Nevada football WR Cortez Braham, DB Caine Savage, and DB Tori Daffin preview matchup versus Troy

you get any time to kind of reflect on scoring your first FBS touchdown obviously a long journey I know it wasn't the ending you guys wanted but able to accomplish that oh uh I ain't get no time to really soak it in but like after the game you know I I kind of shed a tear because it was my first one it meant a lot to me and I I planed on getting a lot more this season so it was just a good feeling just to get in that box first game of the season as you look back on the offensive performance went over the film I guess what were you happy with and what do you feel like you guys need to improve the most I was happy how how we finished how we fight how we fighted the all four quarters and um I'll say um it was it was small things small flags and stuff like that that we need to minimize and you know going into this week make sure that we correct all the the minor stuff so that's that's really about it when we looked at fil really how do your confidence as a team changed going through that experience and you know coming that close to upsetting the team as a 28 point Underdog definitely uh our confidence went up a lot definitely because you know like you said they was a a real good team and us coming out there and showcasing what we can do and our ability on this team it it really uh motivated us a lot and to come and to finish and try to finish winning win every season really every game really you look at Troy I mean they don't have a lot of returning players so it might be hard to get ready for them what are the preparations for this game how do they differ from SMU just because they are so new uh like you said they a new team and like we don't got a lot of film on them but our coaches do a good job making sure that we prepared and that we got all the tendencies that we need to go go into this game game and so I feel like they they just do a real good job making sure we ready for this game Road contest as well you guys are going to leave a little bit earlier I guess the challenges of winning a game on the road as opposed to home how would you describe those I say it's tougher though it's tougher going on going into that house and trying to win but like you like we said like coach uh CH harped on every throughout the week like we got to finish how we did last week and make sure we the minor flags and stuff like that that we got to uh might try kind of chop down a little bit just so we can be better this week coach was saying they have a lot of like West Virginia influence on their staff is there anybody you know over there oright that you have given how similar uh I know the um the quarterback and I know the head coach he had recruited me the WV like 20 22 around that time and uh the DC he was the safety coach at w so you know I got a good little relationship with them I know a couple of them over there but um like I said we coming to win yeah yes sir you caught some passes from Goose then hey oh yeah definitely definitely I caught some passes from Goose goose a good good player I can't I can't wait to see him again you know get chop it up with him and compete but it's going to be a good game you giv any scouting report to the the defensive guys is there anything any insight you've given them or no no no definitely no I ain't giving them no Insight man no Insight no Insight uh it's supposed to be hot and humid obviously it's a little bit different Challenge and you're up in the elevation I guess how you guys trying to get prepared as possible for you know kind of the the weather you're going to deal with uh me personally I'll would say I I just try to finish every play make sure I'm I get tired and so when I when I do go into next week with the heat and stuff like that it won't affect me as much so that's what I try to do coach said Bel maybe had a little bit of a different Swagger confidence to him you know coming into practice this week I guess how would you describe a difference that you've seen in him oh Bel is more confident like his passes down field even when he's running the ball like he's he's real good so I feel like him just being um consistent like he was last week we should be real good and we should be he should be good what do you feel like you guys maybe didn't do on Saturday that you want to get going here on this offensively this coming week uh I feel like we did everything coaches asked us to do it was just the uh the flags and stuff like that that that kind of set us back a little bit and so like I said we minimize them flags and going into this week I feel like we'd be real good and we gonna blow them out looks like one might be limited what what's up with him you know definitely definitely I saw you [Laughter] weed one in that cross area you know what happened uh uh Smitty he just uh down with a spring ankle right now it shouldn't he should be playing this week he just you know rehabbing getting back good so he he should be ready by next week I mean this week with that said if he couldn't go I mean that put more on you obviously I mean how confident are you that you could leave that offense on that white outside I'm I'm very confident like I said I try to um come here and be consistent each and every day even if Smitty down he or he on the field with me like I just try to be consistent and that's what I'm going do going into this game If he if he don't play I apologize if you already asked you about Coach lubic but I I'm going to do a little feature on him to this week just the perseverance that he's showing just tell me about his leadership and how he impacts you guys Co like uh coach lubik he dealing with a lot like you know dealing with cancer and stuff like that and just seeing him coming here each and every day putting the work and prep and making sure that we prepar it motivates it motivates the team a lot because like like coach Cho said like he want to see us not he want to see us finish and I give up and that's something that coach Luby do he he finish and he don't give up and so I really appreciate him and I'm I'm behind him 100% how about his just offensive uh mind and just what he's kind of Incorporated and what you guys are doing compared on what you've seen in your career oh definitely like this is uh like you said what I seen in my career like I've been in a whole bunch of offenses and it's nothing like coach lubik like he really he really schemed schemed the uh his best best players to get the ball and