Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - Defensive Line
8/4/2023 2:30:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – As the first week of fall camp came to a close, head coach Tom Allen, defensive line coach Paul Randolph and select defensive linemen addressed the media inside Memorial Stadium on Friday (August 4).
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On guys who look a little different from the spring…
TA: Just walking off the field, Austin Barrett to me is one that has stuck out. With pads off you feel a certain way, but then even seeing it with pads on he's definitely further along than we thought. That's one that probably sticks out the most. I think Tyrik McDaniel has made a lot of growth in the spring in the secondary. Having two practices –– without pads and one with pads, I just think he's really been encouraging to me, seeing his growth. I think Bryson Bonds continues to keep getting better. He's flashed these last few practices. JoJo Johnson is here with us now and just really excited about what he brings to our team. EJ Williams is just elevating, just keeps getting better and gaining confidence. Same with D-Mac (Donaven McCulley), I think those guys have stuck out to me. Dequece Carter was not here in the spring, but he's just such a pro. We'll know more as each day passes, but when you get the pads on, football is being played, I see the growth up front on both sides of the ball. Just coaching those guys really, really hard right now.
On what Anthony Jones has shown this fall…
TA: He wasn't here in the spring but has been here most of the summer. He's big, 260-lbs., for being a redshirt freshman, he's very mature physically and has a very mature mindset in how he practices. The strength staff loves him, it didn't take long for our coaches to love him and his approach. He's going to be very valuable for us without question. He's working at both the bull position and the will position and can also play some strong safety if we have to. With his size and athleticism, he's a big boost for sure. I'm really excited about him.
On the kicking competition…
TA: It's been good. It's pretty early, we haven't really done true field goals in competitive situations yet. We've worked on a couple today, we got some shorter field goals in at the end. We do those controlled first and then we just bring them out for more situational drills. That will increase a lot. We're going to try to put those guys under duress. So, right now I'd say it's very even, but time will tell without question. There's a lot of position battles going on. Corners are not set. Safeties are not set. The defensive line has a lot of guys competing, as are the quarterbacks obviously. The running back room has several guys we're looking at. The tight ends have a lot of competition there. The offensive line is still trying to figure out the top five. We want to get those best five guys. There's a lot of competition at a lot of spots and I expect that to continue.
Paul Randolph | Defensive Line
On the defensive line's competition in camp thus far…
PR: "You're right. There is a lot of competition. That's the best part of it. We got guys competing with each other. I think the best part of them competing with each other is that they have grown into a really close brotherhood. They understand that we are going to compete. We are going to help each other be the best, but we are also competing to play. Andre Carter has been working his tail off the whole year. Ever since he has been here. LeDarrius Cox has done a really good job since the end of last season. Patrick Lucas, Phillip Blidi and Marcus Burris are doing a really good job right now. I got (Venson) Sneed, a young fella coming up. I am really excited. Of course, Nick James, who got a little bit of playing time last year is doing really good job. He is one who is in the mix. What you are hearing is that I am excited about the depth that we have and the competition that we have going every single day.
On what separates guys in the early stages of camp…
PR: Attitude and effort early and just trying to be the standard. We call it break to stack. When the ball is outside of my area, I am breaking the stack. I am going to the ball. Energy, effort, physicality. We still can get that in the way we practice which is who and what we want to be. But to me, the finish, the burst, and break the stack to the ball and just being explosive in those things.
On what it takes to build depth with this unit…
PR: Right now, there's a lot of depth. What you don't know is that Marcus Burris is actually playing defensive end, too. Truthfully, it's crazy because he's 287-lbs. and he moves like he is 250. That depth with Andre (Carter) being able to do both, inside or out, Marcus Burris being able to do both, inside and out, naturally (Venson) Sneed is an outside-only guy. To be able to move guys in and out, and then inside, they're interchangeable, also. My noses can play three-technique, my three-techniques can play nose. That's how we're creating depth at every position.
Marcus Burris On ending up at Indiana...
MB: I hopped in the portal sometime in December and got ahold of coach [Paul] Randolph and coach [Tom] Allen. Those guys showed me love from the start. I had heard a lot of good things about coach Randolph. He has a lot of experience under his belt. Even at Texas A&M, he had a relationship with [late defensive line] coach [Terry] Price. Coach Price had told me good things about him. I never doubted coming to Indiana, even though it was far from home. I always kind of knew, once they gave me the offer, that this was the spot.
On moving back to defensive end...
MB: I have kind of converted back outside to defensive end. I played there in high school, moved to defensive tackle at [Texas] A&M and now I am back to defensive end. It's a body change, a footwork change, and all of that stuff, but I have some great [guys around me to help]. Andre Carter has had a lot of success at the position, so I have been listening to him and watching his every move. Coach Randolph knows everything about the game. Those guys have helped me tremendously. My steps from spring to fall have been big, and I just hope to continuing improving.
Andre Carter On his versatility along the defensive line...
AC: Honestly, I started as a defensive tackle my freshman year at Western Michigan, so I am familiar being up and down the defensive line. I enjoy it a lot, it allows me to be able to make plays and open up plays for my teammates, as well. After that, it is all about knowing the play, knowing the playbook, and having the discipline to be in the spots I am supposed to be in.
On expectations individually and as a team...
