Live from MTSU Fall Camp!

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[00:00:16] [SPEAKER_08]: Join us every Tuesday for a weekly interview with players, coaches and local media

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[00:00:39] [SPEAKER_08]: discuss this week's episodes along with the latest news and updates around Middle Tennessee.

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_08]: And welcome to the Blue Raider Podcast.

[00:00:53] [SPEAKER_08]: I'm your host, Jake Bolden.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_08]: And welcome to a live stream of MTSU Fall Practice here.

[00:00:59] [SPEAKER_08]: We are at the practice facility today.

[00:01:01] [SPEAKER_08]: We were playing for the Floyd Stadium, but I think we had a little bit of changing around

[00:01:05] [SPEAKER_08]: a plans along with construction.

[00:01:06] [SPEAKER_08]: So we're out of the practice facility today.

[00:01:09] [SPEAKER_08]: Right in the little solo this morning, I've got a co-host come in, Shane Pickering.

[00:01:12] [SPEAKER_08]: He's a partner with me over at Go Middle.com.

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_08]: We're on a little behind this morning, but no worries.

[00:01:16] [SPEAKER_08]: The show will go on.

[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_08]: I appreciate everyone tuning in today.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_08]: If you are listening to the live stream and I appreciate you one making this a part of your

[00:01:25] [SPEAKER_08]: morning commute this Tuesday morning.

[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_08]: But secondly, if you are worried about missing any of the live stream, don't worry.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_08]: I will have an edited condensed version available for you this evening.

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_08]: After we record with everybody and throughout the day, we'll be talking with coaches.

[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_08]: At the end of the day, we'll be having some players and the player interviews will actually

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_08]: be an exclusive episode that will premiere on Thursday on all of our streaming platforms.

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_08]: So once again, you're going to get your condensed form of today's live stream over on your

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_08]: Apple iTunes as well as your Spotify and all that good stuff.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_08]: So I appreciate you again for tuning in today.

[00:02:00] [SPEAKER_08]: One thing that's a little bit different about Mason versus the previous staff is the morning

[00:02:06] [SPEAKER_08]: workouts.

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_08]: So, we're now at 7 o'clock.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_08]: We've heard the horn.

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_08]: We've got a few reps and looks like we're going to get to stretch in here in a little

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_08]: bit.

[00:02:13] [SPEAKER_08]: Hopefully we can give you as much up-to-date stuff as we possibly can.

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_08]: Obviously, we can't record the practice.

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_08]: But we'll be going through some of the depth chart with Shane here.

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_08]: Today was actually my first introduction into the depth chart.

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_08]: And I think it would be an interesting breakdown of these names on there that I did necessarily

[00:02:28] [SPEAKER_08]: anticipate seeing.

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER_08]: But if you listen to last week's interview with Coach Mason after their first practice fall

[00:02:34] [SPEAKER_08]: camp, he says that there's a battle just about everywhere even at quarterback.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_08]: He knows it knick is going to be the one but there's a battle there for the two and up

[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_08]: and down the line up, you're going to see battles and luckily for us, the Bluiter podcast

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_08]: and you listeners were going to be able to kind of give you a little insight into that as

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_08]: well as, as I said, interview with coaches.

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_08]: We'll have our coordinators on today and then at the end of the day we'll wrap it up

[00:02:55] [SPEAKER_08]: with some players.

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER_08]: So that's a little introduction as we start setting up my co-host here in just a bit.

[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_08]: I will step back in.

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_08]: And I do apologize.

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_08]: I just realized we went through that whole segment there and we had a mic problem.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_08]: So we'll actually, we'll backtrack there, Shane.

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_08]: Well, that was our test run for us.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_08]: But back to what our conversation was about Derek Mason and what his offense is doing or

[00:03:18] [SPEAKER_08]: what his staff is doing by implementing a whole new system of 59 new players.

[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_08]: It could hurt a program that's already established but now you've got a brand new staff,

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_08]: all new players it's easier to actually implement new culture with those kind of guys and

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_08]: we were just discussing a little bit about the offensive line.

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_08]: So again, we'll run that segment back there about the offensive line.

[00:03:38] [SPEAKER_08]: It's an area that we had a lot of question marks about because the lack of experience

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_08]: we're only returning a few games played last season.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_08]: So Shane, back to you again a little bit about the offensive line.

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_08]: Let's talk about where those question marks are and how you feel about it moving into the season.

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_07]: Thank you.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_07]: Obviously Nick, my daughter was pressured a lot last year and you want to get that cleaned

[00:03:58] [SPEAKER_07]: up to run the offense effectively.

[00:04:00] [SPEAKER_07]: And they added a bunch of newcomers with his junior college or high school or just college

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_07]: transfers.

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER_07]: And then they kept some big names that they wanted to keep.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_07]: And the town is there, but they got a gel like you were saying and they got to be one unit

[00:04:16] [SPEAKER_07]: of five.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_07]: And that's the big question mark as we enter fall camp.

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah, and there's a lot of questions out here at fall camp throughout all the positions.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_08]: Mason last week at the opening of fall camp made the comment that there's a battle just about everywhere.

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_08]: You know, Nick is going to be your one quarterback.

[00:04:31] [SPEAKER_08]: But he said, there's quite the battle there at the number two position.

[00:04:33] [SPEAKER_08]: As we saw today, my first glance at the depth chart, you got Xavier Williams as your number two.

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_08]: Other than necessarily means anything when we can default camp anything can change between now and kick off on August 31.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_08]: But it just speaks to the depth that he was able to create and back to my original question too,

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_08]: as well.

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_08]: What were some of those areas that you think needed to be addressed this off season?

[00:04:53] [SPEAKER_07]: Well, first of all, you need to do a dress tight in because it just was not a position under Coach Stocksville.

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_07]: I mean, yeah, the flex tight end.

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_07]: Guys like Jeremy Tape, but you didn't have the inline tight end that you'll have with the Missouri transfer

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_07]: Ryan horse camp and just they're like, they transition off into tackle Daniel Gonzalez to tighten.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_07]: So I think you needed just to have bodies there first of all.

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_07]: But then you obviously had the offensive line and the defense line just seeing what you have with the

[00:05:23] [SPEAKER_07]: with the young town and with the newcomers.

[00:05:26] [SPEAKER_07]: And those are the three positions I'm really watching this fall camp.

[00:05:30] [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah, it's dark about the defensive line.

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_08]: You lose so much town.

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_08]: I think when you look at it in retro aspect, that line was SEC level talent.

[00:05:39] [SPEAKER_08]: I mean, that's where most of those guys ended up going.

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_08]: So when you address the defensive line, how are you going to be able to create that same pressure

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_08]: that you were capable of?

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_08]: And I would still even argue that there were there were bright spots and there were low spots with

[00:05:51] [SPEAKER_08]: that defensive line we had last year.

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_08]: There was really we didn't have the consistent pressure throughout the year, but you had guys who had a great

[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_08]: rush presence.

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_08]: So that was exciting.

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_08]: But what do you think about this new defensive line, the look of it?

[00:06:03] [SPEAKER_08]: I don't want to get too much in depth.

[00:06:04] [SPEAKER_08]: Obviously we got two hours to fill here, but this new look defensive line, you got Felix

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_08]: Hicks in as a guy who's kind of exciting young talented SEC talent kind of my guy.

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_08]: What do you got for the defensive line?

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_07]: I think the defensive lines are solid unit.

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_07]: I think you would like to see someone step up and be that takeover guy.

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_07]: But overall, I think you got a lot of intriguing pieces.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER_07]: I think you got a lot of intriguing pieces there.

[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_07]: And you got a lot of different skill sets with getting his last name.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_07]: Aiden Meru, the junior college guy who's more of a three tech and then you have some

[00:06:43] [SPEAKER_07]: veterans or more traditional four or three defensive tackles that stock used to run.

[00:06:51] [SPEAKER_07]: And then you got the defensive end and the edge with coach Josh Smith and they've been doing

[00:06:57] [SPEAKER_07]: everything according to the last media availability with coach Mason.

[00:07:03] [SPEAKER_07]: So I think you got a lot of different bodies there and it's an intriguing room for sure.

[00:07:09] [SPEAKER_08]: Absolutely.

[00:07:09] [SPEAKER_08]: It's a great breakdown there, Shane.

[00:07:11] [SPEAKER_08]: We were just informed that we're going to be under fire for my field goals here in just

[00:07:16] [SPEAKER_08]: a second.

[00:07:16] [SPEAKER_08]: I think now would be a good time to take a little break.

[00:07:19] [SPEAKER_08]: Again, apologies for the early technical difficulties, but we'll keep working through

[00:07:22] [SPEAKER_08]: them.

[00:07:23] [SPEAKER_08]: Happy to have everyone join us at the Blue Rader Park.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_08]: That's here at M2 Shufall Camp and we will be right back in just a short break.

[00:07:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Area that looks out over the stadium and into the field, and we'll use that on game

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_00]: days and during the week like for occasional meals and that kind of thing for the athletes

[00:07:41] [SPEAKER_00]: and also maybe some rentable space.

[00:07:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Then the second floor will be it's all football.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Our offices will be there.

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_00]: The meeting rooms will be there.

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_00]: All the auditoriums and recruiting rooms and those kind of things all be on the second

[00:07:56] [SPEAKER_00]: floor.

[00:07:57] [SPEAKER_00]: And then on the first floor, we'll be a weight room for all the student athletes named

[00:08:01] [SPEAKER_00]: after Kevin Bire, the Kevin Bire strength and conditioning room.

[00:08:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Then a locker room for football with players lounge, barber shop, those kind of tricks in

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_00]: there.

[00:08:12] [SPEAKER_00]: And a nutrition center for all of our student athletes and a training room for all of

[00:08:16] [SPEAKER_00]: our student athletes with hydro pools and everything that you'd want in there.

[00:08:21] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's going to be a fantastic building.

[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Year from now we'll be occupying it and so it'll be open right now.

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Knock-on wood, scheduled to open by training camp in next year.

[00:08:33] [SPEAKER_00]: So can't wait to cut the ribbon on that bad boy.

[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_08]: It's crazy how big it is.

[00:08:37] [SPEAKER_08]: That's one thing that stood out to me.

[00:08:38] [SPEAKER_08]: I know they're still winning the ground but they've continued to expand upon it.

[00:08:41] [SPEAKER_08]: They've got the dins last, the big green stuff that's going up there.

[00:08:44] [SPEAKER_08]: So it is quite the eye to look at when you're coming on campus.

[00:08:49] [SPEAKER_08]: But what's the game day festival?

[00:08:52] [SPEAKER_08]: It's like when you come here because things are going to change now on this in zone.

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it is.

[00:08:56] [SPEAKER_00]: And so the visual of this during a game day is going to be fantastic.

[00:09:01] [SPEAKER_00]: When you're out on a football field looking towards it I mean it's an imposing building.

[00:09:07] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that's going to be great.

[00:09:09] [SPEAKER_00]: This year we've done a lot to really change up our game day work in the grow which

[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_00]: is our primary area for student tailgating.

[00:09:17] [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to kind of flip it around a little bit and build a big stage and working

[00:09:22] [SPEAKER_00]: with our school of media and entertainment to book a lot of acts in there.

[00:09:27] [SPEAKER_00]: And so we're going to have a concert series, Mace's Party and the Growves what we're

[00:09:31] [SPEAKER_00]: going to call it.

[00:09:32] [SPEAKER_00]: So there's a lot of things going on prior to there.

[00:09:36] [SPEAKER_00]: We want to really capture our student body.

[00:09:39] [SPEAKER_00]: And then when they come to the stadium you'll see a new sound system, a new scoreboard that's

[00:09:45] [SPEAKER_00]: going in the south and zone.

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_00]: The thing has, it's up but it hasn't been lit up yet they haven't flipped the switch.

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER_00]: So those will be the primary things that fans will notice will be a lot different on game

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_00]: day.

[00:09:56] [SPEAKER_08]: As far as coming to the stadium do they need to avoid these gates or anything or there

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_08]: still be accessible on game day?

[00:10:01] [SPEAKER_00]: No, it's accessible.

[00:10:02] [SPEAKER_00]: I think gate three which is the gate that's closest to the baseball field and the football

[00:10:09] [SPEAKER_00]: practice field is the hardest gate to access.

[00:10:13] [SPEAKER_00]: And so it'll be like it was last year.

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_00]: You can still get in there by walking down the path between baseball and the football

[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_00]: practice fields.

[00:10:23] [SPEAKER_00]: So that will work but all the other gates will be accessible and so really don't want

[00:10:29] [SPEAKER_00]: to have any second disruption for our fans.

[00:10:33] [SPEAKER_08]: And you're working on tailgating stuff I know that's going to change a little bit too,

[00:10:37] [SPEAKER_08]: but it doesn't seem like it's going to be slowing down anybody this year.

[00:10:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Now that's one of the things we've got great tailgators.

[00:10:43] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a great atmosphere.

[00:10:44] [SPEAKER_00]: We've got a great RV row so that'll be still being in fact over it at the off our

[00:10:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Greenland Lot Drive, our Greenland Drive Lot and so that'll be good.

[00:10:57] [SPEAKER_00]: That's important to us to maintain that kind of another thing that will be a little bit

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_00]: different and so we'll have a completed tennis stadium or outdoor tennis facility.

[00:11:07] [SPEAKER_00]: We cut the ribbon on it last February so this will be the first football season.

[00:11:11] [SPEAKER_00]: We'll have with that so we're excited about it and how it talks to football and those kind

[00:11:19] [SPEAKER_00]: of things and then we've got on our drawing board renovations to the Murphy Center.

[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_00]: And so how will the new tennis facility talk and communicate with our new student athlete

[00:11:31] [SPEAKER_00]: performance center and changing away that you enter the Murphy Center.

[00:11:36] [SPEAKER_00]: You know, put a grand entranceway into it and then how does that talk to the Hall of Fame?

[00:11:41] [SPEAKER_00]: So all these buildings we want to build and kind of connect them together so that they all

[00:11:47] [SPEAKER_00]: talk to each other and there all have this thing in common.

[00:11:51] [SPEAKER_00]: So when you come and you walk down that corridor, you know you're walking through something special.

[00:11:58] [SPEAKER_08]: Absolutely and it's a beautiful spectacle.

[00:11:59] [SPEAKER_08]: I'm excited about the Murphy Center renovations.

[00:12:02] [SPEAKER_08]: I know that's kind of been a long time coming for a lot of fans.

[00:12:04] [SPEAKER_08]: A lot to be excited about but let's we're here today.

[00:12:06] [SPEAKER_08]: We're talking football so let's talk a little bit of football.

[00:12:09] [SPEAKER_08]: I know Mason something that you've been excited about for good reason.

[00:12:13] [SPEAKER_08]: We've seen his face plastered all across Murphy'sboro which I think is great.

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_08]: I want to know from your perspective as a guy that's been here for a while and you're changing

[00:12:20] [SPEAKER_08]: over the hands to new football coach.

[00:12:22] [SPEAKER_08]: How does that culture change affect not only obviously the what it's going to do for the football

[00:12:25] [SPEAKER_08]: program and and sales and revenue, but what does that do for the athletic department?

