George Barnett 10-11-23
Iowa offensive line coach
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Good to be with you guys.
00:01 Just got off the practice field.
00:03 Got a little football weather and.
00:05 Big boys are loving it.
00:06 It's kind of hard to hard to get off of it.
00:09 You just want to stay out there,
00:11 so apologize for being a couple minutes late.
00:14 Try to give you a little insight
00:17 to the offensive line room thus far.
00:19 We hit the midway mark in the.
00:22 Regular season schedule and and
00:24 they're seeing some things that we
00:25 like like the energy of the room
00:27 and really kind of get into it.
00:29 Really good focus and and work habits.
00:31 Daily work habits are really
00:33 nice to see right now.
00:35 We you know we we were seeing
00:38 some improvement right now,
00:39 but that's just that's just
00:41 exciting to to see more.
00:43 You know it's it's a bit of a
00:45 scratching the surface that
00:46 makes you want to see more and.
00:49 Moving forward here in the
00:50 second half of the season,
00:52 I think our main focus has to be
00:54 keeping our eyes straight ahead
00:56 on that daily improvement and
00:57 not getting caught up in anything
00:59 outside of our room and and really
01:01 stay staying focused that way and
01:03 kind of protecting our focus that
01:05 way 'cause that's that's how we're
01:07 starting to see some improvement
01:08 that in that manner.
01:10 So with that being said,
01:11 I'll field any questions you got.
01:13 Alright, coach. First question
01:16 will be from Tom Caker.
01:17 Coach, how you doing so Tom?
01:22 Want to ask you, you've had a lot of
01:24 moving parts injuries, different things.
01:26 How challenging is that been to
01:28 get the cohesion that you need
01:30 as an offensive line?
01:31 Great question, less moving parts
01:33 than we've ever had since I've been here.
01:36 So you see moving parts.
01:37 I see like concrete pillars, man.
01:39 I see stability. It's it's exciting.
01:41 We've had less movement.
01:42 We, you know, the last two or three weeks.
01:45 We've had some.
01:46 We've had some situations where say
01:47 this guy may not go. This guy may not go.
01:50 Gotta move a couple guys,
01:52 but we've seen way less.
01:53 See more consistency from the
01:55 offensive line room that way.
01:56 So. I think it's our turn to be
02:00 consistent and stable for maybe another
02:03 room that might be have some moving parts.
02:05 You know, maybe it's our turn
02:07 to give back a little bit.
02:09 For the last two years it was.
02:12 It was every week it was moving parts
02:14 and we were relying on other rooms
02:16 to help us big time and so yeah,
02:19 while there is a move here or there,
02:21 we're trying to keep it as
02:23 consistent and stable as possible.
02:24 We're trying to keep it on the
02:26 offensive side and that kind of deal.
02:28 Alright, coach,
02:29 next question is from John Steffi.
02:31 Hey George, great to see you John.
02:33 With Tyler Ellsbury,
02:34 I think I saw him as the second
02:36 team guy at left tackle.
02:38 So obviously you hope that Mason
02:39 Richmond stays healthy,
02:40 but if he doesn't,
02:41 what could Tyler provide
02:42 potentially at that tackle spot?
02:44 I think Tyler can play right now
02:46 and we and we thought that last week.
02:48 That's that's why we moved him out.
02:50 You know we have.
02:52 You know Mason last Tuesday.
02:53 He was basically out for the week.
02:55 You know that's what we're thinking.
02:57 Friday night he's not playing alright.
02:59 What's what's plan B and we knew
03:01 early in the week it was going
03:03 to be Ellsbury kicking out.
03:04 The thinking behind that is this.
03:06 We have.
03:06 We have a couple other tackles
03:08 that are getting better.
03:09 Are they able or ready to take on
03:11 that workload right now?
03:12 Probably not,
03:13 so that's one.
03:14 That's one where you where you
03:16 rely on seniority experience.
