Cotton Bowl Classic Press Conference: Offense
12/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS - Michigan State co-offensive coordinators Jim Bollman and Dave Warner and five offensive starters - junior center Jack Allen, junior quarterback Connor Cook, offensive lineman Travis Jackson, senior running back Jeremy Langford and wide receiver Tony Lippett - answered questions from the media at a Cotton Bowl Classic press conference Monday morning at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas.
Here are excerpts from Monday's interviews:
Co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Jim Bollman
Q. What do you see from No. 2, [Shawn] Oakman?
Jim Bollman: The Lord has blessed him with a lot of size. And you don't play against guys that tall very often, with that kind of reach. And he's a good athlete, runs around. He's a really good player. Just the extra few inches makes things a little more difficult.
Q. And how about as far as his quickness out there?
Jim Bollman: He's good. He's good in all parts of the game. It doesn't matter that he's just so big. Plays well, too. He's a good defensive end. And it doesn't matter how tall he is, but that just adds to it. But he has good quickness. He has good power. All the different aspects of things. He certainly does a good job.
Q. What about Andrew Billings?
Jim Bollman: Very good. It's well advertised about what kind of weightlifter he is. And it's in the books. Again, he lives up to his size. He's a good guy and strong presence in there. No question. Top player. Being an up front guy, those guys are important. It's hard to have a good defense without that.
Q. I'm curious what you think Connor Cook's ceiling is. What's his potential? He's talked to me a couple times this year about reading the progressions a little better. That's one thing he'd like to improve on. I'm just curious what you see where he can get to.
Jim Bollman: I agree with that. That's a good assessment by him. But, hey, I think that position is really reflective of overall offense, right? And I think, to really be good on offense, the more consistent you can be, the better you can be. As well as being balanced. So he's exactly right. If he could read things a little bit better sometimes or just be a little bit more consistent at times, I think he'll improve.
But he throws the ball well. Everybody can see that. He has the ability to come up with plays. He may have a dry spell, and all of a sudden he comes up with a big play. And, if he can do that more often, certainly, he's going to be better. Is that easy to do? No. Because guys don't you can sit there and say that as a coach. But that's reflective of guys all over the country. It doesn't matter. His ceiling? He does a lot of other things pretty good. That would be one thing for him to work on.
Q. When you were with him last year, you saw, obviously, some potential. But did you see him being this good this quickly? I mean, he's had a heck of a season.
Jim Bollman: Well, there's no doubt. And I'm sure he appreciates it. I really appreciate all those people around him. I mean, he's quarterbacking a pretty good crew and starting from out front and outside and the guys he's handing the ball to. They're all pretty good.
Q. He was just telling me over there that he and his dad were talking the other day that next year they think they'll play with the best offensive line they've ever had. That's what you were speaking to a little bit.
Jim Bollman: Yeah, they're pretty good. And they'll be better. And we lose a couple we lose a big time tailback, though, and a couple big time receivers. So those guys will be missed. But I think any time you're playing quarterback and you have those kind of guys to work with, it's good stuff for sure.
Co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Dave Warner
Q. Would you enjoy a shootout on Thursday? Is it fun when you get a tit for tat sort of deal?
Dave Warner: If it's a shootout, our offense is playing well. Obviously, our defense is not doing as well. I will enjoy a shootout as long as we have more points at the end of the game.
But, yeah, it's always fun when things are working. If that's what ends up happening, things are working well for us, that's always fun because it's easy to pick a play and see if it works.
Q. If the defense goes from losing perhaps four more critical pieces, maybe eight in the next two years, there may be a year where they can't do what they've done. Can the offense carry the program?
Dave Warner: We felt like we needed to a little bit this year. That's what we talked about with our guys, especially early in the season. We really didn't need to. But we talk about it all the time. And, yeah, I think that there's going to be opportunities whether it's through a season or through a game. There are games this year where we could have stepped up and done a better job. Oregon being one. So it's something we constantly look at. And I hope our offense is ready to do that when we need to.
