Cotton Bowl Classic Press Conference: Defense
12/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS - Michigan State assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and five defensive starters - junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun, junior linebacker Ed Davis, senior defensive end Marcus Rush and junior cornerback Trae Waynes - answered questions from the media at a Cotton Bowl Classic press conference Sunday morning at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas.
Here are excerpts from Sunday's interviews:
Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi
Q. You talked about your motivation was to finish what you started. Why is that so important?
Pat Narduzzi: Because it's about these kids and what we built. These are like my sons. If I didn't come down here and coach in this bowl game, you know, I'd be letting every one of these 115 guys down and rest of the staff down, and Coach D. That's what it's about.
It's about these kids and how hard they worked to get to this game. It's about the game. It's all about this game right now. We're in a one game season, and it's for all the marbles and we want to finish in the top five. And we'll see what happens.
Q. You talked about the players being like your sons. But for Harlon and Mike, they get that promotion. What does that mean to you?
Pat Narduzzi: I'll talk about Harlon and Mike, but I really want to ask questions about Baylor and all that. I've been saying for years, when I've turned something down, that, "Man, I'm sorry, Mike. Sorry, Harlon." Because I want them to have opportunities too...They've never said that to me, but I've been waiting for the day they could take over. They've done an unbelievable job for years. We've got the best staff in the country. It is not a one man show. It's a four man show. And don't underestimate our GAs and what they do because they're incredible. And so it's a great opportunity for them, and I'm excited for them.
Q. And this is the last chance you guys will have to coach together. Have you thought about that and the fact that it's this kind of a challenge?
Pat Narduzzi: No doubt about it. I spent more time with those two guys three guys, Ron, but both Mike and Harlon. I spent more time with those guys than I spent with my own brothers, if you added up the time, in a meeting. The amount of hours and time I spent with those guys, the last 11 years has got to be more time than I spent with my own brothers. So it's amazing. I love those guys. You know, they're like brothers. And all the team is like brothers and sons.
Junior cornerback Trae Waynes
Q. Of the real young guys, who caught your eye?
Trae Waynes: I mean, all of them actually. They're all doing really well. You can just see that early on, especially the freshmen coming in. Just watching them play and how they pick up on things really fast and how they're so eager to learn. It's really impressive.
Q. Does Coach Tressel bring some of that intensity that Pat Narduzzi had?
Trae Waynes: Oh, yeah. It's with the whole coaching staff. Not just Coach Narduzzi. But, you know, it all starts with him. Defense, coordination, and all that. And other coaches feed off it as well. But, you know, like I said, I feel like all the coaches bring it.
Q. You look at what he's built and with the help of guys like you and going into this game, you know, Michigan State is becoming known for defense again. I mean, how much pride do you take in those kind of things, and how big of a motivator is that?
Trae Waynes: We take a lot of pride in it. You know, for the past couple years, our defense has finished in the top 10. And that's something we strive for going into every season.
Junior linebacker Ed Davis
Q. What are Harlon Barnett and Ed Davis like?
Ed Davis: Coach Tressel, that's my position coach. That's the guy who we're very close. I know what he expects out of me, and I know what I expect out of him. And also I know what he brings to the team. And I think he'll do a great job as the co defensive coordinator. He's a very smart coach, and everything I know about the defense and what I'm supposed to do he teaches me.
Coach Barnett also helps me out, too, even though he's a DB coach. He comes down and helps me so I can play better with the DBs. And he's a very cool guy to talk to. I'm really excited to see how they do as co defensive coordinators. Senior defensive end Marcus Rush
Q. Can you talk about Baylor's offense?
Marcus Rush: Fast tempo. That's who they are. That's how they're successful. Teams are trying to keep up. It's definitely difficult for any team as a defense as well. So even just prepping for them, it's hard. You got to be in shape, and you got to be focused at all times.
Q. That's been a bugaboo for you guys, that tempo.
Marcus Rush: Yeah. I think it's something we struggle with a little bit. But I think we are confident that we can. We just got to stop them. Get three and out. Slow down their tempo. Substitution is huge. Get guys on the field that are fresh and keeping starters fresh and just getting good rotation in and not allowing the big plays.
Q. Have you played a team with this type of team speed? Forget the tempo, just team speed?
Marcus Rush: Yes. Oregon. I think their speed was off the charts. And they're kind of similar with their talent wise. With the quarterback. You know, their tempo, their skill positions. They're all athletic guys and guys that are capable of making big plays.
