Michigan State University Athletics
Post-Game Quotes: Spring Game
4/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 26, 2014
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
Opening Statement...
Good game. I thought that out there you're watching behind the huddle and there are a lot of things going on, guys competed. The White team took a 13-0 lead, but the Green team played themselves back into it, which is a positive. You had guys competing and just continue to play through it.
We try to make it as game-like as we can as you can see. I'm a little frustrated with the unforced penalties, but I think those things happen when you are trying to do different things and you've got different people playing. We threw some picks, but I thought there were good plays by the defenders as well. That's the thing that's impressive. If you're on the defensive side of the ball, you're excited about the opportunity to make some of those catches. I thought (Kurtis) Drummond's interception was big-time. Darian Hicks had a big-time interception. Demetrius Cox had a big-time interception. Ezra (Robinson) made a nice play on a ball too. I thought the wide receivers made some good catches as well. (Connor) Cook was sharp, but he was throwing some picks. I think there were good plays by the defenders. A good spring, we'll continue to move forward. 2014 is right around the corner, but we get a sort of a chance to reflect, regroup.
On the thing he's most pleased with and most concerned about moving forward...
Coming out of spring, what I'm always most pleased about is the effort, the intensity that our players bring to the table every single practice. We don't play tag out there. It's the real deal. You have to get them on the ground. You have to complete balls and complete balls under pressure. Our guys will compete and that's what I'm usually most pleased about.
I think a lot of guys had really great springs. Kodi Kieler is a guy that sticks out in my mind that's really played well. You see different guys making plays on different things. Nick Hill has had a very productive spring. I think our wide receiver group has been doing very well. The linebackers are young, but it's tough to say until you watch the film, but they're playing hard. Because we're playing these line situations like this as often as we can, they have to sustain and that's how you get better. You can do so many drills, but as some point you have to play the game. You have to get people down, you have to blitz and you have to get off blocks. So they're improving as well and we'll be fine with that position. Other than that I think we're solid.
On the young tight ends...
Our young tight ends continue to improve. Josiah Price has taken big steps forward this spring. He was a redshirt freshman last year. He's blocking much better. He's a big time catch guy. The more you throw the ball to him, the more excited you get, the more confidence he gets. Jamal Lyles is really the same thing. He has great athletic ability. He is a big-bodied, quick-bodied guy. He catches the ball very well and run great routes. Both those guys are young players. They'll be redshirt sophomores, so it's exciting to watch them grow. There's a future in those guys. When you look at our tight end position, it's rather deep.
On Damion Terry...
We see certain people using two quarterbacks in systems. You've got to look at high schools a little bit. We experimented a little bit with those things and put a package together, so there are different things that we do. It's always nice to see what people do out there and not worry about it. We'll go game-to-game on those things. Damion is a guy that can make plays. I think we've got to find out about our quarterbacks. We put him in a red jersey because he was no longer live to be hit. That was just a precautionary measure. He's a very good football player. He's got to grow. He can throw it. He had a couple of good throws on the drops, I feel or great defensive plays maybe, if a hand gets in. Again, when guys play the game and play it for real, they'll get better.
On Tyler O'Connor...
Tyler O'Connor had some picks, but I think he made some plays too. I just looked at the stats when I got here. The first play of the game is unfortunate, the last play is a long shot, so I guess the first and the last plays are not too good. I tell you he played solid in there. He made a nice quarterback scramble. He's very functional. He can make plays. I've got to watch the film totally. I think Tyler played better than his three interceptions would indicate.
On Connor Cook...
He's a very confident player. I think he moves well with the ball. I think he's got a big upside in terms of what he can do with the ball more than just throwing the ball, in terms of his scrambling ability. He can create. I thought he made some good throws. He has a couple picks as well. He threw for 159 yards today. We ended up having a running clock the second half, so he probably ended up playing a quarter and a half.
On the growth of the defense during the spring...
We've got leaders like Kurtis Drummond, Shilique Calhoun, and Marcus Rush. They're very solid. Taiwan (Jones) is in there playing a different position so there's a learning process there a little bit. The defensive line is pretty solid in there. In the secondary, we've gotten two starters back and one other guy that's played a lot of football. I think they're coming. It's a little bit more up and down than you want to see sometimes, but then you see some nice plays and really, when you look at it, there were a lot of sudden change situations today. There were not a lot of long drives down the field, which is a positive. There were also some nice plays on the ball. We'll come up with turnovers and we'll compete. Our defensive staff will have the guys ready to compete. We'll run at the ball. We'll play hard.
On the safety position...
Well, RJ Williamson is a very good player. The players draft the players; the coaches play the players. RJ is a very good player. Demetrius Cox is as well. Jalyn Powell has hitting ability and he's a young player. He needs to become more disciplined in what he's doing, but you're going to see him show up on the field, whether it's a lot on special teams or in and out on a lot of defensives. If he becomes more consistent in his mental assignments, you're going to see him on the field. He can tackle. He can down a player. He's a big, strong guy. That's a little bit of Isaiah Lewis was, especially early in his career.
On the balance between offense and defense...
