Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - August 16 Update
8/16/2022 3:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football head coach Tom Allen and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Chad Wilt talked to the media on Tuesday (August 16) inside Memorial Stadium..
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On the development of Cam Camper and James Head Jr. during spring/fall camp…
TA: I would say to start with Cam, he got here in January, and we just love his mindset. He's a gym rat kind of kid. He's always up in the office watching extra film, taking care of his business in the classroom but just loves the game, loves to study.
That sticks out to me, those things are noticeable, and it shows up in practice. He understands football. He's got a huge chip on his shoulder; he was a late bloomer and just really has in his mind [that he has] a lot to prove. I love how he practices, he's a tough guy. He's got really good length to him. He can run when he gets the ball in his hands. He's able to be effective as a ball carrier getting yards [after catch], runs good routes and gets open and catches the football. He has good ball skills. The things that really sticks out to me is just his work ethic and how much he loves studying the game. Not every kid is like that.
Then, James, you just take a guy like that who has been here for so many years and had such a tough year last year with a foot injury that kept him out for the first half of the season. He never was even close to being back to being what he was before that.
I feel like he's changed his body and really bought in. I think we are finally seeing the benefits of [strength] Coach [Aaron] Wellman come through. He got here during the pandemic and all that and obviously last year's challenges with everything we had going on with injuries and different guys, so James finally had a chance to have a full cycle of being healthy and training and getting his lean muscle mass numbers right, reducing his body fat percentage and it's showing up.
He's twitchier. I think he's really been playing his best football this fall camp since he's been here, and we need him to do that, and he's worked so hard. He's just a great kid and comes from such a good family and are so respectful. Just fun to be around, does what you ask him to do. Just always where he's supposed to be and has been a part of our leadership council for so many years now. He's a little quiet but within that room, he leads and holds guys accountable and isn't afraid to challenge guys and those kinds of things, but he isn't a big stand in front of the whole group and give a speech kind of guy, which is fine. He doesn't need to. I've been impressed with him. I think he's playing really well right now and understands our system, obviously, being here so many years. He's healthy and is trim and is still as big and strong as he's been, and I just like where he's at.
I like those two guys.
On what he's seen from Josh Henderson…
TA: I think he's a guy that doesn't get talked about as much, but I really have a ton of respect for his work ethic and his preparation process. He's just smart, tough, dependable and very efficient as a running back in so many ways. In pass-pro, in running the football, has kind of a sneaky way of making people miss and getting vertical and getting positive yards. And I just like the way he moves.
I just love his preparation and just like I mentioned with Cam [Jones], I think he's one of those guys who's locked into what he's doing. He's going to be on special teams and just a guy who is very well rounded. I don't see something he can't do, he's able to do a lot of things. He can catch, he can block, he can run and like you said he's big and sturdy enough to help us on special teams.
He's just a very well-rounded guy and I think he's been a really strong addition to our running backs rooms and those other two guys [Jaylin Lucas and Shaun Shivers] have different types of builds and skillset but having unique and different body types in the room and different things that they can do is very important so he's a great compliment to those two guys.
On how he feels about linebackers transfers…
TA: I tell you the biggest perk was the fact that they were here in January, so they've not only been through spring football, now they've been through our weight training program twice: the eight weeks that we have before spring ball and the follow-up after that and the eight to nine weeks over the summer. Then, [they had] all the OTAs we had over the summer to learn the system in addition to spring football.
Bradley Jennings Jr. to me is a really physical player who the Mike linebacker spot for us and he and Ace [Aaron Casey] really those guys have been battling back and forth and expect both of them to play a whole lot of football for us. I'm really encouraged by Bradley's progress, understanding football. His dad was a linebacker at a very high level, and he's been well trained. When you talk to him, he says 'I've been making these reads since I was in grade school with my dad.' I think he understands that part of it and I've liked how he's transitioned his body, gotten leaner and a step quicker from when he first got here. It's been really positive and just a physical guy. I really like where he's at and he's going to be a huge part of our defense.
Aaron Casey has probably improved as much as anybody since he's gotten here. A new system [from high school], different things, and the way we do some things schematically and had to learn. Our most athletic linebacker for sure without a question. As a matter of fact, if you lined up and let our defense run, if I would do a race, he's probably our top three in speed. I'm really excited about them for him, and I think his confidence has continued to grow and as you've seen him understand the system better and the checks and the adjustments and the things we do in our defense, he just keeps getting better and better. He's definitely playing his best football since he's been here right now and that's important for us.
