April 22, 2008
Opening Statement:
"We're wrapping up our 2008 spring practice season (Saturday). I think we've gotten a lot accomplished. We have some new coaches. I think having a new offensive coordinator (James Franklin) and new special teams coach (Danny Pearman) has really added a new excitement to our program. I think our team morale is very good. I like the energy we've had through all of our practices. If we finish strong this week and have a good spring game, I'll be very pleased with our practices."
On the defensive players and changes made on that side of the ball:
"I think our defense has made some changes and some adjustments. Our defense has played very well this spring. I would say that Jeremy Navarre and Trey Covington are two guys that have really had an outstanding spring and both of them are really playing their best football to date. I think Jeremy's move from defensive end to tackle has helped him, but he's still playing both inside and outside. We've had some problems blocking him and he's really just playing very well."
On offensive adjustments:
"Offensively, I think we've made some progress with adjusting to new terminology and I think that's the major thing right now. We're still making some mistakes, but I see our progress."
On the quarterback battle:
"I think there is a very tight battle at quarterback. Chris Turner, Jordan Steffy and Josh Portis are all in the hunt. The game on Saturday will be another indicator of who is where. I would like to make a decision on that before fall camp. If not, we will take it into fall camp because I think it's that close."
On the running back position:
"Another battle is at the running back spot. Morgan Green has now moved a little bit ahead of the others because he had an outstanding scrimmage last Saturday. Da'Rel Scott is a little nicked up. He has a pulled hamstring and didn't play quite as well as he had been. Both are very good running backs and they could play a lot for us next year."
On the wide receivers:
"At the wide receiver spot, we've been very pleased with the improvement of Torrey Smith. He's got a chance to be a great playmaker; he's made a lot of plays this spring. Ronnie Tyler is another guy who has made a lot of big plays. I think we'll be improved in that area."
On the offensive line changes:
"On the offensive line, Bruce Campbell is really pushing Scott Burley for the starting position right now. Hopefully we will get Scott back soon; he's been injured. I think Edwin Williams has had an outstanding spring. I think we have a very good chance at having a very good offensive line."
On senior tight end Dan Gronkowski:
"I think Dan Gronkowski has had an outstanding spring. Dan has improved tremendously. He was our leading receiver in the last scrimmage. He's also doing a very good job blocking."
On the spring practice overall:
"I think the spring practices have had a lot of different things that I haven't been exposed to since I've been here. It has been a lot more fun but at the same time has been more intense. The past spring practices were more like a job and people sometimes were just trying to get through it, but this spring has been more competitive and guys have been showing more intensity. The whole spring has been offense vs. defense so it gives us more of an identity as a group."
On new assistant head coach and offensive coordinator James Franklin:
"I'm sure people have told you great things about Coach (James) Franklin and I can definitely reinforce that because he has done a lot of great things for this team so far. He is definitely a lot different than when he was here before. He has a different mentality with the offense, and like I said before, he has been giving us an identity separate from the defense. Everyone is accountable for everything they do. He has made it so that my reps are just as important as the third team guys reps, so everybody is really buying into what the offense is about and what kind of intensity we are going to bring to the team this season."
On how the offense is different this year from last year:
"To be honest, it really is the same stuff that we have done in the past, but there are some slight tweaks. Giving more help to guys that need it and making sure the offensive linemen block the correct people. The tackles have gotten a lot smarter and better at reading safeties and picking up blitzes. Coach (Ralph) Friedgen has given the offensive linemen a lot more freedom as far as what we want to do and what kind of blocking scheme we want to have. But at the same time we didn't complicate anything and just kept a lot of the stuff we used before."
On Saturday's Red-White Game:
"It's going to be a fun game. It's a good opportunity to get out there and get after your teammates, have a little fun, and make some plays all at the same time."
On the progress of the team this spring:
"I think the defense has gotten a lot tougher and we have 11 guys who play together this year. We have some new schemes this year."
On the defense so far this spring:
"In the secondary we have a lot of playmakers who are extremely athletic, and some guys that are going to make some big plays for us next year. At linebacker we have a lot of depth and all of us play with a lot of passion. Everyone is flying around making plays. Our defense goes out there on the field everyday to have fun but at the same time we want to win at every thing we do."