I think we are balanced. Last year, we came into this and I talked about how our offense was stifling a little bit. We didn't have a quarterback. We had a quarterback competition and we had good players, but they needed to take control of the position. We had no tailback identity. Our wide receivers had been inconsistent. I think now when you look at our football team, our offense is measuring up. The defense is measuring up as well. Maybe the defense isn't as dominant right now, but maybe that's because the offense is a better offense. You think about some of the things we were able to do offensively toward the end of the season. We really did a nice job on some of those things, scored some points. (Mike) Sadler will be back as our punter. Mike Geiger is an excellent kicker, so we've got more guys. We play a lot of players. That's one thing that we do in our program here - we play our guys.
On Joel Heath...
Joel Heath is a big, strong, athletic guy. We have four defensive tackles in there - they've all got game experience, they've all played. You watch how Joel plays against (Jack) Conklin, you watch him play against Travis Jackson, so he's playing against good players and sometimes you win and sometimes they don't. He's learning what to do in there, playing more consistently. He's a 295-pound, 6-6 guy. You've got to keep both feet on the ground. When both feet are on the ground, good things are happening. One foot on the ground, bad things are happening. That's been a consistent factor. He's a good player and he plays extremely hard and again, he'll be a factor for us. There's no question that he'll factor in.
On the middle linebacker spot and where he sees Taiwan Jones...
Taiwan as the Mike linebacker right now, you've got to assess the spring. There's no question he can go back outside and play in a heartbeat; he's got three years of doing that. You've got to assess the spring. He's a thumper. He comes downhill and brings a powerful punch with him - he's 256 pounds. We want him to lose a little bit of weight, maybe get down to 250. So he's a big solid guy. When he hits you, you know you're going backwards. Inside there, you've got to become a more consistent blitzer, you've got to get your feet on the ground just in terms of the knowledge and feel comfortable. That takes time and we've just had 15 practices. You've got to remember now, we'll go have 29 practices before our first game. He's got to stack those things on top of 15. He'll be ready, but he'll stay inside.
White Team Head Coach Ron Burton
On his initial observations...
Initially, I liked the way we started off as an offense. The ability for us to execute early was good and we had an interception early. We came out and played hard early, but it's not how you start it's how you finish. They [Green team] had the ability to come back and play and that's what we expect from our players. The Green team made a great effort in the second half. We have to continue to play hard and that's what they did. They gave us the ball back and we took it down the field in the end. Overall, some good spots in there for a quarterback, some bad spots too. Defensively, we had a chance to stop any sudden change and they scored on us a few times. Overall we know where we are and we know where we need to go. We're still a work in progress, that's for sure.
On his initial impression of defensive line...
I think they came out playing fast and hard. They were a little edgy, and we had some offsides penalties. Our guys tried to harness that edginess in and they kind of hard counted us. They knew we were going to be in the position where we wanted to pass rush a lot. I think there was some competitiveness going on both sides. I think we did some good things. They showed some edge to them as far as moves they made. In the future, we have to continue to harness that and those moves on the ball can cost you in the game. You want to turn them loose as much as you can. There are some pluses in there, that's for sure. There are some things we can learn from, also. I think they had five or six sacks overall as a group and that can be a plus. That'll carry over into next fall.
On Demetrius Cooper's future contributions...
His strengths right now, as you can tell, are his quickness off the ball, his pass rush, and his third-down ability. I think that's where he'll have a chance to get on the field. I'm still dangling it right now, so he's got some more work to do, that's for sure.
On Demetrius Cooper's improvements this spring...
His ability to play against a run. The use of his hands in run-blocking schemes. We know we have the ability to rush the pass, so we want to see him get off the block in run situations. He has showed that, but he's got to get consistent with it.
On the defense up the middle...
Well, starting off with the defensive tackles inside. Joel Heath flashed today and did some good things; getting off the ball, moving them inside. We wanted to know if he could handle the double teams and stuff like that. He was very active. The defensive tackle on my side, Brandon Clemons, did some good things. I think he was very strong at the point of attack. On the other side, (Damon) Knox got into the game and played a lot. He hadn't played as much as we wanted him to this spring.
At the middle linebacker position I think we had some things we wanted to see out of TJ (Taiwan Jones) and (Jon) Reschke. Those guys have the ability to make some plays, but they're still a work in progress. Those two guys are battling for their job right now along with a third guy. I think overall it was good, but there's always room for improvement and I think that's where we are right now, we're just average. I think we can get a lot better experience-wise and that's the true teacher. We have to keep them on the field.
On Coach Jim Bollman...
Experience is the true teacher and even as a young coach, hearing about Coach Bollman from UVA, to Ohio State, to the NFL, he's been around a lot of great players that he's recruited and his ability to recruit. I think the key thing is his Xs and Os are strong. He has the ability to understand everything that's going on in a play and has the ability to execute. It's a great experience for me to be around a young man like this.
Green Team Head Coach Jim Bollman
Opening Statement...
Congratulations to the White team on winning. As is typical in most football games, the team that makes the fewest mistakes usually comes out on top. And the very first play of the game, we threw a big pick and gave them a chance to score. We fought back, though. I'm proud of the way that we fought back and kept hanging in the game, but as many times in a normal football game, when you have some opportunities in spite of the way we were fighting back, we had some opportunities to get in the red zone and put some points on the board and ended up having to attempt some field goals. And I think not executing in the red zone was bottom line, in spite of the mistakes, was probably the biggest downfall we had. But I think that thankfully no one was seriously banged up, and it was overall certainly a good spring.
