Spring Practice Quotes: Catching Up With the Spartan Offense

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State football team held its 11th spring practice on Thursday morning inside the Duffy Daugherty Football Building.

Following practice, offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak and wide receiver Alante Brown gave an update on the Spartan offense with four practices remaining in the spring.

Michigan State will conclude spring practice with the Spring Showcase, presented by Michigan Achievement Scholarship, on Saturday, April 20 at Spartan Stadium. Admission is free for the 2 p.m. event and the stadium gates will open at 12:15 p.m. For more information, please click here.

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Brian Lindgren

On the growth on the offensive side of the ball throughout spring practice…
Trending upwards. It's good. There are a lot of teachable moments throughout the first 11 practices. Obviously we have thrown a lot at them in terms of install and a lot of guys getting in for the first time. We have just a lot of little details and those things to clean up. We really didn't scrimmage until practice nine (last Saturday) and coming out of that first scrimmage there are those typical things of pre-snap penalties, we had a number of turnovers putting the ball on the ground, quarterback center exchange, and some of those basic things that we would like to clean up before we do it again. The guys have had an awesome attitude and they have been working hard at it. Like I said, we have been throwing a lot at them and they have done a nice job of taking that and taking the next step the next time they come back out.

On positives from the scrimmage…
I thought we moved the ball in groups one through three. All groups moved the ball at times. I thought for the first scrimmage, the third down situations, particularly with that first group, we did a nice job at converting on some third downs and staying on the field that way. Just a lot of pre-snap penalties that stalled drives out, mental busts, assignment errors and putting the ball on the ground a little bit with some fumbles. Really, kind of the second time we went live through the spring, was really good for our guys to see that and it really reconfirmed that we need to do a good job taking care of it.

On teaching a new offense to so many people…
It's fun. It's fun to see the guys' excitement out of it. We are trying to sell it as there are a lot of opportunities to make plays, create explosives, score points and have fun doing it. It has been really cool I think because we brought four coaches that have been doing this offense for a while and then so many guys who are just learning it for the first time. You got to remember, hey this is this guy's first time running this play. Sometimes our expectation might be a little too high for the first time he's doing it, but the guys have good attitudes and like I said there have been a lot of teachable moments and you can see the improvement from practice one to where we are at right now for sure.

On learning about each new quarterback…
Starting with Tommy Schuster, just the experience, I think. He is just a savvy player and has a good feel for the game and made some plays in the 2-minute situations right here (at the end of Thursday's practice). He had a really good practice on Tuesday, I think with only one incompletion. You can tell that he has done it before and has been out there. He has done a nice job at extending plays; something's not there, he can move subtly in the pocket or extend it in the scramble drill throwing a nice catchable ball.

The two true freshmen, Alessio (Milivojevic) and Ryland (Jessee), for true freshmen, it's a big step up as far as the speed of the game goes. I like those guys' skill sets. Ryland shows some athleticism and did some nice things in the scrimmage. I really like Alessio's arm. He has a strong arm that can push it down the field. Both of those guys have flashed and have done a nice job learning it for being true freshmen I think. Drew (Schorfhaar) has been in the program for a while and we enjoy having him in the room.

On Aidan Chiles looking different now compared to last year...
I just think moving into that, where's he taking the bulk of the one reps. I just think the maturity, we are really challenging him on consistency. I think as a young guy a year ago you saw flashes where it's one or two big time plays and then there would be two or three mental mistakes, or missing a throw here, not making a correct read. I have been really challenging him on consistency and we have seen it at times, but I still think that is something we are getting him to tighten up the details on as we move into the fall, of just being consistent and stacking those quality, well executed plays one after another, being more consistent that way.

On identifying some people he can count on and/or build off of…
It is still early in the process. Obviously we have some initial thoughts and we have been shuffling guys around, particularly at receiver, they have been playing inside and playing outside, trying to get a feel for what they can do there. Rotating through groups, we have guys going through the first group one day, and then he is in the second or third group the next day, just trying to cycle through. Really, more focused on teaching the offense and getting guys to really understand it that way. But yeah, we are getting a feel for some of the playmakers, in my mind, of what we can do. When we get into fall camp, we can tweak those guys a little bit, particularly as we get towards the end of training camp. I've got an idea in my mind of some of the guys that have flashed and we would like to find ways to get them the ball.

