[Fuller/Upchurch]

Grant Newsome and Grant Perry

Grant Newsome, there was a time where it seemed like you were battling for that left tackle spot. Seemed like you made the most of it. Assess your play on Saturday.

“I thought it was definitely a good start. Obviously there’s a lot to improve. I think I’ll see that when I go over the film with Coach Drevno. So definitely a lot of areas to improve on, but it was good to get out there and get my first start under my belt.”

What did you feel you did best?

“I thought as on offense we just moved the ball really well. I think coming out on that second drive and moving the ball 98 yards really set the tone for the game. I think we converted pretty well on third down and made plays when we needed to.”

Can you take us through your touchdown and how much more comfortable it seemed like Wilton got as that first quarter went on.

GP: “Yeah. So when I lined up I actually thought he wasn’t going to throw to me because we got a look that we usually don’t throw to. They were in bracket coverage. I ran my route, got open, he threw a perfect ball. It was a good play.

“Just as a growth aspect, I feel like I’ve really matured. I’m feeling good in the third-spot role and just ready to get after it some more.”

How do you think Wilton progresses throughout that first half?

GP: “I think—well, obviously that first play was kind of bizarre. We all were kind of shaking our heads, but he brushed that off and he really showed that he can lead this team and he’s a winner.”

Grant Newsome, yourself and the offensive line asserted control early. The running backs especially played well with Chris [Evans] and guys like Kingston [Davis] and Karan [Higdon] getting carries. Can you assess the talent level that you guys have in the backfield and your impressions from especially a guy like Chris and what he did Saturday.

“It’s nice for us because we’ve known all camp what Chris can bring, so it was kind of funny—not funny, but great to get out on the field and let the world see what he can bring. We’ve seen that for three weeks during camp.

“It’s great as an offensive lineman. You can open up a hole and know you have multiple backs, not just one, in the backfield who, if you give them a little bit of space, will make the most of it. You saw that on a couple runs where we just gave them a little bit of space and they were able to shoot through the hole and get to the end zone.”

[Much more after THE JUMP]

Did any of the runs surprise you guys or were these all things that you guys saw coming?

“We were really fortunate that our offensive staff and Coach Drevno and Coach Harbaugh really prepared us incredibly well for this week. Also, being able to go against a similar defense in our own defense through camp was a huge help so that we basically knew every look they were going to bring us and we had kills for every blitz they were going to show us. So that’s where a lot of the big runs came from was just having practiced that exact look and knowing exactly how to block it.”

Grant Newsome, what has enabled you to play as quickly as you’ve played at a position that is pretty tough to learn?

“I think it’s just the coaching. I mean, I came in last year really, really raw. I still think I’m pretty raw, but just being able to get under Coach Drevno’s wing and study him, and also study some of the older guys: Erik Magnuson, Mason, Kalis, Graham [Glasgow] last year. Just being able to observe them and study from them, and then, like I said, take all the coaching points I can get from Coach Drevno has really been instrumental in helping me develop as a player.”

What does it say to either of you that Harbaugh is willing to play as many freshman as he did Saturday? He said he’ll play more coming up.

GP: “It just shows that there are really no favorites. It’s whoever’s the best on the field of play, and that’s a great thing because a lot of players want to play and want to get that experience. I know that really helped me, playing all last year. So that’s just a great thing that he’s doing and I think it really benefits the players.”

GN: “I agree. For me, it was really helpful last year to get some experience in a game. Like Grant said, it’s great to play in a system and play under a coach where you know that if you’re the best at your position, you’re going to play. I think that’s how it should be. It should be a meritocracy. A lot of programs you see guys don’t start until they’re redshirt juniors or redshirt sophomores at least. So I think it’s a great system where if you’re the best at your position you’ll play no matter what age you are.”

Newsome, I know that offensive linemen always say that it doesn’t matter who’s in the game, you block the same way. But with Chris Evans, it seemed like when you guys would pull to your side you really have to get downfield quickly, don’t you?

“We have a lot of guys on our offense who are really, really quick. That is one thing that you do have to get out in front and just try to just get on somebody because they’re going to try to make you right. You saw on a couple of the plays where didn’t have a perfect block, like Chris’ first touchdown. Didn’t have a great chop block there, but he’s just so quick that he was able to make it right.”

Newsome, you played some as a true freshman. Did you have any words for Ben Bredeson, and what was competition with him like? What kind of a lineman is he?

“He’s going to be a great player. I think he’s a really good player right now. And definitely having that experience from last year and kind of being in a similar situation, I told him just go out there and enjoy it and make the most of it and don’t worry, because we’re fortunate here to go against defensive linemen who are among the best in the country if not the best in the country. It’s nice having that experience to know that they guys you’re playing against in practice are every bit as good if not better than the guys you’re going to go against Saturday.

“As for the competition, it was great. Competition only makes each other better. He really pushed me throughout camp; I think he’s still going to push me. I think it’s great for me because I go out to practice every day and know I have to earn a starting spot every day. It forces me to get better.”

We saw some guys go down in the first game. Talk about the quality depth that seems to be available or that you’re building so that when that happens somebody can step in.

GP: “Yeah, we have some great depth at really all positions. As you guys saw, some of the defensive line depth got bumped up or injured, but D-line is probably our deepest position. People are just stepping in and filling spots. That’s really what it comes down to is who’s the next man up. There’s all these freshmen playing. They’re excited. They might get their chance if someone gets injured or hurt.”

GN: “Yeah, that’s definitely a great aspect of having a lot of freshmen play and having guys play early is that they have experience so that down the line in game eight, game nine if you have guys hurt those guys already have game experience. I think we were pretty fortunate last year to avoid a lot of major injuries, but football’s a violent game. You never know when someone’s going to go down, so it’s nice to have guys in the two-deep and even the three-deep who have game experience.”

With both of you guys having played early, how much of a benefit is it for you to go talk to younger players? Grant Perry, you mentioned how everybody wants to play early and everybody’s excited. Being in that position, can you give them any advice or help guide them through it?

GP: “I definitely think I took more of a mentor role this camp talking to all the three receivers that came in. Nate Johnson, I really took him under my wing. I told him what not to do, what to do, and I just warned him it’s real out there. It’s not practice anymore, so you’ve got to be sharp. You’ve got to be on your game because mistakes can happen, games can turn fast, so you’ve got to be on your toes and ready at all times.”

Without getting into specifics, when you play a defense like the one we saw on Saturday, how often do you guys go against the ones and is that as tough a defense as you guys have faced in your short careers?

GN: “For me personally, we saw some good defensive ends at the end of last year, some good defensive lines. Obviously I didn’t play against Michigan State last year and they had a pretty good defensive line, but it’s really great. We have a defensive line and a defense in general that’s very talented. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a defense that’s as talented across the board as ours. So it’s really just invaluable to go against them ever day in practice. I don’t want to get into the conversation of our defense is better than X defense but we have a very, very good defense and it’s great for our offense to go against them all camp and every week in practice.”

GP: “I would agree with that. He just talked about the defensive line but even the secondary is second to none. There’s some great athletes in our secondary. Just being able to go against them every day, it makes it a lot easier come gameday.”