Michigan State University Athletics
Football Media Day: Assistant Coaches
8/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - All nine of MSU's assistant coaches attended media day on Monday inside the Izzo Family Center at Spartan Stadium to preview the upcoming season.
Below are quotes from each of the assistant coaches.
Assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett
On the coaching transitions…
We're doing what we do. We were a team, and we are going to remain a team of how we do things even when Pat [Narduzzi] was here. Obviously, Pat did a good job. He did what he did and he is who he is, and we're who we are.
On team chemistry…
We feel like the chemistry is good. Coach [Dantonio] always talks about chemistry as a team, but it's also good chemistry among our coaching staff. We feel like we flow well together, and we're going to just keep it rolling.
On how sharing the role of coordinator…
Right now what we're doing is kind of spreading some of the things that Pat [Narduzzi] used to do. I'm still doing a lot with the passes. Mike [Tressel] always dealt with a lot of the runs; Coach Burton with the protections and things that that. That's all standard. We have people coming and forming together and coming up with a game plan. We are doing the same things we were doing, to be honest with you, it is some of the scripted things that may change a little bit.
Co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Jim Bollman
On early thoughts of the offense in fall camp…
Kind of what you would expect. The offensive line has a lot of veteran guys and they show that. It's always nice to have that. It is the same way with the tight ends. These guys have a lot of experience.
On running backs…
The running backs might have a less experience than their counterparts, but they're doing a good job. They're working at it. It's only three days into it, but someone's going to show up, we're confident about that.
On junior tight ends Jamal Lyles and Josiah Price…
Jamal is a guy that came over a couple years ago from defensive end. He was an offensive kind of skill guy in high school, so he has good ball skills; the evolution of learning to block in the same way with Josiah Price. Those guys were not in situations where they were blockers in high school, so they've done a good job learning the last couple years, and they're certainly a lot more proficient than they used to be.
Defensive line coach Ron Burton
On Lawrence Thomas' advantage by knowing how to play on the interior…
This is a young man that has been in the program going into his fifth year, so his experience has allowed him to be in a position to play more in his position. He can talk about his get off and things like that because he's a fifth-year player who knows more of the defense than a freshman or sophomore coming in. So that's what adds, too, is the fact that he's in his fifth year. He's had his third year in the defensive line so he understands the package totally.
On some of team describing themselves as being "nasty"
If that's what they think, then that's the way we need to attack it. We're a group that's going to deal with effort. We're a group that's always going to chase the ball, and if you want to use the word nasty. . . they have another name for it, too, it's a Spartan Dawg. You're going to be a Spartan, and a Spartan is a person who is going to be tough, tough minded, and always be on the field.
On sparring with offense improving defense
We're finding ways right now to work against them in drill situations. What a strong group as we have on our defensive side, we have it on the offensive side. It's only going to help us get better. That is true. Iron sharpens iron and so does a man sharpen a man. We're very excited about that.
Quarterbacks coach Brad Salem
On Connor Cook's ability to improve…
The neat thing with him [Cook] is he knows that there's improvement that needs to be made. If you're in college or NFL and you play this position, I think that you can always improve. It's so hard to be perfect â€" you're seeking perfection but you're probably never going to get there. I think things with him, decision making, just growing in the processes and making your way through the lead progressions. Let his feet take him to where his eyes need to be. Just accuracy and making decisions with the offense. It just never ends. The more he knows, the more he can do.
On managing expectations for Cook...
With quarterback, there's the physical component, but a lot goes into just leadership and how you carry yourself. And now it's different, too, because you're a senior, and the example you set â€" are they going to follow. How you carry yourself as you run out to practice, when you're just doing center-qb exchange at practice. That's just the details of this growth of being a human being, of not just that position but really every of the kids that go through our program. It's the process of growth and maybe more the demands of leadership as they get older.
Talking with Cook about leadership, etc..
We kind of talk about everything so it's just always there and always in our conversation. I think they know it comes as expected, as they get in that team room they keep moving closer to the front of the room. Seniors are in the front row, sitting in the back as a freshman you're a long ways away. All the sudden it's here, you're in the front row and things are expected. Like we've said, your seniors will have their best year.
On handling pressure...
We had a conversation about it the other day. Don't put the weight of the world on your shoulders. You got to be you. You have to seek to prove you're the quarterback and control what you control. Part of it is you don't want to come out of yourself and try to do too much.
Wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel
On getting this group ready for 2015…
It's not 2012 where everyone was new and learning the offense. This group is kind of in that Rose Bowl mentality. They knew the offense, they're making plays, they were catching the ball, but they need to take that next step. With this group I'm excited to see what type of yards after the catch they make. How much can they handle and put on their shoulders. Offensively, they know it. Anything that we throw at them with formations and plays, they can handle it pretty easily. It's just whether or not they can excel. That's what I'm excited to see. I think they can handle it. I sleep good at night knowing that each one of those guys we put in â€" and I can put a lot of guys in the game â€" I feel good that these guys are going to make plays.
On motivation seeing former teammates reach success in the NFL…
Tony [Lippett] is always around. Bennie Fowler is always around. They've been talking to these guys and they're a part of their growth. It's really exciting seeing these guys working to take the next step. They saw what Tony did, and they saw some of the mistakes Tony made â€" can they take that next step? That whole process for me is exciting as a coach because they're excited, and they want it. They want to make sure the team and the program move in the right direction.
