CFP SEMIFINAL CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: GEORGIA VS OHIO STATE

December 28, 2022

Broderick Jones

Brock Bowers

Kenny McIntosh

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Georgia Bulldogs

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right. We're going to continue with the Georgia offense and our final session. We've got tackle, Broderick Jones, tight end, Brock Bowers, and tailback, Kenny McIntosh. We'll go ahead and just a quick opening statement from you guys. We're asking all the players. Obviously you guys have gotten to do a lot of fun activities and different events throughout the week. For each one of you, what's been the highlight of the week for you, the thing you will really take home, the thing that you are going to remember?

BRODERICK JONES: I would say Family Feud. I'm so competitive. And Family Feud. I grew up watching Family Feud. I always wanted to be on the show. So it was a good experience, you know, just to be there.

BROCK BOWERS: I'd say just hanging out in the hospitality suite at the hotel. I mean, just playing ping pong, playing pool and just hanging out with everyone.

BRODERICK JONES: I've been beating him every time in pool, by the way.

BROCK BOWERS: That's a lie.

KENNY McINTOSH: I would say Family Feud as well. Just seeing those guys react as the game went on and Georgia ended up winning that. It was just a fun moment, a moment that I'll remember, because I had the camera up walking around and putting the camera in front of my guys' faces and stuff like that. So I'll definitely remember that moment, just seeing them smiling and being able to enjoy themselves.

THE MODERATOR: Okay. We'll go ahead and jump into questions.

Q. Broderick, a lot of really talented edge rushers, we've already talked a lot about in here. How have you gone about studying them? What do they bring to the table and is there any difference between 9, I think it's 44 and 32?

BRODERICK JONES: Yeah. I really don't try and just single out one specific player at a time. I would rather just watch the whole scheme of the game just because of, you know, they switch so many people out every time. So I just try and look at the scheme and how they will play if certain people were in. I just don't try and single out 44 or 9, even though they are great pass rushers. You know, they will be a big challenge for us. But I believe at the end of the day, it's really about the defense as a whole and the way we play, and not just the specific two players.

Q. Kind of gotten glimpses of Stetson's swagger throughout the year, the Tennessee game with the call me sign after that. Any funny stories in the huddle of him just talking trash, getting you guys fired up about the next play, something he sees open, guaranteed victory kind of thing?

KENNY McINTOSH: Let me think about that real quick. You said funny moments of Stetson in the huddle? I can remember -- let me think. I can remember we were playing, I think this was Kentucky, just being so cold out there. Being the quarterback, you gotta be able to call plays. And looking at the wrist band, he's shivering, because -- and he said a word wrong, and we all knew what he was meaning because we were looking at it too as well, but just being there, being cold out there shivering and stuff like that and he was talking funny and we laughed about it, but we also knew it was time to go out there and play.

THE MODERATOR: Brock, what about you, funny Stetson stories.

BROCK BOWERS: I can't really think of one right now. That was like the only one I was thinking about was when he would come to the huddle and be like, man, I can't even feel my hands right now, it's so cold. That was kind of the only one I could think of right now.

THE MODERATOR: We'll come back to you. Keep thinking. Broderick, what do you got?

BRODERICK JONES: I really can't think of anything either. I ain't even gonna lie. Not in the huddle. But I could say just like being around him, he's a very funny person, you know, just in general, every day on a daily basis. He's a great guy to be around.

THE MODERATOR: We heard in the last session about his flip phone. What's going on with that?

KENNY McINTOSH: You said flip phone? See, in the huddle, it's more serious. You can't say that in the huddle because we're playing the game. We're focusing and stuff like that. But just being around him, you know, day to day, he's hilarious. Got a flip phone. We all question him about it because he got an iPhone as well, too. We don't know why he got that flip phone or where this came about. But he just walks around with his flip phone. Or swagger I see, he'll go and throw on the Louis Vuitton duffle bag or anything like. He don't wear things like that. He's not into things like that. So when he do it, it's just a funny moment. The team loves it and laughs about it. He's a character.

Q. Brock, I talked to you after the SEC championship game and you said one of the challenges would be last year you coming off a loss and had a really great month and really drew on that loss to ramp you up into the playoffs. You said that would be the challenge. That was the last I've heard from you. How has the last month been and where did you find that motivation you had from a loss last year and this year coming in undefeated?