03:17 That kind of deal.
03:18 That's why that's why we moved out.
03:20 Tyler out and he's repped all
03:22 the time since he's been here,
03:24 so we always kind of keep him fresh.
03:26 He's he's he's pretty.
03:27 He's pretty darn valuable.
03:29 Alright, coach,
03:30 next question is from David I call.
03:33 Hey George, appreciate you taking time.
03:34 Always good talking to you.
03:35 I think before the season you talked
03:37 about how you can't microwave
03:39 experience on the offensive line.
03:40 Has that really been the key to help?
03:42 You know, propelling the room forward.
03:44 It seems like you guys are having
03:46 some more hits, especially in the run game.
03:48 Just kind of what's your assessment
03:50 right now that yeah to me that's
03:51 a good thing and I know that's
03:53 not a great answer.
03:54 It's not a popular answer and you
03:56 know start talking about appliances,
03:57 but.
03:58 At the end of the day,
04:00 if you don't have that patience
04:01 with with a young group and see
04:03 it for what it is, you're going to.
04:05 You're going to miss out and
04:06 there's going to be more gaps and
04:08 we can't afford to have more gaps.
04:10 Two years ago when you saw when
04:12 we walked into the room,
04:13 you knew you had to push the right
04:15 buttons and it was going to take
04:17 awhile and it was going to be hard,
04:19 arduous work,
04:19 but great work as their good young
04:21 guys and that's that's kind of how
04:23 we're we've been operating for quite
04:25 awhile and it hasn't changed.
04:30 I think I think the worst thing you
04:32 can do is say OK now we got guys
04:34 that are these guys have all played
04:35 in games and things like that and
04:37 then change the course.
04:38 The course is the same.
04:40 The course is the course is patience.
04:42 It's everyday work is consistency
04:43 and that's hard for a kid today
04:45 with with the phone and all those
04:47 things that's that's when I when I
04:49 talk about protecting protecting our
04:51 kids and that's we have to do a great
04:53 job of that. These kids are 1819,
04:55 20 years old and you're we're
04:56 adults telling them this.
04:57 Hey, stay focused.
04:58 Don't listen to anything else,
04:59 but you know what we're doing in the room.
05:01 That's that's easier said than done,
05:03 and that's that's why I have.
05:04 I have a I have a ton of admiration
05:06 for this room and this group of guys.
05:08 I have a deep respect for not only
05:10 what they've been through is and
05:12 what they're fighting through and
05:13 and are continuing to work through,
05:15 and it's going to serve him well.
05:17 Alright,
05:18 next question from Elliott Cluff.
05:20 Can't hear you, Elliot.
05:28 Sorry about.
05:30 Sorry about that was focused on the question.
05:32 Good morning George.
05:33 I don't think we've met so so nice to meet you.
05:37 You mentioned in your opening statement
05:39 that you're seeing improvement.
05:40 Is there any particular place or
05:42 or facet of your group that you're
05:45 really seeing improvement?
05:46 Maybe the most or the least?
05:48 Or where are you seeing it?
05:49 General, that's that's a fair question.
05:51 You know, I think overall you know,
05:53 and I think it starts outside of
05:54 the room or outside of the field.
05:57 I think it starts on how guys carry
05:59 themselves being consistent every day,
06:01 entering the building with an energy,
06:03 being available more study and more,
06:06 you know, just being more invested.
06:08 And I think that's where it starts.
06:10 And then the chemistry in the room that
06:11 you know that's that's probably
06:13 the biggest jump we've made.
06:15 But that's that that happens naturally.
06:17 As long as you keep things tight
06:19 and keep him focused.
06:20 And then on the field now you're talking,
06:22 you know, in the run fundamentals
06:23 or pad levels getting better.
06:25 Our first steps are getting better.
06:26 We're using our eyes better.
06:27 You know a lot of mistakes that you see
06:29 a lot of times comes down to the eyes.