On the strength in leadership during the offseason…
[AJ] Troup has really been a great leader. Of course, [Aaron] Burbridge and Macgarrett [Kings Jr.] have been getting better and better and better. DeAnthony [Arnett] has been great as a leader. I've got four seniors that I can depend on. I can rely on those guys to get things done the way I need them to get done on the field. I feel good that even if I bring a young guy in, these guys can get them in the right situation.
Linebackers/special teams coach Mark Snyder
On the linebackers' ability to run sideline to sideline…
There's a lot of speed on this defense. There's no doubt about that. The kids play fast and they're allowed to play with the potential because they're a smart group.
On joining Michigan State's staff…
I'm here to help. I'm here as a sounding experience. I do have experience in the Big Ten, and have been in a couple different conferences. I've seen the new trends. I just left a school that's very trendy offensively. I don't know how much has made its way to the Big Ten, but it's coming.
On his expectations for the linebacking corps…
Play fast and play with passion. That's what Michigan State's always done. They play with energy and passion. I love watching them on TV. They're fun to watch, and that's what you want.
On rooms for improvement…
You're never going to be perfect. There will always be room for improvement. We just watched film from today's practice. There is room for improvement in every period we went through today. The one thing about these guys is that they come to work. We'll come back tomorrow and the liabilities we had today, these kids will work on those liabilities.
On true freshman punter Jake Hartbarger…
He has tons of potential; tons and tons of potential, and a big leg, but he needs to do it under pressure.
On junior Tyler O'Connor working on his punting…
He's a gamer. He probably doesn't have the leg Jake (Hartbarger) has, but nothing fazes him. He's a ballplayer. He brings an added dimension, too. He can throw it and run it. Maybe not the potential (like Hartbarger), but he has other ingredients.
Offensive line coach Mark Staten
On Jack Conklin…
I think his desire to be great is the thing that sets him apart. Some people have the athleticism that Jack has but they don't have that desire. Jack has both the athleticism and the desire to be great. He's not afraid to make a mistake in practice, but I'm constantly bringing stuff to the offensive line that might be a little new and he's one of the first to try it out.
On going one-on-one in practice…
It is unusual. I think it helps because you've got to bring your A-game everyday. You'll get ones-on-ones and you'll get ones-on-threes sometimes, but we did a lot of ones-on-ones and they talk to each other afterward. They're not just standing around and because of that they're getting better. We constantly talk in the o-line room because (the d-line's) success is our success.
On the potential future pros on the o-line…
Brian Allen, Jack Allen, Jack Conklin, Kodi Kieler, Donavon Clark, you can't forget about Clark. He's a 320-pound lineman who's started for three years.
On if he thinks the whole starting line could play in the pros…
Absolutely. No doubt in my mind, and all of them (on the d-line) have a chance. You can't just continually beat the heck out of each other because then it becomes detrimental. I think that's the best thing I've seen in these three days is that we're practicing smarter.
Co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Tressel
On gaining confidence in game-making decisions…
There is a little bit of feel involved, no doubt about it. . . . You need to try not to worry about what anybody else says, but of course when you make a call that turns out to be a mistake you want to learn from it. Just like players, sometimes mistakes are going to be made. Every one of our defenses are sound. You're not going to be in a situation where you make a bad call that it'll result in a touchdown, but you want to make the best call for the guys in that situation. I'll learn from it, but certainly try not to worry about what someone says after the fact because hindsight is 20/20.
On different feeling of being a coordinator…
We'll see on game day. On the practice field, I'm probably running around a little bit more. During individual periods and things like that, I'm over at the D-line one minute, and then I'm over with the linebackers the next. I'm scrambling around a lot in terms of getting from point A to point B.
On feeling "gravity" towards to linebackers…
Gravity pulls me to the linebackers, no doubt about it. I really do enjoy working with the defensive line. That's a good group of players and a good group of guys. I've enjoyed that. Then you have Coach Barnett, Coach D with the DBs, you don't feel like just as much of a draw there because there's two really good coaches working with those guys.
Co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Dave Warner
On camp thus far...
It is hard to get a true evaluation of the guys without putting pads on, but we put the pads on today and banged around a bit. The guys were right around where we expected them to be.
On ones and twos getting reps before freshmen...
In practice, we always want to give the young guys a chance so they can have an opportunity to gain some attention. As we move forward, that is something that becomes less and less, but right now it is what we have been doing. That is how guys get in a position to get more reps later on.
On the possibility of playing a true freshman...
I don't know if you change how you coach a true freshman that may start, but you spend more time with him. He will get more reps early on. Any older guy in that position doesn't need as many of those early reps that the younger guy needs. That is a good situation to have. To have confidence in the older guy that he already knows what to do and has had hundreds of those reps, and now you give that younger guy a chance to get in there.
On having one premier back...
I think it is different for every guy. I don't know how quickly it can take place. A couple of years ago, it was the third or fourth game into the year when that actually happened. I think certainly you want consistency. You want the guy that will consistently gain the extra yards for you, while at the same time have the ability to take it the distance. We also want guys that are sound in the passing game with protection, since that is a lot to what we do offensively. It is a process, and we will see how it shakes out in a couple of weeks.
