March 23, 2010
Opening statement:
"We're very excited about the upcoming season. Our kids have been working very hard in winter workouts. We had our pro day two weeks ago and we tested very well. I think we've really improved our team speed. We also have gotten stronger and hit many of our goals in the weight room and in conditioning drills. We have a team coming back where we played 10 true freshmen last year and 14 redshirt freshmen. We have 24 sophomores who have played quite a bit. I think that is going to make a tremendous difference. They're not going to be wide-eyed when they get on the field.
"A lot of times out of adversity, there is almost a blessing. Jamarr Robinson got to play the last four games of the year. He got better and better as the season went on. We really had a legitimate chance to win our last two games. I'm hoping that that will give him a lot of confidence coming into this season. I think we have a lot of talent at quarterback, but we don't have a lot of experience. We have five quarterbacks on campus but only one of them has really played in a game. It's kind of like what we were dealing with last year. I know they are going to get better but they have to get experience. I think that is going to be a major project for Coach (James) Franklin and our offense.
"The opening game against Navy is creating a lot of excitement with our team and hopefully with our fans. Hopefully, they'll get behind us. I think our team is very determined to show that we're not a 2-10 team, we're much better than that. Those are some of the things that we're trying to get done with spring practice. I've talked to our staff today about some of the goals of spring practice. I think the major goal to start right off with is, from an offensive standpoint, ball security and, from a defensive standpoint is takeaways. I think it s very important that we play to our strengths and what our guys can do and also really work on our fundamentals and our winning habits and develop them. The confidence and composure to be able to finish games and to get back on a winning step."
On areas of focus this spring:
"Our defensive line is young. A.J. Francis has played. Zach Kerr has played. Joe Vellano has played. We're moving Drew Gloster from linebacker to defensive end. He'll be competing with Derek Drummond (for a starting spot). We've also moved Bradley Johnson and Marcus Whitfield from linebacker to defensive end. We've moved De'Onte Arnett from defensive anchor to tackle. He's a kid who has not played, he redshirted last year, but he's about 275 pounds right now and runs pretty well. I think that's an area that, we can play better and improve.
"Cornerback is another area. We lost our two starting cornerbacks. [Cameron] Chism played a lot last year and he's back. I think Trenton Hughes and Dexter McDougle will battle for the other corner position. Avery Graham is another guy we have to watch. I like the way he has been working. I like his confidence and attitude.
"Offensively, the major concern we have is the line. We've moved Paul Pinegar to center. We're trying to get our five most dependable guys on the field. Lamar Young will not practice this spring because of an operation he had on his shoulder. Justin Lewis had an operation. He'll be limited, but we're hoping to get him at some point in the spring. Bennett Fulper did get operated on but he will be back and we're counting on him. Justin Gilbert is a guy who played behind Bruce Campbell last year. We liked his winter workout and he did play some last year but he has some big shoes to fill. R.J. Dill, as the season went on, played better and better at right tackle."
On recovering from last season:
"It's been very strange. I went back and I looked at things. We didn't really do any things different that we had done in the past. I spent a lot of time with our players talking to them. I feel very good about our players and the places they're in right now and their conviction is to be better. I feel good about our staff. I looked at our tape and there were a lot of times where we just didn't have good luck. The opportunities we had that we didn't take advantage of and we just didn't make the plays when we had the opportunities to make them. I'm hoping that is going to change. I am looking to see what we can do from a practice standpoint; I think I've changed some of that. I'm trying to keep us healthy, but still keep us productive. That's an area that I think we can try and get better in."
On the quarterback position:
"The thing I like that we have at quarterback is speed. Danny O'Brien runs pretty well. He runs a 4.8 (in the 40). C.J. Brown runs a 4.5. Clay Belton, who is 6-foot-6, 226 pounds and transferred from Miami (Ohio) runs a 4.6. Devin Burns, a kid we brought in from Georgia, he ran a 4.5 (in spring testing). And then we've got Tyler Smith coming in from Pennsylvania this fall. He's a Big-33 quarterback and is really athletic and has a tremendous arm. There's a lot of good talent at that position right now and I'm anxious to see how it will unfold and how they'll develop. All of them are more maneuverable than Chris [Turner] was. I'm hoping that is going to help our offensive line situation because they can create some plays on their own because of their athleticism."
On watching video of Navy:
"I think if you are playing somebody schematically that is really different, like for Don [Brown], you are going to have to do that. For us, we've already broken them down, their last four games except for the bowl game because that was kind of a different deal, but we've looked at them. We've kind of studied them. We'll do some more studies this summer to get more specific with what we're planning on doing. We will probably try and do our game plans for the first three games."