On the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Damion Terry...
He certainly is a threat running the ball as you can see, as he scored that very first touchdown. And he's a movement kind of guy. For his age, he needs to continue to keep working on his passing game, which's he's doing, and steadily improving.
His opinion of how good this football team is right now, coming off a Rose Bowl win...
We all know the challenges to continue those kind of standards. I think that these guys understand that. I think they're working very hard at that. I think it's hard to put an exact figure on that. I know that we feel really good about our guys, and I think they'll have a great summer and we'll come back ready to get rolling. But football is a strange game. There's a lot of great things that happened to us last year, and we've made people aware of that, the guys on the team know that, and you have to continue the fight to stay at that level or even improve, depending on the position. But they're working on that.
On the play of the tight ends in today's game...
It looked like Josiah [Price] had a great day. He caught some nice balls and he's a proven player in our minds. He got a lot of snaps last year and did a lot of good things and he's had a good spring, as has Jamal [Lyles]. Jamal doesn't have quite the experience, but he's gaining and improving a lot as a blocker. That's the more important part for us as a tight end. Those guys are going to be pretty good receivers and that's an improvement overall for us on the offense. And I feel good about how they're blocking, and I'm telling you they're blocking better.
His opinion of defensive coordinator Ron Burton...
If you're around Ron very much, it's like being with `Mr. Enthusiasm.' Every day, I know he's going to get me flying and sky high. He comes in every morning and works out and gets things going. He had great enthusiasm which rubs off on the players, believe me, and he's pretty experienced, more than he's alluding to. He's been around the block too, and knows how to coach this game. He does a great job with his guy, technique-wise, and getting them to play hard. He works very hard on it, and he's certainly a great guy to be with, especially in all the wars we see.
Junior Defensive End Shilique Calhoun
On this being the most balanced team Kirk Cousins has seen at Michigan State...
I would definitely say that's true. We've got a lot of great competitors on offense and a lot of great competitors on defense. It's time for them to show their stuff. We've got high flyers, people who can come down hill and fill the gap and I would finally say it's at a point where offense is clicking early and so is our defense. It's going to be nice to see how the season starts out for us.
On if he thinks the score being tied almost to the very end is an indication of anything...
It definitely shows that the offense is doing well because now if we just combine the two teams together you can see how much damage can be done. It just shows how much we have on offense, our weapons, and what the upcoming season is going to look like.
On Demetrius Cooper...
It's funny because he came up to me at the end of the game and was like `I had more sacks than you.' I was like, `Really? That's how you're going to start off this conversation?' He played well today. He played really well and that just shows that he's a young guy that can get off the ball fast. He uses his hands and he wants to make plays. It was nice to see him out there getting some reps and showing his stuff on the Big Ten Network. I think he had three and I had two, but he played his butt of today and I commend him for that.
He's gained weight and he's understanding his role in the defense. He understands that defense is where his help is now. He's playing into the role. The skills that he is, his skill set he's using it within our defense. It's nice to see him out there and finally understanding and getting into gear.
On if his early career is similar to that of Demetrius Cooper's...
I feel like he's pretty good at run stopping. I watched him at film and l see him every day at practice. He's one of those young guys that uses his hands and that's something that you normally have to teach a lot of guys coming in here. He does it really well. You can always get better, but he is good right now for the age group he's in. He's playing up too. He's playing above his ability and what people think of him.
On if he was hoping the quarterbacks were live...
I was. I was a little upset when he told me Connor Cook wasn't live. Of course the guy I have to tackle isn't live. I gave him a couple taps, I kept him up though. I didn't want to hurt him, but it was great to be out there with those guys.
On not getting the steak dinner...
It's not even the food part. I just like winning. I'm a little bitter about losing, but I'm not mad because like I said it's all for the team. It's a team effort. It shows that when we finally get into season we're going to have a lot of weapons on offense and defense.
On the assessment of the team before spring and what it is now...
I think the biggest question for everyone else was our linebackers. Today we just showed that we have a lot of guys that can make plays. They were coming downhill making plays. It was a nice improvement to see those guys out there making those plays, showing what they had in front of as many fans as we had out there. It was nice to have those fans, to have that atmosphere that they can play in. Day in and day out that's what we're going to be playing in. Defensively wise I feel like we accomplished our goal for those guys to have confidence and experience.
On seeing Demetrius Cooper coming around on Damion Terry...
He's one of those guys that has a high motor and gets off the ball fast. It was bittersweet because I didn't want him to have more sacks than me, but I was proud that he was actually doing well out there and he was able to show. It's a big time for him right now, we consider this as a game and this was a big time game for him. He was able to come out and improve. For him to have more sacks than me, that hurt. I was proud.
On how nice it's going to be to have Demetrius Cooper and Lawrence Thomas...
