that's always encouraging for the guys when we go out there and we're in a game environment and we're just clicking on all cylinders. And I think it just gives each guy confidence throughout the game.
Q. Trey Wilson (phonetic) and Arlis catching the ball in the middle of the field, how does that open up the whole offense from your standpoint?
RICKY PEARSALL: It's definitely going to open up the offense, having more guys out there making plays. They see it on film, the other team sees it on film. They'll have to guard that. That's going to benefit us across all cylinders. Obviously passing the ball will open up the run game, vice versa, the run game is going to open up the pass game. So we all kind of play with each other on that. For sure, I hope so.
Q. You're not watching obviously because you're in the middle of a play, but when you watch film later, what do you see with some of the beatings or some of the hits Graham Mertz is taking?
RICKY PEARSALL: I joke with him all the time. He should slide a little bit earlier. He's a tough guy. He's just trying to fight for every yard. So hats off to him. But I tell him to slide because we need him.
Q. What does it do for the team, though, when your quarterback is that resilient and able to kind of shake that stuff off?
RICKY PEARSALL: For sure. Just being the leader he is and seeing what he puts on the line, it's motivating for all the guys because football is a violent sport. We all play it. We've got to go out there. We've got to lay our bodies on the line for each other. So seeing a guy doing that, putting it on full display motivates.
Q. Trey Wilson and Andy Jean contribute to the season, two freshmen. What kind of mentor are you trying to be for those guys?
RICKY PEARSALL: Just to make sure they can operate in the building as a pro and just being a pro every single day, whatever it takes, having a set schedule each and every day. Make sure they're handling their business. Don't get complacent.
But those are both two really talented young guys. I'm super excited for them. I think they have a lot going for them, and I'm excited for them moving forward.
Q. (Indiscernible) the fourth down conversion, could you walk us through that play and how hard it was to hang on to it?
RICKY PEARSALL: Basically I saw motion. He ran with the motion. I knew it was some kind of man coverage. Had a guy over me. He was playing soft press. He was a little outside leverage on me. I knew if I use this leverage, slide him out, he's trying to funnel me inside. So I knew that he would have to bite on it.
And I came across his face and just the ball was there, made a play on it. It was a little behind me. But obviously the opportunity was there and it was a fourth down, big play for us. I knew how to make it. Big-time players have to make big-time catches.
Q. Seen a lot of reversals from you guys this year. How effective do you think that's been for the offense and being able to showcase it more?
RICKY PEARSALL: I think it's really good to put on tape for defenses to see because obviously we have a lot of motions, run a lot of motions, a lot of (indiscernible) motions. And being able to pull the guy away from the run game is going to be really important for us. It will open up the hole a little bit bigger, get people out of the box.
Q. Are you lobbying for being able to throw trick play after Kahleil threw that pick?
RICKY PEARSALL: We joked about it. I definitely said something. I'm willing to do whatever.
Q. Can you make that throw?
RICKY PEARSALL: Oh, yes, I can make that throw. Shout-out to Kahleil though. I still think he can make that throw.
Q. The pass?
RICKY PEARSALL: I'm not sure. I think I have two. I think one got called back. Have to fact check me on that one.
Q. What's it going to take to maybe get a little more (indiscernible) down field (indiscernible)?
RICKY PEARSALL: Honestly, I don't really know the answer to that. But I've just got to execute whatever is planned for me. And whatever the play call is, regardless if it's run play or pass play, I've got to go out there and get open and give my full effort.
If it's blocking for one of my guys in the backfield, if that's what it is. And if it's running a pass play, I have to get open for Graham and be available for him.
Q. 25 points in two road games, how much of an onus is it on the offense in terms of, like you said, starting fast and operation throughout the game in this kind of game on the road?
RICKY PEARSALL: It's definitely a big urgency for us. They're going to put on a hostile environment, a good environment for us to come there. It's going to be loud. It's going to be noisy. And as an offense we have to have better communication when you step into environments like that.
So making sure we emphasize that and continue to stress the urgency throughout practice, prepare for that.
Q. Graham, (indiscernible) Big Ten on the road before. Do you sense urgency for him to shake the label (indiscernible)?
RICKY PEARSALL: For sure. He came in already with the energy and he's already watched film on them. He's just an impressive guy when it comes to that.
Q. Talking about tweaks to make to get better on the road and stuff. You mentioned emphasizing sleep on a Wednesday night. Do you guys lose sleep going -- I know you can speak for yourself but how big of an issue is that when you go on the road and -- have you ever said I wish I had gotten eight hours instead of six?
RICKY PEARSALL: I think it's more being a student-athlete in general. We don't get as much sleep as maybe other people just because how busy our schedules are. Especially if you're a dedicated guy you have a system and way of doing things.