On the quarterback competition and Jamarr Robinson:
"I don't think it's flat out wide open. We've got a guy [Jamarr Robinson] that's been in the game and that has been successful. Even some of the games we lost, I think he played well several of those games, enough for us to win. Look at some of the things that he did statistically. I think the energy that he brought [and] the play-making ability that he brought - those things I think are going to carry a lot of weight. So I think going into it, I say he's the starter. Now is he entrenched as the guy that will start for a couple of years? No, that's not the case."
Defensive Coordinator Don Brown
On the defensive progress:
"Evaluating us from week four on, I think we've got to pick up and keep moving forward, but not leave the young guys. We do have some talented young guys that have impacted us in January here. We've got to make sure that those guys don't get lost in the process."
On next season's defense:
"Every year you take your roster and you try and spread it out the best you can. This year's a new year. It's another year of tweaking the roster. We recruited for the four-down system [which is] more of a pressure-oriented system. In essence, this is really the first class where we've recruited to play in a pressure style system. There is going to be some maturity that is required. There is going to be a running program required. I like where our guys are at."
On preparing for the Navy game:
"Well you have to donate time to it. It's not like we're afraid. But at the same time, you have to take time and it's a completely different system to deal with. It's an assignment defense. You've got to get ready to play true assignment football that particular week. If you don't, the potential is there for big plays to happen. You've got to simulate the offense. You've got to be able to get your guys to give you a practice look that simulates their tempo. That's extremely difficult to do, but you have to do it. And then you have to hang in there early so that your guys get caught up with the style of play and get ready to go."
On the upcoming spring:
"I am going to work hard and do what I have to do. I believe the rest will take care of itself."
On reflecting on last season:
"The whole last season has been something everybody has been thinking about while working out and in everything we do. We've just been using it as motivation and something to drive us harder. Not complaining and stuff like that. Every day I think about it. With all the people we had and all the weapons we had, going 2-10 was very surprising."
On differences in this year:
"I feel like everyone has picked it up a notch and worked harder. We've been doing all the little things even more than we did in the past and really taking this thing in a different direction."
On new methods of getting players more fit:
"I think they want us to be big, but faster, kind of find that happy-medium. We want to see whether a player is too heavy and has too much fat or he's at a good weight. I finished last season at about 256, which was too heavy for me. I started eating healthy and focusing in on that stuff and I weighed in at 246 when we weighed in two weeks ago before break."
On ways he has changed his diet:
"I cut out the junk food and the soda and have been pushing the chicken and protein and not eating late at night."
On how Coach Friedgen's weight loss has helped motivate the team:
"Obviously it shows that he is focused on his future beyond coaching. He's looking out for his health. And it shows he's willing to put in the work. He's not a lazy guy. If something is going wrong, he'll work to fix it."
On how the linebacker position is shaping up:
"It's going to be a crazy year for linebackers. I think you are going to see a lot of us do well, not just [Alex] Wujciak. I think all of us are going to have a good year, not just one person."
On having another year in coach Brown's scheme:
"You mature more and get smarter. Most people progress better when they've been in a scheme more than once. This is another year in coach Brown's scheme. I think we'll do well and we have a lot of guys coming back and a lot of young guys as well."
On new guys to watch out for defensively:
"I think our young safeties are going to be very good. Our defensive line is going to have a big year for us even with losing three seniors. Those guys here are going to put together a good scheme and do a good job."
On getting back on the field:
"We are excited to get back out there and go back to work. It's been a long few months with that 2-10 over our heads and everyone has been busting their tail trying to get ready for spring practice. We are ready for it to be here."
On quarterback Jamarr Robinson:
"This offseason, Jamarr worked his tail off. Me, personally, being around him all the time as his roommate, I've seen a whole new attitude in him. He's not a guy that looks over his shoulder too much but he knows there are some guys waiting in the wings. But he knows it's his team, his time and his opportunity and I think he is definitely going to take full advantage of it."
On his weight coming into spring practice:
"I am at 215, my game weight from last year, but this spring I'd like to get down to 210. I don't want to lose the power that I have."
On the running back situation:
"I see myself contributing. I want to step up my role as a third-down back and in other certain situations, and also improve my pass blocking. I'll just keep working out and working through things and pick it up a bit."
On what Jamarr Robinson can bring under center:
"I can only speak from my point of view, but I think our receivers are excited that they get some opportunities to make plays. You look in the locker room and you can feel the energy because the guy has that chemistry on-and-off the field."