The biggest thing that we had last year is we had depth. That's one of our key things for this defense is having depth, having guys who know what to do and being able to step in for older guys. Having him and LT (Lawrence Thomas) it just gives you confidence that we're going to have a lot of power going into fall. It gives me a lot of trust in those guys, seeing them out there playing today instills a lot of trust in me. Having them ready to come in when I need a blow, they're going to come on in and play just as hard as me.
On what Damion Terry can do to a defense...
He's one of those guys who's very versatile. He can throw the ball and he can take off running. That kind of puts the defense in shambles when a quarterback is willing to take off and run. You're kind of like, I didn't expect that. If he drops back a pass and he doesn't see anything, he takes off. It hurts a defense in a way. As a defensive end and as a defensive line you love a quarterback who stays in place, who stays in one place and doesn't want to move. To have him come in, I think he can definitely play this year and contribute to this team, but to have him be a part of this team it's only going to help us.
On if the five or six sacks were because of a mismatch in the offensive line...
I would say that that was one of the things we pushed for in our room. We were trying to get after it no matter who was in front of us. We didn't want to worry about the competition we were just worried about what we can do and how we can be better. We were trying to bring up our sack count because throughout the spring it wasn't as good as we wanted it to be. Today showed that we have the ability to make those big time plays and make those sacks.
On what Demetrius Cooper learned from him...
I mean he's a pretty smart kid. He learned a lot on his own. Coming in he learned a lot, especially hand placement and striking with the down hand. I would say that he's taught me a lot actually. A lot of things that he does on the pass rush, small little things that he does with his shoulders to get the offensive tackles off balance. You can learn from a lot of guys and I'm willing to learn from him just like he's willing to learn from me. He does a great job of shooting his hands. I feel like if he just keeps that separation it will work out well for him. Even at his size, I think he weighs about 245 now so even at his size if he just shoots his hands and keeps doing what he's doing he'll be fine. That's how he played coming in. If he just keeps shooting his hands and moving his feet nothing can stop him.
On Marcus Rush...
Don't worry. Rush-Daddy knows that I'm always on the side. I have faith in him. He's going to come back and show out definitely. We talk all the time, but he's definitely going to be a great contributor to this team.
On Jack Conklin...
I would say it was even. I'll give him the even tie today. It was good going against him. I feel like he's one of the best tackles in the nation, if not the best. Going against him day in and day out is nice. I was just trying to get him to move his feet, you know those tackles don't like moving their feet. It worked out for me. He won a couple times.
On Coach Narduzzi's goals...
I think the biggest goal he wanted us to have was just to play fast and play our best. I feel like we did that today. We came out, we were fierce. We kept our motor going. We didn't want to slow down. It could be 50-0 or 0-50, but we just keep playing. I feel like that's what we did today. I feel like he'll be proud of that. I look forward to hearing what he says.
On if this is the deepest defensive end core in the country...
Definitely. We've got a lot of guys. We've got LT (Lawrence Thomas) who can play. He's very versatile, so he knows multiple positions, but he's very strong at defensive end and so is Demetrius Cooper. Marcus Rush he was a freshman All-American, it just shows that we've got guys on this team who can play. We have a lot of depth at the defensive end position.
Junior Quarterback Connor Cook
On his overall performance...
I thought I was good besides the interceptions. Demetrius Cox had a great play on the first one and then the second, I think if I just threw it a little harder and a little higher, you know aimed outside more, then it probably would've been a completion or if anything, an incomplete pass. Those are two throws that I want to have back and I think besides those, I thought I played decent.
On his transition as the quarterback in the Spring game...
I think the main difference is just my level of fun. I think before I was just so focused on trying to be the best quarterback out there and so focused on trying to win each day, win each practice, win each scrimmage or Spring game but I was just so focused on myself and not really focusing on other things that I should've been focusing on.
On Damion Terry playing at different positions...
This was actually the first time that we ever had him at receiver. We just wanted to do something different for the Spring game and just try to mix things up, try to keep the defense on their toes and I think we did that.
On having Josiah Price as a tight end...
I am extremely comfortable with him; I think you saw from the first pass that I threw to him. I thought for sure I was overthrowing it and then he reached up and somehow made a great play but anytime you have a big body like that you know, who can go up and get it, who's not afraid to go up and get it, it gives me more confidence myself to give him the ball.
On how important the game was to him...
I was taking it extremely serious. I was treating it just like a normal game. The clock was running so we had to have a little bit more of a sense of urgency but I wanted to score, I wanted to win that game and I think that everyone else did too.
On what fans should look forward to this upcoming season...
Their burning desire to get better, I feel like everyone on our whole football team is just striving for greatness every day. You know for all the things we've accomplished, guys are more hungry and that starts with the older guys and the younger guys are following their lead so I think the biggest thing that you're going to see is how some of the guys who redshirted, who obviously go from playing in high school for four years, they're the guy, and then they come here and they redshirt, you know, their burning desire to get out there and to play. And I feel like we saw that a lot, especially with Gerald Holmes in the spring, Demetrius Cooper, they're some other guys that stand out and I think that's the biggest thing you're going to see out of the younger guys for sure.
On having a target on their back for this upcoming season...
If you have a target on your back then everyone is going to be gunning for you, especially because the expectations are so high. We know that and we're ready for it. We've been working extra hard this past offseason. We're going to keep working hard in the Fall camp but I think we have the guys and that we can continue to compete at a high level, continue to win, even if the target is on our back.
