Erick All-Kaleb Johnson 090623
Iowa student-athletes
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00:00 All right, we have Eric Hall here.
00:07 We'll go right into questions.
00:08 If you have questions, raise your hand on the right and we will get going.
00:13 We have probably about 10 minutes with Eric.
00:16 All right, Eric, first question is from Adam Jacoby.
00:21 Eric, how are you doing today?
00:24 Good, how are you?
00:25 Doing well, can't complain.
00:27 So take me through catching that touchdown from Cade and what it's like when it's a quarterback,
00:37 when it's coming from a quarterback that you have that familiarity with.
00:41 Well, first, I was supposed to come off the edge on that play and I just see two big old
00:49 D linemen in my face.
00:51 So I had to figure out, I had to, I low-key panicked and I had to figure out how to, or
00:57 figured out how to get out of, how to get out in space.
01:00 Like I was going to go around it, but I was just like screw it and went through them and
01:05 was hoping that Cade seen that and didn't, didn't pass me off or look off of me and throw
01:12 it, throw it somewhere else.
01:14 So I like looked real fast and I just see the ball in the air and I was expecting it
01:18 to be on me hot because that's how we practiced all week.
01:21 But it was up in the air and I just, just caught it over the shoulder.
01:27 But it was crazy though that being, you know, my first catch and it being a touchdown and
01:34 it being from Cade, it was pretty surreal.
01:37 So.
01:38 All right, next question is from Tyler Tachman.
01:41 Hey Eric, I hope you're doing well.
01:45 When you were in the transfer portal, just what all was the process like of choosing
01:50 Iowa?
01:51 What, you know, what, what were the factors that, you know, led you to want to come here?
01:57 Just, just play, I've played against Iowa before and I've been on the other side and
02:04 I know what they represent, which is, you know, being disciplined, football, tough football,
02:11 just gritty, just a gritty team and a great, great coaching.
02:15 And when I entered the transfer portal, you know, I already, you know, knew that about
02:20 them and that's what type of team that I was, I was, you know, hoping to be on and, you
02:28 know, and they used the tight ends a lot, which was just a perk and, you know, Cade
02:33 came, which was another perk and, you know, and I came on my visit and just loved, loved
02:39 the environment, loved all the coaches and players and just felt like it was the best
02:45 fit.
02:46 All right, Eric, next question is from Chad Lystico.
02:50 Hey Eric, now that you've got, had a game under your belt for the Hawkeyes, I mean you
02:55 and Luke, I believe had 10 combined catches the other day.
02:59 How, how have you seen it transpire that you two complement each other in terms of how
03:04 your games fit for this team?
03:08 Um, just feel like man, when you have two great players out there, you know, it's, it
03:16 can help the team out a lot and, and you could draw, draw different or draw the defense away
03:22 from one guy and leave another guy open.
03:28 Just different stuff like that.
03:29 I can't really trying to think where he's just Luke's just a monster.
03:34 He's good and he's a threat and he's just, he's just a beast and we both just want to
03:41 get out there and compete.
03:42 So all right, next question is from Scott Docterman.
03:47 Eric, this summer you talked about kind of the challenges of trying to catch up with
03:52 everything, learning the position, learning the way Iowa does it, which is a little different
03:55 than what you're used to.
03:57 And then on Saturday we see you lining up as the F at times, you know, even in 14 personnel,
04:03 how has that kind of added to the challenges for you and how are you able to absorb that?
04:08 Because that's, that's a unique position to play, especially being a tight end.
04:12 Yeah, it's, it's very different and it can be difficult, but you know, we just got great
04:18 coaches and you know, they, they make it easy and they coach you up and you know, they keep
04:24 it real, not real, but you know, this fix you and hold you accountable.
04:28 And that helps out a lot, honestly, and it will make anyone better.
04:32 And you know, and you know, also we have Eli, Eli who was a fullback and who else, Hayden
04:43 helps me out a little bit, you know, so it's just like, it's, they make it easy, but it's
04:50 definitely difficult.
04:51 The reason how it'd be difficult, just because I'm so used to a whole different system and
04:56 different terminologies and different footwork and different ways to block things.
05:02 So it's just like, I'm trying to get used to Iowa's way and it can be difficult at times,
05:08 but coaches helped me out a lot.
05:09 So.
05:10 All right, Eric, next question is from Mitch Fick.
