On development of depth on both lines since camp started:
I feel excited that we have numbers. Again, I’d love to sit up here and brag and tell you that I think those guys are the greatest thing in the world. That’s coach talk. The fact of the matter is they’ve got to go prove it. I feel a lot better about where we’re at. I feel a lot better about the improvement that’s been made. But until those lights come on and we’ve got to play and it’s in critical situations and there’s some young guys, I know and the honest part of it is, there’ll be ups and downs. If you said, man, what’s your biggest fear for this team right now, it’s the fact of the unknown. The unknown in some of those groups, guys that have not played Division I Power 5 football games in critical situations. Now am I proud of what they’ve done so far and have they laid a foundation that I think they’ll be able to pass those tests? I do, but the fear of the unknown right now is probably the greatest fear I’ve got going into this right now.
On re-watching the loss to UNI from last year:
I think you have to and the reason there is, Coach Farley’s been there for a long time, sustained success. I think their formula for success doesn’t vary. They’re going to run the ball. They’re going to take care of the football. They’re going to play really good with their front seven on the defensive side of the football. They try to keep things in front of them. They’re going to try to do a great job of not beating themselves. And so it’s a great reminder of just what they do when they’re playing at their top. They played a really good football game that day and really executed what you would say UNI football at their best was. And so I certainly think it’s a great tool. Now their games as their season went on and personnel and all those sort of things, those are great things, too. Not to say that’s exactly how they’re going to play us, or schematically. But I think in general you look at them over the past five to ten years, they really haven’t changed a whole lot. I think the reality is they want to run the ball, they want to take care of the ball. And they’re going to do a great job defensively trying to keep things in front of them and making you earn the right to beat them.
On how much different Iowa State is from game one last year:
We are and I think you’re just that much farther along. But I think it’s still a great, when you’re studying an opponent, you want to take all of the resources you have and I certainly think that’s a great resource for us.
On winning the close fourth quarter games that were losses last year:
I go back to January for me. And I know sometimes that is coach speak, it is a little bit. But I really, you watch January, February, March, April, May and you say, Matt, why are you so far ahead? Is it because you’re another year into this? No, it’s not the coaches that’s changed. It’s the investment of our players and I think our growth has really occurred by their investment into what it takes to be successful. And you even watch the detail of our kids in practice. I say that’s the one thing that I’ve really enjoyed about this team in fall camp. It’s been a steady climb every day. We haven’t had the peaks and valleys. Now when you’re trying to win and sustain success, peaks and valleys I think come. Because not knowing how to handle success and handling failure. So I really think though this group, the detail, the foundation that they’ve put to themselves, at least gives them some confidence to play good football in critical situations. And no matter what adverse situations come, we may start out the game down 14, that’s football, it never goes as planned, but I think that confidence and that unification of this football team, is as strong as I’ve ever been around. I’m really excited because I think our kids have really sacrificed to get to that point.
On true freshmen standing out in camp:
Some names that I could definitely give you, Johnnie Lang, I know people have talked about Johnnie. Johnnie’s showcased just his speed and athleticism and he’s got a really unique skill set at the running back spot that’s different. Rob Hudson, interior offensive lineman that’s been really, really impressive. A guy that’s probably fighting right now to be in the two-deep and fighting to maybe play. I’ve never done that with a young guy but he’s been really impressive. Defensively right now, Keontae Jones and Datrone Young, both guys at corner, are guys that I think are really competing to play right now. And that’s not even fair to not mention some other names but I think those are the guys that have showcased or at least have gotten their opportunities so far in camp to showcase, are they ready to help us? And can they help us be successful early on? But I’d say that group of guys right now.
On burning a redshirt for special teams play only:
Again my philosophy’s always been I’d rather play you too late than too early. And all I mean by that is, I’d rather put you in a position to, I’m not going to waste a year for you playing ten plays on PAT/field goal, or field goal block. But I think at the end of it, you’ve got to sit down, you’ve got to evaluate what’s in the best interest of the team. Certainly what’s in the best interest of the young man. And when we do play a freshman, does he have the capability of helping us? Last year I thought we were able to at least, the guys that did play had a positive effect on our football team. Their growth certainly came. So I thought we made the right calls on the guys we played a year ago. We try to do a really good job on it and that’s something I’ve always taken a lot of pride in because I really want those young guys to feel like it’s in the best interest of them and the team, the best interests for our football team as well.
