Michigan State University Athletics
Grid Insider: Preseason Camp Update
8/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2007
Michigan State All-Access
The Michigan State football team practiced in full pads for the first time this preseason camp Friday afternoon. After practice, head coach Mark Dantonio, defensive line coach Ted Gill, running backs coach Dan Enos and several newcomers sat down to talk with the media, discussing the first week of practice. Watch practice highlights and an interview with Coach Dantonio in the football feature/interviews section in MSU All-Access.
Head Coach Mark Dantonio
On what the team accomplished in the first week of practice:
We made it through the first five days of practice. We had two shorts, two shells and one in full pads. We have had a lot of meeting time, and the players have shown good retention. Certainly, there is a lot of transition for the younger players as they move through the process, but our attitude is good and we're moving forward. We have put in some of our offense and some of our defense and now we'll move to two-a-days.
On how the first practice in full pads went:
Initially, you're always excited to get started. And they have to learn to carry their pads again, whether it's between drills or finishing a play. There was a lot of good hitting. Guys are making strides.
On Andrew Hawken moving from linebacker to fullback:
At linebacker, Kaleb (Thornhill) is playing very well. He seems healthy. We have (Josh) Rouse, (Adam) Decker and Kyle Smith there, and we've had an absence at fullback in terms of numbers. Andrew's a good football player. He was a running back in high school so we'll see where we're at. If he can play there, then we'll give him that opportunity. We're just looking right now. I think he needs to be somewhere on the field because he's a good football player.
On Hawken maybe playing defensive end:
He could go to that position as well. But we've got Colin Neely coming back into shape and Michael Jordan has done some good things there. Reggie Graham's there as well and (Jonal) Saint-Dic and we've got Brandon Long and (Ervin) Baldwin. So we have some guys there. If he (Hawken) moves there, it'll be a nickel-type thing.
On his thoughts on the freshman quarterbacks:
(Kirk) Cousins and (Nick) Foles are both strong-armed quarterbacks. They do a nice job in meetings. Cousins is pulling the pin a little bit because he wasn't injured. Foles is coming off of an injury so he's probably a bit tentative, but they both have great arms and they like to throw the ball down the field. They have presence. I think Kirk Cousins has done a great job in the huddle. They are both very quick learners. Both of them are going to be very good football players.
On the importance of getting the back-up quarterback situation solidified:
I think it's critical. Quarterbacks can get hurt. Who are you going to go to next? Connor (Dixon) has come back and he's improved, so it'll be an interesting battle. We have to give all three of those guys (Dixon, Cousins and Foles) reps and allow them to perform. We'll let the young guys develop and get through the learning curve and we'll make those decisions.
On quarterback Connor Dixon:
I think Connor has, just like everything, a better handle on things in terms of installation and the things we're doing. He's throwing the ball more effectively.
On how Michael Jordan can be:
We've had five practices, and he's still in shells because he missed the first day. So that remains to be seen. But he has the God given ability to play very well at this level. But there's a large learning curve for him too. So he'll certainly play in some situations and we'll see how he responds as practice continues.
On the freshmen having to think more on the field:
It's no different that someone just moving here and figuring out how to come to work. He's got to stop, then make a turn instead of just going right or left. That's the same with all of these young players. It has to become habit for them. That'll be done over a period of time, but we've been through five practices and we have 28 practices before we go, so they'll know what to do and they'll be effective.
On how the first week of practice met his expectations:
I'm pleased with the first week. I'm very pleased with the players' attitudes and how they're responding and working. As a coach, you're always critiquing things. I think the `want to' is there and we've come back in physical shape. Now we need to get in game shape.
Running Backs Coach Dan Enos
On how much playing time Jehuu Caulcrick will get this season:
I think obviously Javon Ringer is a player we want to keep on the field as much as we can because we feel he is one of our best players. But Jehuu and Javon compliment each other very well and there will be a few sets and personnel groups we get into where they will both probably be on the field together. Obviously as coaches you want to get your best players out there as much as possible. I do see Jehuu having a significant role on this football team, and we all know with playing in the Big Ten and running the ball as much as we will be running the ball, you need to have a couple of guys.
