Quoted: Preseason Camp – Oct. 8
10/8/2020 1:36:00 PM | Football
Below are partial transcriptions of Zoom press conferences with Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, safeties coach Jason Jones, husky Bryant Fitzgerald and safety Devon Matthews on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Defensive Coordinator Kane Wommack
Q. On the scrimmage…
WOMMACK: I thought for a first scrimmage it was exciting to see because the physicality was there. Our ability to line up and communicate with ones, twos and even some of our threes did a really good job. But probably the most exciting thing was the tackling. I think we had four total missed tackles out of the ones and twos for a total of seven yards after contact. If you guys remember the Ball State game a year ago, we had 23 missed tackles for 168 yards after contact. In the first scrimmage, I think we have more players on the field that are stronger, faster and bigger, all those things, but, more importantly, they know what it feels like to hit a grown man in space. They know how to bring those guys down way better than they did a year ago. I think our emphasis in tackling, if I can say it is cutting edge, I think we are doing some great things and in finding a way to build real life scenarios on the field, without tackling people live. We are finding ways to emulate what that is going to look like on game day. That was an exciting piece and the execution was an exciting piece. It just goes to show when you tackle well and you can execute, you can do good things on defense. For the first scrimmage, I like where we are at.
Q. On the differences of the team between now and a couple years ago…
WOMMACK: I think certainly the athleticism has improved year after year. I think we are more athletic, but we know that athleticism is more decisive now. It does not matter how fast you can run if you do not know where you are supposed to run to, or you can anticipate. For us, the way we teach defense, we spend a lot of time teaching our concepts, then we teach situational philosophy. Third down is played different than base downs, tight red zone versus high red zone, two-minute when they need a field goal versus a two-minute when they need a touchdown, all those things are important. At the end of the day, we shift to offensive recognition and our players have a bigger catalog of understanding and offensive recognition. They are playing faster, up front. We are certainly a lot more physical than where we were a year ago, again, understanding where to put your hands to be violent, to hold blocks, recognizing the bigger concept of what we are trying to get done defensively. Probably the most exciting piece is the linebacker corps. They know what to do, they get people lined up, very physical, and they can really run. We are excited about where we are from a personal standpoint.
Q. On tackling.…
WOMMACK: In the offseason I looked at what type of tackles continue to show up. We did an in-depth evaluation of our tackling fundamentals. The one thing that we spend a lot of time on is hard-shoulder tackling. What that means is, if I am moving to my left and a ball carrier is on my left, I need to finish with a hard-left shoulder tackle. We want to get that left foot in the ground, left shoulder in the ground, and not to get too intricate with it, but if this shoulder (left shoulder) does not turn, I am way more likely to get the opponent on the ground. If I let that shoulder turn or do not maximize the punch, those ball carriers will be able to roll off. We found different ways to emulate different types of tackles. Tackles inside the box, which are a little more position specific to linebackers, so we have position-specific tackles that we work with each group during individual, and then we do a ton of tackle circuits.
Safeties Coach Jason Jones
Q. On Bryson Bonds…
JONES: I enjoy coaching Bryson and working with him every day. He is a smart football player on the field. A lot of times as a freshman you wonder if they can make the checks or sometimes learning a new defense and trying to transition from high school to college football is difficult. But he has done a great job of getting in the playbook and understanding the defense. Saturday, we had a scrimmage and I threw him out there with some of the older guys just to see him moving around and he is one of those guys that was able to get lined up and made checks. He was not afraid to talk or to communicate. He had a chance to make some plays, he came down and made those plays. He is putting his time in. He comes in early and he watches film. He will text me at night while he is at home watching film on his iPad asking questions and things like that. I am very pleased with him right now. We have to continue to bring him along.
Q. On leaning on a veteran group with a lot of experience…
JONES: That has been a blessing to have a roomful of guys that have a lot of playing experience and they played in a lot of big games. Guys understand the work that they have to put in outside of the normal meetings and in the weight room, in order to win and play at a high level, that has been huge. During COVID when we were not allowed to meet with them, we would have our Zoom meetings, and it was just like being in the same room. They would take notes, they would ask questions and things like that, so that was the maturity that they showed during that time and that helped. Since we have been back, they have not let up. It has been the same thing, in the meetings paying attention, asking questions, coming out to practice every day with a great attitude, working hard, and if they do not understand something, they are asking me to watch extra film. That is what you want as a as a position coach.
Q. On the learning curve for a first-year coach.…
JONES: Of course, it was difficult when we first started out. Being a new coach and not being able to meet in person with the defensive staff, and also not being able to have in person position meetings. Coach Kane Wommack did a great job of putting together a schedule for the staff. Coach Wommack did a great job. We would meet via Zoom, even when we could not be together. He did a great job having the meetings organized. If there was something that I did not quite understand, the meeting might last an hour, two hours, three hours, however long to make sure everybody had a good understanding of what was going on. It does help coming from Ole Miss with Coach Tom Allen and Coach Wommack. I am familiar with the defense. There are some wrinkles and some new things that we are doing here. Since we have been back, everything has been great. The entire staff has been awesome. I enjoy coming to work with them every day and they do an amazing job of helping guys out. It has been great. I am blessed to work with those guys.