05:14 Eric, I asked Kate about this yesterday to East Lansing in 2021 is probably the closest
05:20 parallel of what you'll experience in Aims on Saturday, just in state robbery and all
05:24 that.
05:25 Playing at Spartan Stadium, I know you had a big day.
05:28 Kate had a big day, came up a little short in the wind column, but what do you remember
05:31 about the fans, that atmosphere of just playing for Paul Bunyan?
05:36 Just the fans being ruthless and wild and, you know, it being very electric and fun.
05:45 That day was like probably one of the funnest games I played in just because of how much
05:50 it means, like I said, in state robbery.
05:53 So it's very important to come out and leave with the trophy and.
05:58 And like it's it just adds like a different intensity and like to the game and I just
06:05 love that and it's fun and can't wait to get out there Saturday against Iowa State.
06:10 All right, next question is from John Steffi.
06:13 Hey, Eric, hope you're doing well.
06:16 How would you evaluate the run blocking through one week and what do you think is the key
06:20 to getting that better?
06:23 Having a great first step and coach Hives was just here.
06:26 He emphasizes that a lot, especially recently because, you know, that's kind of like what
06:31 we've been struggling on.
06:33 Just getting a great first step and it's a world of difference from taking a bad first
06:40 step in a great first step.
06:41 And that's really that's really all it is when it's blocking you, block them with your
06:47 feet and your footwork and the rest comes later.
06:51 And we got to we got to figure that out.
06:54 But I feel like we're doing great and we just continue to get better and better and be elite.
07:01 So all right, next question is from Tyler Tuchman.
07:04 Yeah, Eric, you had mentioned when when you were in the portal and obviously Cade had
07:09 already committed to Iowa, just what was the communication like between him and you?
07:14 Like, did he was he pretty aggressive in trying to pitch you to come?
07:18 Just what all was that like?
07:21 You know, we were just talking, he would get to tell me about, you know, like the.
07:28 Just like the perks about being here, you know, I was, you know, the number one or the
07:34 like there is no like pro teams and I was like the Hawkeyes are like looked at like
07:39 as like pro like pro football.
07:41 Everyone loves it.
07:42 You know, the the the stadium is electric on Saturdays, you know, Coach Ference and
07:49 like how great they are and like, you know, we talked about golf a lot.
07:56 We just we just were just chatting about like, like different stuff, like about how the food
08:01 is and stuff like that.
08:02 And how was it when he came down on his visit?
08:05 You know, but that was pretty much it.
08:09 I will have two more questions, Eric.
08:15 First one is from Adam Jacoby.
08:17 Eric, Coach Hodge had a lot of good things to say about you and your character and everything
08:23 that you bring to the tight end room.
08:26 What's it been like playing for a coach like Coach Hodge?
08:31 It's been it's been good.
08:32 It's been it's been great, honestly.
08:34 You know, he's always giving me giving me crap, you know, when I mess up something and
08:39 everything that's, you know, that could get irritating at sometimes.
08:43 But that's what that's what you know we need.
08:46 And I realized that and, you know, it's it's fun, you know, and, you know, just to have
08:53 a coach that, you know, just picks you picks you apart with everything you do.
08:58 And it makes you it makes you a better player, especially out there on Saturdays.
09:02 And just great coaching all the time.
09:06 You know, every time I see him, we'll we'll text back and forth about about things like
09:10 plays and stuff.
09:11 And, you know, we he has a great answer for all the questions I ask him about about footwork
09:18 about, you know, releases stuff like that.
09:22 So I love I love coach Hodge to death.
09:25 Great coach for sure.
09:26 Thanks a lot.
09:27 Appreciate it.
09:28 Last question will be from Chad Lysakow.
09:30 Hey, I know you just came off the practice field.
09:33 How much was Cade able to do today?
09:35 And how is he helping you guys get ready for this game, even though he's banged up a little
09:39 bit?
09:40 Yeah, that's coach on.
09:42 How's he helping you get?
09:45 How's he helping you prepare even if he's not on the field, though, is what I'm saying?
09:48 Oh, he's yeah, he's he's always coaching guys.
09:52 And, you know, you know, giving guys the right looks on like or making sure guys are given
09:58 the right looks or not right looks, releases and like where where we should expect to catch
10:03 the ball, stuff like that.
10:05 You know, he's a great leader.