[00:12:29] [SPEAKER_08]: He does a great job as far as energizing everybody.

[00:12:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah and I mean when we set out on our search we wanted to hire a change engine.

[00:12:37] [SPEAKER_00]: You know we had a good program and we're proud of it and all those accomplishments but

[00:12:43] [SPEAKER_00]: also kind of can somebody that build the energy base to help take us to another level

[00:12:49] [SPEAKER_00]: and there it's done everything.

[00:12:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Everything that you could ask for in terms of going out and meeting people and shaking hands

[00:12:57] [SPEAKER_00]: and he enjoys that and draws energy off of it.

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that's been the biggest change we've had is just that external energy that people

[00:13:06] [SPEAKER_00]: can feel from the Murphy Center.

[00:13:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I think internally that he's really put his stamp on it as well with our staff, you know,

[00:13:15] [SPEAKER_00]: and look at a fresh pair of eyes and maybe there's another way to do things and and those kind

[00:13:21] [SPEAKER_00]: of things.

[00:13:22] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think that's been really good.

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER_00]: The staff that he's brought in at the assistant coaches are all really accomplished men.

[00:13:32] [SPEAKER_00]: And so we've got a lot of confidence in the football piece and so the other thing that's happened is

[00:13:39] [SPEAKER_00]: that the and I don't want to make it sound like Jake the administration wasn't behind football

[00:13:45] [SPEAKER_00]: before because it really was it but this kind of doubling down what we've what we've

[00:13:51] [SPEAKER_00]: seen with there it can how he's been able to take nights, our deans, our chairs throughout

[00:14:01] [SPEAKER_00]: academia on campus because they've seen him and they feel like he's a part of us you know

[00:14:06] [SPEAKER_00]: and so they want to support that and so that's been a huge change for us.

[00:14:12] [SPEAKER_00]: So he's done everything right everything that you'd want in terms of going out and building

[00:14:18] [SPEAKER_00]: the external and the external piece of it which was so important to us.

[00:14:25] [SPEAKER_00]: So I'm just excited.

[00:14:26] [SPEAKER_00]: I hope all the the results translate out into the football field.

[00:14:31] [SPEAKER_00]: We've got 57 newcomers so how does that get integrated in all those kind of things against

[00:14:36] [SPEAKER_00]: a really tough September schedules but I'm excited to see what happens.

[00:14:42] [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah, could could be a rocky start but I think again it just kind of builds character

[00:14:46] [SPEAKER_08]: and to bounce off what you're talking about there with Mason and I met him last week at the

[00:14:51] [SPEAKER_08]: family fund fund that they had and what a guy I mean he's willing to pull aside talk to

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER_08]: everybody he possibly can and and you got to love that but one thing I really want to take

[00:15:00] [SPEAKER_08]: away just to carry over about his character was the first day of fall camp it was asked you

[00:15:04] [SPEAKER_08]: know what does it feel like to be back out and you got a little emotional on us and I

[00:15:07] [SPEAKER_08]: think that speaks volumes to the type of guy that he is because this clearly still

[00:15:11] [SPEAKER_08]: means something to him obviously he's not this isn't some sort of halfway that's just

[00:15:14] [SPEAKER_08]: kind of guy he is and I think that's again that's a reason to be excited as a Blu-Rater

[00:15:18] [SPEAKER_08]: as the Blu-Rater fans.

[00:15:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, not everybody's had the privilege to meet him yet and but what you do you realize

[00:15:24] [SPEAKER_00]: in the first 10 seconds that this guy is not a halfway in kind of guy.

[00:15:30] [SPEAKER_00]: He's a total commitment and and it is something for him to have this opportunity and we've

[00:15:37] [SPEAKER_00]: talked about that several times he's excited to be in a league where he fights a

[00:15:42] [SPEAKER_00]: couple fight you know and and didn't really feel like maybe he had those kind of

[00:15:47] [SPEAKER_00]: opportunities of Vanderbilt where everything is a tough fight and you're fighting

[00:15:51] [SPEAKER_00]: resources here all of our resources are pretty much the same with the exception

[00:15:56] [SPEAKER_00]: of Liberty I mean they've got a ton of resources but they're also pretty limited

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_00]: in their scope but what they can do is the school so so we feel like you know

[00:16:05] [SPEAKER_00]: what that we can go into conference USA and we can win this thing and let's

[00:16:11] [SPEAKER_00]: shoot for the championships and he's excited and that's re-energizing for him as

[00:16:18] [SPEAKER_00]: to actually be at a part of a program that can win the league championship.

[00:16:23] [SPEAKER_08]: I think the pieces are there absolutely and and the biggest thing for a lot of

[00:16:27] [SPEAKER_08]: people is just the question marks how does it all jail together like you said

[00:16:29] [SPEAKER_08]: you got you can nearly the 60 pieces of new players on roster an entirely brand new

[00:16:35] [SPEAKER_08]: staff how does all that jail together but a Chris I appreciate your time before

[00:16:39] [SPEAKER_08]: we before we hang up here I want to know you're input on this upcoming this

[00:16:43] [SPEAKER_08]: academic calendar year for all athletics not just football you're out look this

[00:16:47] [SPEAKER_08]: year there's a lot to be excited about basketball had a great off season we

[00:16:50] [SPEAKER_08]: know what women's basketball is bringing to the table baseball is kind of

[00:16:53] [SPEAKER_08]: getting that second year under the new coach and as well as softball

[00:16:55] [SPEAKER_08]: hope and have a bounce back just collectively you know what your outlook this year

[00:16:58] [SPEAKER_00]: for the athletic department. Yeah I'm excited about it I think you mentioned the two

[00:17:03] [SPEAKER_00]: programs that just kind of as you were forming the question leap to my mind was

[00:17:08] [SPEAKER_00]: was men's basketball had a phenomenal off season and just watching them practice

[00:17:13] [SPEAKER_00]: you can see the talent levels increased you know Cam Weston's about 80% back

[00:17:20] [SPEAKER_00]: he's supposed to get fully full go I think in late October maybe mid-October

[00:17:26] [SPEAKER_00]: so they'll get him back and so he's a really important part of our program

[00:17:33] [SPEAKER_00]: and so that that fact alone with but he what next been able to do is add

[00:17:40] [SPEAKER_00]: a bunch of newcomers to it so men's basketball is looking a whole lot

[00:17:45] [SPEAKER_00]: different than it did a year ago and then women's basketball just keeps

[00:17:49] [SPEAKER_00]: reloading I mean the job that Rick and Sullen his staff done I would hope

[00:17:55] [SPEAKER_00]: that we can have another deep NCA run and those kind of things man there

[00:18:02] [SPEAKER_00]: we're under fire yeah see cranking almost hit us there so we'll we'll have that

[00:18:10] [SPEAKER_00]: with women's basketball you know our track is gonna be strong again last year

[00:18:15] [SPEAKER_00]: we won both cross countries so so expect to have a repeat there and and

[00:18:21] [SPEAKER_00]: then obviously can't talk about us too much without talking about men's

[00:18:26] [SPEAKER_00]: tennis and Jimmy born day and in the job he's done so so our spring sports will

[00:18:31] [SPEAKER_00]: solve it that football we're looking to improve men's and women's

[00:18:36] [SPEAKER_08]: basketball be great absolutely a lot to be excited about a lot of those

[00:18:40] [SPEAKER_08]: main-state programs like you mentioned the men's men's tennis women's

[00:18:43] [SPEAKER_08]: basketball so again excited about that I think I might keep you around it looks like

[00:18:46] [SPEAKER_08]: we get a little extra security with you here when the bill goes are coming

[00:18:49] [SPEAKER_08]: but Chris I appreciate your time appreciate your happiness here and these guys

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER_00]: look like they can catch a little bit that was what I was worried when they first

[00:18:57] [SPEAKER_00]: lined up and they really protect us but I think they're doing a good job

[00:19:01] [SPEAKER_08]: doing good doing good so far well Chris I appreciate you coming on and enjoying

[00:19:05] [SPEAKER_00]: it as thanks thanks Jake I appreciate what you do all right welcome back to the

[00:19:14] [SPEAKER_08]: Blu-Rater podcast I am now joined by special teams coordinator Luke

[00:19:17] [SPEAKER_12]: Pascal Luke how's it going great great last mile boys how apologize but

[00:19:22] [SPEAKER_08]: it's everything's going good right now this early coach is you're already losing

[00:19:25] [SPEAKER_12]: your voice probably shouldn't but there's a lot of things need to be corrected

[00:19:29] [SPEAKER_12]: right now so give a to them well coach one thing about your position that's a

[00:19:34] [SPEAKER_08]: little bit different compared to most G5s is the fact that you how are a

[00:19:38] [SPEAKER_08]: special teams coordinator that's kind of a most most programs kind of piece

[00:19:41] [SPEAKER_08]: that position together through through help throughout the staff but that's

[00:19:45] [SPEAKER_08]: kind of something that you specialize in you renowned as one of the best in the

[00:19:49] [SPEAKER_08]: country in regards to special teams I want to know what's your approach to that

[00:19:52] [SPEAKER_12]: position you know be in detail oriented make sure everybody around not only

[00:19:58] [SPEAKER_12]: players coaches everybody has a sense of urgency to get the job done there's

[00:20:03] [SPEAKER_12]: really no secret to it and the secret is there is no secrets I mean it's

[00:20:06] [SPEAKER_12]: consistency it's like I said a high sense of urgency effort attitude toughness

[00:20:10] [SPEAKER_12]: those type of things other things it translate on the field and as long as you

[00:20:14] [SPEAKER_12]: can be consistent and how you approach it every single day both on and off

[00:20:17] [SPEAKER_12]: the field in a meeting room and a walk through everything is everything's

[00:20:22] [SPEAKER_12]: cranked up all the time and they feel that from you use the people respond

[00:20:27] [SPEAKER_08]: the right way and it's kind of that third facet of the game that can always

[00:20:31] [SPEAKER_08]: get ignored and when and lose games that way I always draw back into issues

[00:20:34] [SPEAKER_08]: history about the conference USA championship game a few years ago you lose on

[00:20:38] [SPEAKER_08]: on a penalty but you also stay in the game because of the field goal kicking

[00:20:41] [SPEAKER_08]: this is one of those games it's one of that it's a part of the game that always

[00:20:44] [SPEAKER_08]: gets forgotten but we'll surely come up and bite your butt and I'm sure that

[00:20:48] [SPEAKER_08]: something that you always preach to your your players as well as your staff that's

[00:20:51] [SPEAKER_12]: helping out there yeah I mean the bottom line is like every game's gonna start

[00:20:54] [SPEAKER_12]: with the best teams play yeah and there's so many hidden things there's so many

[00:20:58] [SPEAKER_12]: momentum plays that occur in a in a game like when it comes to special teams

[00:21:02] [SPEAKER_12]: and it's just a if it's just another phase for you as a program and you go

[00:21:07] [SPEAKER_12]: against somebody that it it means a lot to you can see real quick what it can

[00:21:12] [SPEAKER_12]: do it can demoralize you if you're getting bored over the entire game if you're

[00:21:16] [SPEAKER_12]: getting beaten situation or football on special teams blocks yeah you you have a

[00:21:24] [SPEAKER_12]: kick a block upon anyway but those are the types of things that we want to

[00:21:30] [SPEAKER_12]: make sure the guys understand that we go by saying here one plan out and they

[00:21:34] [SPEAKER_12]: don't get another opportunity you gotta make it happen right there in there

[00:21:37] [SPEAKER_12]: and making them understand that every rep counts we're not a big we're not getting

[00:21:42] [SPEAKER_12]: a bunch of quantity we don't that's that's part of the teaching of what we do

[00:21:46] [SPEAKER_12]: is it's the quality of the rep how intense is that one rep because that's what

[00:21:51] [SPEAKER_12]: you're gonna have to do in a game you don't get to do over unless there's a

[00:21:54] [SPEAKER_12]: little bit of a curve which usually doesn't occur you're not getting another

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_12]: chance to do that rep so we've got to be cranked up for that rep and one thing

[00:22:01] [SPEAKER_08]: Mason spoke about last week at the opening of fall camp was the amount of

[00:22:04] [SPEAKER_08]: battles and that's even comes to the special team side of things because you're

[00:22:07] [SPEAKER_08]: too deep as always going to take part in your special teams are you kind of

[00:22:11] [SPEAKER_08]: experiencing those kinds of things too is where you're talking about it's the

[00:22:13] [SPEAKER_08]: one rep accounts it matters or you kind of experience in those things through

[00:22:16] [SPEAKER_08]: fall camp where you gotta find guys that one or have that fine tune attention to

[00:22:20] [SPEAKER_08]: detail as well as making that rep count yeah I mean we're always

[00:22:24] [SPEAKER_12]: gonna be competing the guys that that we trust that are going to do it right when

[00:22:28] [SPEAKER_12]: we turn our backs that they're gonna do it exactly the way it's asked to be done

[00:22:32] [SPEAKER_12]: the standard that has been set and that they're gonna hold themselves

[00:22:35] [SPEAKER_12]: personal accountability to getting that rep done the way we want it in the way

[00:22:39] [SPEAKER_12]: we see fit so inside of that if we've got guys that are inconsistent

[00:22:44] [SPEAKER_12]: and getting the job done there's gonna be movement at all times and it doesn't

[00:22:49] [SPEAKER_12]: matter if you're a freshman senior this is not a factor the oldest guys don't get

[00:22:52] [SPEAKER_12]: best jobs so that's what we're gonna instill every single day and

[00:22:58] [SPEAKER_08]: hopefully the cream rises to the top contrary to most of the staff you you're a

[00:23:02] [SPEAKER_08]: familiar face here in Murphy'sboro you're well traveled you've been around a little

[00:23:06] [SPEAKER_08]: bit on on the coaching circuit but you're back here in Murphy'sboro how does it feel

[00:23:10] [SPEAKER_08]: one to be back into all right at things back to normal for you the city's change quite a bit

[00:23:14] [SPEAKER_12]: other city has changed especially over there on the where medical center is that that was

[00:23:20] [SPEAKER_12]: wasn't there when I was I think red robin and and and bone fish was the only thing there

[00:23:26] [SPEAKER_12]: when I left and I haven't been back since 2007 to the city of Murphy'sboro since I got back in

[00:23:31] [SPEAKER_12]: January but it's been it's been unbelievable a little nostalgic but it's been really good my

[00:23:35] [SPEAKER_12]: family's here everybody settled in and it's great to be back this is home like I said

[00:23:40] [SPEAKER_12]: it would have taken a lot for me to lead the University of Louisiana my family loved it down there

[00:23:47] [SPEAKER_12]: everything about that place was awesome but when when home comes calling you can't you can't

[00:23:52] [SPEAKER_12]: pass that up in Coach Mason gave me an opportunity to come back so that's how that conversation

[00:23:55] [SPEAKER_08]: went it was more of a mason reaching out to you bringing you here to Murphy'sboro and and you

[00:24:00] [SPEAKER_12]: were sold on it or how did that work I've been trying to get back for a long time you know circumstances

