Aggie coaches, players assess spring's results

Kevin Sumlin

On the crowd…

“It was a great atmosphere. I guess they hadn’t planned on opening the third deck and there was no other place for people to go. We’re really appreciative of our fans showing up. It’s a beautiful day; the weather was great. For our team, players, coaches, that’s a big deal. There was some excitement in the air and I know that our players, when they came out, where extremely appreciative of our fans coming.

“Hopefully we put on a decent show today. We couldn’t do everything we wanted to do, but I thought there were some good things that happened today, good competition today. There were some young players, some guys who’ve been role players that were kind of forced to be (key players). Derel Walker is one of those guys, Nate (Askew) is mad because he said in the second half he would have had three more sacks but they didn’t blow the whistle. He’s a guy that’s showed some flashes today.  The two tight ends.

“Our running backs have things that you can see, there’s room for all of these guys and we’re going to need them in a league like the SEC. They all have skillsets that can help us win. I was happy to see Tra Carson and Brandon Williams really get some action. For two guys who sat out last year, they really want to play football. Trey Williams has picked up where he left off at the Cotton Bowl and Ben Melina is still a really steady workhorse guy.

“So, we’ve got some guys who we’re utilizing and they have talent. We’re going to need all of them going through the season.”

On how this team compares to last year’s team…

“We’re playing ourselves. Personally, I don’t do a lot of comparisons between teams. You certainly can’t say much about who you are. We’ve got 11 starters back, it’s a different team. We’ll know more as the season gets ready to start.”

On Brandon Williams today…

“The guy’s got all kinds of energy, he’s got a real gear with the ball, he can run. He’s more of a slasher. He can get to the outside. As he continues to get stronger, he’ll probably become a more physical type of guy. They like to call him slim for a reason. He needs to continue to eat and get in the weight room. That has to be every morning — what’d you eat yesterday? He’s a different kind of guy, great to be around. He’s fun. There are certain players who are contagious with their energy because they like to play the game.

“One thing everybody jokes about with the position coaches, Coach McKinney’s got a pretty good deal, because those guys like to play. There’s no moping, it isn’t like, ‘Oh Coach, we don’t want to practice today.’ It doesn’t matter what we are doing. Brandon Williams, Trey Williams, Ben Melina, Tra Carson, if you were to roll out a basketball and say 'Hey, let’s play 4 on 4,’ they’d do that too. So, they’re competitive, but they’re also guys help each other and you see that out there.

“When you start building a program and you have players who are that caliber of a player, when you see the unselfishness of them blocking for each other and being the first to congratulate the other guy when he scores, that’s a big deal. That’s what you know you’re getting."

On Williams’ ability to be a gamechanger…

“I think we have a few guys like that. I think there are. We know what Trey Williams can do in a game, we’ve got to get these two playing in our system, being comfortable so that they know what they’re doing. They were a lot better today at knowing what they’re supposed to do than they where at the start of the spring. In pass protection, finding the seams.

“I think the first week, Tra Carson and Brandon Williams tried to score every time they got the ball, bouncing it, trying to outrun people. That’s what happens when you sit out a year. They’ve been either Auburn, Mississippi State, or Alabama, whoever we’re playing that week, for a whole year. Now, they are Tra Carson and Brandon Williams, and that’s going to take some time to get used to. We’ve got 28 practices before the first game, but they’ve come a long way."

On what he saw from the defense…

“I think the movement of Nate Askew is going to pay dividends. He’s one of the best athletes on the team. He really did some good things off of the edge rushing the passer. The thing is, when you look at our defense, we have three of our front seven not playing this spring. Kirby Ennis wasn’t in there today, he’s missed the spring after a knee operation at the end of the season. Julien Obioha didn’t go through the spring. Who am I missing? Oh yeah, Steven Jenkins. These guys don’t practice for me, so I forget about them.

“So you’ve got three of your front seven not playing. That’s really hard, tough on our defense, but in the long run it’s going to help us because they guys that we gave reps, all of them — not part of them — it’s going to help the evaluation process, and make it easier. Some guys got better because of that, and some guys didn’t get better. They have a long ways to go and they had opportunities to show that. The good news is we’ve got some guys who are on the way in June. We’ll have to play some young guys up front, but that’s where it is.

“You know me, I’m a glass half full guy. The real problem with me is if we didn’t have anybody on the way. We’ve got three guys who are coming back in the front seven. Jordan Points is playing defensive tackle and he’s really a defensive end. So, we’ll move him back outside. Alonzo Williams has gone through spring, but he didn’t play today. He’s another freshman from last year who, for the last five games of the year (played), and started the Cotton Bowl as a replacement for Julien Obioha. There are just some who weren’t out there today and we’ll have more depth."

