[Fuller/MGoBlog]

How is the growing of a relationship with Brian Smith going? He’s new to you.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s great. He’s doing great. He’s learning the defense fast and we’re working together, working a lot more time together with the safeties and corners and spending a lot more time together. Everything’s going pretty smoothly.”

We talked to Jourdan [Lewis] in Florida and he seems really comfortable, maybe even more confident than he did a year ago. Where’s he at right now in your estimation in terms of his growth?

“He’s doing a hell of a job. Kid works hard, works his butt off. He’s been playing really well this spring. I think part of his comfort now is its year two in a system that he pretty much knows. Only new thing really [is] one new coverage that we put in that’s kind of changed things, but it’s a fun coverage for the corners. It’s a fun coverage for the secondary. I think the comfort level of playing press-man all last year and coming right back and doing it again this year really is comforting.”

Did he exceed your expectations at all last year from when you first got him?

“Well…being honest, watching the prior year on film, we watched all the games and he was impressive then. I was impressed with him, Strib[ling], Clark, those guys to be able to play man the way we wanted them to play man. To be able to handle that transition last year, that was impressive. All three of those guys. And now the carryover is very helpful.”

Where can he still get better?

“Jourdan? Woo, that’s a tough question. He’s pretty dang good at what he does. I think the biggest thing for him is just maintaining that level of play that he has, staying competitive. You know, maybe if I was being critical of him, use of his hands downfield. But he’s doing some really good things.”

I’m sure you’ve had other guys who are at the top of their game. How do you go approach them different than maybe a normal player?

“You don’t. You don’t. You just coach them the same, be consistent with all of them. At times you use guys like him and Strib as examples, but you gotta be consistent when you’re coaching. That’s what I try to do. I hope I’m doing that for those guys.”

Do you see him having an influence on Stribling and Clark?

“Well, you know, certainly his accolades from last year. His work ethic on the field. Very competitive guy. Those things, we all wish they rub off on a lot of guys and so in our room that can have an effect.”

Do you see him ever more vocally--

“Oh yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. He gets fired up on the field. Quiet off the field, but in between the lines he’s pretty vocal.”

[After THE JUMP: A new coverage, safety depth, the Glasgows, and Jabrill: not just an LB]

How does the change in defensive coordinator affect the cornerback position?

“It really hasn’t. It really hasn’t minus one coverage that’s new, but again, that’s something they enjoy doing; it’s a little different. They’ve embraced it. There really hasn’t been much of a change at all. [Ed. A- If this piques your interest you’ll want to read this James Light post on Don Brown’s empty coverages]”

Those top three guys seem like a clear top three. Are there others working their way into the rotation?

“Brandon Watson, you know, started off really strong [and] kind of fell into a little lull. We’ve talked about it and he understands that these last three or four practices and the spring game’s going to be big for him. You know, they’ve got to understand, they’ve got two young kids coming in at our position, as far as corners go, that are pretty good players. You don’t want to lean on a freshman, but you would hope that they could bring competition into the room to make everybody better.”

Greg Mattison has talked very confidently about the defensive line and the linemen have talked very confidently. Do you get that sense from your group that they feel like they’re the best?

“They’re a good group. It’s a really good group of guys. Those guys, they’re big, they’re strong, they’re athletic. They do a lot of things. They do a lot of movement well, and certainly that helps us in the backend big time. Coach Mattison’s done a hell of a job with those guys.”

Do you get the sense, though, that your guys are feeling as confident as they are?

“Oh, they feel very, yeah, very comfortable about those guys up front.”

But how comfortable about themselves? The corners: do they think they’re the best--

“The corners?”

And the whole backfield.

“They better. They absolutely better think they’re the best ones on the field. That better be their attitude. But no, they certainly respect the guys up front. They have—they take time away, which is good. You don’t want a lot of time back there. They take it away.”

Have you noticed a difference from the defensive line in that timing from last year to this year?

“Absolutely. From this time last year, big difference. Big difference.”

Even from the fall?