[00:24:06] [SPEAKER_12]: were different and I never got the opportunity but I've been trying to get back for a long time

[00:24:11] [SPEAKER_12]: this is a place that made me shape me who I am and you know foundationally so I've been trying

[00:24:17] [SPEAKER_12]: to get back for a long time but it's a funny story that I don't I have no ties to Coach Mason

[00:24:22] [SPEAKER_12]: I've never worked with him no of him but I had no ties to him whatsoever and usually that in

[00:24:27] [SPEAKER_12]: this profession that's now how it goes like yeah you gotta have some type of a connection I got as number

[00:24:36] [SPEAKER_12]: and mid December last year after our bowl game and I just cold called him and cold text him

[00:24:42] [SPEAKER_12]: so he ended up responding and I got an interview at the National Coaches Convention and

[00:24:49] [SPEAKER_12]: I guess I did a good job any off from your own spot that's an insane story but that that

[00:24:52] [SPEAKER_08]: kind of speaks to the character of this team really like you what's what's the same you're going

[00:24:57] [SPEAKER_08]: to miss 100% of the shots you don't take and that's definitely you're definitely a testament to that

[00:25:01] [SPEAKER_08]: that's an interesting shout out Michael Scott Wayne Westfield that's all right well coach

[00:25:06] [SPEAKER_08]: past school I appreciate your time I know you got you got a few other interviews to get through and

[00:25:09] [SPEAKER_08]: your busy man but I appreciate you taking the time out of fall camp to come talk to us today thank you

[00:25:13] [SPEAKER_08]: so much great thanks all right welcome back into the Blue Reader podcast as we are alive at MTSU

[00:25:29] [SPEAKER_08]: fall camp join me again is Shane Pickering filling in some time for Shane you had the opportunity

[00:25:34] [SPEAKER_08]: to take a peek at some practice there I want to get into some position breakdowns here as we're

[00:25:40] [SPEAKER_08]: getting near the halfway point of practice we saw some reps there with the ones and two

[00:25:44] [SPEAKER_07]: tell me a little bit about what you're seeing out there oh Mari Kelly's is good as advertised

[00:25:48] [SPEAKER_07]: that's the first thing I noticed no matter who they put on and whether it was inside or outside

[00:25:54] [SPEAKER_07]: first team second team hit the ball was going to him and he was getting it past that you know the

[00:25:59] [SPEAKER_07]: receivers look as good as advertised it's very deep room and Xavier Williams the Charlotte UCF

[00:26:07] [SPEAKER_07]: transfer running second team so that was not worthy my man Mark's bringing us bringing his breakfast

[00:26:15] [SPEAKER_08]: here we go appreciate it you got your wish of the breakfast bar but yeah you're talking about the

[00:26:22] [SPEAKER_08]: offense that the receiver the receiving room look good there I've no shock on a Mari Kelly in my opinion

[00:26:27] [SPEAKER_08]: I don't think I think he's very underrated just because the numbers at Auburn weren't there

[00:26:30] [SPEAKER_08]: but it's easy to get overshadowed at a school like that but I think there's reason to be

[00:26:35] [SPEAKER_08]: excited for a Mari Kelly I think he's a guy that by the end of the year we could be praising his name

[00:26:39] [SPEAKER_08]: as a first team all CUSA I wouldn't be surprised if he's on some sort of pro board by the end of

[00:26:45] [SPEAKER_08]: his career I mean he's a heck of an athlete and it shows another guy like a Marion Carter who is just

[00:26:50] [SPEAKER_08]: a freak athlete I don't know that he's necessarily has the the catch in traffic to give you the

[00:26:54] [SPEAKER_08]: NCAA football terms but he's he's another exciting guy but but the offensive line is an area that we've

[00:26:59] [SPEAKER_08]: been looking to see what we got there and we're able to see when those ones and two's rolled out

[00:27:04] [SPEAKER_07]: it was mainly quick passing so it wasn't too much with the offensive line but they're definitely

[00:27:10] [SPEAKER_07]: bigger than last year that was the first takeaway immediately when seeing seeing them in person

[00:27:18] [SPEAKER_07]: and so whether that that physicality needs to translate to the field during the season

[00:27:24] [SPEAKER_07]: but that's it's going to be a lot bigger and should be a lot more physical considering their

[00:27:30] [SPEAKER_07]: slogan this year's physical tough and intelligent so that's the main thing about the offensive

[00:27:35] [SPEAKER_08]: line I've noticed so far and not a lot of returning production there as we we preface in the

[00:27:40] [SPEAKER_08]: beginning I know we had some technical difficulty so I'm not sure how much the fans were able to catch

[00:27:44] [SPEAKER_08]: that part but there there's just the only name that comes to mind is is Mateo he's probably going to

[00:27:50] [SPEAKER_08]: return back at right guard for him but past that it's going to be a whole bunch of new faces and I know

[00:27:55] [SPEAKER_08]: from what we're seeing today versus what we saw or what I saw at the first day of fall camp we're

[00:28:01] [SPEAKER_08]: already seeing new guys worked in there I know Marcus Miller the one the transfer from U and LV

[00:28:06] [SPEAKER_08]: got a lot of reps so he's another guy that I think is going to stand out as far as guys that are

[00:28:12] [SPEAKER_08]: kind of solidifying themselves slowly on that one spot but it seems like everywhere else is kind of open

[00:28:18] [SPEAKER_08]: in the tackle positions especially I mean the battle there they're names that you kind of like to see

[00:28:23] [SPEAKER_07]: and that in that tackle spot. I'm interested with Marcus Miller speaking of him if he moves back

[00:28:29] [SPEAKER_07]: out to tackle when Ethan Ellis gets back and in the mix he's at practice today but when he starts

[00:28:37] [SPEAKER_07]: running with the ones again and but I mean Jason Boatafird started a game last year some are

[00:28:44] [SPEAKER_07]: Crawford listed as a tackle who's coming out of big time junior college and independence

[00:28:50] [SPEAKER_07]: had a big year last year so there's definitely talent there and some experience whether

[00:28:56] [SPEAKER_07]: it might not be on the field on Saturdays but there's experience there to use

[00:29:02] [SPEAKER_07]: and versatility of front that could allow for more depth I think then people give them credit for

[00:29:09] [SPEAKER_07]: but it's the starting five you just got to see it on Saturdays. In the jail I know I've

[00:29:15] [SPEAKER_08]: used that word a whole bunch today but there's so much that goes into an offensive line in their

[00:29:19] [SPEAKER_08]: ability to jail together being able to communicate without actually saying words it's all a

[00:29:23] [SPEAKER_08]: feel when it comes to the offensive linemen and so with them it's how they work together and

[00:29:28] [SPEAKER_08]: back to our common earlier I think the fact that they're all relatively new with one another

[00:29:32] [SPEAKER_08]: maybe a great way to kind of build that relationship especially through fall camp and

[00:29:36] [SPEAKER_08]: a lot of them were already here they were present during spring camp so there's there's they've

[00:29:39] [SPEAKER_08]: already built a few months of continuity together so you hope again and one thing I loved about Marcus

[00:29:45] [SPEAKER_08]: his media availability after day one of fall camp was that Iron Sharpen's Iron and that's

[00:29:51] [SPEAKER_08]: in competition Breed Excellence and that's kind of some things that I know he's a part of the

[00:29:56] [SPEAKER_08]: Derek Mason now so you're gonna see here a lot of montres a lot of models like that but I

[00:30:00] [SPEAKER_08]: think that's something that shouldn't be taken for granted when it comes to these guys because they

[00:30:03] [SPEAKER_08]: seem to understand what's at stake for him and that's a good strong group. At the top we were talking

[00:30:10] [SPEAKER_08]: a little bit too about the tide imposition it was almost absolutely you had holding Willis

[00:30:13] [SPEAKER_08]: listed as a tide in but if we're all being honest with ourselves he's more of a flex slot guy

[00:30:17] [SPEAKER_08]: he's still gonna be featured on this offense technically as a tide in but I know with Boady Reader

[00:30:23] [SPEAKER_08]: we might see some 12 we might see some some 13 or even 23 personnel so we're gonna see a lot of the

[00:30:27] [SPEAKER_08]: tide in past Holden Willis you know what are what are the names that are popping out TK was one

[00:30:32] [SPEAKER_08]: that stood out at the spring game but passed him what are some names standing out of tide in.

[00:30:36] [SPEAKER_07]: The Missouri transfers one that's interesting to me just because he started games in this he

[00:30:42] [SPEAKER_07]: and he's got that more traditional tide in vibe compared to Holden Willis or TK or Jacob Coleman

[00:30:49] [SPEAKER_07]: who was getting some reps earlier today but I think you're gonna have to find guys that can block

[00:30:56] [SPEAKER_07]: and whether that's Jacob Coleman or TK side or it because like you said Holden Willis is just a big

[00:31:01] [SPEAKER_07]: slot and whether that's freshman Brody Binky who's the biggest guy in the room already

[00:31:08] [SPEAKER_07]: you could see him maybe getting some 12 personnel looks where they run two tiden's and they've said

[00:31:14] [SPEAKER_07]: they're gonna run multiple tight ends with this offense aligned so that's gonna be the thing to

[00:31:19] [SPEAKER_07]: watch is who can block and I think that's who gets out there the most. And that is true like when

[00:31:24] [SPEAKER_08]: you're talking about what the offense that Boady Reader wants to run you know they're obviously going to

[00:31:29] [SPEAKER_08]: put Willis out there at the at the flex or the slot but having a guy that can be a two way player for

[00:31:35] [SPEAKER_08]: and when we're talking about conference USA is a whole to kind of tease and tell everyone about

[00:31:41] [SPEAKER_08]: what I've got going on outside of the Blue Reader podcast with the conference USA Roundtable we're

[00:31:44] [SPEAKER_08]: doing our all conference scene voting and right now head over heels that the tight end vote

[00:31:48] [SPEAKER_08]: is Sean Brown at Jacksonville State and I know if you're a G5 god that name man had even pop

[00:31:53] [SPEAKER_08]: out to you because I don't think the guy even had over 200 yards of receiving last year but the reason

[00:31:57] [SPEAKER_08]: that he stands out in the reason that he is out on some pro boards is because of his ability

[00:32:02] [SPEAKER_08]: to be a two way player and that's vital when you're trying to implement the run game having

[00:32:06] [SPEAKER_08]: that extra blocker as well as having a threat because Sean Brown is a guy that is a threat both ways

[00:32:10] [SPEAKER_08]: Jacksonville State has a good run game. The past game is to be determined as we'll see this year

[00:32:16] [SPEAKER_08]: still a little bit of a quarterback question for him but having a two way tie-in is going to be

[00:32:21] [SPEAKER_08]: paramount to the success of the run game and I think horse camp is like you said fits that piece

[00:32:25] [SPEAKER_08]: think he's a little young maybe probably going to red shirt as deep as that as that tight end room is

[00:32:30] [SPEAKER_08]: but who's to say like I said if he shows up on camp and he's doing a two way job I'm sure Mason

[00:32:35] [SPEAKER_08]: is not going to be scared to throw him in and the way the incidentally works now you get four games

[00:32:39] [SPEAKER_08]: and then you got the red shirt so you might even see the Tennessee tech game I wouldn't be

[00:32:43] [SPEAKER_08]: shocked if maybe they throw him in you looking at Western Kentucky after the Ole Miss game

[00:32:48] [SPEAKER_08]: God you hope you make it out healthy out of the Ole Miss but but anyways back to the breakdown

[00:32:52] [SPEAKER_08]: of the offense we talked about why receivers tied in quarterbacks offensive line the only thing left is

[00:32:57] [SPEAKER_08]: the running back room and that's something that Mason had after first aid media availability said

[00:33:02] [SPEAKER_08]: that that is the deepest room he's ever seen and all of his years of coaching that's a Vanderbilt

[00:33:06] [SPEAKER_08]: Auburn Oklahoma city city's never seen a deeper running back room and it comes at the top you've

[00:33:11] [SPEAKER_08]: got two of the more experienced guys in flipcreddle and frank pizent you've got to be excited about

[00:33:15] [SPEAKER_08]: those guys and as well as a depth piece behind him I love Jay Skardner in the spring game

[00:33:19] [SPEAKER_08]: who knows who's going to throw out there as the RB3 this year but the running back room is is deep

[00:33:25] [SPEAKER_07]: yeah for sure I don't know what it looked like a Vanderbilt but this room this rushing

[00:33:31] [SPEAKER_07]: attack should definitely be one of the top in the conference and I mean you'll get the thunder

[00:33:36] [SPEAKER_07]: and lightning combo of frank pizent and flipcreddle that's gonna be up there and then even with

[00:33:43] [SPEAKER_07]: a bigger back like Jay Skardner or a dynamic returner that they brought in from UConn with Brian

[00:33:49] [SPEAKER_07]: that room is deep and it gives you so many different looks and they could honestly run out

[00:33:56] [SPEAKER_07]: some two running back packages this year and even with a brooing you could put them in the slot

[00:34:01] [SPEAKER_07]: so finding ways to get those guys on the field and it's just gonna add to an already loaded

[00:34:08] [SPEAKER_07]: offense if the offensive line can create holes for those running backs this offense is going to be scary

[00:34:13] [SPEAKER_08]: for other conference USA defenses yeah I'm glad you bring that brooing he's kind of a forgotten guy

[00:34:18] [SPEAKER_08]: in this in this running back room as a whole when you talk about brooing his ability to be a

[00:34:23] [SPEAKER_08]: dynamic player when talk about Phil Stills preseason he has brooing as I believe the fourth team

[00:34:29] [SPEAKER_08]: all see USA on the kick returning side so that's kind of exciting stuff in regards to that because

[00:34:33] [SPEAKER_08]: the empty empty issue hasn't really had that guy in years when it comes to the kick return game

[00:34:37] [SPEAKER_08]: and the only guy that comes to to mind ritchie James that's the only real kick returning

[00:34:44] [SPEAKER_08]: threat we've ever had in years past so maybe he adds that duality of being a special team's

[00:34:48] [SPEAKER_08]: guy along with being a good running back but the running back room is deep those guys I expect

[00:34:54] [SPEAKER_08]: a lot of reps between between frank and frank peace and and flipcreddle for those that may

[00:34:59] [SPEAKER_08]: they lay a very similar body types but with frank he's gonna be your third downback short yard is

[00:35:04] [SPEAKER_08]: kind of guy and then flip is he's gonna be kind of your longer range he does have that dynamic ability

[00:35:10] [SPEAKER_08]: catch out of the backfield but I maybe you would agree with me I don't consider that they're

[00:35:15] [SPEAKER_07]: main say they're both downhill runners yeah I agree I think peace and more between the tackles

[00:35:21] [SPEAKER_07]: and credit is more on the outside run but yeah they both want to get downhill one cut and make

[00:35:27] [SPEAKER_08]: something happen absolutely well that's a that's your offensive position breakdown there

[00:35:31] [SPEAKER_08]: I wish I had a starting line at four you we've got we've got a depth chart here as if for my eyes

[00:35:36] [SPEAKER_08]: it's changed from the first time I envisioned it I know that we've talked about it all fair

