Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartan Football Update: Safeties Coach Mike Tressel Media Teleconference Transcript
4/22/2020 3:55:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State safeties coach Mike Tressel answered questions from reporters on a media teleconference on Wednesday afternoon. Tressel talked about his transition to coaching safeties, his relationship working with cornerbacks coach Harlon Barnett, and why he's excited about being on head coach Mel Tucker's staff.
A transcript from the call is below:
Michigan State Safeties Coach Mike Tressel
On coming back and working for Coach Tucker and transitioning to coaching safeties...
Well, first how I was fortunate enough to remain a Spartan. I actually worked with Coach (Mel) Tucker at Ohio State and was his graduate assistant. I was a defensive back graduate assistant at Ohio State. Coach Tuck (Tucker) coached the defensive backs, Coach Dantonio was actually the defensive coordinator at that time, so I was with him for two years and we worked directly together. So that relationship was already there, visited him a couple times throughout, certainly with the Chicago Bears was one I remember, so we stayed in touch. Fortunately, I'm a Spartan, I bleed Green so I'm glad he wanted me to stick around.
I'm excited to be working with the safeties right now, I think it's good I did work with the secondary at Ohio State, and that really is the last time that I did that exclusively, although the last few years coordinating, the back-end is where you give up the big plays, so that has to be your focus. I've really transitioned my focus over the last few years to pay a little bit more of attention and have a little bit more game plan thoughts, a little bit more adjustments, a little more technique in the back-end, knowing that's where the explosives happen. I'm excited to be able to grow a little bit myself working with the safeties.
On working with Mel Tucker and what it's like on a day-to-day basis...
I tell you what, Mel (Tucker) is awesome as a person, first of all. He makes you feel good, he gives you a lot of freedom to go about doing your job. There's a lot of trust that you'll do your job right and that you'll work real hard at it, especially in this circumstance where everybody's at home, we're a little bit on our own, and I really get a feel that this staff is grinding. We are grinding, which is fun to be around these types of guys. Coach Tuck's (Tucker) focus is certainly recruiting, there's no doubt he's trying to be first hand with the top guys in the state, the top guys across the country. That's been an emphasis without a doubt. He's a defensive guru, which helps up obviously, but he's also helped Coach (Scottie) Hazelton really run this show. It's been fun to work with him. He's a hilarious dude too, by the way.
On if he thought about being head coach at Michigan State and having Harlon Barnett back...
Yeah, so the first part of the question, I think anybody would be foolish not to be interested in the Michigan State head coaching job. Certainly, there was interest, but I think any football coach in America should have interest in that position. Part B, man, absolutely fired up to have Harlon (Barnett) back and to be directly working with him. He's an outstanding human being first, he's an outstanding coach. We worked together, I think I'm doing the math right, 15 years. We're like brothers and really do play off each other's strengths and work really well together.
On having the amount of experience they have on this coaching staff...
I think truth be told, that's one of the first things Coach (Mel) Tucker was looking at and Coach (Scottie) Hazelton was looking at, was how would this group of people work together. Because obviously, working together as a unit in the game of football or a coaching staff is absolutely critical. I think we have a pretty humble, but also a pretty smart group of guys who understand what their role is or where their space is and Coach (Scottie) Hazelton does a great job of letting us speak our expertise when it's our turn, but I also watch Coach (Harlon) Barnett, Coach (Ross) Els understand that as much football knowledge as they have, when it's time to just keep your mouth shut. There's a lot of respect, and there's also some expertise from different areas and different backgrounds. So we can truly say 'Ok, what do our players do best,' and I guarantee you that there's someone in that room that has expertise in that area.
On the importance of having him and Ron (Burton), in some ways Harlon (Barnett) back in making transition to new staff...