06:31 And it's it's simple.
06:32 You know you want to coach everything else.
06:34 You want to coach the feet,
06:35 the pads, all that stuff and the elbows.
06:37 And but sometimes you forget
06:39 the most important part
06:40 that your eyes lead the block.
06:41 And with young guys,
06:42 they're trying to pick up
06:43 all the base fundamentals.
06:45 Then they start adding the eyes later
06:47 and and then it starts picking up.
06:48 So you know, we're seeing a lot of more.
06:50 We're better targeted on our blocks
06:52 in the run game.
06:53 Nothing in the past game.
06:54 We're using our hands more,
06:55 getting a little bit more separation.
06:57 Got a ton of work to do.
06:58 I mean, we're just, yeah, it's not.
07:00 This isn't.
07:00 We're not close to
07:02 where we want to be in November.
07:04 But yeah, that those are probably
07:05 the two biggest areas I've seen.
07:08 Alright, next question
07:09 from Chad Lysico.
07:11 Hey good morning George.
07:14 Yeah, the last two matchups
07:15 against Wisconsin have not
07:16 produced a ton of yards.
07:17 I think.
07:18 Barely 300 in the last two total,
07:21 but you said the line is improving.
07:25 So what opportunities
07:26 maybe do you see this week for,
07:29 you know, especially with an
07:31 inexperienced quarterback?
07:33 What can the line do to kind of help
07:34 you guys win this matchup?
07:36 I think we got to do what we've
07:37 we've we've attempted to do
07:38 the last three or four or five,
07:40 six games is do make sure
07:42 we're assignment correct.
07:44 Make sure that we're working together,
07:46 communication.
07:47 You know, we see different front.
07:48 Something comes up that we're on
07:49 the same page as the quarterback
07:51 that we're following his lead with his
07:53 his calls and things like that.
07:55 But as far as stats are concerned,
07:58 I don't get too caught up in the numbers
07:59 because numbers usually
08:00 involve more than one group.
08:02 So for me to as an offensive line coach
08:04 get enamored with a say,
08:06 we want to get this certain
08:07 number of this and this.
08:09 I think that is a real gray
08:12 way to way to approach it.
08:14 I know it's fantasy football,
08:15 but like it's.
08:17 If I'm talking to my guys,
08:19 we got to do our fundamentals correct,
08:21 do our assignments correct
08:23 and be accountable for
08:24 what we have to do.
08:24 We got to mow our freaking lawn.
08:26 You know what I mean?
08:27 Like we can't be looking
08:28 over in the neighbor's yard.
08:30 We got to take care of our business
08:31 and and do that better.
08:33 We got it.
08:34 We got to do our part better
08:35 'cause we have a ton of improvement.
08:38 To make next questions
08:40 from Scott Docterman.
08:43 Along those lines, George,
08:44 you know I looked at like week one
08:46 and there were a lot of makeable
08:47 blocks that you guys miss,
08:48 specially on counters that probably
08:50 made you want to pull the rest
08:52 of your hair out if you have any
08:53 left by the end of the day.
08:55 But then you can't compare
08:56 that to the other day.
08:58 And on Caleb Johnson,
08:59 I was really fascinated with his play.
09:01 Caleb Johnson's long run,
09:02 but the communication part
09:04 that you discussed earlier,
09:05 which was Connor Colby noticing
09:07 that the nose moved over,
09:08 which allowed him to kind
09:09 of take one side.
09:11 And then of course Logan Jones
09:13 kind of pushed him all the way
09:14 to the edge of the line.
09:14 And scrimmage trustee
09:15 Beth got really vertical
09:17 and blew a linebacker
09:18 about 10 yards out.
09:19 I gotta record this.
09:20 Can I record this
09:21 and play for my guys?
09:22 That's what they need to hear.
09:23 Hello, it's recorded, but.
09:26 But you know,
09:26 look in the way everything
09:27 lined up on that play.
