Kevin Sumlin
Jeff Banks
Drew Kaser
Texas A&M Football
"So, we are down here to the end. You know we’ve got 12 practices and even though it’s taken some time it’s moved very quickly. We’ve got some guys out there that are getting some much needed reps and I think we’re improving.”
"So, Justin is really athletic has a lot of range, but again, he’s new and needs as many reps as he can get. But he’s gotten plenty this Spring and he needs to close it out and then go in to the summer and have a good summer conditioning and strength-training wise.
"We are going to have a lot of competition at the safety spot. Burns has been playing, has experience. Justin has had a good spring. Armani is getting back to real form. I think the competition has helped those guys and Donovan, you know, we will see when he gets here. Plus, the young guys we signed. So, you know, we will have plenty of bodies back there for the first time where there will be some real competition at the safety spot.”
"You know what I see is our fronts making each other better. I think when we bet out there and you got Daeshon Hall and Miles Garrett or Julian O. play a lot of football out there rushing on these ends, and inside Walker has improved and Lanzo is in there. So I think there, our fronts are being physical and getting better. You know we need to get all our linebackers back from a health situation, A.J. Hillard and Alaka and Josh Walker have been out, so it’s giving the new guys — Richard Moore is getting a lot of snaps, which has really helped, really pushed his development. But, Richard is in a situation unlike some of these other freshman that came in here, where Richard doesn’t have to hit the field right now.
"So to answer your question, I think schematically we’ve helped ourselves — but I think we’re helping both sides, if that makes sense.”
"That’s what spring football is about, finding out where, not just Ratley and Christian Kirk, who just got here are, but the guys who have been in this program like LaQuvionte Gonzalez, like Jeremy Tabuyo, like Frank Iheanacho. All these guys that are here: alright, Josh Reynolds is out, what are you going to do? In situations like that, that happen in a game, can we depend on you to be the player that we need you to be? So, we keep putting them in that position. Sabian Holmes, those guys like that, and Ed Pope. That’s a good thing to be able to do during the spring, because usually during the season it’s too late, it’s game time.
"So, just like anything else, some guys have shown up in that position, some have not. Pope can play, you know. He just needs to be consistent. Some of those other guys didn’t make that play on third down. And so, that’s not indictment on them, that’s why you practice and that’s why, hey, look, when we have guys out and we are maybe one, two short, we are going to put you in there with the ones and we are going to throw you the ball on third down. What can we count on?
"And that’s really what spring football is about right now for a lot of different people, not the newcomers, but the guys who have been in this program for a couple years who understand you are trying to prove to us that we can trust you in critical situations — and the only way to do that is through putting those people in critical situations in practice and seeing if they can handle them. So, to answer your question: some of them have, some of them haven’t.”
"But, it’s nothing that we don’t want to do, it’s just not a necessity and next year we will have a spring game. And everybody will complain, because we will water it down and we’ll split it up. So, maybe because of these last two years, they will just appreciate a spring game, how about that? So I don’t get ripped for watering it down and not doing this and that. Maybe a watered-down spring game is better than none, how about that.”
"The good news was, he remained our kickoff guy, and had a lot of success, and has been one of the most consistent and best kickoff guys in the country and the Southeastern Conference with – I don’t know – over 100-something touchbacks. So I think that’s a good thing, because there’s been times like in the bowl game, in the fourth quarter in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl two years ago where we needed the ball to be kicked out, and he kicked two out; and everybody was celebrating with him. So it wasn’t a field goal, but he still had the backing of the team. Then last year – same thing – he had some big games on the road like Auburn where we needed some deep kicks, and we were great in coverage because he kicked the ball off well. So he did have some success on the field; I think that’s the best part about it.
"The part we’re going to have to continue to work is: get him out there in training camp, put him in pressure situations. Without the stadium being done, which is going to be awesome when it is, we’re still have to try to create those environments of pressure. Then we’ll go down to Reliant, which is a great place – or NRG Stadium, which is a great place to start, because it’s indoors and have him have some success.
"Then we’ll bring in Daniel LaCamera, a kid we signed, that we’re really, really excited about that can do all three things, both kickoffs, field goals and punt. That’ll provide some competition for him. I think it’s always important to have competition. You saw what Josh Lambo did with it. He got an opportunity, went in, and now he’s kicked for half a dozen NFL teams in the last two weeks. He’s going to get his opportunity at the next level too.