On getting away from using Lazard on special teams:
No. Don’t worry about that. Best players play and wherever it is it is. It’s a situation where I do hope though that our depth of our football team, the depth of where we’re at, hopefully that makes your special teams better. You’re playing a higher end player on special teams. So we talk a lot about that and roles. I’m not the guy that says every starter has to start on special teams but I’m also not the guy that says we’re going to hurt our football team because we’re trying to save somebody. The emphasis we put on special teams and they success we’ve had here and in our past has shown the best players are going to play if they can help us make a difference.
On using more three-linebacker lineups defensively:
I just think it allows us to be multiple and, again, that’s where some of the depth pieces comes into it. You’ve got guys with different skill sets and how, we talk so much, you’re best 11 players. And then you talk best 11 players in certain situations. That’s where defensive football’s changed so much. You used to play, used to be a 4-3 team or a 3-4 team and that’s all you did. Well you do that now and it’s really hard to play good defense that way. But having the ability to be multiple, prepare for situational football, and then making sure the best guys in those situations are in, certainly allows you to have success. I think Willie Harvey’s got a unique skill set because Willie’s a guy that can run like a safety but he’s also got the ability to play in space. Mackenro Alexander’s a guy that comes to mind. Very similar to Willie in that regard where Mac’s up to 200 pounds, he can run, he’s played corner, he’s played safety, but he’s also a guy that can do that. Everett Edwards. So there’s a lot of guys that have unique skill sets. D’Andre Payne we’ve seen play SAM linebacker or that nickel or dime spot for us. So we’ve got some flexibility and we’re going to have to use that because in a schedule like we play, you see everything from I formation to guys playing 10 personnel and going as fast as they can go.
I feel excited that we have numbers. Again, I’d love to sit up here and brag and tell you that I think those guys are the greatest thing in the world. That’s coach talk. The fact of the matter is they’ve got to go prove it. I feel a lot better about where we’re at. I feel a lot better about the improvement that’s been made. But until those lights come on and we’ve got to play and it’s in critical situations and there’s some young guys, I know and the honest part of it is, there’ll be ups and downs. If you said, man, what’s your biggest fear for this team right now, it’s the fact of the unknown. The unknown in some of those groups, guys that have not played Division I Power 5 football games in critical situations. Now am I proud of what they’ve done so far and have they laid a foundation that I think they’ll be able to pass those tests? I do, but the fear of the unknown right now is probably the greatest fear I’ve got going into this right now.
On re-watching the loss to UNI from last year:
I think you have to and the reason there is, Coach Farley’s been there for a long time, sustained success. I think their formula for success doesn’t vary. They’re going to run the ball. They’re going to take care of the football. They’re going to play really good with their front seven on the defensive side of the football. They try to keep things in front of them. They’re going to try to do a great job of not beating themselves. And so it’s a great reminder of just what they do when they’re playing at their top. They played a really good football game that day and really executed what you would say UNI football at their best was. And so I certainly think it’s a great tool. Now their games as their season went on and personnel and all those sort of things, those are great things, too. Not to say that’s exactly how they’re going to play us, or schematically. But I think in general you look at them over the past five to ten years, they really haven’t changed a whole lot. I think the reality is they want to run the ball, they want to take care of the ball. And they’re going to do a great job defensively trying to keep things in front of them and making you earn the right to beat them.
On how much different Iowa State is from game one last year:
We are and I think you’re just that much farther along. But I think it’s still a great, when you’re studying an opponent, you want to take all of the resources you have and I certainly think that’s a great resource for us.