We need to have that depth at linebacker and on special teams and obviously being able to have guys that can run, and finish plays so I'm excited about both of those guys. They've been really good additions to our program, and I think just these next several days will be more so as we get through the install and now, you're into the execution piece of what we do and continue to allow them to keep getting better and better.
On the evolution of the BULL position…
TA: There's no doubt it's something that we've really expanded. When I first got here, we called it by that same name but really recruited more of a defensive end guy in high school to play that position. Now, we've really transitioned into recruiting more of a linebacker guy to play that position, a longer, taller linebacker from high school.
Just feel like that's a better way to recruit that spot It's becoming more effective for us to do that. It's going to be a mix of both. Some guys will play with their hand down in high school and some of them will be different but what I think we've found even with a guy like Alfred Bryant, as he's been here, he's playing his best, I believe, since he's been here, and it needs to continue. You add Miles Jackson to that spot which is really more of an outside linebacker body type, 250-pound guy that's strong and athletic and really can give us a real presence in the run game and also the pass rush ability.
I think that's the thing we're trying to get more out of it is the pass rush and the guy who has the flexibility to do multiple things. He's really a hybrid for us when you think about a hybrid in the secondary. Well, the bull is our hybrid position on the defensive line/outside linebacker. Really, it's the edge guy as they would kind of call it in today's defense and he could be a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 rush-end, that kind of guy. It's a unique skill set to find.
Dasan McCullough is also playing there in situational things, and I think that's a real strength of his without question, what he really played in high school. To the field now, he's more of a boundary for us but to that kind of person to rush the passer, drop in coverage, play some man, do some different things with that and per the call is where we're looking for it. That's where the linebacker part comes in with that ability to track the running back at times so it's just different things that he does more than just a traditional defensive end and we felt like in order to recruit the best players for that spot we really need to target the way we're going to package that and brand that position as a player and what we're looking for.
It's definitely not an easy position to recruit to but it's one that we're excited about, and I think as that role grows and guys get to see what this guy does and what he can do for his future and his development for the next level, I think is really key for us to find those elite guys for us to be gamechangers for us on our defense.
Chad Wilt | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
On what excites him about Dasan McCullough…
CW: He certainly is a talented young man. He's a guy that we have high hopes for this year and in the future. He's really just shown, one, willingness to work, he will embrace whatever role we give him. He just wants to play, wants to contribute, wants to help this football team and he's going to do that. And we're working to find ways to get him on the field, be able to put him in the best situations to use his skills and his talents without overloading him.
He is still a true freshman. And sometimes those guys can get overwhelmed if you ask too much of them. So, right now we're just trying to find those roles, those moments, the packages that fit him best and can allow him to play fast and do what he does because he has disruptive ability that's for sure. So, that's where we are right now with him, but we're excited about what he's doing. Like I said, he's got just a great attitude about it, understands what that role is kind of becoming for him right now and excited about what he's going to be able to do to help on the field this fall.
On the position groups that stand out…
CW: Every one of them. Growing up with my dad and playing for my dad, he talked about pride. Pride was personal, responsibility, in your daily effort, energy and execution. And that's what we challenge each guy for. As you look at the depth of taking that personal responsibility that you can be trusted. Trust comes from proof consistently over time. So, we're asking each guy. 'What are you proving, what are you putting on film, how are you doing that to go execute with that edge, with that energy, with the ownership that we're looking for.'
Right now, overall, though, as you look at it, you can certainly see each position group growing. We're at the point in camp where we're looking for execution, most of the installs are done. We're not throwing a bunch of stuff on them every day, so now it's time to really start executing and go be brilliant at the basics of your position. Starting up front you see that group of [defensive] linemen start really growing and developing. We've been able to bring some guys in and add some depth in there when you look at some of the guys that came in as transfers with JH Tevis, Patrick Lucas Jr. and LeDarrius Cox coming in there.
Bringing Myles Jackson in at that BULL position to provide depth for [Alfred] Bryant, who is playing at a phenomenal level right now. I haven't been here, but listening to the guys in the room talk, at the highest level that [Bryant] has played at. Part of that might be because Myles Jackson is here and Myles Jackson is pushing him and it's not competing against, it's competing with each other. But that's where we become really good and seeing that growth.
Seeing our linebacker core grow with Bradley Jennings Jr. and adding Jared Casey. Jared Casey's doing a great job of growing and developing from where he was in the spring. But it's pushed Aaron Casey, and it's pushed Cam Jones to become better players having those guys around them.
Then you look at the back end, we're talented there at the back end with Jaylin Williams, and Tiawan [Mullen] and Monster [Devon Matthews] and those guys. Seeing Bryant Fitzgerald continuing to grow, right, Bryson Bonds coming on, Josh Sanguinetti we're getting a position now where we can just throw people at them, throw people at them and overwhelm people with our depth.
