[Fuller]

We’ve heard a lot of guys say you tell them to stamp their personality on the defense. When did you start using that?

“I don’t know for sure when. Some time ago. I think it’s just a way for me to describe to those guys that-I mean, I think it’s important to play with a personality. You were recruited here for reasons that are good. Don’t change that. We don’t want robots. Keep playing the way you play, obviously within the scheme and what we do, but play the way you play the game. I think that’s important.”

They also say they believe in what they’re being given now, and that gives them more confidence. Can you talk about, as a coach, watching that process take place?

“Yeah. I just- I’m really proud of our guys of how hard they’ve been playing. That’s the biggest thing to me is playing with effort and playing with the technique we’re talking about, and so any time you get a group of guys that are believing in one another and playing for one another then I think you have a chance to have something special, and I think they’re starting to understand what that means.”

Any similarities between Oregon State’s offense and Northwestern’s

“Yeah, I think too often spread teams are all clumped together like, ‘Oh, they’re a spread team or a one-back team.’ I think there’s always a lot more differences that apply within those offenses than what some might say. Northwestern’s definitely unique in what they do and they’re really good at what they do. I mean, they’ve had that system there for a while and they do a great job. You can tell their players know what’s going on and know where they want to go.”

What are some of those unique things?

“Just…they’re committed to the run game. They’re a physical group. They’re committed to the run game, and they do a great job of changing up formations and personnel and all that but at the end of the day they want to run that ball, and they do a great job of it.”

You do some hands-on teaching. They said you get in the drills sometimes and show them stuff. Is that something that you’ve always kind of felt people learn better that way or it keeps you engaged or why do you do that?

“I don’t know. I’ve probably never but that much thought into it other than I think just what we said about stamp your personality as a player. I think you do the same thing as a coach, you know, and that’s…I don’t know. That’s just me. I like being hands-on and being involved in it. I like being high energy. Whatever your personality is, if you’re true to it I think that usually gets a response.”

[After THE JUMP: Nothing else about robots. Cyborgs maybe, but not robots. Fine, no cyborgs either. But defense, yes. Definitely some talk about the defense.]

Is that on all three levels you actually get in there and show how the technique works?

“I don’t do much getting in there when they’re hitting and stuff. No. I don’t have many hits left in me, so I stand clear when that’s going on. So, I just think our coaching staff as a whole is very involved from coach Harbaugh on down. I think that’s who we are. We’re a high-energy, hands-on coaching staff.”

Two shutouts in a row. They’re hearing a lot of good things about themselves. How do you guard against them thinking, ‘Okay, this is just the way it’s naturally going to be’?

“I mean, there’s nothing special you do about guarding against it. We just have the same approach when we go in that meeting room every day. I know that they hear things and see things, but it’s all about how we work and how we prepare, so it’s how we practiced on Tuesday, how we practice today when we go out there. That’s what prepares you for the game.

“All the other stuff is just…I don’t want to say nonsense, but it really doesn’t matter to the outcome of the game. It’s about how hard you work and how you prepare and our guys, we’re obviously talking about that a bunch. I think they’re starting to understand that. That’s who we want to be: a blue-collar team.”

It was only a month, but you were the head coach at Florida. Did you take anything from the organization or on the field or something that you’re able to use as the DC here?

“Yeah, I think anytime you get an opportunity like that it forces you to see things a little differently, think differently. You’ve got to evaluate things from a more big picture aspect. It was a valuable experience that I’m sure has helped in certain ways. Any time you go through something new or different it helps you. It helps you grow.”

So you’re doing something different as a defensive coordinator here than maybe you did at Florida before that experience?

“Uh, yeah. We’re doing some things differently in how we prepare and handle meetings and practice, and I think not just from that experience. Every year you grow as a coach, you get better. You want to look back and say, ‘What did we do well?’ [That’s what] we want to keep doing, and what could we do better. That’s part of the evaluation as you grow.”

Is that something you’d entertain, becoming a head coach? Or are you comfortable being a defensive coordinator?

“I’m worried about playing Northwestern. We have a huge task ahead of us this week, and we have to have the best Wednesday we’ve had all year today.”

Royce [Jenkins-Stone] obviously has to step up with Mario [Ojemudia] out. Who are some others that are going to get more reps because of that?

“Obviously Royce will. Royce has played well with the snaps he’s had. He was already rotating a little bit and playing in there, and he’s done well with the snaps. We’ll mix it around. We’ve got some depth up front, so we have some guys that can do that. We’ll play several guys there like we always do. We’ll rotate guys through up front.”

Where’s Lawrence Marshall at this point?

“He’s up there rotating and practicing. He had a good practice yesterday, and he’s one of those many guys we have up front that we feel are good and understand what we want to do and can help us win.”

Ryan [Glasgow] said earlier this week that their goal is to be the best defense in the country and they’re not afraid to say that. Is that coming from them or is that coming from you guys? Do you feel like they can be No. 1?

