What prompted you to go get an offensive coordinator back in January and what about Josh Gattis and his vision for this offense appealed to you?

“It was an opportunity to get a great coach. He’s somebody that I’ve been following and saw that he was becoming an offensive coordinator, so we moved fast to make him our offensive coordinator.

“What’s been going really well is he’s doing a great job. He’s a really good coach. Staff is working really, really good together. Everybody has met—had a lot of meetings, a lot of time on task to get to where we were yesterday, which was our first day of practice.

“Kicked off the spring practice and it was really good. Both—everybody on the team physically was ready to practice. That was the best we’ve had from a physical standpoint of guys being prepared to start spring practice. Also the best we’ve been in terms of really being as far along understanding the schemes offensively, defensively, and special teams-wise. Think there’s been a lot of great retention. Not where we’re gonna be, but really, really good.”

So with Josh [Gattis] here, how is it different for you, then, if he’s running the show? I know you’ve always been very involved. How is it different for you? Is it an adjustment for you or a change?

“Yeah, we’re all working together and learning, too. His style of offense is—contributing where we can, but he’s really good. He’s really good at explaining it and showing us how to coach it, so how’s it been for me? It’s been really good. Really enjoying it. Really learning a lot.”

I know you try to learn and grow every year as a coach. After last year, what motivated you to make this kind of change? What motivated you to--

“Like I told Aaron—[crosstalk] yeah, yeah. Just, that was that. Opportunity to get somebody I really admire and think is really good.”

How much of a departure will this be from what you’ve run the last four years?
”I think the biggest difference that people will see will be the tempo. The tempo that’s more up-tempo. Less huddle. That’d be number one.”

[After THE JUMP: more on Gattis and the offense, Nua, almost every position group, injury updates, position switches, and even a piece of the depth chart]

How did you first become aware of Gattis? Where did his good standing in your mind start? How did he impress you in the past?

“The first time, I think it was I read an article when he was coaching at Western Michigan or I hear it from somebody or maybe Bill Cubit told me. When Josh was at Western Michigan he had been there a month, I think, and Bill Cubit was introducing him to his son or somebody and said, ‘Son, this is Josh Gattis. Talk to him, get to know him, [but] he’s not going to be around here very long.’

“To watch him develop the players he’s developed at each stop from there—Western Michigan and Vanderbilt and Penn State and Alabama—I mean, that’s eye-catching.

Do you feel like your personnel fits this style, this brand that Josh is installing?

“I do.”

What, in particular? The receivers? Shea obviously had his experiences at Ole MIss that maybe are comparable.

“Yeah. Feel like the offensive line, for starters, really fits this. I’m excited about our offensive line returning four starters and so to start there, I think we have a chance to be as good as we’ve been in that area.

“I think our tight ends are really good. I think as a group, as good as anybody or better. As good as anybody in the country.

“Quarterbacks, I think it fits our quarterbacks extremely well, and our receiving group as well. There’s talented guys there that really are going to take another jump with coach Gattis coaching them. Can already see that.”

You didn’t mention running backs. What--

‘Yeah, running backs. Running backs, only didn’t mention them because I just didn’t but they’re a good group. I’m happy with our running backs.

“Christian Turner has surged from bowl practices to bowl game and then since then, he is A++ in terms of how he’s going about his business, so he’s really becoming a rising player. No question about it. Tru Wilson is also better, quicker. He’s faster. He’s really been dedicated toward that in this offseason winter conditioning program. Coach Herbert and staff have dedicated a big portion of his training this offseason to, you know, get that next gear. Excited about the way that’s going.

"And a couple other changes: Lucas Andrighetto came over from safety to play running back. Hassan Haskins is going to be concentrating at running back. He already looks really good. Went both ways last year, but think he’s going to be really good at that position. He’s working through a little something right now that may need a scope when spring ball’s over. Nothing that can make him worse, but he looks pretty darn good and we know there’s going to be a little procedure that needs to get done with the spring’s over. Also, we’re looking at Ben VanSumeren at running back, who has really shown some things as a guy who can be a physical, hard running—but fast. He’s got an upper gear for speed as well. Think I mentioned most of the guys.”

Charbonnet?

“Oh, Charbonnet, yeah. Zach came in with a procedure that we knew needed to get done. He had to get a scope for meniscus, but very little was taken out. Everything was designed for what would be best for him long-term in his career, which is be going ahead and getting that done here and not participating in spring ball, but yeah. We love Zach. He’s doing everything he can. He started in a chair, he was lifting and doing all this sitting-down exercises, ropes he’d be sitting down in a chair doing. He’s doing everything he could possibly do.

