Post-Game Quotes: Spring Game

Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications

4/13/2019 5:46:00 PM | Football

Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio

Opening Statement…
First off I want to say, the crowd, everything out there today from the Izzo Legacy walk to our youth clinic to the game itself I thought it was a great outpouring of Spartan Nation a little bit. The crowd was into a little bit, so that was good to have some crowd noise out there. The wind was a factor there's no question about that, I thought I was going to blow off to the side there a couple of times. Spring practice is still going; we'll have our final practice on Tuesday which will be number 15. We try to play everybody in the spring football game, which is what we did to give everybody an opportunity to do something in that football game. I think it's important because everybody has to bring value, to have that opportunity to play in front of a crowd, to put a little more pressure on them as players. As far as what exactly happened out there, we'll watch the film to better disseminate what's going on, but I thought (Brian) Lewerke played well, I thought he threw the ball effectively into some tight windows in the wind. Guys made some good catches, had a couple of balls that were dropped. I think (Rocky) Lombardi could take away a couple of negative players there in terms of what went on with the, I think he dropped a snap or something, but I thought he threw the ball effectively as well. We ran the ball, we'll seen how we can ran the ball based on the film and what's going on. Defensively we're a hard team to run against and we'll maintain that as we go.

On the defensive performance…
First of all, I hope they continue to play like that. We play a lot of press coverage, we play a lot of quarters coverage, and a lot of man coverage so that's not earth shattering, people know that about us. The windows are going to be tight to throw the ball into. I thought Josiah Scott made an outstanding play, really made a couple of outstanding plays. They got the ball off of people. When you're the head coach you're sort of in the wind, literally, a guy makes a good play on defense or makes a good play on offense, you have to just value that as a good football play. So that's what we'll do, we'll watch the film. The main thing I always want to do in these spring games is, it's an active game, we're not tagging off there, we're not at the end of the game putting in our ones a little bit. Dante Razzano broke his arm so he's out, but that's the only real injury we had of significance. I think Jeslord Boateng will be okay. I think the main thing you want to do is try to be as crisp as we can. In ways, it's an opportunity to take steps forward and there's value in this scrimmage. I think there is value in it because we can evaluate and say 'Hey did you block this guy?' or 'Did you tackle that guy?'.

On if he saw Brian Lewerke throwing the ball with zip and if that's an important sign…
Yeah, I think so. Especially with the way the wind was blowing out there and I don't know which way it was blowing which is the crazy thing. It was blowing across the field, back and forth, everything, it was all over the place. I thought he threw the ball effectively, as I said I think he's done that throughout the spring. His arm strength is good, doesn't mean it's going to be on the money all the time, but his arm strength is good and he looks healthy. I hope his confidence is there, that's what I plan on and it seems to be based on how he performed today. Quarterback is such an inspired position, you need to inspire people, it's not just you having confidence in yourself. I don't care if you're the one, two, three, or four, you have to inspire other people and your body language has to say so. I think he'll be ready to go.

On how today should help Brian Lewerke's confidence moving forward…
Well when you throw the ball well, you're connecting with receivers, and making some plays I think that's great for you. That's always a practice-to-practice thing. Again you go back to how good we are on the other side of the ball and it's not just the quarterback all the time, you have to separate on offense with your receivers, you've got to protect the quarterback, so there's a lot of things working. As I said to our players today, if could talk to an offensive lineman and a defensive back you wouldn't even know that they're playing the same game based on what they're being taught and how complex the offensive line play is compared to how to play corner. It's two different, very different positions. It all goes hand-in-hand, it really does. I'll continually say that football is a game of execution and you have to pass protect, you need to have a rhythm throwing the ball, you have to throw to the right place. Same with running the ball, you have to defend it, gotta have a pass rush, those types of things. It all goes hand-in-hand, but again I go back to the totality of the scrimmage and I think it's a positive. You have to play in front of people, there's crowd noise out there, you couldn't hear out there so there was enough crowd noise to create that. We've got young guys who haven't played very much too so that was a good experience for them.