On working together with his wide receivers...
As a quarterback and a receiver - they have a relationship and each receiver is different. You have to get to know how each receiver comes out of their breaks, how they go up for balls and stuff like that. The main thing that you can do to get better as a quarterback and receiver is continue to work with each other and if we continue to do that, the sky's the limit for us. I'm going to be up here all through May even when it's optional, we don't have to be up here, all through June, all through July guys are going to be working out, QBs, receivers, because we got to continue to get better at that spot.
Senior Safety Kurtis Drummond
On the play of sophomore tight end Jamal Lyles...
He brings just more athleticism, a guy that can catch the ball and can run. The coaches did a great job with him making the transition to tight end, learning to play, getting more comfortable there. He's just getting his confidence. He just brings athleticism to the offense. He's not scared, there isn't a lot of fear in him. I tried bringing it, I looked up, and he still caught it. I was a little disappointed, but whenever you see a teammate not get scared, go get the ball over the middle in traffic, it gives the other players around him too to go across the middle and catch it. When you've got a guy like Lyles being able to stretch the field along with our great receivers, it's also going to open up more for (Jeremy) Langford, allowing him to run harder in more lanes with more guys out of the box. I just see him helping this offense out.
Is the offense looking better this year than it did last year?
At this point, yes. They already have their confidence. Guys are really competing with each other. They're a very deep offense group with a lot of linemen who can play, a lot of receivers who can play. I just see a lot of confidence in that group right now.
On how the defense will replicate last year's performance...
Our defensive goals are just executing, making no mental mistakes, flying around, and making plays. We look at each day as another day to get better. We are not exactly where we want to be as a complete team, so we use every day as a chance to get better. We just need to know what we're doing. We've got a lot of guys who can make plays, who can make plays consecutively. Guys in the spring are just trying to learn more, to take steps forward, and be consistent in tackling. Overall, today, from my standpoint, the young guys did a good job.
Sophomore Cornerback Darian Hicks
On the changes at the defensive starting positions...
I think the coaches have put guys in there for a reason. They're capable of filling that spot. You have to take it day by day and practice by practice. There can't be any drop off and you have to remain consistent. There is a battle between all the linebackers and same with the secondary. The competition is good at all the positions right now.
On what the biggest difference is between Darqueze Dennard and Darian Hicks...
He is a Jim Thorpe winner. I'm going to try and get the Jim Thorpe Award back to East Lansing. Me and Darqueze are both students of the game. We take what Coach Barnett says to us in the film room and apply it on the field.
On the biggest thing he's learned from defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett...
The biggest thing I've learned from Coach Barnett is how to stay cool. He has a thing called `being in phase and out of phase.' When you're in phase you want to stay cool and make sure you can catch the receiver without looking back at the ball. When a guy catches the ball on you, you need to have a short memory and get ready for the next play.
On how he felt the defensive backs played today...
I think we all did really well. Jalyn Powell had some good hits for the White team and Jermaine (Edmondson) had an interception, Kurtis Drummond had an interception then I had a pick at the end of the game. Demetrious Cox had a pick for the Green team, and Ezra Robinson did too. We all had a very productive day. We all showed up and showed the fans what's in store for Michigan State next season.
On how he felt his Spring went as a whole...
I think it's tough to say because I got hurt and had to miss a few weeks. I came back Tuesday and came back with the first team so I think that shows coach has trust in me. I think I've established myself as the leader for that position but we still have fall camp so we'll just have to see what is in store.
On the number of interceptions the defensive backs recorded today...
We always work on deep ball drills in practice. We learn to high-point the ball and that's what we all did out there today. We try and beat the receiver and not just wait to catch it but go up and get it.
On playing against his own team...
We are all one unit but when we get separated and you're on the White team and you're going up against Green you're still trying to win the game. The competition is really good.
Senior Running Back Nick Hill
On his senior season...
Knowing that this is my last spring is a shocker. I need to take everything in and make sure I get better in every aspect. I need to be consistent with every play, rather than having a big play here and there. I want to be someone the coaches can rely on to be consistent and that can make plays. Those were my goals for coming into this spring and for heading into next fall. I take the mindset into the game that I just need to go out there and do what I can do and nothing more or less. I make sure that I execute what I need to do.
On where the team is at coming off of last year's success...
Our mentality as a team, not just the seniors, is that the seniors are stepping up. Our mentality is that we still have a chip on our shoulder. Last year, going into the season, we were coming off a bad season and felt like we needed to prove something. We wanted to win the Big Ten Championship and go to the Rose Bowl and win it, and that is what we did. We have to act like we still have something to prove and know that we still have things to improve on. We are not going to be complacent and we are still going to work hard. The seniors are going to step up, and we as a group know that we need to have our best year. Last year's seniors left a legacy and a mark and that is what we are trying to do.
On potential of receiving more passes this season...
