Indiana University Athletics
Head Coach Terry Hoeppner's Weekly Press Conference
8/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 29, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner met with the media today for his weekly press conference.
"We are approaching the first game of the season, and for me, today is one of the three most exciting days of a college football coach's life. After the build up, off-season and all of the recruiting, we finally get to play against someone else.
I'd say there are two words to describe the team at present - fast and fit. As of today, 18 of the top 22 in our two-deep have not played in a college game or have not played in a college game at their new position. Plus, we have a new field goal kicker. I like the youthful enthusiasm and the quality of our two-deep.
The offensive line is the most important position on the team. Additionally, the offensive line is the only position where you have to play five. We are ready to play 10. We have bragged about the freshmen offensive line. We did a good job recruiting that group. Two of them, Rodger Saffold and Pete Saxon, will play on Saturday. They are physically mature enough and have picked up the most challenging aspect of an offensive lineman, which is the mental part of the playing their position.
I think we will play two tight ends this Saturday in Matt O'Neil and Nick Sexton. O'Neil has picked up where he left off. He was a solid player for us last year, but the overall quality of his game this season has definitely improved.
We will play four running backs. Speaking of that youth movement, the only running back that has played running back in a college game is Josiah Sears. He had an excellent summer camp. Then you throw in the fastest man in Bloomington in Marcus Thigpen to go along with Demetrius McCray and Bryan Payton. There is quality there. That is a position where we worked hard on.
We will play eight to 10 wide receivers. Our receivers can play. The large rotation allows that group to play at a very fast pace and to tag out. We are going to keep them fresh and use that position. We have improved our quality depth even though we are young. I am really excited to watch these guys perform in a game.
I like our quarterbacks. Blake Powers is obviously starting, but Graeme McFarland and Kellen Lewis have had really good summers. So far this summer, Ben Chappell has looked like a freshman, then at other times he looks like a Hoosier.
The defensive line is fast and furious. The defensive line will be the point of the spear for our defense. We will play nine on the defensive line. That is the most physically demanding position to play. We feel comfortable moving Charlie Emerson to tackle. It speaks volumes of the confidence we have in some of our young guys. Keith Burrus was a surprise in terms of picking up the system like he has. Brian Faires has played in games, but not in the position he is currently playing. He has practiced very well and has picked his game up a lot this summer. You will notice the defensive line this season. They will be a factor on defense.
Our linebackers will be a huge factor for us as well. I describe them as the `formers.' The linebackers are not necessarily the biggest, but they are fast and also have real instinct and have a knack for finding the football. For us, linebacker is a position that you can play early. If you have instincts and are physically gifted, you can play. We will play six linebackers.
I like our corners right now in Tracy Porter and Chris Phillips. Chris has become a starter. I like size at corner. He is a much more aware player.
With Troy Grosfield back and getting healthier every day, Academic All-American Will Meyers and Austin Thomas, I like what we have at safety. I like the number 20, so I am careful whom I give that number to because they better be a player. Austin Thomas is a football player. I would be shocked if after the game Saturday you didn't notice Austin Thomas flying around and making plays.
Tyson Beattie has had an excellent spring. As a fifth-year senior, you would hope that would be a position of strength for us and it is. Special teams have been reorganized in terms of some of our schemes and personnel. Tim Bugg is a real asset. He is healthy and fully recovered at long snapper. Every place I have gone, I've had a great long snapper. Tim Bugg is in a long line of long snappers that I have coached. The Austin Starr-Tyson Beattie combination is important because it helps your punt protection. Good punters allow your punt protection to become cover guys. You will see a couple of guys at gunner. Those guys are key. Everyone needs to fan out and get in their lanes, but the gunners have to get down the field and take a shot. You will see Tracy Porter and Joe Kleinsmith at gunner.
Speaking of Joe Kleinsmith, he was brought in as a kicker like Troy Grosfield, and I feel good about our kicking game. That's a pretty big statement from me. I tell recruits, I coach punters and harass kickers. Kickers have to be able to coach themselves. We are much further along in the kicking game. When I hold up one finger on Saturday, Austin Starr will run out there. He has made strides from last year, and not very far behind him is Kevin Trulock. Kevin had a great summer as well.
Lance Bennett is healthy. I have not known a healthy Lance Bennett. I have watched him on tape from the 2004 season, but all of the time I have been here, he hasn't been 100 percent. Lance hasn't missed a single practice this spring or summer. That's good news for us, not only as a returner but for one of those 10 receivers I talked about earlier.
Lance was voted by his teammates as a co-captain. I take the role of captains very seriously. I was a captain when I played in college. The team voted on the captains. We will rotate so that every senior has the chance to be a game captain along with our four permanent captains. I think it's important to have those captains to serve as a liaison between the team and the coaching staff, particularly me. I have had conversations with them already on what an honor it is to have that title, but there is a huge responsibility that goes along with being a captain. Along with Lance, Justin Frye, Will Meyers and Kenny Kendal are our permanent captains this season."