Q. When you go back to early last year and struggles, did you see did you have that feeling that it was just about to click with this offense? Obviously late in the year. But this year to score how many points you guys did, was there a sense that was coming?
Dave Warner: Yeah, yes and no. I mean, I guess we felt confident that we were going to get it going. And I thanked the offense and gave them praise many times because our guys first three, four games of the year, our offensive players could have tanked on us and lost confidence in us. Especially our seniors that year hung in there with us. We knew we'd get it turned around. But to this extent, I'm not sure if we were able to get to this year. So we felt like we'd get here, but it took a while.
Q. Was there a key to that? Was it the quarterback play?
Dave Warner: I often allude to I don't know if it was the Indiana game. I think it was the Indiana game at home when (Tony) Lippett made a good catch. The game was already sort of put away. But he made one of those great catches. And it sort of seemed like from then on from that point on I think he's alluded to this in the past too Tony has started catching everything. And as those guys started catching everything, I think Lang (Jeremy Langford) in order may have had his first 100 yard game against Indiana. And he's had one every time since (in Big Ten games). So it sort of got things rolling and became a confidence deal with Connor [Cook], with our offensive line. Everybody sort of rallied around what we're getting done offensively and it snowballed.
Q. Getting back to Connor [Cook] for a second, what do you think his potential is? I know he's obviously very good right now. But could you talk about his potential?
Dave Warner: I think if you go back to as he sees himself progressing and his progression rates, as he's able to do that better and easier because that's so much more of an NFL deal, you know, just progressing through your reads, finding the singled up receiver where there's so many double team coverages and so forth up there. You've got to be able to do that at that level. As he progresses and is able to do that, I think the sky is the limit. He's extremely accurate and throws the ball effortlessly. So I think he can get a lot better, which is a good thing.
Q. Couple words on [Jeremy] Langford. Seems to me he's like an under the radar guy nationally. His yards are great.
Dave Warner: I think it's, first, a reflection of everybody looks at Michigan State and looks at our defense, and rightfully so. Our defense has been fantastic. So I think that's the biggest thing right there.
And then the second thing is Connor [Cook] has got a lot of attention simply because, you know, no one knew who our quarterback was going to be a year ago, year and a half ago. And as he's come on and performed very well. He's gotten the attention.
Q. Seems like the running back [Jeremy Langford] is just so steady that he just everybody expects 100 yards from him. He seems to do it.
Dave Warner: He about does. Yeah, he's shown up time and time again.
Junior quarterback Connor Cook
Q. Talk about the comfort of having a left tackle who is lower in class than you are. So, in other words, you'll be gone before he's gone. You'll never have to go through that transition again. There's comfort in that, yes?
QB Connor Cook: For sure. Having a guy like Jack Conklin protecting your back side is awesome. I couldn't be more thankful or grateful for that. Seeing the way he's played from last year to this year, the improvements he's made and how he protects me and keeps me safe and makes my job easier is awesome. Not just him, but you've got guys like Jack Allen who is an All American, a great center like his brother Brian Allen who has a lot of potential as well. And then you've got your guards, Donavon Clark and Connor Kruse and guys that rotate in, and [Kodi] Kieler I think I can go down the line and talk about each and every one of them and just how well they've played throughout the year and how comfortable I feel back there. Like you said, it's a comforting feeling, and it makes my job easier.
Q. That line potentially next year could be the best group yet. Do you feel that way when you look at the potential of some of the guys coming back?
QB Connor Cook: For sure. I was talking about that with my dad a couple days ago, about next year and how good our O-line can be and how good our O-line was this year. And you've got guys coming back next year and guys who are more experienced next year. I think that's what separates our O-line from others is their intelligence factor and how they pick up blitzes and how well they're coached and how they pick things up that they shouldn't even pick up, things that obviously make my life easier and better. Just how the coach coaches them up. And they do things on film like how the heck did they block that? This guy wasn't even supposed to be picked up. That was the backs. But the back was back on the route, but then the offensive line slides and takes that guy and keeps me safe. So I think the sky is the limit for our O-line, especially going into next year.
