1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,364 (female announcer) This is a production of WKNO-Memphis. 2 00:00:03,364 --> 00:00:05,898 Production funding for "Sports Files" is made 3 00:00:05,898 --> 00:00:15,431 possible in part by.. 4 00:00:15,431 --> 00:00:18,331 My guest today on "Sports Files" is Memphis Tigers Quarterback 5 00:00:18,331 --> 00:00:19,464 Paxton Lynch. 6 00:00:19,464 --> 00:00:36,764 [theme music] ♪♪♪ 7 00:00:36,764 --> 00:00:38,531 The Memphis Grizzlies are back in the 8 00:00:38,531 --> 00:00:40,964 playoffs and later in the show we'll hear from members of the 9 00:00:40,964 --> 00:00:44,564 team as they embark on the post season for a 4th straight time. 10 00:00:44,564 --> 00:00:47,131 But first tonight I sit down with Memphis Tigers 11 00:00:47,131 --> 00:00:49,998 redshirt-sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch. 12 00:00:49,998 --> 00:00:52,898 Last season the six foot six inch single caller won the 13 00:00:52,898 --> 00:00:56,464 tigers starting job by beating out popular incumbant field 14 00:00:56,464 --> 00:00:58,031 general Jacob Karam. 15 00:00:58,031 --> 00:01:00,431 Lynch would throw for over 2,000 yards, 16 00:01:00,431 --> 00:01:03,631 completing 58% of his pass attempts. 17 00:01:03,631 --> 00:01:05,631 Unfortunately the big armed quarterback 18 00:01:05,631 --> 00:01:08,398 would be limited with his verticle passing game as 19 00:01:08,398 --> 00:01:11,398 protection was suspect, often forcing Lynch to throw 20 00:01:11,398 --> 00:01:13,798 underneath or even tuck and run. 21 00:01:13,798 --> 00:01:16,164 In addition, his receivers at times struggled, 22 00:01:16,164 --> 00:01:19,031 limiting Lynch to just nine touchdown passes and ten 23 00:01:19,031 --> 00:01:22,164 interceptions in his first full season at the wheel. 24 00:01:22,164 --> 00:01:25,464 Today, Paxton joins me to talk about his expectations for 25 00:01:25,464 --> 00:01:29,364 season two, what he learned from last year and we find out what 26 00:01:29,364 --> 00:01:30,531 makes him tick. 27 00:01:30,531 --> 00:01:33,398 In one of his first in depth interviews of his young college 28 00:01:33,398 --> 00:01:35,798 career, the pride of the sunshine state, 29 00:01:35,798 --> 00:01:38,698 Paxton Lynch, next on "Sports Files." 30 00:01:38,698 --> 00:01:49,831 [theme music] ♪♪♪ 31 00:01:49,831 --> 00:01:50,764 Paxton, great to have you here. 32 00:01:50,764 --> 00:01:52,231 Thank you so much! 33 00:01:52,231 --> 00:01:55,598 Let's talk about spring this year as opposed to last year. 34 00:01:55,598 --> 00:01:56,764 How different was it for you? 35 00:01:56,764 --> 00:01:58,764 It was a lot different, you know. 36 00:01:58,764 --> 00:02:00,831 Last year I was just kind of feeling it out. 37 00:02:00,831 --> 00:02:03,098 You know I only had summer to learn the plays. 38 00:02:03,098 --> 00:02:05,531 But this year I was comfortable with what I was doing. 39 00:02:05,531 --> 00:02:07,531 I could just go out there and have fun. 40 00:02:07,531 --> 00:02:10,664 Did you feel like you had to be a leader this spring, 41 00:02:10,664 --> 00:02:12,664 that you had the one year under your belt, 42 00:02:12,664 --> 00:02:15,298 that a lot of these guys are looking up to you to be that 43 00:02:15,298 --> 00:02:16,298 leader? 44 00:02:16,298 --> 00:02:17,298 Yes sir, yes sir. 45 00:02:17,298 --> 00:02:19,998 I mean Coach Fuente's challenged a lot of the players to be 46 00:02:19,998 --> 00:02:20,998 leaders. 47 00:02:20,998 --> 00:02:23,798 So a lot of the young guys are stepping up as well as some of 48 00:02:23,798 --> 00:02:24,798 the older guys. 49 00:02:24,798 --> 00:02:26,831 Alright, let's talk about this hurry-up offense that's been 50 00:02:26,831 --> 00:02:27,831 implemented. 51 00:02:27,831 --> 00:02:30,698 We saw some of that during the spring game. 52 00:02:30,698 --> 00:02:35,031 Tell us about learning that system and playing that system. 53 00:02:35,031 --> 00:02:36,331 You enjoy that. 54 00:02:36,331 --> 00:02:37,731 Yes, I do actually. 55 00:02:37,731 --> 00:02:42,531 All of high school and obviously in college I was huddle-up, 56 00:02:42,531 --> 00:02:43,531 huddle-up. 57 00:02:43,531 --> 00:02:45,531 But whenever we started doing it, 58 00:02:45,531 --> 00:02:47,731 I liked it a lot more just because of the chances of 59 00:02:47,731 --> 00:02:48,731 busting the big play. 60 00:02:48,731 --> 00:02:50,998 You can run a three yard game and the next play, 61 00:02:50,998 --> 00:02:53,398 play action and the defense doesn't know what's going on 62 00:02:53,398 --> 00:02:54,598 because you're going so fast. 63 00:02:54,598 --> 00:02:57,198 Is it harder to learn that type of offense? 64 00:02:57,198 --> 00:03:01,531 Planes fly over us here at Liberty Bowl Stadium. 65 00:03:01,531 --> 00:03:02,531 It's a little tougher. 66 00:03:02,531 --> 00:03:04,598 You've just gotta know what you're doing quicker just so you 67 00:03:04,598 --> 00:03:05,598 can snap the ball faster. 68 00:03:05,598 --> 00:03:07,964 But other than that, I mean, it's just like any other 69 00:03:07,964 --> 00:03:08,964 offense. 70 00:03:08,964 --> 00:03:09,964 How about as far as.. 71 00:03:09,964 --> 00:03:12,898 Obviously to click on offense, everybody has to be on the same 72 00:03:12,898 --> 00:03:13,898 page. 73 00:03:13,898 --> 00:03:17,298 Is it harder in that sense because you mess up, 74 00:03:17,298 --> 00:03:18,731 there could be something big. 75 00:03:18,731 --> 00:03:20,731 Always running in to each other. 76 00:03:20,731 --> 00:03:23,798 Yeah, I mean it definitely has a lot of rich reward but I 77 00:03:23,798 --> 00:03:26,631 definitely feel more comfortable in this offense rather than just 78 00:03:26,631 --> 00:03:27,631 slowing it down. 79 00:03:27,631 --> 00:03:29,631 Alright, let's talk about weapons. 80 00:03:29,631 --> 00:03:32,498 Obviously you'd know what was coming back and you're going to 81 00:03:32,498 --> 00:03:34,798 get some more weapons in the summer when the incoming 82 00:03:34,798 --> 00:03:36,564 freshman class comes in. 83 00:03:36,564 --> 00:03:38,031 Last year you had some. 84 00:03:38,031 --> 00:03:39,131 This year you had more. 85 00:03:39,131 --> 00:03:42,531 How comfortable are you with the players around you? 86 00:03:42,531 --> 00:03:43,964 I'm really comfortable. 87 00:03:43,964 --> 00:03:46,364 You know we have B Hayes in the back field. 