[00:35:39] [SPEAKER_08]: before about what what the depth chart would look like so for those that are listening to

[00:35:44] [SPEAKER_08]: hope we can break the news for you I don't have it for you today I don't think and I don't

[00:35:47] [SPEAKER_08]: think a mason will have it for us either today and that sometimes is a good thing so

[00:35:51] [SPEAKER_08]: we will take another short little break and we will be back with you again shortly welcome back to

[00:36:05] [SPEAKER_08]: the blu-rayter podcast as we are live at fall camp a lot of the action they found they ran away

[00:36:10] [SPEAKER_08]: from us we had wide receivers around us we had the quarterback throwing the deep balls right

[00:36:14] [SPEAKER_08]: in front of us but actions moved away and I think now's a good opportunity again to continue our

[00:36:18] [SPEAKER_08]: position breakdown as we move through fall camp today defense is an area that saw the transfer portal

[00:36:26] [SPEAKER_08]: absolutely demolish a lot of the healthy pieces that we have joining me here is Shane Pickering

[00:36:32] [SPEAKER_08]: partner with me over at gominol.com Shane tell me about what the additions that mason made on

[00:36:37] [SPEAKER_08]: that defensive side that could give us a glimmer of hope that we may see some glory there again

[00:36:41] [SPEAKER_07]: I mean I'm looking at this depth chart and it's littered with new talent whether it's from junior

[00:36:46] [SPEAKER_07]: college that have a dual Muhammad a junior college corner that came in on the starting lineup

[00:36:52] [SPEAKER_07]: they have John House that transfer from Vanderbilt safety starting and then you have guys just

[00:36:58] [SPEAKER_07]: in the front seven and so I think it definitely adds more depth and more talent to the roster and

[00:37:04] [SPEAKER_07]: I think the defense really is the strength of the team. I know we talked about the receivers and

[00:37:08] [SPEAKER_07]: starting back creating and creating an explosive offense but if the front seven can stay healthy this

[00:37:13] [SPEAKER_08]: defense will be one on the top in the conference for sure. Yeah and it all starts up front the

[00:37:19] [SPEAKER_08]: defensive line really is what got absolutely demolished talking about that SEC talent again I don't

[00:37:23] [SPEAKER_08]: know what what everyone heard as far as the sound goes but the the defensive line was shredded and

[00:37:29] [SPEAKER_08]: and it's a great great a line in regards to the conference USA level you would love to have seen

[00:37:35] [SPEAKER_08]: what you could have done with another year of eligibility with all those guys but life moves on and

[00:37:40] [SPEAKER_08]: Mason doesn't seem to be too upset about what he's got returning there I know one guy that I

[00:37:43] [SPEAKER_08]: highlighted was Felix Hicks in there at the defensive tackle position I don't know if he's going

[00:37:46] [SPEAKER_08]: to play nose, former not he's definitely a big body but one thing that I think stands out is the size

[00:37:53] [SPEAKER_08]: may not necessarily be there like we see on the on the offensive line but I do think the physicality

[00:37:58] [SPEAKER_08]: is there as you mentioned something that we needed to replace and these guys kind of provide that

[00:38:03] [SPEAKER_08]: the room's not very deep but the the pieces are there and what we keep talking about it's all about

[00:38:08] [SPEAKER_08]: how they work together and and what they're going to be able to do with new defensive coordinator Brian

[00:38:12] [SPEAKER_07]: Stewart yeah and the Ed Dressers are going to be completely different than what Coach Stock still in

[00:38:17] [SPEAKER_07]: the last staff had was more traditional foreman front bigger hands like Zaylon Wood, Q done and

[00:38:24] [SPEAKER_07]: Ken and Richard Kinley and this you're going to have that more stand up edge that guys like even

[00:38:31] [SPEAKER_07]: Brandon Buckner who's a bigger defensive end has been working on standing up, dropping back in

[00:38:36] [SPEAKER_07]: coverage at 250 pounds but you bring in Andy Woco you bring in to freshmen that are explosive

[00:38:43] [SPEAKER_07]: past pressures you have James Stewart who had three sacks in the spring game so yeah that's definitely

[00:38:48] [SPEAKER_07]: going to be interesting to compliment while the guys inside might not be as big can they generate

[00:38:54] [SPEAKER_07]: holes and open up past rushing lanes for the new look Ed Dressers.

[00:39:00] [SPEAKER_08]: Nuoco was a guy that surprised a lot of us when preseason stuff came out he weirdly wasn't

[00:39:04] [SPEAKER_08]: on either one of our radar's regards to starting he's the transfer from Stony Brook and new obviously

[00:39:08] [SPEAKER_08]: going to be a new name for blue radar fans but evidently he's a guy that we need to be paying

[00:39:13] [SPEAKER_08]: attention to him and James Stewart like you said James Stewart had an excellent spring game

[00:39:17] [SPEAKER_08]: but Nuoco wasn't there for that so it's interesting what he's going to be able to provide as far

[00:39:22] [SPEAKER_08]: as the duality of the of the Ed Dressers I think there's a lot of promise there but to to piggyback

[00:39:28] [SPEAKER_08]: off what you're saying there about opening those those rushing lanes the lineback or position

[00:39:33] [SPEAKER_08]: it's probably the most experienced group we have besides quarterback which is on solo position

[00:39:38] [SPEAKER_08]: but all across the board all four spots there they're they're pretty deep when it comes to

[00:39:43] [SPEAKER_08]: the experience there but you got Parker Hughes is going to be a unanimous CUSA first team or

[00:39:48] [SPEAKER_08]: my opinion I think Devon Curtis is another guy who's in that in that conversation I don't know how

[00:39:52] [SPEAKER_08]: Brian Stewart plans to utilize his outside linebackers in regards to the past rush but I would

[00:39:58] [SPEAKER_08]: imagine he's going to be utilizing those so I say that because those numbers are going to be there for Devon Curtis

[00:40:02] [SPEAKER_08]: that was going to put him in that discussion for all CUSA first team so you got those two guys

[00:40:08] [SPEAKER_08]: you got a lot you got a lot of more depth there but those those just really Parker Hughes and Devon Curtis

[00:40:11] [SPEAKER_08]: are guys I'm really excited about the leadership that they're going to bring this team as well as the

[00:40:15] [SPEAKER_07]: experience yeah and you have Drew Francis too as a third linebacker who I think can play either linebacker

[00:40:20] [SPEAKER_07]: spot you saw him come in against Missouri and was a force and they're they're very veteran led with

[00:40:27] [SPEAKER_07]: Curtis is a senior Drew Francis is a senior Jalen Davis is a senior so can they create some

[00:40:34] [SPEAKER_07]: younger depth that's kind of what I'm going to be looking for in fall camp can they create younger

[00:40:39] [SPEAKER_07]: depth to for next year or do they have to get two more transfers to start next year or I guess Parker

[00:40:46] [SPEAKER_07]: can come back so another backup linebacker and so that's kind of what I'm looking for but in

[00:40:52] [SPEAKER_07]: terms of the veterans the linebacker course very very good to lean on your specialty here

[00:40:58] [SPEAKER_08]: is that kind of an area because we talk about the top end talent at linebacker it's that an

[00:41:02] [SPEAKER_08]: area that they've been addressing pretty well in your opinion in regards to recruiting high school

[00:41:06] [SPEAKER_07]: or JuCo or otherwise well um at the latter part of the office he's in the added junior college

[00:41:12] [SPEAKER_07]: linebacker no one forcia who he's he's got some size he could probably play a little bit right away

[00:41:18] [SPEAKER_07]: they only brought in one high school linebacker in a Marion Bailey and he has a lot of upside

[00:41:25] [SPEAKER_07]: they only have one linebacker commit so you in 25 so you would like to see them add maybe another guy

[00:41:31] [SPEAKER_07]: but AJ Rizig the linebacker coach is one of the more relentless recruiters on the staff

[00:41:37] [SPEAKER_07]: and if he can carry that over to coaching like he has in his career I think he'll be able to

[00:41:43] [SPEAKER_07]: develop the position but you would like to see them add maybe a couple more commits yeah shout out

[00:41:48] [SPEAKER_08]: to coach Rizig we talked off air before we came back on about my time at Eagleville and he actually

[00:41:52] [SPEAKER_08]: made the trip out to my little school out there in southwest weather for county so but at very

[00:41:57] [SPEAKER_08]: active recruiter in that linebacker group what's to come in the future and you hope you can bring

[00:42:02] [SPEAKER_08]: back use for another year I think he feels good about those countries about where he is he didn't

[00:42:06] [SPEAKER_08]: leave like the rest I think a lot of us thought him and Devon Curtis both wood but works out

[00:42:10] [SPEAKER_08]: to have him back but talk about the transfer portal I think one area that the transfer portal

[00:42:15] [SPEAKER_08]: helped on the defensive side is the second year we're going to bring in Brendan Harris a guy that

[00:42:19] [SPEAKER_08]: has lots of division one experience at his time at Wake Forest I always get him confused you

[00:42:24] [SPEAKER_08]: got Brendan Harris he's from Wake Forest and you've got the kid from Purdue I'm blanking

[00:42:29] [SPEAKER_08]: on his name Ricky Smith so he's the corner bat or he's actually the strong safety from Purdue

[00:42:33] [SPEAKER_08]: or from Purdue right so you got those two guys who have division one experience and then you are

[00:42:38] [SPEAKER_08]: returning a lot of experience homegrown here with deory McDonald the Oakland product and then you

[00:42:44] [SPEAKER_08]: got Tyrell Rabi who is a Memphis transfer from a couple years ago but he saw some some playing

[00:42:48] [SPEAKER_08]: time last year they look like a lot of experience again it's a matter of deory making that

[00:42:55] [SPEAKER_08]: transfer from outside linebacker kind of a flex nickel back now playing a true corner as we've seen

[00:42:59] [SPEAKER_08]: today he's not listed on the depth chart to go looking for him but he's out here getting

[00:43:03] [SPEAKER_08]: up to the one I think he's a special talent again Oakland product for those here in Murphy's

[00:43:07] [SPEAKER_08]: Burrow and then to piggyback again back on on our safety's with with Ricky Smith who I'm not

[00:43:13] [SPEAKER_08]: sure we're Ricky Falls on the depth chart but you know Brendan Harris is going to be your number one

[00:43:16] [SPEAKER_07]: yeah and they added John House the fourth I think from Vanderbilt and he was that third safety

[00:43:22] [SPEAKER_07]: in the rotation at Vanderbilt so he was legit playing in the SEC and he's on the starting line

[00:43:28] [SPEAKER_07]: for the depth chart this season at least from the depth chart we have right now and he made a

[00:43:34] [SPEAKER_07]: lot of plays of Vanderbilt so that could be a guy to watch but yeah the safety's are really deep

[00:43:38] [SPEAKER_07]: the cornerbacks you have a lot of experience but past two or three guys you don't have a lot of

[00:43:44] [SPEAKER_07]: Saturday experience so that could be something to look for but they're long and athletic and you

[00:43:50] [SPEAKER_07]: have that shut down guy in Tyrell Rabi on one side which makes it easier for the other side yeah the

[00:43:55] [SPEAKER_08]: cornerback position's always been an area in my opinion that's been relatively weak I never really

[00:44:00] [SPEAKER_08]: loved our past game and that might have been a product of the past rushed but in my opinion we've

[00:44:05] [SPEAKER_08]: always had a relatively good front seven so I've always never I've never given much of a pass to

[00:44:10] [SPEAKER_08]: the second area but it's going to be for the most part a new look like I said the already kind of

[00:44:14] [SPEAKER_08]: making a full-time shift to the second area so we'll see what he has another guy that I like a lot

[00:44:19] [SPEAKER_08]: as James Mons he's a young guy transfer in from Indiana didn't have much of playing experience there

[00:44:23] [SPEAKER_08]: but he's he's listed I believe at the nickel back or at least most places he's listed at the nickel back so

[00:44:28] [SPEAKER_08]: we'll see what where where he fits into the defense this year I'm sure he'll get reps at

[00:44:32] [SPEAKER_08]: cornerback at some point in time but again just adding to the depth as well as the P4 level

[00:44:38] [SPEAKER_07]: talent that we were able to garner outside definitely feels weird still here P4 instead of P5

[00:44:45] [SPEAKER_07]: but now James Mons has a ton of upside and the nickel and it's him and Trevon Ferrell who didn't

[00:44:51] [SPEAKER_07]: play much last year so I think that's still an open competition I would have thought DR and McDonald

[00:44:57] [SPEAKER_07]: would have been there personally but they kind of like you said transition to outside corner

[00:45:03] [SPEAKER_07]: so James Mons kind of has that open spot to if he can work himself into that role and he's got a

[00:45:10] [SPEAKER_07]: lot of eligibility left he was just wretched freshman last year I think so there's a lot to work with

[00:45:15] [SPEAKER_07]: there and he's already very talented so that could be a player that as the season progresses that fans

[00:45:21] [SPEAKER_08]: really get excited about in my opinion and as we eventually have an opportunity to talk with with

[00:45:25] [SPEAKER_08]: defense according to Brian Stewart about what his plans are with the secondary but one thing that is

[00:45:30] [SPEAKER_08]: for sure is that a lot of those guys are there are movable I don't think that and I keep falling back

[00:45:36] [SPEAKER_08]: on this and if you're listening to the whole time I'm sorry for the amount of times I've had to repeat

[00:45:38] [SPEAKER_08]: this but there's so many battles and that doesn't and I don't think that anything anything

[00:45:42] [SPEAKER_08]: is a main stay at the moment so I think that you're you're looking at that fall camp potentially

[00:45:47] [SPEAKER_08]: in that first match up with Tennessee Tech you might even roll through some bodies there at Ole Miss

[00:45:51] [SPEAKER_08]: just to see what you got when you're going to put against that level of talent because that's

[00:45:54] [SPEAKER_08]: important because you're going against some pretty some past heavy teams in the conference liberty

[00:45:59] [SPEAKER_08]: when you look at what they what they offered last year they had a lot to offer in the run game

[00:46:04] [SPEAKER_08]: they didn't have to pass a lot but you got the best quarterback and conference USA in Kaden Saltre

[00:46:09] [SPEAKER_08]: who has has the weapons all the liberties gonna have to replace a few of those pieces

[00:46:12] [SPEAKER_08]: at the outside wide receiver positions but it's vital to the success in my opinion of this season

[00:46:19] [SPEAKER_08]: that the secondary play is good and I want to ask you that question in regards to defense maybe

[00:46:25] [SPEAKER_08]: then I sell the secondary but when it talk about defense when we want this season to go

[00:46:30] [SPEAKER_08]: successful for the blue raiders what has to happen for this team to be good on defense and be

[00:46:35] [SPEAKER_07]: successful when it comes to conference USA play yeah I think a lot last year the front seven

[00:46:40] [SPEAKER_07]: masked a lot of weaker links in the secondary and then you had some guys get hurt early in the year

[00:46:47] [SPEAKER_07]: two that front seven's not here anymore at least on the defensive line so that whole unit as a whole

[00:46:53] [SPEAKER_07]: is going to have to step up and play as a collective unit and you got to stay healthy up front

