Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - August 11 Update
8/11/2021 3:24:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Continuing the program's camp check-ins, Indiana football defensive line coach Kevin Peoples, along with three student-athletes, spoke with the media inside of Memorial Stadium on Wednesday (Aug. 11).
Below are partial transcripts for People's press conference, along with Ryder Anderson, Alfred Bryant, and Sio Nofoagatoto'a from Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Kevin Peoples | Defensive Line Coach
On what is needed out of the defensive line group…
KP: Anytime you can get production out of your defensive line, you can get more pass rush and you don't have to blitz to get the pass rush, it's a huge benefit. Those are things we're trying to work on. We're trying to make sure we're doing our job within the scheme and making the plays that come to us. One big thing with Coach (Charlton) Warren is creating havoc. We have a havoc leader every single day and that's tackles for loss, forced fumbles, sacks, pass breakups, and interceptions. That's a huge focus for our defensive line and a huge focus for our entire defense.
On how the group has come along…
KP: It's Day 5 and I'm pleased with where we're at. Weston Kramer, which is a new player for us who wasn't with us in the spring, he's been a very pleasant surprise. He's a very tough, hard-nosed, physical kid and I love what he brings. The other guys that have been here in the spring, Ryder Anderson, who is a newcomer, but he was here in the spring and he's doing a very good job. Guys like C.J. Person have stepped up. Pleased with Demarcus Elliott and Sio Nofoagatoto'a who have had significant playing time, they're strong and steady. I like where we're at. Beau Robbins is stepping up. We've got some good competition. I think we've got better depth than we've had, and I think anytime you get competition among a group, it's going to help your group improve and that's where we're at right now.
On incorporating transfers into the program…
KP: Transfers are going to be a way of life right now in college football. Because of the culture that head coach Tom Allen has created here, it's a little bit easier for us to get a transfer to come in and fit right in. If you don't, you're going to stick out. We do a good job of researching those guys. All the transfers we've brought in have been very good. It's always a challenge to get caught up, but the players have embraced them. We're a football team. Anytime you can get another weapon, whether it be a defensive lineman or any position on our team, we're happy with.
Ryder Anderson | DL | Gr.+
On adjusting to new program and positions…
RA: I feel like I'm adjusting really well. It's been made easy on me. Coaches are helping me a lot. Teammates are helping me a lot. They've just been really welcoming to me since I got here. I feel like I'm already a part of the family. That process happened pretty quickly. As far as what I'll be bringing, just that edge presence and a lot of aggressiveness. I'm a guy who can play all three downs, can stop the run or rush the passer. I am just trying to do my part in the defense.
On focusing on one position…
RA: I don't really have a problem, necessarily, moving across the defensive line. It's just being in the scheme that fits me, uses me, and gives me a little bit more freedom to be a ballplayer. That's what I have here in this defense. I play on the edge. I'll get inside and do some things, rush inside a little bit or play the run inside. That's all stuff I like to do. I like to show versatility. It's something that throughout the course of a game I excel at.
On his impressions of the team and league…
RA: As far as speaking on the conference as a whole, I'll have to play in it first. I've already been watching films on other teams. Mainly Iowa because it's our first game. I see a lot of similarities in the two conferences [SEC and Big Ten]. A lot of big, heavy hitters. I expect big, physical games week-to-week.
Alfred Bryant | DL | R-Sr.
On what he likes about the BULL position in this staff's scheme...
AB: The BULL spot is very versatile, and it is fun. It is like playing defense line and linebacker, so you get to do a lot of coverage and showing our skills out there. It is different, but it is a fun position. It is a lot of hard work put into in. You have to show up every day and lock-in to the coverages, defensive line work, and hands. You have to be able to flip your hips and run with receivers and running backs.
On how the talent and depth on the defensive line has changed since he arrived...
AB: A lot of athleticism has come over the years. Faster guys and stronger guys. [The coaches are recruiting] what we need for the [position].
On how the defense focuses on creating takeaways...
AB: It is an everyday thing. Every day we drill it and talk about it in meetings. We [focus] on it in every drill: team and individual drills. Every day [the coaches] drill it into our heads. Eventually, it becomes natural, but we drill it a lot [in practice].
On C.J. Person's performance so far in camp...
AB: He is a hard worker. He shows up every day locked in; locked in during meetings, locked in the film room, locked in in the weight room. He is a different guy. He comes to work every day and gets to work. He gets after all of us [if we aren't taking care of our work].
Sio Nofoagatoto'a| DL | Jr.
On bringing in some new faces that have college football experience...
SN: The offseason this year was a blessing. Last year we didn't [have much of an offseason program] and it was kind of on and off. Having the winter, spring, and summer to work with [Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Football Performance] coach [Aaron] Wellman and the strength staff has been really good. It is essential for bonding as a team.
It doesn't matter if a new guy is coming in as a transfer, freshman, coach or GA, Coach Allen emphasizes they have to be the right guy to fit in the LEO culture. It has been really nice having Ryder [Anderson], Weston [Kramer] and a lot of new guys come in and helping us build [some depth]. They have helped us set our goals for the season and what we want to do, especially coming out in the first game.
On the emphasis on creating havoc...
SN: The emphasis on havoc has really helped us as a D-line because we feel like if we can create havoc we can give confidence to our secondary and our linebackers.
On recruits and transfers wanting to come experience the LEO culture...
SN: It has been really good seeing a lot of people seek interest in coming to Indiana and coming to create something special here in Bloomington. I think you see it more with the freshmen and the new classes coming up and the commits. It is really the eagerness to come in, like Ryder did, and buy in. That is one of the most important things to me, coming in and making it about each other and not about themselves, even though they may come here for their last year. Seeing the buy in from day one is a good thing knowing that you are playing with guys like that.
