Louisville OL Coach Richard Owens on Fall Camp (8/7/23)
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00:00 >> Thoughts on how you guys have progressed thus far?
00:01 >> Well, I think the line's coming out working hard.
00:05 We're throwing a lot at them early.
00:07 And they're getting better, we're progressing.
00:10 We're not where we need to be right now.
00:12 But they are making strides and
00:13 they're moving forward in the right direction.
00:15 >> You guys added a lot of depth to the transfer portal to the offensive line.
00:18 How's that helping with the competition and their progress?
00:21 >> Well, I think competition always makes you better.
00:24 And these guys understand at the end of the day it's a competition.
00:28 But we're also pulling for each other.
00:30 And we're trying to get ourselves ready to go to the all games.
00:33 >> How much has a guy like Eric Miller and his prior knowledge of this team helped
00:36 with this overall transition for this whole line?
00:38 >> Well, yeah, I think the more you know, the more consistent you are.
00:42 It's always good.
00:44 You're not having as many missed assignments.
00:47 So it's always good, it always helps.
00:49 And now it's gotta be the fundamentals, the technique, and
00:52 the effort that we're pressing every day.
00:54 >> With all these additions, how much more comfortable are you with the line?
00:58 Where you are right now, sir?
01:00 >> Never comfortable.
01:01 So it's always a work in progress.
01:04 And I truly believe if we stay on the right track,
01:07 we stay on the right path and continue to work, you get better and
01:10 better as the year goes on.
01:12 >> John Paul's been getting a lot of reps.
01:14 Your thoughts on how he's done so far in camp?
01:16 >> He's done a good job.
01:16 He's done a good job.
01:17 I mean, those are all senior guys, all older guys.
01:21 They understand the importance of it.
01:24 And they come out here with the mindset of it's time to go to work.
01:28 >> Even with a lot of new faces on the team,
01:30 it still seems like obviously this group in particular has a lot of returning guys,
01:33 a lot of returning starters too.
01:34 What's it been like working with those guys this year?
01:36 >> It's been good.
01:37 It's been, like I told you, it's a work in progress.
01:40 Cuz it's a different system than what they're used to and
01:44 what they've done in the past.
01:45 So it's new terms, new learning.
01:49 It's all different.
01:50 So every day you come out here, it's a new day.
01:53 And we gotta continue to press forward and move in the right direction.
01:56 >> How much does a guy like Brian help you kind of move in like center where you
01:59 gotta communicate a lot, call out a lot, and he's seen a lot of movement?
02:03 >> Absolutely, well, he's been in the fire.
02:05 He's been out there, he's been in the mix.
02:06 Same thing with Renato and Mike Gonzalez, JP, Eric Miller.
02:11 And all those guys that have played and came in, they've been in the fire.
02:17 So they've seen a lot of different looks, a lot of different fronts.
02:20 So a lot of moving parts.
02:22 So it's the communications there, which is half the battle.
02:25 >> Eric said that Brian's kind of like a traffic cop.
02:28 He'll go out there and if he hears one thing, he's like, no, no, no,
02:30 we're doing this.
02:31 Is that what you want him to do as a center, to bark out like that?
02:34 >> Absolutely, communication's key.
02:36 Anytime, I tell those guys all the time, we gotta over communicate.
02:41 The more we're all on the same page,
02:43 the more we're gonna do the right thing and be consistent.
02:47 >> You mentioned Michael Gonzalez.
02:48 He's the guy that seems like he's taking a step every year.
02:51 What's impressed you about how he's worked to prepare for this year?
02:54 >> Well, for him, he's a fundamental technician.
02:57 He loves football, he spends extra time in the meeting rooms, watching film.
03:02 If you watch him at practice, he's very rarely out of position.
03:08 >> Out of all the younger guys or maybe some of the more inexperienced guys,
03:11 who do you think has made the most strides this offseason?
03:15 >> To be honest with you, I've been pretty impressed with Joe Crocker.
03:17 I think Joe Crocker's came out, he did a nice job, he's been working his tail off.
03:22 He's got potential.
03:27 >> You mentioned this system plays a lot at an offensive line.
03:31 What about it specifically do you think takes the most time to learn and
03:34 get used to?
03:35 >> Well, I think it's just the multiplicity of it.
03:38 Every day you come out, you're seeing it's a different look, different front.
03:43 You gotta do it to the right, do it to the left,
03:45 you gotta be able to flip it, it's just a lot of reps and over reps, you get better.
03:50 >> You mentioned all of the post spring additions,
03:53 you're kinda having to, I guess, play catch up a little quicker than some of
03:57 the other ones.
03:58 I guess, what does that just say about them and their progress?
04:00 How has that learning curve been for them?
04:02 >> Yeah, it's been good, it's been good, cuz they know the importance of it.
04:05 Most of them are older guys, even guys like Trevante,
04:10 this came in here, and Lance Robinson, those guys coming in,
04:14 they've been around football, and there's an importance to it.
04:19 So they know it's gonna take time, and they gotta put the time in.
04:23 >> Are you gonna be a guest on LNM Meats anytime soon with a section?
04:28 >> I'm not planning on it.
04:29 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm not planning on it.
04:31 >> They're trying a lot of good food, man.
04:33 >> They are trying a lot of good food, that's for sure, absolutely.
04:36 >> [LAUGH]