Truly, that's probably a question better asked to Coach (Mel) Tucker or some of the guys who are new in here. What I can comment on is that there's certainly a brotherhood and a great working relationship and a great love between Coach (Ron) Burton, myself, Coach (Harlon) Barnett and some of the other auxiliary staff that it still around. So there is some knowledge, it's important to have knowledge of the workers at the University, but we're also trying to push our limits and make sure we don't look at the way it's been done or look at what previous ceilings might have been and try to bust through with all the new knowledge that's in the coaching staff.
On dynamic with him handling safeties and Harlon (Barnett) working with cornerbacks and defensive backs...
Well I really think there's a huge difference in terms of focus on technique, focus on the details. There's no doubt when one person's running four different people, four different positions, regardless if it's defensive backs or whether it's the linebackers, there's times when certain guys are just sitting there listening, trying to stay locked in and they're focused on another position. Now, we're able to stay focused a lot more, there's a lot more attention, a lot more detail to each guy. Really though, we are one unit, so the biggest thing is going to be the strategy of when we're together, when we're apart, making sure our guys still communicate. I know the 'No Fly Zone' wants to still put themselves as one position group, and that's how Harlon (Barnett) and I want them to look at themselves too. They're still one position group, but we have the opportunity for them to focus on their craft a little bit more.
On what he sees at the safety position as far as depth...
I'm excited about the group, I really am. I think, first of all, Tre Person is a senior right now, he's got a lot of experience and you can see a renewed excitement and a renewed sense of urgency out of him. He's played some good ball for us, and we're hoping he can really step into David's (Dowell) spot without missing a beat. Xavier (Henderson) has come a long way in terms of confidence, I think if you watch our season last year in order, you'd see the last four or five games, he really started to pick up his play, and that came with his confidence and with his leadership. So between Tre (Person) and Xavier (Henderson), there's really a lot of leadership in that group that's pointing everybody in the right direction.
But some other guys, I'm excited about the steps that I think Michael Dowell is taking. I'm excited about the steps that I think Emmanuel Flowers is taking. Tate Hallock's a guy that redshirted, a guy that played four games at special teams, but all of a sudden he went from being a skinny little dude a year ago to, man he's over 200 pounds now and he's running, and I'll be anxious to see what he can do. And there's more names, I'd hate to miss any. I will hit this though: Darius Snow and Angelo Grose were both defensive backs that graduated early and came in for part of a semester, but, I was excited about both those guys in terms of their work and I think that even though this is a little bit of an abnormal situation right here, they have got a huge jump on the learning. Darius (Snow) is a guy, he knows his ball and he wants to talk ball. I think his football IQ could be through the roof. You just hope through experience he can think at the college level game speed as soon as possible. I know he will be able to do it, it's how fast can he do it, because he seems to really have a high football IQ.
On Michael Dowell and what he sees from him...
The first thing I think is he, I believe, put himself in his own mind in a position of being a starter and competing for a starting job. Because that's the first thing you have to do, no matter how talented you are. You have to view yourself as a starter, as an All-Big Ten player, as a difference maker. I don't know it's because, okay now both his older brothers are gone now or whether he made enough plays and he recognized it and he said, 'I can be a great player out here.' He's approached it differently with that mindset, he's not feeling himself out anymore, he's not feeling out Big Ten ball anymore, he's come to conclusion on how good he can be and he's attacking it. He's probably calling me on his own with more questions and visualizing circumstances that we haven't even talked about and really trying to advance himself knowledge wise. He's always had the skill set, but he's attacking it completely different.
On Mel Tucker and everyone recruiting every day...
There's no doubt, he is a believer that we need to recruit every day, we need to recruit the best of the best. It doesn't matter who else is recruiting him or where he's from. We believe straight from Coach Tucker that we are going to outwork everybody else in recruiting. So, if football needs to slide to the side for a minute to recruit, than that's what we are going to do. You can feel the energy, and you know, those are easy things to say, but when you are demonstrating it yourself, everybody else follows that lead. Coach Tucker demonstrates that every single day, so we're just following his lead.
On morale of the players and how they are doing during this time in keeping their zest...