I've pointed out last season to some of the guys when talking about the depth to show them proof of that, a young man I had last year at Minnesota, Boye Mafe, who was drafted 40th overall and the last three games of the year we had at Minnesota, he and his backup split reps each game being one off in the reps. If one of them played 45 the other one played 44 reps … Boye was drafted 40th overall so that's part of the reason Boye could perform at such a high level is he didn't have to keep the governor on and he could just go play, go play, go play. Throw him in there four-to-six plays, then the next guy is in four-to-six plays, go play with your hair on fire, run around like a madman, and hey tag team that thing out WWE style and the next guy goes.
And really see that happening with our guys right now of them competing with each other but knowing it's going to allow each of them to compete at a higher level when their number is called on Saturdays.
On how James Head Jr. has impressed this camp…
CW: James is really another guy that you see growing and developing. He's healthy, he's strong, being a veteran guy, he has great understanding, awareness of our scheme, our system. Credit to Coach [Paul] Randolph, he's really growing in confidence. You see him doing some things right now that I think he hasn't done in the past. Whether that's how he's just taking on run blocks and sitting in an anchor and being strong and sturdy, to his pass rush.
And you see some athleticism, some series of efforts, second move, third move, countermoves, that maybe weren't there in the past. So, we're excited to see him continuing to just keep challenging that growth, keep pushing. And I think some of the things we're doing, simplifying things a little bit right, complexity is the enemy of execution, where simplicity is the ally of execution. You see some things coming up for guys where things are a little bit simpler for them. Sometimes that's just veteran guys, the complexity is still there but they just understand it better, they know it better, and so they're able to go play faster.
You hear that phrase all the time, 'the game slows down,' nobody's playing any slower. That offensive tackle isn't any slower, that quarterback isn't any slower, but you understand it. The complexity isn't there for you, it's more simple so now you can go execute, react, play at a faster level. So, I think that's kind of where James is right now, as well. Some things it's some scheme stuff but I think some things it's just he's a veteran guy, been around here a bunch, he's healthy, he's strong and he's playing fast. [Strength] Coach [Aaron] Wellman has done a phenomenal job with him and his body in the weight room, his conditioning and really excited about where he is, his growth, his production, his mentality, his mindset. I am really looking forward to seeing James play this fall.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On the development of Cam Camper and James Head Jr. during spring/fall camp…
TA: I would say to start with Cam, he got here in January, and we just love his mindset. He's a gym rat kind of kid. He's always up in the office watching extra film, taking care of his business in the classroom but just loves the game, loves to study.
That sticks out to me, those things are noticeable, and it shows up in practice. He understands football. He's got a huge chip on his shoulder; he was a late bloomer and just really has in his mind [that he has] a lot to prove. I love how he practices, he's a tough guy. He's got really good length to him. He can run when he gets the ball in his hands. He's able to be effective as a ball carrier getting yards [after catch], runs good routes and gets open and catches the football. He has good ball skills. The things that really sticks out to me is just his work ethic and how much he loves studying the game. Not every kid is like that.
Then, James, you just take a guy like that who has been here for so many years and had such a tough year last year with a foot injury that kept him out for the first half of the season. He never was even close to being back to being what he was before that.
I feel like he's changed his body and really bought in. I think we are finally seeing the benefits of [strength] Coach [Aaron] Wellman come through. He got here during the pandemic and all that and obviously last year's challenges with everything we had going on with injuries and different guys, so James finally had a chance to have a full cycle of being healthy and training and getting his lean muscle mass numbers right, reducing his body fat percentage and it's showing up.
He's twitchier. I think he's really been playing his best football this fall camp since he's been here, and we need him to do that, and he's worked so hard. He's just a great kid and comes from such a good family and are so respectful. Just fun to be around, does what you ask him to do. Just always where he's supposed to be and has been a part of our leadership council for so many years now. He's a little quiet but within that room, he leads and holds guys accountable and isn't afraid to challenge guys and those kinds of things, but he isn't a big stand in front of the whole group and give a speech kind of guy, which is fine. He doesn't need to. I've been impressed with him. I think he's playing really well right now and understands our system, obviously, being here so many years. He's healthy and is trim and is still as big and strong as he's been, and I just like where he's at.
I like those two guys.
On what he's seen from Josh Henderson…
TA: I think he's a guy that doesn't get talked about as much, but I really have a ton of respect for his work ethic and his preparation process. He's just smart, tough, dependable and very efficient as a running back in so many ways. In pass-pro, in running the football, has kind of a sneaky way of making people miss and getting vertical and getting positive yards. And I just like the way he moves.