I think it was just breakdowns on the play today. There were four that were designed passes for me though. There was one that I dropped and one that I get held on over the middle by Taiwan (Jones). The other two were designed hitch routes for me, knowing that the corner was playing off, so I knew the ball was coming to me. Anytime a corner plays off we're looking to get that and Connor (Cook) executed the play. I think I hopefully have established myself as a guy that can do it all. I wanted to establish myself as a good pass protector that doesn't give up sacks and a guy that can run the ball and make plays. I wanted to make sure the coaches can trust throwing the ball to me.
On playing with a target on their back...
We played with a target on our back in 2011 and 2012. We have an even bigger target on our back now. We like being the team out front that people are trying to chase. At the same time, we're still chasing teams and playing with that chip on our shoulder.
On his assessment of the team now that spring is over...
I think from the beginning of the spring until now, we got better every day. At the beginning, the defense was still a little shaky, so I think that from day one until now we have made a lot of progress. Offensively, I felt like we were strong all spring. Our team went in the right direction this spring and we are going to continue to get better.
Redshirt Freshman Safety Jalyn Powell
On being picked first for the safeties...
It was a real big surprise to me. I didn't think I was going to go first, I thought I was going to go second or third maybe, it was a really big surprise. It means a lot, it means that my teammates think really highly of me and so I just came out here and tried to play my hardest for my teammates so I could show them that maybe they did make the right decision.
Do you feel like you proved them right in this game?
I did alright I just hope I made my teammates proud by the way I played today. I just want to help the team out and help us win, I just want to be able to help contribute, come out and play hard, make a lot of tackles.
On what he feels he needs to work on to be on the level of the other safeties...
I have to catch up a lot, just the mental part of the game getting to know the schemes, just trying to learn everything as fast as possible.
Coach Dantonio mentioned Isaiah Lewis talking about you, do you think of yourself as that kind of player?
I tried to learn as much as possible from Isaiah when he was here and tried to add to my game so yeah you could say that.
His feelings after making his first tackle...
It feels good, so much just went away after I made that first play because I had butterflies a little bit so yeah it feels better now. I was a little nervous when I first started out there today, I mean it's my first time out there actually playing at Spartan Stadium so I had to really get used to it but after the first couple plays I was alright.
On what the competition has been like at his position...
It has been tough, it has been coming out every day grinding trying to compete for that spot because everyone wants it and there could be a long shot that someone just breaks away. You just want to come out and practice everyday .
Do you think this was the day you came out and staked your claim?
I think today is a nice day for me to come out and show the Spartan nation that I'm trying to be on the field this year.
On getting settled out on the field...
After the first couple plays, after I made my first tackle I was pretty glad out there, before that I was kind of nervous just trying to get used to how it feels out there because I've never felt like that but after the first couple tackles I was alright. It was a little overwhelming at first, I've never played in front of that many people, it was just overwhelming for me at first but then I got used to it.
I think it should be a nice little battle going into fall camp, may the best man win.
When did it sink in that you were in the mix for the safety position?
Coming into the spring when I realized that Isaiah (Lewis) was leaving and I just felt like I had to take complete advantage of it. I believe I can come in and give the team some of the things that Isaiah has done, in time I think that I could really do it.
Former Michigan State and current Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins
Opening statement...
It's good to be back. Driving into campus last night, it felt like a lot of memories were coming back to me. It's good to be here. Looking over the roster and doing my homework to cover this game, I feel like this is as stable of a team that they've had in all my years of being around the program. There just aren't that many question marks and I think that's exciting. The bar has been set very high with the success last season. On paper right now, it seems like they have what they need to be able to continue the high standard. I'm also really excited about Flozell (Adams)' announcement and the North End Zone Expansion and being able to create a better game day locker room, because I don't know how many of you have been in there, but that locker room was tight. I think it was built to hold about 70 guys and Coach (Mark Dantonio) usually dressed everybody on the team, so you had over 100 guys in there on game day and that was really tight. That'll be a huge change for the guys on game day and for the recruits to be able to see. It makes a big difference to the overall experience.
On bragging on his program...
I said at my Big Ten luncheon speech that when I go somewhere, I hope to be accomplished enough that the Spartan fans, alumni, coaches and current players will look, follow me and say, `he's one of us; he's one of ours.' What I say to my current teammates on the Redskins when the Spartans come on is that I'm one of them. I probably wear Michigan State gear around the Redskins facilities more than anything else and the guys give me a little bit of a hard time about it, but I'm proud of where I come from and have great memories of being here.
I think the stability thing goes back to starting at the top with Coach Dantonio. He's recruited the right kind of people. He used to always say that you win with people. So at the end of the day, talent gets you somewhere, but you've got to get the right kind of people in and the wrong kind of people out. From the coaching staff he's assembled to the support staff to himself, they're just good people and there aren't people who are negative. They're people who are positive and are taking this program in the right direction. I think, as a result, that creates stability.
On Connor Cook...
I'll be the first one to say that I was the one who sat here last year and said that I thought Andrew Maxwell was going to be the guy. I was completely wrong. Connor (Cook) played his way into that starting role, and credit to the coaching staff for making the tough decision and the right decision to go with Connor. What makes him so special? I think we're going to find that out the next couple of years, but we started to see it at the end of last year. When you throw for over 300 yards in the two biggest games of the year as a sophomore in your first year starting - that says it all. You see the potential early in his starting career - you're going to play not to lose. You're going to allow the defense to win you some games and he was smart to play conservatively. You could see him grow up as the year went on and continue to take over the team more and more. That's what's exciting for fans is to know they got a taste of what it is at the end of last season and there's probably going to be a lot more coming these junior and senior years. What makes him special? I think it's his work ethic, his drive. I see on summer break, spring break, he's going to train, he's going to work and he's always hungry for more knowledge. Anytime you have that mentality, you're going to go places.