Probably that has been one of the thing I've been most impressed with, with our guys. I don't think there's any doubt about that. When we do have the opportunity to do some of our conference calls and things like that, they're all on time, they're all early. They are in that conference call before coaches, they are talking ball with each other. As well as just reconnecting and missing each other, there's no doubt about that. Same thing with the academic side of things, they still have tutors, they still have online classes and really there's no repercussions that they weren't doing things perfectly, but they're all doing things right, showing up to those conference calls on time. I've been really impressed with guys staying on the ball in this situation that's A, gone on this long and B, we're not right there with them to enforce anything, so that's been impressive. Now, depending on how long this goes, yeah it's going to get harder and harder because it gets old for everybody. That's our job as coaches to continue to be creative and motivating and making sure it's different from week to week or even day to day to make sure it does stay fresh and they continue to learn.
On the new system and how to keep things creative and instructive during this time…
We'll find ways to continue to be creative and to make sure that they are continuing to learn and that it's not getting completely repetitive. Even though we know we learn through repetition, there has to be something fresh to keep them excited about doing those repetitions. Yes, there's no doubt with some new language and some things being new and some things being the same, there's always something new we can teach, there's no doubt about that. It's when do you progress from talking about the general to talking about specific situations. You know, maybe you spend a lot of time today working on this two-minute situation or this red zone type of situation instead of just talking generic ball. Maybe you spend a little bit more on third down packages or bunch formations. There's always something new you can add on, but we're also trying to just change up the viewpoint. Some days it's more presenting, some days it's the kids teaching each other. Like 'Ok, Xavier (Henderson), you're going to teach quarters from the strong safety to everybody today.' Sometimes it's them quizzing each other, so you just have to constantly change it up, you can't have them sit in their chair in front of a computer screen, doesn't work that way.
On Dominique Long and on where he sees him...
One hundred-percent he can swing between the two positions (cornerback and safety), there's no doubt about that. That being said, you want to let somebody fully dive into one spot and become an expert. Truthfully, he's probably been bounced back and forth a little too much, so we're trying to let him really dive into corner right now. But certainly with his experience, and his physical traits, he's a guy that can bounce back and forth.
A transcript from the call is below:
Michigan State Safeties Coach Mike Tressel
On coming back and working for Coach Tucker and transitioning to coaching safeties...
Well, first how I was fortunate enough to remain a Spartan. I actually worked with Coach (Mel) Tucker at Ohio State and was his graduate assistant. I was a defensive back graduate assistant at Ohio State. Coach Tuck (Tucker) coached the defensive backs, Coach Dantonio was actually the defensive coordinator at that time, so I was with him for two years and we worked directly together. So that relationship was already there, visited him a couple times throughout, certainly with the Chicago Bears was one I remember, so we stayed in touch. Fortunately, I'm a Spartan, I bleed Green so I'm glad he wanted me to stick around.
I'm excited to be working with the safeties right now, I think it's good I did work with the secondary at Ohio State, and that really is the last time that I did that exclusively, although the last few years coordinating, the back-end is where you give up the big plays, so that has to be your focus. I've really transitioned my focus over the last few years to pay a little bit more of attention and have a little bit more game plan thoughts, a little bit more adjustments, a little more technique in the back-end, knowing that's where the explosives happen. I'm excited to be able to grow a little bit myself working with the safeties.
On working with Mel Tucker and what it's like on a day-to-day basis...
I tell you what, Mel (Tucker) is awesome as a person, first of all. He makes you feel good, he gives you a lot of freedom to go about doing your job. There's a lot of trust that you'll do your job right and that you'll work real hard at it, especially in this circumstance where everybody's at home, we're a little bit on our own, and I really get a feel that this staff is grinding. We are grinding, which is fun to be around these types of guys. Coach Tuck's (Tucker) focus is certainly recruiting, there's no doubt he's trying to be first hand with the top guys in the state, the top guys across the country. That's been an emphasis without a doubt. He's a defensive guru, which helps up obviously, but he's also helped Coach (Scottie) Hazelton really run this show. It's been fun to work with him. He's a hilarious dude too, by the way.