88 00:03:46,364 --> 00:03:49,764 We have Sam line up at the slot coming in motion getting him the 89 00:03:49,764 --> 00:03:50,764 ball. 90 00:03:50,764 --> 00:03:52,764 And we have Anthony Miller out there on the edge too. 91 00:03:52,764 --> 00:03:54,764 And we have a lot of big time receivers like D Hurd. 92 00:03:54,764 --> 00:03:56,831 And we have another big receiver coming in. 93 00:03:56,831 --> 00:03:57,998 So it helps. 94 00:03:57,998 --> 00:04:00,798 It makes my job easier definitely having a lot more 95 00:04:00,798 --> 00:04:02,231 threats on the outside. 96 00:04:02,231 --> 00:04:04,231 And then just giving the ball on the inside, 97 00:04:04,231 --> 00:04:06,231 it opens up the fast game on the outside. 98 00:04:06,231 --> 00:04:09,364 I know a lot of fans last year wondered going in here's this 99 00:04:09,364 --> 00:04:10,998 guy with this big arm. 100 00:04:10,998 --> 00:04:14,731 Are we going to see some vertical passing? 101 00:04:14,731 --> 00:04:17,598 And we saw it at times but we didn't see it a lot. 102 00:04:17,598 --> 00:04:19,598 But you have to have protection to do that. 103 00:04:19,598 --> 00:04:22,331 What do you think about the offensive line for this season? 104 00:04:22,331 --> 00:04:24,864 Yeah, the offensive line has definitely been grinding it out 105 00:04:24,864 --> 00:04:26,864 this spring and over the summer. 106 00:04:26,864 --> 00:04:28,864 You know they've been in the weight room. 107 00:04:28,864 --> 00:04:29,964 They've all been getting big. 108 00:04:29,964 --> 00:04:32,931 So I'm very comfortable with my offensive line and I'm a lot 109 00:04:32,931 --> 00:04:36,031 more comfortable with play action drop back and just 110 00:04:36,031 --> 00:04:38,031 trusting them to throw the ball downfield. 111 00:04:38,031 --> 00:04:40,531 Was it frustrating for you at times last year when you wanted 112 00:04:40,531 --> 00:04:42,898 to throw it down the field but you couldn't? 113 00:04:42,898 --> 00:04:46,164 I mean it's frustrating for any quarterback I think when you 114 00:04:46,164 --> 00:04:47,164 have a play. 115 00:04:47,164 --> 00:04:49,164 But there were soem plays where I should have got the ball out 116 00:04:49,164 --> 00:04:50,164 sooner. 117 00:04:50,164 --> 00:04:52,264 And there's some plays where things jsut broke down on front. 118 00:04:52,264 --> 00:04:54,264 Tell me about your throwing motion. 119 00:04:54,264 --> 00:04:56,264 I've heard different things about it. 120 00:04:56,264 --> 00:04:58,264 Somebody described it as a little bit of a hitch. 121 00:04:58,264 --> 00:04:59,264 I don't see that. 122 00:04:59,264 --> 00:05:00,464 But you're long. 123 00:05:00,464 --> 00:05:01,464 You're lanky. 124 00:05:01,464 --> 00:05:04,431 So it's going to be naturally a little bit longer to get it out. 125 00:05:04,431 --> 00:05:06,898 Are you trying to make it quicker with your release? 126 00:05:06,898 --> 00:05:07,898 Definitely. 127 00:05:07,898 --> 00:05:10,998 Coming in to here, coming in to college I never had a personal 128 00:05:10,998 --> 00:05:13,031 quarterback coach to teach me how to throw. 129 00:05:13,031 --> 00:05:15,031 I've just been a baseball player. 130 00:05:15,031 --> 00:05:18,431 So whenever I got here, it's kind of been a conscious effort 131 00:05:18,431 --> 00:05:20,831 to try to not drop the ball as much and get it out quicker. 132 00:05:20,831 --> 00:05:22,831 Because when you make it to the next level, 133 00:05:22,831 --> 00:05:26,698 everything counts even if it's just in your throwing motion. 134 00:05:26,698 --> 00:05:29,764 What specifically are they working with as far as trying to 135 00:05:29,764 --> 00:05:30,764 make it? 136 00:05:30,764 --> 00:05:32,764 Just not dropping the ball as much. 137 00:05:32,764 --> 00:05:34,764 You know I kind of have a big wind up, 138 00:05:34,764 --> 00:05:36,764 kind of like Tebow kind of I guess you could say. 139 00:05:36,764 --> 00:05:37,764 But it's a lot different. 140 00:05:37,764 --> 00:05:38,831 He's a lefty and I'm a righty. 141 00:05:38,831 --> 00:05:40,798 Its just long I think. 142 00:05:40,798 --> 00:05:43,631 I've just got to quicken up and get the ball out quicker. 143 00:05:43,631 --> 00:05:46,531 What I think surprised me a little bit last year and maybe 144 00:05:46,531 --> 00:05:49,664 some other fans is you can tuck it and run. 145 00:05:49,664 --> 00:05:52,798 And do you like to tuck it and run? 146 00:05:52,798 --> 00:05:53,798 Yes, yes. 147 00:05:53,798 --> 00:05:54,798 I was a runner in high school. 148 00:05:54,798 --> 00:05:58,198 I think people were surprised by my running ability. 149 00:05:58,198 --> 00:06:00,198 And then towards the end of the last season, 150 00:06:00,198 --> 00:06:02,198 I kind of started to run the ball more. 151 00:06:02,198 --> 00:06:04,198 So spring, I've been running the ball. 152 00:06:04,198 --> 00:06:06,964 But you're not live so you can't really tell what's a big run and 153 00:06:06,964 --> 00:06:08,964 what's a tackle on the back field. 154 00:06:08,964 --> 00:06:09,964 But I definitely like to run. 155 00:06:09,964 --> 00:06:11,964 I definitely like the read option plays where I can pull it 156 00:06:11,964 --> 00:06:12,964 and keep it. 157 00:06:12,964 --> 00:06:13,964 Alright, you like it. 158 00:06:13,964 --> 00:06:15,964 How about Coach Fuente and Coach Dickey? 159 00:06:15,964 --> 00:06:17,964 Do they want to see their quarterback running with the 160 00:06:17,964 --> 00:06:18,964 football? 161 00:06:18,964 --> 00:06:19,964 Yeah, I mean they do. 162 00:06:19,964 --> 00:06:20,964 But trust me. 163 00:06:20,964 --> 00:06:23,464 There's a cut up film of quarterbacks sliding and not 164 00:06:23,464 --> 00:06:25,464 getting hit that they show me all of the time. 165 00:06:25,464 --> 00:06:27,464 Yeah, they want you to be very safe. 166 00:06:27,464 --> 00:06:28,464 Definitely, definitely. 167 00:06:28,464 --> 00:06:31,231 But yeah, the playing action -- that's very big in this game. 168 00:06:31,231 --> 00:06:32,931 And we see it often. 169 00:06:32,931 --> 00:06:36,098 And it seems like a high percentage of plays with the 170 00:06:36,098 --> 00:06:37,698 play action are successful. 171 00:06:37,698 --> 00:06:39,698 I mean everybody's going to be on the same page as we talked 172 00:06:39,698 --> 00:06:40,698 about. 173 00:06:40,698 --> 00:06:42,698 But I think it gives a lot of defenses.. 