like that's that's the difference between him and his his offense and other people offense like he get his best play as the ball and that's that's that's what I like about his offense schools session now was it just like to kind of have campus buzzing and of course you're still a new guy here just tell us about just how it's been being out here as a student athlete I mean uh you know I'm a I'm a grad transfer yeah so I got a lot of online classes so I ain't really been too much on on campus but I see his packed it see it's a lot of people out here uh in the camp is parking and all this type stuff like that so I I just it's good to see a lot of all the students here and hoping they come support for uh support us uh throughout the year you guys are really good in the red zone three touchdowns and field goal and four chances is I guess you know what was the key to being so successful and getting seven instead of three I say just finishing make sure we finish like make sure to be aggressive at the ball point of attack and like just finish that's that's the main focus is just finish if you don't if you don't finish everything just go downhill so we just try to make sure that we finish each and every play you talked about it uh you know trying to be chippy and you know getting some penalties obviously you guys got chippy out there at practice I guess how do you you find that line between making them uncomfortable and being aggressive but not doing anything that's going to hurt the team in terms of penalties uh I would say really like it's just uh just let me get that question one more time let me hear one more time yeah just in terms of you know being feisty and Shippy but without going over the line and getting a penalty because you know you had mentioned you know some penalties last game that kind H you guys but you also want to be aggressive and set the tone and be physical right okay okay uh like coach Chas coach CH said like uh we can like it's it's okay to be physical it's it's just it's a point like where you got to stop it and and you got to understand as a player like you can't go that far and you got to it's a line that you can't cross and that's something that coach CH tell us a lot like you got to you you got to make sure you don't cross that line and that's what we try to do when we go out there make sure that we we play hard each and every play but make sure we just don't cross that line knowing they're a defensive coordinator from your time at West Virginia I mean does that help you in terms of what you think they're going to do defensively I guess what what did he like to run what definitely definitely helped me a lot cuz like I said like I went to the West Virginia and like him being the uh defense coach over there I know I know how they going to play their def defense and the how the corn is going to play me and stuff like that so it give me a it give me Advantage just just being over there in that offense and feeling the defense and now coming here and playing against them it's going to be I feel like I I I got a real good Advantage would you say coach Parker was like your lead recruiter when you were going to West Virginia one of the guys no he definitely was he was my lead recruiter and then he had uh he had left before I got there and went to uh Notre Dame for the OC job so I mean we got good relationship I said I talked to him a little bit but I ain't talked to him do this week you got a little rival thing going on right now what did you like about him what kind of made you want to go to that program and play for him he uh he he he know a lot about receivers technique wise and uh just stuff like that like he was a good person and that's what made me really Lan to go into West Virginia was because of him so that's really it in terms of getting the ball down the field I know you know with that some of you was tough they got really good pass rush and things like that I mean you you envision that happening more and more as the season goes on in terms of being able to stretch vertically definitely definitely because you know if we can't pass with the Run not gonna work right so I feel like I feel like uh we we gonna do a good job this week really getting a honing to get the ball down field and make and having our uh receivers make make the plays you know just your analysis of the defensive effort against s any uh I feel like as a whole I mean we uh every day we hold oursel to a high standard back in linebackers D line I feel like we uh we played to that standard just we just got to finish the game so I'm very proud of uh how we played and how how we performed seemed like the secondary played really well inm you know trying to slow down one of the best passing offenses in the nation what were the keys to you guys being so successful majority that game I mean we knew they were going to come out past the ball so we kind of just took Practice series we all come out with the right intent and the right mindset and pretty much just executed how we wanted to how is it preparing for this game they obviously don't have a lot of returning guys they got a new head coach I guess you know what are you guys trying to focus on to be as prepared as possible for a challenge that might be a little bit uncertain in terms of how they're scheming things I mean I feel like we're still uh learning their personnel and what they do and the coaches are are putting us in the right uh we're going over film put us in the right spot and to to learn what they do they like to run the ball at least historically I guess what do you see as your role as kind of a nickel guy and you know around the box and and helping the the run defense uh just making sure I'm around that ball uh and run fit setting the edge sir you won that starting nickel job I guess you know what do you think elevated you to that spot and you know what does it feel like to to know that you're a big part of this defense uh I mean I give credit to Kean K because I mean we're both battling at that position and we both make each other better so it just I mean we we both rotate a little bit so it's still we're still working it out but he pushes me I push him and then I feel like there's no fallof between me or him do you feel like you guys proved some some stuff to yourself against SMU I mean obviously not the result that you wanted but you guys really dominated that game for 50 minutes um I would say yeah but I feel like we still got more to prove it was just one game we still got a whole long