On the few returning receptions on the roster and what you are learning about the receivers…
The guys have a little more length than maybe what we had at Oregon State. It's been kind of cool through the first 11 (practices) that different guys have flashed on different days and I think we have four, five, six guys that I feel like have the ability to step into that role. And now, kind of like what we were talking about with Aidan (Chiles), we are challenging them on consistency. Hey, you show up and look great on these couple of reps, but then these other two you will have a mental bust or we weren't lined up right or we're not executing it properly. And then I think for these guys, what I would really like to see, on those kind of 50-50 balls, and with our tight ends too, is you get some opportunities on those 1-on-1 situations to go win on those things and go come down with the football. We have seen a little bit of that, but I would like to see more of that as we finish spring.

On Nick Marsh seeing the field…
I just think getting a comfort level with the offense, and then us trusting that he can go in there, he knows his responsibility, and he can play fast doing it. I think sometimes that's always a challenge with freshmen. Does he know it well enough to where he can just go out and play fast and play free. Because physically, he is talented enough; sometimes (freshmen) are just thinking too much and they don't play fast, they play slow, and we can't have him that way. He has done a really good job and we are really impressed with his physicality and ball skills; he made a really nice play today in the 2-minute drill for us. I am really excited about his future for sure.

On center exchanges…
Tommy (Schuster) did a little bit at North Dakota. He had some familiarity. Most of these high school guys not very much. I think getting them under the center a little bit is good for them and they are doing it at the next level. I think the guys are excited about the opportunity to get comfortable but those first couple practices it's interesting, I always keep that film and show it to them a couple years later, given how uncomfortable they were doing it. They will be thankful as they get later in their career.

On Aidan Chiles not feeling the pressure or expectations...
I think Aidan has had a good approach to it all. He understands the perception of that. We try to always talk about keeping his focus on (being) process oriented and how can I improve myself today or what can I do to execute this rep right, staying in the moment that way. Doing that time and time again will allow for good things to happen, and not get yourself too high or too low, or looking too far ahead. Just focus on what he's doing right now and what he can to make himself a better player.

On veterans in the backfield…
I think each of those guys have had their days. We put the ball on the ground too many times a little bit in that first scrimmage but you know, that tends to happen the first couple times you go live. I think that is something those guys are working on. Again, just kind of like the receiver room, we have had guys that have flashed. We are still trying to get them matched up with the offensive line because there is a little bit of that trust process. It's a little bit of a different scheme. You have to trust that the hole will be there with the read, and we are still kind of working through that but I would like to see them get a little bit more consistent.

On coming together upfront…
It's a work in progress. There have been some days where you turn on a rep and it's like this is it, we've got it, these guys are starting to get it, and then sometimes it's one step forward and two steps back with it, and that happens, just learning some of this wide-zone stuff that we're teaching them, it's just maybe a little bit different than what they've done in the past. Just getting those guys when they go out in live situations, to trust their technique. That is something that we are working through. We are seeing the growth, it's just that process of ups and downs. But the guys have had a great attitude and they are putting in time away from it and we have seen it improve as we have gone through the first 11.
The first group, there have been maybe 7-8 guys cycling through there. And the second and third group, it's guys trying different positions, working different guys at center. Everyone is just getting used to it.

On erasing the past teachings on the offensive side…
I think there are some things you want, at least situationally, that you would love to see them be able to stick with. But there are some new schemes and new techniques and a detail here and there that's different. For some of the veteran guys that have been doing it, it can be challenging because they have reps doing something a certain way, and we are in that process now of getting them to trust this thing and trust this concept or technique. It isn't going to look perfect the first couple of times, but keep working at it, particularly in the individual sets. I think those guys have been able to see the progress a little bit, where they're buying into it. We're still a work in progress.

In between spring ball and fall camp, they have got to spend a little time on their individual technique. You get a lot of really good teaching clips to where those guys are able to understand what they have to do on their own.