10:07 And he's like that on and off the field.
10:10 So.
10:11 All right, perfect.
10:13 Thank you for your time, Eric.
10:14 All right.
10:15 Thank you.
10:16 Question Caleb is from John Stepney with the Gazette.
10:18 Hey, Caleb, hope you're doing well.
10:22 Obviously not the rushing numbers.
10:23 I'm sure you were hoping for in week one.
10:25 What do you think is the key to getting that better for week two?
10:29 I just feel like we just got to keep driving and keep practicing because that was our first
10:33 game of the season.
10:34 So like everybody just now, like really just like getting back adapted to playing the games.
10:38 And once we get the game and the run game rolling, it's going to come back up.
10:43 So.
10:44 All right, next question is from Scott Dochterman.
10:47 Caleb, when you look back at the running game itself, what was what was kind of some of
10:53 your takeaways from how you worked with the offensive line?
10:57 And was it just kind of a miss here, a miss there from anybody that really kind of prevented
11:04 it from coming off?
11:05 Or was there something more, something deeper that prevented it from taking off?
11:11 Like I said, I just feel like that we just we just need to get back on our own top on
11:15 our top on our top of things and just really just like really start working back and get
11:21 back to our role, because I feel that was our first game.
11:23 So I just feel like our line is going to get better.
11:27 So I'm not worried about that.
11:28 So that's about it for so.
11:31 Our next question from Adam Jacoby.
11:34 Hey, Caleb, how are you doing this morning?
11:38 Are you doing well?
11:40 So week one is in the books.
11:43 You're officially, you know, a Hawkeye and want to know how was it playing in Kinnick
11:49 Stadium?
11:50 Unbelievable.
11:51 I love that place, man.
11:53 Like there's so much support and love no matter if we're losing or if people know we're going
11:57 to lose or people know we're going to win.
11:59 Like they still come on and support no matter what.
12:01 So I love I love the Hawkeye support so much.
12:04 So next question is from Chad Lysakow.
12:09 Hey, Caleb, how did the Powerade sponsorship come about?
12:14 And kind of what what thoughts do you have about that kind of being in a pretty select
12:19 group nationally?
12:20 You know, it's very I'm a I'm a power.
12:26 I was like a little kid, like practicing.
12:29 So it's just crazy.
12:30 I just came up and they decided to sponsor me and they like the game I played.
12:36 And it was I just it was awesome.
12:38 So I'm just glad today that I was picked.
12:41 I'm on a chosen for five.
12:42 So next question is from Mitch Fick.
12:48 Hey, look, how important is that that first set of film, you know, have against somebody
12:53 that's not Phil Parker's defense having this this first film of twenty twenty three?
12:58 Sounds like you're not too concerned about any perceived shortcomings in the run game
13:05 or anything like that.
13:06 How important is that film to just be able to study now and and have a template of what
13:09 other defenses are thrown at you?
13:12 With me right now, because at first I came here, I really like know how to read a defense
13:16 and not a defense.
13:17 So with them just coming out and just like just like showing like showing a good like
13:22 I said, a good function and a good things of how the other defense is going to play
13:31 is really going to affect me a lot, because I feel like they're like we do that before
13:35 time, then ahead of time when it comes and I'm annoyed, I can just play my game and I
13:38 have to worry about it.
13:39 So that's a big thing to me.
13:40 So, yeah.
13:43 Next question is from Tom Caker.
13:45 I want to ask you about the message from Coach Betts after week one, what's his point of
13:53 emphasis for you guys as a group going into the Iowa State game?
13:58 Just run hard because this is going to be a big dogfight.
14:01 It's not going to be no like regular easy game is Iowa, Iowa State.
14:05 So he said, just come in here and just run hard, just run and do your thing, like just
14:11 go to go out there and play.
14:12 Have fun.
14:13 Because at the end of the day, it's about fun.
14:15 It's not about seriousness, too.
14:17 But that's what he told me.
14:20 So.
14:21 Next question is from John Steppe.
14:24 What do you remember from last year's Cy Hawk game?
14:27 And have your teammates been telling you anything about going to Aims?
14:30 Um, well, last year, I remember I was like my thing.
14:36 That was the first game I had like two or three carries on and I had like 22 yards in
14:42 total, I think something like that.
14:44 But then they start telling me that like when I go there, it's gonna be like a lot of booing
14:47 and throwing throwing stuff at me.
