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00:00 >> What has spring ball been like and for you, coach was just talking about kind of
00:05 year two of being kind of one of the guys, but year three of it being here.
00:09 It's different, is it for you?
00:11 >> What it's been like this year for spring ball, this is my first spring ball.
00:18 Last year I was out because of an injury, but I feel like I'm learning more.
00:24 I feel more comfortable with the offense.
00:28 Coming off the injury, I had time to sit and learn the offense.
00:35 Came back summer and fall camp.
00:38 I was kind of not too sure about the offense, but
00:43 now that this spring is up and out of play, the season with this coach is there.
00:50 I know the offense now, and I feel more comfortable with it.
00:54 >> What about the US starting, Chris, just building rapport with Tyler.
00:58 What does that look like so far, and how has it been getting those reps with them?
01:02 >> When Tyler first came in, he came up to me, he was just telling me,
01:07 I just introduced myself to him in the training room.
01:11 He was just telling me how we won for the championship again.
01:16 And lately me and Tyler, we've been trying to get on the same page,
01:22 just click on the field.
01:25 If he see Chris and he wanna throw a fade ball,
01:28 we just trying to get on that same page.
01:31 But I told him, outside of practice, I feel like we should watch film more,
01:36 so build that connection.
01:37 So when the season come, we have that connection.
01:42 >> I feel like Tyler adapted real well into the offense.
01:45 I feel like he's a fast learner.
01:47 From day one, the first time I met him, it seemed like he already knew everything.
01:51 And I was kind of confused on that.
01:52 But I feel like Chris said, just getting the rotation,
01:57 getting comfortable with each other, new receivers, new quarterback.
02:01 And I feel like everybody's doing well with the adaption.
02:05 >> Jaden, watching some of the open practices so far in spring,
02:08 you've made a handful of plays from what I've seen.
02:11 What has this spring ball done for in terms of your confidence?
02:15 >> Like Chris said, we both were out last spring.
02:17 I really didn't get my first practice until fall camp.
02:21 And I'm not getting hurt again.
02:23 But this spring, it feels different.
02:27 I feel a lot more comfortable.
02:28 I feel a lot more comfortable within the offense and my playing style as well.
02:32 I feel like I'm able to play more free and just go out there and have fun.
02:36 Rather than worry about messing up or what do I have on this play?
02:40 I know what I have.
02:41 I can tell everybody else where to line up what they have.
02:43 So that allows me to play more free and faster.
02:46 >> Chris, how much has just the added depth in the wide receiver room just
02:50 picked you up, picked these other guys up to make you play?
02:53 Cuz you're competing for time, a little bit different from last year.
02:56 Just what have you seen out there from the competition?
02:58 >> Can you restate the question?
03:00 >> I guess what have you seen from the competition with just the added depth in
03:03 the wide receiver room?
03:04 Just what stood out?
03:06 >> Well, Ja'Cory, he's out right now.
03:09 But what I've seen so far, he's a nice route runner.
03:13 He's got good body control.
03:15 He can catch the ball.
03:17 Antonio Minx, he's a pretty good guy to come from a school he came from.
03:24 Like I said, he got nice routes, releases.
03:28 He can go up and catch the ball.
03:31 Me and Colin, I met Colin, we're kinda the same person.
03:39 We're kinda from the same area.
03:41 So we click, we hang outside of football.
03:44 But he's a quick person, he can turn his switch on at any time.
03:49 So I feel like he kinda holding back, but I know he can turn that switch on.
03:54 He's a pretty good player too.
03:55 >> You guys are going up against, I think your coach was just in here and
04:00 said, hey, it's tough when you're going against people like Quincy Riley.
04:04 From your opinion, what's the other side of that line?
04:05 How are those DBs looking against you guys this spring?
04:07 >> I feel like all the DBs, including the ones that we have this previous past year,
04:13 I mean the ones that came in, I feel like all of them are really good at what they do.
