Q & A With Eric Gordon
12/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 29, 2009
Consistency is the true mark of a player's impact on his team. Week in and week out, to compete at the highest level regardless of the opposition, is what every football player strives for.
On Michigan State's defense, two linebackers have started side by side for a team-high 26 straight games: Greg Jones and Eric Gordon. While Jones has been a model of consistency during his All-America season in 2009, Gordon has been with Jones every step of the way, ranking second on the team with 84 tackles.
After his red-shirt season in 2006, Gordon has been a fixture in the starting lineup, starting 35 times in 37 career games. He enters Saturday's Valero Alamo Bowl on pace for a career high in tackles, and he also ranks second on the team in production points (175), third in tackles for loss (7.5, 39 yards) and fourth in sacks (3.5, 32 yards).
During MSU's three-game winning streak in the middle of the season, Gordon averaged 9.3 tackles with a sack in each of the victories (vs. Michigan, Illinois and Northwestern). He also produced a career-best 14 tackles in the Homecoming win over the Wildcats.
Overall, Gordon has compiled an impressive 231 career tackles, including 22.5 for losses and 7.5 sacks.
But the numbers don't mean much to Gordon right now. He's focused on one task - helping the Spartans to their first bowl victory since 2001.
Following a recent Michigan State practice in San Antonio, Gordon talked about the bowl experience, facing Texas Tech, and what he has improved on this season.
This is your third bowl game. Do you feel this is more of a business trip, or is it part of the bowl experience to visit places like the Alamo and the Riverwalk and enjoy the town?
"It's great to be down here. We've been in Orlando the past couple of years, so it's great to go to another place; a lot of us have never been to Texas. We're excited about doing some things in town, like visiting the Alamo, and we were at the Riverwalk last night, but really we've come down here with the mindset of this being a business trip.
"During the regular season, we have class all day, then practice, then we have to go do homework. This week, we have some free time, so we do have a little time to check out the sights."
The last two bowl games, the Spartan defense has had to face back-to-back No. 1 NFL Draft picks in Matt Ryan of Boston College and Matthew Stafford of Georgia. Texas Tech presents a different challenge with their potent spread offense. How much does it help when you have so much time to prepare for a single opponent?
"The extra time definitely helps out. We know what Texas Tech's offense does. In bowl games, the team's offense almost becomes second nature to you by the time the game comes around. It's nice to have all that time instead of cramming everything in over just a few days. Everyone on the defense gets it, we just have to go out and make plays."
Playing against a spread offense can be especially difficult as a linebacker. How much of a challenge is this game going to be for you personally?
"The main challenge for me will be tackling in open space. I'm not worried about it, but that's a main thing I'll need to be able to do. I'm still trying to get better in my pass defense, feeling where the receivers are and seeing the ball thrown. I'm excited because I've worked really hard to get better at it. Greg (Jones) and (Brandon) Denson have also worked really hard at it. It's going to be fun to be able to get out there and show people what we can do and how we've improved."
You are on pace to record a career high in tackles this season. Where do you feel like you've improved the most your junior year?
"I would have to say the consistency in my game. It's being able to go out each week and prepare like the week before. You can't just go extra hard because you're playing Michigan or Notre Dame. You have to treat every team the same and be able to make plays in each game. I feel like that's one thing I've been able to do. I've worked really hard all season on using my hands to shed off blockers, and that's what has helped me a lot in making plays instead of just getting caught up on an offensive lineman."
This is your third year as a starter. Do you feel like your ready to take on that leadership role going into your senior season, or do you already feel like a leader on the defense?
"At this point, I feel like one of the leaders on the defense. There's a lot on Greg's plate, there's a lot on my plate, and there's a lot on Denson's plate, because we all have to communicate with the D-line and the DB's. This year has probably been my best year in terms of communication, as part as telling someone, `hey, look out for this play', or `we have to switch into this.' I think it's a maturing thing and I just feel more comfortable out there. I feel more like a leader every year."
Has there been a moment or game this year where you feel like the defense has put everything together, or is there still that hunger where you're looking for that complete game against Texas Tech?
"There's been times in certain games. In the Michigan game, we just hunkered down for most of the game outside their last two drives in the fourth quarter. That was a really good game for us defensively. Some games we've been on and off. I don't feel like the defense as a core has played with the consistency that we're capable of for an entire game. But for this game against Texas Tech, we've worked so hard in terms of practice and conditioning and running, I really feel like the defense will be ready to go."