On if he thought about being head coach at Michigan State and having Harlon Barnett back...
Yeah, so the first part of the question, I think anybody would be foolish not to be interested in the Michigan State head coaching job. Certainly, there was interest, but I think any football coach in America should have interest in that position. Part B, man, absolutely fired up to have Harlon (Barnett) back and to be directly working with him. He's an outstanding human being first, he's an outstanding coach. We worked together, I think I'm doing the math right, 15 years. We're like brothers and really do play off each other's strengths and work really well together.
On having the amount of experience they have on this coaching staff...
I think truth be told, that's one of the first things Coach (Mel) Tucker was looking at and Coach (Scottie) Hazelton was looking at, was how would this group of people work together. Because obviously, working together as a unit in the game of football or a coaching staff is absolutely critical. I think we have a pretty humble, but also a pretty smart group of guys who understand what their role is or where their space is and Coach (Scottie) Hazelton does a great job of letting us speak our expertise when it's our turn, but I also watch Coach (Harlon) Barnett, Coach (Ross) Els understand that as much football knowledge as they have, when it's time to just keep your mouth shut. There's a lot of respect, and there's also some expertise from different areas and different backgrounds. So we can truly say 'Ok, what do our players do best,' and I guarantee you that there's someone in that room that has expertise in that area.
On the importance of having him and Ron (Burton), in some ways Harlon (Barnett) back in making transition to new staff...
Truly, that's probably a question better asked to Coach (Mel) Tucker or some of the guys who are new in here. What I can comment on is that there's certainly a brotherhood and a great working relationship and a great love between Coach (Ron) Burton, myself, Coach (Harlon) Barnett and some of the other auxiliary staff that it still around. So there is some knowledge, it's important to have knowledge of the workers at the University, but we're also trying to push our limits and make sure we don't look at the way it's been done or look at what previous ceilings might have been and try to bust through with all the new knowledge that's in the coaching staff.
On dynamic with him handling safeties and Harlon (Barnett) working with cornerbacks and defensive backs...
Well I really think there's a huge difference in terms of focus on technique, focus on the details. There's no doubt when one person's running four different people, four different positions, regardless if it's defensive backs or whether it's the linebackers, there's times when certain guys are just sitting there listening, trying to stay locked in and they're focused on another position. Now, we're able to stay focused a lot more, there's a lot more attention, a lot more detail to each guy. Really though, we are one unit, so the biggest thing is going to be the strategy of when we're together, when we're apart, making sure our guys still communicate. I know the 'No Fly Zone' wants to still put themselves as one position group, and that's how Harlon (Barnett) and I want them to look at themselves too. They're still one position group, but we have the opportunity for them to focus on their craft a little bit more.
On what he sees at the safety position as far as depth...
I'm excited about the group, I really am. I think, first of all, Tre Person is a senior right now, he's got a lot of experience and you can see a renewed excitement and a renewed sense of urgency out of him. He's played some good ball for us, and we're hoping he can really step into David's (Dowell) spot without missing a beat. Xavier (Henderson) has come a long way in terms of confidence, I think if you watch our season last year in order, you'd see the last four or five games, he really started to pick up his play, and that came with his confidence and with his leadership. So between Tre (Person) and Xavier (Henderson), there's really a lot of leadership in that group that's pointing everybody in the right direction.
But some other guys, I'm excited about the steps that I think Michael Dowell is taking. I'm excited about the steps that I think Emmanuel Flowers is taking. Tate Hallock's a guy that redshirted, a guy that played four games at special teams, but all of a sudden he went from being a skinny little dude a year ago to, man he's over 200 pounds now and he's running, and I'll be anxious to see what he can do. And there's more names, I'd hate to miss any. I will hit this though: Darius Snow and Angelo Grose were both defensive backs that graduated early and came in for part of a semester, but, I was excited about both those guys in terms of their work and I think that even though this is a little bit of an abnormal situation right here, they have got a huge jump on the learning. Darius (Snow) is a guy, he knows his ball and he wants to talk ball. I think his football IQ could be through the roof. You just hope through experience he can think at the college level game speed as soon as possible. I know he will be able to do it, it's how fast can he do it, because he seems to really have a high football IQ.