On Johnny Manziel’s play…

“I don’t know, I thought early he operated in the pocket pretty well, threw some good balls on time. He got out and made some things happen. The big thing was, with that first group, with the exception of the celebration calls, we had one holding. The ball was moving, there weren’t a lot of balls on the ground, no sloppy penalties, no 10-12 men on the field. I thought the first group really moved efficiently. I thought we moved with dispatch, the tempo and the timing was good.

“We have a QB who understands the offense now, but a new center. You can’t get the ball at that tempo without the center getting you the ball. I’ve said it before, everybody asks me how Mike Matthews is doing, as long as you keep asking that, that means he’s doing good. If you don’t notice him, that means he’s doing a great job. From that standpoint, I thought the operational times, how he handled things, pushing the tempo, I felt he did what we asked him to do today. He threw some deep balls, threw it pretty well. I don’t know what the stats were, but when you come out of a game like that it’s pretty interesting because I get to be an innocent bystander and watch.

The two things that I was looking for — well, three things: Number one was effort; the style of play, it was not a sloppy game; and the ball wasn’t all over the place. We didn’t have turnovers, guys fumbling all over the place, battered balls, anything like that, interceptions. I thought the QBs threw the ball well. Our defense tackled pretty well today, no one was hurt seriously. We had one guy, Tommy Sanders had an MCL sprain, non-surgical, so he’ll be all right. If it was going to happen, it needed to be today so he has plenty of time to heal."

On what he saw from the offensive line…

“I think they all fit together. That five that started the game, have been together all fifteen practices. In my opinion, Ced is at his natural position, he’s a tackle. It’s different out there. Jake moving over has been good for us. Germain Ifedi is really coming on. As a guy who traveled with us every game last year but we didn’t play him. Physically, he probably could have played last year. He redshirted, he’s gotten his weight down from 330-something, and know he’s at 315. He looks good, looks more athletic.

“I wish I could say that about a bunch of people from here on out. We got him down from 330 to 315. If you hear me keep saying that for the next few years, then we’re headed somewhere, instead of just one guy. He’s done well, he’s got four years of eligibility. Mike Matthews has moved in there at center. No one has talked about Jarvis Harrison — he’s probably had his best spring yet. He is at 325.

“We've got some good size, some good athletic guys out there. It’s the old classic statement, what you’re looking for is not five pegs, but for that line to work like a nickel. The continuity of them being able to go all fifteen practices this spring only helps us.”

“I think he continued to improve. I think what you saw today, there was improvement in the pocket, ball on time, rhythm he took care of it today. There was a play where he took off and ran, got out of the pocket and wasn’t careless with it. That’s what we’re working on, and I think the best part of it is the operational time. When we asked him to play action, I thought he was very good mechanically, ball fakes, setting his feet, throwing the ball on time. Just things we’ve been working on throughout the spring. I think that showed today.

“As we keep going down the road, it’s not just the QB, it’s going to be the incorporation of some of these young receivers. We move Mike Evans around a little bit and move people to the position they need to be, and help them. It’s the whole passing game, but there are more people on the field than just him that have to continue to get better, that we ask to get better, and there are guys who are getting better.”

Clarence McKinney

On the day's overall results...

“We didn’t turn the ball over. We did turn it over on downs but no interceptions, no fumbles. Penalties were things that you can’t control sometimes. No major penalties. No false starts.”

On Brandon Williams’ day and his role…

“Brandon Williams is very talented. He’s a home run threat from anywhere on the field. The thing he needs to work on is his ball security and his pass protection. He’s gotten a lot better during the year with his protection. We’ll still work on him with his ball security. Today we thought he had a pretty decent day. He ran the ball well. He didn’t try to do too much. Protection wise he has been pretty good. We didn’t ask him to do too much.”

On Johnny Manziel's progress in the offense…

“Well one of the things with this offense, having been in it for five years, going on my sixth year, one of the things that you notice when you get a guy in his second year in this offense, he has a better understanding, a better feel for where we want things to check to to get us in the right play. Johnny has an understanding of what we are doing offensively. So I wasn’t really surprised.”

On being able to use all four running backs…

“We plan on it. In the past we’ve had a three man rotation that worked out pretty good for us. Adding a fourth guy, it’s a good problem to have. We’d rather have four than just one guy, but it’s a good problem to have. The thing about those four guys is that they all bring something different to the table. So depending on the situation, there’s plenty of plays for all four of those guys to get.”

On Mike Evans as an inside receiver…

“Mike, for us, is an outside receiver. It gave us an opportunity to put him inside and put a guy like Derel outside. Ed Pope kind of grew up and got some reps with the ones; so if we would have kept him on the outside, Mike would have been limited. On the inside those guys were able to get a lot of reps and get better throughout the spring.”