[00:46:58] [SPEAKER_07]: you have the depth and even at cornback you have the depth of safety even linebacker in that edge

[00:47:03] [SPEAKER_07]: position but at the defensive tackle and the corner backs spot you have to stay healthy there

[00:47:08] [SPEAKER_07]: until you find some reliable depth that you can trust at throw out there with everyone healthy

[00:47:13] [SPEAKER_07]: now everyone's not going to stay healthy but you have to have guys out there that you trust

[00:47:19] [SPEAKER_07]: and that have played some division one football and there's not as many spots like corner

[00:47:24] [SPEAKER_07]: back or even to tackle so those guys have to stay healthy and they just have to play as a collective unit

[00:47:30] [SPEAKER_07]: to they don't have those take over guys that you saw like you had with a Marley cook or as

[00:47:37] [SPEAKER_07]: Zaylon wood so they're just going to have to play as one big unit at least we hope you know the

[00:47:43] [SPEAKER_08]: question marks we haven't seen these guys in live action to wokeo's a guy that evidently like

[00:47:47] [SPEAKER_08]: getting high praise amongst coaches throughout the conference says a guy that could be a threat

[00:47:51] [SPEAKER_08]: I ought to be fair I didn't see a lot of film from him at Sony Brook the numbers look good

[00:47:54] [SPEAKER_08]: but you're facing FCS competition relative to what you're going to be facing here in conference USA

[00:47:59] [SPEAKER_08]: he's a guy I'm keeping an eye on as well as James Stewart I expect big number for him on the

[00:48:03] [SPEAKER_08]: past rush but I couldn't agree more I think the past rush is an area that we've got to see

[00:48:07] [SPEAKER_08]: we have to see is good in order for this for this defense to perform really well

[00:48:11] [SPEAKER_08]: but we'll we'll transition now we're eventually going to be talking about conference USA and the

[00:48:15] [SPEAKER_08]: outlook here and we're going to have a guest here to speak with us on that and we will be back shortly

[00:48:27] [SPEAKER_08]: welcome back into the blu-rader podcast I am now joined we had a little slight change in schedule here

[00:48:31] [SPEAKER_08]: but I've got offensive coordinator coach Baudi Reader coach Reader how you doing doing well

[00:48:37] [SPEAKER_11]: right in the old practice so this is neat that's kind of I'm watching my guys do

[00:48:41] [SPEAKER_11]: into you right now and seeing how they're doing and getting a chance to visit with you

[00:48:44] [SPEAKER_08]: well your voice is a lot better than coach Pascal so hopefully if you need it if you need to

[00:48:47] [SPEAKER_08]: make any end game or in practice adjustment you're more than welcome to do so but coach Reader

[00:48:52] [SPEAKER_08]: a lot to go over and just a short amount of time but one thing the breakdown on you that

[00:48:56] [SPEAKER_08]: I think is so interesting is we talk about Brian Stewart his experience and Mason his experience

[00:49:00] [SPEAKER_08]: you're kind of still relatively in the game of coaching a new face but you've worked with a lot

[00:49:05] [SPEAKER_08]: of really good quarterbacks and I was fortunate to kind of look through some of the names and

[00:49:09] [SPEAKER_08]: and blu-rader fans if your football fan you'll know some of like Mason Rudolph

[00:49:12] [SPEAKER_08]: you'll talk about Mason fine a guy who was great excellent at North Texas again that might

[00:49:16] [SPEAKER_08]: got overshadowed because of his G5 experience but talk to me about what brought you to into

[00:49:21] [SPEAKER_08]: issue and working with some of those guys and how you're taking that experience here at MTSU

[00:49:24] [SPEAKER_11]: yeah my background's a little bit different you know coach Stewart and coach Mason

[00:49:30] [SPEAKER_11]: obviously with experience in NFL and I'm completely different you know I started off as division

[00:49:34] [SPEAKER_11]: three coach and I kind of worked my way in different path to get to this spot but the players have

[00:49:41] [SPEAKER_11]: made the big difference and it doesn't matter if I was coach in division three game or I was also

[00:49:45] [SPEAKER_11]: lucky enough coach in the sugar bowl but it applies to the same because it's a palestupational

[00:49:48] [SPEAKER_11]: game isn't I think the quarterback position is special and the bond that you can have with those

[00:49:53] [SPEAKER_11]: guys and you know it's kind of we have to live in the same circles the play call in the quarterback

[00:49:59] [SPEAKER_11]: because everybody thinks they can call plays in everybody think they can play quarterback right so

[00:50:02] [SPEAKER_11]: we got to be ready to distribute the credit and absorb all the blame and that's what has made

[00:50:09] [SPEAKER_11]: my quarterback special to been low ego high leadership you know qualities so been really really lucky

[00:50:15] [SPEAKER_08]: to be around some good wounds and and you're pretty fortunate too about Nick I think one that we all

[00:50:20] [SPEAKER_08]: didn't think would stick around but he is and I think that's a lot to be excited about from an

[00:50:24] [SPEAKER_08]: offensive coordinator perspective what are you learning about Nick and his game and what he

[00:50:27] [SPEAKER_11]: brings to the table for the offensive year well the Nick is the one thing I'll say about him

[00:50:32] [SPEAKER_11]: is he's cool the cucumber you can't ride on him is the same whether he you know how to bad player

[00:50:36] [SPEAKER_11]: how to good play is the same in the meeting room is his on the field and that is probably due

[00:50:40] [SPEAKER_11]: to his experience and what he's he's been through but his demeanor and what he does is is

[00:50:47] [SPEAKER_11]: on the field is pretty special now I'm just looking for him to take the next steps in regards to

[00:50:54] [SPEAKER_11]: all right you've mastered your position right it matches the wrong way to say but you've learned

[00:50:59] [SPEAKER_11]: your position within the offense right and now coach the other 10 guys get them in the right

[00:51:03] [SPEAKER_11]: spot that you need to be and so it's kind of that on the field coach you know during the play and he's

[00:51:08] [SPEAKER_08]: getting better one thing that's different this year is the new in in game head set that the

[00:51:13] [SPEAKER_08]: quarterback can wear how are you adjusting to that how is Nick adjusting to that and

[00:51:17] [SPEAKER_08]: what kind of challenges if any does that bring for you guys I love it I don't know much you how

[00:51:21] [SPEAKER_11]: much he likes it you know because I'm obviously talking to him but my how we've kind of approached

[00:51:28] [SPEAKER_11]: it in our room is we're gonna operate as normal okay so we're still gonna signal we're still gonna

[00:51:33] [SPEAKER_11]: do those things but what I am to him is I'm there to remind him of tips and reminders throughout

[00:51:40] [SPEAKER_11]: the course of the phone you know to play and what we're looking for and and how we want to

[00:51:47] [SPEAKER_11]: so we're gonna operate as normal but it is a change so but I think our guys been pretty good

[00:51:52] [SPEAKER_08]: one thing that's kind of gone throughout fall camp as you talk about all these new guys

[00:51:55] [SPEAKER_08]: Mason's made it kind of appointed of how the culture has changed with six new guys your part of

[00:52:00] [SPEAKER_08]: that new change as well are you finding it easy to kind of implement the culture that you're

[00:52:04] [SPEAKER_08]: creating within the offense with with that many new players yeah I think we had a really good

[00:52:08] [SPEAKER_11]: summer and those new guys that you know they were either here in the spring or or arrived in June

[00:52:13] [SPEAKER_11]: and they had a good couple months of training and learning the offense so this fall camp it

[00:52:20] [SPEAKER_11]: hasn't felt necessary like 16 new guys because I feel like they they took care of the

[00:52:25] [SPEAKER_11]: business in the summertime and and they got them in a position that fall camp could be productive

[00:52:29] [SPEAKER_08]: from practice one let's talk a little bit about the wider receivers of Mori Kelly's a guy that

[00:52:33] [SPEAKER_08]: I had pinpointed from day one he's gonna be special I want to hear your take on on Kelly and what

[00:52:38] [SPEAKER_11]: he brings to this offense yeah so a Mari has got to be consistent on all three downs so

[00:52:43] [SPEAKER_11]: he has to and what I mean by that is he can't just be a guy that's gonna show up on third down

[00:52:49] [SPEAKER_11]: you'll make a catch right you get a first which is very important right but we're gonna ask

[00:52:52] [SPEAKER_11]: one first down to be involved in the run game run we're gonna be involved in asking being involved

[00:52:56] [SPEAKER_11]: in the RPO game he has to be that lunch pin in that cog and the offense that can kind of do

[00:53:02] [SPEAKER_11]: and be involved in all all facets of the game because he's so smart I think that's our period bell

[00:53:07] [SPEAKER_08]: there coach I know you got to get back to it I appreciate you taking the time to join us today

[00:53:11] [SPEAKER_08]: all right thank you all right welcome back into the bluator podcast as we are live from him to issue

[00:53:26] [SPEAKER_08]: fall camp we are working midway through our second hour here and I am pleasantly joined by friend of

[00:53:34] [SPEAKER_08]: the show I think you're probably the longest tinder guest I've had on the show but no stranger

[00:53:39] [SPEAKER_08]: to be our PFA-thful I got Sam Dalton with a Sam how's it going man excited to be here Jake

[00:53:44] [SPEAKER_06]: excited to welcome me all in the rest of our our media group out here for our second annual media

[00:53:49] [SPEAKER_06]: really successful last year and but that y'all started up and it gets me a part of this year

[00:53:53] [SPEAKER_06]: I think it's a really great opportunity you got to change talk to coach reader and coach past

[00:53:58] [SPEAKER_06]: call ready this morning and we got to see a little bit of the team as well so you can see what I

[00:54:02] [SPEAKER_08]: could see every day so really exciting yeah just a little tidbit into Sam's world as far as being

[00:54:07] [SPEAKER_08]: at practice it's an early morning and I know in your in your CUSA insider you talked about how

[00:54:12] [SPEAKER_08]: you're kind of happy about that it seems to I mean I know it's early but in reference to the heat

[00:54:17] [SPEAKER_08]: as you get down here in the south east you got to feel a lot better about it but tell me a little

[00:54:22] [SPEAKER_08]: bit about the changes you're kind of experiencing this year as you move to new football coach

[00:54:26] [SPEAKER_06]: well the biggest benefit for me is I don't have to be out here stretch and at 630 like the players

[00:54:30] [SPEAKER_06]: do I can sort of show up at 7 or 7 30 and get most of what I need you know in a given day or even

[00:54:36] [SPEAKER_06]: show up at 8 35 got something going on in the morning and so get the C-sort of the practice reps the

[00:54:40] [SPEAKER_06]: scrimmage reps sort of at the end of the day but you know it's really different you know that

[00:54:45] [SPEAKER_06]: which makes I think structures is practice a little differently sort of go and period to period

[00:54:49] [SPEAKER_06]: one thing we were talking about before we got on air was sort of the longer stretching period

[00:54:52] [SPEAKER_06]: how they do a little bit more active movement stretches some more high knees stuff you know as

[00:54:56] [SPEAKER_06]: a team which I think's been positive it's clearly you know kept guys active and you know kept most

[00:55:01] [SPEAKER_06]: of them not on wood you know out of sort of the recovery area over on the side with coach blotnix

[00:55:05] [SPEAKER_06]: so far so some good things going on I've seen a long way to go in camp a lot of position battle

[00:55:10] [SPEAKER_06]: still to sort out you know I see all the depth chart here smart thing to look to that page right

[00:55:14] [SPEAKER_06]: when you get the media guy but I suspect that will change quite a bit you know as we get closer to camp

[00:55:20] [SPEAKER_06]: some guys get healthy close for the you know kick-off consistency tech I should say

[00:55:24] [SPEAKER_06]: so I'm just trying to figure out how things are working you know what the offense is going to look like

[00:55:28] [SPEAKER_06]: what the defense is going to look like got a little bit better idea now than I had at the start of

[00:55:33] [SPEAKER_06]: camp it had at CSA kick-off couple weeks given for a scale and that's really all you can ask for at this point

[00:55:38] [SPEAKER_08]: only things I've been able to piece together and as helpful as a depth chart is as we've learned

[00:55:42] [SPEAKER_08]: it's it's tentative every day it seems to be tentative but the only things are

[00:55:46] [SPEAKER_08]: are certain in this world is death taxes and Nick body auto's going to be QB1 you got a Marri

[00:55:51] [SPEAKER_08]: Kelly as the wider receiver one you feel good about your your running backs the offensive line

[00:55:55] [SPEAKER_08]: has been an area that's been a question mark and I know I've discussed it at Nazium here on the live

[00:56:00] [SPEAKER_08]: stream today um for me I look at it at a look at the roster I know the experience the snaps aren't there

[00:56:07] [SPEAKER_08]: but from a physicality and physical presence that they got better and one thing that I would do

[00:56:12] [SPEAKER_08]: to point out is Mateo he's one of the few returning guys that that restarted all of last season

[00:56:18] [SPEAKER_08]: he was kind of already in a battle and when you piece by transit a property there if he was a

[00:56:23] [SPEAKER_08]: starter he was an all freshman selection last year and now he's battling for a spot by transit a

[00:56:28] [SPEAKER_08]: property he's the line got better at least that's how I look at it well you know the one thing

[00:56:32] [SPEAKER_06]: I've certainly seen the offensive line is that in the years past you didn't have to look at the numbers

[00:56:36] [SPEAKER_06]: to know when the first team offensive line was in impact as you could sort of just tell from a distance

[00:56:40] [SPEAKER_06]: either by execution or particularly by size the the first team was in for this wrap and you

[00:56:45] [SPEAKER_06]: didn't have to check see if Nick was in at quarterback or what have you you could just sort of know

[00:56:49] [SPEAKER_06]: and that's not really true this year you know the difference between the first and second team is a

[00:56:54] [SPEAKER_06]: lot smaller than it's ever been and that's good because I mean there's competition you know all over

[00:56:58] [SPEAKER_06]: the place you think Julius Pierce probably's got a little inside edge center just because the

[00:57:02] [SPEAKER_06]: stability he provides there that the experience he has not only at middle to the sea but at FIU

[00:57:07] [SPEAKER_06]: but outside of that I mean I could see a whole lot a lot of guys getting some major minutes early on in the

[00:57:12] [SPEAKER_06]: year major snaps and you know that's exciting I think you know if you talked to Coach Mason he probably

[00:57:17] [SPEAKER_06]: would like the execution to be a little better than it is earlier in camp but when you're trying to

[00:57:22] [SPEAKER_06]: gel that many guys together that are coming from middle for a mother division one colleges from jukos

[00:57:27] [SPEAKER_06]: that's gonna take some time I'm a particular you know with some of you guys that weren't here in the

[00:57:30] [SPEAKER_06]: spring in that room now so I think you know sort of the third week at camp where we get out here

[00:57:36] [SPEAKER_06]: well we'll really know what sort of where the offensive lines or stands had been in the year and on

[00:57:40] [SPEAKER_08]: the flip side of that of the trenches the defensive line you got to replace so much production of those

[00:57:44] [SPEAKER_08]: guys you've been out here at practice all week our Andy Nguoco is a guy that me and Shane were talking