On his early impressions of the two freshman quarterbacks:
Both are very talented athletes and both would be able to handle the job. I think at this point, they are both a little overwhelmed with not only the amount of offense that is in, but they amount of defense as well, which I think a lot of times is overlooked. When you look at guys, it's not that they have to learn what we are putting in, but also what the defense brings and our defense does a great job of presenting you with a lot of different coverages as well.
On Foles' shoulder after surgery:
He may be guarding it a little bit, but he has a strong arm. You can see the arm strength we all saw on tape when we recruited him.
 | "I'm pleased with the first week. I'm very pleased with the players' attitudes and how they're responding and working. As a coach, you're always critiquing things. I think the `want to' is there and we've come back in physical shape. Now we need to get in game shape." Head Coach Mark Dantonio |
Defensive Line Coach Ted Gill
On his thoughts on the first few practices of the season:
I have really been impressed by the way our kids are working. We are trying to get to a point where we are in game shape. From the time that we left spring season, and the work they have put in during the offseason, a lot of guys have really made improvements and I have been really impressed with that.
On how the addition of Michael Jordan will help the team:
Well the thing that Michael (Jordan) brings to the table for us is that he gives us an opportunity to play him at multiple positions - either inside or outside - so I want him to get familiar with all of it because he's a guy that is going to put a lot on the table for us because of his athletic ability, his physicality and his ability to do a lot of different things. I'm excited about the way he can play, and I'm looking for good things out of him. For a guy that is 290 pounds, he has really done a great job of running past a lot of guys.
On the limited time frame the coaching staff has to work with Michael Jordan:
What you do with a young man like that (like Jordan) is you bring him along. Thank God we have guys like (Ervin) Baldwin and (Brandon) Long who have some experience, so Jordan is going to learn a lot from those guys which will give us a lot of opportunity for us to have great depth. With his athletic ability, I don't see any problem with getting him ready.
On his thoughts on some of the returning players on the front line:
When I first came here I didn't think we played very well with our hands, and those guys took it upon themselves to work on that during the offseason. They have really done a good job and I can see a difference, so right off the bat I knew they had worked on that aspect and I was really pleased with that.
Sophomore Defensive Lineman Michael Jordan:
On catching up after missing practice time early:
I've been trying to get used to the pace of the game and live up to the expectations of the coaches. It's been pretty hard, but I keep working hard and I'm seeing improvements in my performance.
On the relief he felt when he was able to practice:
It was a big relief. Every day I was thinking about whether everything was OK, making sure all of my papers were in. It is finally cool to finally be an official Spartan. Now I can concentrate on what I have to do so I can play on Saturdays.
On his expectations for this year:
I take pride in my work so I can produce on Saturdays, so my expectations are pretty high. I want to make each year here count
Freshman Wide Receiver Mark Dell
On his expectations and the possibilities of playing time this year:
My expectations are to do the job I know I can do and get some experience. I'm not really worried about playing time right now, I'm just going to work hard and get as many reps as possible.
On his confidence level as a freshman:
I'm confident; you have to be when you're going up against all of the different corners. I feel like I can match up, but it's something that is going to take time.
On the overwhelming intensity of practice in the first week:
The first couple of days were pretty tough. Actually, we had three groups in practice and I was in the second group. And coming in, we were running things very quickly, I had to get as many reps as possible. It was very overwhelming, but we freshmen are studying the playbook and we're getting a lot better than we were in the first few days.
On the speed of practice in pads instead of shells:
Honestly, there isn't too much of a difference. In shells, they tell us not to go all out to reduce some of the contact. But the defense is coming anyway. There's a difference (being in full pads), but not that big of a difference.
Freshman linebacker Greg Jones
On how his high school days helped in preparation for college football:
It really did. All I had to do was learn coverages and formations, and the coaches have really gotten me ready for that big time.
On his responsibilities playing weakside linebacker (WILL):
I'm more athletic, so I'll mostly play in pass coverage. That's mostly what the WILL does. From the strong side, you play more against the run.
On what he needs to improve on the most in practice:
I probably need to work on my footwork. That's my most important thing right now. I've been focusing on drills and watching tape of myself. It really takes a lot of hard focus.
Freshman Defensive Back Chris L. Rucker
On what it will feel like to take the field for the first time at MSU:
I'm going to feel amazed. It's going to be something new playing in front of so many people, but I'm excited about that.
