[Fuller]

 

Things discussed

• How Tarik Black's injury affected things Saturday
• Wide receiver rotations
• Donovan Peoples-Jones played too much
• Ambry Thomas playing on offense
• Ronnie Bell's progress
• Nico Collins: tall person

[After THE JUMP: Jim McElwain has jokes]

 

Overall thoughts on your group’s performance Saturday?

 

“You know, there’s always a lotta things we can work on. I thought they caught the ball well, we didn’t have any drops. And one of the things is, we’ve gotta do a better job of playing fast throughout the game. I thought there were some plays that we looked slow. And yet, there were some times we went pretty fast. The consistency really, there, is where I think we could (improve).”

 

Is that an effort thing or is that just —

 

“No, no, I don’t think so. I think from a rotation standpoint, obviously, getting Oliver (Martin) and Ronnie (Bell) in there, you know, more. And I thought the little bit that they did get in, the game wasn’t too big for ‘em. I’m excited about that. Being able to get those guys rotating.”

 

What did Ronnie do in camp to kinda earn that spot as a freshman, playing?

 

“He did a really good job of attacking kinda the playbook. Really, the hardest thing for guys, sometimes, that are young, is maintaining how fast you can play when your mind is spinning. And I thought he did a really good job. I thought Roy Roundtree did an outstanding job with him in 1-on-1 settings to where he could get lined up and go play fast.”

 

Jim, you talk about rotations, you wanted to speed up a little bit, but are guys processing at a fast enough rate that you’d like? Reacting, kind of on the field?

 

“I was — as far as like, the assignments — obviously, technically, there’s always things to clean up. Doesn’t matter when. But assignment-wise, we were pretty darn good.”

 

Heard a lot about … new guys working with receivers and improving, where have you seen the improvement from spring until now?

 

“I thought we had pretty good separation throughout the game. Something you work on every single day and our guys, I think, have seen the importance of it. And you can’t catch it if you’re not open, so number one most important thing is, how do we get open? And I think they’ve responded well. Being conscious of gaining separation.”

 

Was that something that maybe was a weak spot when you got here?

 

“I don’t think — I don’t know that. It’s just something we focus on in our everyday drills. When you put your musts on the board, at the receiver position, number one must is to get open.”

 

How has Nico Collins grown since you came?

 

“He was tall to begin with.”

 

(Everyone laughs)

 

“I’m sorry. It was too easy. You just served it up.

 

“I think his understanding of what, why and how has been pretty darn good. And for — I guess I’d say his assignment grade was really good in this game. Which tells me he did a good job in preparation. Now, we just gotta continue that, but he’s obviously gonna get a lot of reps. So, just maintain that throughout.”

 

Where can he improve?

 

“I would say that for everybody, where can’t they improve, right? You can always improve on something. His — technically, he played pretty darn good. From a grade standpoint. And I think there was a couple things that they showed that maybe we just need to continue to adjust to. Go back to your training. But overall, I thought he played pretty decent.”

 

When you lose Tarik (Black) that close to the game, how, I guess, jarring is it for you to start rotating reps or maybe somebody else has to pick up in practice?

 

“Well, and I think this probably goes to your question a little bit. Obviously, there was more on Nico’s play just based on that position. It also then takes some guys that — Nico played multiple spots a little more. I think Oliver is one of those guys, that has become a guy that can play all three spots. Grant (Perry) obviously was playing not only slot but obviously two-wideout stuff he was playing on the outside. So it just puts a little more on guys plates, and yet, I thought they handled it well from a standpoint of what they were supposed to do.”

 

Are you planning for or anticipating a return for Tarik this season? Jim (Harbaugh) kinda left that as an open-ended question?

 

“Sure, I think that’s between the medical staff and coach.”

 

Have you been able to enjoy being a position coach? I imagine focusing on the details a little more than you were able to the past few years

 

“It’s — it’s been fun. I got a really good group of guys. Got a good staff to work with, both offensively and defensively. Learn every day, focus on the new things coach implements that you kinda say, ‘Oh, I wish I’d have thought of that.’ But it’s been fun. And like I said, what makes it fun is you’ve got an eager group of wide receivers in that room that come here every day and wanna get a little bit better.”