On joining the broadcast game...
I think everyone wants to do the broadcast thing because it is a fun opportunity. It's a good way to stay around the game. You don't have to put in quite as many hours or have quite as much stress as a coach does, so I think it's a good way to segue into a career that still gets you around the game. So I've got to stay sharp; I've got to keep getting better. I feel like I'm back redshirting on the scout team again, trying to learn the ways of a broadcaster, so I'll be picking Kevin Coogler's brain quite a bit today. I thought last year was really fun and really helpful, so I'll keep trying to do it every year they're willing to invite me back.
On where questions still lie for this team...
I think as you look up the middle of the defense, you have some questions with the interior defensive line, the middle linebacker position, as well as one of the safety positions. So from a quarterback's position, you look right up the middle of the defense, you say, `who's going to step up?' I don't think it's a matter of if we have anyone. I think it's a matter of who and how much experience they have. I believe that the coaching staff feels they've recruited talent at those positions and that they have talent there. I don't think that's a big question mark like you may have had in past years, it's just a matter of competition and letting things like the spring game play themselves out.
On Michigan State's growth as an elite program...
I think the question that Coach Dantonio has put forth to his players is `can we handle success?' The Bible talks about in Proverbs that you don't test a man with adversity, you really test him with success and see how he handles compliments and how he handles being patted on the back. That's how you really find out what a guy has inside of him. Can he stay motivated? Can he stay working among success? Knowing Coach Dantonio, knowing Coach (Pat) Narduzzi, knowing Coach (Ken) Mannie, I don't think they're creating a culture of contentment. I think the culture is always going to be the theme from last year, which is to chase it. When you look at the schedule and see Oregon on week two, Sept. 6, I believe it's at Oregon, it's hard to really get content because you have that challenge looming. You know you've got your work cut out for you this summer to get ready for that.
On watching Michigan State...
I do watch as much as I can. Obviously last year as the snowball kept rolling and each game kept getting bigger and more meaningful, I was watching even more closely, so absolutely. At the team hotel, they've got the TV on in our meal room while we're eating on Saturday afternoon and I'm always tuning into the games, getting score updates. My dad would text me and on the bye week, I would always get my high school friends together at the house and we'll watch the Spartan game. I still haven't been back for an actual game on campus. I went to the Rose Bowl, but hopefully I can get back here on a bye week for a home game.
On his plans for the future...
Two more years on my contract with the Redskins. I really do like it in DC. I like our new coaching staff. I think Coach (Jay) Gruden, from a quarterback's perspective, the way I see it, he knows what he's talking about. He knows quarterbacking. He's going to be great in my development as a quarterback. It's just the accumulation of knowledge gradually, trying to get better everyday and hopefully take a big jump here between year two and year three. I just want it to last as long as it possibly can. I'm not trying to become a full-time broadcaster too soon, so I'd like to play football for a little while.
On being patient until his day as a starter arrives...
I think you just understand that that's part of life, just being patient. Nothing is being handed to you and you have to earn your way. When you look at the stories of other starting quarterbacks in the league, a lot of these guys who are having major success now and who are going to the playoffs every year, things weren't handed to them right away. They had to wait their turn, pay their dues or earn their way. So I fully expect that is part of the process. I don't think I'm entitled to everything. I hope to continue to work hard and play well enough in practice that I get the opportunity to play in regular season games well enough to earn the opportunity with another team or back with the Redskins. So it's a constant challenge to stay in the league and keep building on what you've done previously.
On the potential unionization of NCAA players...
I don't fully understand it. I think it's really interesting. I think to push the NCAA to think about how we can do this better is a good thing, even if a union doesn't get formed or whatever they're trying to accomplish. To start to push people to ask the question, `How can we do this better? How can we make this a more fair and better process?' is a good thing. So I was happy to now put cream cheese on the bagels with the student athletes and see that step in the right direction, but somewhere you've got to draw the line between giving these guys millions of dollars a year or just giving them cream cheese on their bagels. I think there is somewhere in between that we can find a good balance.
I think it's an evolution. It's a process. I was happy to hear that we had a training table when I first got here, that we do get certain things. Obviously, I didn't know the economics behind the whole process and how it worked. Again, I think it's a gradual process. I don't think it's going to happen overnight. I think trying to push them to take steps in the right direction is a good thing. I think the NCAA recognizes that. I think they're looking at themselves and trying to do things better and better. I think the players have at least got to be happy with the move in that direction.
On the potential for player's families to have travel accommodations...
