March 29, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
A number of Maryland football players visited with the media Tuesday afternoon at the Gossett Team House, prior to going on the field for the first spring practice.
On the new coaching staff:
"Coach Edsall reminds me a lot of my high school coach because he's strict. He tells you the way it is and he is a professional. I like that a lot because he's going to expect perfection from me, even though we can't be perfect. As long as he expects it, we're going to strive for it. I think that's going to bring us a lot of success."
On the new speed of play:
"It's supposed to be a very fast tempo. The key thing for me, and probably most players, is knowing your assignment. If you're thinking on the move, you're going to play slow. As long as you have a knowledge of the game and know your assignment, then you can play full speed."
On the battle among the receivers:
"We battled last year. We battle every day. Our competition gets the best out of each other. Knowing that there are more spots open and more opportunities, we all hurt. We all want to be that one guy to help out the team."
On adjustments to the new style of play:
"I dropped a little weight to help pick up speed because I knew the offense was a more speed-based offense, than such a power-based one with all of the running we used to do. My biggest thing was dropping weight. I lost about 7 pounds."
On his expectations for the first practice:
"Everything will go fast. Run to the ball, sprint to the ball, not lows, just sprint to the ball. There's going to be no passing so they're going to be looking for a lot of running. So I'm ready."
On some of the changes this year:
"We have a new strength and conditioning program. I kind of like that too. It's less weight but more reps, and you get the whole body... I like this program."
On Coach Edsall:
"I like that he's a down to business guy. He obviously wants to win. That's what we all want to do. I guess he's doing everything that he can to get us to that goal."
On individual improvements:
"I definitely improved on not rushing and not overrunning plays. I've been able to break plays down before they started the play, which comes from film work. I watch film almost every day and I've learned over time that that is one of the biggest differences between a regular player and a star player."
On what he learned from former linebackers Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten:
"They definitely helped me a lot. There is a long list of great linebackers who have come through here. Being that I got to play with Wujciak and Moten for two years, I learned a lot. They taught me to make sure to stay in the weight room and watch film. They always had emotional energy that I now have to bring to the rest of the younger guys."
On being a leader:
"Now I'm going to be taking charge of the defense. I'm going to be the leader of the defense. I take it as a responsibility and I'm going to make sure I do my best to help my team. I'm going to make sure that I set everybody up. It's just a small tune up from last year."
On Darin Drakeford adjusting from Sam LB to Will:
"He's always been a star in my eyes. Darin has always been the guy that I knew would be good, but he had to wait his turn. He's going to shock a lot of people this year. Being that he did play a little bit last year, and the year before that, he's going to be able to make the adjustment. That's what spring and summer is for. I've been through it before. I started as a [redshirt] freshman. This being his first year [as a starter], I'm pretty sure he's going to have some ups and downs, but I'm going to be right there next to him making sure that he's getting everything. I'm pretty sure he's going to be able to make the adjustment. Drakeford is one of our fastest linebackers. I think that's one of his key tools. He is also a very physical guy at the point of attack, which some people may not realize."
On the staff implementing healthier eating habits:
"Since I got here I have always tried to eat healthily and get rid of the fried foods. I love the fact that they're trying to implement us eating well and eating better, which I think is going to benefit us all. It hasn't really affected my weight. I've gained weight, but not much. It's just natural."
On Coach Edsall's style:
"Coach Edsall came in trying to set a different vibe around here. He's definitely more of a disciplinarian from the standpoint of the little things that we do, as far as being late or how you're groomed and how you look. The majority of us have bought into it already and have seen that it is all good for us."
On the excitement on the upcoming season:
"We're very excited. We're really looking forward to today's first practice, see what we've got, see where we're at and see how far we can go from here. This is a very, very important day. We're actually out here to try to get better, trying to get prepared for Miami."
On Danny O'Brien's play and how that opens up the running game:
"Especially with the new scheme we have, great o-line and a great operator. I'm optimistic. The sky is the limit as far as what our running possibilities are, especially with the depth in the backfield. It will be very interesting."
On the returning offensive players:
"We have Danny [O'Brien] coming back. The o-line comes back. A lot of strong receivers come back. Again the backs are the same. We lose [Da'Rel] Scott which will hurt us at first but we should be able to overcome. We should be fine."
On what he likes about Edsall:
"He [Edsall] is personable. His door is always open and you can talk to him about anything. He's very, very passionate about academics. Things like that and understanding that he is always there for us is really comforting."