"There’s some technical stuff that’s come up. You know, when you’re not the starter for the last two years, you’re not out there getting the reps, so we’re not watching your technique as tight. Now that we’re in spring ball and he’s getting all the attention, we’ve sat down – him and I – and watched some form stuff; and he’s reverted back to some things that made him unsuccessful. So we’ve kind of gotten some of that out of the way. We’ll finish strong next week, and then he’ll have a great summer. Then we’ll see what happens in the fall.”
"Then we’ll look at Kendall Bussey and (Jay) Bradford right out of the gate. You know, Jay Bradford, the running back, ran a sub-10.5 this weekend. As long as he can catch, you would think that he should be able to finish a return for a touchdown. So we’re going to, obviously, take a look at him, and see if he fits the skill set.”
WATCH: Sumlin, Banks, Kaser size up special teams
Kevin Sumlin
On how the guys look right now…
“They’re good, we scrimmaged a little bit tonight — really kind of a half-and-half practice — and I still have 55 live plays, not counting kicking. So, we want to do a bit of that and then we’re off this weekend, so they will get out of here and they have Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. Then, we’ll come back next week, and go Tuesday full pads, Thursday will satisfy the third non-padded practice and then we will scrimmage here next Saturday."So, we are down here to the end. You know we’ve got 12 practices and even though it’s taken some time it’s moved very quickly. We’ve got some guys out there that are getting some much needed reps and I think we’re improving.”
On the development of the defense…
“I think both sides are really throwing things at each other, so it’s been different success at different times. Some of the things that have happened playing some four down and some three down and moving fronts and things like that and some new themes offensively. So, yeah I think there’s been progress on both sides, because we’ve got completely new scheme and terminology defensively. Then really there’s some brand new terminology and some things schematically that are new. So, I have been pleased with the progress on both sides.”On Justin Evans’ development…
“He’s good, he was sick today he had some kind of bug that was going around. I hope it’s not strep or anything like that. But, for him not to go, he was pretty down. But, he’s having a great spring and I really think that’s really helped. Armani last Saturday was really really good, back in top form. You know we get Donovan Wilson back; Donovan weighed in the other day at 203, 205, which is big for him. So we’ll get him back this summer and they will look a little bit different back there in the back end, maybe, since I’ve been here."So, Justin is really athletic has a lot of range, but again, he’s new and needs as many reps as he can get. But he’s gotten plenty this Spring and he needs to close it out and then go in to the summer and have a good summer conditioning and strength-training wise.
"We are going to have a lot of competition at the safety spot. Burns has been playing, has experience. Justin has had a good spring. Armani is getting back to real form. I think the competition has helped those guys and Donovan, you know, we will see when he gets here. Plus, the young guys we signed. So, you know, we will have plenty of bodies back there for the first time where there will be some real competition at the safety spot.”
On his impressions of Dave Christensen…
“Well, I have known Dave for a long time. Whether he was at Missouri, whether he’s the head coach and we’ve coached against each other, we’ve recruited, we’ve done a lot of things. I’ve known Dave for a long time, I know how he does things, I know what his expectations are. I think schematically we’re doing some different things up front and that takes a little bit more time than maybe defensively. You know, 'Just go sic’em,' or they’re going sic’em and we’re trying to go block them with different schemes. So, it’s been high and low, but I think our guys have gotten comfortable with some of the schemes and that’s why we practice."You know what I see is our fronts making each other better. I think when we bet out there and you got Daeshon Hall and Miles Garrett or Julian O. play a lot of football out there rushing on these ends, and inside Walker has improved and Lanzo is in there. So I think there, our fronts are being physical and getting better. You know we need to get all our linebackers back from a health situation, A.J. Hillard and Alaka and Josh Walker have been out, so it’s giving the new guys — Richard Moore is getting a lot of snaps, which has really helped, really pushed his development. But, Richard is in a situation unlike some of these other freshman that came in here, where Richard doesn’t have to hit the field right now.
"So to answer your question, I think schematically we’ve helped ourselves — but I think we’re helping both sides, if that makes sense.”
On his thoughts on the receiving corps…
“I think Ricky has had a really good spring. I mean he’s had an exceptional spring. He’s been productive, I think he’s finally adjusted to the position — I think he’s adjusted to carrying that weight. I think he was about 232, which you know, you run around out there, that’s a big guy running around out there. So, understanding the position, number one, but we are going to continue to create depth and be able to move people around a little bit. We have got to have some other guys come on and be consistent. Josh Reynolds not being there has forced some guys into some positions to either make them comfortable or uncomfortable and some guys have responded, some guys haven’t."That’s what spring football is about, finding out where, not just Ratley and Christian Kirk, who just got here are, but the guys who have been in this program like LaQuvionte Gonzalez, like Jeremy Tabuyo, like Frank Iheanacho. All these guys that are here: alright, Josh Reynolds is out, what are you going to do? In situations like that, that happen in a game, can we depend on you to be the player that we need you to be? So, we keep putting them in that position. Sabian Holmes, those guys like that, and Ed Pope. That’s a good thing to be able to do during the spring, because usually during the season it’s too late, it’s game time.
