Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Football Media Day 2004, Part I
8/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 13, 2004
Offensive Players
Drew Stanton, So., QB
What kind of a challenge will it be to replace Jeff Smoker?
"You know the challenge is definitely out there for whoever is going to be named quarterback around here. We all have a different style of play and hopefully, we can add something that the chemistry can be right to find our own No. 1."
Why do you think that you should start for this team?
"Everyone can make a case as to why they should be the quarterback around here. I just feel like I have been here long enough and I can take control. Hopefully, we can have success in this offense."
Are you physically ready to come out and start?
"Physically, yes but I'm still working my feet out and getting use to doing everything that it entails to be a quarterback in this system."
With the losses that hit your offensive line this year, does it make it difficult to come back and regroup for another season?
"No, I don't think so. I came here with most of these guys that have stepped up to play now. We just have to have confidence in each other. Everyone in the Big Ten has new quarterbacks coming in, so right now, why not us."
How do you feel when you hear people say that the "job is yours to lose"?
"I think that you have to go in with the approach that you are fighting every second because you can't let any opportunity pass you up or else you will watch it pass you by."
Damon Dowdell, Sr., QB
Has coach given any indication of who the starter might be?
"No, not really. He's been pretty balanced and just letting us throw the ball and letting us play."
Has he given any type of timetable on a decision?
"He said that basically it depends on how I play."
How is this year's offense going to be different than last year's?
"Not much at all. We will spread the ball out. Everybody knows that, and I don't think it will change."
Many people are focusing on the defense being the core of this team. Are you out to prove this offense is just as good?
"Most definitely, but it's good that you have got a good defense backing you. But, I'm pretty anxious to get out there and show that the offense can put up some points."
What do you have to do to instill confidence in the coaches and your teammates that you should be the man?
"I have to assume a leadership role and simply prove myself by my play (on the practice field)."
Have you worked out more this summer than in the past?
"Definitely. I lost weight. I hit the weight room and did a lot of extra stuff. At the end of the season last year, I was up to 225 and right now, I'm about 216."
How do you feel about people counting you out as the starter?
"It's good going in as an underdog. I don't worry about people counting me out. The coaches told me what I had to do in the off-season and I did it, so I'm just trying to be No. 1."
Stephen Reaves, R-Fr., QB
What are you expecting from this season's Spartan team?
"I think that we are getting a lot better right now in practice. Coach Smith was saying that we are way ahead of last year. I think next week is when it's going to start heating up a little bit. I think that these first couple practices, we are just trying to get in the groove of things. Hopefully, we can get off to a good start this season. We think we have a real good shot at surprising some people. I think that we can end up being a real good football team."
What are your expectations for yourself coming into your first year of college football?
"For myself, I think just trying to compete with the other guys right now. If I play, I hope that I can help us win some games and get to a bowl game. If I don't (get the starting job), then I wish the other guy good luck and hopefully, I can help him out in any way."
How difficult is it going to be for you to replace the guy who ranks as the school's all-time leading passer?
"It's pretty difficult, especially to match what (Jeff) Smoker did in his senior year. When someone leaves like that you are expected to come out and contribute."
How do you think experience will play a role in this year's squad?
"Some people would say that our offensive line is inexperienced or that our quarterback is inexperienced, but as long as we know our material, that's what matters. The guys have gotten out there and played against our own defense. And if they can play against our defense, we can go against any defense in the Big Ten."
Aaron Alexander, Jr., WR
Do you see a difference between Coach Smith in the fall compared with the off-season?
"A big difference. In the spring and in the off-season, he's always in his office, taking guys in and listening and talking to guys about getting ready for the fall. When the fall comes, it's all business. It's not about talking anymore, it's about producing. And if you don't produce, then you aren't going to play."
Does being predicted to finish at the bottom of the Big Ten mean anything to this team?
"If it were up to me, I would want us to be picked as high as we could be. I'm glad that we are ranked at the bottom of the Big Ten, just so we can come out and show everybody what we can do. We haven't really lost too much. A lot of people think that we have lost so much because we lost a quarterback (in last season's starter Jeff Smoker) and a couple guys on defense. But we still have a lot of receivers, so we can build off of the guys that are coming back."
DeAndra Cobb, Sr., RB
How important is this special teams group?
"Special teams is still a main focus. On this team, it's one of the major focuses Coach Smith brings to us as a team. He's going to put the best people out there because he wants us to get the job done. No matter how tired you get doing your position, you have to come ready for special teams because it wins and loses games."
What about the transition to one of the main guys in the backfield as well as working with the offense?
"It's going pretty well. What I enjoy doing in football is mostly running the ball. I'm kind of new to the offense, so we kind of pull each other through."
Is there someone stepping up as a leader?
"The whole offense so far has been a leader. We come out with intensity and the whole offense gets after it. There's not a slacker on the offense."
Jehuu Caulcrick, Fr., RB
Is there a lot of pressure for this offense this year?
"No. It's not so much pressure. We have the ability to run, and we're just going to go out and try and get respect in the Big Ten."
What about switching from defense to offense (during the spring)?
"During spring practice, I got used to it and got the plays down; and now, it's all clicking for me."
How is your shoulder?
"The shoulder is doing good, really good. I had surgery after the spring game, but it's fine now."
Describe the styles of the 1-2 punch you and DeAndra Cobb bring to the running back position.