On keys for the offense and Manziel on Saturday…

“Just the whole operation of the offense. We’re an up tempo offense and you have to think fast and get everybody lined up and communicate different things at a high level. We think he did those things today on offense.”

On the other receivers in the spring….

“I think those guys are improving. They’re not nearly as good as we need them to be right now. I think this summer is very important for them to get faster, stronger, go out and run those routes and understand route-running and the offense.”

On Manziel’s play acting as a lead blocker…

“I told Johnny ‘Don’t ever do that again’. His instincts came into effect. He’s running out there trying to block for the guy, but we’re in the spring game. You don’t need to lose him on a busted play cutting one of our guys. We don’t want to see that.”

On Tra Carson’s role…

“Tra Carson’s a physical power back. He runs the ball really well between the tackles. He probably has the best hands of the group. So he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He does a great job in pass protection. He’s about 230 pounds. We feel like he can get those short yards for us as well.”

On the Taylor brothers in the spring…

“Well, I think they got better. Both of the young men have a lot of juice, they have a lot of quickness. Definitely should be able to help us out on third down come fall. We need to make them an every down kind of player. They’re not there yet.”

“Probably Tyrell, because he played a little more. He backed up Damontre. Tyrone’s a little bit bigger, but he still has the same kind of juice. But again, he didn’t play last year. So, pleased we have both those guys on our defense because they do have some juice, but they need to become every down kind of players.”

On all players being back for fall including Kirby Ennis…

“Kirby is actually ahead of everybody else, but yea we expect him to be back along with all three of them up front.”

On the play of the secondary…

“I’ve been pleased with them this spring. That needs to be our strength. I thought we needed to improve our tackling. We’re so ahead of where we were last year, it’s not funny. And we’re actually getting interceptions now. Some of our scrimmages that you guys haven’t had the chance to come to, we’re actually picking the ball off. We need to create more turnovers and that needs to be our strength. Those guys have all played."

On Nate Askew…

“You know what, I’m pleased. We found a role for him, I think. He’s continued to come on. He got better each and every day in spring practice, and I think he’s having fun. He’s got new life, and he’s found a way that he can help this football team. We still have a lot of two-a-days to go through for him. In our sub packages he may bring something to the table; we’re sitting here thinking we’re going to play a freshman when we get to our sub packages, and he’s done pretty well.

“Did pretty well today, too. The good thing about us with the Taylor twins and a guy like Nate, I think our offensive tackles are pretty dadgum good. When we can do some things against our guys, that gives you a glimmer of hope that, maybe some time here in the fall, these kids’ juice can help us a little bit.”

“Not at that position, no. The only one at that position right now are Donnie and Tommie, because they play a whole lot of football. Howard’s doing a pretty good job helping Floyd get lined up. He and Donnie Baggs are the loudest you get from spring practice, because they are getting people lined up because we have people that haven’t played. Floyd’s in a new position and everybody up front is brand new because of all the injuries. So, been pleased from Howard and Donnie in both those roles.”

Johnny Manziel

On the amount of fans present and his excitement...

"It was good. I've been at two spring games now and, just how that one was compared to the other one, it was unreal to have that kind of support. Running out of the tunnel, it almost feels like a real game. I actually was on the defensive side for a while because I felt like it was a real game. I didn't even know maroon was on one side and white was on the other."

On the buzz around the program...

"It's awesome. I was talking to a friend the other day, just being at the Ranger game, even though I was just throwing out the first pitch, the sea of maroon you'd see, I don't think it's been like that in the past. The support we get today ... I was talking to the refs after Brandon (Williams) did his little dance after the touchdown and I kind of said, 'Hey, we're going to celebrate every time. We don't get to be on ESPN every day like this. We might as well have fun with it. Everyone's here to have fun. It's spring ball. It's our last day to go out and show what we've been working. We were going to have fun with it regardless."

On the coaches getting onto him for throwing a block...

"They were just more worried about me being safe and careful. I went up and apologized to Sam after it. The way I am, the way my motor drives me, it was an instant play. As soon as I got back to Coach Sumlin, he was shaking his head and wasn't happy about it. But it was just more 'in a game this is how it's going to be' and it naturally took over for me. As soon as I did it, I immediately regretted it. But it was just how competitive I am, I wanted him to score no matter what. It was a mistake, but it was my competitive nature taking over.

"It was just natural instincts taking over. I didn't mean to do it. It was like when I ran into Ced or Jake during the Alabama game and the ball popped up. It was something that just happened."

On the stable of running backs A&M has and Brandon Williams in particular...

