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00:00 >> I know you knew that.
00:04 >> Okay, last season was a really good year for you,
00:06 defense in mind.
00:07 How do you plan to capitalize on that going into the season?
00:11 >> Basically, we're just trying to go out there and
00:14 show that we were a good team last year, but we didn't have all those
00:19 people to put together.
00:20 >> Coach, obviously the playoffs were good last year,
00:23 you got a lot of games to be here.
00:25 What does season eight to you in terms of improving,
00:27 quarterback battle going into the fall?
00:30 >> Need to get back to basics, do a good job of emphasizing the blocking and
00:36 tackling, defense is the fundamental, tackling movement.
00:40 Getting good fits and that kind of stuff, being in the right places,
00:44 making sure as you coordinate your defense that you get the right guy to be inside,
00:48 the right guy to be outside, fits, and all that kind of stuff.
00:52 We get that done, and we've got a new guy in charge.
00:56 >> About defense side of the ball, Coach Thomas Allen,
00:59 he was on the defensive coach last year, and I'm kind of his team.
01:03 And he's come in and taken, and made great leaps and
01:07 bounds with the stalling his style of defense for us in this particular season.
01:13 Already, so I'm looking forward to seeing just how far he can get us as far as
01:18 transition to a new different style of defense.
01:21 >> Absolutely, now Corey, only two teams can say they beat North Carolina Central
01:25 last year, you guys are one of them.
01:27 What did you learn about your team in that win?
01:28 It's like, hey, we can build on this going forward.
01:30 >> I would say that as a team, we know going in each day is gonna be a dog in the hay.
01:36 We just need to be able to finish that game, play a close game, and come out on
01:41 a victory side of it.
01:42 >> Absolutely, how about you, Patrick?
01:45 Aaron Smith, talented linebacker, what do you kind of see from him as he's kind of
01:49 grown in those years at the top of the line of defense?
01:51 >> He's still worse at the defense, but everything you gotta run through him.
01:55 He's grown up into the role of like mainly being one of the main leaders on
01:59 the defense, and it shows with all the Coach Howard and him communicating.
02:04 And how he's been running the defense so far.
02:08 >> Especially Coach Pugh, life at the Jack Davis may be hard, but what have you seen
02:11 from your wide receivers, whether during the spring practice, spring game?
02:15 What are your expectations for them this coming year?
02:17 >> Well, I think they've got a chance to be the same kind of group.
02:21 Of course, you're gonna always miss the Jack Davis.
02:23 He's a big, imposing target that you would just easily see out there all the time
02:28 because he's a big dog.
02:30 But we've got some new kids coming in, and I think our old guys that were there
02:34 last year, the guys that are developing on up the ladder,
02:38 will do a good job of filling in the gaps that we missed.
02:41 We've got Justin Smith-Brown, who had a good game toward the end of last year,
02:45 a good season for him, last season.
02:48 So I think he'll come in and do a good job in that particular regard.
02:53 Raquel White's a talented individual.
02:55 We think he's got a chance to be really special.
02:58 Once he gets the part that he grows and gets used to repetition-wise,
03:04 all of what he's got to do that.
03:05 I think he could be a big time guy.
03:08 Jordan Smith has shown himself to be, and then you got Richard Bader.
03:14 Richard Bader got probably the first sign, the first check in our armor last year,
03:20 was Richard Bader getting hurt in the end of the semifinals.
03:23 We didn't do much after having lost him, and he and Cory played together in high
03:28 school.
03:29 He's a big part of our offense, getting him back.
03:32 Might be a bigger deal for us than having Shaq.
03:36 I think we've got pieces in place along with some of the young guys
03:39 to put our guys in a position to be as good and better than we were receiving
03:43 Paul White this coming year.
03:45 >> Throwing somebody into Shaq Davis, that's some big words, coach.
03:48 To be honest with you.
03:49 >> Well, let me tell you what.
03:51 We think these guys will be the champions.
03:56 >> Absolutely.
03:56 Cory, last question for me.
03:58 Obviously you have a lot of new guys coming in,
04:00 whether from the transfer portal or from the recruiting class.
04:03 But in terms of returning to the questions you talked about,
04:05 what has it been like continuing your relationship with them and
04:07 continuing to work with them throughout the spring and the summer?
04:09 >> Throughout the spring and the summer, we did a lot of team bonding activities.
04:13 As a matter of fact, during the last spring, we all went paintball as an offense,
04:16 defense, and had team bonding experience.
04:19 In the summer, we're getting in two or three days of the week,
04:23 just going to see how we feel as a team, see how we play,
04:25 and make sure we know what we're doing, so we get to kick and get us on a good speed.
04:29 >> Guys, thank you so much.
04:31 >> Thank you, appreciate you.
04:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]