“Just love everything about the eight mid-year guys that have come in. It’s our best class of mid-years so far yet, and it’s been consistent for the four months they’ve been here. They get to class like fifteen, twenty minutes early. They are kicking in the door to get into the weight room. They do things on their own. They’re just, as a class they’re really sharp. Hungry, more motivated, more serious about being good than I can remember myself being when I was a true freshman and more serious about being good than the other mid-year classes that we’ve had as well, so excited about them, each one of them. Erick All is—well, probably shouldn’t talk too much about freshmans [sic], but the guy is competing right now until he drops and he’s really athletic and catching the ball as good as anybody out there.”

Zach’s doing everything you asked but he can’t do contact this spring?

“Correct. Yeah, yeah.”

What is Chris Evans’ status? It sounded like the door was maybe left open a smidge in the comment that Dave [Ablauf] has given;

“Um, yes. Not with the team right now.”

But he could work his way back?

“Um…yes. Yes.”

What led to you guys getting Mike Danna, and are you looking for more grad transfers?

“Um…yeah, we would—we would be…if they’re like Mike Danna, sure, yeah. At that position or others, we would potentially have room for grad transfers. But really thought he’s a really great player. He’ll be a great addition to our team. Love the way he’s wired, love the way he plays, and he’s chomping at the bit to get here.

“Am I allowed to talk about him?”

SID: Yes.

“I am?”

SID: Yeah, he signed.

“Okay. Okay.”

The one ballcarrier not mentioned was Ben Mason. Is he still around?

“Okay, yeah, Ben, great question. So, Ben Mason is—we’re playing him both ways, really at three different positions right now. One day he’s on defense, the next day he’s on offense, the next day he’ll go to defense and so on and rotate. Feel like the fullback will be used in short yardage and goal-line situations predominantly, so we want to get Ben Mason on the field as much as possible and he’ll be playing defensive line along with playing fullback along with playing tailback. Be a lot on his plate; we’ll see how he can handle it. I think he’s going to handle it really well.

“But where Ben Mason might’ve even last year--last year’s offense he would be playing probably average somewhere 20 plays a game, 25. We’d like to see Ben Mason getting 60 plays a game, 70 plays a game, you know, a full game. Could be as a 3-technique, could be as a defensive end. He’ll be a little bit maybe undersized as an inside 3-technique, but with his speed and quickness I don’t know who’s going to stop him. I really don’t.

“And also tailback, and some tight end. We’re going to play him at some tight end as well in this offense, so there’s a fourth. And then he’s got some special teams duties. We’ll probably back down some of his special teams duties other than kickoff coverage; he loves it. He has a love and passion for running down on the kickoff, but this is gonna be a lot of fun with Ben Mason this spring, this fall. He’s great. He’s got the mindset of… just perfect.”

Does he rival [Owen] Marecic?

“Yes, yes, yep. Yes, he does. You hate to compare the two, but they’re both pretty perfect, so love and—excited about him. Just really fired up to work with Ben. He’s got a bounce in his step every day that he comes out to practice, and a gleam in his eye and chomping at the bit to be out on the field more. ‘Here you go.’ We got all kind of ways to get Ben Mason on the field now.”

Any other guys you’ve tinkered with position-wise this spring or you’re switching or moving?

“VanSumeren. Ben VanSumeren’s gonna be playing linebacker and tailback. And probably too early to say which is going to be the best position or if he can do both, but excited about that. He’s really looked good at tailback. There’s some good analogies you could make of a big, strong guy that once he gets going—because he can run. He can get up to acceleration pretty fast, can get up to full speed pretty fast. Played offense in high school; he was a two-way player there. Excited about him.”

What about Mike Barrett? What have you done with him?

“Mike Barrett is back on defense. He’s playing that SAM/Viper position that Hassan Haskins was doing a little bit of running back last year, a little bit of that SAM/Viper and showed a lot of promise as a SAM/Viper as well. Can really run, but more need at running back right now. Excited about him at that position.

“So running back position, I’m excited about our running back position. It’s shaping up very nicely once you get Zach out there and we have some other really good preferred walk-ons that are coming in at that position, so we’re going to be in good shape at running back.”

You have obviously four starters back on the offensive line; you mentioned that. Ben [Bredeson] and Cesar [Ruiz] are obviously left [guard] and center. The other spots, can you tinker with those? Could Jon [Runyan Jr.] play on the right side or how are you looking at right tackle and even competition going forward at right guard?