09:29 It just seemed like, OK,
09:31 they got it on this play.
09:33 Is is that what you're trying to get
09:34 to them to do it consistently?
09:36 'cause Lord knows Wisconsin
09:38 and every other team
09:38 is going to blow you up sometimes.
09:40 But yeah, no doubt does hit.
09:42 It's a home run.
09:43 Yeah, it's you know what you want.
09:44 What you want is consistency.
09:46 What you want is, you know,
09:46 if you look at last week's game
09:48 and and a few of the games
09:50 we've had this year,
09:51 there's been that type
09:52 of consistent footwork
09:53 and working together,
09:54 being on the same page,
09:55 understanding what you know,
09:56 how the defense is moving
09:57 and how we can take advantage
09:58 of that at the end of the play.
10:00 And like you were talking about
10:01 with the with the center
10:02 and the guard and and.
10:04 But yeah, we just have to
10:06 continue to do that.
10:07 And you know, are we
10:08 are we looking for home runs?
10:09 Not really.
10:10 And that's not
10:11 that's not the world we want.
10:12 We don't want to live
10:12 in a hot or cold world.
10:14 We know there's going to be,
10:15 you know, an extra guy,
10:16 you know, a blitz
10:17 or something like that
10:17 that can affect the play.
10:19 Move on, get to the next,
10:21 get to the next snap
10:22 and see how consistent we can be.
10:25 And that's that's communication
10:27 that's being targeted.
10:28 You know, that's getting
10:29 that's getting the point
10:30 right from the start,
10:31 from the quarterback to us
10:33 and everyone being on the same page.
10:34 I think and then you strap
10:36 on the eye part of that.
10:37 I think that really directly
10:39 connects with what you just talked
10:40 about is seeing that as opposed to,
10:44 you know, great effort in a block and
10:46 but not seeing the big picture.
10:50 Next question is from Tyler Taschman.
10:53 So.
10:54 Hey, Tyler, you had mentioned
10:56 that you guys are not close
10:58 to where you want to be in November.
11:01 How how much growth
11:04 do you feel like is possible
11:05 at this point in the season
11:07 and how do you get there?
11:09 I think it's the most
11:10 I think that's the most exciting part
11:11 of coaching the offensive line.
11:13 You know, you're never
11:14 you're never where you want to be
11:16 and you always see growth possibilities,
11:19 especially if you have the right energy
11:21 and attitude and availability
11:23 is key there.
11:25 And we have those things
11:26 going for us right now.
11:28 So, yeah, I think there's
11:29 I think there's a lot of
11:30 I think there's a lot of
11:31 improvement to be made.
11:32 But I think it's going to be small
11:34 incremental, incremental movement
11:37 improvement.
11:37 I think that's how you have to handle it.
11:39 And that's we just have to understand
11:41 that if we see that
11:42 there's been improvement so far,
11:43 don't don't go off that course.
11:45 Don't become something.
11:46 You remember how you got to this point
11:48 and just put that one day at a time
11:51 forward and it it matches our program.
11:53 You know, that's
11:54 that's what I've always said here.
11:55 You know, two years ago
11:56 when we talked about all the work
11:57 that needed to be done a year ago,
11:59 all the work that needed to be done.
12:01 I've always I've always said
12:03 the first thing that pops in my head
12:04 is we're in Iowa.
12:05 You're at the place
12:07 where that can get done.
12:08 And you can have
12:10 and I don't mean
12:10 patience in a negative tone.
12:12 You can have patience and do it right
12:14 and build the layers right
12:16 and just follow that process.
12:19 You never want to be playing
12:21 at your optimum and then
12:22 and then falter down
12:23 as October and November hit.
12:25 You always want you always want to be
12:27 raising your play.
12:29 And if you look at our line
12:31 and play the last two years,
12:32 that's probably one thing
12:33 that we did a fairly good job of
12:35 is improving as a season went.
