WATCH: Sumlin, Allen, Obioha put wraps on Spring '15

Kevin Sumlin

On accomplishing things on the field this spring…

“The primary goals were ... also trying to get numbers in our secondary and find out who’s who on the offensive line. Mike Matthews being out allowed us to work out Stuckey at center and he developed and is in position to be a backup center and compete for a starting guard spot. We have pieces in place and now the challenge as we move into summer conditioning, working out and getting stronger and making sure we’re where we need to be to find a solid 22 on each side this year.”

On Speedy Noil’s situation…

“Speedy has some things he has to complete. We had a discussion a week ago Monday. He’ll be back this week but we’ve asked him to do some things. He’ll be back this week. While he’s doing that, he’s been away from the program. Not (health-related). He’s responded well and doing what we asked him to do. There’s more to it than just playing football. Guys mature at different times and you hope to put some things in place to make sure guys understand what is expected from them. Sometimes, when you take football away from them and get them away from the team, the point is made. He’s doing what we’ve asked him to do and I would look for him to be back with us sometime this week.”

On the changes during the offseason how it has taking form during spring ball…

“We have a lot of pieces and more coming in. Philosophically, we’ve made changes this spring that will help us on offense and defense. We’re in really good shape. The coaching staff is excellent and we’re starting to add depth. In June, I’ll have a little better feel for where we are. We have pieces … a lot of them didn’t practice. Three starting linebackers, center, running back, leading TD guy at WR … all were out. That’s the bad news.

"The good news is that we were able to develop guys like Stuckey or Richard Moore. A lot of guys got more reps. James White came to the forefront as a bigger back. We know a lot of guys that were out can play. And the young guys got a lot of snaps and they’ll be better for it. So you would like to think that going into fall, we’ve created more depth with the football team.”

On the improvement of Kyle Allen…

“He’s going to continue to get better. I have to kick myself … I keep forgetting he’s only been here a year and two months. I feel like the guy has been here forever and he’s only started four or five games. I’m as hard on him as anybody but really he’s a young guy. I have to hold myself back because I talk to him like his been here for three years and he should understand this and that. To his credit, part of the reason for that is how he responds. He’s a very mature kid … that’s kind of an oxymoron. Somebody will catch it on the Internet (laughter). The way he conducts himself … he’s very mature and can talk with you. The leadership role is (big) and he’s established himself. He’s the MVP of the bowl game and it started with him being in tears when I told him he wasn’t starting. It increased his confidence and now in the offseason, the QBs start to run things with 7-on-7. That will naturally push him into more of a leadership role.”

On the progress of the cornerbacks…

“De’Vante (Harris) is 180 pounds, which is a miracle I think. We’ve been on him about that since he’s been here. And also, time is ticking. All of a sudden, a guy looks up and realizes, ‘Hey, I have one more year of football.’ He’s practiced very well this spring. Victor Davis showed signs of getting better. We have to have some other guys come on, whether it’s Tavares Garner and other guys who have shown flashes but aren’t consistent. And that is what the offseason is for. Skill guys can work at their craft all summer. Now that we have a scheme in and they’ve been coach and know what the calls ar, now they can go out and play.”

On the improved health of corner Noel Ellis, who is playing with type-1 diabetes…

“He’s a tough guy. Here’s a guy that, I hate to say it, almost died last year. We didn’t know what was going on with him. He lost a bunch of weight and we admitted him into the hospital. He’s back now and battling and has gained his weight back. He’s a heck of an athlete and a tough guy. He just keeps going out there on the field. He wants to play badly … whether it’s nickel or corner. He’s had to come off the field some but I don’t know that I would still be playing with that. We’ll keep an eye on him and he loves to play the game. I’m glad he’s on the team.”

On the positive outlook at safety…

“Our safety play will be dramatically improved. Armani (Watts) finished up very well and Donovan Wilson didn’t get to practice after a shoulder surgery so we were able to get (Justin Evans) in there and get snaps. I think we’ll be solid at safety.”

On the excitement surrounding the upcoming completion of Kyle Field…

“I see it every day because we’re redoing our offices. I’m over in a suite in the North Zone so for the last two months, I’ve watched the whole (stadium) come up. It’s going to be great. I’m a lot less worried about this year than I was last year because there is only one side.”

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Kyle Allen

On how he'd grade his spring...

"My spring, I'd probably give it a B, B+. I worked through a lot of things, learning a lot of new stuff in the offense with the run game and stuff like that and going against a good defense in Coach Chavis' defense, a great SEC defense. I'd say it was a struggle in the beginning for everyone on offense, but then once the O-line started coming together, the receivers and me, you could see it today — we worked out really well today and did pretty good."

On the tweaks in the run game...

"It's huge. The run game has been huge for us. I'm not sure if y'all were out there but every time we play fast and gash them and gash them, and then we'll hit a 60-yard run. We used to never do that last year. The running backs are seeing the field a lot better and we can run basically any play whenever we want. It's a lot easier on me, too."