“Right now looking at Jalen Mayfield and Andrew Stueber at right tackle. There’ll be more competition coming in when players show up in July. We have some tackles, some freshmen tackles that’ll be coming in. Not a lot of tackles left currently in the building right now. That’s why it’s so important that the young players are coming in, and we did well recruiting offensive linemen this past recruiting cycle—six. So, yeah, I think the way it’s shaping up right now, Stueber and Mayfield will be battling for that right tackle position [and] we’ll see how it progresses.”

What are the challenges in having to replace Devin Bush and his speed at the linebacker position, and who are you trying out to take over at the middle linebacker position?

“Well, first thing that jumped into my mind when you started asking that question first was Josh Ross. That’s what popped into my mind. And then also Devin Gil and Jordan Anthony. Guys will be battling in there. Adam Fakih is already popping right now and another name is Adam Shibley. There’s other guys that I’m not mentioning right now, but excited about that group. Thought Gil really came on and did some good things last year. Jordan Anthony has also made a lot of progress last season. There’ll be heated waters of competition in there.

“Um, Cam McGrone! [/throws hands up] Cam McGrone! [/pounds lectern three times] Cam McGrone’s a ball player, too. There’s guys—there’s Dudes in there, as Don Brown would say. And Cam was just a freshman last year. Came a long way. Was always on the verge the entire season last year. I mean, he was always on that verge of turning him loose and letting him play and were kind of monitoring the four games and redshirt or play, but he was always like right there in that discussion of getting in there to play full-time last year, so he’s very much in the mix as well.”

Is there any kind of challenge when it comes to having to replace considering Bush being able to go sideline to sideline? Does that change anything for how you approach the middle linebacker position?

“Well, let’s just see first if Josh Ross is who we think he is before we start changing anything. Right now I think he’s going to be that kind of player: sideline to sideline and A gap to B gap to C gap and be able to cover as well.”

You mentioned Charbonnet. Are you going to be without anyone else this spring injury-wise?

“Uh, yeah, there’s some other guys that won’t be out there. Lavert [Hill] had a procedure. So did Nico Collins. And then we’ll see on a few others. Donovan’s [Peoples-Jones] not participating right now, and Mike Dwumfour, who had the midfoot injury before the bowl game and aggravated it in the game. But they’re all progressing and on a good track. That’s as many as I can think of that aren’t out there practicing now, day one.”

Are all those guys going to miss all of spring?

“I don’t know. You know, I don’t know. That was day one. But there’s—there’ll be…there’ll be a few. There’ll be a few others. We just got--gosh, name just flew out of my mind. We got a mono. We got a case of mono, so that’s going to miss all of spring practice that’s not one of those that I just mentioned.“

Donovan Peoples-Jones or Jeter

“Donovan Peoples-Jones. Donovan Jeter has really come on, has really stepped up and had a great winter. Looked really good in our first practice. Lot of excitement about him.

“Carlo Kemp has really turned himself into a strong, strong player. Inside player all the way now. Playing a 3-technique to 2, and it’s interesting: he came as a tweener between a linebacker and a defensive end. More of a linebacker— you know, body type. And he’s gone from that linebacker—really, we thought inside linebacker. We thought maybe traditional inside linebacker, then thought of him as an outside linebacker, then he moved to end, and now he is a strong—one of our strongest guys on the team.

“Excited about that position as well. There’s some real good players right there. Kwity Paye has continued to get better and better and he’s just doing a heck of a job. Aidan Hutchinson is outstanding, Carlo Kemp is outstanding, Ben Mason is gonna add in there, Donovan Jeter’s really doing a good job, so there’s--

“Shaun Nua—you talked about new coaches, he’s doing a great job. I mean, energy, energy, energy, energy from all four of our new coaches would be the thing that jumps out to me right away. I like the way Shaun has the defensive line running. They are runnin’. There’s a real emphasis on running, getting out of the box, making the tackle, playing not sideline to sideline but at least middle of the field to sideline or numbers to numbers, and they’re looking good and athletic.

“David Ojabo is going to be another guy to really keep an eye on. He’s already put on 20 pounds and looks good. Looks good. Welschof is—from going from playing no football in high school or little league football has asserted—he’s got the traits. He’s got the talent, he takes coaching, he gives it all he has, and he’s coming along nicely as well. Mazi Smith, Gabe Newburg will be young new guys who are here right now doing a good job as well, so that position group is really going to be good. Early tell is that they’re going to surprise a lot of people. I kind of like them. They’re all like right under that radar and working to make a name for themselves.”