"It's great because we each bring something different to the table. He has a lot of speed; he's quick and has the ability to break tackles. I have some speed too, though. I just have to concentrate on working on my protection and getting the plays down."
The Sporting News said you are one of the Big Ten players to watch. How do you look at that?
"You have to live up to those expectations, so I'm just going to go out there with that motivation. I think that's a good compliment."
Defensive Players
Jason Harmon, Sr., S
Is coach any different between year one and year two?
"I think Coach Smith is a little bit more relaxed right now and a little more comfortable with the guys; and the guys are more comfortable with him. We get along better because now we know each other. He's just more accustomed to the players and we're accustomed to the coaches, so it's a really good feeling because we're used to each other and we trust each other. We all love each other out here. It's just a really good feeling."
Do you feel like an old man?
"Yeah, I do. It seems as if I was just a freshman yesterday but I have been through a lot and I do feel kind of older out here."
Do you think being a captain will be able to help you give more knowledge to some of the other guys?
"Yes, I think that was one of the reasons why I was picked a captain. As a freshman, we had a lot of guys in here and a lot of them are not here. We lost some guys to the NFL and for other reasons, but I've stuck around through all of the smiles and cries, so guys look up to me for experience. I have plenty of stories to keep pushing (my teammates)."
Eric Smith, Jr., S
What are your thoughts so far through the first few practices?
"We're looking pretty good. Everybody came out excited, ready to go. Everybody is working pretty hard. The new guys have come in here trying to learn some stuff. They seem kind of confused right now, so they can't really play yet, but they're getting there."
Does anyone stand out so far?
"This has been the first time we've been with everybody, so it's hard to tell who is standing out. There hasn't been anything really spectacular, just the normal stuff."
How is the safety corps looking?
"We're looking pretty good. We have everybody back. Everybody knows the defense and we're communicating better, so we should be pretty good."
Is there pressure in knowing people are highlighting this defense?
"I don't think there will be any added pressure because we expect to get the job done on defense. They say defense wins championships. We got blamed a lot last year for the losses, so we have to step up and take care of that this year."
Does that make you want to play just as hard?
"Our goal is to have the best defense in the Big Ten."
Ronald Stanley, Sr., LB
Does it matter that you guys have been ranked to finish so low in the conference this season?
"Not at all. We are always underestimated. That's what I have been seeing since I've been here, so it's not a big surprise to me. We are just going to go out and work hard and do what we have to do to surprise some people."
What are you looking for from the Spartan defense as a whole compared to last year?
"Well, I'm looking for us to go out and be a lot more aggressive this year and make a lot more plays than we did last year. On the defense, the players feel a lot more comfortable with our system and its just time for us to really execute it and get the job done."
Coach mentioned that the defense would have a lot more pressure put on it this season. Does the defense look forward to that task?
"Yes, you know we are close knit on the defensive side. We are all close friends, so we are going to go out there and have fun. And that's a key because if you have fun out there, then you are going to make a lot of plays and win a lot of games."
Being a two-time captain, talk about your role in your final season with Michigan State?
"It is a special year. This season, I have to go out and focus on what I need to do to lead this team. It's been a great run and I have one more go around to make it the best."
Seth Mitchell, Jr., LB
How are the linebackers going to look this year?
"Our linebacker corps is looking really good. Right now, we just have to stay healthy. But other than that we are looking pretty good."
How do you feel about the loss of Mike Labinjo?
"You can't replace a Mike Labinjo. He called all the plays and made a lot of big plays, but Tyrell Dortch can step in and do a really good job."
How much do you plan to contribute now that Labinjo is gone?
"I'm going to be on the field a little bit more this year, so I plan on stepping in and contributing a lot more."
Clifford Dukes, Sr., DE
At this point, what's the biggest difference between last year and now?
"There's more experience on the defense. The last couple of years, we lost four or five people on the defensive line or at linebacker, but I think this is one of the oldest defenses I have ever played on."
What do you look to get out of your non-conference schedule?
"Just to get a feel for the game, especially for those players who are younger and to get a feel for how fast the tempo is and everything."
Are you looking forward to the home opener against Central Michigan?
"You are always going to be excited to play your first home game. And this is an in-state school, so it's like a rivalry. You are going to get your blood pumping for that."
How do you feel about being a senior and forming this defense into one that is now getting a lot of attention nationally?
"I think that is a big compliment. Most of the guys in here have either been here for four years together or playing for three years, so we all know how each other works. I think our defense will be a big key this year."
Brandon McKinney, Jr., DT
How are you feeling overall about the defensive line?
"I think right now, surprisingly to the coaches, we are ahead of where they thought we would probably be. Everybody knows what we have to do. Everybody is focused in practice and in meetings."
What will be the biggest challenge for this particular group?
"The biggest challenge will probably be picking up where we left off last year. We ended up No. 1 in the Big Ten for sacks and No. 4 in the country. Our goal right now is to be No. 1 in the country in sacks. But we have to work on penalties because we were last in the Big Ten."
How do you match that sack total?
"We have good pass rushers. Some of our biggest sack leaders are still here like Cliff (Clifford Dukes) and Vick (Kevin Vickerson), who got some sacks last year. Clifton Ryan was close to a whole bunch but this year he is better and more powerful. I'm out there trying to do what I can."
Are you rusty after sitting out a year?
"I'm a little bit rusty. I have to get back into it and where I used to be, but I'm not too rusty."
