Michigan State University Athletics
Football Media Day: Offense
8/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State held its annual media day Monday afternoon in the Izzo Family Media Center inside Spartan Stadium.
Below are quotes from the offensive players that spoke at media day.
Sophomore offensive lineman Brian Allen
On his brother, Jack Allen...
He's relentless. I think that's the word I would use. He keeps coming and brings a lot every play. He doesn't take plays off. Every play you have to be ready to get all of him and not every guy is used to it.
On how practicing against MSU's d-line makes them better...
They're supposed to be the best d-line in the country. We're working together and iron sharpens iron. We're going against the best, so regardless of if we lose, we're getting better. That's what it's going to be like in a game, if not easier, so going against them every day prepares us.
On putting on the pads at practice...
It was good. Coaches are still a little cautious because we don't have the legs on yet, but once Wednesday comes it will turn up a little bit more.
Senior offensive lineman Jack Allen
On summer conditioning...
All summer the o-line has been working hard. We've been running a lot. I would say this summer we've run more than we have in past summers. A lot of hard work, really.
On the team's improvement...
Trying to perfect your craft day in and day out. For a guy like Connor (Cook), just getting more and more comfortable with the receivers and starting to gel.
On the motto of "Reach Higher"...
For the players it means our goal or standard, 10 or 11 wins. We need to push a little more, get to that (Big Ten) championship game and do what we didn't do last year. It was great to go to the Cotton Bowl, it was a great experience, but that's not where we wanted to be.
On what they need to do to reach their goals...
I would say more film, stuff like that, where you're not making as many mental mistakes. Preparing for the guys you're playing, knowing what they're going to do.
Senior wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett
On this offseason...
Very challenging. I'm really just pushing myself to the limit in everything that I've done. I'm just trying to put myself in a good position. You never know when football is over. Period. Being consistent and focusing on every aspect of my game.
On leadership in the upcoming season...
We're going to push each other, and that's what we want. It's a senior-led group and we want to be great as a whole. We want to be great as a unit just like last year, and the year before and years back. We want to be that same group -- and better. No setbacks.
On senior quarterback Connor Cook...
Connor is the best quarterback in the country, we feel. Every day he's been getting better. He's a hard worker and he wants to be the best. He doesn't want to take a back seat to anyone. It's up to us. Running backs and tight ends -- we have to make him look good. Connor is the best in the country.
Senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge
On going against the defense...
We have one of the top defenses in the country, so going against them every day is making us better. We're making them better, too.
On one receiver stepping up...
I don't feel like any of us are unproven. We all have experience, and we've all put in time with Connor [Cook]. We'll be good.
On progress with foot injury...
I'm feeling good right now.
Senior offensive lineman Donavon Clark
On having Connor Cook back for one more season...
It feels good. He and I have grown up these past four or five years so it's always good to know you have your starting quarterback from last season.
On the MSU running game...
It looks pretty good. We've got to make sure that we make holes for these guys to make sure they can run through them.
Junior offensive tackle Jack Conklin
On looking forward to this season...
The bonds that we'll make as an offensive line. I'd say we're one of the closest units on the team. When everyone's dead tired, and we don't think we can push farther, the bonds we create as a group that keep us going. It's lifelong friendship that we create, it's great to feel that way with a group of people that you can trust everybody and rely on them in tough situations that the season will bring.
On motivation and focus...
This year will be the first year for an all line unit award. This will be the first year for a whole line central line unit in the nation. That's one thing now that's one main focus, we want to be that group. That's what motivates us every day to get out there and do that extra work and stay in film a little longer. It's motivation but you have to stay focused and you can't look ahead. You have to take one game at a time.
On being serious on field and goofy off...
I think that's the part that keeps us sane is that relaxing. We're so in depth during the game, during practice we're so edged that by the end we need that relax, sit back and throw some jokes at each other and laugh.
Senior quarterback Connor Cook
On expectations for this year...