12:38 I think we're more equipped
12:39 to do that even more now
12:40 because we have more availability,
12:42 more people playing
12:43 and a little bit more experience.
12:46 John Steppe,
12:48 how have you seen Rusty
12:50 Beth make the transition
12:52 from the smaller
12:53 but still FBS level to now?
12:55 You know, easy on the mind.
12:56 Yeah.
12:58 And but when you have a guy
13:01 who's had 30 some career starts,
13:02 how much of a luxury is that
13:04 when you have a few injuries?
13:05 Huge rusty,
13:07 rusty felt helped changed our room
13:09 the day he decided to come.
13:11 The chat, the mistake,
13:13 the big mistake he made
13:14 as he went back, right?
13:16 And he wasn't here.
13:17 So he scared the hell out of everybody
13:19 and everybody got there.
13:20 Everybody's like, hey,
13:21 we're going to get to work here.
13:22 We just saw this dude.
13:23 This guy's played a lot of football,
13:24 you know, and so he he helped the room
13:28 just at that second
13:29 because everyone up their investment,
13:31 in my opinion.
13:32 And I'm not putting it all on Rusty,
13:34 but like that helps
13:35 when you have that that seniority
13:37 and things like that.
13:38 Then he comes in the room
13:39 and then the way he carries himself.
13:41 I knew him when he was a sophomore
13:43 in high school, but you know,
13:44 he's he's grown up a little bit,
13:45 a little bit extra facial hair.
13:46 But he just the way he carries himself
13:49 and acts in the room that that's huge.
13:52 You know, when you have tough days,
13:53 tough plays, he's real steady,
13:56 you know, so that part of it is huge.
14:01 And then you take
14:02 his individual improvement.
14:03 He's really starting to come
14:04 into his own a little bit.
14:05 You can you can see the thinking in detail,
14:08 get a little bit less
14:08 and a little bit more rhythm
14:10 and just feeling while he's playing.
14:11 You're starting to see
14:13 a little bit of his attitude
14:14 when he plays.
14:16 And I think that's what has
14:17 was missing a little bit early
14:19 and rightfully so, because he was
14:20 he was still trying to get everything
14:22 lined out and routine
14:24 and everything on campus and new.
14:26 And but now he's starting
14:27 he's starting to hit a stride a little bit.
14:28 And I'm just glad he's here.
14:30 Tom Kaker.
14:34 I want to ask you about
14:35 some of the freshman
14:36 I saw Kate out there
14:37 working a little bit second team pregame.
14:40 What about him?
14:41 Jones, Lau, some of those guys
14:44 and how they've developed so far.
14:46 I like a man
14:47 from day one.
14:50 You know, I know him
14:52 because I recruited him, but I, you know.
14:53 I just like the way they carry themselves.
14:56 These guys, these guys love football.
14:58 They like to hit.
14:59 They like to compete
15:01 multi-sport guys, defensive players.
15:04 I like that defensive mentality
15:05 coming over to offense like Kate Pieper.
15:09 You know, this kid, you know,
15:11 oh, is he is he big enough?
15:12 I don't know.
15:13 I don't know.
15:13 He's he'll be OK.
15:15 You know, this kid likes to compete.
15:17 But that's that whole group.
15:19 There's a lot of people are coming.
15:21 A lot of people coming to me
15:22 is talking about them like, hey,
15:24 the scout group is the best we've ever had.
15:25 And they're really playing hard.
15:27 And of course, I go in there
15:28 and rip them up a little bit
15:30 so they don't get fat and happy on us.
15:31 And and but you're watching there
15:33 because I watch their film every night.
15:34 And I just I really enjoy there
15:36 because they're improving.
15:37 They're doing a good job.
15:38 And how do you not,
15:39 you know, blocking that D line every day?
15:41 So but yeah, their attitudes
15:42 are just how they go about their
15:44 their blue collar, man.
