Bowling Green State University Athletics
Spring Football Report
April 12, 2002 | Football
April 12, 2002
What is the difference from a year ago at this time?
"I think that we have eliminated the non-committed. Our big goal this spring was to close the gap between the most committed and the least committed. Last year at this time I was very concerned and very disappointed with the first two weeks of practice because guys were not going hard and guys were saying they didn't care. The last week of spring ball really showed me something a year ago. This year it's a matter that we lost some good players."
"What second-year players are emerging?
"I think that the ones that played last year are going to start or at least be in the rotation. That's T.J. Carswell, Keon Newson, Daniel Sayles, James Hawkins and Cole Magner. Now you have guys like Charles Sharon that if he won't start he will be in the rotation. Rob Warren who just suffered a little knee injury was coming on strong and will provide depth. On defense, we lost a lot of defensive linemen so Mike Thaler has got to play. Mitchell Crossley will be a starter on the team, from a year ago, that didn't play. There are some names that people have not heard of that we are counting on. If not starting for sure, then being in the rotation."
How is your senior leadership?
"That is a concern for us and we were spoiled last year. We made such a big deal about it. By this time last year we were still concerned so it's still early. Our seniors this year are not close to what we had during the season last year. I think we have good kids that mean well, but we are nowhere near where they need to be."
Has anyone emerged on defense?
"I think there are two guys on defense that have stood up and that is Mitch Hewitt who will replace Khary Campbell at linebacker and Jason Morton who played a little bit in the secondary last year but now he is a starter. They are the ones who are standing out."
Besides Joe Alls and Godfrey Lewis, how is your depth at running back?
"B. J. Lane is very competitive and I just want to see how good he really is. He is a tough guy and I am very pleased with him so far. Todd DiBacco has had a decent spring so far. He will hopefully be the big back that we need like John Gibson was a year ago."
How is the team's intensity?
"I don't think that intensity has been a problem, we just need to become better players and we need to improve our skills. There are a lot of new things going on defensively so guys need to learn what is happening. If intensity was an issue then we would be hitting the panic and I don't think it's intensity. I think guys are trying to get there and are becoming more competitive. We just need to get better."
"How is the secondary shaping up?
"I think that Janssen Patton is one of the best defensive players in the conference and he is practicing like it. He is a leader and he is a good player. I think Keon Newson should be one of the better corners in the conference. I think that we will move Mike Malone from cornerback to safety. T.J. Carswell just needs to learn how to play. He is aggressive and he is intense and he is a good kid so he is starting. Jason Morton has had a great spring. You don't have much depth, but you have five guys who we feel comfortable with in the secondary."