“For us really, and I know maybe it sounds cliché or whatever but really it’s about improving every day. We’ve got to go have a better Wednesday today than we had a Tuesday, and every week improve.

“I think we’ve made those improvements as a unit week in and week out. We’ve got to continue doing that. It’s just going to continue to get tougher, so we have to make improvements. If you keep doing that all year long you probably find yourself where you want to be at the end, but you can’t really look or worry about that.”

Two straight shutouts, 105 yards. I mean, that’s pretty good. How do you get better from there?

“I think sometimes statistics are…you know, can be telling and also can be misleading, too. I don’t think the improvement just comes from statistics. Obviously those stats right there, that’s hard to replicate and keep doing. It’s about the individual improvement. Maybe there’s more yardage in the game or points or whatever, but guys got better or played better. We’ve got to continue to grow as a team and individually. We need more guys to come along and we’re going to need that depth as we go through the year.”

Are there some stats that you think are telling like third-down percentage defense or something like that?

“Yeah, I think third down and red zone defense is very important. I think the most telling stat is turnovers. If you’re getting the ball out as a defense and protecting it elsewhere you’re winning turnover margin, and that’s usually the closest thing that says win or loss.”

What’s been the key to starting to create them now that you’ve had some interceptions and things?

“I don’t- you know, I don’t know. We’ve been emphasizing all year long and all the way back through the spring. Obviously it was nice to get some of those last week. We’ve got to continue doing it. It’s a team stat. Even if it’s an interception usually it’s caused by someone pressuring the quarterback or something up front and a guy getting the ball out.

“It’s things we talk about and work on every day. It’ll be huge this week. Those guys do a great job protecting the ball. They’re up there at the top of the country in turnover margin.”

Is there still an area where you think your defense needs to improve?

“Yeah, all areas. I mean, we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to get better at affecting the quarterback and covering downfield and really just all in all just being fundamentally sound consistently. Some of that stuff shows up on tape, and obviously other people watching our tape too are looking for ways to exploit us. We’ve got to get it right.”

Is there a difference being a coordinator for a defensive head coach like you were at Florida and for an offensive coach like you are here?

“Yeah, there’s differences in any work environment with who you’re working for. Jim is- his background is offense, but he’s got the mentality of a defensive head coach. He’s tough, get after it, blue collar. Couldn’t be better. He really helps our defense in many, many ways. It’s a benefit to us with him being the head coach.”

Guys talked about your intensity this week and one of them said they think you’re going to lose all your hair before you turn 40. Has intensity been your M.O. forever here?

“Yeah, I hope the hair thing doesn’t come true. Maybe. We’ll see. Again, it’s not anything by design. It’s who I am. It’s not like, ‘I’m gonna be intense today or get after them.’ It’s really just that’s me. I think if you’re yourself players respond to it. Not putting on a show or trying to do something different, just be yourself. If that’s how they see it and take it then so be it. I just want them to understand that and respond.”

Is that the way you always were growing up and when playing?

“Yeah, I think so. That’s probably safe to say.”

What was the craziest thing you did as a player?

“Nah, no, that’s not anything we need to talk about now.”

/laughs

“I just think when you’re passionate about something and you enjoy what you’re doing, which I definitely do and I enjoy coaching these guys, it’s easy to get excited about.”

Do you get kind of lost in it, though? Joe Bolden made up a word, ‘explosability,’ that he said about you. Do you get sort of lost in it when you’re coaching these guys and don’t even realize they’re perceiving you this way?

“I guess sometimes it’s interesting  or fun to hear what their take is on these things. They really don’t say it to you, and then they speak about it in an interview or something. It’s all part of it, and the good thing is these guys have really bought into playing for one another and responding to one another and being accountable. That’s what it’s all about.”

How’s linebacker play been through five games?

“Those guys have played really well. We’ve had some different type of gameplans with the teams we’re facing and the offenses we’re facing, and they’ve done a really great job of being the quarterbacks out there.

“And we rely on them a lot to check things and make changes and make changes on the sideline and they’ve handled it really well. I think they continue to improve, just like the defense. Des Morgan had his best game last week and Joe’s continuing to get better and James Ross and all those guys. They’re continuing to improve and I think they’re getting more comfortable with what we’re doing and understanding it.”

I know you don’t watch directly Northwestern’s defensive film, but do you know Hankowitz? He’s been doing this a long time. Is there some fraternity between guys? Do you know him at all? Is there some connection?

“In terms of coaching in general, yeah, definitely. You talk to the guys and speak and ‘What are you doing with this’ or ‘What’s been good for you and what’s bad?’ That always goes on. In terms of Hankowitz in particular, no. I obviously know him and know of him. He’s a great coach. He’s well respected in our profession, but not a guy that I know on that type of basis.”

Did you know that he’s a Michigan Man? Did you know he went to school here?

“Yeah, I did. I know his background. He’s doing a great job, like he always does. He’s been consistent for a long time.”