I remember sitting in my apartment the other day watching the national championship basketball game and thinking about how these parents are getting from Connecticut or Kentucky or wherever they're coming from. It's just an interesting dynamic, because now I do think about it from a professional perspective. I have gotten educated through the NFLPA about different issues, things going on that I was completely naïve to as a college player. You wonder if it's possible. I think just asking those questions is a step in the right direction. I think as a player, you'd love to have your parents' way to the game paid for, but those are all discussions that are complicated and it's not an easy thing to figure out. As a player, you'd love to see it head in that direction.
Flozell Adams Press Conference Transcript
Michigan State Athletics Director Mark Hollis
As you look at intercollegiate athletics, it's always a time for reflection and a time talking about the past and the future. Today is a day about the future. We just finished a youth clinic with over 1,200 young individuals that were learning the sport of football from our current roster of football players. This afternoon, you're going to see a spring game looking at the future, looking to next season and beyond, what the Spartans are going to look like. And next to me is the past and the future in Flozell Adams, a man of very few words, but very powerful words as we've had an opportunity to talk over time. And as a student athlete, whether you're a basketball manager or an unbelievable football player that had an NFL career, you reach a point in time where you look back, and you look back and reflect on things that had a positive impact on your future and on your life. And Flozell's mom Rachel obviously had a very significant impact, as well as Michigan State University, on all that he's accomplished.
So today, we're talking about the north end zone project; a gift of $1.5 million coming from Flozell to this facility, a facility that will not only impact football, but will be a gathering location for 25 sports for future Spartans, and I'll let him [Flozell Adams] tell you the reason, but many of you know the reason why that building is being built. With that, I'd like to turn it over to President Simon.
Michigan State President Lou Anna K. Simon
To Flozell, thank you for your generosity, for the role model that you have been as an individual with your passion, your dedication to youth, and the way in which you've represented Michigan State University so well throughout your career here and in the NFL, and now as a citizen of the world. So thank you very much.
I also want to acknowledge that when I sign any letter, whether it's the north end zone project or a scholarship in arts and humanities, it's `Thank you for your support of Team MSU.' A gift to one of us is a gift to all of us. The north end zone project is not simply important to athletics, it's important to the university because we share in the benefit of the new rooms that will be there, much like we've shared in the benefit of the Huntington Club on the fourth floor of this building [Spartan Stadium]. And so it is also important that we have symbols of giving back to the university that are very recognizable, and Flozell clearly fits that definition. And so for us as the institution, as well as for the project so important to sport, thank you very much and we look forward to having you back more often now as a citizen of the world.
Michigan State Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio
I'd just like to first of all thank Flo for his generous gift. You know, Flozell has been back every year for our golf outing. He's been a guy that his teammates have looked up to, literally, for quite some time, but he's always been there. He was there when I came in 1995, he had a tremendous career obviously in college, and then a phenomenal career in the NFL as well. But it's what you do with what you have, I think, that makes the ultimate difference. He's a giver, there's never been any question about that. This locker room is a locker room for the future as [MSU Athletic Director] Mark [Hollis] said. What's more important to me as we move through this are the people we put in the locker room. And the people we put in the locker room will build a future for Michigan State in so many different ways. I just want to congratulate him on his gift. It will make a huge difference not just to our current players but to our players that are coming in the future as well. It puts us on par with probably one of the best facilities in the country. So thank you so much.
On the new facilities fitting into the recruiting process...
When you have an opportunity now to bring [recruits] into a locker room like this and a game day atmosphere when they watch us play and they visit our players in the locker room before the game, maybe they see it after the game, they certainly see it in the recruiting room, it will just be a great gathering place, not just for our program, but for our entire athletic department. What we're talking about with a building of this magnitude can make a huge difference.
His thoughts on Flozell Adams...
He was extremely well-liked by his peers, by the other coaches, and when it came time to play, he strapped it on and played. I'm so proud of him. He said he always watches the Spartans. When the [Dallas] Cowboys played, we were always watching, and that was because of Flozell Adams.
Former Michigan State All-American Flozell Adams
With the Spartan end zone project, I thought it would be a good idea to make a donation to it so it can move forward with the program. Right now is as good time as any to do that because I'm sure you guys have seen the old locker room, it was pretty ancient. But everything that's being done right now with the locker room, the stadium, the program, the university, it's a big step forward to the direction that the university and Coach Dantonio, Hollis, and the President, that we need to go. I think it's a good time to do it now that it's being done, and we can appreciate the generosity of others, as well, that have contributed to this.
I felt that from the bottom of my heart that it was a good decision and it was going to help the past, present, and future. So to Coach Dantonio, to Hollis, to the President: thank you for doing a good job for helping us to move forward.
On the importance of his mother, Rachel, on the donation process...
My mother played a significant role in the process of me coming here [to play at MSU] because we went to a couple other schools and visited, and on the car ride home, she was like `I don't like that school.' I went to [the University of] Michigan and stepped in that locker room and felt the aura and was like `No way.'
She helped me and pushed me here and helped me make a good decision and I don't regret it at all. I'm happy I made the great decision, and her coming to every single game was always good for me because any player likes to see his mom in the stands that day, it's like something you've got to prove. And her waiting for me at the locker room at the end of the game was great. I always like to see my family after the game, and I can just picture it right now and how it was back then, 15, 17 years ago, and it's still a constant reminder of what I went through as a player here, and the contribution that's being made to the locker rooms is just making it better.
