Oregon linebacker Jamal Hill discusses defensive improvements ahead of a matchup against the Stanford Cardinal.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Those sacks were a long time coming.
00:02 What did the first month feel like to check that box?
00:06 >> It felt good.
00:07 A lot of preparation went into it.
00:09 It wasn't just me, a lot of other people had to do their jobs in order for
00:13 it to happen.
00:14 So I'm grateful for my D-line, my secondary for disguising,
00:19 getting the quarterback like a funky look, making him pack the ball.
00:24 So it's not just me, it's a lot of moving parts that contributed to it.
00:27 So I'm grateful.
00:28 >> On the one where Mace gets called, how hard is it as a player to actually pull
00:32 up there?
00:32 Cuz it sounds like the whistle blows, but when you're committed to doing
00:36 something, it's like, how hard is that to actually be able to try to pull up in
00:40 that spot?
00:40 >> I mean, it's hard, but Mace, he's a veteran player, he can do it.
00:47 It was just a here in the moment thing, he won't make that mistake again.
00:51 >> Third down defense is better than it was last year.
00:55 Sacks are up.
00:56 What's this improvement come from?
01:00 Is it just year two, more understanding of the system?
01:03 >> That's definitely a part of it that contributes to it.
01:06 And I'm gonna just shout one of my coaches out, Brian Michalowski, man.
01:09 That man's a third down guru, and he gave us a lot of new pressures and
01:15 stuff like that, and they're hitting.
01:17 So, and also the D-line and stuff like that,
01:19 it's a lot of moving parts that go into it, but yeah, I feel like, yeah.
01:24 >> Another improvement question, where does it feel like that
01:26 linebacking group has improved since last year?
01:29 >> I don't know, I feel like this is a brand new group.
01:36 We got our own little style of play, and
01:40 we just kinda feed off each other in that room, so.
01:42 >> You mentioned Brian, is that who you work with most on a day-to-day basis, or
01:47 what does that look like at this point?
01:49 >> Yeah, B-Mike, my guy, kinda took me in,
01:54 knowing I was gonna be new to the linebacker room,
01:56 kinda just teaching me the ins and outs, him, me, and Tosh, so yeah.
01:59 >> Just the nuance, has that helped?
02:03 What particular switch would you mean to switch?
02:06 >> I mean, just linebacker IQ, learning the stuff about the box.
02:09 I feel like I could do it from a physicality standpoint, but
02:12 it was a lot of mental stuff that I didn't know.
02:14 And he took his time with me, all the extra meeting times.
02:18 It was some nights we didn't leave here till 10 o'clock, just watching film.
02:23 And he didn't have to make no sacrifices, but he did.
02:25 So I appreciate him for that.