I just love his preparation and just like I mentioned with Cam [Jones], I think he's one of those guys who's locked into what he's doing. He's going to be on special teams and just a guy who is very well rounded. I don't see something he can't do, he's able to do a lot of things. He can catch, he can block, he can run and like you said he's big and sturdy enough to help us on special teams.
He's just a very well-rounded guy and I think he's been a really strong addition to our running backs rooms and those other two guys [Jaylin Lucas and Shaun Shivers] have different types of builds and skillset but having unique and different body types in the room and different things that they can do is very important so he's a great compliment to those two guys.
On how he feels about linebackers transfers…
TA: I tell you the biggest perk was the fact that they were here in January, so they've not only been through spring football, now they've been through our weight training program twice: the eight weeks that we have before spring ball and the follow-up after that and the eight to nine weeks over the summer. Then, [they had] all the OTAs we had over the summer to learn the system in addition to spring football.
Bradley Jennings Jr. to me is a really physical player who the Mike linebacker spot for us and he and Ace [Aaron Casey] really those guys have been battling back and forth and expect both of them to play a whole lot of football for us. I'm really encouraged by Bradley's progress, understanding football. His dad was a linebacker at a very high level, and he's been well trained. When you talk to him, he says 'I've been making these reads since I was in grade school with my dad.' I think he understands that part of it and I've liked how he's transitioned his body, gotten leaner and a step quicker from when he first got here. It's been really positive and just a physical guy. I really like where he's at and he's going to be a huge part of our defense.
Aaron Casey has probably improved as much as anybody since he's gotten here. A new system [from high school], different things, and the way we do some things schematically and had to learn. Our most athletic linebacker for sure without a question. As a matter of fact, if you lined up and let our defense run, if I would do a race, he's probably our top three in speed. I'm really excited about them for him, and I think his confidence has continued to grow and as you've seen him understand the system better and the checks and the adjustments and the things we do in our defense, he just keeps getting better and better. He's definitely playing his best football since he's been here right now and that's important for us.
We need to have that depth at linebacker and on special teams and obviously being able to have guys that can run, and finish plays so I'm excited about both of those guys. They've been really good additions to our program, and I think just these next several days will be more so as we get through the install and now, you're into the execution piece of what we do and continue to allow them to keep getting better and better.
On the evolution of the BULL position…
TA: There's no doubt it's something that we've really expanded. When I first got here, we called it by that same name but really recruited more of a defensive end guy in high school to play that position. Now, we've really transitioned into recruiting more of a linebacker guy to play that position, a longer, taller linebacker from high school.
Just feel like that's a better way to recruit that spot It's becoming more effective for us to do that. It's going to be a mix of both. Some guys will play with their hand down in high school and some of them will be different but what I think we've found even with a guy like Alfred Bryant, as he's been here, he's playing his best, I believe, since he's been here, and it needs to continue. You add Miles Jackson to that spot which is really more of an outside linebacker body type, 250-pound guy that's strong and athletic and really can give us a real presence in the run game and also the pass rush ability.
I think that's the thing we're trying to get more out of it is the pass rush and the guy who has the flexibility to do multiple things. He's really a hybrid for us when you think about a hybrid in the secondary. Well, the bull is our hybrid position on the defensive line/outside linebacker. Really, it's the edge guy as they would kind of call it in today's defense and he could be a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 rush-end, that kind of guy. It's a unique skill set to find.
Dasan McCullough is also playing there in situational things, and I think that's a real strength of his without question, what he really played in high school. To the field now, he's more of a boundary for us but to that kind of person to rush the passer, drop in coverage, play some man, do some different things with that and per the call is where we're looking for it. That's where the linebacker part comes in with that ability to track the running back at times so it's just different things that he does more than just a traditional defensive end and we felt like in order to recruit the best players for that spot we really need to target the way we're going to package that and brand that position as a player and what we're looking for.
It's definitely not an easy position to recruit to but it's one that we're excited about, and I think as that role grows and guys get to see what this guy does and what he can do for his future and his development for the next level, I think is really key for us to find those elite guys for us to be gamechangers for us on our defense.
Chad Wilt | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
On what excites him about Dasan McCullough…
CW: He certainly is a talented young man. He's a guy that we have high hopes for this year and in the future. He's really just shown, one, willingness to work, he will embrace whatever role we give him. He just wants to play, wants to contribute, wants to help this football team and he's going to do that. And we're working to find ways to get him on the field, be able to put him in the best situations to use his skills and his talents without overloading him.