[00:57:49] [SPEAKER_08]: about was wasn't really on our radar we knew he had good numbers at stony brook but it's an FCS level

[00:57:54] [SPEAKER_08]: competition so they weren't necessarily eye popping for that level but evidently he's catching the eye

[00:57:59] [SPEAKER_08]: of coaches across the conference as well as media members what do you see from him and then

[00:58:02] [SPEAKER_08]: James Stewart we saw great things from him at the spring game within the edge might be okay but

[00:58:07] [SPEAKER_08]: there's questions about the depth in the experience that you got there at the nose tackle and deep into

[00:58:11] [SPEAKER_06]: tackle position I think the work those best strength right now is sort of his ability to operate

[00:58:15] [SPEAKER_06]: in sort of stewards three four base sort of sad you know you know Mason talks a lot about how

[00:58:21] [SPEAKER_06]: there's there's four three principles and sort of the three four that they're bringing in and that

[00:58:24] [SPEAKER_06]: they're going to be you know using mostly four down my immense sort of four three setups but

[00:58:29] [SPEAKER_06]: no because one of those guys that's most comfortable running to opposite sides or go and you

[00:58:33] [SPEAKER_06]: you know under or over and dropping into coverage as well you know from that edge position if

[00:58:38] [SPEAKER_06]: they're doing some sort of unusual pressure so that's given a little bit of a leg up but you know

[00:58:42] [SPEAKER_06]: brain and bucketers do a lot of that too and doing it at much higher level than I expect them to

[00:58:46] [SPEAKER_06]: be doing it coming off of you know four three defense where he was basically just rushing the

[00:58:51] [SPEAKER_06]: officer trying to run stop every single play so that's exciting to see I think it's actually

[00:58:56] [SPEAKER_06]: going to be pretty dynamic pressure wise what stewards coming up with some interesting looks

[00:59:01] [SPEAKER_06]: I've never covered a team that's really run sort of a base three four and it's been interesting

[00:59:06] [SPEAKER_06]: to see sort of that come together and sort of start to understand some of what Coach Mason is saying

[00:59:10] [SPEAKER_06]: about how it's really not that different it's just sort of a different way to line up

[00:59:13] [SPEAKER_06]: that's maybe a little more confusing for offenses the deal with sometimes my biggest concern

[00:59:18] [SPEAKER_06]: is outside of Dementa Smith on the defensive lines sort of interior can they find a second

[00:59:22] [SPEAKER_06]: sort of like defensive tackle type you sort of you know run that interior feel exixons I think

[00:59:27] [SPEAKER_06]: had a good spring you know entering into this and press you know size wise but they need

[00:59:31] [SPEAKER_06]: some more depth there and I think depth in that position is going to be the hardest come by just

[00:59:34] [SPEAKER_06]: because they'd lost so much last year but you know 20 weeks to develop it and they've you know

[00:59:39] [SPEAKER_06]: done a good job finding some jukego guys that have a chance to sort of build up into what they want

[00:59:45] [SPEAKER_08]: but it was here and you first hand have had the ability to talk to some of these new secondary

[00:59:49] [SPEAKER_08]: guys a lot of guys that bring in P4 experience Brendan Harris Ricky Smith James Mons those are

[00:59:55] [SPEAKER_08]: guys that that we were just discussing with which chain a few minutes ago um first hand the leadership

[01:00:01] [SPEAKER_08]: I know the the reps there's only so much you can actually experience with those guys but tell me

[01:00:05] [SPEAKER_08]: a little bit about the leadership of those guys bring the well spoken individuals um that I think again

[01:00:09] [SPEAKER_08]: when you're talking about creating this new culture among 60 almost 60 new guys they're kind of an

[01:00:14] [SPEAKER_08]: integral part of that especially moving through fall camp. You know I'm maybe my hottest take from

[01:00:18] [SPEAKER_06]: camp is that I think the deepest room is not the running back room but sort of the second area as a whole

[01:00:22] [SPEAKER_06]: between the corners and the the safes right now safe these are absolutely the highlight because

[01:00:26] [SPEAKER_06]: you have so much returning there. Jim Arvey Myers Ricky Smith as you mentioned um you know Chris Johnson

[01:00:32] [SPEAKER_06]: put a little safety there last year and that had some good spots as well as some nickel and then you

[01:00:36] [SPEAKER_06]: had in Gallagher and in Harris it has so much division one experience at Vanderbilt and at week

[01:00:39] [SPEAKER_06]: four is um that the coach may have certainly trusted a lot um so the the safeties are are very

[01:00:45] [SPEAKER_06]: set and I you know I didn't even touch on you know guys like you know John House the fourth

[01:00:50] [SPEAKER_06]: and Jared Douglas who's all to done quite well in camp so far but the in quarterback's been

[01:00:54] [SPEAKER_06]: very impressive as well you know we're talking to at the end of practice today of du muhamed junior

[01:00:59] [SPEAKER_06]: college transfer has you know really solidified himself sort of at a the CB1 early on in camp and

[01:01:05] [SPEAKER_06]: has really impressed me and the bits that I've been out here in service ability to really control

[01:01:10] [SPEAKER_06]: and contain some of the the town's of Weber Severs that we have you on against them on the

[01:01:14] [SPEAKER_06]: other side of the ball and when you have that sort of lockdown and you can have like a Deeriamic

[01:01:18] [SPEAKER_06]: Donald finally start to develop into the player that everyone thought he would be coming out of

[01:01:21] [SPEAKER_06]: open high school and a couple the other guys you know a little bit further down the depth chart

[01:01:25] [SPEAKER_06]: that have played a lot of snaps it's a really talented sort of skill defensive route

[01:01:30] [SPEAKER_06]: that I think you know will be almost the heart of the defense is sort of that front seven

[01:01:34] [SPEAKER_06]: tries to figure some stuff out with some of the turnover they've had this year so I have

[01:01:38] [SPEAKER_06]: high expectations for them I think they're going to be a group that they could still are

[01:01:42] [SPEAKER_06]: leans on pretty early and it's grew up as soon as a lot more depth than I expected than

[01:01:46] [SPEAKER_08]: the have early on this camp. That's that's a hot take I'd like to hear I don't want to challenge it

[01:01:50] [SPEAKER_08]: because for for the most part in my experiences of Louator fan I've never been as I was just saying

[01:01:54] [SPEAKER_08]: too excited about the secondary but this is kind of the first year that maybe it's the fact that

[01:01:58] [SPEAKER_08]: fresh start that I feel really good about it we had to have a shape for for so many years

[01:02:02] [SPEAKER_08]: the past rush was always good not great which always kind of left your secondary out to dry but

[01:02:06] [SPEAKER_08]: I never really gave him too many excuses so I feel good about where the secondary is and hopefully

[01:02:10] [SPEAKER_08]: what they what they'll bring to the table this year but same I got a little ahead of myself in

[01:02:14] [SPEAKER_08]: regards to the position breakdown but I really want to the fans to talk a little bit about yourself

[01:02:18] [SPEAKER_08]: I know you did you did a podcast series yourself it's all love podcast podcast love the podcast love

[01:02:24] [SPEAKER_08]: I think Sam did a great job if you haven't had the opportunity at goblirator.com

[01:02:29] [SPEAKER_08]: we talked to a lot of different pieces one of my favorite ones was Caitlyn Manning where she talks about

[01:02:34] [SPEAKER_08]: it kind of a relatively new position I think her position in the sock still administration was

[01:02:39] [SPEAKER_08]: pieced together by a bunch of other people whereas now it's kind of her own position she does a great

[01:02:44] [SPEAKER_08]: job but she she has a lot of people experience there well that was interesting to hear about

[01:02:48] [SPEAKER_08]: and then you touch bases with Larry Maples I know yet Hans on you also had on

[01:02:54] [SPEAKER_08]: a D marketing Chelsea Floyd that was another kind of interesting one to hear those

[01:02:58] [SPEAKER_08]: in the notes and of course your NCAA football piece was always for a lot of us was probably

[01:03:01] [SPEAKER_08]: the most exciting news but but tell me about your experience kind of working behind the scenes

[01:03:07] [SPEAKER_08]: and you're the guy that lurks behind the scenes for the most part and now you're bringing

[01:03:10] [SPEAKER_08]: your voice and your face to light so tell me a little bit about that podcast series this summer

[01:03:14] [SPEAKER_06]: well Jake one of the great things about you and the moderator podcast coming on is that you

[01:03:18] [SPEAKER_06]: sort of filled the niche that you know our fan base as a broad hole I wanted to have someone talking

[01:03:23] [SPEAKER_06]: about the blue raiders you know on a weekly basis and I don't even talking about you know our big

[01:03:26] [SPEAKER_06]: sports talking about all the sports so when we saw that you had sort of filled that that role

[01:03:31] [SPEAKER_06]: and sort of the middle of the media ecosystem we thought about what can we bring from our office and last

[01:03:36] [SPEAKER_06]: summer we did something called the coaches check in podcast series where I sort of sat down with

[01:03:41] [SPEAKER_06]: each egg coach on staff and talked about what a summer looks like for their specific programs and

[01:03:45] [SPEAKER_06]: we thought about doing that again or maybe doing something with like you know again the

[01:03:48] [SPEAKER_06]: system for me staff but we thought we'd be covered a lot of same ground if we did it two

[01:03:53] [SPEAKER_06]: summers in a row so we decided to you know sort of pivot and go you know lead into what I knew

[01:03:58] [SPEAKER_06]: best which is sort of you know behind the scenes of the athletic department and talk a lot about

[01:04:03] [SPEAKER_06]: issues that I know you know people on gobiddle.com have brought up about you know licensing or

[01:04:07] [SPEAKER_06]: you know why are we selling tickets in this part of the stadium and not that part of the stadium for

[01:04:11] [SPEAKER_06]: single games and you know just trying to answer questions I knew people had but maybe you know

[01:04:16] [SPEAKER_06]: didn't know who to ask or didn't know who the right person to ask was and so we've been lucky to

[01:04:21] [SPEAKER_06]: have on a lot of you know new faces and old faces under the behind the Blue Raiders podcast series

[01:04:28] [SPEAKER_06]: which you can find on spotify at goblerators.com podcast and we've had a really really good success

[01:04:34] [SPEAKER_06]: really good feedback from a lot of people on some of those insect conversations we're bringing

[01:04:37] [SPEAKER_06]: an aggregate if you I think Caitlin's probably been my favorite we've done so far mostly because

[01:04:41] [SPEAKER_06]: she brought insight into so many of the other changes outside of the coaching staff

[01:04:45] [SPEAKER_06]: that this football office is undergoing adding you know scouting department increasing funding for

[01:04:49] [SPEAKER_06]: the recruiting department sort of football having their own social media team outside of the F like

[01:04:53] [SPEAKER_06]: communications office all have sort of enhanced you know the stuff that Coach Mason's bringing

[01:04:58] [SPEAKER_06]: on the field and then they're on the recruiting trail as well and I thought it was important to

[01:05:02] [SPEAKER_06]: have her or talk about those sort of things and yeah also get to know her as well because you know

[01:05:06] [SPEAKER_06]: she's due to me as well and again to know her background I think was important you know the equivalent

[01:05:12] [SPEAKER_06]: to her I would say last year was a guy named Brent Brock who uh the Raiders fans are a well

[01:05:16] [SPEAKER_06]: there former position coach, longtime friend of Rick Stocks still you know he I think he was

[01:05:21] [SPEAKER_06]: official title was Director of Operations sort of his last couple years here but he was the sort

[01:05:25] [SPEAKER_06]: of gadget do it all you know fix the problem self-apagistic type person and Caitlin certainly that

[01:05:31] [SPEAKER_06]: but but she adds you know another element to it even her relationship with Coach Mason that's gone

[01:05:35] [SPEAKER_06]: our for a long time and some of the other background as well so really I've been folks check it out

[01:05:39] [SPEAKER_06]: and gets to know her because she's an important piece to Coach Mason's buzzer right now.

[01:05:44] [SPEAKER_08]: Absolutely and one of the major pieces that recruiting and I think you know Shane here's helpful

[01:05:50] [SPEAKER_08]: with with the gold middle recruiting side of things recruiting is in an uptick in my opinion

[01:05:53] [SPEAKER_08]: you're seeing a lot more guy for what it's worth not the stars ever mean anything but you're

[01:05:57] [SPEAKER_08]: seeing a lot of guys that obviously have some attention from other programs not just into issue

[01:06:02] [SPEAKER_08]: which is always good I think we've I know that some of the Mason's hit heavy is recruiting the mid

[01:06:06] [SPEAKER_08]: date so those are things that are really promising and at least good to see from an MCSU Murphy's

[01:06:11] [SPEAKER_08]: Buronate of perspective but to go off again your position here I know you spent a little bit

[01:06:16] [SPEAKER_08]: of time there in Frisco at the CUSA media days the first thing I saw when the when the media

[01:06:22] [SPEAKER_08]: poll came out was I had message you and I said who voted and what was your vote if if it was you

[01:06:28] [SPEAKER_08]: and you instantly sent over your ballot and I was pleasantly surprised because it kind of validates

[01:06:33] [SPEAKER_08]: my feelings about the conference so you're able to be there you got to get to listen to a lot of

[01:06:37] [SPEAKER_08]: guys outside of not just MTSU you know I'm sure that kind of validated some of your votes as well what

[01:06:42] [SPEAKER_08]: what are you thinking about conference you say and we're MTSU fits into that?