BROCK BOWERS: Yeah. We have the drive because obviously we were playing for the national championship and that drive helped us, and also, I mean, I feel like there wasn't really a dip in our performance at practice or anything. And we've just been working all month. So I feel good about our preparation and everything.

Q. I'm just curious, we all know you're extremely versatile as a tight end and H, play a little running back as well. What does it require mentally to retain all the information it requires to play that many different positions, and how long did it take for you to really absorb the full depth of the offense?

BROCK BOWERS: Yeah, I think last year, like every single week they were putting in new plays and that would kind of mess with my head a little bit. And I was still scrambling last year, but this year, I felt more like focused, and I mean, just able to retain all that information. And it definitely helped being here for another year. And I mean, you eventually kind of like learn everything that's going on during the play just by doing it every time and just seeing other people do it. So that helped.

Q. Broderick, I'll ask you the same question I asked Sedrick. In your opinion, what has allowed the offensive line to really develop and get better over the course of the year, I guess, specifically over the last month or so?

BRODERICK JONES: You know, just being able to go against the talent that Georgia has on the defensive side every day in practice, you know. That pushes us every day, helps us get better, helps us grow. You know, just upholding the standard on the O line, just being able to play as a unit and not as individuals. We really look at that more so of just trying to play like thinking about something else, you know. We really want to be a unit and play for one. So I believe that's what it is.

Q. Going back to Stetson real quick, he's obviously got great numbers throughout his starting career, but in big games, it's been pretty crazy. The playoffs last year and LSU this year, he has 800 passing yards, nine touchdowns, no picks. What have you guys seen from him in those biggest of big-stage moments?

KENNY McINTOSH: I just say how comfortable he is. Like you said, he done played in a lot of big-time games and he's seen it already. So just how comfortable he is to go out there and change the play call when we're in one or get us out of different looks or protections or anything like that. It just helps this team a lot and just shows how smart and how much of a leader he is and how much he means to this team to be able to do the things like that and help us be successful.

BROCK BOWERS: I'd say just his confidence going into it, and I mean, the focus and the preparation and everything leading up to the game just helps him a lot during the game. And I mean, he just comes out and performs on the big stages. So that's really good for our team.

BRODERICK JONES: Yeah. I would piggyback on what he said. Just like the confidence he brings within himself. You know, like he's very confident about his game, very confident about the game plan and what Coach Monken has implemented. You know, just being able to showcase what he can do being at the size he is, you know, just being that way on and off the field, like his calmness throughout the storm, you know, he never lacks. So I can just say that.

Q. For all you guys, it's not often you get to spend some quality time with a living legend. Just curious your takeaways last night with Andrew Young at the Ebenezer Baptist Church?

KENNY McINTOSH: Being able to listen to them guys last night was definitely an experience I remember. Those guys done been through a lot. And for us to be where we're at now to say we're playing with a different gender, now this time, this year go around now, so being able to see things change and be able to be on the team with another race shouldn't be able to control the relationships we have or anything, the outcome in the world and stuff like that. They went through a lot and I took a lot from them because I'm in the position they was at like when they was talking about college. So being in college playing with my brothers, I call them my brothers, you know, I just look at it as a blessing to be able to be here where I'm at now because back in the day, it wasn't like this.

THE MODERATOR: Brock, how about you?

BROCK BOWERS: It was awesome just to hear his experiences, and like he's been through a lot, and just to -- I mean, I guess still be that sharp at 90 years old, I mean, it was pretty amazing to see him up there and talking and interacting with everyone. So, yeah, it was definitely awesome to hear him talk about his life experiences, and yeah.

BRODERICK JONES: Yeah. I can say the same. Just him being 90 is crazy, I will say that. And, you know, just him telling us stories. He told one story about Herschel Walker and how he had met Herschel Walker and how he asked him how he could be like someone in a race. I can't remember who it was.

KENNY McINTOSH: His sister.

BRODERICK JONES: His sister, yeah. And he told him he had to do 100 on pushups, 100 sit-ups and find a hill every night to run up and down. So that was just a great moment, you know, just listening to the stories and how he came up and just learning more about what happened and what went on back in the day. You know, it was a great experience just to sit there like live and watch him and watch him talk about his past events, what had happened in his life live because I was sitting in the front row right there, you know, locked in, listening to everything he was talking about. So it was a good experience.