He is still a true freshman. And sometimes those guys can get overwhelmed if you ask too much of them. So, right now we're just trying to find those roles, those moments, the packages that fit him best and can allow him to play fast and do what he does because he has disruptive ability that's for sure. So, that's where we are right now with him, but we're excited about what he's doing. Like I said, he's got just a great attitude about it, understands what that role is kind of becoming for him right now and excited about what he's going to be able to do to help on the field this fall.
On the position groups that stand out…
CW: Every one of them. Growing up with my dad and playing for my dad, he talked about pride. Pride was personal, responsibility, in your daily effort, energy and execution. And that's what we challenge each guy for. As you look at the depth of taking that personal responsibility that you can be trusted. Trust comes from proof consistently over time. So, we're asking each guy. 'What are you proving, what are you putting on film, how are you doing that to go execute with that edge, with that energy, with the ownership that we're looking for.'
Right now, overall, though, as you look at it, you can certainly see each position group growing. We're at the point in camp where we're looking for execution, most of the installs are done. We're not throwing a bunch of stuff on them every day, so now it's time to really start executing and go be brilliant at the basics of your position. Starting up front you see that group of [defensive] linemen start really growing and developing. We've been able to bring some guys in and add some depth in there when you look at some of the guys that came in as transfers with JH Tevis, Patrick Lucas Jr. and LeDarrius Cox coming in there.
Bringing Myles Jackson in at that BULL position to provide depth for [Alfred] Bryant, who is playing at a phenomenal level right now. I haven't been here, but listening to the guys in the room talk, at the highest level that [Bryant] has played at. Part of that might be because Myles Jackson is here and Myles Jackson is pushing him and it's not competing against, it's competing with each other. But that's where we become really good and seeing that growth.
Seeing our linebacker core grow with Bradley Jennings Jr. and adding Jared Casey. Jared Casey's doing a great job of growing and developing from where he was in the spring. But it's pushed Aaron Casey, and it's pushed Cam Jones to become better players having those guys around them.
Then you look at the back end, we're talented there at the back end with Jaylin Williams, and Tiawan [Mullen] and Monster [Devon Matthews] and those guys. Seeing Bryant Fitzgerald continuing to grow, right, Bryson Bonds coming on, Josh Sanguinetti we're getting a position now where we can just throw people at them, throw people at them and overwhelm people with our depth.
I've pointed out last season to some of the guys when talking about the depth to show them proof of that, a young man I had last year at Minnesota, Boye Mafe, who was drafted 40th overall and the last three games of the year we had at Minnesota, he and his backup split reps each game being one off in the reps. If one of them played 45 the other one played 44 reps … Boye was drafted 40th overall so that's part of the reason Boye could perform at such a high level is he didn't have to keep the governor on and he could just go play, go play, go play. Throw him in there four-to-six plays, then the next guy is in four-to-six plays, go play with your hair on fire, run around like a madman, and hey tag team that thing out WWE style and the next guy goes.
And really see that happening with our guys right now of them competing with each other but knowing it's going to allow each of them to compete at a higher level when their number is called on Saturdays.
On how James Head Jr. has impressed this camp…
CW: James is really another guy that you see growing and developing. He's healthy, he's strong, being a veteran guy, he has great understanding, awareness of our scheme, our system. Credit to Coach [Paul] Randolph, he's really growing in confidence. You see him doing some things right now that I think he hasn't done in the past. Whether that's how he's just taking on run blocks and sitting in an anchor and being strong and sturdy, to his pass rush.
And you see some athleticism, some series of efforts, second move, third move, countermoves, that maybe weren't there in the past. So, we're excited to see him continuing to just keep challenging that growth, keep pushing. And I think some of the things we're doing, simplifying things a little bit right, complexity is the enemy of execution, where simplicity is the ally of execution. You see some things coming up for guys where things are a little bit simpler for them. Sometimes that's just veteran guys, the complexity is still there but they just understand it better, they know it better, and so they're able to go play faster.
You hear that phrase all the time, 'the game slows down,' nobody's playing any slower. That offensive tackle isn't any slower, that quarterback isn't any slower, but you understand it. The complexity isn't there for you, it's more simple so now you can go execute, react, play at a faster level. So, I think that's kind of where James is right now, as well. Some things it's some scheme stuff but I think some things it's just he's a veteran guy, been around here a bunch, he's healthy, he's strong and he's playing fast. [Strength] Coach [Aaron] Wellman has done a phenomenal job with him and his body in the weight room, his conditioning and really excited about where he is, his growth, his production, his mentality, his mindset. I am really looking forward to seeing James play this fall.
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