AC: Coach Allen talks about this a lot; he calls it trusting your preparation. This team, along with myself, has put in a lot of work this offseason and done a lot of work together. So, when you trust your preparation and you know how hard you have been working, it makes everything a lot easier. At Indiana, we believe in keeping the blinders on. We are not paying too much attention to media. We just keep our heads down and continue to work.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On guys who look a little different from the spring…
TA: Just walking off the field, Austin Barrett to me is one that has stuck out. With pads off you feel a certain way, but then even seeing it with pads on he's definitely further along than we thought. That's one that probably sticks out the most. I think Tyrik McDaniel has made a lot of growth in the spring in the secondary. Having two practices –– without pads and one with pads, I just think he's really been encouraging to me, seeing his growth. I think Bryson Bonds continues to keep getting better. He's flashed these last few practices. JoJo Johnson is here with us now and just really excited about what he brings to our team. EJ Williams is just elevating, just keeps getting better and gaining confidence. Same with D-Mac (Donaven McCulley), I think those guys have stuck out to me. Dequece Carter was not here in the spring, but he's just such a pro. We'll know more as each day passes, but when you get the pads on, football is being played, I see the growth up front on both sides of the ball. Just coaching those guys really, really hard right now.
On what Anthony Jones has shown this fall…
TA: He wasn't here in the spring but has been here most of the summer. He's big, 260-lbs., for being a redshirt freshman, he's very mature physically and has a very mature mindset in how he practices. The strength staff loves him, it didn't take long for our coaches to love him and his approach. He's going to be very valuable for us without question. He's working at both the bull position and the will position and can also play some strong safety if we have to. With his size and athleticism, he's a big boost for sure. I'm really excited about him.
On the kicking competition…
TA: It's been good. It's pretty early, we haven't really done true field goals in competitive situations yet. We've worked on a couple today, we got some shorter field goals in at the end. We do those controlled first and then we just bring them out for more situational drills. That will increase a lot. We're going to try to put those guys under duress. So, right now I'd say it's very even, but time will tell without question. There's a lot of position battles going on. Corners are not set. Safeties are not set. The defensive line has a lot of guys competing, as are the quarterbacks obviously. The running back room has several guys we're looking at. The tight ends have a lot of competition there. The offensive line is still trying to figure out the top five. We want to get those best five guys. There's a lot of competition at a lot of spots and I expect that to continue.
Paul Randolph | Defensive Line
On the defensive line's competition in camp thus far…
PR: "You're right. There is a lot of competition. That's the best part of it. We got guys competing with each other. I think the best part of them competing with each other is that they have grown into a really close brotherhood. They understand that we are going to compete. We are going to help each other be the best, but we are also competing to play. Andre Carter has been working his tail off the whole year. Ever since he has been here. LeDarrius Cox has done a really good job since the end of last season. Patrick Lucas, Phillip Blidi and Marcus Burris are doing a really good job right now. I got (Venson) Sneed, a young fella coming up. I am really excited. Of course, Nick James, who got a little bit of playing time last year is doing really good job. He is one who is in the mix. What you are hearing is that I am excited about the depth that we have and the competition that we have going every single day.
On what separates guys in the early stages of camp…
PR: Attitude and effort early and just trying to be the standard. We call it break to stack. When the ball is outside of my area, I am breaking the stack. I am going to the ball. Energy, effort, physicality. We still can get that in the way we practice which is who and what we want to be. But to me, the finish, the burst, and break the stack to the ball and just being explosive in those things.
On what it takes to build depth with this unit…
PR: Right now, there's a lot of depth. What you don't know is that Marcus Burris is actually playing defensive end, too. Truthfully, it's crazy because he's 287-lbs. and he moves like he is 250. That depth with Andre (Carter) being able to do both, inside or out, Marcus Burris being able to do both, inside and out, naturally (Venson) Sneed is an outside-only guy. To be able to move guys in and out, and then inside, they're interchangeable, also. My noses can play three-technique, my three-techniques can play nose. That's how we're creating depth at every position.
Marcus Burris On ending up at Indiana...
MB: I hopped in the portal sometime in December and got ahold of coach [Paul] Randolph and coach [Tom] Allen. Those guys showed me love from the start. I had heard a lot of good things about coach Randolph. He has a lot of experience under his belt. Even at Texas A&M, he had a relationship with [late defensive line] coach [Terry] Price. Coach Price had told me good things about him. I never doubted coming to Indiana, even though it was far from home. I always kind of knew, once they gave me the offer, that this was the spot.
On moving back to defensive end...
MB: I have kind of converted back outside to defensive end. I played there in high school, moved to defensive tackle at [Texas] A&M and now I am back to defensive end. It's a body change, a footwork change, and all of that stuff, but I have some great [guys around me to help]. Andre Carter has had a lot of success at the position, so I have been listening to him and watching his every move. Coach Randolph knows everything about the game. Those guys have helped me tremendously. My steps from spring to fall have been big, and I just hope to continuing improving.
Andre Carter On his versatility along the defensive line...
AC: Honestly, I started as a defensive tackle my freshman year at Western Michigan, so I am familiar being up and down the defensive line. I enjoy it a lot, it allows me to be able to make plays and open up plays for my teammates, as well. After that, it is all about knowing the play, knowing the playbook, and having the discipline to be in the spots I am supposed to be in.
On expectations individually and as a team...
AC: Coach Allen talks about this a lot; he calls it trusting your preparation. This team, along with myself, has put in a lot of work this offseason and done a lot of work together. So, when you trust your preparation and you know how hard you have been working, it makes everything a lot easier. At Indiana, we believe in keeping the blinders on. We are not paying too much attention to media. We just keep our heads down and continue to work.
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