15:46 They like to work,
15:46 like to roll up their sleeves.
15:47 They don't mind contact.
15:49 And yeah, it's fun group.
15:50 Elliott.
15:52 So with the quarterback change,
15:56 Deacon Hill coming in,
15:58 obviously, Cade was hampered
15:59 a little bit with that injury.
16:01 He suffered during camp.
16:02 I do. Do you look at that positively
16:06 and try to think of it?
16:07 Oh, well, our quarterback's
16:08 a little bit more mobile.
16:09 That that makes things
16:10 a little bit easier on us.
16:11 What are the what are the positives,
16:12 negatives that you're
16:13 really dealing with right now,
16:14 whether it's communication,
16:15 the fact that he's mobile, et cetera?
16:17 Yeah, I'm mowing our own lawn.
16:20 I really don't.
16:21 It doesn't even register to me,
16:23 to be honest with you.
16:23 It's just.
16:24 If we if we if we just worry
16:28 about our own room
16:29 and we got plenty to worry about
16:31 and plenty to plenty to stay focused on
16:33 and we just keep doing that daily
16:34 and each room does that,
16:36 you know, I think
16:37 I think we'll like the results.
16:39 You know, I think if we well now we can
16:41 we can block a certain way on this.
16:43 That's out of that's
16:44 out of my jurisdiction.
16:45 That's that's a coordinator's job
16:46 to figure out all that matching.
16:48 My job is to get my offensive line
16:50 ready to play for the coordinator.
16:52 And that's it.
16:53 So I'm sorry, but that's just how I'm
16:56 I got some blinders now.
16:57 All right. Three more questions,
16:59 coach.
17:00 First one is from Chad Lysakow.
17:02 How would you assess
17:06 your right tackle play so far
17:07 with Jennings and through six games?
17:10 I know, you know,
17:11 this is really the first time he's played
17:12 right tackle for the Hawkeyes
17:14 and also like the guy
17:17 we get the most questions about
17:18 is Dejon Parker.
17:19 And we have no idea
17:21 how he's developing behind the scenes.
17:22 If you could speak to that as well,
17:23 that'd be great.
17:24 I'll talk about Dejon first.
17:25 Dejon's been been on a bumpy road.
17:30 And.
17:30 You wouldn't know it.
17:32 You wouldn't know what talking to him.
17:34 You wouldn't know watching him practice.
17:36 You know, he came in early.
17:37 Got injured in the first week
17:41 of conditioning, was out for quite a while.
17:43 Got going for spring ball.
17:46 First day of spring ball.
17:47 Had an injury again.
17:49 Out for a while.
17:50 Surgical.
17:51 Missed part of summer.
17:53 So it's it's all the development
17:55 because we knew when Dejon came in,
17:56 he was going to need
17:57 some of that development,
17:58 especially with the lower body.
17:59 His lower body was a little
18:00 bit behind his upper.
18:01 So we knew every day was going to count.
18:03 And then all of a sudden
18:04 we got all those days taken away.
18:05 And he and more most importantly,
18:07 he got those days taken away.
18:08 Never flinched.
18:10 Everyday guy.
18:11 And now he's he's kind of back on that.
18:13 Upward trend and he's working hard
18:16 and he's he's showing up every day.
18:18 He's just he's playing from behind
18:20 a little bit right now.
18:20 But like he's another guy that
18:23 him sitting in that room
18:24 and him giving giving advice to kids
18:27 that are four years younger than him.
18:29 Invaluable, invaluable.
18:31 My only wish for him
18:32 is he didn't miss all that time
18:33 so he could he could taste
18:35 kind of what Rusty's
18:36 tasting right now.
18:37 'cause he's he's plenty good enough.
18:38 So we'll see.
18:39 We'll see how it goes.
18:40 There's there's quite a bit
18:41 of season left here and
18:42 and we're just going to keep working
18:43 day by day with him.
18:44 As far as Jennings is concerned
18:47 at the right tackle.
