• last year
Iowa coach from Kids Day practice
Transcript
00:00 He's been out there every day this camp and that's been really good.
00:03 So he's making progress and
00:05 anybody can help our football team be better, I'm all for it.
00:08 >> Have you seen- >> Deshaun Lee made a few plays.
00:11 >> Have you- >> Deshaun Lee made a few plays.
00:13 How have you seen him grow since last year?
00:15 >> Well, it's like all of our guys.
00:16 That's what you're hoping for with everybody at every level.
00:19 And obviously we're all interested in what our starters have done, but
00:23 it's also interesting to see what's going on behind them.
00:24 And you see a lot of encouraging things.
00:26 So when you think about how much he's played or how much he hasn't played for
00:31 realistically, it's good for him to be out here too and
00:34 a good template to roll and do some good things.
00:37 >> Are you seeing that from Brian Allen during all camp?
00:40 Brian Allen.
00:41 >> Yeah, yes and no.
00:42 I mean, I'd say it's probably his best day, most active day.
00:45 >> Okay.
00:45 >> Kinda like Seth, it's good to see some guys and
00:48 maybe the lights come on, they go a little better.
00:50 So we're in for a little bit more of it.
00:52 It's just, again, it's every position.
00:54 We wanna see guys growing and moving up.
00:57 Cuz you never have enough guys, you never have enough depth.
01:00 And so it's encouraging.
01:02 >> What's your favorite part of doing this every year,
01:04 just the whole kid camping and stuff like that?
01:06 >> Yeah, I mean, a reminder of that too is whatever time this morning I'm driving in
01:12 here, there's people working a lot.
01:14 Look out the window at 8.30, there are people out there, kids in jerseys and
01:17 all that.
01:18 It's all the guys last night, and all of us were kids at one point.
01:20 And this is a big deal.
01:22 So it's just a nice opportunity to interface with the people that support us
01:28 and family members, all those things.
01:29 And then the kid camping thing is, I had nothing to do with that, obviously.
01:33 But what a great idea and concept.
01:36 It's just, that was a really good initiative, and
01:39 then you tied that with the wave, it's pretty cool.
01:41 >> I'm sorry.
01:43 >> What was it just like to see him kind of go through it?
01:47 >> Yeah, I mean, he missed a lot of time last year, so
01:49 it was just obviously harder on him than anybody else.
01:53 And so he's been practicing well.
01:56 Back in the spring, I think, you remember I mentioned he's trying to do too much
01:59 last spring, just got back on the field, he's gonna try and make every play.
02:03 We don't need him to do it, he just needs to play his position,
02:05 it's really the key to defense.
02:07 But yeah, he's had a really good camp, one of our senior leaders and
02:11 highly respected, so it's good to see him out here and
02:14 good to see him healthy and practicing.
02:16 >> Overall, with the offensive line, is this what you've been seeing?
02:18 Is this step forward, step back?
02:21 >> Yeah, no, I think we're a lot more mature as a group, and
02:24 it's still loose edges, and that's what you, this is day nine, so
02:27 you expect that.
02:29 If they were all seniors and played three years,
02:31 there'd still be some of that going on.
02:32 That's why you got to practice and go through the camp.
02:35 But no, I think we're a more mature group, and they're practicing well,
02:38 they're focused.
02:39 And there's always things that need to be made up, and
02:41 that's the reason we're running here the next two weeks, especially.
02:44 No one made a game week about it.
02:46 >> So we know Davis wouldn't be here, but
02:47 has Deacon locked himself into the number two position?
02:51 >> Well, I mean, basically he's competing with me, so
02:55 that's not a fair fight.
02:57 But I mean, really, as I said yesterday, it's been Cade, it's been Deacon.
03:01 And Deacon, as you can see, he's got some really good potential, but
03:05 he also hasn't played much.
03:07 He's an older guy, so it's not like he's 18,
03:09 just trying to figure it all out like the other two guys.
03:12 That's what we got right now.
03:13 And then Joe will get in there, and he'll do a good job as well.
03:15 So I think we have a healthy situation,
03:17 I just feel better when we get Joe practicing, which hopefully is this week.
03:20 >> How are Cade's spirits when you talk to him just briefly there?
03:22 I mean, is he calmed, or is he, hey, I'll be back, or what?
03:26 >> I'll say he's upset, but he's not happy,
03:29 because he didn't really get him when this time came.
03:31 He doesn't like not playing, he doesn't like not practicing.
03:33 And I just told him injuries are part of the game,
03:36 it's things that are part of the game.
03:38 And all he can do is all he can do.
03:40 I guess he'll wear the training stuff up and
03:43 have a couple days or whatever it takes.
03:45 >> So do you think this is more of a day to day type of thing as opposed to-
03:49 >> A little more next week, but
03:50 yeah, I'm not alarmed right now.
03:52 It's not like I'll really broke his leg or something like that.
03:54 That would be really, so it doesn't matter.
03:56 So I think it's just gonna be one of those things where you just gotta take it day by
03:59 day, hopefully it's on the shorter end than the longer end.
04:02 >> So you have some sort of prepared competition going on for you,
04:06 is that something you kind of plan on- >> Yeah, I mean,
04:09 they're two of our better guys, better players in general.
04:13 So yeah, absolutely, we do that.
04:15 We like backups, Astranga, and I mentioned yesterday, Stelianis.
04:21 Last year, he just was really in a transitional moment, but
04:23 right now he's really come on and done some good things.
04:26 So we got four guys there that we have a lot of confidence in.
04:30 >> In the spring, you only had one scholarship receiver out here,
04:32 quite a bit different this time around.
04:34 Does that make you feel a little bit more comfortable with the offense?
04:37 >> I tried to explain that.
