Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Good to go.
00:01 >> Kind of a long scrimmage.
00:03 Your thoughts on how the team performed?
00:05 Is there a place in the ball game?
00:07 >> Well, it's a good long scrimmage and something we needed.
00:10 Like everything, there was some good, there was some bad.
00:13 Moments that we definitely gotta clean up, so it's good to see that.
00:17 We had a lot of game-like situations in the team settings, and good and bad.
00:23 So I just think we gotta look at the film and clean some things up.
00:27 But I do think our guys played hard and we made improvements in the scrimmage.
00:32 >> What have you seen from Jack in the last couple of weeks?
00:34 You've had two scrimmages now.
00:36 How do you feel like he's performing?
00:38 >> Well, I thought we got off to a slow start today, and
00:41 then we were able to pick things up halfway through.
00:43 And I think that's just something we gotta learn to get better at.
00:47 I think Jack's strengths are, man, he can lead the team, he can direct the offense.
00:51 He's smart.
00:52 When we have some penalties, as the thing set us back, he's gotta be smart.
00:56 You gotta try to do too much.
00:57 That takes a lot of time.
00:58 You gotta adapt with a good quarterback when you're trying to put pressure.
01:01 He's gotta take on the defense skills, and
01:03 we've gotta be smart with our play calling, and do what he does best.
01:06 But for the most part, it was a good day, it was productive.
01:10 A lot of things that went well.
01:12 >> At this point, how much is it just getting familiar with the system,
01:15 just getting ready for that game?
01:16 How much of that is just beneficial?
01:18 How crucial has it been right now in terms of softening the scrimmage?
01:22 >> Well, we continue to push forward on game type situations,
01:26 and plays from the sideline, substituting guys in, looking and
01:31 understanding the call, and getting the call, and all those things are vital.
01:34 I think if we know exactly what to do and how to line up,
01:37 if we know full speed, good things will happen.
01:40 But you can't have miscommunication.
01:41 You gotta be precise in where you're gonna line up, route running,
01:46 depth of it, where you need to line up at safety, linebacker, offense.
01:49 A lot of things are important, but you have to be precise.
01:52 So just making sure that we're exact on that, and
01:54 that means as we start to game plan for Georgia Tech in more detail,
01:58 we narrow things back quite a bit.
02:00 We've gotta do that.
02:01 >> You said after the first scrimmage that the defense kind of maybe left some
02:04 things to desire.
02:05 Would you say that today they took a little bit of a step forward in this
02:08 second scrimmage?
02:09 >> Well, I do think that early on our defense played well.
02:12 They got pressure on the quarterback.
02:13 They were able to disrupt routes.
02:15 They were able to disguise their coverages in front to give us a lot of
02:18 different looks and make it into our own.
02:19 So I just think that if we can build on that, but
02:23 also be precise in what we're doing there, and create some turnovers and
02:28 sacks, it'll definitely help us.
02:30 And I think we've gotta play complimentary football.
02:33 We're playing a special team today that has to give us an edge somehow,
02:38 some capacity, not the other way around.
02:40 And if we can do that, we'll give each other a chance.
02:42 >> At this point, with classes about to start back up again,
02:45 is there anything in particular that you're really happy where it is right now
02:49 as you guys get ready for week one?
02:50 >> Well, I think our guys cared.
02:51 I think they've worked hard.
02:52 They put a lot of time into it.
02:53 They wanna win.
02:55 Now knowing what it takes, how hard it's gonna be, no matter who you play,
02:59 the obstacles you're gonna have to overcome, how you're gonna have to stick
03:02 together, how you never know when your number's gonna be called.
03:05 You may get a few touches one game, a lot more the next.
03:09 And you gotta be able to adapt and adjust to that as you continue to play hard and
03:12 block for your teammates and play for your teammates and
03:14 understand there's one ball on offense and understand on defense.
03:18 Everyone's gotta swarm to the ball and make the tackle and make the play.
03:21 So just a lot of small things that mentally you've gotta be able to handle
03:27 and play together in real life as a college football.
03:30 If you don't do those, you will not win football.
03:32 >> You mentioned after the first scrimmage that Jack had a tendency to kinda struggle
03:36 on third down or make plays maybe that are kinda pushing it a little bit further
03:40 than what he was supposed to do.
