Sumlin:
On the running backs: We were happy to get Mr. Boyd in here the other day. He's been in practice the past couple days and that's good. Obviously, James White is experienced and has been the leader of the group. Keith Ford has done some good things the last couple of days, so he's getting back into it; Kwame Etwi has some real tools, and we're lucky to have gotten him. Bussey had an excellent spring too. He's where he should be as a redshirt freshman, getting his strength back. Trayveon has some real top end speed. They're all a little difference. Clarence is doing a great job rotating guys and letting the new guys in.
The evaluation process is still ongoing, but we've got more depth than we've had. Everybody's got a chance. The evaluation process is that they all can't play. We don't want to do that (have a Tra Carson only situation).
Scrimmages each of the next two Saturdays and a "mini-scrimmage" Wednesday.
On Christian Kirk: He's a guy we have to keep an eye on in practice because he logs a lot of yards. He's very, very talented player and we know what he can do. A lot of his yardage last year came after the catch. He's become a better route runner as a receiver and would like to get him more involved in down the field throws.
On Chavis: We made big strides last year statistically. He'll be the first guy to say that we can get better and our rush defense has to get better. We have improved on defense and look to improve more this year. He's done a great job, along with the entire defensive staff. He's come in, been a great team guy, knows what he wants to do. We have conversations every day about football, the weight room, everything around football. He's been as advertised. He's had a big impact not only on the defensive part of our program, but our (whole) program.
On Otaro Alaka: Last year...he had a separated elbow. It's extremely painful, and guys don't want to practice after that. Then his dad is on business in another country, far away, and has a stroke that was nearly fatal. The mental aspect of that, having your father in ICU half a world a way...he just needed that time. He got back, he was having a great offseason -- but for all that to happen right before fall camp was a lot for a young guy. He was able to step back, take a deep breath after his father got better. There was a lot going on in his life. He came back after that injury in the spring, and his shoulder, mentally he had to break through that, and now he's ready to go. He's 240, he's got his sleeves rolled up, I think he's pretty proud of how he looks. He's a guy we know can play. He and Shaan Washington have been around here a long time, they know each other and they're interchangable parts. They play off of each other. (Alaka's) very confident and ready to go.
On the O-line: Are we inexperienced from a start standpoint? Yes. But the only guy who hasn't played in a major game is Erik McCoy. Avery (Gennesy) has played every game last year, Koda (Martin) was doing a lot of different things. We've got a pretty good assessment of McCoy from having to deal with Daylon everyday, and you can gain confidence from that.
The growth (in the scheme) is not staggered. They all came in at the same time. That could be an advantage.
On Mazzone: I think what Noel, wherever he's been, has moved the offense to the personnel. He's always had a base plan and fit that to whatever you have.
Any pressure on him?: The answer is no. I don't know if people are sleeping on us. You can be the judge of that.
On the running backs: We were happy to get Mr. Boyd in here the other day. He's been in practice the past couple days and that's good. Obviously, James White is experienced and has been the leader of the group. Keith Ford has done some good things the last couple of days, so he's getting back into it; Kwame Etwi has some real tools, and we're lucky to have gotten him. Bussey had an excellent spring too. He's where he should be as a redshirt freshman, getting his strength back. Trayveon has some real top end speed. They're all a little difference. Clarence is doing a great job rotating guys and letting the new guys in.
The evaluation process is still ongoing, but we've got more depth than we've had. Everybody's got a chance. The evaluation process is that they all can't play. We don't want to do that (have a Tra Carson only situation).
Scrimmages each of the next two Saturdays and a "mini-scrimmage" Wednesday.
On Christian Kirk: He's a guy we have to keep an eye on in practice because he logs a lot of yards. He's very, very talented player and we know what he can do. A lot of his yardage last year came after the catch. He's become a better route runner as a receiver and would like to get him more involved in down the field throws.
On Chavis: We made big strides last year statistically. He'll be the first guy to say that we can get better and our rush defense has to get better. We have improved on defense and look to improve more this year. He's done a great job, along with the entire defensive staff. He's come in, been a great team guy, knows what he wants to do. We have conversations every day about football, the weight room, everything around football. He's been as advertised. He's had a big impact not only on the defensive part of our program, but our (whole) program.
On Otaro Alaka: Last year...he had a separated elbow. It's extremely painful, and guys don't want to practice after that. Then his dad is on business in another country, far away, and has a stroke that was nearly fatal. The mental aspect of that, having your father in ICU half a world a way...he just needed that time. He got back, he was having a great offseason -- but for all that to happen right before fall camp was a lot for a young guy. He was able to step back, take a deep breath after his father got better. There was a lot going on in his life. He came back after that injury in the spring, and his shoulder, mentally he had to break through that, and now he's ready to go. He's 240, he's got his sleeves rolled up, I think he's pretty proud of how he looks. He's a guy we know can play. He and Shaan Washington have been around here a long time, they know each other and they're interchangable parts. They play off of each other. (Alaka's) very confident and ready to go.
On the O-line: Are we inexperienced from a start standpoint? Yes. But the only guy who hasn't played in a major game is Erik McCoy. Avery (Gennesy) has played every game last year, Koda (Martin) was doing a lot of different things. We've got a pretty good assessment of McCoy from having to deal with Daylon everyday, and you can gain confidence from that.
The growth (in the scheme) is not staggered. They all came in at the same time. That could be an advantage.
On Mazzone: I think what Noel, wherever he's been, has moved the offense to the personnel. He's always had a base plan and fit that to whatever you have.
Any pressure on him?: The answer is no. I don't know if people are sleeping on us. You can be the judge of that.