Q. For each of you guys, Stetson was saying that Coach Monken has really helped him understand the game of football a lot more. For each of you guys how has Coach Monken helped you develop your understanding of the game of football over the last three years he's been here?

KENNY McINTOSH: I would say Monken is an intelligent offensive coordinator. So he knows -- the way he takes the game is so serious, and he knows things that I don't ever think of. So just being able to pick his brain, even if it's running a route, picking up a block, foot work, anything. He just gives us little ticks and stuff like that we can carry on for the next level, because he's been there, and that's somewhere we want to go.

So, you know, just buying into and listening to what he's saying has definitely taught me a lot, because he's been an offensive coordinator at the highest level. And he knows what he's talking about, so I just listen to him.

BROCK BOWERS: Yeah. I mean I learned so much since I got here. Like in high school, I really didn't know anything about like what to look for like on film and like opposing defense and everything. And when I got here, he taught me so much about how to know if someone's coming like on a blitz or what coverage they're going to, like presnap reads and everything like that. And I mean, just having the knowledge he has and being able to share it with us, it's just -- I mean, we gotta listen to him just because he knows so much. And it definitely helps me a lot.

BRODERICK JONES: Yeah, I would say the same thing Brock said. You know, just like with everything that he knows, it's hard just not to listen to what he has to say sometimes, because he knows so much. He's been there. He's done that, you know, at the next level. We're all trying to get to the next level. So just being able to pick his brain and figure out things that you may have not known or you may have known and he can give you a better understanding still just because he knows so much about it, you know. Picking his brain, just learning more about defenses, you know, schemes, you know, what they may do, just based off what they look, just based off the looks that they give.

So I believe that's a great thing for him to do, you know, just being able to coach every position, too. Like he doesn't just single out one position like quarterbacks. He watches the wide receivers. He watches the tight ends. He watches the O line. You know, like and it's just great just being able to get that coaching.

Q. Broderick, question for you. Recruited by Sam Pittman, signed by Matt Luke, playing under Stacy Searels, what has the journey been like first of all? What have you picked from everybody? And talk about the year under Stacy and how you guys have progressed.

BRODERICK JONES: You know, I don't look at that too much just because of so much of me being still with my brothers, you know. Like that helps a lot, being with them, coming in every day ready to work. But at the same time, it's been a great experience with all the coaches, being able to pick their brains. I really didn't get to play under Sam Pittman really, but just when he was recruiting me, I still was able to get a couple of nuggets from him and learn a little more.

So I will say, and then Coach Searels, he's a great guy. He's a hard-nosed guy. He has an old-school type coaching mindset. So it was a little difficult to me at first, but I'm getting used to it. We have a great relationship. We may goof around a little bit, but at the end of the day, we get the job done.

Q. This is for all three of you. Obviously the last time you played was the SEC championship game earlier this month. That's a long time to not play a game from then until now. I'm curious what each of you have done personally to stay locked in and prepared and how antsy are you just to play this game?

BRODERICK JONES: I'm really antsy. I'm ready to play just because I don't like sitting around waiting. I'm an impatient guy. I'm ready to get to the point. So just being up here in Atlanta, you know, I'm from Atlanta. It helps a little bit keeping me locked in with my team, my brothers. We may goof around a little bit in the hospitality room, beating him in pool. I've been beating him in pool. He can't beat me. Just being able to have fun with my brothers, it keeps us a little bit motivated and ready for the big day when it comes.

BROCK BOWERS: Yeah. I mean, I'm antsy, too, ready to play. It's hard to wait a month. And I think like our coaches did a good job on, I guess, keeping us locked in. And I mean, just doing as much stuff as we can in order to be ready to play. So I think that helped us a lot staying focused.

KENNY McINTOSH: Definitely. I would say our coaches definitely kept us locked in. They want us to win 24 hours. Each and every day, we're doing something to help this team get to where we want to go. I'd say even when we had a little break home, guys still, we wrote down things that we wanted to do to help this team before we left, and I can just tell you what I wrote. I wrote that I was going to watch film and catch 100 balls a day.