18:48 Not to be Mr.
18:50 Positive, but you know, I think he's
18:53 I think for a first year
18:54 tackle who thanks a lot.
18:56 There's way smarter than I am.
18:57 I think he's doing a damn good job.
18:59 I think he's.
19:00 I think he's really starting
19:01 to feel the game a little bit.
19:02 He still has his moments
19:03 where you can.
19:04 You can tell he's
19:04 he's a little bit.
19:06 Methodical, probably not dissimilar
19:09 to Logan Jones last year at center.
19:11 I think there's a.
19:12 There's a little bit of
19:13 similarity to that at times,
19:14 and I think if you tried
19:16 to judge him too early,
19:17 I think that would be a shame.
19:18 I think we're seeing that
19:20 with Logan right now.
19:21 But yeah, he's doing,
19:23 but he's also doing some things
19:24 probably better than
19:25 I thought he was going to do.
19:26 You know, he's he's
19:27 he's got good athleticism.
19:29 He can move his feet
19:31 and he likes contact.
19:34 He likes the physical part of the game.
19:35 He's starting to have
19:37 a better pre snap plan.
19:38 You know that those are the things
19:39 when that pre snap plan
19:41 starts to become natural
19:42 as opposed to thinking
19:43 through it every time.
19:44 I think it's becoming
19:45 more natural every day.
19:46 I think we're going to see him
19:48 just continue to flourish
19:49 and raise his play, but I've been.
19:51 I've been happy.
19:52 I've been happy with Jennings.
19:54 Scott Docterman.
19:56 Wanted to ask about Connor Colby
19:58 and you know last year
20:00 the trying to put a shim out
20:02 to right tackle
20:03 just didn't work out well for him,
20:04 but it seems like he's
20:05 really hitting his stride at at guard,
20:08 especially when he's running counter.
20:10 He and he can really displace
20:12 people when he's pulling what
20:14 what is led him to this point?
20:16 Is it just purely maturity
20:18 and growing and and doing
20:19 the same thing repetition wise
20:21 over and over again?
20:22 Or has he taking that jump
20:24 and if so, what is kind of propelled
20:25 him to be this kind of upper
20:27 echelon player?
20:28 I think yeah, I think
20:29 the biggest thing with him.
20:30 When you look at when you look at
20:32 Connor story and his time here,
20:34 it you never want to go back
20:36 and change anyone's past
20:37 because it leads to the future, but.
20:39 The fact that he played so early
20:41 when he was a high school senior
20:43 and he came on campus
20:45 and he's he's starting for the Hawks
20:47 like.
20:47 That's that's not, you know,
20:50 and he's probably not
20:51 good enough to be doing it.
20:53 That's that's just a.
20:54 It's a tough one and and admire
20:56 everything he did that year
20:57 and how he handled himself.
20:58 And he's it's where you know
21:00 he was raised right way.
21:00 He's a special kid
21:01 like just a really cool kid, but.
21:04 Then then you think you know,
21:06 do you have it figured out
21:07 as as a young kid like that?
21:09 Or do you?
21:09 Did you kind of survive
21:10 it a little bit, you know?
21:12 And then he's he's getting pumped up
21:14 a little bit outside
21:14 then he comes in the second year
21:16 and then because of injuries
21:17 we gotta move positions
21:18 and I was a tough year for him
21:20 for in multiple accounts.
21:21 I think if you stayed at guard
21:22 it might have been a tough year
21:23 because just because of that.
21:25 Slack where he wasn't quite sure
21:27 how good he was, you know,
21:29 as opposed to being down
21:30 in the scout team
21:31 with Coach Parker and Coach
21:32 Wallace and Coach Bell
21:34 and you kind of know where you're at
21:35 and you just work through it.
21:37 So I think I don't
21:38 want to call it a trap,
21:38 but he had that little second year
21:40 lol where he had to
21:42 kind of figure out.
