RICHMOND, Va. - During the seventh weekly CAA Football teleconference of the season on Monday, Villanova head coach Andy Talley gave his thoughts on the Wildcats' conference home win against Rhode Island and how the team is preparing to play Richmond on the road this weekend. Below is a transcript of Talley's comments.

Villanova Head Coach Andy Talley

On last week's win over Rhode Island: We got off to a quick start. We've been able to do that two weeks in a row, which gives our team some momentum, offensively. Defensively, we've been playing really, really well. I think that's the strength of our team right now. I think we're giving up about 15 points a game. We have pretty much the same group we had from last year. They're schemed up and have done a good job with what they do on defense. So it's given us opportunities on offense to get the ball back after a three-and-out. There were some three-and-outs early in the game, and I think that gave us a lot of momentum. We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted to do offensively and our running game was really coming along well. I think when you can take time off the clock, run the ball, score early, and get some three-and-outs, it added up to a really good first half. It was 28-0 at halftime. It was just one of those days where we were clicking. I think Rhode Island is going to be a really good team as time goes on. Jim Fleming is trying to put the pieces together there. Right now, we have an older group of guys that are intermingled with some young kids that are starting to grow. We've been very fortunate early in the season to not have too many injuries and be able to play some young players, especially at wide receiver. It's been a good start of the year after the Pitt game to kind of work your way through and develop some guys that are giving us depth on both sides of the ball. We're in a good spot right now. I'm hoping that we can continue to grow. Our quarterback Zach Bednarczyk is playing really well. He's checking in and out of things in a good fashion. It's just one of those days - I think Rhody and the trip and everything - it's not an easy trip coming down. We were home, settled back and ready to play.

On how the team has playing well during this winning streak: Our leadership has been really good with our older players. We have 10 fifth-year kids. We've never had that before. When you have guys like that, that have been around and have maturity, I think that helps your program, especially early in the season to develop an identity. I think that was what we were trying to do, to get this senior leadership on this team to set the path on the right direction, and they've done that. Zach, having been knocked around last year as a redshirt freshman. As all quarterbacks come along, finally has seen the light, doesn't throw the ball up for grabs like he did last year, and has a clue about what we're doing with our offense. He's a good player that can throw and run. When you have that kind of guy, it puts pressure on the defense.

On his last season and if he's had a chance to take everything in: It's been business as usual. I don't think that kind of thing when it's announced early really affects you. It hasn't affected me that it's the last time I go to Richmond, or it's my next to last game at Villanova. We're sort of entrenched a little bit in the season, and I think at some point it will probably hit me, but it really hasn't. We've been trying to survive in the CAA. It's world war three every single weekend. It hasn't really given me an opportunity to get sentimental about this, that or the other.

On the keys to the matchup against Richmond: I think Richmond is a very big challenge. For one thing, it's not a very easy ride from Villanova to Richmond. We're on the road. I think Kyle Lauletta is certainly the quarterback that everyone thought he could be in this league, the all-league quarterback. He's performing that way. I'm very impressed with the Richmond football team as usual. They have skill sets across the board. Defensively, they're a tough group, and they run really, really well. I've had a lot of respect for their coach and their team for a long time. They've done a really great job. We know that this will be Homecoming down there. They had a triple overtime win against Albany, which was tremendous for them. They have good momentum.

On the development his team: We have really had a nice building block in the last four or five games coming off the Pitt game to play against FCS teams and sort of build our team in terms of good offense, good defense. Our special teams has come around. We're at the point now where we're in the heart of our schedule, and Richmond is certainly a difficult out for us. I think we'll find a little bit about the Villanova football team and find out if we are really for real.

On the running game: We're fortunate because all three running backs are really unselfish, and they're not worried about who gets the ball. We've tried to split it up three ways. Aaron Forbes, the sophomore running back, had a 68-yard run and is playing great. Javon White came back off a sprained ankle and had a good showing. Matt Gudzak, after missing the first four games of the year, has stepped back on the field. We have three guys right now, and it wouldn't matter to me who is in the game. All three of them are really good, and a lot of that has to be because of the offensive line group up front that's done a good job. Zach Bednarczyk, being a run/pass threat has helped us. We have what we need, and it's kind of helped us overcome the fact that we are young at wide receiver.

On how the defense has been playing well: Tanoh Kpassagnon is a force on the edge. Bryan Osei has done a really good job for us at defensive end as well. We've played six down line kids on defense and that has helped. The strength of our group right now is our linebacker core, Austin Calitro and that group. We've been fortunate defensively, because we've controlled the ball time wise offensively the last couple of games, and they haven't been on the field a lot. That helps keep a defense fresh.

On what the game plan is to stop Richmond's high powered offense: Richmond is a different story. They've got a seasoned quarterback down there with a lot of skill around him both at running back and wide receiver. We'll be in a real battle. That's going to be a very, very tough game. Very difficult game for our defense. Our defense is going to have to come up with a scheme and hopefully figure out a way - you're not going to stop Richmond - you've got to slow them down a little bit.