Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Football Update: Tight Ends Coach Ted Gilmore Media Teleconference Transcript
4/9/2020 5:31:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State tight ends coach Ted Gilmore answered questions from reporters on a media teleconference on Thursday afternoon. Gilmore talked about his decision to coach at Michigan State, his previous experience working with tight ends, and how the position will fit into the Spartan offense.
The complete transcript from the call is below:
Michigan State Tight Ends Coach Ted Gilmore
On the decision on leaving Wisconsin and coming to Michigan State, and being a tight ends coach in title for a first time in a few years...
On the decision, obviously it wasn't one that was made lightly. Coach Tuck (Tucker) and I have known each other just from being in the business. I think a big driving force behind a lot of it was Coach (Jay) Johnson and Coach Kap (Kapolivic) and I, we all worked together, gosh, 21 years ago at the University of Kansas, which was the last time I was coaching tight ends in title. We kind of came up in the business together and have continued those relationships throughout our coaching profession and always talked about maybe sometime in our career getting back together again. That's the kind of respect I have for those gentlemen. Taking this job, leaving Wisconsin, obviously, we've had a lot success here and I've enjoyed my time here with the guys. I just kind of felt like it was time to do something different, and quite honestly, was looking forward to coaching something different. I just wanted to dive into a different area and give it everything I got. That had a lot to do with it and of course I was excited about the opportunity to join Coach (Mel) Tucker, because I have a lot of respect for him and who he is.
On how he sees the position fitting in this offense...
All I know is the conversations I've had with Coach (Jay) Johnson and that position is going to be an integral part in our offense. Obviously, we're going to put a lot on those guys, not just in the pass game but in the run game. It's got to be a selfless group of men and guys that are lunch-pail kind of guys, come to work every single day. I can't really speak to the room right now, because obviously we haven't been able to do anything on the field. I can speak to how they go about their business, they work hard at it, they're good kids, it's important to them, so that excites me. Obviously, we'll find out more once we can get on the field, because at the end of the day, it's not about what we know, it's about what they can do and handle. So, that will play a role in it.
On dual-sport athlete tight end and baseball player Adam Berghorst and what he sees from his growing in that position...
Well, I can tell you I'm excited about the way the young man looks. I mean he looks the part and I think it speaks a lot to who he is. A kid that is trying to do two sports and is juggling that, and obviously the commitment it takes on both sides of that. He's been working extremely hard in terms of learning the offense. I have no concerns on his ability to pick that up. We're all in the same position, we all are. When we step on the field for the first time, we are going to throw ourselves into it. I don't think it will be any different for him, our approach won't be any different for him regardless of being a dual-sport guy or being a young guy. We all are going to have to grow up in a hurry and accelerate that process, whether we're ready for it or not.
On the depth of the position, based on some injuries last season...
Well, sure, they finished the year with a lot of injuries. Obviously, that allowed a guy like Trent (Gillison) to step up and show that he has a lot of promise and he has a bright future and a kid that's taking it serious. As you eluded to, there was some moves that was made with other positions, and really can't speak to those guys yet. I can tell you this, whether it's the guys that are here and able and ready to go, and we've got whoever joins us in the future, the expectations in terms of what we are asking them to do, that won't change regardless of who is on the field or who has been there. We will coach whoever is up, and based on the conversations I've had with these young men, they are all willing and able and ready to accept that challenge.
On how he sees how the tight end position has evolved over time...
I don't think it has changed at all. Football is football in my opinion. From the tight end position, you're recruiting a bigger skill athlete. At the end of the day, it comes down to blocking, tackling, playing with your hands. All those things we coached 20 years ago, we're still coaching to this day. There is more creativity in offense as far as opening things up, but for us, we're going to do all of that. You'll be attached as an in-line guy, you be detached. The game truly has not changed in my opinion. Some schemes have changed, but the fundamental aspect is all the same.
On what he has done to get back in that room on working with tight ends after being with receivers recently...
Honestly, I've just been in the business. I challenge myself every year to grow and try to learn something different. I think for me, I may be paying more attention to the fronts and the confined areas as opposed to the perimeter. I tell you, I look at it like this, I can bring the perimeter game to the interior line, and at the end of the day, you're just working with the entire restrictions from that standpoint. I will continue to always ask questions and grow as a coach. It's run schemes, pass schemes, are all the same schemes I've been a part of. My learning is coming from calling it something different and not fighting why you call it this when I'm used to calling it that. That's been my biggest adjustment, just forgetting how I called something in the past and this is how we are calling it.
On status of Matt Dotson and recovering from his injury...
Well honestly, I can't because like I said we were just getting ready to get to the point where we could do those kind of things. So I can't really speak to that at all, but I do know he's going to be an important piece of the puzzle and I'm looking forward to getting him back sooner than later.