"So, just like anything else, some guys have shown up in that position, some have not. Pope can play, you know. He just needs to be consistent. Some of those other guys didn’t make that play on third down. And so, that’s not indictment on them, that’s why you practice and that’s why, hey, look, when we have guys out and we are maybe one, two short, we are going to put you in there with the ones and we are going to throw you the ball on third down. What can we count on?
"And that’s really what spring football is about right now for a lot of different people, not the newcomers, but the guys who have been in this program for a couple years who understand you are trying to prove to us that we can trust you in critical situations — and the only way to do that is through putting those people in critical situations in practice and seeing if they can handle them. So, to answer your question: some of them have, some of them haven’t.”
On the cons about not having a spring game…
“You know, fans like to come out. I have been places where it wasn’t that big of deal. What did we have my first year, something like 30,000 or something like that? There were a lot of folks, I know that. So, it was a beautiful day and I think from that standpoint, you know, just bear with us, we will have the stadium next year. You know there was exposure there, it was a nationally televised spring game with 30,000 people here. So, from a exposure standpoint it’s good and from a fan experience standpoint I think that’s what you miss."But, it’s nothing that we don’t want to do, it’s just not a necessity and next year we will have a spring game. And everybody will complain, because we will water it down and we’ll split it up. So, maybe because of these last two years, they will just appreciate a spring game, how about that? So I don’t get ripped for watering it down and not doing this and that. Maybe a watered-down spring game is better than none, how about that.”
Jeff Banks
On Taylor Bertolet’s development…
“Well, he’s doing good; he’s doing really good. I think this experience he’s had over the past three and a half years – you know, it has been some ups and downs. So I think what concerns you the most is just getting back out in front of people in bigger crowds and having him have some success right away. Two and a half years ago, he was coming off the hernia, and he had a phenomenal training camp. And we were real excited about him coming through, and then all of a sudden, in the first three games, he had a couple issues. And then Lambo came in and took over."The good news was, he remained our kickoff guy, and had a lot of success, and has been one of the most consistent and best kickoff guys in the country and the Southeastern Conference with – I don’t know – over 100-something touchbacks. So I think that’s a good thing, because there’s been times like in the bowl game, in the fourth quarter in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl two years ago where we needed the ball to be kicked out, and he kicked two out; and everybody was celebrating with him. So it wasn’t a field goal, but he still had the backing of the team. Then last year – same thing – he had some big games on the road like Auburn where we needed some deep kicks, and we were great in coverage because he kicked the ball off well. So he did have some success on the field; I think that’s the best part about it.
"The part we’re going to have to continue to work is: get him out there in training camp, put him in pressure situations. Without the stadium being done, which is going to be awesome when it is, we’re still have to try to create those environments of pressure. Then we’ll go down to Reliant, which is a great place – or NRG Stadium, which is a great place to start, because it’s indoors and have him have some success.
"Then we’ll bring in Daniel LaCamera, a kid we signed, that we’re really, really excited about that can do all three things, both kickoffs, field goals and punt. That’ll provide some competition for him. I think it’s always important to have competition. You saw what Josh Lambo did with it. He got an opportunity, went in, and now he’s kicked for half a dozen NFL teams in the last two weeks. He’s going to get his opportunity at the next level too.
"There’s some technical stuff that’s come up. You know, when you’re not the starter for the last two years, you’re not out there getting the reps, so we’re not watching your technique as tight. Now that we’re in spring ball and he’s getting all the attention, we’ve sat down – him and I – and watched some form stuff; and he’s reverted back to some things that made him unsuccessful. So we’ve kind of gotten some of that out of the way. We’ll finish strong next week, and then he’ll have a great summer. Then we’ll see what happens in the fall.”
