OLB Clint Sintim assisted on three tackles today for the orange team.
Q: What have you seen this spring from ILB Jon Copper?
I respect Jon so much, because Jon’s the type of player where if he’s not good at something, he’ll work himself 'til he’s good at it. You don’t get too many guys who do that. He’s just always working hard and always trying to make himself better. After practice, I’m walking around and he’s in there stretching and taking care of his body. He’s like 45 in a 20-year-old’s body. He had a hell of a game. I saw him mess up the screen play. He’s a really good dude and I’m really proud of him and happy for him that he’s excelling at the position like he is. … He played well. He played really well. [It's good] to know that he’s in the middle and to know that you can count on him when we lost some guys back there. We lost Kai [Parham] and we lost Ahmad [Brooks] but a lot of the younger guys are stepping up. [Antonio] Appleby and Copper are back there now and they’re trying to make people know their name. They’re not trying to have people [worry] ‘Where is Ahmad?’ It’s not going to be the same team without Ahmad and Kai, but they’re just coming in here and trying to assert themselves. We’re all just trying to fulfill our roles.
Q: Coach Groh said just now that you have ‘a chance to be one of the better players that we’ve had since we’ve been here.’ What do you say to that?
[smiles broadly] From what I hear, Coach Groh thinks very highly of me. You can't be but appreciative when you hear things like that from the head man. I mean, I’m just trying to work hard to get better. I’m just trying to excel in everything I do, as far as rushing the passer, playing the run and covering the seam and dropping [into deep coverage] and things like that. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and one game at a time and just get better and better every day.
Q: Do you feel a lot more comfortable after starting all 12 games last season?
Definitely. I think last year I felt as though I didn’t necessarily belong and I was just trying to fit in with everybody else. I think this year, because I’m older now – even though I’m still technically kind of young as far as playing-wise – I think now the younger guys got to fit in with me.
CB Mike Brown had five tackles and broke up two passes for the blue team.
Q: In you, Chris Cook, Chris Gorham and Vic Hall, you’ve got four relatively young cornerbacks fighting for that other starting spot opposite Marcus Hamilton. How did that go this past month?
We’re all hoping to play. We just sit with our fingers crossed every play while rooting for the other guys. That’s kind of a tough situation, because all of us are pretty good friends, me and Vic [Hall] and Chris Cook. I mean, we’re rooting for each other and hope each other does well.
Q: How did the pass defense work out today for the blue team?
Me and Chris [Cook], we usually have really good camaraderie, so we work pretty good. I had two pass breakups. He had an interception. I feel comfortable with Chris on the other side of the field. I think it went pretty well.
Q: How is the competition for that starting spot going?
We had meetings to break us down individually and they just told us that everybody is pretty much neck and neck and this game hopefully would determine [who gets it for now]. We’ve got to go watch the film and see what Coach Groh says.
Q: How do your playing styles compare?
We all bring something different to the table. Chris [Cook] usually seems to come up with a big play. Vic is kind of technical and I bring elements of both of those and I have a lot of game experience. We all bring different elements to the table.
Q: When did Vic start practicing with the cornerbacks last season?
Towards the end of the season. I would say about probably the Florida State week.
Q: Is he excited about that switch from quarterback?
Yeah, Vic seems pretty excited. He seems pretty focused. He’s made the full 180 turn to come play cornerback, so he’s doing pretty well.
Q: How do the safeties look?
Byron Glaspy, I’ve been impressed with him all spring – ever since last season when he was called on. Jamaal Jackson is doing excellent. We had two casualties with Nate Lyles and Tony Franklin, my safeties last year, but I think Byron Glaspy and Jamaal Jackson have been doing pretty well in spring.
Q: And you could add Nate or CB Philip Brown to the mix this season as well.
I think maybe more with the safeties the more the merrier, but with the corners, I’m thinking I don’t want any more competition.
Q: Do you know if Philip will be back?
No, I haven’t spoken to Phil [about that]. When me and Philip talk, we don’t usually go over things like that.
Q: But Nate’s optimistic, right?
Yeah, I think Nate will be back.
OL Ian-Yates Cunningham started at center for the blue team with what passes for the first-team offensive line these days: LT Zak Stair, LG Gordie Sammis, RG Marshal Ausberry and RT Will Barker.
Q: Should you be angry that your blue team lost today?
Please don’t rub it in right now. I’m really upset. [smiles]
Q: Did you linemen make a statement today about your abilities?
Of course, in practice you have to make a statement every day. Everything that you do, you have to try to make a statement. For today, I mean, we have a lot to do. Each year is a new year and you have a lot more work to do. We have guys in there that were kind of first-time players really getting in the mix of things and kind of had to help them in there and things like that. And I was just getting back – everybody was just doing something new and we had to come together and be cohesive. Hopefully we did that today.
Q: Do you have a preference between center and guard?
No. I like center. I mean, I’ve played guard before. This spring, what I wanted to get out of it was just play a lot more center so I could get accustomed to the nuances of the game at that position. Hopefully I’m still there in the fall and I can work my way around and just keep on getting better so I can help this team.
Q: After seeing how versatile Brian Barthelmes was on the line the past few years, do you want that for yourself?
Of course. Bart was here when I was here and I had the privilege to play with him. I could kind of look at him and see what he brought to the game – and what he brought to the game was passion and passion about football and respect of football and respect for his players and passion for his teammates. It’s just one of those things that I kind of wanted to get different things from each player that’s here and try to put into my game.
Q: How are the tackles stepping in as the first new guys there in a while?
Eddie [Pinigis] and Eugene [Monroe], when they were healthy, they were doing a really, really good job. Everybody was getting better and things were moving along. Unfortunately we lost Eddie for a little bit and then Eugene for pretty much the whole spring. But that gave other people the opportunity to step in like Zak Stair and Will Barker. Will’s gotten really, really a lot better and Zak has too. Everybody’s just trying to compete and trying to get better so we can have that depth when the season starts, because if somebody goes down, then they’re starting. We’re just trying to get everybody in there and get in a groove.
Q: Eddie was on the orange team instead of with the other first-team linemen in blue. Is he still working himself back onto the first team?
Oh yeah. Eddie was out for a little bit, but he’s coming back and he’s a really, really tough guy. He’s one of those guys that he’s not going to show you that he’s in pain. He’s just going to go out there and play. That’s just Eddie’s M.O.
OK, that's it for tonight, kids.
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