CHICK-FIL-A KICKOFF GAME: LOUISVILLE VS. OLE MISS

September 6, 2021

C.J. Avery

Louisville Cardinals

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Press Conference

Ole Miss 43, Louisville 24

Q. C.J., what did you see -- it looked like Ole Miss' quick-pass game was just in that pace got a little bit of you guys in the first half and even in the second half. What did you see on the field?

C.J. AVERY: Like you said, they were doing quick-game RPO and was just getting behind our linebackers, and we've got to execute better as a defense.

Q. It looked like you got two pass breakups; looked like you could have picked off either one of those balls. Why weren't you able to?

C.J. AVERY: Well, I was going the opposite direction of the ball, the way that the ball was going. I had a different coverage, so I had to get to the left and I was just a little bit too far to the left.

Q. The targeting calls, there were four of them tonight. As a defensive player, can you explain, I guess, what you see in that split second where some people might see a hard hit but you don't really have much time to make a decision in there?

C.J. AVERY: Yes, sir, that's a tough situation. All of the targeting calls were -- that's the rule, so we've all got to play by the rules, and we've just got to be better with that.

Q. Malik said that Ole Miss threw out something different defensively than what they were expecting. Did Ole Miss do something similar on offense for you guys, as well?

C.J. AVERY: I don't think they did something differently. They did what we prepared for, we just have to execute at a higher level. It was really on us, all the points that they did get. I believe it was because we hurt ourselves.

Q. I remembered Coach Brown saying that you can try to replicate that pace and tempo in practice but you can't really get ready for it until it's out on the field. How noticeable of a difference is that on film versus seeing it live and going out there in person?

C.J. AVERY: I mean, it's tough. We just had to get lined up and had to -- like I said, the biggest thing for us was just execution. They're a really good offense. You have to give them credit. They're going to make plays. But we have to do the right things, and we have to make sure we execute, and we'll be fine.