On players that will step up at gunner…
“Brandon Williams was on the other side (of Floyd Raven) at gunner. He made some big hits and big plays for us against Missouri. Obviously, we remember in the stadium he made a huge hit on Marcus Murphy. He’s coming back with a lot of experience, and then there’s the newcomer, Justin Evans. You can say a million things about him, and there all about how good he is as a player, being a coachable new player. He doesn’t say much – very talented, ultra-talented. He’ll play gunner, will be a returner for us on the punt return game; he’s shown some really good flashes out here so far. There’s really not much he can’t do – Justin Evans – I think the key’s going to be limiting the amount of what he does on special teams so that he can be great on defense and special teams. I expect him to step up and (Brandon Williams) to be that guy.”On the return game’s efficacy compared to last year…
“I don’t see why it shouldn’t be more. That’s been a big focus of us this whole spring is finishing. We had a bunch of returns that were significant – 30, 50, 70 yards – but we didn’t get in the endzone. I think all of us, collectively, players and coaches, know that, ‘Hey, we’re one block away.’ Or ‘We’re one cut-off-the -kicker away.’ So that’s all we’ve been really honing in on. The schemes will stay pretty much the same. Now we’ll just have to get better and finishing, and we’re trying to drive that home right now.”On the punt and kick returners…
“Because Speedy (Noil) had such a good year, as a coach coming back with the same guy, you don’t really need to see a ton out of him. You want to keep him sharp. You’re really looking to evaluate all of the other guys that hadn’t got on the field, and Christian Kirk and Justin Evans are the two newcomers that stand out. Nick Harvey’s talented with the ball in his hands. He had some good returns in some non-conference action for us early in the season. I see him stepping into another role that way, and then LaQuvionte (Gonzalez) has shown flashes. So that’s five guys; that’s pretty good."Then we’ll look at Kendall Bussey and (Jay) Bradford right out of the gate. You know, Jay Bradford, the running back, ran a sub-10.5 this weekend. As long as he can catch, you would think that he should be able to finish a return for a touchdown. So we’re going to, obviously, take a look at him, and see if he fits the skill set.”
On the differences between punt and kickoff returns…
“It’s a different deal. Punt returner, you’ve got to be a really, really good ball-skill guy that can judge a lot of different things, make good decisions, kind of be a leader in making decisions so the ball doesn’t hit somebody. Kick return’s a little easier. I like starting the freshman there more. That’s what makes Speedy’s year last year such a significant impact to us, because he really gave us some field position advantages in the punt return game and had to make some crucial decisions. He grew up throughout the season. He got on the road, had to play in some tough environments late in the SEC and made some good decisions with the ball – not picking up the ball, communicating with other players. He’s going to get better. His training camp will be important to see if we can’t get some touchdowns for him.”On Drew Kaser…
“We looked at the first four games last season, and it wasn’t as good as he wanted or I wanted from a distance and hang-time perspective. I think that’s where we saw a little drop-off. He got re-motivated. He really produced the last nine games, and now we’re back to really trying to be a professional about his job. I mean, he’s a senior; he’s had a lot of success, but yet he’s not as consistent as he wants to be and how we want him to be. He should win the Ray Guy Award; that’s his goal – not to become a finalist or not to not be mentioned in that. I think, as a junior coming off of success, he had to handle that. I think he’ll be better his senior year. Technically, he’s really, really good, and I think he knows what it takes to hit really good balls. So I’m excited to see him back there.”Drew Kaser
On his motivation after last year…
“I think that with every offseason and every season, there comes challenges. There are a lot of punts I’d like to have back last year and a lot of punts that were really good. You just have to try and move on from the bad ones and build on the good ones. My motivation is always to be the best, no matter what I do. So, I didn’t have as successful a year, in my opinion, as I did the year before. So I’m out here to work harder and be better for my team.”On common flaws throughout his bad punts…
“My rugby’s last year, my roll punts weren’t as consistent as the year before and that contributes to footwork and more emphasis on pocket punting. This offseason we’re working on everything being more well rounded and working a lot on the footwork and technique.”On who is long snapping…
“Austin Fry. He is a new guy this year, a freshman. He is taking over for Alex Freeman. Freeman was a great snapper, consistent, always got the ball there. Austin is a young guy with a lot of upside and potential, I think he’ll fill the shoes very well.”On the holder competition…
“It’s going well. Conner is a great holder and we have Shane Tripucka in there and new guys coming in. Taylor is Taylor, he is a great kicker. No matter who you have holding, I think he is going to be successful. He is a hard worker and he’s healthy. After sitting on the bench for the past year and half, two years, I think he is ready to get out on the field and kick. From the time we first got here, Taylor has been more confident this year than any other year in the past. I think that will contribute to how successful he is going to be this year.”Never miss the latest news from TexAgs!
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