2013 WKU FOOTBALL SPRING PRACTICE 12
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013
HOUCHENS INDUSTRIES-L.T. SMITH STADIUM
NICK HOLT, JEFF BROHM, ANTONIO ANDREWS
WKU defensive coordinator Nick Holt
(on the scrimmage)
“I think we are getting better. This week was our best week as far as guys progressing, and it should be. We just have to finish strong. I thought there were some good things out there. We had a couple of assignment errors and we need to clean that up. But we are getting a little better. We are still way far away from where we need to be, but I do see progress.”
(on who stood out in the scrimmage)
“Someone who has really had a good week is Raphael Cox. He has had a good week of practice and he has really solidified some things in there at defensive end and has created some depth. I am really happy with his progress. He has a ways to go, but we are trying to find positives, and he has been a positive. I think our nose guard [Devante] Terrell is getting better this week. Bar’ee Boyd, we have made some different moves as far as his position, as he is now more of an outside backer rushing the quarterback more than dropping. He is getting better at that position. I see some improvement up front. We need those guys to come through because we need to find some pass rushers, especially in this conference that we are in and a couple of the teams that we are going to play.
At linebacker, a guy that is starting to come around in Daquall Randall, No. 17. I think he has really had a nice week. He is a kid that needs to get a lot stronger in the weight room, but to me he has gotten better, so I am happy with his progress. I am happy with our true freshman No. 6, Devante Duclos. He has a little different type of speed than some of the other guys. He is a little more sudden and a little more explosive. He doesn’t know what he is doing quite yet, but in time he is going to be a good football player. I think [Jonathan Dowling] JD, our safety, he has really been good all spring. I think he is taking coaching. I think he tackled better today. He is a good leader and I think he has done a really, really nice job for us so far. There are some other guys that have flashed here and there, but we are so far away quite honestly, but I do see a little progress.”
(on Jonathan Dowling responding to the coaching this spring)
“I think he has responded really, really well to the new coaching and all of the hard coaching. We try to do our tackling drills every day and we stress it. I think he has been very coachable and I have seen a lot of improvement, especially from last Saturday. He had some missed tackles last Saturday. I didn’t see a lot of missed tackles by him today.”
(on the challenges of getting the players to line up correctly)
“I think a lot of our guys have not played a lot of football here. A lot of it is new to them, even the guys that are returning. We have a lot of kids that haven’t played a lot. We lost a lot of guys up front. It is a new defense and new system. We are seeing a lot of different formations from our offense, and some hurry-hurry, which is good for us, because that is what we are going to see. In time hopefully the game of football will slow down for these guys where they see the formation and they know their assignment. By the same token, as coaches, we just can’t have a wide array of defense where they are thinking too much. Hopefully by the time we start in August and in September, you will hear coaches talking less about getting lined up correctly. We have to make sure we don’t have too much defense in for our guys.”
Offensive Coordinator Jeff Brohm
(on the offense in the scrimmage)
“I think our offense is making progress. They are working extremely hard, not only today, but in practice throughout the week. I thought it was a good week of practice. Our guys are getting better in the individual periods and pushing themselves. The important part is carrying it over to the team setting and the scrimmage settings. I thought we showed improvement.”
(on the running game and Antonio Andrews)
“I think we have a very good running back [in Antonio Andrews] that has done a tremendous job up to this point. He is learning a new offense, but he is a guy that we have to get the ball in his hands. He is making progress. We are finding backups to him. Leon Allen and Keshawn [Simpson] have stepped up as guys that can run the ball as well. You always need more than one. Those are key guys. Our offensive line, you can’t pass protect all of the time, so when they come off the ball and knock people back it really slows the rush and those are things the o-line likes to do. We have to continue to pound the ball and run the football.”
(on the running back position being one of the most talented positions on the team)
“I think we are developing that. I think we have one guy that has definitely shown he can play and has done it already. We are trying to build some other backups for him, and they have made progress. They have to come through for us and be capable players and take care of the football, which we did not do today. That is vitally important. But I definitely feel that we are building depth there and that is what we are going to have to do.”
(on the receivers)
“They are working hard and they have made progress. We have to find guys that can make plays and make plays consistently. I think some guys are stepping up. You saw Willie McNeal, I think he is stepping up and making some plays for us. He obviously has to work on consistency and gaining strength at his position, but he has stepped up and made plays. Some other receivers stepped in today that hadn’t shown as much, but they made some good plays. I think tight end-wise, those guys made some plays for us. They are the strength of our team with their ability to catch the football and make plays after the catch and get yards for us. We do feel like we have some depth there.”
(on the quarterbacks)
“I think Brandon [Doughty] has taken the most reps with our first team right now. We are trying to split the reps evenly, but he is a guy that can make some plays for us. He has to try and be consistent and take care of the ball and keep us in positive plays, and that is something that he is working on and making progress. Damarcus [Smith] needs to continue to learn a lot about everything, but he can make plays for us. He showed that today. James [Mauro] has gotten better. He has to become more consistent and make accurate throws, but I think they are all making progress.”
WKU running back Antonio Andrews
(on the running game)
“It is coming. Obviously we had a good day of blocking up front with the fullbacks and the tight ends. As long as they are doing their job we can do ours.”
(on the spring as a whole)
“It has been different. You are going to have adversity as far as up-speed and the fast tempo, but at the same time it is a learning period when you get to learning plays and coaching and get a feel for everyone.”
(on the quarterback battle)
“They are all competing. Right now [Brandon] Doughty seems like he is more comfortable. He is out front, but hopefully the other guys pick it up and challenge him.”
(on the running backs being a deep group and challenging each other every day)
“I feel like we are the strength of the team. We are deep. Coach [Willie] Taggart recruited a whole bunch of running backs. With the offensive change, we don’t really use as many running backs, but at the same time you still have that one-two-three punch just like we always had and that is always a good positive to have in the new offense.”
(on the new offensive scheme)
“It is different, especially coming from a power run style, but all you have to do is change the way you run it. Any running back can play in this offense I feel like.”