So just being able to do those little things. And like the guys said, I'm ready to play, too. It's hard to wait a month. So just doing little things like that to get back in football mode slowly, but surely, I would say that definitely helped us to keep us focused and dialed in for this game.

Q. Broderick, do you ever get jealous that Jalen gets to come in and play offense and look cool and you guys always do the dirty work and you never get to sack guys, hold up number one fingers, anything like that?

BRODERICK JONES: No, man. I don't get jealous. I just come here ready to do whatever I have to do for the team, just like him. Him being a bigger body and being so dominant, having him behind me, it makes my job easier a little bit anyway just because he can come through more people and make a hole. Like all the running backs gotta do is follow him and it's a touchdown just because he's so big. You can ask him.

But just having him behind me, like it gives me a little bit of extra confidence that being so close, and so like just me and him, like having the relationship we have. It's so goofy, but at the end of the day, I'm always proud of what he has done and what he has accomplished as a man. So I just look at that as that.

Q. Broderick, another one for you. Turned into a really counter heavy football team this year. You as a tremendous athlete at the left tackle position. What does that play allow you to do? You seem to enjoy it. When I watch you on film, you seem to enjoy that particular play.

BRODERICK JONES: I do like counter. He like running behind me, too. I mess with the running backs and quarterbacks all the time. Just because I'm so athletic and I can do it so well, I really do like pulling and just showing my athleticism, just getting out in the open field and just running a lot, because at the end of the day, it's a great scheme, too as well, just because you never know what we can do. We can go outside to the edge. We can get to the edge. We can go inside. You never just know where it can hit. So just being able to follow the running back to follow me, I think they like that very well.

KENNY McINTOSH: Definitely. I'll say definitely. Love running behind him in plays like that because he's going to get out and run. And when I say run, he's going to run past the safety and you gotta catch him so you can get behind his block. But just seeing it in practice, man, I remember I first seen it on film, Kirby be watching in the team room, I just seen him running down the field. Like I said, like a gazelle just floating down the field, like moving, too. Hitting like 19 or something like that. You never see O lineman doing that. It's just crazy how athletic he is, and it brings out a lot for the running game.

Q. Brock, while you and Darnell Washington both play tight end, it's kind of a different spot with him being in line and you going out in the slot sometimes, taking H back duty. So can you talk about that relationship and how doing different things for each other can open each other up?

BROCK BOWERS: Yeah. I feel like we're kind of two different players, just size wise and skill set, and I think having him on -- him with me just running the ball or in the passing game, they both help, and I feel like he's such a versatile player, too, just being able to maul people in the run game and get out there and beat people one on one and catch it over people in the passing game, too. It's just like his size and ability is just insane, and it definitely helps my confidence out a little bit out there. But it also just opens everyone else up, too.

Q. So earlier the Ohio State defensive side was in here, and they said they saw some advantages everywhere on the field. Do you guys see some advantages that they have, and what advantages may you have on your side of the ball?

KENNY McINTOSH: I'll say advantages we got is just how connected we are as a team to go out there and play. We done had some tough wins this year, which makes us different -- stand out from last year's team. We had to pull out our composure during some games we had to play. This team fought back. I believe we were down two touchdowns or something like that and fought back and won.

This team shows so much connection and resiliency. Just go out there week by week, practicing how we practice and going out there on Saturdays to execute and buy into the game plan and going out there and doing what we do. So I'd say that's our advantage, how connected this team is and the composure we have.

BROCK BOWERS: I mean, I'd say that our connection as a team just helps us a lot. And like Kenny said, being in those close games helps us as well. We didn't really have that last year, and I feel like that just made us that much better and closer as a team. And I mean, at this point everyone, their defense is going to be juiced to play, and everyone is a great player, because you have to be to get to this point. So I'm just excited to see what happens out there on Saturday.

BRODERICK JONES: I just believe Bloody Tuesday gives us an advantage. I ain't even gonna lie. Bloody Tuesday, you know, you just gotta come in with this different type of mindset, just ready to maul somebody in practice. Even though he a brother, you know, between those lines, nobody is friends. So you just gotta do what you can to make it out alive. So you just gotta be prepared and be ready. And us going against each other, you know, trying to kill each other out there on Bloody Tuesday, I think it makes the games easier for us.

THE MODERATOR: All right. We'll end it there. Thank you, gentlemen.