DB Bryant Fitzgerald
Q. On playing husky and what needs to be improved…
FITZGERALD: I need to know the playbook more in-depth now and know where my run fits are. It is very different from free safety. I need to know my pass responsibility more than ever. I will be playing more against the slots than against the tight ends. I will be more into the boundary and more with run fits. There are a lot of different things that I have to do. I need to work on my blitz technique. At free safety, I never used to blitz. I need to get different techniques in my arsenal that help me diversify my game to better the team.
Q. On the injury to Marcelino Ball…
FITZGERALD: I did not even see the play where he was hurt. I was actually off celebrating with a different teammate. When I heard it, I did not think he actually tore anything because when you look at Marcelino, he is a freak of nature. It was a shocking moment. He was the most encouraging guy I have ever seen after an injury. He has been helping me every day. He is trying to teach me his techniques and stuff that he knows, his knowledge of the game, to help me better my game. He is staying in the playbook. Him helping me out with my film and my preparation has been key.
Q. On what is enjoyable about playing husky…
FITZGERALD: It is in space, so I am free. It is free and I get to express my athleticism at that position. Personally, I like to play more in space. That is what I get to do at husky, I get to play in space. I feel like that is the best part of the position.
DB Devon Matthews
Q. On the defense taking it to the next level…
MATTHEWS: Experience. All of us have great experience on the field. Tiawan Mullen, myself, Juwan Burgess, Jamar Johnson, Marcelino Ball, he is hurt but people will be there to take his spot, all have experience. Everyone understands the formations and culture. Experience is important.
Q. On Bryson Bonds…
MATTHEWS: I am proud of him. Knowing him as a freshman coming in, he has brought in confidence. He is always asking questions. He is in the film a lot. He is always watching film. He is always talking on the field. I believe his confidence will really set him apart. In high school, he was a tackling machine. We are expecting him to come in and make those tackles.
Q. On taking the jump personally…
MATTHEWS: I definitely notice that. I am working hard and I feel more comfortable out there. We are communicating with each other. I understand the defense a lot more now. I am going into my third year, so I am definitely understanding it more. That is really helping me a lot, the experience. I feel a great year coming.
Defensive Coordinator Kane Wommack
Q. On the scrimmage…
WOMMACK: I thought for a first scrimmage it was exciting to see because the physicality was there. Our ability to line up and communicate with ones, twos and even some of our threes did a really good job. But probably the most exciting thing was the tackling. I think we had four total missed tackles out of the ones and twos for a total of seven yards after contact. If you guys remember the Ball State game a year ago, we had 23 missed tackles for 168 yards after contact. In the first scrimmage, I think we have more players on the field that are stronger, faster and bigger, all those things, but, more importantly, they know what it feels like to hit a grown man in space. They know how to bring those guys down way better than they did a year ago. I think our emphasis in tackling, if I can say it is cutting edge, I think we are doing some great things and in finding a way to build real life scenarios on the field, without tackling people live. We are finding ways to emulate what that is going to look like on game day. That was an exciting piece and the execution was an exciting piece. It just goes to show when you tackle well and you can execute, you can do good things on defense. For the first scrimmage, I like where we are at.
Q. On the differences of the team between now and a couple years ago…
WOMMACK: I think certainly the athleticism has improved year after year. I think we are more athletic, but we know that athleticism is more decisive now. It does not matter how fast you can run if you do not know where you are supposed to run to, or you can anticipate. For us, the way we teach defense, we spend a lot of time teaching our concepts, then we teach situational philosophy. Third down is played different than base downs, tight red zone versus high red zone, two-minute when they need a field goal versus a two-minute when they need a touchdown, all those things are important. At the end of the day, we shift to offensive recognition and our players have a bigger catalog of understanding and offensive recognition. They are playing faster, up front. We are certainly a lot more physical than where we were a year ago, again, understanding where to put your hands to be violent, to hold blocks, recognizing the bigger concept of what we are trying to get done defensively. Probably the most exciting piece is the linebacker corps. They know what to do, they get people lined up, very physical, and they can really run. We are excited about where we are from a personal standpoint.
