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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Begin Full-Squad Practices
August 07, 2003 | Football
Aug. 7, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio -
Today was the first time that you were able to mix in the newcomers with your veterans, what was your first impression of the workout?
"It was a great workout. We are starting to become a team for the first time. We have 20 healthy offensive linemen in camp and that is something we haven't had the last two years. We have Division I depth up front and they are all quality football players. The same can be said for the defense, we have 14 to 16 defensive linemen. It feels good to finally get this year's team together."
The last two years, the coaches really had to spend a lot of time teaching their system. Now, you have a number of guys who have played a lot under that system. Is that like having extra coaches on the field?
"No question. Josh Harris has been in our system for two years and he knows it inside and out and at times, I think he gets a little bored with it. But he takes it upon himself, to teach guys like Nick Thurman, Benjy Kennedy, Jason Robinson the proper footwork and mechanics that we look for. The same could be said for our defensive backfield. We have a number of experienced players, and we have a young group of really good freshmen and the older players are taking them under their wing and it has been something that is nice to see."
With the decrease in two-a-days, will that help you in terms of managing your injuries.
"The new legislation really doesn't have anything to do with injuries. There may have been more opportunity to get hurt, but as a coach, you just adjust and move on. We are spending a lot of time not in full contact drills, coaching and teaching the kids to stay up on their feet and run the ball, which is hopefully going to help them as well."
You have three guys at running back who really haven't gotten a lot of notoriety in the preseason, but you seem to really like this group. What do they bring to the table for you?
"They are going to be tremendously important. P.J. Pope and B.J. Lane are two quality backs who will have to carry the ball this season. Both of them compliment each other and they have to prepare themselves like they are the starter. We are going to call on both of them. Raishaun Stover is having a good camp and he's stepped it up a little bit. He could get an opportunity.
Why is depth so important to your football team?
"Competition is necessary at this level. You can't be comfortable in your job as a player. In the past we were very thin on the line and we had to create competition, manufacture it Any time you have kids pushing each other on the football field it is a good situation."
Talk about your defensive line?
We have guys who are stepping it up. Mitchell Crossley and Matt Leininger are two guys that played a lot as freshmen. Devon Parks and Jamal Bryant also have really done a good job to this point. Rick Mauer and Will Teague are two guys that are going to give us some snaps, even though they have had to battle injuries the last year. The two junior college guys, Ryan Newble and Brian Gardner look good and have impressed me so far. I would expect Parks and Crossley to start for us and we need to get Mike Thaler (hamstring), who had a great spring, at full strength.
Is this the healthiest you have seen the program during your time here?
No question about it.. Rob Warren, Jimmy Williams, Scott Mruczkowski and Andrew Hart were guys coming off injuries who are getting quality reps so far, but we are not going to wear them out either. They have done a great job in their rehab and are holding their own thus far.