21:42 Hey, this is reality.
21:44 This is where I'm at.
21:44 This is what I gotta do.
21:46 I don't have it all figured out
21:47 and you know you guys know Conner.
21:48 He's got a great.
21:49 He's such a good kid
21:50 and that he just he knew that
21:52 he figured it out.
21:53 It just took a little bit.
21:54 That's why I think
21:55 the difference is now he's comfort.
21:57 He knows exactly where he stands.
21:58 He's not wondering.
21:59 He's not wondering
22:00 if he's good enough or not.
22:01 He's just playing
22:03 and the consistency in position.
22:04 You know that's something
22:06 that you guys you guys are sharp.
22:08 You guys have always asked about.
22:09 Hey, you know you're moving guys around.
22:11 You know, we just couldn't tell you
22:12 about all the necessity
22:13 that we had at that time to do it
22:15 just to survive.
22:16 We don't have that problem
22:18 as much right now, so just him
22:20 being able to say
22:21 here's where you're going to be.
22:22 Here's where you're going to play
22:23 and this is where you're going
22:24 to rep the hell out of it
22:25 and get better.
22:26 And that's where that's what you want.
22:28 And by no surprise, here he comes.
22:30 He's getting better
22:31 and competing his butt off.
22:32 And I think he's really enjoying football.
22:34 And but yeah, that's
22:35 I can talk about him for a long time.
22:38 Yeah.
22:38 All right, last questions, coach
22:40 from John Steppi.
22:41 I realize you can't comment
22:44 on specific guys for a few more months,
22:46 but in general, what has made
22:48 the Chicago suburb area
22:49 a really appealing ground
22:50 for recruiting offensive linemen?
22:52 I just like good players.
22:54 I like good players.
22:55 I don't care where they're from.
22:56 I like good players that are tough,
22:57 that have a work ethic.
22:59 You know, I have familiarity
23:01 with certain areas
23:02 because it's been doing it
23:03 for a long time.
23:03 And, you know, that always helps
23:06 if I know some people
23:07 that are connected.
23:07 You know, I think that's
23:11 that's big with me.
23:12 You know, I want to know
23:13 exactly what I'm getting
23:14 and I want to know how they were raised
23:16 in the game of football
23:17 and because there's
23:18 going to be tough days
23:19 and how kids respond.
23:21 And, you know, it's all the things
23:22 that when we walked in here
23:24 that we wanted to get done
23:26 in that room and get the get the room back.
23:28 And we're in the middle
23:29 of that process right now.
23:30 We're not close to where we want to go.
23:31 We're in the middle of it,
23:32 but it's going to be done with people,
23:34 I guess, is what I'm saying.
23:35 And to match your question,
23:36 it's done with people
23:38 and the right type of people
23:39 and the people that believe
23:40 in the same things.
23:41 It's not about chasing stars.
23:43 It's not about chasing paper talent
23:46 or they did a whatever
23:48 at a combine or whatever.
23:49 Like I want to know
23:51 who fits the program.
23:53 I want to know who fits
23:54 Iowa's offensive line
23:56 and how we want to play.
23:57 And if we just keep doing that,
24:00 like we talked about the freshman class,
24:02 if you go through to a man,
24:04 it wasn't like we were surprised.
24:06 I was I'm not surprised
24:07 that they're doing what they're doing,
24:09 because I knew
24:10 I knew exactly how they were
24:11 brought up in the game
24:13 and brought up at home
24:14 and their work ethic.
24:15 And, you know,
24:16 just the type of just the type of guy
24:19 they are.
24:19 So as far as like certain areas.
24:22 Yeah, there's you know,
24:23 but a lot of it's,
24:24 you know, if I have familiarity
24:25 with people
24:26 or if I know the coach
24:28 or if I know that that helps.
24:29 All right, perfect.
24:31 Thank you for your time, coach.
24:33 Got it, guys. Appreciate you.