Finally game week for everyone in our program and we are grateful for this opportunity of where we are today. Thanks to medical staff, trainers, coaches, players, families, local community, et all for allowing us to get to this point. Nov. 20 we walked off the field vs. Michigan St. having lost by 3 points but walked off the field having felt we were getting closer to where we want to be. Since then, there has been a pandemic, social injustice, season cancelled and back on again, but since that day last Nov, have been proud of the way the team has handled everything.
As for Northwestern, they are well coached, know Fitzgerald very well having spent time here when he was a grad assistant. They have an experienced group of players and even though they didn't have the kind of year they wanted last year, they have a history of bouncing back.
Had final scrimmage Friday night under the lights on the new turf. Still have some tweaking to do but our team is excited.
Says both QBs fought their tails off during camp. They do know who the starting QB will be, they have had the conversations with each player involved but from a competitive advantage they have no plan of announcing who the starter is publicly.
With 50-60 new faces, shouldn't be surprised to see so many young guys and first-year players in the two-deep. With Tarheeb Still, his comfort level is good and the stage doesn't seem too big for him. He's picked up the system quickly and he's jumped out. Won't be surprised to see all of Banks, Still, Bennett, Bennett and Gater get run in the opener.
Has a lot of respect for Pat Fitzgerald, Locks was on staff under Vanderlinden who was Fitzgerald's mentor. Had a chance to watch him grow as a young assistant when Locks was at Illinois and Fitz at NU. Since going to the Rose Bowl, he's been able to build on that success and sustain it over the years. Personally, Pat has been a guy Locks has stayed in touch with throughout the years. Get to spend a little more time together on Zoom and texting being in the same conference again, but their relationship might be a bit closer than some guys due to the fact they go so far back.
As Locks told the team, the starter isn't going to have to look over his shoulder. They expect the starter to remain the starter. That said, if they don't produce, changes could be made. And they could possibly have a package for one that best utilizes their skills. Met with both QBs togethers. Sat them down Sunday at 5pm. Went over the metrics that were used and wanted them to say what they were feeling. While he expects the backup is not happy, they told them they will continue to develop each of them. Then spoke with each individually so they could say anything they might not have felt comfortable saying as a group and now they are back on the field and know their roles.
Still cautiously optimistic about getting the season underway but you still see coaches testing positive and players, etc. And the game day testing will be big, too. Every day is a new day, a new obstacle. Everyone in the local community has fought through this and pushed through this thing.
Excited for Tua earning the starting job this week. Just found out he's gonna start this week as he was walking in to start the presser. Wishes him good luck the rest of the season and wishes him good health, as well.
Shaq Smith is a veteran for us in the two-deep, played outside last year and he is back inside this year. We tell guys where we think they best fit but we aren't going to force guys to play anywhere they don't want to. But he's a leader of the team and he'll have a role for this team and program. They've built depth with the LB group and guys will have specific roles which should help them all thrive.
Jake is a leader of the team both on and off the field. He's a guy who only knows one speed (fast) so we've tried to slow him down a little during camp. He's in great shape and has looked good throughout camp. He is a capable three-down guy. Smart in protection and knows his role as a ball carrier and leader.
Says Fleet-Davis is a valuable member of the team. He had to earn his way back onto the team and they have been pleased with how he's looked on the field and how he's been as a member of the program.
Discipline will define the season. We still have way too many self inflicted errors. False starts, offsides, etc. I hate when we beat ourselves and playing a team like NU, they are a team that won't beat themselves, so you can't do that. We have to understand it is going to take great discipline on the field if we want to have the kind of season we want on the field and have to show that same discipline off the field, too.
As for Northwestern, they are well coached, know Fitzgerald very well having spent time here when he was a grad assistant. They have an experienced group of players and even though they didn't have the kind of year they wanted last year, they have a history of bouncing back.
Had final scrimmage Friday night under the lights on the new turf. Still have some tweaking to do but our team is excited.
Says both QBs fought their tails off during camp. They do know who the starting QB will be, they have had the conversations with each player involved but from a competitive advantage they have no plan of announcing who the starter is publicly.
With 50-60 new faces, shouldn't be surprised to see so many young guys and first-year players in the two-deep. With Tarheeb Still, his comfort level is good and the stage doesn't seem too big for him. He's picked up the system quickly and he's jumped out. Won't be surprised to see all of Banks, Still, Bennett, Bennett and Gater get run in the opener.
Has a lot of respect for Pat Fitzgerald, Locks was on staff under Vanderlinden who was Fitzgerald's mentor. Had a chance to watch him grow as a young assistant when Locks was at Illinois and Fitz at NU. Since going to the Rose Bowl, he's been able to build on that success and sustain it over the years. Personally, Pat has been a guy Locks has stayed in touch with throughout the years. Get to spend a little more time together on Zoom and texting being in the same conference again, but their relationship might be a bit closer than some guys due to the fact they go so far back.
As Locks told the team, the starter isn't going to have to look over his shoulder. They expect the starter to remain the starter. That said, if they don't produce, changes could be made. And they could possibly have a package for one that best utilizes their skills. Met with both QBs togethers. Sat them down Sunday at 5pm. Went over the metrics that were used and wanted them to say what they were feeling. While he expects the backup is not happy, they told them they will continue to develop each of them. Then spoke with each individually so they could say anything they might not have felt comfortable saying as a group and now they are back on the field and know their roles.
Still cautiously optimistic about getting the season underway but you still see coaches testing positive and players, etc. And the game day testing will be big, too. Every day is a new day, a new obstacle. Everyone in the local community has fought through this and pushed through this thing.
Excited for Tua earning the starting job this week. Just found out he's gonna start this week as he was walking in to start the presser. Wishes him good luck the rest of the season and wishes him good health, as well.
Shaq Smith is a veteran for us in the two-deep, played outside last year and he is back inside this year. We tell guys where we think they best fit but we aren't going to force guys to play anywhere they don't want to. But he's a leader of the team and he'll have a role for this team and program. They've built depth with the LB group and guys will have specific roles which should help them all thrive.
Jake is a leader of the team both on and off the field. He's a guy who only knows one speed (fast) so we've tried to slow him down a little during camp. He's in great shape and has looked good throughout camp. He is a capable three-down guy. Smart in protection and knows his role as a ball carrier and leader.
Says Fleet-Davis is a valuable member of the team. He had to earn his way back onto the team and they have been pleased with how he's looked on the field and how he's been as a member of the program.
Discipline will define the season. We still have way too many self inflicted errors. False starts, offsides, etc. I hate when we beat ourselves and playing a team like NU, they are a team that won't beat themselves, so you can't do that. We have to understand it is going to take great discipline on the field if we want to have the kind of season we want on the field and have to show that same discipline off the field, too.