On looking for a certain type of receiver in his offense…
Really, our best available guy. We have had some guys who have been bigger and more possession guys that can go make plays on the ball and then we have had some guys that were smaller, speed guys. For us, we like a good mix in speed and size and we would love to get the guy that has some speed and size. Coach Hawkins and I have talked a little bit about that. I just like the variety. We definitely want some speed and someone that can take the top off of the outside and then you also want someone who, like Nick Marsh, who has some size and some length to him, where you need a guy to go win on a slant, or a stop route on a third-down situation, and go make a play on a 50-50 ball, he can go win a 1-on-1 matchup for you. I just think a variety of different skill sets and I think we have that here right now, and we will be in the recruiting process still looking to build on that and add more talent in the room.

After watching the MSU film and watching people who have made a lot of progress…
Michael Masunas, the tight end, has really flashed and done some really nice things. (Jaron) Glover was someone we were really excited about and we are really challenging him on consistency. He has really flashed and done some good things, but trying to get him to be that everyday and step into that role. Montorie Foster is another guy who has had a lot of experience. We have moved him around in some different spots to see what he can do and I have really been pleased with what he has done. There is a list of guys, where we saw flashes of it on film, but we just got to get them to be more consistent with what we are doing.

Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Brian Wozniak

On did he remember Michigan State from his time as a player at Wisconsin…
I remembered it far too well. This was one of my first visits in the recruiting process. I remembered being called into Coach Dantonio's office when he lived in a nearby town. They ended up taking Dion Sims who was a pretty good tight end for you guys. Obviously the college experience; the games and battles against Michigan State, I've tried to forget because they were so painful. One of the teams I remembered having a losing record against in my four to five years at Wisconsin. I remembered a lot about this place, dang good teams, tough teams, blue collar teams, kind of right up our alley.

On the tight battles he had against MSU…
Yeah, the one year, Michigan State won on a Hail Mary, that was a killer (2011 vs. No. 4 Wisconsin in Spartan Stadium). We lost on two Hail Mary's on back-to-back weeks that year. Then playing them in the Big Ten Championship, it was just a battle. Those were some awesome games and what the Big Ten is all about. This place was rolling then.

On the how much the staff been relying to him to learn the Big Ten ways…
We've been fortunate. We got Joe [Rossi], we got Chad [Wilt], so it doesn't fall all on my shoulders. Coach Smith studied; if you know anything about Jonathan Smith, he's going to be five steps ahead of you. He's studying it and doing what he needs to do. For me it's just everyday you come in with a smile because you're back in these roots. My family is coming up this weekend, another set of family coming up next weekend. We didn't get that luxury when out West.

On reestablishing the recruiting infrastructure in the Midwest…
Absolutely. I'm from Ohio. I go back to when this place was rolling, a lot of that roster was Michigan guys in bulk, but there were a lot of Ohio guys too. We can't take everyone from Michigan and Ohio, but we want to be aggressive in those areas. So that's been fun.

On how Michigan State been received during his time at Ohio high schools…
I think it's been good. I think it's great to see Sparty back in schools. I think it's been good painting these Midwest schools in green a little bit. Letting people know we're here and ready.

On his ideal profile from the tight end position…
I think the best way I describe it, I'm a hooper. I loved hoops growing up, like most tight ends we all thought we we're going to be hoopers, right? No, you're 6'5". There's not a lot of 6'5" guys in the NBA. The best way I like to describe it is that power forward position, then that three guard; someone who can slash going through the lanes, ability to be off the ball more. So you mix those two, the harder for the defense to defend.

On when he decided he wanted to be a coach…
Right away. I was fortunate to have an all-time high school coach Andrew Marlatt (Loveland High School in Ohio). Then through the recruiting process I had an awesome coach in Joe Rudolph; Paul Chryst was the offensive coordinator at the time. Those personalities surrounding me and how they did it, it influenced me. I knew early on in college, freshman and sophomore year. I love ball. I know sports. I don't want to sit in an office and wear a suit. This is what I want to do. Just the connection with these kids, even with a new set of kids, I don't know all of them, but I dive in. That's what makes this profession fun.

