IAFB Defense 100323

  • last year
Iowa Defenders
Transcript
00:00 I don't know, I just try to play linebacker.
00:03 >> [LAUGH] >> Maybe I gotta do a little better in
00:07 a pass coverage, give them some more time.
00:09 But I don't know, I just make sure I got my guy.
00:12 >> I know there was talk about why there weren't interceptions and stuff.
00:17 How much of that is what that offense is doing to present opportunities?
00:22 I mean, it's kind of give and take.
00:23 >> Yeah, exactly.
00:24 We didn't do anything different that we've done the last three weeks or
00:29 four weeks, this past game.
00:31 And we got interceptions and turnovers.
00:33 And I mean, that's not a play call.
00:36 So it's like, I don't want you guys thinking like, okay,
00:39 this week they were like, we're focused on getting the ball back.
00:42 It just doesn't happen like that.
00:44 We kept doing what we've been doing and the ball ended up in our hands.
00:47 >> How cool is it to see, I doubt Nick cares about this kind of thing, but
00:51 for him to get a big 10 on it that quick.
00:53 >> Yeah, it's easy for me to go out there and
00:55 I want a dude next to me to play at a high level.
00:59 It just gives me confidence.
01:01 >> He's at 400 career tackles on the dot now.
01:03 That's a crazy number.
01:04 >> I told him he's got about 330 more tackles on his belt than I do.
01:10 >> [LAUGH] >> I couldn't imagine having that many.
01:14 >> I'm gonna ask you about, describe him as a player in the field,
01:19 what you see and you see him every day in practice.
01:20 >> Yeah, I mean, he's one of the humblest kids I know.
01:24 I mean, he comes to work every day.
01:27 When I see Coop on Saturdays, I mean, I've seen that all camp, all spring ball.
01:35 I mean, he's a guy who shows up every day.
01:38 You know that he's gonna give effort and I feel like that's just a bunch of guys we
01:42 have, we have a lot of guys that give effort.
01:45 So when you see him out there on Saturday making big plays,
01:48 you kinda expect it at this point, you know what I mean?
01:52 >> It's still fun to see though, that punt return in the INT.
01:55 >> Yeah. >> Where were you on the punt return?
01:56 You were on the sidelines?
01:56 >> Yeah, I was on the sidelines and
02:00 I saw him catch the ball with nobody in 20 yards of him.
02:05 And I just stood up cuz I knew.
02:07 Coop and space, that's good for us.
02:11 >> Does it still feel like it's taking steps every week and
02:14 a lot still left on the table to do better?
02:16 >> Definitely, definitely, and that's why I get excited every Sunday.
02:19 Cuz I just know we can get so much better.
02:21 And Coach Farris really just preaches getting better every week.
02:24 Head coach for the Baltimore Ravens, Coach Farris showed us a video.
02:31 He said the Super Bowl champions aren't crowned in week three.
02:34 And so for the team that's able to get better every week,
02:38 those are the guys that'll be successful.
02:40 So we know that week four isn't the end of this defense.
02:45 So we're just trying to get better every week.
02:47 >> Jay, you guys have lost two captains, Luke and Cade, and you're a captain.
02:53 Does that change anything for you?
02:55 And how do you keep those guys kind of involved in being leaders?
02:59 >> Really just a next man in mentality.
03:02 And obviously, I mean, I can attest to that last year.
03:06 I really wasn't expecting to play a well backer.
03:09 But if you're locked in, if you're understanding the situation you're in,
03:14 I feel like we do a good job of just moving guys right ahead.
03:17 And I'm excited to see what Deacon can do.
03:20 I know what type of guy he is.
03:22 I know what type of leader and what he brings to the offense.
03:24 So, I mean, all he's gonna get is a bunch of teammates behind him, rallying him.
03:29 And it's just up to the leadership, like you said.
03:32 I'm gonna do my best just to keep the guys moving forward.
03:36 >> Play defense back full time now.
03:37 The older guys in the room, the guys that were here before me,
03:44 and wow, I'm just really on now.
03:46 Those guys helped out a lot.
03:49 I couldn't have done it alone, obviously.
03:51 So it's been cool.
03:52 >> 1A football is obviously a different kind of content.
03:55 Football, was there a moment your freshman year where you got
03:59 a welcome to college football moment?
04:01 And how did that shape you?
04:02 >> Shoot, I'm trying to think.
04:05 >> I mean, hit you took or concept that was being explained so long.
04:11 >> I think, yeah, I think really the whole concept of our defense and
04:17 like the detail of it, that was kind of surprising me.
04:21 Cuz in high school, you just kind of go out there and play like one coverage.
04:27 I kind of just sat in the middle of the field in high school.
04:29 So obviously now playing corner, it's a lot different,
04:34 having to learn all the different concepts and stuff.
04:40 And the first real snaps I took, I think,
04:44 it was an Illinois game, it was my first time playing.
04:48 And I think we were in cover three or something, they were in the seam route.
04:54 And I came and tried to crack the tight end as he's trying to catch the ball.
04:59 And I ended up on my back.
05:02 So I was just the size of everybody and
05:05 the different speed of the game, took some getting used to.
05:09 >> I don't know if surprise is the right word, but
05:11 have you surprised yourself a little bit with where you came from and
05:16 now where you're at?
05:17 Or is this kind of what you, I'm gonna put in the hard work, I got a shot to get there.
05:22 >> Yeah, I feel like I've put in the work to get where I'm at.
05:30 But obviously, the goal is to never be satisfied,
05:34 always strive to get better, and I can't do it without the guys around me.
