HEAD COACH Gregg Brandon
Q. Looking at the depth chart, did (DE Joe) Schaefer and (NG Orlando) Barrow emerge at the end of camp to take the starting spots?
A. Well, Joe Schaefer was on the verge of starting last year and tore his knee up before we even played a game, so he just bounced back from that injury and has won the starting spot. Orlando had a really nice off season and really got himself into great shape while doing a nice job at the inside tackle spot. He's definitely a guy that's going to get a lot of snaps in there.
Q. Will this give you more depth on the defensive line?
A. Yes, definitely. We will have Sean O'Drobinak, D.J. Young, Michael Ream; really, there are 10 guys across the front that I think can play.
Q. A couple seasons ago when you had those eight or 10 guys that you could rotate. You were very successful with that, and then for a while you haven't had that.
A. That's correct. I think we have that again; we just need to keep them healthy.
Q. Speaking of healthy is Freddie Barnes going to make the trip and is Keston Cheathem on the depth chart?
A. Keston is still working on that shoulder that he separated, but he did practice yesterday although he was limited. Freddie went yesterday full-go, and I think toward the end of practice he was kind of tired and fatigued, just because he's not used to all the running. He hasn't done it in a while. Freddie will be on the bus (leaving BG for the airport), definitely.
Nice to see that Freddie isn't going to walk to the airport. We are shallow at WR, so without him, we are in trouble. He showed flashes as a WR, and I hope his skills have continued to improve.
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Q. Do you feel like this was a longer camp than normal or a shorter camp?
A. I feel like they've all been shortened since the NCAA went to the 2-1-2 set-up and the five day acclimation, I mean, it's not the same. I'm used to three weeks and multiple two-a-days and it just hasn't been the same the last three or four years. I don't think it was any different this fall than it was last fall, other than I have a more experienced team which allowed us to do more things offensively, defensively and in the kicking game than we did last fall.
Who asked this question?
Q. With (Minnesota's) Spread Coast Offense is P.J. Mahone going to be seeing some playing time?
A. I think that spread stuff is an illusion. I think they're going to line up two tight ends and pound us. If I was him that's what I would be doing. That's what they're built for up there - their tight ends are good players. Amir Pinnix is a good back and his back-up is fast! I think they're going to line up and run zone and stretch and play action.
For my part, if I was him I'd rush the shit out of our punter and run straight and our LBs, but that's just me.
Seriously. We are playing a team with a new coach, which is often tough because you don't have any film at all and no idea what they might look like. (In fact, 3/4 non-conference games are against teams with new coaches). Anyway, he's coming in talking about switching the Glen Mason ground attack over the to oh-so-trendy-yet-almost-yesterday's-news spread offense. A lot.
So when coach says its an illusion, that's kind of hard to believe. Now, no doubt, that Brewster knows that his personnel--left over from Glen Mason--is better for the run down their throat attack. And I have no doubt if they have to, they will do that to win.
Now, maybe Brandon knows the spread offense isn't an illusion, but he wants Brewster to think we think it is, and then, maybe he wants us to think that we think that, too. Hmm. It is like an episode of I Love Lucy.
Q. It seems like every year the team opens with a team that has a pretty good running game. Do you feel you are more ready this year than you have been in the past couple years?
A. It doesn't really make any difference (who we play). We have to be ready. We have to get ready to do what we need to do to win the game, and not really pay much attention to whoever we open the season against.
Q. Does an early-season game against Minnesota benefit you more than playing them in maybe week five or week six?
A. Definitely. It is the same with Michigan State, but we still have Boston College in week six. We are going to be matching up with some big, physical teams. Any time a team goes into the Big Ten to play, those teams are going to wear you out.
OK.
Q. Have you made a decision on who will start the season at quarterback?
A. Yes, Tyler Sheehan will start. He became an accurate passer and the type of thrower that I need to run the offense and be able to complete passes in our system. He manages things very well for us, knows the system and is able to spread the ball around. If the first guy is not there he is able to use his reads and his feet and arm to get us to the secondary guy or third guy. He's still learning and he is by no means a finished product. He's getting better and better every day; he's grown in the system and understands it better. I think Coach (Mick) McCall has done a great job with him and hopefully it will pay dividends through the course of the year.
This is, of course, the worst kept secret in the MAC. I blogged on this yesterday. Clearly, Coach wants to throw. We had the best running in the MAC last year and were 4-8.
Q. Is there any thoughts of putting Anthony {Turner} on the field and running?
A. Absolutely, Anthony Turner is still in the mix. It's important for him to understand that. He can still help us win football games. He's a great running threat from the quarterback position and Anthony can do some things throwing the football but we will still utilize him in that regard as well.
Well, this will get the Nation in a furor. Football fans hate having 2 QBs. They prefer having a clear starter so they can bitch about why the backup isn't in. No, really. Anyway, I don't have any problem with a situational use of AT. Skinny the playbook in the redzone, he can still run or pass. I think he could score for us and not have to throw longer passes, which he does not do well, apparently. We did something very similar with PJ Pope in the shotgun and it was unstoppable.
Q. Is Willie Geter your number-one running back right now?
A. Well, Geter is going to start the game because he's earned it by having a great camp, but we have to play all those guys. Eric Ransom is back to full strength and he's practiced the last couple days and seems to be full throttle from his hamstring. Chris Bullock is definitely in the mix too. He's proven that he can make yards running the football. All those guys, particularly Geter and Ransom, give us a good threat throwing the ball either out of the back field or putting them in the slot. Our challenge is to get two of the three on the field at the same time because with that kind of speed on the field it gives you different dimensions.
Q. They're running behind a pretty solid offensive line.
A. No question. Our five starters are definitely experienced and bring a lot of game experience to the table. I've always believed that if you have a good offensive line you can do a lot of things offensively. It's just like last year; when we ran the ball we were able to move the ball around and when you have that ability it gives you a chance to win some games.
Q. At the end of last season you said you needed an explosive running threat. Is that when you went out and got Geter?
A. I told my coaches we need (a player similar to former NIU running back) Garrett Wolfe and that's when they found Geter. Geter wasn't very highly recruited because he's not a very big guy, but he's a very powerful kid. A lot of teams didn't want to take a chance on him because of his size. He benches two and a quarter about fifteen times and he's quick as a hiccup. He's in Coach (John) Hunter's office all the time watching game films studying and asking questions. He just loves to play the game.
More or less in a Blade article we cited a couple of days ago. Run, Willie, Run.
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