04:37 I mean, a big part of what you do is based on what your personality is.
04:42 It goes back to the way we look coming out of spring a year ago,
04:45 what it looked like in September.
04:47 So it's not that hard to figure out, but
04:51 yeah, it's good to have guys out here practicing and getting better.
04:54 And it's good to see younger guys that you don't know a lot about start to show
04:59 some signs, they're always going up instead of down, that's always positive.
05:03 That being said, that's the group that's got the biggest opportunity
05:06 this next two weeks, especially this next week.
05:08 We need everybody to do that if we're gonna be a winning team.
05:13 >> Pretty happy with the defensive line, I would expect.
05:15 >> Yeah, they've been practicing really well.
05:16 And we got some depth here as well.
05:19 So that's, yeah, we're better if we can play with six, eight, nine guys.
05:23 Not gonna bring that up, I think it's realistic for us.
05:27 Yeah, so it's encouraging.
05:29 >> I have the same question about the defensive line.
05:31 Cooper and Howden, how's it missing guys?
05:34 >> Yeah, it's good, you don't want Cooper out, obviously.
05:37 But if the guy, give the other guys a chance to play more and
05:41 us to learn more about them, more confidence in them,
05:43 their teammates get confidence in them.
05:45 So it's always bad when a player's not out there, but
05:48 it does create opportunity for legitimately and a list of them.
05:51 So as I said, hopefully Cooper will be back sometime this week.
05:56 I'm optimistic he won't be, but in the meantime,
05:58 the other guys have an opportunity.
05:59 And it's always different when you work up a level,
06:02 you get in with a group that's a little bit more experienced.
06:05 So it's fun to see how guys mesh when they get that opportunity.
06:08 >> So Rusty Fett stepped in for Connor Colby at left guard with the ones for
06:12 a little while.
06:13 Is that where you see him fitting in with the offense, is that left?
06:15 >> He'll play in the interior.
06:17 And I wouldn't read too much into what you see there right now.
06:21 Other than I think, how do I put this?
06:27 Deon's got the most position flexibility.
06:29 Inside, outside, he can play inside or outside.
06:31 He did that on spring well.
06:33 So that's a little bit of a variable.
06:37 Bunker right now, we're trying to keep him in one spot.
06:38 He hasn't played.
06:39 So just get him in one spot, let him play there.
06:42 We're trying to do that with Connor too, although I say one spot at guard,
06:45 either side.
06:47 Now with Rusty, I think eventually he'll play all three.
06:49 Ellsbury plays all three inside positions.
06:53 So that's kind of how we're doing it.
06:54 Who can play outside and get reps and then the guys inside.
06:59 Who's gonna be lining up here in three weeks?
07:00 I got no idea.
07:01 But I think we're gonna have some options and that's healthy.
07:04 So instead of just whoever can show up on Saturday, get there.
07:08 I think we're gonna have some options.
07:10 So let the guys keep competing.
07:12 They're doing a good job that way.
07:14 >> Vines hit a, Kate hit Vines with a couple of pretty long passes.
07:18 Is that a combination that's been improved?
07:21 >> Yeah, I hate to bring up that injury thing.
07:23 Deontay's had the worst luck of anybody.
07:26 And I'm sure there's been other guys worse luck.
07:28 He's had bad luck since he got here.
07:30 He's thrown dead achilles right off the bat.
07:33 Last year it was a wrist.
07:34 So right now he's been really practicing well.
07:37 And we always felt like he was a good player, he just needed a chance to show it.
07:41 And until guys can get on the field and stay on the field,
07:43 they don't get that opportunity.
07:45 So yeah, he's been practicing really well.
07:47 He's got good ability.
07:48 And I think we know we got Nico too.
07:50 So there's two guys that we know a lot about that have been here.
07:53 And then the good news is we have other guys now,
07:56 like the guys we talked about earlier.
07:59 Now we're getting to learn about them and it's encouraging.
08:02 So we still got a long way to go till game time.
08:05 But at least we see some guys in the mix and that's good to see.
08:08 >> I'm running back to you.
08:09 I want to know your- >> No, if we got three, it's great.
08:14 And I feel really good about our first two guys.
08:19 Jazz does some things really well on running in the pool.
08:22 I think it's kind of who he is.
08:24 And I really like our two young guys too.
08:25 Scott here and there.
08:28 It's interesting TJ, I think he's 185 when he got here, he's 205 now.
08:34 He doesn't look a lot different, he's just more mature now.
08:37 That's a benefit of training.
08:39 And Kamari, I think he's got some ability.
08:43 Great young guy, great young guy.
08:45 He's a great personality, loves football.
08:48 And he's 185 points, I think too right now.
08:50 He won't be a year from now.
08:53 Yeah, so I think we got a good run there.
08:55 Max is, it's good healthy competition here too.
08:59 >> Is Parker at right tackle?
09:02 How long is Parker out?
09:03 And is he too far behind at this point?
09:05 >> I'm sorry.
09:06 >> Dejohn Parker.
09:08 >> Dejohn, yeah.
09:09 No, he's been out like two days.
09:11 His challenge right now is just, he missed all that spring with the meniscus thing.
09:16 So he's trying to play catch up and he does some good things when he's in there.
09:22 And then unfortunately, the last two days he's had some leg issues,
09:25 just swelling and stuff like that.
09:27 So he's played day by day.
09:29 He's a great young guy too.
09:30 And he's, again, we're in this new world right now.
09:33 So here's a guy who's a mature guy.
09:35 Except for six year old guy, I lost track.
09:37 But he's just a really good guy to have on our football team.
09:41 Hopefully we keep him on the field.
09:43 He'll do some things for us.
09:45 >> Okay, thanks.