Grid Insider: Player One-on-Ones

Aug. 28, 2007

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Senior running back Jehuu Caulcrick and junior quarterback Brian Hoyer met with the media Monday afternoon in the LaSalle Bank Club at Spartan Stadium. Caulcrick talked about the Spartan running attack and being elected captain, while Hoyer talked about Mark Dell, Kellen Davis and playing against the Spartan defense in preseason camp.

Senior running back Jehuu Caulcrick:

On the coaches preparing the team for adverse situations:
The coaches have been putting us through adverse situations the whole summer and ever since Coach Dantonio got here. We've been practicing with the heaters up in Duffy so it's hot and we've been put through different game-type situations. It makes practice a lot more fun because you know what you're playing for so when game time comes, we shouldn't be shocked by anything that's thrown at us.

On Coach Dantonio's motivational tactics (i.e. Winner's Manual):
I think the Winner's Manual is great because everybody can take something away from that as opposed to someone who's up there "rah-rah" and you look at the guy. Some people get fired up that way. The Winner's Manual is targeted for different things for different people, so it's a good idea.

On the effectiveness of Coach Dantonio's motivational tactics:
His tactics sink in more. I feel it takes you further as opposed to being all excited in the locker room and in the first 10 minutes of the game and then it wears off.

On his feelings running the ball more this year:
It's a great feeling knowing we're going to get the chance to run the ball more. We're ready for this. Javon (Ringer), AJ (Jimmerson) and I, along with the offensive line, feel like the more you run the ball, the more confidence the offense is going to get.

On running the ball making MSU tougher:
When you go out there and pound the ball at the defense over and over, and you have success, they're (the opponent) not going to want to go back out there. It's a dogfight out there. That's what we need to do. We need to go out there every week and be consistent with it. In the past, we haven't been consistent. One game, we'll come out and run the ball well. The next game, we would go away from the running game and throw the ball 60 times. Everyone right now is buying into the system we have here.

On the team being prepared for UAB:
We're very much prepared. We're ready to go out there and take on somebody else and display to the fans what we've been doing six, seven months now.

On the Coach Dantonio stressing that MSU must "earn respect":
That's something he preaches every day in practice. He says that we're not here to be flashy and show off. We have to earn the respect of the people that sit in Spartan Stadium so they can be behind us and give us that support.

On having tight end Kellen Davis help out the running game:
It's great (having him as a blocker). He's a physical guy and he can block well. If teams bring an extra guy in the box, we can release him in the middle. He's not afraid to go across the middle with his size. He's very helpful to us.

On the expectations of being named one of MSU's captains:
Obviously, you hope for something like that. But I was just going out there and being myself everyday, not politicking or anything like that. The guys showed me respect by nominating me and voting for me, so I have to show them the respect back by being a positive leader.

Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer:

On freshman wide receiver Mark Dell:
Coming in as a freshman you don't really know what's going on but he grasps the offense very well. He runs great routes and I think that's the one thing that helps him out the most. He's got great hands, and he's not afraid to go across the middle so he'll be a great playmaker.

On having a fullback in the new offense:
It's nice because not only does it give you extra protection but it also opens things up for the running game. Having those guys back there just gives the offense another dimension.

On what he has seen from the Michigan State defense:
Their schemes have changed, so I think you'll definitely see a difference in that. The cornerbacks are going to be up pressed against the receivers so that'll give them an advantage in keeping them on the line. They're definitely going to be flying to the ball. That's the biggest difference I've noticed from this season to last season. I think there's really been an emphasis on everybody getting to the ball.

On tight end Kellen Davis:
Kellen's athletic ability is off the charts. He was my roommate freshman year so we have real good chemistry together. I think this is his year to come out and do some great things. This offense allows him to do that stuff because he's a great run-blocker but at the same time he's a vertical threat in the passing game.

On what he is looking forward to most:
Just the excitement. A chance to run out into Spartan Stadium, knowing that it's my team and my offense, is something that I've been waiting to do for a long time. The fact that it's finally here is just exciting and I can't wait.

On controlling emotions:
I think it's key for a quarterback to not come out too hot because you don't want to over think things. I think for those first couple of plays you might be a little hot but once you get into that game atmosphere you resort back to what you've done in the past and you'll remember how it is to play the game. There's definitely going to be some emotion out there but once we get out there and get into the flow of things we'll definitely calm down.

On how the new style of offense fits him:
I'm more of a drop-back style passer. I'm not saying that the spread offense didn't fit me but what really helps me in the new offense is establishing the running game. With the spread you would drop back and there would be eight people dropped into a zone. With that the windows close pretty quickly. When you establish the running game then they've got to bring people into the box. When they do that it allows for passing lanes to open up.

On how a good defense helps an offense:
The main thing is just getting us the ball back. When you see a defensive player make a big hit it gets the whole team fired up. You get excited when you see another player on your team make a big play. With everybody hawking to the ball that's going to create some turnovers so that's obviously going to help out the offense.