On what he seen from Michael Masunas and the rest of the tight end group…
The group overall, been pleasantly surprised really. I'll start with Michael. I didn't have a lot of tape on him. I think he battled some injuries early on in his time here. He's smart, he's into it, football IQ, he's a tough guy but he's not a one trick pony. Down the list, Ademola [Faleye] has been a surprise. Just building him up. He looks different, he's 252 pounds right now and can still move. Jack Nickel in there getting physical. Obviously having (Jack) Velling the last two years, we knew what we were going to get, but we still push him to take another step in his game.

On how Jack Velling does being Aidan Chiles' security blanket opens everyone else up on the offense…
I think the coolest thing about Velling is how he is as a teammate. I think he's a great player don't get me wrong. He's always going to be that approachable teammate. I think having that aspect to his game, he's going to help the guys around him. For all these quarterbacks we tell them in the tight end room, we are their security blanket. That is our goal in the pass game. What that means is the details in our game. When they see us fighting and clawing on having the details in our game, hopefully it pans out, quarterbacks recognize it and they start coming to us more.

On what it means to him having Jack Velling following him to Michigan State…
It's great. I think in coaching, everyone has a different approach but the connection with players is always important. Having a deep enough rooted connection for him to be interested in coming out here and being away from home is awesome. Trust in his parents, trust in him for moving to Michigan, that's awesome. At the same time, I gave him the same tone, we're coming out here to work, get better and improve. Not only individually but as a team. That's the kind of guy who buys in and makes it easier for me.

On if Tyneil Hopper has been working out with the group…
No. He's still working his way back. I haven't seen him out there yet. He's working though, I saw him getting a little sprint in out there today. (Note: Tyneil Hopper suffered a season-ending injury during Week 3 of the 2023 season and has received a seventh year of eligibility from the NCAA for the 2024 season).

On his thoughts of the first scrimmage…
We got to be better. That's the great thing about the first scrimmage, ball security pops up for us. First time being tackled. I think too is just live reps, what happens to those details. You can't lose the details because now it's live, it's a process to it. There are some positive things, we're not going to dwell on the negatives.

On improving Jack Velling's blocking…
I think he's being tough on himself with that. He can improve but he's done a pretty good job this spring. I do think anytime you bring a kid to college and running the schemes we are, the blocking is always going to be second. It's hard to teach, hard to get comfortable with and a lot of muscle memory. I do think the guys are trying to make that a part of their game. No block, no rock.

On when will Brennan Parachek will be available…
Hopefully soon. I think he's scheduled to be out rolling in sometime of May or June. We're excited to see him running around. That's one of those guys where football speaks to him. I know he's itching to get going. He's a big talented kid and can definitely help us.

Wide Receiver Alante Brown

On the process of being acquainted with the coaching staff and learning a new system…
Just getting the chance to start over. The coaches since they came in been harping on details. Everybody has the opportunity to showcase their skills throughout spring ball.

On his takeaway from last season…
Football is a learning experience. You live and you learn. You come in and watch film from last year, see how you can do better and make sure you don't make the same mistakes as last year. Be the better player as you were before. Last year is behind me, the new staff is allowing me to come in and make plays and that's what I'm focused on.

On what were some of the lessons he learned from last year…
Being fundamentally sound and using my technique. Listening to coach when he talks, allowing me to dial in and pay attention on what he's asking for.

On how it's like working with his fourth quarterback in Aidan Chiles…
They all can ball. You want to get chemistry with each one. You don't want to favor one guy, we just work with whoever is throwing that ball, we just want to be on the same page. They have to be fundamentally sound and we do too in order for the play to work.

On his early takeaways of Aidan Chiles being a leader…
He knows the system; he came with the coaches. Very, very exciting guy. Good thrower. Got some height seeing over the line. Got a good arm, very accurate and he can make plays with his feet. He's a very versatile guy who can make it happen all-around. With him knowing the system we can go back and piggy-back what he sees or feels.

On the changes he seen from the program from being recruited to now…
It's like a full circle for me. It's my dream school since coming out of high school, it happened that I didn't come here (at first) but it's a blessing to be a Spartan right now. We want to get it back to a winning culture and keep balling.