On the performance of the running backs…
Well I think one of things we want to look at is who can we hand the ball off to 200 times. Who is that person? I keep asking that question as I go. You see some spurts from different guys. I think Anthony Williams gives you a guy who reminds me a little of Jeremy Langford. I thought Connor Heyward hit a big one on the screen, no question he can catch the football. I think Elijah Collins has done some things, I think La'Darius is a big powerful back, Weston (Bridges) got in there some too. Again, I think that's a work in progress to be quite honest with you. They've had good moments and we've run the ball more effectively this spring.

On what he likes about running back Anthony Williams…
He's quick, he's got a good first step, and good cut-back ability. I think he's got good vision, he can catch the ball well. He's just learning the position, he's not topped out, he's just had 14 practices so he's still learning. Really all spring he's shown things that, like I said, remind you of Jeremy (Langford) a little bit in terms of his ability to cut back.

On AJ Arcuri's play and the offensive line overall…
You know, again, I'm just trying to keep my footing out there and not get blown away so it's tough really to evaluate your offensive line. I don't think, we really didn't bring max pressure and things of that nature on defense. I thought AJ did pretty well but again, you got to watch the film.

On the evaluation of the set up of the scrimmage...
Any scrimmage I'm always going to create three red zone opportunities or sudden-change opportunities for the offense, to make the defense play with their back to the wall in the red zone. That's important that they do that. They have to be able to roll up and play. Consequently, you have to be able to take advantage of the red zone when you have that opportunity. We try and make it like that; I don't want the ball being punted back-and-forth the whole scrimmage so there's six plays and on so we're going to play six-straight plays and on. We've done that; We could've split it up and had the scrimmage, but then you just can't put guys - You just can't alternate guys in and play around with the different scenarios, in other words, play two's with one's. We try to mix it up in there, give everyone an opportunity to play, which I think is just as much important as anything; Let them show what they've got, continually show them on film, as I said earlier in the week. I think we ran 90-plus plays out there, which is a lot for a spring game in two-thirds of a game. They're getting work and they're getting opportunities to do what they can do and then we can have an opportunity to evaluate.

On what he saw from some of the younger defensive guys that are trying to work their way in…
Well I think we have good young players. Kalon Gervin is a guy that I think has made his move a little bit. Shakur Brown has had a good spring as well, the other corner. Those guys are both - I feel like they can both play at this level and be successful; They can really run, good ball skills, things of that nature. Zach's (Slade) a guy that, you know, we have a couple of defensive ends that are out, but I think he's a guy that can make plays and get involved. He's going to be a red-shirt freshman as well, so he's a young player. We're certainly solid up the middle with our returning guys and they are there on the edges but we should be pretty good - Just got to stay healthy.

On what the final spring practice will be about…
We're going to work. We're going to work and we're going to go out there and do certain situations, maybe we haven't experienced or things we need to get better at. We're going to try and take all the situations that we deal with in the game of football and rep those things in practice so we look back and check the box and try to create some different situations that maybe we haven't seen. I think it's important that our guys - We have an opportunity as much as anything to watch this film and put an evaluation process. So many times in the past, the spring game comes, boom you're out, you leave recruiting, you don't get the chance to evaluate it and sit down and watch it with your team and your players; It's just sort of on to the next thing. We're taking this opportunity to continue spring practice so as much as anything we can evaluate the film and look forward to next practice and just lead it. Lead that practice moving forward. It will be important and good to keep pushing.

On the receiving group…
I think Laress Nelson has had a good spring and then C.J. Hayes, a guy that can really pluck the ball out of the air, he's getting better and better and better; Those two guys. Tre Mosley's a guy that's an incoming guy that's going to be a very good player but again he's just getting his feet on the ground so when you're trying to measure that, you're really trying to play against top players in a very speed-related environment where things are happening very fast; You've got to be able to adjust and understand things conceptually. Those guys I would say are the next guys rolling up there, they've done some things - Other than the guys you already know about.