[01:06:45] [SPEAKER_06]: Well it conference you say I think has you know definitive tiers right now I think you know if you

[01:06:49] [SPEAKER_06]: didn't pick Liberty first I would question who you picked first I mean I guess you could put

[01:06:56] [SPEAKER_06]: Westerner Jacksonville state there but I think Liberty is clearly in far away the best team

[01:07:00] [SPEAKER_06]: the league on paper right now and then sort of in that next year are those two teams you

[01:07:03] [SPEAKER_06]: maybe could justify in first which is Westerner Jacksonville state clearly the favorites to get into

[01:07:08] [SPEAKER_06]: that you know second place spot you know go to Liberty for the camera so you say title this year

[01:07:13] [SPEAKER_06]: and then after that I think you have a third tier of sort of you know the returning schools you

[01:07:18] [SPEAKER_06]: know the room conference USA you know sort of last year that had a spark at different points in the

[01:07:23] [SPEAKER_06]: year but but didn't really put it all together so I include middle Tennessee in that group

[01:07:27] [SPEAKER_06]: I include Sam Houston in that group and FIU I would include in that group as well and I think you

[01:07:32] [SPEAKER_06]: could put any of them for through five four through six and you I think that's perfectly

[01:07:38] [SPEAKER_06]: reasonable I think I put us fifth in our poll there I thought I think I thought Sam Houston had just

[01:07:43] [SPEAKER_06]: a little bit more coming back because they're offence was just so weak last year they're going to

[01:07:46] [SPEAKER_06]: have some sort of improvement and their defense was really pretty good last year and FIU sort of

[01:07:52] [SPEAKER_06]: the reverse or they have a lot of talented steel guys that's all this four teams tend to have

[01:07:56] [SPEAKER_06]: and certainly you find a best way to use them. If any sort of have that last year there we have

[01:08:00] [SPEAKER_06]: you know New Mexico State team that was blown up sort of the transfer portal

[01:08:05] [SPEAKER_06]: with you know Coach Kill Leaving and then you have a lot of tech team that just hasn't figured it out

[01:08:10] [SPEAKER_06]: under Sunny Comeby at all. Kenneth's all state new kid on the block who is a struggle last year

[01:08:16] [SPEAKER_06]: as a lot of teams do sort of in that weird FCS transition year we're going to some guys want to go

[01:08:21] [SPEAKER_06]: you know play for something and are replaying for anything you know that year but they also

[01:08:24] [SPEAKER_06]: registered a lot of guys to prepare for sort of this year to have the depth of any of the 85

[01:08:28] [SPEAKER_06]: scholarships that you know for the time being is still the number you're allowed to have at the FBS level

[01:08:33] [SPEAKER_06]: and then a U-TAP is obviously rebuilding them or Scotty Walden. You know U-TAP a sort of

[01:08:39] [SPEAKER_06]: your opinion U-TAP large depends on how much you like Boston P last year because it's basically the

[01:08:43] [SPEAKER_06]: Austin P team from last year that is in L Paso and you know there's a good job there's a good

[01:08:49] [SPEAKER_06]: argument that they could outperform sort of where they ended up expectations towards the bottom

[01:08:53] [SPEAKER_06]: of the because they have so more cohesion maybe than a new team on the block because maybe

[01:08:56] [SPEAKER_06]: you're more cohesion than we have here in summer specs for that reason. So there definitely

[01:09:01] [SPEAKER_06]: team that I had the hardest time reading I forget that I think I put them eighth maybe and the final

[01:09:05] [SPEAKER_06]: Paul getting to mix or say just a little bit of that edge is because they got that sort of

[01:09:09] [SPEAKER_06]: championship up here in Spatagree to some extent on that roster but I think any of those last four

[01:09:14] [SPEAKER_06]: you could put them 7 through 10 and there's not you know much justification there but so four clear

[01:09:19] [SPEAKER_06]: at this point in time but you know there's some room to grow anyone and that sort of that third

[01:09:25] [SPEAKER_06]: tier can move up into that second tier. Some of that second tier maybe could challenge liberty

[01:09:29] [SPEAKER_06]: you know legitimately if you know Western or Jacksonal State it's a few more dudes in there

[01:09:35] [SPEAKER_06]: than maybe we don't know about yeah maybe they're keeping under wraps but definitely an interesting

[01:09:39] [SPEAKER_06]: sort of new normal conference USA and something that I think will be fluid year to year which is

[01:09:44] [SPEAKER_06]: exciting for fans. Trick is Delaware and Missouri State could add it next year.

[01:09:48] [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah you talked a little bit about the tiers and that's exactly how whenever I put

[01:09:52] [SPEAKER_08]: a pole together myself that's exactly how I see Liberty at the one Jacksonville State

[01:09:56] [SPEAKER_08]: Western Kentucky at the two and you could maybe make the argument you know you're an

[01:10:00] [SPEAKER_08]: upset away from Western potentially being there I still think they still I don't know

[01:10:04] [SPEAKER_08]: how I feel about Western at times I feel like the number one team but also they kind of have

[01:10:09] [SPEAKER_08]: a few pieces that they've had to add along the way so but we're liberty is just solid they've

[01:10:13] [SPEAKER_08]: their key positions obviously got cadence altar you return quickly and running back they just

[01:10:18] [SPEAKER_08]: they look so good on offense that they're they're often just going to be their best defense and then

[01:10:22] [SPEAKER_08]: of course they got bryling green one of the best safety's not just in conference USA and group of five

[01:10:25] [SPEAKER_08]: but one of the best safety's and all the college football so Liberty just looks poised to repeat

[01:10:29] [SPEAKER_08]: and put it and the only thing it might be holding them back from a new year six bowl is there

[01:10:33] [SPEAKER_08]: is their road game at Appalachian State but all that aside back to to the conference I agree

[01:10:38] [SPEAKER_08]: when you're talking about four in my opinion for all the way down to eight you're your one

[01:10:43] [SPEAKER_08]: 50 50 game away from being a fourth place team or an eighth place team and MTSU is certainly

[01:10:49] [SPEAKER_08]: in my opinion in that category you talk about um new Mexico State Louisiana Tech, Kina Saw state

[01:10:55] [SPEAKER_08]: I agree with you those are kind of the bottom tier guys just because of where Louisiana Tech is

[01:10:59] [SPEAKER_08]: such a question mark I don't understand it with Sunday Cumbi and now he's coming out on

[01:11:03] [SPEAKER_08]: still saying that he's going to change things up I don't I don't know I'm not a coach and he

[01:11:08] [SPEAKER_08]: gets paid to make those decisions but he's looking to lean a little bit heavier into the run

[01:11:11] [SPEAKER_08]: game and he's looking to lean a little bit heavier into a four three on defense I don't

[01:11:15] [SPEAKER_08]: I don't know what what the plan is or how that's going to work I will say that the people from

[01:11:18] [SPEAKER_06]: my tech that I like listen to are coming out of that camp do think things are better this year than

[01:11:23] [SPEAKER_06]: they've been the past two years so that could be a team that surprises us a little bit but obviously

[01:11:29] [SPEAKER_06]: the track record on the two years can come be it's hard to have a ton of confidence and but

[01:11:33] [SPEAKER_06]: for what is where for camp narratives they seem to be confident they've changed something that

[01:11:37] [SPEAKER_08]: might change their fortunes a little bit and and back to that middle tier FIU Samus and say I

[01:11:43] [SPEAKER_08]: I think our top five were the exact same I have Sam Houston at the four MTSU at the five

[01:11:48] [SPEAKER_08]: the reason Sam Houston there is like you said that the the offense was lackluster through half

[01:11:52] [SPEAKER_08]: the year and they probably had the worst look of any conference USA team last season so they they've

[01:11:58] [SPEAKER_08]: got a junior college national champion transfer quarterback J Spowers in my opinion he's

[01:12:02] [SPEAKER_08]: probably going to start I know my friend Sam over at March to the pod from Sam Houston state

[01:12:06] [SPEAKER_08]: would probably have a differing opinion but fall camps still going on so I think once they figure

[01:12:11] [SPEAKER_08]: out a quarterback Sam Houston is poised but back to my original comment you're one loss away

[01:12:17] [SPEAKER_08]: from from switch around and unfortunately for MTSU that's an opponent you don't get to play this

[01:12:21] [SPEAKER_08]: year you don't get to play Sam Houston state obviously I think it's maybe for the best although

[01:12:26] [SPEAKER_08]: half that roster's gone so there's probably not any bad blood between those those losses anymore

[01:12:30] [SPEAKER_08]: and then the other the other 50 50 game FIU the reason I think FIU is interesting on paper is

[01:12:37] [SPEAKER_08]: mark McIntyre he kind of has a track record for after your three year four he gets his feet

[01:12:41] [SPEAKER_08]: underneath himself they seem to be improving he's got arguably the best young quarterback in

[01:12:46] [SPEAKER_08]: the conference in key on Jenkins I love him I love his game a lot I'm surprised he's at FIU to be

[01:12:50] [SPEAKER_08]: entirely honest with you he returned to his entire running back room linebacker unit is also very

[01:12:55] [SPEAKER_08]: strong he's still having to piece together an offensive line but I think collectively his skill positions

[01:12:59] [SPEAKER_08]: are strong the FIU again but there are 50 50 ball game away and back to the MTSU schedule you've got

[01:13:05] [SPEAKER_08]: that game on the road on week 14 I believe so you could potentially be playing for a bold game

[01:13:11] [SPEAKER_08]: albeit we were predicting us to finish somewhere in that five to seven six to six mark and so if that's

[01:13:16] [SPEAKER_08]: where you're predicting us to be yeah that's a very pivotal game it end down there in Miami and

[01:13:22] [SPEAKER_08]: to finish up there with the to the scheduling aspect of it I don't know how much you've

[01:13:27] [SPEAKER_08]: looked into this and I only reason I know this is because of FIU still's a little help work

[01:13:30] [SPEAKER_08]: we're scheduling we have that three week gap in the middle of the season where they're all mid-week

[01:13:35] [SPEAKER_08]: games yeah we've got correct me from wrong I know I know it ends on Jacksonville State which is

[01:13:40] [SPEAKER_08]: why it's pivotal and I think you're going to be able to look it up here for me but you got Jacksonville

[01:13:44] [SPEAKER_06]: State and the MTSU that there we go so we got yeah MIMFIS MIMFIS LASKIMS SEPTEMBER it's our fifth game because

[01:13:53] [SPEAKER_06]: we actually started season in August this year right back but that's the last Saturday game then

[01:13:57] [SPEAKER_06]: we have let's see three days has September or steps two days in September but so we've got 12 days off

[01:14:03] [SPEAKER_06]: to play a lot to actually so we get a buy week and I think we play them on a Thursday then we get

[01:14:07] [SPEAKER_06]: a quick turnaround of a canisaw on a Tuesday on the 15th then we have a week off and play Jack

[01:14:13] [SPEAKER_06]: State you know on the next Tuesday on the 23rd and then you got a huge gap off through playing

[01:14:21] [SPEAKER_06]: you know you tap in the sunball so goodness for Blue Raider fans only three mid-week games

[01:14:25] [SPEAKER_06]: only one of those games at foot stadium so we actually you know we only have one mid-week home

[01:14:30] [SPEAKER_06]: game this year should help him attendants probably you know if things are still going well

[01:14:34] [SPEAKER_06]: late in the season as well so good for us and an interesting opponent at least for midweeks

[01:14:38] [SPEAKER_06]: you know playing canisaw in that game but yeah we're just stretched to the schedule

[01:14:42] [SPEAKER_06]: haven't talked to me a lot about it that was a huge you know talking point last year was like

[01:14:46] [SPEAKER_06]: how are we gonna handle sort of that swing and you know I think there's never really not much

[01:14:51] [SPEAKER_06]: you can do to prep for it you get you sort of got to just deal with it as it comes and the good

[01:14:55] [SPEAKER_06]: news is that with the time off heading into that lot that game if you have some injuries that

[01:14:59] [SPEAKER_06]: if you accumulated there you got a little time sort of get healthy before the sort of midweek grind

[01:15:04] [SPEAKER_06]: starts and and your your less worried about that you go into it because I was I was sort of the

[01:15:12] [SPEAKER_06]: four or five day turn around so you play on Thursday after playing on Saturday tough loss

[01:15:16] [SPEAKER_06]: car out of state week before and just have to build momentum after that you know I think you

[01:15:22] [SPEAKER_06]: know you're talking about all those coin flip games middle play a lot coin flip games last

[01:15:26] [SPEAKER_06]: year like that season could have very easily been seven five eight and four with a little bit more

[01:15:31] [SPEAKER_06]: luck in some certain spots and I think that's one thing to keep in my opinion there's there's

[01:15:37] [SPEAKER_06]: there's room to revert to the mean in some regards even with you know over half the roster turned

[01:15:43] [SPEAKER_06]: over just a little bit better luck and you know a little bit more clutch or whatever you want

[01:15:48] [SPEAKER_06]: you know the amorphous sort of you know things that matter in these sort of games you know

[01:15:54] [SPEAKER_06]: little more attention to detail you know could flip a few things you want to think of your

[01:15:58] [SPEAKER_06]: botanics says is that you know he lost a big 12 championship by this much by little inch like that

[01:16:03] [SPEAKER_06]: so you know that's why he cares so much about the details in the weight room and alignment

[01:16:06] [SPEAKER_06]: and other things on the field and I mean you see that there I mean Coach Mason is getting involved

[01:16:11] [SPEAKER_06]: in drill so he's getting his hands on guys telling them where to be telling them how to do things

[01:16:16] [SPEAKER_06]: and you know sign for me to come out here and see it because that gives you a least for me a quick

[01:16:21] [SPEAKER_06]: signal on what to watch for when he's out there as well so exciting times and we will a little bit off

[01:16:26] [SPEAKER_06]: from the schedule there but the midweek games are going to be interesting obviously you know the

[01:16:31] [SPEAKER_06]: biggest stretch for us this year is going to be that first five games play with you know outside

[01:16:35] [SPEAKER_06]: Tennessee Tech is sort of that you know FCS rivalry game we were just talking about sort of the rivalry

[01:16:40] [SPEAKER_06]: trophy that that is going to be back for that which you can go on if you can see in the

[01:16:45] [SPEAKER_06]: Blu-rayter Hall of Fame probably construction going on but it's in there right now I'm going to go

[01:16:49] [SPEAKER_06]: see it after practice to get a closer look at it but after that rivalry game I'm see four really tough

[01:16:54] [SPEAKER_06]: games you know Ole Miss Western Duke Memphis really soft stretch and if you come out there

[01:17:00] [SPEAKER_06]: with even just two wins out of that for you're going to be set up well I think for conference play

[01:17:05] [SPEAKER_08]: yeah I think Bowl game goes back on notice if you're able to come out of that stretch with at least

[01:17:08] [SPEAKER_08]: two wins and obviously love Western to be with that one win and you have the benefit of a being

[01:17:13] [SPEAKER_08]: at a home game that week but and to relay back to that three-game stretch there you're playing three

[01:17:17] [SPEAKER_08]: games in 14 days and I talk about two of those being those coin flip games with Louisiana Tech

[01:17:23] [SPEAKER_08]: Kina Salt State Jacksonville State to tough one on the road because in their only reason I say that

[01:17:27] [SPEAKER_08]: maybe if you're kicking off that stretch with Jacksonville State you feel a little bit better about

[01:17:30] [SPEAKER_08]: it but because you're ending that two week stretch at a top tier team in the conference things

[01:17:34] [SPEAKER_08]: get a little iffy and one thing also to note about the three game stretches all three of those

[01:17:39] [SPEAKER_08]: teams are coming off of their by week so all three of them have a full extra three four days to

[01:17:44] [SPEAKER_08]: prepare for that midweek game so things can get dicey in that middle of the season you're hoping

[01:17:48] [SPEAKER_08]: you can say healthy coming out of that out of the Duke Memphis stretch but back to back to where we

[01:17:53] [SPEAKER_08]: finished in the conference you're kind of hoping that you come out of their healthy and if you can

[01:17:58] [SPEAKER_08]: pick up two early finish strong in that mid stretch picking up two in that middle stretch and then

[01:18:03] [SPEAKER_08]: you got a home game with liberty at the end of the year anything could really happen at that point

[01:18:07] [SPEAKER_06]: absolutely Jake you know it's your in a position where things can grow quite a lot and you've got

[01:18:13] [SPEAKER_06]: to you have the ability if you you play well down the stretch to put yourself in the conversation

[01:18:18] [SPEAKER_06]: which would be a great first step for Coach Mason and even if you are an orange in things

[01:18:22] [SPEAKER_06]: first couple weeks you're still gonna have stuff to play for I think late in the season with where

[01:18:26] [SPEAKER_06]: the conference is at where the team is at and you know you have this team back to a ball game so

[01:18:32] [SPEAKER_06]: looks like we got Coach Blattnik come over here talk about so we're gonna I'm gonna tap out for him