Below are partial transcripts for People's press conference, along with Ryder Anderson, Alfred Bryant, and Sio Nofoagatoto'a from Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Kevin Peoples | Defensive Line Coach
On what is needed out of the defensive line group…
KP: Anytime you can get production out of your defensive line, you can get more pass rush and you don't have to blitz to get the pass rush, it's a huge benefit. Those are things we're trying to work on. We're trying to make sure we're doing our job within the scheme and making the plays that come to us. One big thing with Coach (Charlton) Warren is creating havoc. We have a havoc leader every single day and that's tackles for loss, forced fumbles, sacks, pass breakups, and interceptions. That's a huge focus for our defensive line and a huge focus for our entire defense.
On how the group has come along…
KP: It's Day 5 and I'm pleased with where we're at. Weston Kramer, which is a new player for us who wasn't with us in the spring, he's been a very pleasant surprise. He's a very tough, hard-nosed, physical kid and I love what he brings. The other guys that have been here in the spring, Ryder Anderson, who is a newcomer, but he was here in the spring and he's doing a very good job. Guys like C.J. Person have stepped up. Pleased with Demarcus Elliott and Sio Nofoagatoto'a who have had significant playing time, they're strong and steady. I like where we're at. Beau Robbins is stepping up. We've got some good competition. I think we've got better depth than we've had, and I think anytime you get competition among a group, it's going to help your group improve and that's where we're at right now.
On incorporating transfers into the program…
KP: Transfers are going to be a way of life right now in college football. Because of the culture that head coach Tom Allen has created here, it's a little bit easier for us to get a transfer to come in and fit right in. If you don't, you're going to stick out. We do a good job of researching those guys. All the transfers we've brought in have been very good. It's always a challenge to get caught up, but the players have embraced them. We're a football team. Anytime you can get another weapon, whether it be a defensive lineman or any position on our team, we're happy with.
Ryder Anderson | DL | Gr.+
On adjusting to new program and positions…
RA: I feel like I'm adjusting really well. It's been made easy on me. Coaches are helping me a lot. Teammates are helping me a lot. They've just been really welcoming to me since I got here. I feel like I'm already a part of the family. That process happened pretty quickly. As far as what I'll be bringing, just that edge presence and a lot of aggressiveness. I'm a guy who can play all three downs, can stop the run or rush the passer. I am just trying to do my part in the defense.
On focusing on one position…
RA: I don't really have a problem, necessarily, moving across the defensive line. It's just being in the scheme that fits me, uses me, and gives me a little bit more freedom to be a ballplayer. That's what I have here in this defense. I play on the edge. I'll get inside and do some things, rush inside a little bit or play the run inside. That's all stuff I like to do. I like to show versatility. It's something that throughout the course of a game I excel at.
On his impressions of the team and league…
RA: As far as speaking on the conference as a whole, I'll have to play in it first. I've already been watching films on other teams. Mainly Iowa because it's our first game. I see a lot of similarities in the two conferences [SEC and Big Ten]. A lot of big, heavy hitters. I expect big, physical games week-to-week.
Alfred Bryant | DL | R-Sr.
On what he likes about the BULL position in this staff's scheme...
AB: The BULL spot is very versatile, and it is fun. It is like playing defense line and linebacker, so you get to do a lot of coverage and showing our skills out there. It is different, but it is a fun position. It is a lot of hard work put into in. You have to show up every day and lock-in to the coverages, defensive line work, and hands. You have to be able to flip your hips and run with receivers and running backs.
On how the talent and depth on the defensive line has changed since he arrived...
AB: A lot of athleticism has come over the years. Faster guys and stronger guys. [The coaches are recruiting] what we need for the [position].
On how the defense focuses on creating takeaways...
AB: It is an everyday thing. Every day we drill it and talk about it in meetings. We [focus] on it in every drill: team and individual drills. Every day [the coaches] drill it into our heads. Eventually, it becomes natural, but we drill it a lot [in practice].
On C.J. Person's performance so far in camp...
AB: He is a hard worker. He shows up every day locked in; locked in during meetings, locked in the film room, locked in in the weight room. He is a different guy. He comes to work every day and gets to work. He gets after all of us [if we aren't taking care of our work].
Sio Nofoagatoto'a| DL | Jr.
On bringing in some new faces that have college football experience...
SN: The offseason this year was a blessing. Last year we didn't [have much of an offseason program] and it was kind of on and off. Having the winter, spring, and summer to work with [Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Football Performance] coach [Aaron] Wellman and the strength staff has been really good. It is essential for bonding as a team.
It doesn't matter if a new guy is coming in as a transfer, freshman, coach or GA, Coach Allen emphasizes they have to be the right guy to fit in the LEO culture. It has been really nice having Ryder [Anderson], Weston [Kramer] and a lot of new guys come in and helping us build [some depth]. They have helped us set our goals for the season and what we want to do, especially coming out in the first game.
On the emphasis on creating havoc...
SN: The emphasis on havoc has really helped us as a D-line because we feel like if we can create havoc we can give confidence to our secondary and our linebackers.
On recruits and transfers wanting to come experience the LEO culture...
SN: It has been really good seeing a lot of people seek interest in coming to Indiana and coming to create something special here in Bloomington. I think you see it more with the freshmen and the new classes coming up and the commits. It is really the eagerness to come in, like Ryder did, and buy in. That is one of the most important things to me, coming in and making it about each other and not about themselves, even though they may come here for their last year. Seeing the buy in from day one is a good thing knowing that you are playing with guys like that.
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