[Fuller]

Jake Butt

What have the countdown weeks, countdown days been like over the past few years, and how does this one compare?

“They’re all kind of similar and different in their own ways. They’re unique in their own ways. The first week of camp you’re just going against your defense. You’re not really preparing against your opponent’s defense yet. But now, leading into that last week and a half [or] two weeks, you start locking in and studying film on your opponent and that’s what we’re doing right now.”

How, in your mind, is the offense shaping up? What are the things you think you’ll really do well?

“It’s coming together real nice right now. We’ve got a lot of guys who’ve been making plays all camp. The line’s been coming on strong; that’s an experienced group. We’ve had some young guys stepping up. Grant Perry’s been having an amazing camp. Chris Evans has been making plays left and right. It’s unbelievable to see these guys. So, it’s coming together real nice.”

Speaking of the young guys, as far as your room’s concerned, how have Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Zach Gentry been doing?

“They’ve both been doing pretty good. They’ve both been having a really good camp. They’re both specializing in different things. Obviously Zach’s more of a receiving tight end, Wheatley’s more of a blocking tight end, and they’ve taken on that role. From the beginning of camp to where they are now, they’ve made some big strides.”

The fact that you’ve had an entire year and spring ball, do you feel way more comfortable now than you did a year ago?

“I don’t know that I feel necesarily more comfortable but I think for some of the younger guys or guys that didn’t get a lot of the reps last year, they’re starting to feel a little bit more comfortable because they’re getting a better understanding of the offense and the way the coaches work where if you play a little bit more that comes a little bit sooner.”

You said one of the reasons you came back for your senior year was that you still had a lot of improvements to make. What have been those improvements you’ve made in the last six months?

“Yeah, cleaning up some things with my route running. I want to win every single route and that’s my goal, and that’s my job is to take some guys with me. I want to win and I think I’ve been doing a good job. It helps when you have Delano Hill and Jabrill Peppers manned up on you right on the line every single play this whole entire camp. I don’t really see it getting any harder than that this season. But blocking has been the biggest area of improvement for me. Just technically, pad level, I’ve added some strength this offseason, made some changes with my body, so that’s been the biggest area of improvement.”

When your assignment’s to go out there and block Jabrill, how is it different from blocking a normal Sam linebacker?

“He’s just as strong as probably any Sam linebacker. I mean, he’s really, really strong and explosive but he adds just such quickness and speed element to it that you’ve got to take into account.”

Handicap the quarterback race for us.

“Uh, yeah, everybody’s doing really good but there’s a dark horse in the battle. Erik Magnuson’s really been coming on strong toward the end of camp. He’s hitting the deep balls really well. Coaches have been really impressed with him.”

[After THE JUMP: which receivers are rotating at which spot, which NFL players Butt watches film of, and which receivers will redshirt]

Did he pay you to say that?

“No, it’s just—I mean, you turn on the film, you can see him popping up each and every day.”

What are the differences in John and Wilton from the beginning of camp until now?

“They’ve both made such great strides. They’ve both--

[Speight, who is standing nearby, interrupts: “I’m better looking.”]

“They’ve both just been coming into their own a little bit. Just getting more familiar with us as a receiving group, the line, the protections. I mean, you come in here at 6 in the morning and you don’t leave until 9 at night, there’s going to be improvement in a lot of areas. They’ve both made some great strides.”

Even if you don’t want to say who it is, do you have a feel for who the starting quarterback is?

“I really don’t. I really don’t. I just kind of go in there. Most of the time I’m so focused on my job I don’t even realize what’s going on. I just kind of worry about my job and leave the quarterback battle up to Coach Harbaugh and Fisch and Drevno.”

Would you like to know before kickoff? Does it matter at all?

“Not for me personally. I’m just going to continue to do my job [with] whoever’s under center, even if it is Erik or somebody like that. I mean, I trust both those guys and they’re both capable.”

Coaching staff question: how much is Biff [Poggi] around and has he had an influence? He’s supposed to be Jim’s right-hand man. How much has he been around and how much interaction has he had with the team throughout camp?

“I think Biff…Poggi’s my roommate, his son, so I get to see Biff from time to time. I haven’t seen him around Schem too much. I know he’s doing a lot of work behind the scenes but I don’t really get to see him too much.”

So he hasn’t been around a lot during camp where you guys could see him?

“Not where we could see him. I’m sure he’s been around, but yeah, he’s probably doing more work behind the scenes and stuff rather than out on the field.”

Offensively, do you like where you guys are at right now as opposed to where you were entering 2015?

“It’s hard to say, to compare the two, because they’re two different teams. We’ve added some new plays, added some new schemes. We’ve got some younger guys that are going to have a chance to make an impact this year. That being said, I really do like where we’re at. We’ve been making a lot of plays, and from the beginning of camp to where we are now we’ve improved so much and we’re starting to really jell together. It’s kind of like a beautiful picture that’s being painted right now.”

How much more confidence is there in the passing game?

“I don’t know. We never really lacked confidence there, and especially in the passing game you can’t ever really lack confidence. So, I think guys are just…there’s more confidence in themselves as we’ve got to work our technique and fundamentals and getting to go against one of the top defenses in the country every day, that builds confidence as well.”

How many days of practice with a true no. 1 do you need to feel balanced and comfortable going into a game?

“It’s hard for me to say. I think both these guys have been getting reps and this has been going on now since spring ball and throughout the summer where we’re confident in both guys. I think for them they’re both preparing as if they’re the starter, so it’s—every man just worries about—you just do your own job and we trust the guy next to us. That’s really the only way to succeed. You can’t worry about somebody else’s job. You just worry about your own job.”

When it comes to the competition aspect of it, what do you see in terms of ways guys can differentiate themselves form each other at quarterback?