Q. What does Jeremy Langford bring to the game?
QB Connor Cook: A guy that can go the distance any time he has the ball. His speed is what separates him from other people. He's got some pretty good moves in the open field. He can get around guys. But I think the acceleration he has in the first five, 10 yards is like no other guy in college football, from what I think, what I've seen throughout the years. A guy who's tough, you know, will be hurt, will be banged up but still gives it 110% and a guy who just loves the game and is a super hard worker and loves what he does.
Q. Connor, Tony [Lippett] is starting on both sides of the ball for the third week in a row. What kind of challenge is that for him? And what kind of player does it take to do something like that?
QB Connor Cook: I think the main challenge is just how far Baylor goes just to not get tired, not get tired on defense. And then, as soon as you know Baylor is done, he's going on offense and running some routes. So I think the main obstacle for him is just be in shape, be conditioned and not get tired. It takes a different animal to do that. The last guy I remember watching do that was Chris Gamble for Ohio State who was playing corner, playing special teams, returning kicks, returning punts.
It's been a while since I've seen a guy do that. It's got to be a guy who is mentally tough, a guy who can endure being tired, being winded and still giving it his all and a guy who's got to be physically tough as well.
I think Tony has those traits and can be successful. He's shown to be successful. But we also haven't had an offense that goes this fast. So that, obviously, is going to be a main obstacle for him.
Q. The connection with Tony [Lippett] last summer, where he became your go to guy, when did you realize going into the season or going into the summer, the spring, that that would be there? When you look forward and one of the other guys is coming back, what will you see or not see that allows the next guy to be that?
QB Connor Cook: Obviously, the last two games of last year, the Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl, I think Tony took off. With Bennie (Fowler) leaving and other guys coming in, we knew Tony was going to be that senior leader. But, then again, obviously, I threw a lot with Tony in the summer. But there were other guys all the guys were there. I think I had chemistry with every single one of those guys.
But I think Tony just took off as soon as the season started. That was a result of the work we put in. And I also put work in with every other guy. But Tony just happened to take off. So we've been kind of riding the wave ever since.
Senior running back Jeremy Langford
Q. What does this defense look like to you in terms of stopping? I know they have rush numbers. But is it can you translate that based on what they've been playing this year?
Jeremy Langford: It's different than what we play, how they play in a conference. But at the same time, they do a great job of being physical up front. And the front seven does a real good job of making tackles and not giving up the big plays.
Q. So when you look at it, do you think the defense is built to defend the spread? They do have, like you said, some big guys up there. Do they look like anything you've seen this year?
Jeremy Langford: I can't say from anybody we've seen. But it's hard to tell from the offenses they faced this year. A lot of teams spread them out and try to run the ball. But we're different, you know. We just we do what we do. We want to run the ball. And we go and do that, try to do that. Hard to tell against the teams they played already.
Q. This offensive line, how different is it now versus two years ago. I know that line was really banged up. I think that was a big part of that offensive struggles. How much have you seen it grow in these two years?
Jeremy Langford: It's grown a lot. They rotate different places. This year we had, two or three two more guys rotating and keeping everybody as fresh as they can be. I think that helps a lot in the long run of the season.
Senior wide receiver/cornerback Tony Lippett
Q. Does Baylor do a lot of stuff in their secondary? This Phil Bennett guy has been around for a while. He's one of the more highly regarded coordinators in the country. Do you see they do things defensively to challenge you?
Tony Lippett: They do a little bit different things. But they basically stick to what they do. Press team, play you up. They're going to compete out there. They're going to do what they do, and they're going to not mix it up so much. They just got to stay disciplined in their technique.
Q. A quarters team like you guys?
Tony Lippett: Right, definitely quarters. They got to stay disciplined on what they do and just go out there and play hard.