On coaching receivers in the past and how that can help him in this position...
Whether it gives me an advantage or not, I think it always comes back to players. I know, with the guys we have in the system, when they are running routes, I'm going to coach them as if they are a wide receiver. I'm going to put those same pressures on them to transition to get out of their break as I did the smaller guys. That won't change. From a run blocking standpoint, I mean, my mindset won't change. I came from a school where we had to block. That won't change either, any different from a tight end standpoint, we're just doing it in some cases in tighter restrictions. That's not going to be an adjustment for me at all. From a recruiting standpoint, obviously, I want to recruit a really good athlete. I want to recruit kids that can run, that can bend, that have length, all those things. Because once again, that guy for us in this offense, and the direction we want to take it, is a critical piece in our offense. I'm going to recruit to that.
On if maybe Coach Tucker brought him in knowing his ability with receivers and being able to work that into tight ends...
Well, I can't speak to that. That's a question you'll have to ask Coach Tucker. I like to think that he felt that I was a fit for the staff and direction and the things he wants to do. The common thing that Coach Tucker has assembled with this staff is not only good football coaches, but good men, good family men and good teachers and guys that go about their business in a certain matter. I think it had a lot to do with that more so than me coaching the receivers and bringing a different approach to the tight end room.
On being the pass-game coordinator in the past and what he learned from that...
Having that title, at the end of the day, at Wisconsin, Coach (Paul) Chryst was still heavily, heavily involved with the offense. At the end of the day, whether it was myself or the quarterbacks coach, we obviously presented our thoughts and see what sticks. But make no mistake about it, Paul (Chryst) made the final say. Obviously, I help whether it's in the pass game, whether it's in the run game. Whatever ideas I bring to the table, that's ultimately going to fall on Coach (Jay) Johnson if it fits for that week. I think he creates an environment that takes input from all of us, regardless if you have a title or not. That was just a title, for me it's the staff coming together and game planning. Each week that game plan may vary, some of your ideas might stick, some ideas may not stick. That's going to be my approach here, is trying to help Coach (Jay) Johnson in whatever way he feels I can help him.
On Trenton Gillison and his "breakout" in the bowl game and what he sees from him so far...
I hope that left a taste in his mouth, in terms of wanting to pick up where he left off. That's my expectation with him, is, we don't have time to start all over. I talk to him a lot about body language reflects confidence. The minute we can start this thing, I expect him to hit the ground running and not take any steps back, pick up where he left off because he did do some good things in that bowl game.
The complete transcript from the call is below:
Michigan State Tight Ends Coach Ted Gilmore
On the decision on leaving Wisconsin and coming to Michigan State, and being a tight ends coach in title for a first time in a few years...
On the decision, obviously it wasn't one that was made lightly. Coach Tuck (Tucker) and I have known each other just from being in the business. I think a big driving force behind a lot of it was Coach (Jay) Johnson and Coach Kap (Kapolivic) and I, we all worked together, gosh, 21 years ago at the University of Kansas, which was the last time I was coaching tight ends in title. We kind of came up in the business together and have continued those relationships throughout our coaching profession and always talked about maybe sometime in our career getting back together again. That's the kind of respect I have for those gentlemen. Taking this job, leaving Wisconsin, obviously, we've had a lot success here and I've enjoyed my time here with the guys. I just kind of felt like it was time to do something different, and quite honestly, was looking forward to coaching something different. I just wanted to dive into a different area and give it everything I got. That had a lot to do with it and of course I was excited about the opportunity to join Coach (Mel) Tucker, because I have a lot of respect for him and who he is.
On how he sees the position fitting in this offense...
All I know is the conversations I've had with Coach (Jay) Johnson and that position is going to be an integral part in our offense. Obviously, we're going to put a lot on those guys, not just in the pass game but in the run game. It's got to be a selfless group of men and guys that are lunch-pail kind of guys, come to work every single day. I can't really speak to the room right now, because obviously we haven't been able to do anything on the field. I can speak to how they go about their business, they work hard at it, they're good kids, it's important to them, so that excites me. Obviously, we'll find out more once we can get on the field, because at the end of the day, it's not about what we know, it's about what they can do and handle. So, that will play a role in it.
On dual-sport athlete tight end and baseball player Adam Berghorst and what he sees from his growing in that position...
Well, I can tell you I'm excited about the way the young man looks. I mean he looks the part and I think it speaks a lot to who he is. A kid that is trying to do two sports and is juggling that, and obviously the commitment it takes on both sides of that. He's been working extremely hard in terms of learning the offense. I have no concerns on his ability to pick that up. We're all in the same position, we all are. When we step on the field for the first time, we are going to throw ourselves into it. I don't think it will be any different for him, our approach won't be any different for him regardless of being a dual-sport guy or being a young guy. We all are going to have to grow up in a hurry and accelerate that process, whether we're ready for it or not.