And if you're sticking to that and obviously want to get extra work in, I think you're not going to get as many hours as maybe somebody that's not doing that.
But Coach has done a good job of getting players' feedback on certain things. And I think sleep was one of those. We just had a leadership meeting and we emphasized getting more rest throughout the week. Obviously sleep is the best recovery tool that we have. Getting more hours of sleep is going to help.
Q. Do you think with all these guys most (inaudible) how much you sleep?
RICKY PEARSALL: We don't really have anything that's going to track it. But we actually just did this new thing on teamwork. We have a sleep questionnaire that we fill out, so all the guys are required to do that each and every morning.
Q. Graham completing 80 percent of his throws.
RICKY PEARSALL: That's pretty good.
Q. When was the last time you played with someone doing that?
RICKY PEARSALL: I don't know. Maybe myself when I was quarterback in pee wee, but that's about it.
Q. What's it say about -- the downfield throwing isn't quite there at times but otherwise seems to really be making the best of every opportunity?
RICKY PEARSALL: He's just a football guru. He's a dedicated guy. He's constantly in the film room. He's constantly with Coach O'Hara watching film, and I'll sneak in there sometimes and just kind of see what they're talking about and maybe gain some new knowledge and information I need, just being on the same page.
He's just one of those guys that's super involved and wants to know about everything, each and every detail about defenses. And obviously I think that's helped him tremendously.
And as a receiver we've got to help him. We've got to get open, be available for him in each and every way we can.
Q. You launched the T-shirt sale last week with the one-handed catch. Curious about how that's going and your thoughts as an athlete being able to kind of capitalize on that opportunity and what it means for you and other athletes?
RICKY PEARSALL: I think it's a good part about NIL nowadays is I'm able to do that, which is really cool opportunity for myself. So that's a tremendous blessing to be able to do that. I just recently -- it's super new. So I'm going to post about it and get that word out, but I'm excited to see where it goes with it.
Q. Feels like every week just about talking more explosiveness in the passing game, getting down field more. Anything stand out for you that you can create more opportunity into being more explosive? What do you think about that aspect of offensive play so far this season?
RICKY PEARSALL: Being a receiver, I've just got to do my job. That's the only thing I'm worried about is doing my job and how I can help the players around me and my own teammates.
For me it doesn't really matter what we're calling as long as we're executing it and going out and giving our full effort, and making sure I'm doing my job and the dude next to me is doing their job.
It takes 11 guys in order to have success on certain things like that. I think we've just got to make sure that we emphasize certain things like that in practice and work at it. That's the only thing we can do is move on and focus on what we can do in that moment in time.
Q. Can you talk about what Billy Gonzales is bringing to the receivers room, improving you and each player as route runners and pass catchers, et cetera?
RICKY PEARSALL: Personally he helped me tremendously throughout this period of time I've been with him, just soaking up all the knowledge I can from him and always asking questions because I know he has a resumé that follows him.
And I think all the guys in the room respect him. As soon as he walked in that room I think all the guys had their eyes glued onto him and wanted to hear what he had to say.
And just continuing each day to gain more and more knowledge from him and just really apply what he's telling us in the meeting room and going out on the practice field and working at it.
But I'm kind of a perfectionist when I go out there I put as much detail in my work as possible and gain as much information from him as possible. And not only that he's a great leader for the room.
Q. Is there one specific thing he's improved with you?
RICKY PEARSALL: Yeah, just emphasizing blocking and hand placement and having a wider base in my blocking. And I think that's something that I've emphasized throughout this time. And obviously top-of-the-route stuff he's always emphasizing that. We have to be able to separate at the top of the route. That's the most important part about the route. Emphasizing stuff like that.
Q. Talking about Zach and Graham, when are you going to break one off on return?
RICKY PEARSALL: I'm trying, I'm giving my full effort on that. Hopefully it's this game. Each and every opportunity I go out there and I'm able to do that and all the guys trust me out there, that I just gotta go out there give it my all, my best abilities and do what I see.
Q. Have you had one yet where you thought you were going to take it to the house?
RICKY PEARSALL: I think that every time. Every time I step out there to be honest. There's been times I've seen a lot of green grass and I get excited.
Probably the Charlotte one was one, yeah, this one is going to the house. Obviously it got called back because of the penalty.
But I even had that last game against Vanderbilt when I creased it for 18 yards. As soon as I break the first level I'm like, yeah, this is going to go.
Q. Charlotte, if it wasn't called back --
RICKY PEARSALL: That's true.
Q. Was it good to see the special teams have a good game? Seems like every week we've been asking about it to put it all together?
RICKY PEARSALL: I think for sure. I think special teams, one of the things is a bunch of guys like Coach Napier talked about it it's offense and defense coming together and we've got to execute some plays a little bit better, and we just gotta keep working at it just like everything else in regards to practice.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports