Indiana University Athletics
Spring Practice Report 4/6/21 – Deland McCullough & Caleb Jones
4/6/2021 11:48:00 AM | Football
Below are partial transcriptions of Zoom press conferences with Indiana associate head coach/running backs coach Deland McCullough and offensive lineman Caleb Jones on Tuesday, April 6.
Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Deland McCullough
Q: On what your immediate impressions were of this group and what you are challenging them with this spring…
McCULLOUGH: My impressions coming in were that they are a very smart group, very talented. They very much bought into the culture and it shows every day. I have guys coming out and working hard. They have really bought into what I have brought to the table as it relates to some different things as far as reads, eye discipline, and a different way of doing things. I am trying to get the guys to not only be the best version of themselves, but to help us become Big Ten champions.
Q: On the things you learned from Andy Reid that have helped you do your job as well as you do…
McCULLOUGH: I mean the first thing was a strong confirmation that when I got there, obviously just getting the job that I have done good things. Getting there and being under Coach Reid and a phenomenal staff just learning some of the intricacies of the program, and how we fit into the bigger picture. Also, how we can be used to exploit some things in the defense. And really how we can be the engine to make everything work because we are involved in all aspects of the game as far as protections, catching the ball, blocking, and obviously running. So, overall appreciations from what the backs can bring to the table on that level. It has bolstered some of my overall impact and knowledge to bring to this level to bring these guys up.
Q: On Tim Baldwin's performance and the starting position…
McCULLOUGH: Right now, I am preparing all these guys to be the starter. Tim has been out there. He looks good, moving around well, picking up everything we are talking about as far as the reads and some of the finer points of running back play to make him the dynamic guy that he wants to be. But that goes beyond Tim, that goes to the whole entire room. I am big on making the whole room strong. I think that all the guys and the coaches see how I am trying to fortify every skill of every guy in the room to make us a championship team. We have to have depth there. But to go to your original question, I am really excited about Tim and all the guys. Tim has been doing good things.
OL Caleb Jones
Q: On the continuity of the offensive line…
JONES: We have a lot of guys coming back that have a lot of game experience. Of course, that is going to help when it comes to crunch time and those situations in games where you have to have guys out there that know what they are doing and how to handle themselves. That will be a big advantage for us, knowing that we have so many guys coming back that have game experience. There are not a lot of guys in our room that are new.
Q: On how the continuity has helped in practice…
JONES: It is definitely a weight off my shoulders being one of the older guys in the room. I have other guys around me that can help me take on the task of making sure the younger guys know what to do. I do not really have to worry about them not knowing what to do. It is a sigh of relief when you have guys around you that play at the same level that you do.
Q: On his focus during spring practice…
JONES: The biggest thing for me coming into this spring was all about body weight, making sure I was at a weight that I was comfortable playing at and a weight that I thought I would be able to get the most out of this season at. That was the biggest focus coming into practice. Now that I am at the weight that I feel good at, it is about refining my technique and making sure I take advantage of every opportunity I get in spring ball. I am trying to make sure I am the best version of me that I can be next season.
Players Mentioned
OL
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