On Michael Dowell and what he sees from him...
The first thing I think is he, I believe, put himself in his own mind in a position of being a starter and competing for a starting job. Because that's the first thing you have to do, no matter how talented you are. You have to view yourself as a starter, as an All-Big Ten player, as a difference maker. I don't know it's because, okay now both his older brothers are gone now or whether he made enough plays and he recognized it and he said, 'I can be a great player out here.' He's approached it differently with that mindset, he's not feeling himself out anymore, he's not feeling out Big Ten ball anymore, he's come to conclusion on how good he can be and he's attacking it. He's probably calling me on his own with more questions and visualizing circumstances that we haven't even talked about and really trying to advance himself knowledge wise. He's always had the skill set, but he's attacking it completely different.
On Mel Tucker and everyone recruiting every day...
There's no doubt, he is a believer that we need to recruit every day, we need to recruit the best of the best. It doesn't matter who else is recruiting him or where he's from. We believe straight from Coach Tucker that we are going to outwork everybody else in recruiting. So, if football needs to slide to the side for a minute to recruit, than that's what we are going to do. You can feel the energy, and you know, those are easy things to say, but when you are demonstrating it yourself, everybody else follows that lead. Coach Tucker demonstrates that every single day, so we're just following his lead.
On morale of the players and how they are doing during this time in keeping their zest...
Probably that has been one of the thing I've been most impressed with, with our guys. I don't think there's any doubt about that. When we do have the opportunity to do some of our conference calls and things like that, they're all on time, they're all early. They are in that conference call before coaches, they are talking ball with each other. As well as just reconnecting and missing each other, there's no doubt about that. Same thing with the academic side of things, they still have tutors, they still have online classes and really there's no repercussions that they weren't doing things perfectly, but they're all doing things right, showing up to those conference calls on time. I've been really impressed with guys staying on the ball in this situation that's A, gone on this long and B, we're not right there with them to enforce anything, so that's been impressive. Now, depending on how long this goes, yeah it's going to get harder and harder because it gets old for everybody. That's our job as coaches to continue to be creative and motivating and making sure it's different from week to week or even day to day to make sure it does stay fresh and they continue to learn.
On the new system and how to keep things creative and instructive during this time…
We'll find ways to continue to be creative and to make sure that they are continuing to learn and that it's not getting completely repetitive. Even though we know we learn through repetition, there has to be something fresh to keep them excited about doing those repetitions. Yes, there's no doubt with some new language and some things being new and some things being the same, there's always something new we can teach, there's no doubt about that. It's when do you progress from talking about the general to talking about specific situations. You know, maybe you spend a lot of time today working on this two-minute situation or this red zone type of situation instead of just talking generic ball. Maybe you spend a little bit more on third down packages or bunch formations. There's always something new you can add on, but we're also trying to just change up the viewpoint. Some days it's more presenting, some days it's the kids teaching each other. Like 'Ok, Xavier (Henderson), you're going to teach quarters from the strong safety to everybody today.' Sometimes it's them quizzing each other, so you just have to constantly change it up, you can't have them sit in their chair in front of a computer screen, doesn't work that way.
On Dominique Long and on where he sees him...
One hundred-percent he can swing between the two positions (cornerback and safety), there's no doubt about that. That being said, you want to let somebody fully dive into one spot and become an expert. Truthfully, he's probably been bounced back and forth a little too much, so we're trying to let him really dive into corner right now. But certainly with his experience, and his physical traits, he's a guy that can bounce back and forth.
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