Spring Day 13: Snyder, Hagen, Mastrogiovanni talk progress

Note: Due to technical difficulties Mark Hagen's interview is audio-only.

Mark Snyder

• Our goal coming was to raise our football I.Q. and we are doing that.

• Julien Obioha is fighting for his life, and competition is helping him.

• Jordan Mastrogiovanni, Shaan Washington and Justin Bass have also stepped up.

• Floyd Raven needs to keep coming, and I've been pleased with the two young corners.

• We need to find a backup MIKE linebacker — Chevis needs to keep coming. Those are my concerns right now: backup MIKE linebacker, safety and nickel.

• Mastro has had a great spring. He got a lot of experience last year. We're going to get Darian back, so I feel good about the linebackers.

• You can see the young guys start relaxing out there and having fun.

• Shaan Washington will take Nate Askew's place.

• There is no movement on Zaycoven when he is fresh, but right now he needs conditioning. He's at three plays, then done.

• Kids have bought in to Terry Joseph.

Mark Hagen

• Mastrogiovanni is a lot more comfortable. He certainly took a step forward in the bowl game. He is by no means a finished product, but he is more of a vocal leader out there. You see a totally different person out there.

• Hilliard has an extremely high skill set. It's just a matter of learning the system. He's got a real chance to play a lot for us this fall.

• Depth is better. We've made progress with the two deep.

• Donnie Baggs has finally found a home at SAM linebacker.

• Justin Bass has come on at WILL. He's been here a while but has been our most consistent tackler so far.

• Not having Darian out there certainly leaves a hole, but gives other guys experience.

• We need to find a way to get Tommy Sanders on the field because of his skill set. Being healthy is the biggest obstacle he has to climb. He gutted it out last year, but playing with a torn labrum was tough.

• Shaan Washington has become more vocal. We're getting guys to open their mouth and communicate. Leadership and communication go hand in hand. I think Shaan can be a very good player in the SEC. He isn't our biggest linebacker, but he is very physical.

Jordan Mastrogiovanni

• We've made a lot of progress this spring. Bass and AJ Hilliard have done really well also.

• Confidence is something I wanted to work on. I'm really trying to be a vocal leader and establish myself as a playmaker before I go into that role. Playing as a freshman will help carry over into next season.

• Sumlin jokes around with me about giving me voice lessons. I'm usually a soft spoken guy, but need to be loud on the field.

• Chevis has made a lot of strides. You don't see guys that hit like that everyday. It seems like he has no concern for his body, which is what you want in an SEC linebacker.

• I drive to compete with myself, not other people. I try to do my job to the best of my ability.

• I was four or five until I learned to spell my name.

• Deshazor Everett is another leader on this defense. Gavin Stansbury, Obioha are also. We don't single guys out. If someone wants to say something, we don't shoot them down.

• I grew up watching A&M and Big 12 football. I noticed guys like Dat Nguyen and Von Miller, and that's something we're trying to bring back. It would be special to bring back the Wrecking Crew.