JInks Presser: Bozeman will Start

So Coach did his first weekly presser today as the team buckles down before the long trip to Eugene. 

Much of it was Coachspeak, but a few observations.

First, the breaking news is that Jamari Bozeman playing and will start.  This is excellent news for the defense.  More of that tomorrow in the defensive preview, but you have to admire the hard work that young man put in to get back.

Coach says we are "immensely" more talented this year.  He is placing a lot on the maturing of the players who got in last year as FR when they probably were not physically ready.  He goes through and ticks off the weight improvements of our sophomores.  And, indeed, these two recruiting classes will be the ones that pull us out if it happens.

In terms of the early season games, he wants to "show progress."  For example, BG played a good half against MSU but didn't play a good second half and ended up losing.  You'd like to see that continue to the point where BG has a chance to win in the 4th.  He put most of the pressure on the offense, saying that BG missed chances at MSU (and cited four MAC games with the same issue) and that there will need to be offensive production for BG.  (I think this is accurate.  The defense is a "work in progress" and the offense is going to need to excel for BG to have a shot at a bowl).

We have all heard that we are installing our defense even as we speak and go to Oregon with a limited playbook.  He says Pellini plays a "bend but don't break" style, which is unlike the bend and break of last year.  Actually, though, it is similar to the way Elko's defense played.  Keep guys in front of you and make them execute a bunch of plays to score, because they usually can't do that.

He expects to play FR under the new 4-game redshirt rule.  Other FR will be in more than that.  He mentioned Hargrove, Frye and Brooks...noting that they won't have to start (unlike previous years) and can be used in the right situation.

Anyway, that's about the news from the presser.