14:49 But I took that as motivation, because it's just like a lot of people hate and so you
14:53 just sit there and try to prove them wrong.
14:55 So that's what I love doing that.
14:56 So this will be a big thing Saturday.
14:58 So that's what I'm looking, looking really forward to do.
15:01 So next question is from Elliot cloud.
15:07 So had that big return to start the game against Utah State this this last weekend.
15:14 I know we talked a little bit about it on on media day, you said you're gonna have your
15:18 meeting with with Coach Woods, was it kind of tough to convince him to give you those
15:23 returning duties again this year?
15:25 Or is it?
15:27 How was he?
15:28 Was he happy with with how you played on on Saturday?
15:31 And was that that a tough convincing of him to get you to let you to do that again?
15:36 No, like, because he, he really believes in me.
15:40 And I respect him so much for that for continue to believe me and believe that the things
15:43 I can do.
15:44 So I just really like it really was no convincing with him.
15:47 It was just like, man, I'm just sat down and talked and he said, I really want to do it.
15:51 And I told him Yeah, so and then he said, we go see how we do Saturday.
15:55 And then I did that.
15:56 So it's gonna keep going up from there.
15:58 So I'm learning and learning day by day.
16:00 So that's the most important thing.
16:01 So keep doing it.
16:03 All right, cable have three more questions.
16:07 First one is from Mitch Fick.
16:08 Hey, Louie, you played in a few rivalry games last year, obviously, Iowa State being one
16:13 of the first ones, but what was your experience with rivalry games in high school?
16:17 Especially I know, Hamilton, is it Baden or Baden just played again this year for the
16:22 first time in like 20 years, something like that.
16:23 But there were there big ones back at Hamilton that kind of painted the picture of what a
16:28 rivalry is supposed to be in high school and college and whatnot.
16:30 Hamilton versus Fairfield.
16:31 It was like every year, we played a game solo.
16:36 It was just like, because on each side, like we knew we knew, like basically, everybody
16:40 knew each other on each side.
16:42 So it was just like about just talking stuff and leading up to that game.
16:45 So it was just fun.
16:46 So I love rivalry games.
16:48 And it's gonna be fun because you get to show them what you can actually do.
16:52 And all that talking goes out the window.
16:54 So next question is from Tyler Tachman.
16:58 Hey, Caleb, I hope you're doing well.
17:01 Was just wondering about Jazz Patterson.
17:05 You know what, what maybe last season or this season, you know, maybe behind the scenes
17:10 in practice, like, have you seen him do that kind of open your eyes and, you know, kind
17:16 of give indication of the type of player you can be?
17:20 That boy can run.
17:21 He run, he play hard, everything that he do, he do hard.
17:25 So that's what I love about him, bro.
17:27 If you put him on the field, I trust him completely.
17:30 I feel he'll get the job done.
17:32 All the running backs get the job done.
17:34 Not just him, all of them, even the two freshmen that just came in and get the job done.
17:38 And you know, me and LaShawn and Kamari, TJ, Max White, even though he's a walk on, he
17:44 can still get in there and get the job done.
17:45 He a hard worker.
17:47 So really just all of us, I feel like can do the thing.
17:49 So everybody's opened up eyes to everybody.
17:52 And I just love that because we all a team and we are brothers.
17:56 So I can't last question will be from Chad.
18:00 Nice to go.
18:01 Hey, Kayla, I was just looking through your stats and stuff and you've gotten 20 plus
18:07 carries twice in your career.
18:09 I have won both those games.
18:10 One of those was at Purdue last year.
18:12 Do you do you feel like you are the type of back that can get better as the game goes
18:17 on?
18:18 And do you like that high volume of carries if it can happen?
18:20 Yeah, I feel like every every carry I get is going to lead to more things being open
18:25 because I feel like every run I get is going to keep motivating, motivate, like motivating
18:29 to be even a harder runner because I know the situation that we're in and stuff like
18:33 that.
18:34 So I just feel like that, like when I get the ball, I just like I just do my thing.
18:39 So every time I get the ball, I try to do it better and better and better every time.
18:43 So.
18:44 All right, perfect.
18:46 Thank you for your time, Caleb.
18:49 All right, guys, thanks for being patient with us and we'll be good to go.
18:56 Bye.
18:57 Bye.
18:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]