"Awesome. It's impressive. He's a great guy that works hard and he's one of my favorite people on the entire team. Just since the day he's got here, he's been that way. He's a workhorse. Trey Williams is a freak athlete and Tra Carson ... they can all get in different packages and they're all competing to see who gets on the field more. It's rare — you don't see that in many places around the country."

On how the offense is more understandable in the second year...

"Things are just slowing down for me. With Coach Snyder and what they do, they really throw the whole kitchen sink at us. They really, really disguise blitzes, roll coverages, do things, and today was more of a base. So for me to be able to see things and just go through the reads, that means we're doing the right things and running the right routes and people are getting smarter about not running into people and getting yourself covered, finding a hole and when that comes together you can be really special."

On the experience on the line that A&M has even with Luke Joeckel's departure...

"We're always going to miss Luke. We're always going to miss Luke, not only as a football player but being around the locker room. To be able to move Jake over from right to left and slide Ced to where he's more naturally fit  (at tackle), having those two guys and having Jarvis, who have played, with that experience they can really help out. Mike Matthews, the last name kind of speaks for itself. He works hard, he takes after his brother and he's going to be a really good player."

On his summer plans...

"I'm taking classes this summer, here are A&M, and I'll head out to Coach (George) Whitfield probably around May 10-20, somewhere around there, play some golf with my dad and have a family vacation and a week of working way more than what me and Coach Whitfield did last year. It's on a more serious level now, it's almost on a personal level with the kind of stuff that's being tossed around. My arm strength, this and that. It's getting kind of personal between me and him. We're going to get after that."

On what he's going to work on...

"Mechanics, seeing things, when the blitz comes, making sure I take my eyes off downfield and focus on things, evading the pressure. Don't want to take away what comes naturally to me on the football field, but having the ball really shoot out, sling out, that can always help. The conversation he and I had with Alabama was slaying the dragon. Now there's a big dragon out there for us with all the people that were doubting A&M and all the people that were doubting me and that last year was a fluke. That's the chip on my shoulder and that's the dragon we want to slay this year."

On what they accomplished this spring...

"Today was a good day. I told Coach McKinney and Coach Sumlin that it was really good for me to be able to go through my reads, do this, do that, one safety blitzing, whatever. It was good for that. As we progressed into a game setting, seeing our receivers, hooking up when we needed to, not being covered, that's what I wanted to see. Young guys learning and getting better. We got a lot better."

On how he performed and how he'll avoid a sophomore slump...

"Not pay attention to the sophomore slump or whatever. People said there was a freshman or Heisman hangover and that was whatever. I'm not worried about that. We're in this together and we're ready for this summer to conquer the task we have in front of us. I felt like today was what we needed as a team, both offense and defense."

On how much better he thinks he can get...

"We'll see how it looks after I get back from San Diego. There's plenty of film to watch, there's plenty of room to get better, there's plenty of time to spend up here with Coach Spav and talk to Kliff (Kingsbury) and pick his brain about stuff. He's still like an older brother to me. There's offenses around the country. We used to go back and look at what Geno (Smith) and West Virgina would do last year. There's plenty of room to do it in the film room and I think the physical stuff and the mechanics will come when I head out during the summer to Coach Whitfield and then when I bring that back and make sure we're all on the same page."

On one other receiver not named Mike Evans who impressed him...

"Derel Walker. I think he did a really good job. I think he filled a  void we needed there when Ja'Quay was new and really getting acclimated for a while to signals and this and that. I told Derel in the walkthrough today, 'If you get that look, you know what you're going to do. You're going to get inside and score a touchdown.' That was the first touchdown of the day. He's running better routes, getting a better feel for the game and that's impressive."

Deshazor Everett

On the secondary becoming a group of ballhawks...

"We're trying to play together more as a group, get on the same page and disguise more. Getting our assignments and getting on the field, it gives us more ability to disguise. We're all trying to work together."

On what his biggest focus was this spring and how he feels it went...

"Biggest focus for me was to get better than I was last year. Everybody wants to get better, but as a unit, I knew we had to tackle better. Last year we didn't tackle well, and we knew we could have. We didn't play as well as we could as a secondary. Coming into the spring we wanted to get better overall as a unit, as far as getting takeaways and causing turnovers."

On getting turnovers against the first team...

"It's hard to disguise against Johnny because he waits and lets everyone move. He's a good quarterback to go against, as far as just getting takeaways and moving around."

On where De'Vante Harris has improved...

"Tackling and confidence. He's always been a confident player but he's more confident now as far as coming up and making tackles. If you're confident in making the tackle, you'll make the tackle. If you're a smaller guy, you need to put on weight, but as long as he's confident ... I'd put him up against anybody."