Looking at the last couple of seasons, we won the Rose bowl, the Big Ten Championship and the Cotton Bowl, but we want to reach higher and that means reaching the college football playoff and another conference title. We want to go somewhere this program has never gone before, and that would be the football playoff.
I have been going back and watching film. I watched a lot of my games from 2014 and working on knowing where to go with the ball and doing a better job pre-snap. I need to do better on my post snap reads, and getting the ball out of my hands as well.
On being a third-year starter...
I think in my third year I am just smarter. This is my third year starting and fifth year in the same system. I know where to go with the ball both pre and post snap. I am making better decisions and not forcing things on early downs. I am just more comfortable with the guys and having a relationship with the coaches. I would say being more comfortable is the main difference now than a couple of years ago.
On the receiving corps and go-to target...
We will spread the ball for sure. I see this year being more like 2013 when we had multiple guys step up. We had a bunch of guys get hot at different points of the year and contribute. That is how I see this season being. We are just taking it day by day and see what guys are capable of. Guys are stepping up and making plays. Like I said before, in 2013, there was no go to guy, but guys stepped up. I can see this year being like that with four or five guys that can all play well.
On national exposure and high expectations...
You have to embrace it. I'm not doing anything different. I will keep going out there, working hard and getting guys involved. I want to have a good relationship with the guys on offense and defense, and just be a guy that anyone can relate to. I want to set the tone and be a leader by example on and off the field. I'm someone that comes to work everyday and works his tail off.
On teammates calling him the best quarterback in the nation...
That is a great compliment that my teammates would think that. I don't know the answer to that though. I just want to win every game that I play in. I just want to go out there each and every week to compete. That is my main goal, to compete each week to win games and win a championship.
Sophomore running back Gerald Holmes
On what Reaching Higher means to him
Personally, I believe that reaching higher means when you set a goal, you don't want to be mediocre, you want to reach higher. Most of the time, if you don't set a higher goal than what you want to do, you always fall short. Reaching higher is something that you constantly want to do because you never want to be the same.
On confidence for taking over
You come in wanting to be that guy but when you see people going through the same thing you went through, you want to see him get what he deserves.
Junior offensive lineman Kodi Kieler
On senior offensive lineman Donavon Clark...
I know what he brings to the table. I know what he's really good at, and if I have to do something a little different, I can do it. I can push myself hard.
On what coach Mark Staten brings to the table...
He wants to make sure everyone knows every play. He will ram that into our heads. He will spend extra time with guys to just make sure everyone knows what to do in every play. He does a great job.
On what reach higher has meant to him approaching the season...
For me, it's been about taking the next step as a player and as a team in our ability. We've been to the BCS games, and we want to go to that college playoff. We want to be able to show the country that we can keep working and not take a dip like we did in the 2012 season. We want to push through all of that.
Senior wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr.
On DeAnthony Arnett...
DeAnthony is probably one of the quickest dudes I've ever seen. He is very quick. He runs great routes, he catches the ball, he's fast and he's just a great player. He keeps me going hard every day and I do the same for him.
On if he feels Connor Cook is better this year...
There's always room for improvement. Connor's a great quarterback but as we all know he still has things to work on. It's the little things with Connor. He's probably the best quarterback I've ever had in my life.
On the explosiveness of the offense...
We have a lot of explosive guys on the offense, myself, DeAnthony (Arnett), Aaron Burbridge, anybody can step in and make a big play at anytime. Whoever is out there is going to make plays.
On how much better he feels he's gotten going against MSU's defense in practice...
I feel it's a grind everyday because when you come to practice you know you have to be on point with everything. There's a lot of competitiveness out there and going against a No. 1 defense out there everyday is a big advantage for me and the other receivers. Just competing against those guys everyday just makes us better.
Red-shirt freshman running back Madre London
On team being competitive...