“Eh, the fall? You know, when Glas[gow] was in there and we had ‘em all going, it was pretty consistent and they played really well. Now with Glas out you’re moving guys around, they’re kind of…you know, you got anchor, tackle, nose, end; now you’re kind of putting them in special spots to fit what they do, and from that comparison I think with the way they’re going now yeah, I feel very good about those guys up front.”

You mentioned the one new coverage that was installed. Just as opposed to last year going into the spring game and installing everything and going into this year, any major differences? Obviously a year’s got to help out.

“Yeah, a year under the belt helps out. We play press-man in the secondary, the linebackers are playing man; the same things we did last year. The new deal is it’s just the zone coverage we’ve got to get used to. We didn’t play it last year so we’ve got to understand how the drops fit and the routes. That’s the biggest difference, but the guys have embraced it and they really like the new coverage, so I wouldn’t say—they’ve been pretty good at what they’re doing and learning it and understanding it.”

What is some of the feedback that you’re getting from the guys in regards to that?

“To the new coverage?”

Yeah.

“They like it. They like it because it gives them a change. It’s a change and you kind of can sneak around in it a little bit, move around and then all of a sudden pop into a place and you’re in position. Whereas when you play man, that’s my guy, that’s my guy, that’s my guy. Now we’ve got some movement in the defense and it helps with disguises and they like that.”

Is that something that Don [Brown] brought with him or is this something you guys looked at--

“That’s Don. That’s Don’s defense, yep. That’s what he brought with him from Boston College, yeah. He’s been running it a long time. Very successful at it.”

What’s Don like?

“Ah, he’s great, man. Fun guy, energetic guy, really a good person, really smart mind football-wise. Good all around.”

Is there a noticeable difference without Jarrod [Wilson] directing traffic on the backend this year?

“I tell ya, Delano [Hill] has stepped up. DT [Dymonte Thomas] has stepped up. Those guys have taken over that roll and they’re doing a pretty good job at it. They really are.”

Not surprised to hear Thomas being a vocal person, but is Delano vocal also?

“Delano, he needs to be a little more vocal. But again, between the lines—and that’s what we talk about, you know. Hey, you can be a quiet person, I’m a quiet person, but once we get inside the lines you’re playing ball and you’ve got to express yourself, play with enthusiasm, have some energy, have some juice, and be vocal because guys are counting on you to help them get lined up.”

Who are the guys in the two-deep there? Who’s playing behind those guys?

“You’ve got Tyree Kinnel. AJ Pearson’s doing well. Jordan Glasgow, a walk-on, he’s behind there. He’s getting some reps, so he’s in the fight. We’ve got some good guys that you can lean on, absolutely.”

Is Jabrill still factoring into the defensive backfield? How much time is he seeing back there, or is he mostly at linebacker?

“Packages, we have different packages. He’s mostly down by the line of scrimmage, but there’s some packages where he’s roaming the post, sometimes he’s playing half the field, sometimes he’s sitting in the middle of the field. There’s some things we’re doing with him. We’ve got about four or five different packages where guys are moving all over, so he’s been around. He’s got a lot on his plate. The good thing about Pepp [is] he’s a smart kid. He really—I mean, he enjoys the challenge of all those different spots.”

Going back to the coverage question, who are some of the guys who kind of got it quicker?

“Well certainly guys like Jourdan, Strib, Clark, those guys, the older guys that’ve played the game and are comfortable playing what they’re doing. They look much more comfortable in the new defense and moving around and being in the right spot.”

Those Glasgow boys, is there something in the blood there?

“It’s an unbelievable story. It really is. All three of those guys, just unbelievable. Their mom and dad should be proud of ‘em, because they’re not only good football players but really good kids, man. That says a lot about the family and what their mom and dad do. Yeah, they’re special, for sure.”

Are you expecting Jordan to contribute there?

“I hope--I think Jordan’s going to contribute more on special teams. You don’t want to lean completely on him now, but he’s been improving. As long as he improves and he competes and he’s helping other people get better, his chances of playing are getting better.”