season to play you talk about the Swagger that coach Jas brought having been around around here last year just a lot of you guys that were around here kind of a change of pace this year yeah I mean you definitely feel like a change in things I mean this is not the old Nevada it's the new Nevada so yeah yeah I think coach told you guys you had buried the old Nevada Saturday night how important is that for you especially to be a part of like a new page here uh I feel like that's very important I mean the the next opponent doesn't look at look at us as the the old Nevada look at us at the new Nevada so we got to come out there so that this next game as well what are the benefits already playing you guys have the first game Jitters or things under your yeah I guess how much more do you feel like you're going to be prepared for this game than you know them being their season opener uh I feel like we'll be a lot more prepared as like I mean we know we got to fix we know what we need to work on we know how we know what it takes in practice to come out here and play hard and execute so yeah first road game obviously went on the road not as quite as easy of winning at home I guess what's going to be the key for you guys to stay you know disciplined Fus focused and go out on the road and put put together your best performance uh we know Choy is going to be a tough place to play at but we still just do what we've been doing do what we've been doing how do you travel well though I mean it's different right like you got to you know obviously behave yourself and be Focus it's kind of like you know business trip if you will I mean how do you travel well if you could answer that uh as far like what do you mean about like what are some of the things that you guys have to make sure you focus on when you're away from here in kind of your comfort zone if you will uh I mean just just locking in don't get distracted by the little things like taking a 4our flight we know we got to take a long flight so it is what it is we got to still go over there and play it is what it is can imagine you guys are itching to give Coach y'all want to win too but just his first win and kind of get this thing kick started I mean can you just take us in the locker room and the hunger you guys have to to celebrate a death uh I mean we're we're very hungry for a du we know we know what we can do as a team so like I mean we were close to it last Saturday we got to come out out this Saturday and just finish get that first win and build on that you talk about what Keon brought to the defensive side of the ball seems like he's flying all over the place yeah Keon uh he had he had a hell of a game Saturday and I I credit that to us holding him to a high standard and the way he practices he he comes out there he's intentional in the way he practices he brings everybody else along so yeah coach and Cortez just told us about just some of the little things that kind of set you guys back penalties and chippiness how do you guys kind of reel that in but also kind of keep that you know Edge I guess I mean we're always going to have play with that edge we just got to tone it down a little bit and just don't cross that line yeah what's it going to be like going back to Alabama um definitely excited pump going back home uh there's nothing like playing in a place that you familiar with and getting play in front of your loved ones and stuff so definitely excited about going back home did you go to many troy games growing up it's like what 35 40 minutes from your yes I went to a lot of Troy games and plus like my parents uh grading was of Choy and stuff so like yeah I went to a lot of Troy games growing up and stuff how many friends family you expect to have out there uh so so right now like on the orang thing I already got like 50 tickets transferred to me and I'm using all 50 of them plus I got like family and friends that bought their own tickets and stuff so it's going to be a lot okay so it's like two per player uh we got four four yep so you just been tapping the teammate yeah my teammate yeah we kind of been making deals a lot of the uh Hawaii guys so we've been trading you know switching out and stuff so okay how how excited are your mom and stepdad to see you come now they're definitely pner St you know they've been already ordering shirts and they not even going to work Thursdays CU they want to see us when we get there in my G and stuff so they definitely a side of their s they could be at like the airport or something no no no n they going to uh they going to try to come to the um hotels and stuff there okay before we get situated they Che C shirts most team are Che for oh like about like team they like uhit oh no they going to be tring for us but yeah did you grew up in like a Troy household though like did they like really root for the Trojans pretty hard uh okay this is kind of crazy but my whole family is Tennessee fans I know it's kind of weird and stuff but yeah we kind of uh Tennessee family do you have any memories of that stadium in in particular that are yes yes uh veterans Mo stadium is uh it's going to get loud you know that place down there is built on a winning uh culture and stuff like I know they got new coaching staff and stuff but just that tradition and stuff so uh it's going to be loud a student section going to be right behind us uh also got a lot of friends to go to chore so I know they probably going to be uh messing with me and stuff so I just got to make sure I stay focused and all that yeah it seems like it's going to be about 90° obviously it's humid I guess how do you tell the guys how they're going to what they're going to feel like how they're going to prepare for that uh drink plent of water you know um definitely want to stay hydrated cuz it's going to get hot and like I don't know it's something about that Turf that Turf do get screamed hot so yeah do you remember when this game was scheduled or when you noticed that you guys were playing this yeah so as soon as this game got scheduled uh I saw it and I test my cousin so my cousin actually played at Troy he's uh he's a Super Bowl champion so I tested him and uh he's actually on the wall and stuff and uh I was just like we GNA beat they tail and uh he was like slow that slow your roll so I definitely remember when this game got scheduled cuz he was the first person I reached out to and who was the cousin uh Steve mcclanan okay yep and he played in the NFL yeah he played NFL 13 season he won a Super