Grid Insider: Player One-on-Ones

Sept. 19, 2007

Listen to Spartan Sports Podcasts:
MSU Highlights vs. Pittsburgh (Spartan Radio Network)
Brian Hoyer Interview
Jonal Saint-Dic Interview
Jehuu Caulcrick Interview
Kaleb Thornhill Interview

Big Ten Defensive Co-Player of the Week Jonal Saint-Dic and junior quarterback Brian Hoyer met with the media Monday afternoon in the LaSalle Bank Club at Spartan Stadium, talking about the team's 3-0 start, the Notre Dame game and playing on the road for the first time this season. After Tuesday's practice, msuspartans.com caught up with senior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill and senior running back Jehuu Caulcrick.

Senior defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic

On the recognition of being Big Ten Player of the Week...
I didn't even know about it until yesterday (Sunday). I just went to the meeting and the coaches told me. I'm really happy they chose me out of all the guys, but I'm still hungry. I feel that we haven't accomplished anything like Coach D said. He's a great coach, and we've done so many great things. But like I said we haven't accomplished anything yet. The last three years we went 3-0 and we've downfallen. I'm not getting too excited. I enjoyed a little W on Saturday. We buried the film on Sunday, and now we're ready for Notre Dame.

On being a classic example of an overachiever...
I just do my job. Like I said the DB's and linebackers are doing a good job. I just try my best to make it easy for the DB's, make it easy for the linebackers, and make it easy for my coaches. That's what I do. I work hard and keep going until the whistle is blown.

On playing at a high rate of speed...
When I'm out there I'm playing for a lot of people. I'm playing for my family, the coaches, and God of course. I just love the game. When I'm out there I give all I got. When the game is over I know that win or lose, I gave all I got. And that's what I do.

On his thoughts before a sack...
You can't just have one move. You can't go in there and expect to be the ultimate lineman. You have to have one or two quarters to see what type of tackle he's going to be. Is he strong? Does he have good feet? With a good pass rush, you have to rely your move on the offensive tackle. I just go in there and see what type of person I'm going against. Use speed first, power second. Just keep going hard, and when a lane's open you go to that hole.

On feelings when he knows he's taking down the quarterback...
It's the greatest feeling in the world. You always try to make a better play. When you see the QB and he's not looking at you, your number one thing is you have to try to strip the ball. It's great to get a sack. It's hard to get a sack in this conference. But when you have a chance to strip the football and get a turnover, and get the ball back to Jehuu (Caulcrick), Javon Ringer, Brian Hoyer, and Devin Thomas, they're going to get the job done. So the best thing is turnovers. And when you get a chance to get a turnover, you just have to go for it.

On who he wanted to be like growing up...
I loved Bruce Smith. That's probably my best player. Bruce Smith and Reggie White both had speed and power.

On making this 3-0 start different from the past...
We have a great coaching staff. Coach D came here and told us where he wanted to go. He told us to work hard, and that we're going to have certain situations, and make big plays. We're taking it one game at a time. I'll say it again. We haven't really accomplished anything yet. The last two years we went 3-0. We haven't even started the Big Ten yet. We're just taking it one game at a time.

On the defense...
Coach D notices adversities. The last couple years we broke a little bit. There are doubts and tests. And that was a test. But defensively we stepped it up. And everybody did a great job. The DB's, Otis Wiley, and Ogemdi Nwagbuo all did a good job. We believed in each other, fought it out, and got a W.

On how big the Notre Dame game is to them...
First of all every game is big to me. The last two years we went 3-0 and this is another step for us. I think Notre Dame is a good team. Even though they've lost all their games, we have to go down there and handle our business, and keep playing hard like we have the last three games.

Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer:

On his performance last weekend...
I think that we definitely didn't play our best. You can see that from the film, but the main thing is that we got the win. There are definitely a lot of learning points that we got out of this game. For the offense, I know that we had a 16 play drive, there was a 12 and 13 play drive in there too. We just have to capitalize when we get in the red zone and down on the goal line. We have to score points, not just field goals, but touchdowns.

We also need to work on eliminating penalties and hurting ourselves. That is something that really affected the offense this past week, we hurt ourselves a lot of the time, but like I said the main thing is that we got the win. We are sitting 3-0, we're not 2-1, and you can make some mistakes being 3-0.

On playing Notre Dame...
When you play Notre Dame you can throw the records out. It's Notre Dame and Michigan State. Like any rivalry game, it doesn't matter what the record of either team is. They are going to bring their "A" game and we need to bring our "A" game as well.

On playing at Notre Dame Stadium...
You grow up and Notre Dame is always on TV, it's a national program. Walking into that stadium is a little different than walking into other places. I'm definitely excited to go down there and get a chance to play.

On last year's Notre Dame game...
There are a lot of guys on the team that were there last year, but the way I see it we learned from that situation. This is a new team, a new coaching staff. Going down there we'll keep that in the back of our minds, but the way I see it it's a brand new team, brand new season. We'll use it as motivation, but against a team like Notre Dame you don't need extra motivation.

On the team having an underdog mentality...
We have had that since the beginning. When people are picking you low you are a natural underdog. I think that's something that we have to keep in the back of our minds. No one is expecting us to do much this season so we are always going to be that underdog regardless of our record. If we keep that chip on our shoulder it helps us to stay focused.

On playing on the road for the first time this season...
People are going to be excited. It's a new coaching staff. We are going to have to see how travel goes and staying in the hotel. It's going to be a little different. It's something that we are going to have to adjust to, but just need to go out there and have fun.

On what he learned from last week's game...
Just getting back and making quick reads. There were a bunch of times that I held on to the ball too long. I want to stay disciplined in my reads. This past week I was very worried about not turning the ball over. Sometimes you just have to take risks and the reward can be great.