174 00:06:42,698 --> 00:06:46,231 They have to be on their toes and watch the quarterback who 175 00:06:46,231 --> 00:06:47,264 can do things like that. 176 00:06:47,264 --> 00:06:51,098 Yeah and like I said earlier, the big plays can just happen 177 00:06:51,098 --> 00:06:52,098 like that, you know. 178 00:06:52,098 --> 00:06:54,098 We might have a play action pass for every single run play we 179 00:06:54,098 --> 00:06:55,098 have. 180 00:06:55,098 --> 00:06:57,098 So a play can turn in to a little game. 181 00:06:57,098 --> 00:07:01,298 And the next play, just run the exact same play it looks like. 182 00:07:01,298 --> 00:07:03,764 But the defense is caught off guard. 183 00:07:03,764 --> 00:07:06,264 We just throw it over their head. 184 00:07:06,264 --> 00:07:08,264 What did you learn from last year? 185 00:07:08,264 --> 00:07:09,664 Last year I just.. 186 00:07:09,664 --> 00:07:12,831 I'm not really sure to be honest. 187 00:07:12,831 --> 00:07:14,831 I can't think of it off of the top of my head. 188 00:07:14,831 --> 00:07:17,598 But just last year, I just think I needed to enjoy my self and 189 00:07:17,598 --> 00:07:19,598 work on my preparing for the games better. 190 00:07:19,598 --> 00:07:22,098 Because in the spring, I'd just been preparing for practice 191 00:07:22,098 --> 00:07:25,398 everyday and having the mindset that I can go out there and make 192 00:07:25,398 --> 00:07:26,398 every play. 193 00:07:26,398 --> 00:07:28,398 I don't think I had that last year. 194 00:07:28,398 --> 00:07:31,164 But coming to the spring, that was a big thing I worked on. 195 00:07:31,164 --> 00:07:34,198 There were soem fans when you would have an off game -- 196 00:07:34,198 --> 00:07:36,198 although a lot of times, quite honestly, 197 00:07:36,198 --> 00:07:38,464 you were on and maybe you're receivers weren't catching the 198 00:07:38,464 --> 00:07:39,464 ball. 199 00:07:39,464 --> 00:07:41,464 But there was the clamoring for Jacob. 200 00:07:41,464 --> 00:07:42,464 Could you hear that? 201 00:07:42,464 --> 00:07:44,998 I did but I mean, that's not something I needed to worry 202 00:07:44,998 --> 00:07:46,598 about on the field. 203 00:07:46,598 --> 00:07:48,898 You know I'm not worried about myself. 204 00:07:48,898 --> 00:07:51,331 I'm worried about the team and what the team needs to do. 205 00:07:51,331 --> 00:07:54,598 So it was my job to just push through it and help the team 206 00:07:54,598 --> 00:07:55,598 out. 207 00:07:55,598 --> 00:07:57,598 Did you have a good relationship? 208 00:07:57,598 --> 00:07:58,598 Oh yeah, yeah. 209 00:07:58,598 --> 00:08:00,598 Me and Jacob had a good relationship. 210 00:08:00,598 --> 00:08:01,598 Yeah, we were good friends. 211 00:08:01,598 --> 00:08:03,598 We were roommates, I mean when we traveled. 212 00:08:03,598 --> 00:08:06,798 How important was it to you to know that Coach Fuente has your 213 00:08:06,798 --> 00:08:08,798 back and certainly last year, had your back. 214 00:08:08,798 --> 00:08:10,798 There were times that he could have made a switch. 215 00:08:10,798 --> 00:08:11,798 He kept you in. 216 00:08:11,798 --> 00:08:12,798 You were his guy. 217 00:08:12,798 --> 00:08:16,531 I mean that just makes me more relaxed. 218 00:08:16,531 --> 00:08:18,964 I feel like I can just go out there and play knowing he has my 219 00:08:18,964 --> 00:08:20,598 back even if I make a mistake. 220 00:08:20,598 --> 00:08:23,931 I know that I'm still going back in there and nothing's going to 221 00:08:23,931 --> 00:08:24,931 change. 222 00:08:24,931 --> 00:08:25,931 You're right. 223 00:08:25,931 --> 00:08:28,131 Last year it was a bad ending to the season. 224 00:08:28,131 --> 00:08:31,298 The prior year, your red shirt year was a really good strong 225 00:08:31,298 --> 00:08:33,298 finish at the end of the season. 226 00:08:33,298 --> 00:08:34,298 What do you think happened? 227 00:08:34,298 --> 00:08:35,298 I just, I don't know. 228 00:08:35,298 --> 00:08:36,298 I just don't think we finished. 229 00:08:36,298 --> 00:08:38,298 We might have got down on ourselves. 230 00:08:38,298 --> 00:08:41,464 But a big thing we've been working on over the spring is 231 00:08:41,464 --> 00:08:42,464 just finishing. 232 00:08:42,464 --> 00:08:44,598 And when we started this spring, we were practicing real good. 233 00:08:44,598 --> 00:08:47,431 And then the last two practices, he was just working on finish. 234 00:08:47,431 --> 00:08:48,664 And we finished real well. 235 00:08:48,664 --> 00:08:51,431 So I just don't think we finished this season off strong. 236 00:08:51,431 --> 00:08:53,498 How do you work in practice on finishing? 237 00:08:53,498 --> 00:08:55,998 Just whenever things get hard because there's sometimes in 238 00:08:55,998 --> 00:08:57,998 practice when you feel like you hit a block. 239 00:08:57,998 --> 00:09:00,164 And you know the defense is winning a lot of the plays. 240 00:09:00,164 --> 00:09:02,198 Like you run some inside hand outs. 241 00:09:02,198 --> 00:09:04,198 You throw it and they're disrupting. 242 00:09:04,198 --> 00:09:06,798 But you just got to keep pushing and know that the big plays are 243 00:09:06,798 --> 00:09:07,798 tougher to make. 244 00:09:07,798 --> 00:09:09,298 And that's physical. 245 00:09:09,298 --> 00:09:11,298 Obviously you're getting beat by the defense. 246 00:09:11,298 --> 00:09:12,298 They're pushing you around. 247 00:09:12,298 --> 00:09:13,331 That's physical. 248 00:09:13,331 --> 00:09:15,331 But part of that certainly is mental. 249 00:09:15,331 --> 00:09:16,498 As you said, you hit a block. 250 00:09:16,498 --> 00:09:19,198 And oh gosh, you know, we can't win. 251 00:09:19,198 --> 00:09:20,398 You have to push through that. 252 00:09:20,398 --> 00:09:22,398 Is that what you're talking about? 253 00:09:22,398 --> 00:09:23,398 Yeah, definitely. 254 00:09:23,398 --> 00:09:25,398 And that's where the leadership comes in with me and a bunch of 255 00:09:25,398 --> 00:09:26,398 other guys. 256 00:09:26,398 --> 00:09:28,398 We've just got to keep pushing them along. 257 00:09:28,398 --> 00:09:30,798 What other things are you working on specifically and what 258 00:09:30,798 --> 00:09:33,931 would be your regimen this summer? 259 00:09:33,931 --> 00:09:36,331 I think I just need to become more of a leader and just around 260 00:09:36,331 --> 00:09:38,898 the guys and be myself, just continue to be more comfortable 261 00:09:38,898 --> 00:09:40,898 and keep pushing the guys around me to be better. 