On winning the close fourth quarter games that were losses last year:
I go back to January for me. And I know sometimes that is coach speak, it is a little bit. But I really, you watch January, February, March, April, May and you say, Matt, why are you so far ahead? Is it because you’re another year into this? No, it’s not the coaches that’s changed. It’s the investment of our players and I think our growth has really occurred by their investment into what it takes to be successful. And you even watch the detail of our kids in practice. I say that’s the one thing that I’ve really enjoyed about this team in fall camp. It’s been a steady climb every day. We haven’t had the peaks and valleys. Now when you’re trying to win and sustain success, peaks and valleys I think come. Because not knowing how to handle success and handling failure. So I really think though this group, the detail, the foundation that they’ve put to themselves, at least gives them some confidence to play good football in critical situations. And no matter what adverse situations come, we may start out the game down 14, that’s football, it never goes as planned, but I think that confidence and that unification of this football team, is as strong as I’ve ever been around. I’m really excited because I think our kids have really sacrificed to get to that point.
On true freshmen standing out in camp:
Some names that I could definitely give you, Johnnie Lang, I know people have talked about Johnnie. Johnnie’s showcased just his speed and athleticism and he’s got a really unique skill set at the running back spot that’s different. Rob Hudson, interior offensive lineman that’s been really, really impressive. A guy that’s probably fighting right now to be in the two-deep and fighting to maybe play. I’ve never done that with a young guy but he’s been really impressive. Defensively right now, Keontae Jones and Datrone Young, both guys at corner, are guys that I think are really competing to play right now. And that’s not even fair to not mention some other names but I think those are the guys that have showcased or at least have gotten their opportunities so far in camp to showcase, are they ready to help us? And can they help us be successful early on? But I’d say that group of guys right now.
On burning a redshirt for special teams play only:
Again my philosophy’s always been I’d rather play you too late than too early. And all I mean by that is, I’d rather put you in a position to, I’m not going to waste a year for you playing ten plays on PAT/field goal, or field goal block. But I think at the end of it, you’ve got to sit down, you’ve got to evaluate what’s in the best interest of the team. Certainly what’s in the best interest of the young man. And when we do play a freshman, does he have the capability of helping us? Last year I thought we were able to at least, the guys that did play had a positive effect on our football team. Their growth certainly came. So I thought we made the right calls on the guys we played a year ago. We try to do a really good job on it and that’s something I’ve always taken a lot of pride in because I really want those young guys to feel like it’s in the best interest of them and the team, the best interests for our football team as well.
On getting away from using Lazard on special teams:
No. Don’t worry about that. Best players play and wherever it is it is. It’s a situation where I do hope though that our depth of our football team, the depth of where we’re at, hopefully that makes your special teams better. You’re playing a higher end player on special teams. So we talk a lot about that and roles. I’m not the guy that says every starter has to start on special teams but I’m also not the guy that says we’re going to hurt our football team because we’re trying to save somebody. The emphasis we put on special teams and they success we’ve had here and in our past has shown the best players are going to play if they can help us make a difference.
On using more three-linebacker lineups defensively:
I just think it allows us to be multiple and, again, that’s where some of the depth pieces comes into it. You’ve got guys with different skill sets and how, we talk so much, you’re best 11 players. And then you talk best 11 players in certain situations. That’s where defensive football’s changed so much. You used to play, used to be a 4-3 team or a 3-4 team and that’s all you did. Well you do that now and it’s really hard to play good defense that way. But having the ability to be multiple, prepare for situational football, and then making sure the best guys in those situations are in, certainly allows you to have success. I think Willie Harvey’s got a unique skill set because Willie’s a guy that can run like a safety but he’s also got the ability to play in space. Mackenro Alexander’s a guy that comes to mind. Very similar to Willie in that regard where Mac’s up to 200 pounds, he can run, he’s played corner, he’s played safety, but he’s also a guy that can do that. Everett Edwards. So there’s a lot of guys that have unique skill sets. D’Andre Payne we’ve seen play SAM linebacker or that nickel or dime spot for us. So we’ve got some flexibility and we’re going to have to use that because in a schedule like we play, you see everything from I formation to guys playing 10 personnel and going as fast as they can go.