 

Is that invigorating or refreshing for you at this point?

 

“I think — I don’t — yeah. The reason I started on this journey was to be involved in guys’ lives. Help with getting better both on and off the field. It’s been a lot of fun.”

 

How’s Tarik’s demeanor right now, and do you still talk to him every day?

 

“Oh yeah. He’s in meetings. Like I told his folks, there when he was getting his stuff done, I missed his smile. And he’s got a great smile. Wheels into the room now. That same smile is something that’s important to all of us.”

 

Jim has talked about a collaboration on the offensive side of the ball, of all the coaches. How much input have you had in the offense so far?

 

“I just try to stay out of the way and coach our guys.”

 

Is it different for you? You’re used to being a head coach, used to being a coordinator

 

“Yeah, but before then, I was taking orders from a lotta guys. So it’s pretty easy.”

 

Nico Collins said that he began to gain a lot of confidence this spring. Was there a point at which you saw things really turn for him?

 

“Yeah, I thought tentative early. When we got here in the spring and as his confidence grew in the what and then the how, he just seemed to play faster and faster. I think he’s a fun guy to be around. It’s important to him, as it is all these guys. And just to see their growth, it’s kinda cool.”

 

What was he tentative with? Just understanding what he can do?

 

“Yeah, I think just putting it all together. Cause, going back to the teaching model, trying to figure out how each guy learns, and then playing together on how to reach each guy. Everybody’s different. So, guess it goes back to that. It’s important to him, so I knew — he goes at it 100 percent.”

 

What ways do you think Nico learns in comparison to maybe Tarik or other guys you have in the room?

 

“Well, they all learn different. Some guys are better when you walk it, some guys are better when they see in on film. Some guys are better when they see it on a piece of paper. Some guys are better — you know, everybody learns differently. I mean, we all learn differently. So, it really goes back to your … principles of education. You figure out how they learn through different ways, and then you cater whatever you do to the individual.”

 

How’d Donovan (Peoples-Jones) grade out? What did you see from him?

 

“Graded out good. I mean, obviously like to see — I think he played too many plays. That’s on me. As far as being able to play fast, every single down, there were some times — not that he was loafing, but quite honestly, was gassed. And we’ve gotta do a better job of the pitch count.”

 

The other Jim, on Monday, didn’t rule out maybe Ambry Thomas on offense. Could you see him joining your group, and how quickly could he?

 

“I think everywhere we’ve been, if there’s a guy with a skill-set that can help you, it doesn’t matter what position they are. Like, he’s done it before, where I think they put six or seven O-linemen in there. So I think it’s definitely something that can happen with anybody. The precedent’s been set, cause I think before, they did it with a pretty decent — was it (Jabrill) Peppers that did some things?

 

Has he worked with you yet — Ambry?

 

“Yeah, I mean, he’s worked before. So, we’ll see.”

 

This week?

 

“Yeah, let’s go pin that on the Western (Michigan) board, right?

 

Coach, the younger receivers talk about Grant as a mentor, could you speak to —

 

“That’s cool. I’m glad they do. Because, that’s great to hear. I think his leadership in that group has been fantastic. And I mean, let’s face it, he’s a true, grizzled veteran in comparison to everybody else in that room. When you think — obviously, Donovan played a lot of plays, or a lot of games last year. Tarik didn’t play many, I don’t think, a year ago. Nico played sparingly. Oliver, I don’t think played. Ronnie was shooting baskets and playing football on the side, right? So, for him to do what he’s doing — he’s kind of a go-to guy. He’s a guy that, I think has embraced that role, and realizes through, maybe his injury last year or whatever, when it is taken away, sometimes, you really have a chance to reflect as to how important it is when you’re not able to do it anymore. And I think he’s used that as a way to drive all of us.”

 

With Donovan maybe putting too much on his plate, or too many plays, was that partly a function of the weather and how it was sort of sucking the life out of (everyone)?

 

“Well, I think obviously, that piece, when Week 1, we lost Tarik and then adjusting into it. Because he’s another guy, now, that played multiple positions — all three spots. So, just helping him be able to play fast.”