262 00:09:40,898 --> 00:09:41,898 What will you do this summer? 263 00:09:41,898 --> 00:09:45,031 Give me an example of how your work outs will be? 264 00:09:45,031 --> 00:09:48,064 Just like weight room, like getting bigger and then going 265 00:09:48,064 --> 00:09:50,231 out there and running in that, in the heat, 266 00:09:50,231 --> 00:09:51,231 you know. 267 00:09:51,231 --> 00:09:52,231 That's not easy. 268 00:09:52,231 --> 00:09:54,231 And when you've got guys that are sturggling, 269 00:09:54,231 --> 00:09:56,231 you've just got to be the guy that can clap them up and help 270 00:09:56,231 --> 00:09:57,231 them finish. 271 00:09:57,231 --> 00:09:58,531 Does a leader have to be vocal? 272 00:09:58,531 --> 00:10:00,864 I think he has to be vocal but more importantly, 273 00:10:00,864 --> 00:10:04,631 I think a leader leads by example to younger guys. 274 00:10:04,631 --> 00:10:07,531 You know when I first got here, I was trying to figure out what 275 00:10:07,531 --> 00:10:08,531 was going on. 276 00:10:08,531 --> 00:10:10,831 And it wasn't really to me that I focused on who was talking the 277 00:10:10,831 --> 00:10:11,831 most. 278 00:10:11,831 --> 00:10:13,831 It was who was doing the right thing. 279 00:10:13,831 --> 00:10:15,831 And I was following the people who were doing the right thing 280 00:10:15,831 --> 00:10:16,831 basically. 281 00:10:16,831 --> 00:10:17,831 I agree with that. 282 00:10:17,831 --> 00:10:19,264 But are you a vocal guy? 283 00:10:19,264 --> 00:10:22,531 I've never been really a vocal guy. 284 00:10:22,531 --> 00:10:23,598 I've kind of been to myself. 285 00:10:23,598 --> 00:10:26,098 But I've definitely been working on that a lot more, 286 00:10:26,098 --> 00:10:27,131 you know, with coaches. 287 00:10:27,131 --> 00:10:30,231 You know you've got ot get out of your comfort zone to be a 288 00:10:30,231 --> 00:10:31,231 leader. 289 00:10:31,231 --> 00:10:32,731 So I've just been.. 290 00:10:32,731 --> 00:10:36,464 I believed in being the showing guy. 291 00:10:36,464 --> 00:10:37,464 Right. 292 00:10:37,464 --> 00:10:40,431 You know and I've just been working on my being more vocal 293 00:10:40,431 --> 00:10:42,631 for the guys and talking to them, 294 00:10:42,631 --> 00:10:44,631 like when we're in the weight room. 295 00:10:44,631 --> 00:10:45,631 That's a great time. 296 00:10:45,631 --> 00:10:47,631 When they're struggling underneath the bar, 297 00:10:47,631 --> 00:10:49,631 you know, you just help them out or they missed a rep. 298 00:10:49,631 --> 00:10:51,631 You know that's a good time to jump on it. 299 00:10:51,631 --> 00:10:54,498 In practice or in a scrimmage, when you're going up against the 300 00:10:54,498 --> 00:10:57,164 Tigers defense, who's trash talking the most? 301 00:10:57,164 --> 00:10:59,164 The D-line for sure when Bobby's out there.. 302 00:10:59,164 --> 00:11:00,264 Yeah, he can get in your ear. 303 00:11:00,264 --> 00:11:02,264 But even when he's not practicing, 304 00:11:02,264 --> 00:11:05,464 you know, he's finding me on the sidelines somewhere saying 305 00:11:05,464 --> 00:11:06,498 something to me. 306 00:11:06,498 --> 00:11:10,364 But today when he was on the blue team with me, 307 00:11:10,364 --> 00:11:13,164 you know, he was all cheering for me. 308 00:11:13,164 --> 00:11:14,898 So he's funny I guess. 309 00:11:14,898 --> 00:11:16,298 What are they saying? 310 00:11:16,298 --> 00:11:20,131 And let me remind you that this is a family show. 311 00:11:20,131 --> 00:11:22,231 They're saying something that, I mean, 312 00:11:22,231 --> 00:11:23,631 you can't really say. 313 00:11:23,631 --> 00:11:25,731 But they're definitely getting in your.. 314 00:11:25,731 --> 00:11:28,898 They're trying to get in your head for sure. 315 00:11:28,898 --> 00:11:31,998 Now I'm sure it happened during last season. 316 00:11:31,998 --> 00:11:34,564 Did you ever find a time where you got rattled by that or is 317 00:11:34,564 --> 00:11:36,564 that in one ear and out the other? 318 00:11:36,564 --> 00:11:39,364 As a quarterback, you've got to be in one ear and out the other 319 00:11:39,364 --> 00:11:40,364 like you said. 320 00:11:40,364 --> 00:11:43,464 Because you know the next play, I'm touching the ball every 321 00:11:43,464 --> 00:11:44,464 single play. 322 00:11:44,464 --> 00:11:47,698 So if I'm rattled on the next play or the previous play, 323 00:11:47,698 --> 00:11:52,331 then that's gonna affect how I -- I'm looking for the word for 324 00:11:52,331 --> 00:11:53,331 it. 325 00:11:53,331 --> 00:11:55,398 How I finish the next play basically I guess you could say, 326 00:11:55,398 --> 00:11:56,464 like perfect the next play. 327 00:11:56,464 --> 00:11:59,031 Do you feel you can make every throw out there? 328 00:11:59,031 --> 00:12:00,164 Yes, I do. 329 00:12:00,164 --> 00:12:02,164 And that's one big thing that the coaches have been helping me 330 00:12:02,164 --> 00:12:05,598 out with, knowing that I can go out there and complete every 331 00:12:05,598 --> 00:12:06,598 throw. 332 00:12:06,598 --> 00:12:08,598 And that's where I feel a lot mroe confident because I have 333 00:12:08,598 --> 00:12:10,598 been doing that through the spring. 334 00:12:10,598 --> 00:12:12,598 What's the hardest throw to make? 335 00:12:12,598 --> 00:12:15,198 The hardest throw to make I feel like is a lot of throws to the 336 00:12:15,198 --> 00:12:16,198 field to be honest with you. 337 00:12:16,198 --> 00:12:18,564 Like if we're n the left hatch and we're throwing across the 338 00:12:18,564 --> 00:12:21,898 field to the right hatch, like maybe a comeback or an in and 339 00:12:21,898 --> 00:12:24,631 out kind of route like a corner post. 340 00:12:24,631 --> 00:12:27,298 You always hear about like throwing across your body is a 341 00:12:27,298 --> 00:12:28,298 tough throw for a quarterback. 342 00:12:28,298 --> 00:12:29,298 Yeah, definitely. 343 00:12:29,298 --> 00:12:32,198 Like if I'm rolling to my left and I got a guy coming this way, 344 00:12:32,198 --> 00:12:34,198 I've got to flip my hips around. 345 00:12:34,198 --> 00:12:36,231 And I didn't really throw well in the run when I first got 346 00:12:36,231 --> 00:12:37,231 here. 347 00:12:37,231 --> 00:12:39,231 So that was something I was working on too. 348 00:12:39,231 --> 00:12:41,398 What quarterbacks in professional football do you 349 00:12:41,398 --> 00:12:44,898 like to watch and maybe look at tape or try to emulate? 