I knew there was going to be a lot of competition. We have a lot of people fighting for positions. Everybody is making plays out there.
On how teammates helped him get better as a player...
They taught me a lot. Staying humble and keeping my head up. When I redshirted, I got down on myself and everything. Watching film with them and making plays for them, it taught me to never give up and just keep working towards your goals.
On redshirting being a blessing in disguise
No doubt. If I had played last year, I probably would have had minimum carries, and I would have had three more years left. I learned a lot my first year.
Junior tight end Jamal Lyles
On the depth at tight end...
Paul Lang is one of the better blocking tight ends. So we're really deep. All five of us can really play.
On being able to play fast...
If you know what you're doing, you can play fast. If you're hesitant, it can't happen, it'll slow you down. The more you know, the faster you can play.
On his 40 time...
Coach Bollman timed my 40 a couple months ago, and I ran it faster than I did when I was 250, and I'm 260 right now. I feel way stronger with better footwork. Coach Bollman said it was really fast for a big guy.
Senior fullback Trevon Pendleton
On how camps is going thus far... It is going great. Everyone has a lot of enthusiasm and is bringing a lot of energy. We got after each other a little bit today. You can tell we have high expectations on offense and defense. We are holding ourselves to high standards. It is nice having people back that have made plays for us in the past. We are pushing faster this year and expecting more.
On offense's expectations...
We want to minimize the mental mistakes and unforced errors this year. It helps us get a jump start on those goals when we have a lot of guys that have run the plays and have handled the ball.
On the difference from last year to this year...
Experience is the major difference. Last year, we had a lot of experience, but this year we bring back even more people and starters. A lot of people have played football for us like (senior wide receiver) DeAnthony Arnett and (senior wide receiver) AJ Troup, who didn't start, but made plays for us in the past and will continue to do so this year.
Junior tight end Josiah Price
On reaching higher...
As a team, we've been so close. We've been top-five the last two years, so what does that entitle? Well, hopefully getting into those top two, top four, at least, with the playoff this year. For me personally, that's how I live my life. Reach higher in my faith, reach higher in my family, reach higher in school, reach higher in football. I think if you ever become satisfied in life, is when you're going to get passed up and things are going to take you over. So always strive to be better.
Junior receiver R.J. Shelton
On the receiving corps...
It's going to be a competition. We've got guys who can run the ball, whatever the team needs. We put the team first here, and whatever the team needs, you've got to sacrifice and do it for the team. The chemistry is going good. Anyone can make plays. Our leading guys can make plays. The guys on the back end can make plays.
On the offense...
Games are won in the trenches. We're very extremely blessed and fortunate to have the offensive and defensive lines that we have, and we've got guys that can back it up on the outside as well, especially with Connor (Cook) throwing it. Especially with (Aaron) Burbridge, (A.J.) Troup, (Macgarrett) Kings, myself, and we've got running backs as well. So it's a team collaboration, especially on the backside for the defense.
On the goals for the season...
The number one goal is staying healthy through fall camp and then take every game one step at a time. The goal is to make it to the playoffs, get to the Big Ten Championship game. Obviously with the bowl game win we had, it was a great moment right there, but then it stopped, because we know we want to go to higher places and reach higher and making sure we go right back to work.
On what last year's leaders taught him...
The big one was leadership and maturity on the field. Don't play around and knowing when to get serious. Knowing your responsibility and playing their position, you want to be just like them.
On if contending for starting position will make him work harder...
I always want to work harder. It's another step into getting the job. You work hard each day no matter what.
Senior wide receiver AJ Troup
On battle at the wide receiver position...
Coming out of practice, obviously we're only the third day into fall camp, but our tempo is good and our attitude is positive. We're just out there trying to compete every day and make plays.
On relationship with Connor Cook...
Connor and I are actually roommates, so we get to go back home and talk about what worked and what didn't work. Connor and I kind of have a special connection, but he's putting in a lot of work with the other receivers as well.