On where he's improved most from the start of the spring until now...

"I feel, for me, it would be my eyes, looking down the field and trying to hold safeties and stuff like that, and my pocket presence. It's been a tough spring with all the blitzes they've been pulling and our O-line starting to get together without Mike (Matthews) out there, but I think that helped me out so much with my pocket presence, which is something I feel like I struggled with last year, so that'll help me out a lot during the season. And we're not going to face many defenses like that, too, so it'll be a lot easier."

On whether he feels, as Kevin Sumlin alluded to, like he's been here longer than he has now...

"Yeah. Especially since last year I came in vying for the starting job from the start, too. It feels like I've been maturing quick. I came in at 17 years old trying to get the starting spot; it's just a very maturing process. And so, I get where he (Sumlin) comes from on that."

On what he'll be working on most from now on...

"For me it'll probably be working to gain a lot of weight. I'm trying to get up to about 210 for the season, just be a lot more solid and take hits a lot better, and just get better in the film room and stuff like that. You know, just be a better leader for these guys out here without the coaches out here, trying to be a leader in 7-on-7. But really it's going to be trying to gain a lot of muscle weight and get in the film room. I'm 204 now, I'll try to get up to 210, 212."

On how important the summer leadership is and will factor in...

"It's going to be big time. Last year we didn't really have a set starter at this time in the year, we were still battling it out, so guys didn't really know who to look to at times like this when we had no coaches around, and not many people stepped up last year. So, when we get out here it's going to help us improve a lot in what we're trying to do and what we're trying to accomplish, and during the season they'll know who to look to when in need."

On opening with Arizona State and the expectations for the season...

"Expectations are really high. Obviously, last year was a major letdown. Going 8-5 is not what we want to do here coming into the SEC. Arizona State is a very good team. I've been studying them a lot and watching their spring game. Their defense is going to be really good, it's going to be like our defense, so it's going to be a real good test. But I think we can weather any storm and with our team right now, how our defense and run game have stepped up, we'll be really good."

On how much of the NFL Draft coverage he'll be watching...

"It depends on how bored of it I get, to be honest. Probably about the first three or four picks." (Reporter: No, the MLB Draft.) "Oh, the Major League draft? That's up to them, I don't really care about that to be real honest with you."

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Julien Obioha

On the improvement of the defense…

“Coach Chavis said it correctly, we have a lot of pieces that need to come in but we have a also have a lot of great pieces. We’re moving in the right direction and that’s all that matters.”

On the defensive front…

“I’m very encouraged. We’ve got Myles (Garrett), we’ve got Dae Dae (Daeshon Hall) out there getting pressure off the edge and we’ve got me, Zo (Alonzo Williams), Zaycoven (Henderson) and Hardreck (Walker) putting pressure up the middle. Coach Chavis says it all the time, ‘The great defenses I’ve had had pressure coming from all over from the defensive line.’ So we have that and we have good linebackers behind us and defensive backs that can press. We have all the pieces we need.”

On cross-training at defensive tackle…

“The one thing I’ve been doing that’s really different for me is that I’ve been playing a lot of reps at tackle which has helped me get a lot more pressure on the quarterback. It’s a lot easier to rush a guard than a tackle, that’s the main thing. I’ve been working on my run stopping as a defensive end. Coach Chavis hasn’t really kept it a secret or anything that he wants me to be a run-stopping end and a pass-rushing defensive tackle, so that’s how my game has changed. I’m a hybrid type of guy now.”

On whether he’s talked to Spencer Nealy about training at both end and tackle…

“I would love to talk to Spencer Nealy about that, but I haven’t talk to Spencer in a couple of years which is kind of a shame.”

On being more aggressive as a defense…

“It’s the mentality and the way we play now. When Coach Snyder was here, we would do a lot of lateral and take up gaps, two-gap type of things but now with Coach Chavis, if you attack your guy the linebackers can attack their guy and it’s more about getting up field. If everybody gets up field, tackles for loss and sacks happen, so that’s why Coach Chavis has a great scheme.”

On whether he personally will be able to make more plays in the new scheme…

“Yeah, because in the old scheme it might be a lot of linebackers making tackles but now in this new scheme you see a lot of defensive ends and defensive tackles making plays because they’re getting upfield. I think I’ll have a lot more chances to make plays.”

On why he seems more invigorated than in interviews past…

“In years past when I would walk away from a scrimmage I might have a couple of tackles and a pressure, but this year when I walk away from a scrimmage I might have two sacks and eight tackles. It’s a lot different when your stat sheet jumps off the board like that.”

On what the defense needs to continue to do…

“Coach Chavis said it, we have a long journey and need to keep moving in the right direction. I think that’s the only thing we need to do. We have all the pieces and just need to keep moving in the right direction.”

On being part of the senior class that gets to open the renovated Kyle Field…

“It’s great, we have the best fans in the nation and that stadium is a tribute to that. We’re always grateful.”