04:17 Like we have Corey as well, came from UCF, long kid, 6'3".
04:23 A press man, it's kinda hard to beat that.
04:26 He latches on to you, but Quincy's patient.
04:28 He's smart, he's a smart football player.
04:31 Sometimes he'll try to run a route for you, and he'll be correct.
04:34 So kinda gotta keep him on his toes, know how to work with him,
04:38 as well as the other guys.
04:39 I feel like they're all pretty well on the other side,
04:41 so I think we'll be pretty good in the second half.
04:44 >> Yeah, I feel like there's some good corners.
04:46 We get each other better each and every day.
04:50 Like he was saying, Quincy, he's kinda the guy that's kinda know what you're
04:54 gonna run.
04:55 And with Corey, he's that long guy, so you gotta actually open him up to
05:03 get down the field, because once he get his hands on you, it's over with.
05:07 But we got some pretty good guys at the corner position.
05:12 >> Chris, what do you feel like you bring to this offense?
05:16 >> Well, I'm a big guy, I'm a big body guy.
05:18 I feel like I bring that fire.
05:23 Instead of the defense hitting me, I go hit the defense.
05:29 Or I bring, I'm a contested catcher, so I like, you know what I'm saying?
05:35 Catch, contested passes.
05:37 I also can get down the field.
05:41 I got speed too, so that's what I bring to the offense.
05:46 >> For either of you guys, what stands out the most about this offense?
05:49 It's not a type of offense you can learn overnight.
05:52 What's the key in grasping it to now, going into this year,
05:56 you're more comfortable?
05:58 >> Studying, you gotta study plays.
06:02 For example, I remember my first day, they put in,
06:05 they gave us the sheet for the day, and you had to go run it the same day.
06:10 So it was like, if you don't know what you're doing,
06:12 you're gonna make a mess of yourself out there on the field in front of everybody.
06:15 That's the only thing you don't wanna do.
06:17 So you gotta take it home, you gotta study.
06:19 McGee helps with that as well, Tyler, Coach Brown,
06:22 everybody helps with that as well.
06:24 So we're trying to all help each other learn,
06:26 especially the new guys with Colin and Meeks and Ja'Cory.
06:30 So sometimes in the meeting room, they'll ask a question, and
06:33 instead of McGee answering it, we'll answer it for them and explain it.
06:37 So we all kinda get our terms together, you know what I'm saying?
06:40 Sometimes they might take it better from us than McGee.
06:45 >> For either of you guys, what do you think is the biggest difference in this
06:49 offense now compared to this time last year?
06:51 >> Comfortability.
06:54 Last year, everybody was new.
06:56 No one knew the offense.
06:58 I think this time we have me, Chris, Jimmy,
07:00 we got some other guys in the room who know the offense, know exactly what's going on.
07:05 So it's kinda easier to play and help everybody else learn it,
07:09 cuz last year it was kinda hectic.
07:10 Everybody trying to learn and compete at the same time.
07:13 I think that's a good thing about this program, though.
07:15 You can bring in new guys and it's gonna be competitive, but
07:18 we all wanna see each other win as well, especially in Auburn.
07:21 >> Yeah, I wanna say the offense is, well, last year around this time,
07:27 it was so hard cuz it was a lot of stuff that was the same route,
07:32 but it was just a different name.
07:34 And now, as I actually been in the offense and
07:40 actually played during the season, I got better with it.
07:45 I can teach the new guys what to do,
07:50 because I know how it's supposed to be done and what it takes to do it.
07:55 >> And quick follow up on that, with having so
07:57 many guys come back for a second year in the system, obviously year one,
08:01 you're not gonna be able to execute everything all at once.
08:04 Do you think now, heading into year two,
08:06 Brom can maybe open up the offense a little bit more to what he wants to truly do and
08:12 unlock the potential of it all?
08:14 >> Yeah, like I said, we know it now, so
08:16 I feel like he's gonna open up the offense a little more.