On the speed of practice in pads instead of shells:
In pads, it's been a lot harder to keep up. But once we play more in pads, it's going to be back to normal.
On playing in such a talented defensive backfield:
It's a great opportunity for me to show my skills against guys like that and try to help the team. I'm going to do anything I can.
Freshman quarterback Nick Foles
How camp has been coming in as a freshman:
It's been good; it's definitely different from high school. It's mentally tough, physically tough, but I am enjoying it. They are putting all of the stuff in front of us, so we are just trying to keep going.
Goals here at your first camp:
I just want to learn everything I can, and every little detail. Most importantly I have to learn all of the plays, know where all of the receivers are going to be, and know all of the run plays.
On the difficulty of the offense:
It's a complex offense, but the difficult part is I'm not used to it. I don't know everything. The difficult part is trying to put everything together, but I am starting to get a hang of it. It's coming along. The first day of camp I was like whoa, but after every day I am trying to get a little more knowledge, and every day I am progressing.
On his shoulder surgery:
No, it's not a hindrance to play. I was released to play a few weeks ago. They had me on a throwing program for two months ago. At four months post-op Dr. (James) Andrews put me on a throwing program, and after two months I was released to throw routes, and threw as much as I wanted.
We found out who did Drew Brees' shoulder surgery, since his alma mater is my high school. He actually gave me a call before the surgery and he was just amazing with the things he told me.
On the recruiting process:
Michigan State didn't really recruit me before I originally made my decision to go to ASU (Arizona State). The old coaching staff didn't recruit me, I guess it was more after I de-committed. After the state football championship I went out to play in a basketball tournament in Washington D.C., and I think coach's nephew was at the game and saw me playing. He then talked to him about me and told him that I was committed to ASU and then I de-committed and everything worked out. Luckily I ended up here, I'm very happy about it.
On playing in the state of Michigan:
Honestly, growing up I never thought I would, but I am very happy I am playing here.
Opportunities after Hoyer being the starter:
I'm not sure, (Brian) Hoyer is an amazing quarterback and a great leader. I will be ready to play, but right now just I need to make sure I know the offense so that I am ready. It's not going to help the team if I am not ready.
Freshman quarterback Kirk Cousins
How camp has thus far:
It's been exciting and fast paced. In high school we did a lot of this stuff, but not at the pace we are doing at. We go full blown all of practice. You have to be mentally into it, and you have to stay sharp.
That has been the biggest adjustment so far. But it's exciting, and I have been living a dream the past week.
On being in the Big Ten:
Like I said, I'm living a dream. Hopefully we can have some good things happen over the next four of five years. Michigan State really came in at the end of the recruiting period, so I didn't know what was going to happen at the very end. But it has been a very exciting time, and every time I have to pinch myself, and realize where I am and the opportunity I have here.
Adjusting to college football:
It's a little bit overwhelming; it's a tough adjustment, and there is just a lot to learn. We really haven't been spoon-fed, but rather thrown into the fire right away, and so when you're having to learn it and also having to know it right away like the back of your hand, it's tough.
But when it's a baptism under fire, as Coach (Dave) Warner calls it, really that's the way you'd want it. If there is any way I can learn it, I'd rather be thrown to the wolves, and just do it right away, and that's how I am learning from my mistakes.
On the competition:
I played at a small high school. As far as the teams we played, they weren't big schools, so it's not like I was coming from a Division I school. On top of it, I wasn't really competing for my starting position either, so that is new to me. But it's good for me, it's a good experience. I think that football is still football, but there is still a big adjustment.
Freshman defensive end Kevin Pickelman
On freshman class chemistry:
It's awesome. We were up here all summer, and we really bonded throughout all the runs. We have this gasser test - a lot of the freshman passed it, and a lot of the players stepped-up and hit it hard.
On the competition:
It's the Big Ten, they are all great guys. They are all really good. It has been tough - it's still just a lot of the technique, and Coach Gill is trying to work with me.
On who has stood out:
Antonio (Jeremiah) - he is really good. He is huge, and strong, kind of like OG. That's who he kind of reminds me of, just a little slower. But he is probably going to drop some weight. (Michael) Jordan looks real good too.