You mentioned earlier being really excited having all the guys come in and being really ready to go. You seem as enthused in the spring as I can remember. Why is your mood the way it is with this group?

“Probably because I haven’t seen you guys in a long time, and yeah. [/laughs] I’m sure we’ll get back to where we were. I’m sure you will make that happen.”

We’ll work on it.

“Yeah, I know you will. I know you will.”

How about the team, though? You do seem excited about a lot of guys in a lot of spots. What is it about this group and coaches and everything?

“Yeah, you wonder any new year, any new season, where is the team going to go? Are they gonna ascend? Are they gonna level off? Are they gonna take a dip down? And as a group—Ben Bredeson, phenomenal leader right out of the chute, and others are stepping into those roles.

“Metellus, I point to him of guys that are just attacking it, bringing guys along. It’s one thing to do it yourself and do everything that’s expected of you; every time somebody’s looking you’re doing it, even if somebody’s not looking you’re doing it the right way but then to also physically or you know, bring another guy with you. Encourage another guy to finish or meet the standard that we’re all striving for. I’ve just seen a lot of that go that direction [/points up] this offseason and yeah, it fires me up. And it is—there’s a lot of guys that are under that so-called public radar and they’re hungry. I was hoping that was the way it was going to go and it’s trending that way over three, four months now.”

Is Dylan McCaffrey back to 100%--

“Yeah.”

And I know you keeping quarterbacks honest. Is Shea the guy or is there competition from here to the fall?

“So Dylan McCaffrey’s back 100%. Can participate. Had a really good day yesterday. 

“Right now Shea, Dylan, Joe [Milton] are getting equal reps and they’re all looking good. It’s a really good, talented quarterback room. Brandon Peters, Cade McNamara getting in the mix. Mike Sessa’s doing a really good job. The balls are out there. They’re competing for them and they’re doing really good. Depth chart: Shea’s number one, Dylan’s number two, Joe’s number three, and…there’s no possible way Shea will be able to put his feet up, in my opinion. Got serious competition there with Dylan and Joe right now, so it’ll be a fun spring.”

Going back to where we started, are the offensive changes as big of a philosophical shift as you’ve had in your coaching career?

“Uh, I don’t know if it’s that big of a philosophical switch, and to Josh’s credit, he has done a fantas—phenomenal job of coming in, looking at our personnel, looking at what we do well, what we did well in both the run game, the pass game, the protections, and making it cohesive with his system. Words are different, but some of the same amount of the way we do things. It’s blended really good, and our coaches have done a great job, all of them, of making that happen. I don’t know how huge, if it is. The tempo’s big. The tempo’s a huge change, from huddling to not huddling. That’s big. And other things. I like it. It’s got more of an attacking feel to the offense in terms of tempo and in terms of going downfield in the passing game and some other things.

“You know, different personnel groups, has that same feel that we’ve always done of multiple personnel groups and you’re attacking in that way. You’re attacking in terms of multiple formations. Possibility when you put in an RPO that it could be a run or it could be a pass. It’s dictated on—could call the same play 40 times and 34 times it could be a pass, 34 of those times it could be a run, or somewhere in between. So, has that kind of feel. I like that. I like that there’s an attacking feel to that that the defense has to be aware of. And then the tempo, that feels like a—that feels good, too. That feels like we’re attacking with that part, the tempo. Team just can’t get a bead on what your tempo is all the time. So, that’s where we are.”

You said on your podcast you’re giving Gattis the keys. What does that mean exactly for you? Where do you fit in developing this offense and playcalling and all of that going forward?

“Yeah, he’s going to be—he’s going to coordinate the offense and call the plays and that’s what that means.”

How shocked were you by Greg’s [Mattison] departure?

“Um…yeah, not—I wouldn’t say shocked. I was surprised, yeah, but…coaching-wise, he wanted to be a coordinator again and darn near doubled his salary. I don’t hold that against him but we’re not going to be sending each other Christmas cards based on where he went, but that’s how I feel and understand it.”

With that, going to Ohio State, I don’t want to put words in your mouth with ‘shocked’ but that part of it, does it surprise you at all that he would go from Michigan to Ohio State? He went to Notre Dame, but--

“You don’t have to put words in my mouth. I’ll just stand on the answer I just gave ya. Still a good man, still have a ton of respect for him. We’ll be friends again someday when we’re done coachin’. Good? Alright, thanks.”