On learning a new offense:
"It's a process. It's probably tougher than learning your first offense because you have all the terminology from last year in there. But a lot of it is pretty similar. It's just getting the terminology down. We've been working hard, getting ready for spring ball. We're pretty deep into it right now. We're just ready to get out there see the new practice, tighten those legs. It's going to be new for us, new for the coaches. But I think the overall feel to sum it up in one word is to be excited."
On the new offense:
"I think we're going to be a little faster tempo, but I think as far as what we do it's going to be pretty similar. We're going to get the ball to our athletes, which I think any good coach does. Get the ball to them in space, let them make plays, and I think we're going to play a little faster tempo-wise. But like I said we're still waiting to see also. It's new to us so I'm ready to get out there and see what I'm about to do."
On his relationship with Coach Edsall:
"He's a guy that immediately commanded our respect. We respect Coach Edsall a lot and we know he's going to take us to where we're trying to get to which is the track record everywhere he's been. We have a lot of talent here, a lot of humble people here who are really hard-working guys who are just a lot of fun to work with. We feed off each other, we have a great relationship. I'm looking forward to actually seeing him coach us."
On people's expectations of him:
"I'm the kind of guy that wants to be prepared every day in practice and games. I'm going to do everything I can to get there. Expectations will take care of themselves. I don't approach the games any differently."
On the transition to new terminology and new plays:
"Its tough when you get older and you are playing with a bunch of words you've never seen. It's like learning a new language. We worked since the day [the coaching staff] got here. The day coach got here, he gave me a playbook. It's been an everyday thing and I think it's paying off. As far as coming into spring, I think we are a little ahead of where we might have expected to be. We're still learning. We have a long way to go. We're not anywhere close to where we were last year by any means as far as familiarity with the offense, but it's been good."
On the new rules Couch Edsall imposed:
"I've been good so far. Hopefully I can stay out of the trouble section. The punishments are pretty crazy, like 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. runs and stadium [stairs], and he [Edsall] has followed through with all of that. Coach Edsall is the kind of guy that means what he says. He's been like that since day one, so you don't want to get in trouble with him. If you're late to anything you have to do 300 flights of stairs, which I think is about 6000 stairs total. I've seen some guys do it and I don't ever want to be in that position, so I come early to everything."
On the responsibility of being under center:
"I like the responsibility of directing things. Its what I like to do, so I've embraced it. I'm looking forward to doing it today because we've been practicing it a long time before spring and I hope to continue to get better at it."
On his expectations in terms of practice:
"It's going to be us learning as we go on the fly, I think. Our core receivers and I know everything on the script that we are doing today. We're pretty comfortable with it. It's going to be a matter of executing it. We are going to hold high standards for ourselves, as far as completing a lot of passes, being high percentage and efficient today. We're not going to use the new offense as an excuse for messing up or playing any slower."
On switching positions:
"I'm excited. The coaches told us they want to get the best 11 on the field and moving me to linebacker was one of the things they incorporated with the new STAR hybrid position, and I embraced it. I'm looking forward to practice today and seeing how it is and go from there.
"I don't know how they [the coaches] came about it. They just told me that they made some changes. Demetrius Hartsfield and I were together at the time when they told us and I think this is a positive.
"I played quarters (coverage) in high school so I feel like I know a lot about that side of the ball already, having a head start on the switch over. I don't really look at it as a big change, just a switching of positions. It's almost more of a title change rather a position change. I'm just closer to the line of scrimmage and doing more covering in the run game. It's nothing I haven't done before, it's just a different section of the field."
On last year's play:
"I did a lot last year. I wasn't really planning on playing safety or switching to linebacker for some downs. This year will be different now that I will be closer to the line of scrimmage."
On defensive concept changes:
"I can definitely see some changes but there are still some same things from the last two years that I can see. They [the coaches] just incorporated having everyone on the field and moving some things around."
On coaching changes affecting the game:
"It's definitely a team effort, the coaches do the scheming and the players play the game. Ultimately, we are the people on the field and we have to execute each and every game. We've worked so hard the past couple years as players and with that we should use our efforts to come out on top, regardless of any coaching change."
On improving as a defensive player the previous years:
"Overall, coming from high school, offense was always my specialty, it was my weapon. I never really got to hone my potential as a defensive player until I got here. Hopefully, I'll do well."
Junior Defensive Lineman Joe Vellano
On his expectations:
"There are a lot of new faces. It's different on both sides of the ball. We've changed up our defense. I think the biggest thing today is just kind of line up right, play fast, don't do so much thinking on the field. Everybody's really got to get their work in off the classroom... It's new for everybody. I mean offense and defense, and a lot of guys are playing different positions, even if it's playing d-line. Like I played a lot of the nose and the three-down last year, but I'm playing a little more tackle. We had it last year but we didn't run it as much."