350 00:12:44,898 --> 00:12:50,231 I like to watch Aaron Rodgers a lot and Colin Kaepernick and Cam 351 00:12:50,231 --> 00:12:53,498 Newton too just because of how excited I can be. 352 00:12:53,498 --> 00:12:55,998 Aaron Rodgers is more of a drop back kind of quarterback. 353 00:12:55,998 --> 00:12:57,298 But he's got a canon. 354 00:12:57,298 --> 00:12:59,298 He just throws the ball in there. 355 00:12:59,298 --> 00:13:03,131 And then Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton can just run and make 356 00:13:03,131 --> 00:13:05,198 any defense look stupid. 357 00:13:05,198 --> 00:13:07,198 Going back to something we talked about earlier, 358 00:13:07,198 --> 00:13:09,198 everybody needs to be on the same page. 359 00:13:09,198 --> 00:13:11,198 How confident are you in receiving? 360 00:13:11,198 --> 00:13:12,198 Oh, I'm very confident. 361 00:13:12,198 --> 00:13:14,731 You know we've been working hard during the spring. 362 00:13:14,731 --> 00:13:16,731 We've been running a lot of routes. 363 00:13:16,731 --> 00:13:18,731 We've been throwing a lot of balls. 364 00:13:18,731 --> 00:13:20,331 So we're on the same page. 365 00:13:20,331 --> 00:13:24,064 What was your welcome to big time Division I college football 366 00:13:24,064 --> 00:13:25,498 moment last year? 367 00:13:25,498 --> 00:13:29,164 I would have to say when we played Duke and I was running up 368 00:13:29,164 --> 00:13:30,164 the sideline. 369 00:13:30,164 --> 00:13:31,164 I hit a pump fake. 370 00:13:31,164 --> 00:13:33,164 And as I was running out of bounds, 371 00:13:33,164 --> 00:13:34,164 I got hit still. 372 00:13:34,164 --> 00:13:35,164 And I was like woah. 373 00:13:35,164 --> 00:13:37,531 I mean this is the big leagues -- not the big leagues but this 374 00:13:37,531 --> 00:13:39,531 is bigger than what I've been playing with. 375 00:13:39,531 --> 00:13:40,531 So.. 376 00:13:40,531 --> 00:13:45,131 There are some hard hits that you took but you backed up and 377 00:13:45,131 --> 00:13:47,798 brushed yourself off and got back in there. 378 00:13:47,798 --> 00:13:50,631 What do you think the highlight of last season was for you? 379 00:13:50,631 --> 00:13:51,631 The highlight? 380 00:13:51,631 --> 00:13:55,298 You know it was just we were playing some teams close. 381 00:13:55,298 --> 00:13:56,864 And that was a highlight to me. 382 00:13:56,864 --> 00:14:00,164 But you know we weren't used to playing good teams close like 383 00:14:00,164 --> 00:14:01,598 U-C-F and Lousiville. 384 00:14:01,598 --> 00:14:03,898 We were close as a comeback on them. 385 00:14:03,898 --> 00:14:07,498 But you know that just helped me out knowing that we could play 386 00:14:07,498 --> 00:14:09,498 against the big time teams like that. 387 00:14:09,498 --> 00:14:11,498 And that goes back to what you said earlier that you're 388 00:14:11,498 --> 00:14:12,498 learning how to finish those. 389 00:14:12,498 --> 00:14:14,564 Becuase you had U-C-F as you said. 390 00:14:14,564 --> 00:14:17,664 I mean we, like you said, we had it right there in our hands. 391 00:14:17,664 --> 00:14:22,164 So this year if we have a game close we know we can finish it 392 00:14:22,164 --> 00:14:23,164 up. 393 00:14:23,164 --> 00:14:25,164 Alright, big time opponents coming up next season. 394 00:14:25,164 --> 00:14:26,198 You go to U-C-L-A. 395 00:14:26,198 --> 00:14:28,564 You're going to play Ole Miss in Oxford. 396 00:14:28,564 --> 00:14:31,598 How neat is that for you and your team mates when you have 397 00:14:31,598 --> 00:14:33,598 big time opponents on the schedule? 398 00:14:33,598 --> 00:14:35,598 I mean it's definitely a cool thing. 399 00:14:35,598 --> 00:14:37,598 But you can't really focus on how big the opponent is. 400 00:14:37,598 --> 00:14:39,598 You know it's just another opponent and you've got to 401 00:14:39,598 --> 00:14:40,598 prepare for it. 402 00:14:40,598 --> 00:14:42,598 And you got to go out there and play. 403 00:14:42,598 --> 00:14:43,598 Is there a different.. 404 00:14:43,598 --> 00:14:45,598 You always hear coaches talk about, 405 00:14:45,598 --> 00:14:46,598 you know, the next game. 406 00:14:46,598 --> 00:14:47,831 We got to win the next game. 407 00:14:47,831 --> 00:14:49,831 And some players say that as well. 408 00:14:49,831 --> 00:14:50,831 And you do. 409 00:14:50,831 --> 00:14:52,831 You have to prepare the same way. 410 00:14:52,831 --> 00:14:53,831 Come on. 411 00:14:53,831 --> 00:14:54,831 You've got to tell me. 412 00:14:54,831 --> 00:14:56,831 When you're gearing up for U-C-L-A as opposed to maybe a 413 00:14:56,831 --> 00:14:58,931 one double A, it's a little bit different. 414 00:14:58,931 --> 00:14:59,931 It is. 415 00:14:59,931 --> 00:15:00,931 It's very different, yeah. 416 00:15:00,931 --> 00:15:02,931 I mean you do gotta go worry about the next game. 417 00:15:02,931 --> 00:15:05,298 But how you prepare for a team is a lot different. 418 00:15:05,298 --> 00:15:07,964 How you prepare for a different team like Austin Peay maybe a 419 00:15:07,964 --> 00:15:08,964 little different. 420 00:15:08,964 --> 00:15:12,764 But your mind set on you executing is the same way. 421 00:15:12,764 --> 00:15:13,764 Lousiville's gone. 422 00:15:13,764 --> 00:15:14,764 They're leaving the conference. 423 00:15:14,764 --> 00:15:17,164 You don't have U-C-F on the schedule. 424 00:15:17,164 --> 00:15:20,664 What do you think your chances are and the opportunity is in 425 00:15:20,664 --> 00:15:22,964 the American to make some big time moves? 426 00:15:22,964 --> 00:15:25,831 I think we have really high chances of doing that. 427 00:15:25,831 --> 00:15:28,498 We're all confident in the offense and the defense. 428 00:15:28,498 --> 00:15:30,498 We know we can do out there and score points. 429 00:15:30,498 --> 00:15:32,498 And we know the defense can stop teams. 430 00:15:32,498 --> 00:15:34,931 So we're confident in what we can do and it's a big time goal 431 00:15:34,931 --> 00:15:37,798 to go to the conference championship and win it. 432 00:15:37,798 --> 00:15:38,931 What is your pre game ritual? 433 00:15:38,931 --> 00:15:41,231 What do you like to do before a game? 434 00:15:41,231 --> 00:15:43,398 I'm not really a ritual kind of guy, 435 00:15:43,398 --> 00:15:44,831 just kind of keep to myself. 