Like I was expecting, I was a little bit antsy, being away since 2008. And my motor was running a little bit too high. But everything was OK since we came away with the win.

Its pretty much what I thought it was going to be as far as preparation and actually getting back out there. I just have get used to the speed of the game and actual game-speed. Just getting back out there, the more games I play, the better off I will be.

I don’t care about personal stats. Like I told the coaches and my teammates at the beginning of the year, I can have one tackle or a thousand tackles, as long as we win, I’m OK. Winning makes everything better.

T.J. Graham’s performance really didn’t surprise me. Going against him and the offense in the spring and in fall camp, they were able to get him the ball and he has been able to be successful after the catch. I think it makes it that much more difficult for other defenses to scheme against us. To have that many weapons on offense, there’s no one guy that you can key in on and make a game plan around.

Winning consecutive games would be big, because a win in the previous week helps with confidence going into the next week. It gives our guys that much more confidence going against our next opponent.

There’s nothing in particular I feel like I have to do for us to win, besides just slowing down, settling down and playing the game. I don’t think one person – myself or anybody else – is going to change the outcome of the game. As a defense, we all just have to hone in. We have to be more disciplined in what we do and we have to execute our assignments the way we’re supposed to.

Its hard taking on 300 pounders every single snap. They are going to be physical, so I have to be physical too.

You always deal with cramps and dehydration this time of year. But yesterday’s practice and today’s practice, more-so yesterday’s, was hot. We get a few practice days in the heat and since we went through camp in 100-degree weather, it shouldn’t really be a problem for us. It will be the same for me. Before every game, I drink at least 15-20 orange juice bottles, so I’m always pretty hydrated before games.

I really can’t say if I’ll play better than I did against Western. I feel like I’m going to do good, but that’s to be determined after we play our game.

We’re not overlooking these guys. They were picked to win their conference and they’re the preseason number one team in their conference. We’re preparing hard each and every day. Every day, we’re trying to get better and prepare for them. I know, and our defense knows, that they are going to give us their best shot.

Tough competition helps out a whole lot because you want to build up your level of difficulty each week, if you can. With one win, and the more wins we get under our belt, the more confident we will be as we are exposed to more good teams.