03:41 Are you still seeing that from him or
03:42 has he improved at least at decision making awareness?
03:45 Where's that at?
03:46 >> Well, we had a little bit of that today.
03:48 We did, but we had some setbacks.
03:49 We had probably way too many penalties.
03:51 Got us in long yardage situations.
03:53 And we've gotta be smart as we try to get the first down in those situations.
03:59 And that's on me and us as play callers, but also on managing the team and
04:05 what we do.
04:06 And I just think that being able to ride the hot hand is good,
04:10 but being able to be smart when we're the first to answer this tough
04:15 thing ahead of us, we've gotta keep working on that.
04:19 But all these guys have worked hard.
04:21 We've gotta get them all as healthy as we can and on the field and
04:24 have a really good two weeks of practice.
04:26 >> You mentioned on media day that you wanted six, seven,
04:28 eight guys on the offensive line.
04:29 Do you feel confident with a six or seven, maybe even eight?
04:34 >> I think so.
04:35 I think we've added to the depth on the offensive line.
04:37 We feel good about where that has got to this point.
04:40 Nearing down the five starters and the others that are subbing and
04:43 how much will be what we'll have to do in the next two weeks.
04:45 But they've done a good job.
04:47 It's definitely helped our football team.
04:48 The three guys that play a lot of football for
04:52 us here at the offensive line, Hudson, Gonzalez, and Brown.
04:56 They've gotta be our leaders.
04:57 And you've added some pieces that have done a good job.
04:59 So I do think we are better in that position.
05:01 >> Now that fall camp is in the books,
05:03 who are some guys that you think maybe sort of exceeded your expectations that
05:06 you had for them entering fall camp?
05:08 >> Well, there's a lot.
05:09 I do think if our defense aligns healthy, they can be very productive and
05:13 do a really good job.
05:14 I think the linebackers have improved.
05:15 There's not a ton of experience, but they have improved.
05:18 And that's starting to settle on the starters and B.
05:20 I think the secondaries took a few hits with injuries, but
05:23 the ones that are out there, first line guys have done a really good job.
05:29 We just gotta build some depth there just in case on offense.
05:33 >> We have playmakers being consistent in what we do and
05:37 being precise is what we have to continue to work on.
05:41 The running game has to be constant that we can get yards when we want to and
05:47 take some pressure off the quarterback and utilize our good running backs and
05:50 make sure they get plenty of touches.
05:51 So I just think managing the playmakers,
05:55 figuring out ways where they all get not touches,
06:00 but at least plays designed for them.
06:04 And if it covers or makes something else, but it may not go their way,
06:06 we have to be smart with that as coaches.
06:08 But I think they're fully invested in what we want.
06:11 >> For lack of a better word, have there been any MVPs or
06:14 ball camp in your opinion?
06:16 >> I don't think things have changed a whole lot.
06:19 Like I said, we feel good about our running back board of top receivers,
06:24 we feel good about our running back board of top hitters.
06:29 I like those guys, their offense lines, their defense,
06:33 their two corners, solid football players.
06:36 Secondary has some depth, it took a few hits, but
06:40 it still has the ability to play well and we gotta get our best guys in there.
06:45 I think our D-line, we're gonna sit out the D-line.
06:47 >> Outside of the injury to MJ,
06:48 are there any other injuries that we should be aware of?
06:51 >> Yeah, there are.
06:52 We've got a vehicle, Hudson, in recovery, and it'll be a little bit longer.
06:58 We've got a couple of others that have been out for a little bit,
07:01 we've gotta manage them through that.
07:03 We're trying to get back in the mix.
07:09 Jared Dawson is missing time back in the mix.
07:11 Every time we tell, they give up.
07:15 >> There's been a lot said about a lot of the transfer wide receivers.
07:18 One of the national guys on our network mentioned Terence Hicks as a guy who
07:21 might impress as a true freshman.
07:22 What have you seen from him?
07:24 >> Here's what, Katerius loves football.
07:27 He's a competitor, he studies, he will be a great playmaker for us.
07:31 He's young, he's thin, he's gotta put on some weight and strength.
07:36 So that's gonna take a little time, but as far as ability to make plays,
07:40 he's shown up and done a good job.
07:42 Now we have others with more experience that he's gotta continue to battle,
07:45 their play time, but he definitely will be a very,
07:49 very good player on this football team that's also involved.