On the tight-ends…
I think (Matt) Dotson's had a good spring thus far. I'm not sure what he did today, I don't think he had any catches today. Noah Davis is back healthy it looks like so that's a positive thing. Trent Gillison is a guy that continues to come on, he's a fresh red-shirt freshman so he's young and still learning to play at this level but I think he's got talent. Matt Seybert has had a solid spring as well and (Max) Rosenthal's working in there as well. We're using about five guys at that position and they're getting an opportunity to play in there with the one's. Tight-ends these days are becoming positions of, you don't see the traditional tight-ends anymore, and that's the case with our guys as well so there's more guys that are flexed out, emotion guys that are off the line.

On Luke Campbell…
Luke's had a good spring, I think he's reaffirmed himself. I think Tyler Higby and him are sort of battling and both guys have been starters for us and have had their good moments and they've had some other moments that have been tough. That's a positive thing in my mind. You've got guys back with a lot of football experience; They've played a lot of football, they should be good - That's my expectation. They should both be good.

Michigan State defensive tackle Raequan Williams

On how the game went…
I loved the way we performed. I loved the energy we brought to the spring game. I am very content with the way we played. I'm also excited about the young defensive tackles. They went out there and balled out. They had fun and looked good. It felt good to see them play like that as a veteran.

On being the anchor of the defense…
I think that it's everything. It's the first thing that everybody on the defense sees. We are the first line of defense. The way we play is how the whole defense plays in my mind, so we try to bring it every single play.

On individual goals…
Individually, I think I need to get better at everything, so that's just my mindset. I can get better at everything, and my potential is limitless, so I'm going to work on everything. As a defense, we want to win, as an offense we want to win, and as a team we want to win.

Senior Defensive Linebacker Joe Bachie

On what he saw from the defense today…
It was good. It was good to see our young guys in at the end of the game, that's been one of our goals all spring and for this year, so it was good to see some young guys step up a little bit. We had a couple guys get dinged up a little bit, so that's always tough to see in a spring game, but they're going to be alright. Overall, I think the defense played well.

On if anything from the offense that threw off the defense…
No, nothing today. They kept it simple, we kept it simple, it's a spring game. Throughout the spring I was able to tell it was a little different, with the offense line I could see their improvement, Brian's arm is back which is a great thing to see and now we're just still trying to find that guy out there on the outside. We had Felton Davis, so we need one or two guys to step up this year and I'm excited, I think our offense is going to be firing this year.

On if he is ready for fall…
Yes, spring (camp) is almost over, we close it on Tuesday, but I'm ready for the fall.

Senior Quarterback Brian Lewerke

On Coach Dantonio talking about needing to inspire and what he thinks he meant by that...
I think he meant to be positive and enthusiastic.

On if a day like today gets him itching for the fall...
Definitely, I want to play football. We still have a lot of time before that starts but I can't wait for fall.

On feeling healthy and if still in process of recovering and how he felt today...
I would say it went very well. It felt great.

On how close he feels to 100 percent and if not there, how long until he is there...
I feel that I'm close to 100 percent. I've said that to a couple of guys throughout the past week.

Junior Cornerback Josiah Scott

On being an NFL prospect and making some NFL type plays today and what it's like going into the season knowing that the target is on him...
The pressure is something I want. I've trained for this my whole life, it just comes naturally.

On attacking the classroom the way he attacks the football field and where that comes from, and people bragging about Josiah the student in the classroom as much as they do Josiah the NFL prospect...
It comes from my parents and brothers. I have three older brothers and they've done this so many times before me. I would watch film of my older brothers and get coached and inspired by their drive and passion.

On if he is as proud of his accomplishments in the classroom as he is on the field...
Yes, it has been instilled in my family to work hard at anything we do, whatever you put your mind to just attack it.

On any adjustment period after going through injury to get back on football field...
Yes, I had to take it slow at first, kind of slower than what I wanted. At the beginning when I first got hurt he wanted to play hard and the coaches had to dial my workouts back and let the injury heal. When it did fully heal, I was able to play how I wanted to again.