05:42 Sometimes I'll think back, just being out there on the field,
05:49 and I'll just look around and think about, this is what I dreamed of as a kid,
05:55 playing in Kinnick Stadium in front of 70,000 people.
06:01 Even in the night game, last weekend, you kind of just look back and
06:07 think of where I came from, a small town kid in Iowa to now playing in front of 70,000.
06:14 So those moments definitely come to mind sometimes when
06:19 in the stadium and you just kind of take a look around.
06:23 >> What does your dad do and the program at DBG to prepare guys for the Hawkeyes?
06:29 >> Yeah, I think the biggest thing, there's a lot of carryover, but
06:31 the biggest thing is just kind of doing your job.
06:34 My dad preaches that a lot at Xavier, and having guys that go through the program,
06:38 that come in and just work hard and kind of stick to the basics.
06:43 You see it carry over here at Iowa because that's what Coach Farrance asked of us as
06:46 well.
06:47 >> Did you get mentorship from anyone who was maybe a little,
06:51 an upperclassman who played at Xavier?
06:55 You know what I'm saying, like Iowa guys who played at Xavier, did you get mentorship?
06:58 >> Well, first off, I have to mention Matt Nelson, he was here before me and
07:02 helped me kind of, he was pre-med route, but he helped me with my academics side
07:05 of things as well, but then also my older brother Bryce helped me kind of show me
07:09 the way, just two years older, and so he pretty much gave me a glimpse of what Iowa
07:13 was like, what it looked like, and it was certainly easy for the transition.
07:16 >> Do you mentor younger guys, Ethan and Ethan?
07:20 >> Yeah, trying to.
07:21 You know, trying to, Ethan, just one year younger than me,
07:24 doesn't necessarily need as much help.
07:25 But just trying to help out Rex and Aiden, I'll certainly need to the program,
07:29 just answering any questions they have and helping them in any way I can.
07:33 >> Purdue look a lot different, new coaching staff, Purdue offense?
07:39 >> Sorry, what'd you say?
07:41 >> Sorry, I kind of hit you there while you were at mid question.
07:46 Purdue new coaching staff, how does the offense look different?
07:48 How are you guys preparing?
07:50 >> Yeah, it's a little bit different than it's been the past couple years, but
07:53 certainly they haven't left talent to be able to run and pass the ball.
07:57 So it's gonna be a difficult task for us and a challenge, and
08:00 we just have to come ready to go.
08:03 >> How much have you guys addressed third down defense?
08:05 You guys, the percentages are up this year in terms of teams converting.
08:08 Is it the early downs that you guys have to be better on?
08:12 >> Yeah, you definitely have to be good on first and second downs, so
08:14 you're not in those third and short situations.
08:16 Trying to get them back in third and long scenarios,
08:19 which really makes it tough on them.
08:21 And if we can stay in those and try to get off the field on third down,
08:24 then it's good for us.
08:26 >> Are you seeing where that's happening,
08:28 where you're not playing as well on first and second down?
08:31 Have you guys kind of addressed that?
08:33 >> I mean- >> Or is it just different every week,
08:35 every series?
08:37 >> I mean, every week's kind of different, but
08:38 our goal is to get in third and long situations every week.
08:41 And if we're in those situations, then it's certainly helpful.
08:46 But whether it's third and short or third and long,
08:48 we still have to try to get off the field no matter what the situation is.
08:51 >> Forcing yourself and kind of forgetting the basics of coverage.
08:56 >> Just trying to do our job.
08:57 We understand if we just do our job and have tremendous effort to the ball,
09:01 that they're gonna come.
09:03 And it's just up to us to make the plays and make sure we're in the right position.
09:07 >> Was it hard to stay patient over those 18 months without football?
09:12 >> Yes and no, just because I love the game.
09:14 But like I said, I tried to find a different love,
09:19 try to add value in a different way other than being on the field.
09:25 And I feel as though I did that.
09:27 >> Expection communication being maybe an issue with some of those big plays
09:32 happening, at least early on when you weren't playing yet.
09:35 Do you think that's starting to come along with some of the guys that you
09:38 haven't played with before, X in particular?
09:41 >> Yeah, like anything, time.
09:45 I feel as though time has been our friend as long as we just continue to
09:49 hammer in our core beliefs, which is locking in on the details,
09:55 having our routine, over communicating, and getting to the ball and tackling.
10:00 >> How close are you to Tyrone, Tracy?
10:02 >> Me and Tyrone, I came in in 19.
10:04 He was a red shirt freshman, or he might have been a true freshman.
10:07 But I've been a good friend ever since.
10:10 But this week, I look forward to going up against him.
10:12 >> What's it like to see him on film for the team?
10:15 He looks like he's doing pretty well.
10:17 >> No, he's doing well.
10:18 He moves the same.
10:19 He moves the same.
10:20 And I just came in the same.
10:23 >> [LAUGH] It seemed like he was pretty instrumental when the racial bias
10:28 stuff went down in summer of 2020.
10:30 Did you see that?
10:31 How big of a voice was he kind of in the transition?
10:34 >> Yeah, while he was here, he was a leader on our team.
10:36 And he was a very vocal guy.
10:40 I believe there are many, many factors that went into that time in 2020.
10:44 And at the end of the day, I believe it made us a better football team,
10:47 made everybody in the building better.
10:48 >> What was it?
10:53 I'm assuming Phil probably gave you a bit of an earful on that play against
10:56 Western Michigan.
10:57 >> Mm-hm, yeah, it was just a play I tried to do some bust.
11:03 But corrected it, and how in the practice field, and
11:08 continue to correct many other mistakes.
11:11 We can never be perfect, but we try to be as close to perfect as we can.