Q. What's impressed you the most about Baylor that you are kind of or even not concerned about but you know you have to be aware of?
Marcus Rush: Probably their tempo. Yeah, I don't know what it is in college football, but they're up there in top three, I think. Just practicing kind of opened your eyes how fast their tempo is and watching them on TV and how fast they get plays going. That's definitely the biggest thing is what they do and what we get to kind of slow down.
Q. Winning this game, what would it prove I mean, I know you guys want to win. It's obvious. But what does it do for the future of Michigan State?
Marcus Rush: Definitely sets the program up for success for the next year. I mean, if we beat Baylor, we're in, hopefully, top five. And that's huge. I mean, you know, that's a huge accomplishment in itself. And it puts Michigan State in this area of playoffs next year. I guess as long as they play next year, play well next year, you know, they're setting themselves up for another good year.
Junior defensive end Shilque Calhoun
Q. When you look at Baylor, what's the toughest to defend?
Shilique Calhoun: I think Baylor does a great job of that speed up offense. I think that's what makes them as good as they are. They keep the balancing rolling, keep you on your toes. Not only that but they just try to wear you down.
If they could snap the ball while you're standing up as a defensive line, that's probably best for them. What's best for us is just to focus on every play, get linemen assigned, and get off the ball.
Q. People don't think of them as a pass team but they can run the ball too.
Shilique Calhoun: I think they run the ball enough to get you to make you think they're going to run it again, and they'll play action in there and you weren't even looking for that. So we're more focused on stopping the run. That's what we've always been known for, so that's our first goal.
Q. What quality of Coach Narduzzi will be hardest to replace?
Shilique Calhoun: I think they both have his qualities but as an individual, he has all of them. So it's spread out between both of those guys.
The respect that you have for Coach Barnett, you know, understanding that he understands what you you know, he knows what's best for you.
And then Coach Tressel, that excitement, this fire to push you and keep you going and that fire to just make sure that you go above and beyond each and every play.
Senior free safety Kurtis Drummond
Q. Tell me about Harlon [Barnett].
Kurtis Drummond: Oh, man, I don't know where to start. He's a great guy. Really cares about the players, cares about us, wants to see us graduate. A guy who walks by faith, optimistic. I can go on and on about him. He's just a great person. Truly cares about our success on and off the field.
Q. Coming from the Big Ten to kind of a more spread attack, how do you prepare for Baylor's pace in defense?
Kurtis Drummond: As far as what do we do at practice? Just got to get mentally conditioned, physically conditioned. Make sure you get lined up when you're tired and be able to play when you're still tired.
Q. Talk about your game a little bit, maybe where you've grown as a player in the four years at Michigan State.
Kurtis Drummond: I've grown mentally. I understand the game. I really understand the whole scheme of things. And our team tries to attack you and finding our holes in the defense. Just being a student of the game. Really watching a lot of film and just understanding that this game has a lot of mental.
Q. You talked about leadership a little bit. Looking forward to next year, was that something that maybe you had to kind of take over this year with some of the guys that you lost out of the secondary?
Kurtis Drummond: Yeah. We lost I mean, Max Bullough. We lost great leaders. I think each year you've got to find leaders and it just develops through workouts and all your times around each other.
Q. How much pride do you guys take in trying to shut down an opposing passing game?
Kurtis Drummond: As a secondary, you take a lot of pride in it. That's what's going to make you good, prideful and competitive. I don't think any defensive back in the country wants anybody catching balls on them. So we take a lot of pride.
Q. And how difficult is Baylor as a matchup because they've got four or five of them that can go?
Kurtis Drummond: They've definitely got playmakers out there. Four or five receivers in a game. That tells them right there. But they have guys who can catch the ball for 10 yards and take it 80, and they've got some on the field who can run down the field and catch it after 80. They have guys making plays all over the field. So it will be a fun challenge for us.
Q. Have you seen a team that spreads out and still runs the ball? They spread it from one side to the other and still have two great running backs.
Kurtis Drummond: The pitch and run pass conflict, and they do a great job of doing that. And Shock Linwood is a good running back who runs downhill, and he has a good line that locks for him. But like I said, they have playmakers all over the field. So they do a great job. It's a no brainer why they score so many points.
Q. What's this team's identity, this specific team?
Kurtis Drummond: I mean, we're just a team that understands how to handle adversity. We're going to come to work. We're going to be aggressive. We're just going to continue fighting until the game is over.