On his thoughts on the rest of the defense and younger guys stepping up…
We gave up a couple of explosives, but for the most part, we didn't give up many big plays down field. Mostly 15, 17-yard gains down field, if any. They played real well today. They did what was asked of them and what we've been practicing all spring. They stepped up and did a really good job.

Senior Defensive Linebacker Tyriq Thompson

On what the mindset in practice is…
Every day in practice we come with a mindset like it's a game. We're attacking the ball, we're running to the ball, just hustle man, bringing it every single day. So, that's what kind of makes us the type of defense we are, just the relentless attitude we have.

On it being his fifth year and being the old man of the group…
Man don't go there (laughing). No, but I mean it's definitely been a journey, there's been a lot of growth you know personally since day one. Just the amount of knowledge about football that I have accumulated over the years. Working with coach Tressel (Mike), playing alongside Joe Bachie, playing with all those guys, Darien Harris, Riley Bullough over the years, so just learning from those guys has really helped my game out a lot.

On some young guys who have opened up some eyes…
Well, with the linebacker group definitely Jeslord Boateng, Noah Harvey, Brandon Bouyer-Randle, those are three guys that are definitely coming along and making big strides. Chase Kline, you know he's really surprised a lot of people. We've got some good young guys definitely in that linebacker room and they will continue to develop.

On if it's fair that the defense knows the offense's plays…
You know it's just like during the season. During the games you study film, you know we're playing against the offense every day and every day they are playing against us. So, you kind of get familiar with what the other team is doing, so certain things out there it's like 'okay I know they're going this way, or I know they're running this play,' so yeah.

Senior Wide Receiver Darrell Stewart Jr.

On spring game signaling end to spring ball...
We got one more practice, so spring ball isn't finished then we going in the lab Monday to look at some things that we can clean up so that we can be prepared for the season.

Thoughts about Brian Lewerke's performance today...
Everything was good this spring game. He's always looking magnificent, I do feel he gained his confidence back and that's one of the biggest things that he said he wanted to work on and he looked amazing like he always do.

Sophomore Quarterback Rocky Lombardi

On team's performance today...
I thought we made some big plays, put up some points overall so it's good to see that production on the off-line and on offense and then it's a good opportunity for us to get out in front of the fans to give us a game like situation before we go into fall camp.

On his individual performance...
I thought I did alright, I made some big plays and completed some passes but still need to do some improvement. I missed a couple of throws that I shouldn't have, but I'm going to clean it up and get ready for fall.

Junior Running Back Connor Heyward

On what the offense has been working on this spring...
Spring is the time for everybody to get better. This spring was a little different with the offensive changes, different offensive schemes and terminologies. I think this spring was helpful not only just the running backs, but the whole offense.

On Coach Dantonio wanting to hold back some today while (Offensive Coordinator) Coach Salem wanted to do more...
I think it was a little bit of both. Coach Salem didn't really want to show too much. It's the spring game, you know, some schools are going to look at it, but you've just got to keep to basics. Outside zone, inside zone, power, a couple down field throws. You don't want to show everything. We have some new stuff, but most stuff you've got to mix the new with the old.

On if this spring game can be something to rely on with him and Anthony (Williams, RB #34) with spreading to the outside...
We're both very versatile with catching the ball. When the ball's in our hands, we can do so much with it that's inside, outside, lining up at receiver, slot, wide out. Whatever the coaches want, we're fine with it. But I think we're definitely dialing up and calling them at the right time, because you have to set the defense up. I think we'll be very successful.

Redshirt-Freshman Defensive End Zach Slade

On making the play in the game and if they work on that in practice...
We practice screens a lot and I felt the tight end put some light pressure on me and I started dropping a little bit and the ball came right towards me.

On his individual performance today...
I definitely need to get faster to get contact with the quarterback and tight end, and improve on my speed and all around defense.