Marcus Valdez spoke with the media after practice
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00:00 We will finish things off here today with Marcus Valdez.
00:03 Questions for Marcus.
00:05 Hey, Marcus.
00:07 I was wondering, does this--
00:11 do you have a sense yet, I know it's early,
00:14 of how different this defense is schematically,
00:18 or is it something that has a lot of similarities
00:20 to what you guys used to run?
00:22 I mean, there's similarities and there's differences.
00:25 You know, we've just been grinding lately,
00:27 trying to learn the new D and get our techniques right.
00:31 But I mean, once the season starts,
00:34 I think you guys will like it, so.
00:38 Thanks.
00:40 Marcus, I asked Coach about how he comes up
00:43 with different situational coverages,
00:45 and he said a lot of it gets dictated, too,
00:47 by what the defensive line can do.
00:49 Just on your experience,
00:52 what are some of the things that you look for
00:54 playing on the line and how that might fit into the defense,
00:57 just when you're lined up in the trenches?
01:00 I mean, we focus on a lot of things, you know.
01:02 If we get to the quarterback, you know,
01:04 it takes pressure off the secondary, so, you know,
01:06 we call different things like that.
01:07 But, you know, if we can't get to the quarterback,
01:09 then that definitely messes them up
01:11 and gives them more time to throw the ball.
01:12 So, you know, it's going to be based on
01:15 how fast we get to the quarterback
01:16 and how good our rushes are.
01:17 And it's how we're playing up front against the run, too.
01:20 So if we could reset the line of scrimmage
01:23 two, three yards back and make tackles,
01:24 then it gives people more freedom in the back end.
01:27 So that's good for us.
01:30 How have some of the younger players at your position
01:36 been coming up?
01:37 Do you feel like they're sort of catching on fast
01:40 with everything you're learning so far?
01:42 I mean, we only got one freshman, Cam.
01:44 Cam Horsley, he's been doing good.
01:46 He's been taking some good reps, running fast.
01:48 We got Mike Trofoni, you know,
01:49 Isaiah Henderson, Sheeta, and, you know,
01:52 we got some older guys, you know,
01:53 we got Booz who just transferred from Buffalo.
01:55 So we got some guys, and I think we're going to --
01:58 we're going to shock the country when the first game comes.
02:01 Back to with Zion and you saying
02:07 you were poised for a big breakout.
02:09 What's it like lining up against this offensive line?
02:12 What have they learned?
02:13 What have you learned about how guys might block you
02:15 when you're lined up against them in practice?
02:17 I know it's only the third day.
02:19 Yeah, I mean, I love going against them
02:21 because, you know, they're one of the best
02:23 O-lines in the country.
02:24 So, I mean, we're not going to face
02:25 probably a better O-line than we have right here.
02:27 So, I mean, we're going against Zion,
02:29 going against Raybould, Alec, Ben, you know, all those guys.
02:32 They're the best at their position.
02:35 So, I mean, it's fun to go against them
02:37 and grind every day, you know.
02:38 It's just competition.
02:40 We're getting each other better.
02:41 So, I mean, I love going against them.
02:44 Was it fun to get the pads on today finally?
02:46 So fun. It's so hard to practice without pads,
02:49 especially up front in the trenches.
02:50 It's just, you know, you want to go fast.
02:52 I'm like, "Coach, like, slow down, slow down."
02:54 But, you know, once you get the pads on,
02:55 it's just totally different, you know.
02:57 So, it was great today. I loved it.
03:00 Go full speed, you know, get some thud in.
03:03 You hear the pads pop a little.
03:05 So it's always good to get the pads on.
03:08 Thanks.
03:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]