On the depth of the position, based on some injuries last season...
Well, sure, they finished the year with a lot of injuries. Obviously, that allowed a guy like Trent (Gillison) to step up and show that he has a lot of promise and he has a bright future and a kid that's taking it serious. As you eluded to, there was some moves that was made with other positions, and really can't speak to those guys yet. I can tell you this, whether it's the guys that are here and able and ready to go, and we've got whoever joins us in the future, the expectations in terms of what we are asking them to do, that won't change regardless of who is on the field or who has been there. We will coach whoever is up, and based on the conversations I've had with these young men, they are all willing and able and ready to accept that challenge.
On how he sees how the tight end position has evolved over time...
I don't think it has changed at all. Football is football in my opinion. From the tight end position, you're recruiting a bigger skill athlete. At the end of the day, it comes down to blocking, tackling, playing with your hands. All those things we coached 20 years ago, we're still coaching to this day. There is more creativity in offense as far as opening things up, but for us, we're going to do all of that. You'll be attached as an in-line guy, you be detached. The game truly has not changed in my opinion. Some schemes have changed, but the fundamental aspect is all the same.
On what he has done to get back in that room on working with tight ends after being with receivers recently...
Honestly, I've just been in the business. I challenge myself every year to grow and try to learn something different. I think for me, I may be paying more attention to the fronts and the confined areas as opposed to the perimeter. I tell you, I look at it like this, I can bring the perimeter game to the interior line, and at the end of the day, you're just working with the entire restrictions from that standpoint. I will continue to always ask questions and grow as a coach. It's run schemes, pass schemes, are all the same schemes I've been a part of. My learning is coming from calling it something different and not fighting why you call it this when I'm used to calling it that. That's been my biggest adjustment, just forgetting how I called something in the past and this is how we are calling it.
On status of Matt Dotson and recovering from his injury...
Well honestly, I can't because like I said we were just getting ready to get to the point where we could do those kind of things. So I can't really speak to that at all, but I do know he's going to be an important piece of the puzzle and I'm looking forward to getting him back sooner than later.
On coaching receivers in the past and how that can help him in this position...
Whether it gives me an advantage or not, I think it always comes back to players. I know, with the guys we have in the system, when they are running routes, I'm going to coach them as if they are a wide receiver. I'm going to put those same pressures on them to transition to get out of their break as I did the smaller guys. That won't change. From a run blocking standpoint, I mean, my mindset won't change. I came from a school where we had to block. That won't change either, any different from a tight end standpoint, we're just doing it in some cases in tighter restrictions. That's not going to be an adjustment for me at all. From a recruiting standpoint, obviously, I want to recruit a really good athlete. I want to recruit kids that can run, that can bend, that have length, all those things. Because once again, that guy for us in this offense, and the direction we want to take it, is a critical piece in our offense. I'm going to recruit to that.
On if maybe Coach Tucker brought him in knowing his ability with receivers and being able to work that into tight ends...
Well, I can't speak to that. That's a question you'll have to ask Coach Tucker. I like to think that he felt that I was a fit for the staff and direction and the things he wants to do. The common thing that Coach Tucker has assembled with this staff is not only good football coaches, but good men, good family men and good teachers and guys that go about their business in a certain matter. I think it had a lot to do with that more so than me coaching the receivers and bringing a different approach to the tight end room.
On being the pass-game coordinator in the past and what he learned from that...
Having that title, at the end of the day, at Wisconsin, Coach (Paul) Chryst was still heavily, heavily involved with the offense. At the end of the day, whether it was myself or the quarterbacks coach, we obviously presented our thoughts and see what sticks. But make no mistake about it, Paul (Chryst) made the final say. Obviously, I help whether it's in the pass game, whether it's in the run game. Whatever ideas I bring to the table, that's ultimately going to fall on Coach (Jay) Johnson if it fits for that week. I think he creates an environment that takes input from all of us, regardless if you have a title or not. That was just a title, for me it's the staff coming together and game planning. Each week that game plan may vary, some of your ideas might stick, some ideas may not stick. That's going to be my approach here, is trying to help Coach (Jay) Johnson in whatever way he feels I can help him.
On Trenton Gillison and his "breakout" in the bowl game and what he sees from him so far...
I hope that left a taste in his mouth, in terms of wanting to pick up where he left off. That's my expectation with him, is, we don't have time to start all over. I talk to him a lot about body language reflects confidence. The minute we can start this thing, I expect him to hit the ground running and not take any steps back, pick up where he left off because he did do some good things in that bowl game.
Players Mentioned
Monday, September 28
Saturday, September 26
Thursday, September 24
Monday, September 21