Fall Camp Day 8: Hagen, Jenkins tackle linebacker unit

Mark Hagen

On overall analysis of practice thus far…

“I think its going good. We've got a couple of veterans out there, with Steven Jenkins and Donnie Baggs; I think those guys are doing a good job of leading and setting the tempo every day. We've got a great group of young guys who that haven’t been here — Tommy Sanders is still relatively new and he’s showing some real good flashes for us out there. After that, it’s kind of just sorting out all the freshman.

“I’ve been really encouraged with the three guys who came in in June — Jordan Mastrogiovanni, Darian Claiborne and Shaan Washington. Those guys have really jumped out and it's just a matter of putting all those pieces together. Like I said, it’s a puzzle right now, but encouraged with the older guys. We just got to keep bringing it everyday.”

On importance of Steven Jenkins' role on the defense…

“It’s a lot better. That’s what I kept telling myself in the spring, that we've got a returning starter that’s played a lot of football and been very productive. Steven is the type of guy that doesn’t say a whole lot, sort of leads by example, and the thing that I’m trying to get him to do is to talk more — because these guys certainly respect his game and the fact that he’s a senior, and that he’s been through the ups and the downs.

“That’s a part of the game I’d like to see him give a little more of himself, but it's great having him out there. Again, he is a very productive linebacker and he certainly knows the system, and we're going to put him in the right positions where he can make some plays for us.”

On concern replacing leadership in the linebackers from last season…

“Well the fact that those guys played a lot of football and were two of the leaders of the defense, I don’t think you can just, overnight, replace these guys. We got more bodies, we got more pieces to maybe fill in that depth with, but it’s a concern — I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t. I was told a long time ago, worry about the things you can control and I don’t think those guys are coming back with any eligibility.

“That we go out there everyday and it’s really trying bringing those young guys along. Like I said, I’ve seen some great flashes from them. There will be growing pains, that’s just part of dealing with young guys. We’re just trying to reduce those mental errors, those guys are all working hard, and like I said we’re just trying to sort out those pieces right now.”

On Donnie Baggs’ leadership potential thus far…

“Donnie came in at great shape. Obviously, Coach Jackson does a great job with all of our guys, you know we’re able to go out there and it seems we can run our guys all day. Our guys have got their legs, their stamina, and certainly going against our offense forces you to run around. With Donnie, like I said, he’s put on some good weight, he’s added some muscle, and he continues to be very vocal for us out there. We’re leaning on him as the vocal guy right now; again, Steven doesn’t talk a whole lot.

“The other thing that Donnie does, he really knows every linebacker position out there. He hasn’t played a lot of SAM, but the MIKE and the JACK position in our subgroups, he knows all those. He can be out there most of the time for us and he has been. That’s the thing that he has brought to the table. Still just needs to bring little pieces of his game, you can always, in my book, be a little more physical, and sometimes that’s hidden out there when you’re going against an offense that likes to spread the field.

"I've been pleased with the short yardage situation that we’ve worked and so forth. I’m encouraged that he’s going to have a big year for us.”

On how many freshmen will play this year at linebacker…

“It still remains to be seen. I feel really good about all five guys. I think the thing that’s jumped out to me are the three that just came in June have jumped out more in this first week and a half than the guys that were here in the spring. That’s not a knock on Reggie or Brett; I think that Jordan, Darian and Shaan have brought some juice to this position. Those guys can all run, they all bring a little different element to the game.

“So it’s too early to say right now, but a handful ... I could see three, four, maybe all five of them playing. A lot of it depends on the guys in front of them; you knock on wood that no one goes down with an injury, but we’re prepping all those guys in back up roles in order to step up, and if their numbers called then they need to perform.”

On Nate Askew’s progress…

“Nate is still just feeling his way. He’s learned a certain package for us, one of those sub packages. We asked him to really get good at a couple of things and now we’re trying to expand his game. We’re trying to put him in more base defensive looks and we’re trying to get him to step up and play a little more traditional linebacker — that’s new for him.

“I think every day is a learning day, he’s certainly very willing, so we’ll kind of see how it pans out. If it ends up being a sub package, I think he could still give us a bit of an edge when we go there. If he can expand his role and be out there more we’re going to use him.”

On Askew’s contribution…

“Absolutely. I’d be very disappointed if he doesn’t contribute to our defense.”

On working with Mark Snyder and his defense…

“The thing that’s unique about Coach Snyder is that I’ve never been around a coordinator that installs his whole defense in such a fast pace. There’s a method to the madness; we pretty much put everything in within a matter of three or four days. Then its see what sticks, certainly most of it sticks with the older guys. The other thing that I like about Mark is that every practice is game day, especially whenever we got to our 7-on-7 periods and our team periods.

“Nothing is scripted, it's all based on what the offense is putting out there and it's great training for him. So for me to sit there and watch him operate, he’s getting a feel for what our offense does. We might say, ‘Hey, these five plays will be in base, next five in penny,’ but the calls themselves are in a game like setting. I’ve learned a lot from him and just watching him perform day in and day out has been a lot of fun.”

Steven Jenkins

On how much he puts on his shoulders since Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart graduated…

“I put a lot on myself. I’m the leading guy. I’m just trying to get the young guys to get better and make sure they’re doing their assignments on and off the field, make sure they’re taking care of their bodies and doing the little things right.”

On his recovery from a torn labrum in the spring…

“I’m doing good. The rehab went well with my shoulder. Now, I’m just getting back in game speed and getting back in shape. You know, just trucking along. Ready for the season.”

On whether any specific younger guy is standing out to him…

“Right now, I’d say Tommy Sanders and Donnie Baggs. They’ve stepped up a lot. We got Darian Claiborne and … we’ve got a lot of guys stepping up (laughing). A lot of young guys.”

On how his role has evolved…

“I’m kind of adjusting more to a vocal leader. I don’t really talk much, so I kind of lead by example and show guys what needs to be done and how it should be done.”

On trying to be more vocal on the field…

“Just making sure guys know what they got to do. Little things like that: the assignments, the checks, the alignments. Little things like that.”

On the development of Nate Askew…

“Nate is great. He’s going to be a great guy. He’s big and physical. I think he’ll help us out on the outside for the linebackers.”

On whether he was surprised on Askew’s ability to make the adjustment from wide receiver to outside linebacker…

“Yeah, but you got to look at it; he’s kind of big, though, so he can be physical with the offensive linemen. He’s still got a lot to learn, but he’ll be good once the season starts, so he can develop more.”

On why he changed his number from 45 to 8…

“Last year, I tried to get it to a single-digit and they didn’t change it. Now, 8 was available, so they switched me to it.”
 

On comparing where he was when he got to A&M to where Tommy Sanders is right now…

“He’s kind of in the same spot when I arrived — around 205-210. That’s probably one of his big issues with staying healthy in the trenches of the SEC. It’s going to be tough. I told him he’s got a long way to go with it.”

On how different the speed of the game is from JUCO to Division I…

“Man, it’s a big difference. JUCO is more like high school; everyone’s scattered around. Now, it’s like, ‘You better strap it up and get ready.’”

“If you look like more of an athlete, you’ll stand out (laughing). But it’s good. I tried to get 2 last year, but that didn’t work out.”

On growing up watching the Florida Gators front seven on defense wearing single-digits…

“I was more of a Florida State fan. I don’t really like the Gators that much.”