Kalen DeBoer and Nick Westbrook Transcript

OC Kalen DeBoer

How would you assess the progress with the offense being installed so far?
"The install, we have our schedule. Install one is pretty heavy, install two is pretty light. Install three there was another level to it and install four, practice four will be kind of a cleaning up of today. I think the guys are putting everything into it. The first practice and third practices were a little sloppy at times because it is new stuff, and I hope practice four is just like practice two was where we cleaned it up."

What are your impressions on the quarterbacks?
"They all bring something a little different to the table. Experience, especially out of Peyton (Ramsey). I've been impressed with Jack's (Tuttle) arm strength. And then Mike (Penix Jr.), he kind of has that 'it' factor to him as far as how he throws the ball as well. They are all going to make mistakes at this time, all learning new verbiage, a couple of different concepts. They all are going to make their mistakes, but they've all had their highlights already in their first three practices. They've gone and made some plays and then you can see how you can tailor the offense to each one of them and be successful."

It's still early but how much are you emphasizing throwing the ball downfield?
"I think that is part of it. We've hit some play-action shots in all three practices. That is part of when you get a run game going. To me the explosive plays aren't always about throwing it all the way down field, it's about timing and accuracy and good protection and everyone just trusting each other. If you can hit guys on the run, great yards after the catch can happen. We've had a little bit of both and we have completed some deep balls down the field, which is good to see."

What are the strengths of the receivers?
"Well you like our length. We've caught some balls down the sideline where you can throw it up and if you get a quarterback to be on the same page with guys there, when you get that look, give them a little nod or hand signal and throw it down the field just like we did here at the end of practice, you're going to like that with that height. We have to use that to our advantage. We have to have the things off the field, but I really like what we got. They are competitors. They go for the ball. I like the nature and aggressiveness they all have. I am excited to keep working with them and they'll keep getting better as they get comfortable with everything."

Who are some guys on the roster that have surprised you these first three practices?
"I thought Miles Marshall had a great practice, practice two. Maybe one of the guys who stuck out the most through three practices. Watching him run, I knew he had some athleticism and juice to him, but then he went out and competed, caught some balls in traffic and was really locked in. There are a lot of guys that I have noticed, but with a coaching staff already having been here, they kind of filled me in on what to expect. But a guy like that who hasn't had a lot of reps on game day, I think he has surprised a little bit of all of us. There are other guys who have done a nice job, too."

Is there concern with Michael (Penix Jr.) and his knee?
"We talked about that a little bit, watched some clips, just making sure he's aggressive and transferring his weight through his throw. It effects the way your shoulders are tilted and all that kind of stuff. We have to make sure we're conscious of that. I don't want to over coach him right now. He's trying to learn the offense. He knows who he is better than I know who he is right now. We'll work together on it."

WR Nick Westbrook
This time last year, you were worried about your knee and getting back. What is the difference in this year's spring ball?
"Obviously just being healthy. I think this is the first time in the last two spring balls I am able to start off right off the bat get rolling full speed. This being my fifth year, a sense of urgency, making my plays and also leading this receiver group to be great."

When you install a new offense, what is different in practice right now and what you guys are used to?
"Kind of just the procedure of everything. A lot more focused on the details of the running to the huddle, in between the huddle, everybody making sure they are getting mental reps on the sideline. Offensively, a lot of different terminology, just trying to get used to that. Just establishing this culture that Coach DeBoer wants to get started here at Indiana and making sure it is going throughout the whole offense and not just with a few guys."

What does that look like, the culture?
"Having a 1-0 mindset. Something bad might happen but make sure you are winning every little rep that you can. In a season, it's 1-0, it's always the next game, it's always about the next game. But taking it to spring ball, it's always about the next rep, the next little drill, the next practice, whatever it is, making sure that we are winning every little small win we can and build those to have great success."

Through three practices, what are your early impressions on how Jack (Tuttle) and Peyton (Ramsey) have done?
"They've been doing great. Definitely picking up on a new system really fast. At least for me when I am in with them, it feels like we've been doing this for at least a season already with the plays that we have in so far. You can tell that they are really in depth and details in the books, making sure they know exactly what they need to do. Throwing the ball deep down the field, it's great to see that."

What was the mentality you had to attack this offseason in the weight room?
"Every day, kind of like what Coach DeBoer said even before he got here, 1-0. My whole mindset going into this year and this past offseason with these winter workouts has been 'why not?' Why not do everything you can to make this team better, do everything I can to make myself better and do everything I can to make this team win some ballgames next year?"

It got chippy there at the end of practice, not that it's been encouraged but is that kind of a good sign?
"It's not encouraged, it's not something Coach Allen is trying to impose on everybody, but it is showing the intensity that everyone wants to get better and wants to play hard and make sure they are doing everything right. You can tell everyone is passionate about what they are doing, that's why it gets so chippy, because we all love to play this game. We don't want to make mistakes and always want to be winners."

Coach Allen mentioned downfield passing plays, is that something you were emphasizing early or something you've seen a lot of success from early?
"From the first practice noticing we're getting a lot more balls thrown down the field. I think it is emphasized with the reads for the quarterbacks to look for us early on and always have that in the back of their head that we are going to be down there. I definitely noticed more emphasis on that and I caught a few of those. As a receiver group, we are getting a lot more of those opportunities."

Do things feel a little different now that you aren't dealing with injuries?
"Definitely. I talked to Coach Heard this past offseason and he even noticed a difference - I think it was between those first four games and to that Ohio State game - when he noticed I picked back up to where I was beforehand. I noticed that change and ever since then it's been rolling, building on top of each other."

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