Head coach Nick Hill press conference transcript

Head coach Nick Hill met with the media Monday to discuss last week's win at Indiana State, the upcoming game at No. 6 South Dakota, USD quarterback Chris Streveler, and much more. Below is a partial transcript.

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OPENING STATEMENT

It was good to get another win, and I'm excited for another tough week. Our guys are understanding what it takes to win and what the week looks like with preparation and all the little things that it takes to win on Saturdays. Looking at the film of the Indiana State game, there were a lot of good things. I'm proud of our defense, the way that they responded after a tough start. For 53 minutes, they played some really, really good football and took the ball away. The offense did a lot of good things, with just a handful of plays you wish you had back—the turnovers and a couple miscues. Other than that, 45 points and six touchdowns; we will take that any day. There were a lot of really good things, but there are a couple things we need to clean up, a couple things on special teams. We have to do that this week because we know we have a great opponent, and we're looking forward to the challenge.

What did you learn about South Dakota from their game at Illinois State, other than that they played from behind for pretty much the first time all year?

Turnover margin is going to be a big key to this game. They'll say it; we'll say it. That's the No. 1 key to victory for us. They have been a team that has been able to take care of the football really well. They have only turned it over three times. Illinois State was able to get some turnovers. They were able to get the lead. They were able to run the football. They were able to sustain a few drives and keep those guys off the field. (South Dakota QB Chris) Streveler still had a big day, but (Illinois State) was able to hit him, sack him a couple times. You're not going to stop (Streveler). You're not going to stop their offense completely. You have to limit their big plays and make them work, keep making them snap it. (Streveler) is a heck of a player and fun to watch, but Illinois State did a great job of executing their game plan. They ran the football and were able to get that lead, which I think was key.

What are the differences from last year's South Dakota team and this year?

There are a lot of similarities and a few differences. It's not all 22 starters back. The quarterback is the key. They have weapons on the outside. I think they completed passes to nine different receivers at Illinois State. A lot of people are touching the ball. That's the way that offense is set up. The ball is going to go to the open guy. There are a lot of run-pass options. We do a lot of that stuff now, too, but it's similar to the way Mark Iannotti would sometimes complete it to 10 or 11 guys. They do a great job. It's a well-executed offense. They have a lot of playmakers and a lot of speed, and they do a good job of running the football, too.

Streveler threw his first two interceptions last week. Do you have confidence you will be able to disrupt him like Illinois State did?

I feel really good about our secondary. I wouldn't trade them for anybody. Sometimes, just like this week, you're going to give up a few plays. You have to respond and adapt. Our guys are good at that. They're experienced. (South Dakota) is good, and we feel like we have a good secondary. We have to be disruptive, and we have to get some pressure on him. We have to be able to get hits on the quarterback. A lot of things lead to turnovers—pressure on the quarterback, being disruptive, getting people off their timing, and creating chaos. That usually leads to turnovers.

How well do you like the five you have on the offensive line, and how well do you like how they've protected Sam Straub?

We've allowed three sacks all year. I don't know if it leads the country, but it's up there. We're doing a great job of protecting. Austin Olsen is playing as well as he's ever played, and DeVondre (Seymour) is the same way. Our tackles are playing really well in pass protection. Our backs are good in protection, and Sam does a great job of getting the ball out. He has an understanding where his protection is going and who is not blocked. Who are you hot off of? Then, get the ball out of there. We are protecting really well and not taking sacks. We have to continue to do that on the road. Our offensive line has been playing six with (Jacob) Marnin and Podge (Josh Podzielinski). That's been good to keep the guys healthy, because we'll need them all down the stretch.

You already have matched last season's win total, so I would imagine that a fifth win would get a weight off of everyone's shoulders…

No one has talked about five wins, including me. The next one will be big, just to get to five wins, but our goals are not five wins. It's our goal because it's the next win on the schedule, but we laid out our goals at the beginning of the year, and those are our expectations. No. 1, compete for a Missouri Valley Conference championship and make the playoffs. We have to control what we can control, and that's the next win. That's going to South Dakota and playing really well. We feel that we have the team to do that. Now, we have to go execute. It will be a great environment in a dome. It's another road game, but our guys are gaining that confidence. That was our second road win of the season. We have to go out and execute and do it.

On Chris Streveler…

The thing that is separating Streveler in my opinion is that he has been really accurate with the deep ball. He is throwing the deep ball really, really well. He's done a great job. Their coaches have done a great job. Earlier in his career, he wasn't as accurate. That's a credit to him and his coaches. He's put some great balls out there—covered receivers, he puts them where only his guys can get it. Hopefully, he's a little bit off on Saturday and some of those are incompletions. He's done a great job and been fun to watch.