Bowl with uh Tom Brady at the Buccaneers and I think what is 21 or something like that okay obviously it's a new roster new coaching style so may be a little bit harder to prepare for this game than than the SMU game I guess how are you guys tackling that challenge uh yeah it's definitely going to be hard cuz we really don't know nothing but like coach told us at the end of the day it's all about us so uh it's definitely going to be you know first couple series and stuff we got to try to figure things out but at the end of the day like you said it's all about us and how we go out there execute our job what did you think of the defensive effort against us year uh I think we played amazing you know we did a lot of good things you know it can always be better and that's the goal this week you know like the little small things that cost us at the end you know capitalizing on them this week so we can finish finish the job how would you describe the locker room after the game was it one of like great disappointment or was it one of optimism that you guys with a team like that see that's kind of the thing like you know uh I think that's question everybody kind of been wondering uh I I mean yes you know we didn't finish but guys was excited that you know we did stay that close but it's not at the end of the day it's not good enough you know you want to come out on the other side of the you know win or lost column but yeah guys definitely that made guys buy in more like coaches right we really you know right there knocking on the door and we're going to do some great things this year I would imagine if it's the same result this week you guys would be pretty upset I mean time to time to win a game kind of status uh yeah we we would be upset but uh we we it's not going to be the outcome tell us about just coming up in Alabama and football specifically in that state uh yes it's uh down south in general you know um football is something that is uh we that series down there something that we love so uh it's definitely going me and Mike was actually down there workout telling all the guys like make sure y'all doing the right weight cuz this is the SEC gang like them guys down south going to come with it I know they're group five program too but it's going to be field school and they're going to fly around and if you don't got your Hammer tight enough they're going to hit you in your mouth you know any of those guys on the team at this point uh yeah so uh TJ Thompson is uh me and Mike Joo buddy he was uh he's a linebacker number 13 we uh played with him at Jo and uh one of the coaches uh uh AJ Pierce he's now uh he was a play last year he's actually like T will GA now so I know him and I knew JB Barber but he transferred to Texas AM Tyson and you talk about this game at all uh no we haven't really you know sat down and talked about it much but uh I'm sure we will when we get you know back down in my G we uh eventually talk about it what will it mean you to walk out of that stadium with the win if that's the final outcoming it means a lot you know growing up that uh close to it you know uh getting recruited by them talking you know they talking to me a lot and stuff never pulling the trigger so definitely go down there and uh walk out of there having that crowd St mean a lot to me any uh upset feelings that you weren't offered by them oh no not I'm blessed here where I'm at now just be on my feet at and I'm glad that I chose the university Nevada what are your conversations like with your family as they get set to watch you I'm sure they just so excited uh right now it's really been about tickets trying to figure out who everybody you know who's coming to start I really haven't had time to talk to him about the game plan and what's going on yet been mostly about the tickets and stuff how do you I mean obviously this is a special trip for you but how do you travel well like what are some of the things the team has to really adhere to to make sure it's you know a successful trip if you will uh just got to just be uh be a pro you know like uh this is not no you know not time it's not vacation like it's a business trip so you know make sure we lock in from the moment we leave this facility going to the airport and uh yeah basically just being being a professional you know lock in this is not you know vacation and stuff I know you guys still have uh couple days left to prepare boy do you think it's going to be the biggest xfactor going into Troy uh us just doing our job you know uh locking in on the little small things like I said that you know cost us last week and most importantly just being conditioned and hydrated and stuff like you said it's going to be very hot and stuff down there seemed like guys were even cramping up in the first game and it's going to be a whole different thing I mean do you see like more I mean coach you kind of said more rotation to players earlier yeah we're going to go do I think it's be more rotation and uh our nutritionist uh Miss Britney got like a couple guys that you know that was cramping and stuff and she got a plan and place for us so yeah kind of show the depth of the team in this game because you are going to rotate more I guess what do you think of the the depth of your unit and you know you probably should get some more playing time too uh yeah I mean I think the depth and I you know the secondary stuff is good like you can pull one of the guys out and I think it's it's not going to be no let down you know we all right there together so you know yeah you mentioned the little things that kind of set you guys back maybe some of the chippiness maybe Crossing Lines how do you guys address that and just what's the focus you need to take to make sure that doesn't hurt you next time yeah and Ashley we know we had a mean this morning coaches kind of telling us about you know how close to student section and stuff going to be to us and they're going to be saying thing you know looking us up on the roster calling us names and stuff we just got to stay locked in and focus on what's going on out there in the field how much have it Advantage is that you guys have play the game and they haven't I mean just be able to you know work out whatever Kinks there are in the season opener uh so I I was kind of think like I don't know if it's Advantage for us because we going into it don't know what you know they're going to do and stuff but uh we are we are already calloused up and stuff so we should be fine in that you know that regard