“Leadership is a big part of it and how they—can you lead a group of guys? Can you make guys right when they’re wrong? If a guy’s running the wrong route, can you identify that? If a guy’s lined up wrong, can you make him right? Leadership’s a big part of it, and you’ve got to take care of the ball. Don’t turn the ball over. You don’t want to try and win the game all in one play, either. Just being smart with the football, and that’s something we saw with Jake [Rudock] last year and something both guys are taking pride in this camp.”

MGoQuestion: You talked about improving your route running. What specific routes are you most focused on improving this year?

“There aren’t really like specific routes, just routes in general. I watched a lot of Zach Ertz film, Travis Kelce, Tyler Eifert, Tony Gonzalez. We’ve watched a ton of film on those guys, so I’m just trying to incorporate some of the things that they’re doing into all my routes. It helps a lot. I’m not kidding, when I get in my stance Jabrill is on the line pressed up manned on me the whole entire camp, and if it’s not him it’s Delano. They’re either right in front of me or right to the side of me, so I really can’t see a situation where it would get any harder than that during the season.”

[Upchurch]

Grant Perry

MGoQuestion: It looked like you took a big step forward in the Citrus Bowl in every area. Where do you feel you’ve made the biggest improvement from last year in Christmas camp to now?

“I definitely have to say just knowing what I’m doing every play. I know the playbook in and out this year. I’m telling the younger guys what to do, so that’s really helping me as well. And just playing, not worrying, not thinking. I think this camp I came in and I’ve just been playing. No mental errors [or] very minimal. Just been doing what the coaches say and it’s been going real well.”

MGoQuestion: Who has impressed you in the receiver corps throughout camp?

“Everyone, really. We’re all making huge plays. We have X plays, which are 18 yards+ on the catch, and I think all of us have at least five, including the young freshmen. I think we’re all really doing well. We’re picking it up well and it’s going really well.”

MGoQuestion: What have you seen from those guys, the freshmen, not only as far as physical talent but as far as learning the playbook?

“They’re all physically gifted, all of them. They’re all really fast, too. And they’re all picking up the playbook well. I think they’re all coming in at 6:30 trying to pick it up even more, so they’re spending a little extra time, which shows a lot about their leadership as young guys and their character. They want to pick it up and they want to do well. They’re definitely doing that.”

MGoQuestion: What are your individual goals for the season and what are your team goals?

“Individual goal is just catch more passes than I did last year, more touchdowns obviously, more yards. Team goal is just go out there and beat Hawaii. That’s the first goal. And just take it game by game. We want to be the best, but it takes week-to-week preparation to do that, so I think that’s the way we’re going to attack that.”

Do you feel like the competition at the position is more intense this year?

“Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Everyone knows Jehu and Darboh have got the X and Z locked up, so everyone’s battling for that third position. But it’s friendly competition. We’re all grinding, we’re all working to get an edge on each other. It’s a good competition.”

You knew what it was like to be thrown in there in the first game and try to figure things out. How hard is that as an adjustment and how much better are you now?

“I feel like I’ve made some huge strides so far, as the Citrus Bowl showed. And in just camp I feel like I’ve really improved as well. I’ve been trying to explain to these young guys that it’s a different ballgame out there once you actually hit the field and you’re not practicing. Just cleaning up the [inaudible] has helped me too. It’s helped me see things from a different aspect and just knowing the playbook a lot better this year helps as well.”

Are the balls different from the different quarterbacks?

“No. They’ve all been working hard and they all throw really good balls, even Shane. It comes off a little bit different as a lefty, but no major difference.”

MGoQuestion: You mentioned the X and Z and how you’ve got two very established guys there, but who else could rotate in there at those spots?

“I really could see just about everyone. Coaches said they’re planning on no redshirts. Everyone’s gonna play, so whoever knows what they’re doing the most and wants to be out there are going to be the ones that are out there.”

What’s impressed you about Chris Evans?

“Chris Evans, he’s a heck of an athlete. He’s been killing it at the running back position. Just his shiftiness. He picked up the playbook the fastest of the freshmen, I think, and that’s really propelled him to be able to really make an impact. He’s just been killing it in practice.”

Is he someone you don’t have on the roster other than that? Is he different than all the other backs?

“Um…what do you mean by that?”

Does he have some sort of other skills or something?

“I think he adds a good quickness to the game. De’Veon’s a good power back. So is Ty [Isaac]. But I think he adds that kind of Reggie Bush effect—quick, lightning kind of fast.”

[Shane Morris pokes his head in as he’s walking by] “I’d like to say congratulations to Garrett Moores on earning a scholarship.”

“Yeah, congrats to Garrett.”

What’s it like when those guys get a scholarship? Do they announce it in front of everyone?

“Last night they got offered, him, Pearson and Wroblewski. They all came in and we were jumping on them. We sprayed water on them. So, it was a real good feeling. Felt really good for them. They deserved it.”

What do you like about this offense?

“It’s an offense they run in the pros, so it’s good experience. Coach Harbaugh’s a great coach and he knows what he’s doing, so these plays are obviously--we’re going to win games.”

Are there facets of this offense that will stand out as real strong points?

“I think it’s pretty balanced all the way around. I think a good, balanced attack is what’s going to keep the defense on their toes.”

Are McDoom and Nate Johnson working at the same spot as you?

“Yeah. We’re all rotating at Z and F. Nate’s working F and Z. So is McDoom. So, they’re working Z and F together.”

What have you seen out of those two, as well as Crawford?

“McDoom is lightning fast. Guy’s got wheels. Nate’s really shifty and athletic. And Crawford, he’s a playmaker. He goes and gets the ball when we ask him to.”