April 27, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Head Coach Brady Hoke
On last Saturday's scrimmage:
"I think we played better than we did a week ago. I thought fundamentally we played a little better. Technique-wise, I think we played a little better. I think we're playing with more consistency as a football team. I think we're understanding a little bit what we want to do and the concepts. I think we're playing faster. As a team, we still have to play with a better mentality and as a tougher team, both mentally and physically. We've got to finish plays a little better on both sides of the ball. Our running game has to improve offensively and that's something I'm talking to Al (Borges) about. After we watched the tape, we feel we have to do a better job and have a better demeanor up front offensively and establish the line of scrimmage a little more. This week we will practice on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will be a little lighter practice because we've got the spring game on Saturday. We want to do a little more situational work with our goal-line offense and defense. Our two minute package we've done some of, but we need to work that pretty hard on both days. We've got a second-and-eight drill in the red zone that we would like to work and just try to put the guys in situations where you're down in distance in your field, especially down in the red zone and how that changes you a little bit in a defensive and offensive standpoint so we can work on those things. We've got to continue to make improvement."
On if he will have a depth chart after Saturday:
"It will probably be another week. Because of how we're backed up late in the spring and with spring recruiting, we'll wait a week until we all really get settled in with all the film and all those kinds of things. I want to wait until we all sit down together and finish that thing off.
"We'll have an idea on where guys are. We'll have evaluation meetings with every player positionally, offense and defense and then also with me. We'll be brutally honest about where you're at and what your role is at this time and what you have to do to do better; your weaknesses; and we'll try to handle it up front like we always are so they know what each of them individually has to do."
On to what extent positions will be open to competition after the depth chart is released:
"I think you always have competition. When we get back in the fall, you have to go back to the beginning to some degree. Yes, they'll know the play system better and what we're calling things, but at the same time you can't assume their fundamentals are going to be where they are at the end of spring. You're hoping through the course of the summer with their different drill works and the drills that they'll being doing on their own, led by the seniors, that they're making progress and improving. There's always going to be open competition."
On if the running back situation is still wide open:
"In my eyes, yeah, I think it definitely is. Davon (Brown) has done some really good things and then I see Atiyyah (Henderson) do some good things. I think Brandon (Sullivan) is running with some more authority. I think it is and to be very honest, you like to see one guy pull ahead but I like the competition and what they're all doing."
Senior Fullback/Tight End Matt Kawulok
On switching to playing fullback:
"I'm playing fullback and tight end. I'll be doing a little bit of both this year."
On the difference between playing fullback and tight end:
"It's really not that big of a difference; I'm still blocking and catching passes. The only difference is that at fullback I'll be in the backfield. It's not too much of a change for me."
On if it was surprising that he was switched with his success last year at tight end:
"Coach Borges came to me and we talked about me playing at fullback after he had watched film on me. He feels that it would be a good fit for me to be back there and I want to do whatever I can to help this team to win."
On if the coaching staff is asking him to block and hit along with catch passes:
"At fullback there are definitely high impact collisions with the linebackers. I also go out and catch some passes."
On how things are different under Brady Hoke as opposed to previous coaching staffs:
"I would definitely say that the tempo of practice is different. They want to put a lot of pressure on us because come Saturdays we are going to be under plenty of pressure, so they want us to feel comfortable in the pressure situations."
Senior Linebacker Jerry Millling
On how things are different under Brady Hoke:
"The pace of practice is the number one thing that we noticed. We are out there flying around and sometimes you don't even have time to think, you just react. They do that so that it will be easier for us in the games. Practice is harder than the games are so the tempo of practice is the number one thing."