Q. So your coach was telling me you're starting on both sides of the ball against Baylor. So what kind of challenge is that, and who kind of brought that idea to you?
Tony Lippett: It's definitely going to be a challenge. They've got some great wide receivers. They've got a great offense. And it's up tempo, fast tempo, and all. It's difficulty going to be a big challenge for me, definitely.
But Coach D (Dantonio) brought it on he wanted me to play offense and defense in the ball game just like I played the last two weeks of the season. I mean, it's my last game here, so I just said that's right. Let's get out there and get it done. I'm a competitor. And I feel like I can go out there and compete and have fun and play with confidence.
Q. How have you been comparing because, of course, Baylor has that up tempo system. So there's a real chance that you're playing well over 100 snaps. So how do you prepare yourself and prepare your body for that?
Tony Lippett: I'll just be playing both sides of the ball in practice. I mean, on defense I try as many plays as I can in a row because I know it's probably going to be like that in the game. Offense I still do the same, go as many plays as you can go. Train your body and test your body. I know adrenaline and enthusiasm are probably going to add two more plays in there or something like that.
So, when I'm tired, just try to be mentally strong and tell my mind you've got two more plays in you, something like that.
Junior center Jack Allen
Q. You play offense. But the defense has been a top 10 defense for four years in a row, and I don't know if a lot of people realize that. When you go against those guys in practice and when you watch those guys, what do you see that's been able to sustain them in the time you've been there?
Jack Allen: I think it's a lot of hard work. Those guys are really talented, and I think it's a lot of caring, too, because everybody on the team cares for each other. And everybody on the team is a great guy, and they all just push for each other.
Q. This offensive line two years ago, I think you guys were banged up. You know, 2012 season really struggled up front, a lot of injuries. But Mark Staten said you got caught a little bit sort of unprepared or maybe just not with enough guys ready and that was never going to happen again. Did you see sort of a change in what he was doing after that year?
Jack Allen: Yeah, that's the year we started at the eight man rotation. We started getting the 2s more and more reps and stuff like that. And I think a lot of the depth we have now is because of him. And I think we had some good guys coming, too, as well, that kind of rolled in. And it works perfect with eight guys because you can have a couple guys go down and people slide in like nothing ever happened.
Q. How much has Bollman's influence helped you guys play the way you have the last couple years?
Jack Allen: I think it's tremendous. His schemes and how he teaches things are dead on and it works.
Q. But how would you describe how it's changed this year?
Jack Allen: I think we're playing with a bigger chip on our shoulder. And we're so used to the defense having our back, I'll say. And I feel like throughout the season sometimes, it was our turn to have their back and kind of pay them back for what they were doing for us in previous years.
Senior offensive lineman Travis Jackson
Q. Connor Cook is one of the top quarterbacks but not one of the big names. How big of a player and what kind of threat is he?
Travis Jackson: He's a guy who is a playmaker. And if a play breaks up, he's going to go out there and get something done. So, he's a guy that like, I'd say Tony [Lippett] is a game time player. He's going to make the play. He's going to get the job done. And maybe he doesn't have the stats that the other guys do. But he's definitely one of the top quarterbacks in the country and you love blocking for a guy like that.
Q. How important is it for both your offense and defense to kind of keep control of the ball, to win the time of possession?
Travis Jackson: I think time of possession is going to be huge in this game. Like I said, their offense, quick striking, and their defense kind of gets overlooked. They have a really good defense, and our offense is going to have a really tough task being able to win the time of possession.
Q. How would you describe Jeremy Langford's running style and what he brings?
Travis Jackson: Jeremy is great. He's so fast. He's so quick, and he's willing to get that extra yard. So, you know, as an offensive lineman, when you see a guy not only breaking away on long runs but running people over, that gets you excited as an offensive line. So we mesh with Jeremy real well. Not only is he a great player, he's a great guy. So we love the way he runs and that motivates us up front.