08:19 He gonna throw more plays at us, cuz we know it now.
08:24 So I feel like he's gonna open it up.
08:27 >> And I think another good thing to go off of what you said,
08:30 everyone in our room is kind of, they're versatile.
08:32 So we can put him in a slot, put Jimmy outside, put Colin outside,
08:37 get one on one matchups.
08:37 So I think that allows us to open up the playbook even more.
08:40 Just everybody being comfortable and being able to play each position and
08:44 know what they're doing.
08:45 >> Kind of on that, sorry about that, kind of on that note,
08:48 seems like recruiting wise they've kind of stacked it a little bit.
08:51 Seems like the tight ends are gonna become a little bit more involved in
08:53 the passing game.
08:54 Have you guys seen that?
08:55 How much does that benefit you guys as well?
08:56 >> Yes, we have seen it.
09:00 Our tight end room is pretty good as well.
09:03 We got the two transfers, Jaleel Skinner and Isaiah Cummings.
09:07 They're really good athletes.
09:09 They're taking their time learning it.
09:11 We got Jamar Johnson, Nate, all those guys who are still in the room who's kind of
09:14 doing what we're doing, teaching the new guys how to maneuver on the field and
09:17 stuff.
09:18 So I feel like our offense is gonna open up a tremendous amount,
09:22 because we got ball players everywhere.
09:24 >> Yeah, and I feel like it's gonna help us as a team too, by the way,
09:28 adding on to the passing game.
09:30 >> Yeah.
09:32 >> Talk about the learning process last year of this offense.
09:35 I guess when did it finally click for you guys where you felt a little more
09:38 comfortable?
09:38 And I mean, do you feel like you did more studying last year than you have in
09:41 previous years?
09:43 >> Well, for me, I'd say last spring, I'm the type of player that I gotta go out on
09:48 the field and actually do it instead of just sitting in the meeting room.
09:53 Because not gonna lie, spring, I knew nothing.
09:57 I could sit in a meeting room for ten hours and still learn nothing off that.
10:03 But how it started to click for me when I actually came back fall camp and
10:09 having the means and going out there and actually practicing.
10:14 It took me to make those mistakes over and over again to actually learn it.
10:19 And when the season came, it was just like everything just clicked for me.
10:23 It's like, I don't know how it happened, but it clicked.
10:26 And I just knew the playbook and knew the offense.
10:30 That's how I learned it.
10:32 >> For me, it's really just now clicking.
10:37 And that's a good thing about it.
10:38 I was hurt last year, I get that.
10:40 So it kinda sent me back a little bit, so I was able to watch and learn.
10:43 And that's how I like to learn, by watching others do it.
10:46 So right now, I feel like in this position that we're in now,
10:51 it's like this is just now clicking.
10:52 Like now I know each position.
10:54 Sometimes I might need to know the protection call.
10:57 So I think, especially this spring, kinda lit a fire under me.
11:01 It was like, yeah, you got this.
11:03 >> Jaden, real quick, what injuries did you have?
11:06 >> I had labrum surgery last spring, my first week here.
11:10 So I was out during the spring, went through two days of fall camp,
11:14 pulled my hamstring, sat out a week and a half, pulled it again.
11:18 So I missed the first three games, I believe, where I wasn't suited up or
11:22 nothing, trying to.
11:25 The good thing about it, our training room, their staff is amazing, so
11:28 they got me back.
11:29 And now, I'm 100% no injuries and ready to ball.
11:32 >> Kinda the same with me, for my labrum, I tweak my aim.
11:37 I didn't actually pull it.
11:39 I feel like the hamstrings, we came from being sitting out a lot,
11:45 actually coming back and trying to get back in the groove,
11:48 running down the field and stuff like that.
11:51 That's where that came from.
11:52 But we both overcame it, so yeah.
11:54 >> Good.
11:56 >> All right.
11:57 >> Thank y'all.
11:58 >> Thanks, guys.