Press Conference: Fisher, Ags preparing to host Warhawks on Saturday

Texas A&M returns to the friendly confines of Kyle Field on Saturday afternoon as the Maroon & White host ULM in their final non-conference tune-up before SEC play. On Monday afternoon, Jimbo Fisher, McKinnley Jackson and Ainias Smith addressed the media.

The following are live, paraphrased notes from Jimbo Fisher’s Monday afternoon media availability:

• Going back, disappointed that we didn't get the results we wanted. We had things in all three phases we did well and did not do well. Protection was a double-edged sword. We kept making plays and got better at it. Scored some points. Had a chance to score more.
   
• We had two big turnovers. We played well on the first drive. Had drives, we did not get converted and had to kick field goals. Got a blocked punt and a muffed punt. Gave a kickoff return. Thought Sam Mathews was there. Whatever they call, they call. The punt coverage was good. We missed a field goal.
   
• Defense played the run well. We tackled on the run well. We need to find more ways to get pressure on the quarterback. We have to play the deep ball. We did not tackle in space. We had chances in the game. We played hard. Put ourselves back in the game. They played better than we did.
   
• UL-Monroe is a no-huddle team that goes fast. They have big O-lineman that maul you. Defense plays unorthodox. ULM has always had skill. Terry Bowden is my old coach.
   
• When young guys are transitioning from run to pass, you have to adjust. We have interior guys that can rush the passer. When you get in certain formations, how you cover can be different. 
   
• Conner Weigman did a great job, but there were a couple of times he should have slid the other way. That’s experience and knowledge. We have to communicate that in that game. 
   
• Maybe we had the wrong cleats. That will happen. They change that grass and logo when multiple teams play there. The sun wasn't soaking the rain up.
   
• We called a lot of balls to Ainias Smith. He had plenty of targets. We will continue to get the ball in his hands. We have to keep getting all the receivers the ball.
   
• The pass protection had nothing to do with the blocks. That had to do with decoration. Ainias can do that. 
   
• I watch all the defensive film. He did a good job right now. We gave up a couple of deep ball passes. D.J. Durkin is a good coach who knows what he is doing. 
   
• I want to see maturity and recognition of what the problems were. Don’t point fingers. Look at why things happened. Guys were upset after the game.
   
• You can set angles up and drills up. You make them wrap them up. We will do open-field tackling drills. Thud, hit and wrap, just like you are tackling. 
   
• They missed signals. They have to see it, get it called and get going. Sometimes on the road, you are not in your comfort zone.
   
• Win or lose, you should turn social media off.
   
• Corners gave up big plays. We can't panic at the point of attack. We have to get more pressure.
   
• Try to create more looks and get different guys one-on-one. They slid into man coverage at the time.
   
• Durkin knows football very well. We just have to execute. We just haven't played as well. We had a couple of critical turnovers. Gave up a kickoff return. We could have got back ahead. 
   
• Bowden is a brilliant guy. He was my coach. Loves ball. One of the few guys who ever got a law degree while a GA. I was very close with him. He was own of the reasons I wanted to be a coach. A lot of things came from the Bowden family.
   
• I would have never imagined I would coach against coach Bowden. We both loved it. We would have done it for peanuts. Still would’ve. We have been successful. 
   
• They have shoes and stuff like that. We have multitudes of equipment. We didn't need to switch. There wasn't enough there to affect the game. It just happened to be a turnover play.