Q. On tackling.…
WOMMACK: In the offseason I looked at what type of tackles continue to show up. We did an in-depth evaluation of our tackling fundamentals. The one thing that we spend a lot of time on is hard-shoulder tackling. What that means is, if I am moving to my left and a ball carrier is on my left, I need to finish with a hard-left shoulder tackle. We want to get that left foot in the ground, left shoulder in the ground, and not to get too intricate with it, but if this shoulder (left shoulder) does not turn, I am way more likely to get the opponent on the ground. If I let that shoulder turn or do not maximize the punch, those ball carriers will be able to roll off. We found different ways to emulate different types of tackles. Tackles inside the box, which are a little more position specific to linebackers, so we have position-specific tackles that we work with each group during individual, and then we do a ton of tackle circuits.
Safeties Coach Jason Jones
Q. On Bryson Bonds…
JONES: I enjoy coaching Bryson and working with him every day. He is a smart football player on the field. A lot of times as a freshman you wonder if they can make the checks or sometimes learning a new defense and trying to transition from high school to college football is difficult. But he has done a great job of getting in the playbook and understanding the defense. Saturday, we had a scrimmage and I threw him out there with some of the older guys just to see him moving around and he is one of those guys that was able to get lined up and made checks. He was not afraid to talk or to communicate. He had a chance to make some plays, he came down and made those plays. He is putting his time in. He comes in early and he watches film. He will text me at night while he is at home watching film on his iPad asking questions and things like that. I am very pleased with him right now. We have to continue to bring him along.
Q. On leaning on a veteran group with a lot of experience…
JONES: That has been a blessing to have a roomful of guys that have a lot of playing experience and they played in a lot of big games. Guys understand the work that they have to put in outside of the normal meetings and in the weight room, in order to win and play at a high level, that has been huge. During COVID when we were not allowed to meet with them, we would have our Zoom meetings, and it was just like being in the same room. They would take notes, they would ask questions and things like that, so that was the maturity that they showed during that time and that helped. Since we have been back, they have not let up. It has been the same thing, in the meetings paying attention, asking questions, coming out to practice every day with a great attitude, working hard, and if they do not understand something, they are asking me to watch extra film. That is what you want as a as a position coach.
Q. On the learning curve for a first-year coach.…
JONES: Of course, it was difficult when we first started out. Being a new coach and not being able to meet in person with the defensive staff, and also not being able to have in person position meetings. Coach Kane Wommack did a great job of putting together a schedule for the staff. Coach Wommack did a great job. We would meet via Zoom, even when we could not be together. He did a great job having the meetings organized. If there was something that I did not quite understand, the meeting might last an hour, two hours, three hours, however long to make sure everybody had a good understanding of what was going on. It does help coming from Ole Miss with Coach Tom Allen and Coach Wommack. I am familiar with the defense. There are some wrinkles and some new things that we are doing here. Since we have been back, everything has been great. The entire staff has been awesome. I enjoy coming to work with them every day and they do an amazing job of helping guys out. It has been great. I am blessed to work with those guys.
DB Bryant Fitzgerald
Q. On playing husky and what needs to be improved…
FITZGERALD: I need to know the playbook more in-depth now and know where my run fits are. It is very different from free safety. I need to know my pass responsibility more than ever. I will be playing more against the slots than against the tight ends. I will be more into the boundary and more with run fits. There are a lot of different things that I have to do. I need to work on my blitz technique. At free safety, I never used to blitz. I need to get different techniques in my arsenal that help me diversify my game to better the team.
Q. On the injury to Marcelino Ball…
FITZGERALD: I did not even see the play where he was hurt. I was actually off celebrating with a different teammate. When I heard it, I did not think he actually tore anything because when you look at Marcelino, he is a freak of nature. It was a shocking moment. He was the most encouraging guy I have ever seen after an injury. He has been helping me every day. He is trying to teach me his techniques and stuff that he knows, his knowledge of the game, to help me better my game. He is staying in the playbook. Him helping me out with my film and my preparation has been key.
Q. On what is enjoyable about playing husky…
FITZGERALD: It is in space, so I am free. It is free and I get to express my athleticism at that position. Personally, I like to play more in space. That is what I get to do at husky, I get to play in space. I feel like that is the best part of the position.
DB Devon Matthews
Q. On the defense taking it to the next level…
MATTHEWS: Experience. All of us have great experience on the field. Tiawan Mullen, myself, Juwan Burgess, Jamar Johnson, Marcelino Ball, he is hurt but people will be there to take his spot, all have experience. Everyone understands the formations and culture. Experience is important.
Q. On Bryson Bonds…
MATTHEWS: I am proud of him. Knowing him as a freshman coming in, he has brought in confidence. He is always asking questions. He is in the film a lot. He is always watching film. He is always talking on the field. I believe his confidence will really set him apart. In high school, he was a tackling machine. We are expecting him to come in and make those tackles.
Q. On taking the jump personally…
MATTHEWS: I definitely notice that. I am working hard and I feel more comfortable out there. We are communicating with each other. I understand the defense a lot more now. I am going into my third year, so I am definitely understanding it more. That is really helping me a lot, the experience. I feel a great year coming.
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