Feb. 18, 2010
Coach Hoke's Opening Statement: "There are a lot of things we accomplished during the winter when you look at the mentality and the strength gains even though this is not as long of a winter conditioning period as you would normally have, because we bumped the scheduled up. (But) at the same time, we get to make up for it at the back end.
"One of the things we've done as a staff is that we have taken the time to evaluate our personnel and where we are at there. Evaluate what we did offensively and defensively a year ago and try and make sure we're matching things up to our personnel.
"You always look to do things better and that means you're going to tweak your system a little bit to again match the talent you have and the personnel that you have on the field. We're moving in the right direction there and we're going to learn a lot in the next 15 days of practice about this team. (We're going to learn about) the development of the leadership of this team and obviously, another year in the system on both sides of the ball (will help, and we need to learn) the attention to detail that we need to have as a team. Learning the system helps that.
On why he moved spring practice up to February from April:
"We bumped spring practice up, because of where our calendar lays out. Our spring break forces us to hack some things at the end of the calendar year with how we want to progress. This gives us time, No. 1, for spring recruiting and to have a good six weeks of strength gain after spring ball is over with. It also helps you if you get a guy beat up or chipped up a little bit - it gives you a chance to get them a little more healing time before fall camp starts. I think it's in our best interest and it fits well for the calendar year at San Diego State."
On who has made gains during the offseason:
"I think (defensive linemen) Jerome Long and Ernie Lawson stick out as guys who have done great jobs defensively. All the offensive linemen, including Alec Johnson, who we think has a bright future for us, Nik Embernate and Mike Matamua, just off hand are guys who have done good things.
" I think our work ethic has been really good as a team. We tested them before they left for Christmas vacation and then when they came back they had some parameters they had to meet. Two-thirds of the team did a good job and a third paid some consequences for not doing a good job. It's a learning process and we're making the gains, but we are not where we need to be."
On any major shift in philosophies on what they do on either side of the ball:
"We're not going to become a spread team or a mid-line option team. I think the two-back attack we went with at the end of the year gave us something offensively and helped us a little in rushing the ball. When you look at our backs and how to utilize Brandon Sullivan a little more in a fullback role and not just being a lead blocker, but letting him run the ball more out of that. You don't see that very often, unless you're watching the NFL."
On any position changes:
"Josh O'Brien is going to move over to tight end. Andrew Preston is going to play the Aztec position instead of outside linebacker. You go through all your evaluations after the season and look at the tape and cutups and Andrew is a guy who can be a play-maker. You put him on one side as an outside rusher or defender (and) he gets a little more chance to make it happen."