436 00:15:44,831 --> 00:15:47,498 I just listen to my music and that's about it. 437 00:15:47,498 --> 00:15:49,798 Is there anything that you would do during the day differently 438 00:15:49,798 --> 00:15:52,998 than when you don't have a game as far as you get a little 439 00:15:52,998 --> 00:15:53,998 Madden? 440 00:15:53,998 --> 00:15:55,998 Of course you've got class and things like that. 441 00:15:55,998 --> 00:15:57,998 You hear a lot of professional athletes, 442 00:15:57,998 --> 00:15:58,998 especially N-B-A guys. 443 00:15:58,998 --> 00:16:00,164 They got to take their nap. 444 00:16:00,164 --> 00:16:03,764 The bgi thing about taking a nap for me is waking up afterwards. 445 00:16:03,764 --> 00:16:06,264 I mean the days that I don't have practice, 446 00:16:06,264 --> 00:16:09,564 I'll definitely take a long four hour nap or something like that. 447 00:16:09,564 --> 00:16:11,798 But the days of games or something like that, 448 00:16:11,798 --> 00:16:14,064 I try not to take a nap just so I can keep myself up. 449 00:16:14,064 --> 00:16:16,064 Would you feel maybe if you took the nap, 450 00:16:16,064 --> 00:16:17,064 you'd feel groggy? 451 00:16:17,064 --> 00:16:18,064 Yeah, yeah, definitely. 452 00:16:18,064 --> 00:16:20,064 You definitely have to wake yourself back up. 453 00:16:20,064 --> 00:16:22,231 What do you think about the support you get from the fan 454 00:16:22,231 --> 00:16:23,231 base? 455 00:16:23,231 --> 00:16:25,231 I know you would like, as everybody else would, 456 00:16:25,231 --> 00:16:26,231 to have more fans. 457 00:16:26,231 --> 00:16:28,464 The fans that you have are very, very passionate. 458 00:16:28,464 --> 00:16:29,464 Yes, yes. 459 00:16:29,464 --> 00:16:32,098 You know we're really grateful for the fans that we have. 460 00:16:32,098 --> 00:16:34,498 And a lot of the fans stuck through it even to the season 461 00:16:34,498 --> 00:16:37,164 when we weren't winning as much games as we hoped so. 462 00:16:37,164 --> 00:16:40,898 But I'm real proud of our fan support. 463 00:16:40,898 --> 00:16:41,898 You converse with them? 464 00:16:41,898 --> 00:16:44,798 Obviously you have students that probably come up to you and say 465 00:16:44,798 --> 00:16:46,798 hey, that was a great pass in that game. 466 00:16:46,798 --> 00:16:47,798 Way to pull one out. 467 00:16:47,798 --> 00:16:48,998 What do people say to you? 468 00:16:48,998 --> 00:16:52,664 There are some people that I've talked to who knew who I was. 469 00:16:52,664 --> 00:16:54,664 But other than that, I don't like walk around the campus and 470 00:16:54,664 --> 00:16:56,664 talk about how I'm the quarterback. 471 00:16:56,664 --> 00:16:57,664 [laughter] Yeah, it's kind of.. 472 00:16:57,664 --> 00:17:03,764 You know I just kind of go with the flow and whatever happens, 473 00:17:03,764 --> 00:17:04,764 happens. 474 00:17:04,764 --> 00:17:05,931 How about social network? 475 00:17:05,931 --> 00:17:07,931 Social networking is such a big thing. 476 00:17:07,931 --> 00:17:08,931 Are you on Twitter? 477 00:17:08,931 --> 00:17:09,931 Do you do that? 478 00:17:09,931 --> 00:17:11,931 Yeah, I'm on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook and all 479 00:17:11,931 --> 00:17:12,931 that. 480 00:17:12,931 --> 00:17:15,064 But you know everyone gets on to me because I don't have that 481 00:17:15,064 --> 00:17:17,064 many followers on Twitter and stuff like that. 482 00:17:17,064 --> 00:17:19,064 And I'm like dude, you've got to give me a shoutout there or 483 00:17:19,064 --> 00:17:21,064 something like that, get my followers up. 484 00:17:21,064 --> 00:17:23,064 We've got to get him more followers. 485 00:17:23,064 --> 00:17:24,064 Exactly! 486 00:17:24,064 --> 00:17:25,064 What's your handle? 487 00:17:25,064 --> 00:17:26,064 It's just at-paxton-lynch. 488 00:17:26,064 --> 00:17:27,064 Pretty simple, at-paxton-lynch. 489 00:17:27,064 --> 00:17:28,064 But you have to watch yourself. 490 00:17:28,064 --> 00:17:31,164 Because we know with social media sometimes people think of 491 00:17:31,164 --> 00:17:33,298 something, they write it down, they send it and they go wow, 492 00:17:33,298 --> 00:17:34,498 I should have never sent that. 493 00:17:34,498 --> 00:17:35,498 Exactly. 494 00:17:35,498 --> 00:17:37,498 That's something you've always got to think about before you 495 00:17:37,498 --> 00:17:38,498 type a Tweet. 496 00:17:38,498 --> 00:17:39,498 How's school going for you? 497 00:17:39,498 --> 00:17:41,498 It's going good, it's going good. 498 00:17:41,498 --> 00:17:43,498 The way my classes are set up are pretty good right now. 499 00:17:43,498 --> 00:17:46,098 I have a lot of online classes and I'm only on campus for two 500 00:17:46,098 --> 00:17:47,098 days, Tuesday and Thursday. 501 00:17:47,098 --> 00:17:49,798 And the rest I just go to breakfast and workouts and I'm 502 00:17:49,798 --> 00:17:50,798 done for the day. 503 00:17:50,798 --> 00:17:51,798 What's your major? 504 00:17:51,798 --> 00:17:53,798 My major is sports management right now. 505 00:17:53,798 --> 00:17:54,798 Yeah? 506 00:17:54,798 --> 00:17:55,798 Yeah. 507 00:17:55,798 --> 00:17:57,798 Working on a degree with that and then obviously, 508 00:17:57,798 --> 00:17:59,798 hoping to lead this team to bigger and better things. 509 00:17:59,798 --> 00:18:00,798 Exactly. 510 00:18:00,798 --> 00:18:02,798 Alright, before we say goodbye we like to end all our 511 00:18:02,798 --> 00:18:04,798 interviews with something called Five for the Road. 512 00:18:04,798 --> 00:18:06,798 So I'm gonna ask you five questions. 513 00:18:06,798 --> 00:18:08,164 First thing that comes to mind. 514 00:18:08,164 --> 00:18:09,164 Okay. 515 00:18:09,164 --> 00:18:10,164 Ready? 516 00:18:10,164 --> 00:18:12,531 Favorite professional sports team in any sport? 517 00:18:12,531 --> 00:18:14,531 Favorite professional sports team.. 518 00:18:14,531 --> 00:18:15,531 Oh man. 519 00:18:15,531 --> 00:18:16,531 You're from Florida? 520 00:18:16,531 --> 00:18:17,531 Yeah. 521 00:18:17,531 --> 00:18:19,864 I don't think it's a Florida team to be honest. 522 00:18:19,864 --> 00:18:23,131 I'm a big Steelers fan because I have some family in 523 00:18:23,131 --> 00:18:24,131 Pennsylvania. 524 00:18:24,131 --> 00:18:26,131 And whenever we go on a family reunion, 525 00:18:26,131 --> 00:18:30,064 I remember as a kid we used to go to their practices during the 526 00:18:30,064 --> 00:18:32,798 summer and I used to get all their autographs. 