Your uh, people say your defense is relatively complicated and takes time to learn.

Uh, is that an accurate charge in your mind?

And also, have you gotten better, installing it multiple times over the years at teaching it and simplifying it?

Yeah, both, I think it’s a great question.

Um, it, it.

Uh, I think in today’s game of football it needs to be somewhat complicated because you need to have answers for everything you know, particularly at this level.

Um, offenses don’t run the same things.

In college, you know which is more.

In the Nfl they do.

So you better have, uh, all different kinds of answers.

But the key point you made is in the teaching and installing.

You know of it.

And, um, I’ve gotten better at that.

And I and I have, to you know, particularly coming into a situation like this.

Um, you know, our charge is to be great now.

So if it’s uh, if it’s too complicated or I can’t get it installed in a way that the players pick it up quickly, then that’s my fault.

Tony Rojas & Amare Campbell Turning Heads Early

So, um, I think I’ve developed a process that helps move it along at a more rapid pace Over here on the right Tyler.

How are you today?

Hey, Tom, Um wanted to ask about two linebackers that you’ve gotten a chance to see for a few practices now, Tony who, who wasn’t obviously available in the spring, and then Amari, who we saw you put out, was your defender of the day for practice one.

What did he do to to kind of earn that in your mind, and how would you evaluate what you’ve seen from Tony this year?

Yeah, I didn’t get to see Tony in the spring right

Because he was, uh, he was out, certainly got to watch a lot of film on him and and saw his talent.

But, uh, just in a couple days, very impressed, Very impressed.

He seems to have, um, developed uh, physically in the off season, and not only that, but he’s uh.

Uh, he’s picked things up quickly, which is tough to do when you don’t get the reps on the field.

So in the first two days I’ve I’ve seen his knowledge of the defense has been impressive

And he’s a he’s able to, uh, perform, you know, within the scheme and utilize his talents.

You know in a way that he kind he kind of jumped out in the first two days.

Um, Amari, you know again same thing, Just really watching film on him, um, because he transferred here.

But in two days I see a lot of uh, natural linebacker skills, and you don’t see that as much.

Key Starters Missed Spring — But Installation is On Track

Um, in this day and age of college football, because a lot of linebackers are, you know, converted from other positions and There is a- uh, there’s a skill to playing linebacker that a lot of it is innate and instinctual.

And you, we’re at Lbu, so I mean, had a lot of great ones here, Um, and you can just see those guys.

You know when you look at the past and how they made plays, you know was a lot of it’s through natural instinct, you know through things that you can’t teach.

So, with Amari in the first two days, I see a lot of that natural instinct in the front right here.

Greg coach, you mentioned Tony not being a guy you got you got to see this spring, but he wasn’t the only one that’s seen as a potential starter or contributor who wasn’t available.

So do you feel like you’re where you want to be in terms of your install with your um?

Best guys, top, guys, top, you know, too deep, so to speak.

Do you feel you’re a little bit behind?

Or do you feel like you’re in a spot where you’re okay with everything?

I think we’re in a good spot and and the first two days, you know, um, have shown that they responded to the installation without getting the reps.

Tony, as an example.

Deny Zane, you know Aj wasn’t wasn’t out there all the time, So it.

Zane Durant & D’von Ford Impressing at DT

It was definitely a concern cuz not having them see, having seen them do it on the field.

It was a concern.

So, so far, so good, you know.

So the pace of the installation will really depend on how well those guys perform it on the field.

So, as long as they keep doing well, it’s just an early sample size, but you know we get to press forward at a at a rapid pace.

Thank you On the right, Johnny.

Good afternoon, Jen.

As you guys sift through the two deep and even three deep at defensive tackle, how much of a help and how much of a benefit is it to have someone like Zayn?

You know already well established, It’s huge, you know when, uh, when you can have your defensive tackles.

I always say when your defensive tackles make tackles right instead of using up blocks, but when they’re actually productive, um, it changes the whole way that you plan defense, you know.

And um, Zayn’s that guy.

I mean he’s that guy who can, who can do that immediately, who has done it.

And now we, uh, like you said, we have to build the depth around and there are a lot of candidates, you know.

DB Room Is a Strength — And They’re Making Plays

The other guy I didn’t get to see in the in the spring was um Ford, really impressed with him in the first two days, really impressed and you know the coaches said good things about him, but it’s the same deal.

I I did not get to to see him actually do it, and um, he’s really jumped out at me.

First couple days We got time for one more, Rich in the front.

Hi, Jim, You have coached some very, very good defensive backs and I was just wondering what have you seen from Aj and Elliot just in these two practices and what do you expect from them during the season?

Yeah, Don’t forget about Ac too.

Ac, Yeah.

And uh, the new guy who should have been a senior in high school, Uh, Darius, Impressive, If I had to use one word, it would be impressive.

Terry.

Uh Smith has built an awesome culture in that room.

You know those guys are playmakers, So I’m going to set things up to for them to make plays.

I saw it in the spring, I’m seeing it already in two days.

Final Thoughts + Culture Shoutout for Terry Smith

Um, they are a real strength of our defense.

Thanks, coach.