527 00:18:32,798 --> 00:18:33,631 So I'd probably say the Steelers. 528 00:18:33,631 --> 00:18:38,098 So no faith in the Dolphins, Buccaneers or the Jaguars? 529 00:18:38,098 --> 00:18:39,198 I'm not saying that. 530 00:18:39,198 --> 00:18:40,331 I'm not saying that now. 531 00:18:40,331 --> 00:18:41,331 Okay. 532 00:18:41,331 --> 00:18:42,331 Go with the Steelers. 533 00:18:42,331 --> 00:18:43,331 Favorite pro athlete? 534 00:18:43,331 --> 00:18:45,564 I would say maybe Cam Newton probably. 535 00:18:45,564 --> 00:18:47,098 I don't know. 536 00:18:47,098 --> 00:18:49,098 I've been watching a lot of golf lately. 537 00:18:49,098 --> 00:18:51,598 So I've been like dang, that guy's pretty good. 538 00:18:51,598 --> 00:18:54,198 Because you know I've tried to play a lot of golf so maybe it's 539 00:18:54,198 --> 00:18:55,198 a golfer. 540 00:18:55,198 --> 00:18:56,198 I don't know. 541 00:18:56,198 --> 00:18:57,198 But really Cam Newton. 542 00:18:57,198 --> 00:18:59,198 Even when I watched him at Auburn, 543 00:18:59,198 --> 00:19:01,331 just the things he did was just it drove me to be like that. 544 00:19:01,331 --> 00:19:03,531 You know maybe not as good as a runner but.. 545 00:19:03,531 --> 00:19:04,531 I know. 546 00:19:04,531 --> 00:19:05,531 I understand. 547 00:19:05,531 --> 00:19:07,531 Look up to somebody like Cam Newton is not bad. 548 00:19:07,531 --> 00:19:10,231 Favorite music or musician or maybe genre of music? 549 00:19:10,231 --> 00:19:11,298 What do you like to listen to? 550 00:19:11,298 --> 00:19:12,298 I like country a lot. 551 00:19:12,298 --> 00:19:14,698 When I go home, I have a lot of buddies that live out there in 552 00:19:14,698 --> 00:19:15,698 the back woods. 553 00:19:15,698 --> 00:19:17,498 So I like Justin Moore a lot. 554 00:19:17,498 --> 00:19:19,764 So whenever I go home, we just, you know, 555 00:19:19,764 --> 00:19:21,898 a couple of my buddies got some trucks and we just go out there. 556 00:19:21,898 --> 00:19:24,531 Yeah, I think people don't understand how country Florida 557 00:19:24,531 --> 00:19:25,531 is. 558 00:19:25,531 --> 00:19:26,531 Exactly! 559 00:19:26,531 --> 00:19:28,531 There's some parts out there now. 560 00:19:28,531 --> 00:19:31,231 There's one house for however many miles. 561 00:19:31,231 --> 00:19:33,231 Alright, two more questions for ya. 562 00:19:33,231 --> 00:19:35,231 What's your favorite movie of all time? 563 00:19:35,231 --> 00:19:36,631 My favorite movie of all time? 564 00:19:36,631 --> 00:19:39,898 Probably either Anchorman one or Anchorman two. 565 00:19:39,898 --> 00:19:42,131 I just saw Anchorman two the other day and I was laughing so 566 00:19:42,131 --> 00:19:43,131 hard. 567 00:19:43,131 --> 00:19:44,131 I haven't seen it yet. 568 00:19:44,131 --> 00:19:45,131 It's hilarious. 569 00:19:45,131 --> 00:19:46,131 I think it's better. 570 00:19:46,131 --> 00:19:47,131 I was laughing. 571 00:19:47,131 --> 00:19:49,131 Yes, I was laughing the whole time. 572 00:19:49,131 --> 00:19:51,131 Alright, that's Paxton's pick-- Anchorman two. 573 00:19:51,131 --> 00:19:57,831 And finally for ya, what's your favorite television show? 574 00:19:57,831 --> 00:19:58,831 My favorite television show? 575 00:19:58,831 --> 00:19:59,831 Breaking Bad. 576 00:19:59,831 --> 00:20:01,831 I started watching it on Netflix and I couldn't get enough of it. 577 00:20:01,831 --> 00:20:03,831 And then when it ended, I was kind of disappointed. 578 00:20:03,831 --> 00:20:04,831 You were sad? 579 00:20:04,831 --> 00:20:05,831 Yeah, I was. 580 00:20:05,831 --> 00:20:07,998 And then you find a new show on Netflix and you forget about 581 00:20:07,998 --> 00:20:08,998 that one. 582 00:20:08,998 --> 00:20:10,998 Paxton, thank you so much for joining us. 583 00:20:10,998 --> 00:20:11,931 We found out a lot more about you. 584 00:20:11,931 --> 00:20:13,498 We look forward to watching you play in 2014 and of course after 585 00:20:13,498 --> 00:20:14,731 that. 586 00:20:14,731 --> 00:20:16,264 Thanks so much for your time. 587 00:20:16,264 --> 00:20:17,298 Thanks for having me on. 588 00:20:17,298 --> 00:20:18,164 We'll take a break. 589 00:20:18,164 --> 00:20:20,664 Overtime is next. 590 00:20:20,664 --> 00:20:40,298 [theme music] ♪♪♪ 591 00:20:40,298 --> 00:20:40,898 Three.. 592 00:20:40,898 --> 00:20:41,798 Two.. 593 00:20:41,798 --> 00:20:43,964 One.. 594 00:20:43,964 --> 00:20:46,231 [buzzer sounds] 595 00:20:46,231 --> 00:20:49,431 Hoop City is once again basking in the glow 596 00:20:49,431 --> 00:20:50,798 of the Memphis Grizzlies. 597 00:20:50,798 --> 00:20:53,264 For a franchise record fourth straight time, 598 00:20:53,264 --> 00:20:55,264 the Grizz are headed to the playoffs. 599 00:20:55,264 --> 00:20:58,098 The Good guys will open up a best of seven first round series 600 00:20:58,098 --> 00:21:00,598 in Oklahoma City on Saturday. 601 00:21:00,598 --> 00:21:03,331 Not only did the Grizz battle major injuries and a coaching 602 00:21:03,331 --> 00:21:05,564 change to return to the "second season", 603 00:21:05,564 --> 00:21:09,064 but they earned the seventh seed after knocking off the Mavericks 604 00:21:09,064 --> 00:21:11,798 last night 106-105 in overtime. 605 00:21:11,798 --> 00:21:15,198 And by doing so, they avoid a first round meeting with the top 606 00:21:15,198 --> 00:21:17,398 seeded San Antonio Spurs. 607 00:21:17,398 --> 00:21:19,964 Now let's get this straight, the Thunder is no picnic either. 608 00:21:19,964 --> 00:21:22,431 Superstar Kevin Durant is the odds on favorite to win the 609 00:21:22,431 --> 00:21:24,098 league's M-V-P Award. 610 00:21:24,098 --> 00:21:26,798 And they have another superstar in guard Russell Westbrook, 611 00:21:26,798 --> 00:21:28,898 who missed last season's second round matchup with the 612 00:21:28,898 --> 00:21:31,498 Grizzlies, a series won by Memphis. 613 00:21:31,498 --> 00:21:34,164 This season, the Thunder took three of four from the Grizz 614 00:21:34,164 --> 00:21:36,798 including a 16 point win at FedExForum, 615 00:21:36,798 --> 00:21:39,531 but there's no question the Grizzlies feel confident in 616 00:21:39,531 --> 00:21:43,398 their ability to go toe to toe with the Thunder. 617 00:21:43,398 --> 00:21:45,398 Should be a very competitive series. 618 00:21:45,398 --> 00:21:50,298 I think the point differential in the number of games that 619 00:21:50,298 --> 00:21:52,364 we've played are our status. 620 00:21:52,364 --> 00:21:56,164 It's like virtually, they can really score the basketball. 621 00:21:56,164 --> 00:21:59,931 They're a completely different team with Russell Westbrook than 622 00:21:59,931 --> 00:22:04,098 the team that we saw last year in the playoffs. 623 00:22:04,098 --> 00:22:09,198 And you know it's gonna be which style of play is more forceful. 624 00:22:09,198 --> 00:22:11,998 If we can play them slow and get them to play slow and in the 625 00:22:11,998 --> 00:22:15,031 mud, as Zach always says, or if they turn it into a race horse 626 00:22:15,031 --> 00:22:18,231 game, that's going to be tough for us. 627 00:22:18,231 --> 00:22:20,631 Yeah, we know them very well. 628 00:22:20,631 --> 00:22:23,531 But like I say, it's going to be a competition. 629 00:22:23,531 --> 00:22:25,198 One game at a time. 630 00:22:25,198 --> 00:22:26,198 Keep that mindset. 631 00:22:26,198 --> 00:22:27,598 Playing hard, playing together. 632 00:22:27,598 --> 00:22:30,698 And just like I say, paying attention to detail. 633 00:22:30,698 --> 00:22:31,898 We know those guys very well. 634 00:22:31,898 --> 00:22:34,931 They've got great scores and they get up and down with the 635 00:22:34,931 --> 00:22:35,931 athleticism. 636 00:22:35,931 --> 00:22:37,931 But we have to be able to, you know, 637 00:22:37,931 --> 00:22:40,298 control the paint and play hard in those defenses. 638 00:22:40,298 --> 00:22:42,531 You know they got Westbrook now. 639 00:22:42,531 --> 00:22:45,164 And that makes them a lot better. 640 00:22:45,164 --> 00:22:49,898 Like I say, Coach Joergers gonna drop a game plan and we gotta be 641 00:22:49,898 --> 00:22:51,898 able to, you know, go out there and execute it, 642 00:22:51,898 --> 00:22:53,231 defensively and offensively. 643 00:22:53,231 --> 00:22:54,664 They gonna scout us as well. 644 00:22:54,664 --> 00:22:57,698 So we have to be ready to make adjustments on the offensive end 645 00:22:57,698 --> 00:23:00,131 on the fly because like I say, they know us very well. 646 00:23:00,131 --> 00:23:01,231 And we have to compete. 647 00:23:01,231 --> 00:23:02,998 You know they're always tough. 648 00:23:02,998 --> 00:23:06,931 You know they're one of the best teams in the league, 649 00:23:06,931 --> 00:23:10,198 have two of the best players in the league that we have to 650 00:23:10,198 --> 00:23:11,198 contend with. 651 00:23:11,198 --> 00:23:13,198 And you know when it comes down to it, 652 00:23:13,198 --> 00:23:15,798 it's all about can we, you know, enforce our style of play on 653 00:23:15,798 --> 00:23:18,298 theirs and force our big guys. 654 00:23:18,298 --> 00:23:22,898 Try to take advantage of where we're strong and be able to do 655 00:23:22,898 --> 00:23:24,764 that and win four games. 656 00:23:24,764 --> 00:23:29,498 They got two of the best scorers in the N-B-A right now with 657 00:23:29,498 --> 00:23:30,498 Westbrook. 658 00:23:30,498 --> 00:23:32,498 I mean he's capable of having big nights. 659 00:23:32,498 --> 00:23:34,798 Durant, of course, is capable if having big nights. 660 00:23:34,798 --> 00:23:37,464 So I mean we can live with those guys scoring but we gotta try to 661 00:23:37,464 --> 00:23:39,464 contain them as much as possible, 662 00:23:39,464 --> 00:23:40,464 make it difficult on them. 663 00:23:40,464 --> 00:23:42,464 And we just can't let everybody else beat us. 664 00:23:42,464 --> 00:23:45,898 So a few things is make sure we box a block out. 665 00:23:45,898 --> 00:23:49,298 Don't let them become a factor when blocking shots and getting 666 00:23:49,298 --> 00:23:54,598 dunks and continue to run their supporting cast of the three 667 00:23:54,598 --> 00:23:55,598 point line. 668 00:23:55,598 --> 00:23:58,364 There's Derek Fisher, Caron Butler and those guys. 669 00:23:58,364 --> 00:24:01,331 Then like I said, just make it hard on those two guys and their 670 00:24:01,331 --> 00:24:03,898 primary scorers and I think we'll be fine. 671 00:24:03,898 --> 00:24:07,298 We definitely got to take them. 672 00:24:07,298 --> 00:24:09,364 Oklahoma City is a great team. 673 00:24:09,364 --> 00:24:11,831 We have had a lot of battles these last couple years. 674 00:24:11,831 --> 00:24:13,831 We're going to continue to battle. 675 00:24:13,831 --> 00:24:15,831 It's going to be some tough games. 676 00:24:15,831 --> 00:24:18,364 But we're gonna go down there with confidence and play hard. 677 00:24:18,364 --> 00:24:20,764 What's the biggest challenge that faces you when you play a 678 00:24:20,764 --> 00:24:21,764 team like that? 679 00:24:21,764 --> 00:24:23,364 They got Westbrook and Durant. 680 00:24:23,364 --> 00:24:25,364 And they try to contain them, slow, 681 00:24:25,364 --> 00:24:26,364 you know, one of them down. 682 00:24:26,364 --> 00:24:28,431 And try to contain everybody else. 683 00:24:28,431 --> 00:24:30,431 Offensively, what do you guys have to do? 684 00:24:30,431 --> 00:24:31,431 Just play our game. 685 00:24:31,431 --> 00:24:33,431 You know, play our game, be steady, 686 00:24:33,431 --> 00:24:35,431 take care of the ball, not turn the ball over. 687 00:24:35,431 --> 00:24:36,431 They get back in transition. 688 00:24:36,431 --> 00:24:40,164 Just play. 689 00:24:40,164 --> 00:24:43,831 Execute, play the game and try to, 690 00:24:43,831 --> 00:24:45,831 you know, do what you're supposed to. 691 00:24:45,831 --> 00:24:47,831 And we're gonna get on the game plane tomorrow. 692 00:24:47,831 --> 00:24:51,164 We'll enjoy and we'll worry about the Thunder tomorrow. 693 00:24:51,164 --> 00:24:58,464 Obviously that was a very excited and relieved Grizzlies 694 00:24:58,464 --> 00:25:01,298 team and while the task in front of them is a tall one, 695 00:25:01,298 --> 00:25:03,864 as you heard, the team is as confident as they can be. 696 00:25:03,864 --> 00:25:06,264 And that will put a wrap on this week's show. 697 00:25:06,264 --> 00:25:08,898 Remember you can see any of our previous episodes of "Sports 698 00:25:08,898 --> 00:25:10,898 Files" by heading to our website, 699 00:25:10,898 --> 00:25:13,931 WKNO-dot-ORG, and clicking on 'KNO Tonite. 700 00:25:13,931 --> 00:25:17,364 Have a great week, Go Grizzlies, and we'll see you next time. 701 00:25:22,431 --> 00:25:44,531 [theme music] ♪♪♪ 702 00:25:44,531 --> 00:25:48,531 CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WKNO-MEMPHIS.