[01:18:36] [SPEAKER_06]: and Jake appreciate you having me on and look forward to you meet Jamie who's been a great resource

[01:18:40] [SPEAKER_08]: for us and a great resource to me since he's come here absolutely thanks Sam as always I appreciate

[01:18:44] [SPEAKER_08]: you coming on welcome back into the Blu-Rater podcast I am now joined by new strength conditioning coach

[01:18:58] [SPEAKER_08]: Blattnik coach Blattnik how you doing doing great man how you doing I'm excellent he's Sportan

[01:19:03] [SPEAKER_08]: a quite the mustache which is I think that's tradition right strength coach half to have a mustache yeah

[01:19:07] [SPEAKER_08]: you know I switch to the mustache few years back and it's just it's stuck it seems to be a main

[01:19:14] [SPEAKER_08]: stay on the sidelines of a coach Blattnik one thing about you I think you and you and Mason

[01:19:19] [SPEAKER_08]: giving me a little bit about your backstory with you and Mason in your connection there

[01:19:22] [SPEAKER_08]: you were kind of one of his first immediate hires what's that relationship like you have with Mason

[01:19:26] [SPEAKER_08]: and in your role is so integral to the success of this football program yeah um so yeah

[01:19:32] [SPEAKER_01]: me and coach Mason obviously we met up we linked up at Oklahoma State when he was defensive coordinator there

[01:19:37] [SPEAKER_01]: we talked a lot you know built a really good relationship our wives have a really good relationship

[01:19:43] [SPEAKER_01]: and you know he was I believe I was I believe I was first higher on the new staff so he called me up

[01:19:49] [SPEAKER_01]: actually when I was at Oklahoma State the night before the big 12 game big 12 championship game

[01:19:53] [SPEAKER_01]: and just kind of asked me if I was interested in said absolutely it's all right well you

[01:19:57] [SPEAKER_01]: go grab handle business tomorrow you know we'll talk the day after and we did and then actually

[01:20:02] [SPEAKER_01]: having a really quick probably within about six days by ten days I was out here and getting started

[01:20:08] [SPEAKER_01]: and you know we started up in January and so my family was in Oklahoma up until May

[01:20:12] [SPEAKER_01]: and then they moved out in May but coach Mason one thing that drew me to him is his passion

[01:20:21] [SPEAKER_01]: for the players and the coaches and so you don't get that a lot of place a lot of places like he

[01:20:26] [SPEAKER_01]: truly cares and loves you know everybody on his staff and I could tell it's important to him like

[01:20:33] [SPEAKER_01]: family life you know he doesn't he always tells us he we don't want to want you up your

[01:20:37] [SPEAKER_01]: all day you got kids go but mandatory date nights with the misses um and he understands that

[01:20:43] [SPEAKER_01]: you know there's two head there's two head coaches get the head coach in the strength coach

[01:20:49] [SPEAKER_01]: so I've got them all the nine months outside of season so for him to push his culture

[01:20:56] [SPEAKER_01]: and his messaging it's got to come through me all year round you know we got to set the standards

[01:21:01] [SPEAKER_01]: and they got to be held and that primes them for when the for the fall when they get here

[01:21:06] [SPEAKER_01]: so he totally he definitely understands the importance of being strong, being healthy

[01:21:13] [SPEAKER_01]: and improving performance you know outside of the once we get done with football season.

[01:21:18] [SPEAKER_08]: If I can draw that analogy there too but you being the first hire like when it comes to

[01:21:22] [SPEAKER_08]: training and you need to touch on it there not three quarters of the year these guys are in your hands

[01:21:27] [SPEAKER_08]: you're making the foundation and obviously that was something that was so important to Mason

[01:21:30] [SPEAKER_08]: that that was the first job he took care of um and that's something that you don't see you might

[01:21:36] [SPEAKER_08]: see an office coordinator if it's a coordinator he's going to start pulling those guys immediately

[01:21:38] [SPEAKER_08]: but but I was surprised that you were the first one and for good reason I think again

[01:21:42] [SPEAKER_08]: you're building that foundation and because when you come into spring camp you're the first

[01:21:45] [SPEAKER_08]: face that a lot of these guys are going to see you're going to be either their best friend or

[01:21:48] [SPEAKER_08]: their or their worst enemy but nonetheless I'm interested to hear your take a little side piece

[01:21:53] [SPEAKER_08]: on myself I'm an exercise science major I was a strength conditioning coach now I do podcast

[01:21:58] [SPEAKER_08]: well for whatever that's worth but I'm interested to hear your take on this when you get a lot of

[01:22:02] [SPEAKER_08]: these new guys I think from a strength conditioning standpoint one thing you're looking at with

[01:22:06] [SPEAKER_08]: these new athletes is where are their foundations when they show up on campus I know when you're

[01:22:12] [SPEAKER_08]: we will drill the crap out of power clean because it's a very athletic movement I'm interested

[01:22:18] [SPEAKER_08]: to hear your take on that or what are kind of those fundamentals what are those principles you're

[01:22:23] [SPEAKER_01]: looking for in these kids when they show up on campus so first thing I do is you know a movement

[01:22:29] [SPEAKER_01]: evaluation actually can tell a lot by just how a guy walks and then we do I teach him how to box

[01:22:36] [SPEAKER_01]: squat when we go through the basics be surprised how many guys don't know how to properly

[01:22:41] [SPEAKER_01]: bench press you know it's it's wild but you just assume they know nothing and then you just

[01:22:47] [SPEAKER_01]: progress them and what I do is I start looking for a week point so like power cleans we don't do

[01:22:51] [SPEAKER_01]: power cleans with our guys yeah I drifted away a little bit from the Olympic weight lifting

[01:22:57] [SPEAKER_01]: and the reason is because if you look at it Olympic weight lifter they don't look like football players

[01:23:02] [SPEAKER_01]: long torso short arm smaller by a smaller chest right they got to get under and catch bar

[01:23:08] [SPEAKER_01]: these guys don't look like that they we recruit length we have long arms long legs and it makes it

[01:23:13] [SPEAKER_01]: difficult to try to ask their bodies do something that's not really naturally meant to do so we'll

[01:23:20] [SPEAKER_01]: do a lot of sumo stance squat a box squats low box squats parallel we'll do a lot of dead lifts

[01:23:26] [SPEAKER_01]: because they're built for that look at the world record deadlift holder heptor Bjornsson

[01:23:30] [SPEAKER_01]: you know the mountain what's he look like an offensive tackle six seven you know 360

[01:23:35] [SPEAKER_01]: okay well longer limb guys are better for deadlifting and that's the first part of the

[01:23:40] [SPEAKER_01]: clean is the deadlift the rest is just so technical that I can spend I got eight weeks with him

[01:23:46] [SPEAKER_01]: eight week block eight week block you know I could spend years with guys I mean guys training

[01:23:51] [SPEAKER_01]: whole life to do Olympic weight lifting just to try to maybe make it to the Olympics well united

[01:23:55] [SPEAKER_01]: states I don't think we've metled in the Olympics in 50 years right so we're not doing something right

[01:24:01] [SPEAKER_01]: so I just kind of looked at that and said okay I could have these guys for this much and I could try to

[01:24:05] [SPEAKER_01]: teach them you know these movements and they're good movements I'm not you know there's there's a

[01:24:09] [SPEAKER_01]: time in place form but I said I got to get the most bang out bang for my buck in eight weeks so we do a

[01:24:14] [SPEAKER_01]: lot of explosive work like a lot of box jumps to supplement the the clean even though it's not

[01:24:18] [SPEAKER_01]: explosive it is a speech or anything but like the snatches and things of that nature I just do

[01:24:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I just kind of simplify it so everybody can jump on a box hey you're gonna learn that in one session

[01:24:32] [SPEAKER_01]: easy and I can get six to your 80 jumps out of these guys in a week you know I'm not getting six

[01:24:36] [SPEAKER_01]: to your 80 but cleans or snatches out of them that's I'm wearing them out so we'll do that and then

[01:24:42] [SPEAKER_01]: we actually use a conjugate method of training so we max out twice a week upper and lower and

[01:24:47] [SPEAKER_01]: then we do speedwork twice a week upper and lower and those max effort days one it's a great

[01:24:53] [SPEAKER_01]: competition day form so their favorite part of the summer and winter off season is the last two weeks when

[01:24:58] [SPEAKER_01]: they're maxed it out right so they they're waiting for that we get it every week now it's a

[01:25:04] [SPEAKER_01]: different movement maybe a board press maybe a floor press maybe an overhead maybe a box

[01:25:08] [SPEAKER_01]: squat maybe a trap bar deadlift maybe a stray bar deadlift we always do some type of box jump max

[01:25:13] [SPEAKER_01]: seated weighted approach standing um hurdle hop to a box jump a lot of different variations of the jump

[01:25:20] [SPEAKER_01]: and we then I track all their maxes and so while I'm doing that I can us I can assess my team on a

[01:25:25] [SPEAKER_01]: weekly basis and so I can look at them go you know our board press is not nearly where it should be

[01:25:32] [SPEAKER_01]: and I've got indicators for for a bench in squat on special exercises and I say if you hit five or seven

[01:25:37] [SPEAKER_01]: of these indicators then yeah you're a 350 pound bencher I don't got to put 350 pounds on your

[01:25:41] [SPEAKER_01]: on your chest to know that um which keeps them safe so I can look at the small

[01:25:46] [SPEAKER_01]: small groups I said okay we need to work more triceps and then I adjust the program

[01:25:50] [SPEAKER_01]: accordingly you know or we need to when we got here we need a lot of shoulder mobility work

[01:25:54] [SPEAKER_01]: you know we need a lot of posterior chain so that was the main emphasis those first seven weeks

[01:26:00] [SPEAKER_01]: and you bring those lagging body parts up your big your big uh lifts go up too because that's

[01:26:05] [SPEAKER_01]: what's holding them back and that's going to be the first thing that goes out on them so if you

[01:26:09] [SPEAKER_01]: were squatting then you're in your and your back goes out and you well you're back sucks you're

[01:26:12] [SPEAKER_01]: all right so we do a lot of good mornings we do a lot of RDLs we do a lot of reverse hikers

[01:26:17] [SPEAKER_01]: we do a lot of hinge movements I mean these guys we have the guys we maxed out on RDLs

[01:26:22] [SPEAKER_01]: and we had quite a few guys hitting 500 for sets of three you know okay you know we got

[01:26:27] [SPEAKER_01]: guys that did Nordics some of the skill guys can do 40 straight big skills something to do 30

[01:26:34] [SPEAKER_01]: straight my O line D line can do the Nordics O line they get close I gotta keep working on them a

[01:26:40] [SPEAKER_01]: little bit I got a couple that can which is which is huge for a guy it's 300 plus pounds

[01:26:46] [SPEAKER_01]: but all those little things we just competed and I'm not just always look for the weakest point

[01:26:50] [SPEAKER_01]: and we hammer it until it's not that I find the next one and we hammer it until it's not

[01:26:54] [SPEAKER_01]: and we just keep growing from there and they can see it they can see their maxes going up every week

[01:26:59] [SPEAKER_01]: most of the time probably say 98% of the time when we max out at everyone PRs you know and

[01:27:05] [SPEAKER_01]: for the guys that don't it's easy for me to highlight and go okay what are you doing well I didn't

[01:27:09] [SPEAKER_01]: need I'm been eating well yeah I can see you know so it's obvious so then we can address that

[01:27:14] [SPEAKER_01]: that's kind of my approach with it the guys who really liked it I mean they probably thought

[01:27:18] [SPEAKER_01]: I was the mad scientist when we first started because they're like what were doing how many

[01:27:21] [SPEAKER_01]: reps I said it's 50 reps right there well it you know soft tissue work so we got to do soft tissue work

[01:27:27] [SPEAKER_01]: other than you know just our strength work and our high-perch feet work but we got to make

[01:27:30] [SPEAKER_01]: sure tendons and ligaments and low backs you know that's a lot of fashion back there only

[01:27:35] [SPEAKER_01]: with that fashion gets nutrients as you got to pump the muscles around the full blood diffusion

[01:27:39] [SPEAKER_01]: so and that's the way it gets stronger so we do a lot of bandwork as finisher or warmups

[01:27:46] [SPEAKER_01]: and just you know just keep pushing the volume can't let the volume fall off absolutely

[01:27:50] [SPEAKER_08]: there's so much to break down there with with all that information and it just goes to show

[01:27:55] [SPEAKER_08]: the type A personality division one strength coach has to have and one thing really important

[01:27:59] [SPEAKER_08]: there to kind of to backpattle just a second is talking about that posterior chain and a lot of

[01:28:04] [SPEAKER_08]: guys come in from high school and on the reason I bring up the the experience with the power

[01:28:08] [SPEAKER_08]: clean it's because that's something that people think that they have to do and something that was so unique

[01:28:12] [SPEAKER_08]: listening to you I know you you do the Q&A with Sam at one point in time and just learning about

[01:28:16] [SPEAKER_08]: your process as a true D1 strength conditioning coach is the fact that one exercise doesn't fit

[01:28:23] [SPEAKER_08]: everybody and you touch on it and I'm sure if you work with with basketball players you're working

[01:28:27] [SPEAKER_08]: with six eight seven foot guys you're talking about squatting you're talking about box jumps for that

[01:28:33] [SPEAKER_08]: matter the body doesn't work the same so how are you address those things and that's something

[01:28:37] [SPEAKER_08]: that I think is so vital with what you the information you provided the fans here is to understand

[01:28:41] [SPEAKER_08]: that like they're not in there just three sets of 10 on the bench press today and then we're

[01:28:46] [SPEAKER_08]: going to max in a week or so I think that there's such an interesting piece of the puzzle that

[01:28:50] [SPEAKER_08]: you provide for this program but to keep in our line of questioning here as we move forward

[01:28:57] [SPEAKER_08]: one thing that Sam brought up when I was out here practice I got here 30 minutes before you started

[01:29:01] [SPEAKER_08]: at seven they're doing some indie stuff the next thing they do is they break into a stretch

[01:29:05] [SPEAKER_08]: and Sam made the comment that he has never been around a program that stretches more than this one does

[01:29:11] [SPEAKER_08]: which maybe true in my short experience absolutely what's the philosophy behind that

[01:29:17] [SPEAKER_08]: oh that's funny because the guys don't think we stretch at all

[01:29:21] [SPEAKER_01]: like coach might we got even coach might you know we don't even stretch I think you've

[01:29:24] [SPEAKER_01]: just stretched your whole life you know more mobile what do we do it as they do you want to get

[01:29:27] [SPEAKER_01]: mobile you gotta you gotta stretch under load it also a lot of the mode like so we want to build

[01:29:31] [SPEAKER_01]: mobility that's done in the weight room so we do that under load like if you if you want somebody

[01:29:36] [SPEAKER_01]: to stretch you what are the first thing they do they put pressure on your back and push your push it

[01:29:39] [SPEAKER_01]: out alright they they load the muscle so it can kind of relax so we do a lot of the mobility

[01:29:46] [SPEAKER_01]: stuff in the weight room like they squat to a 12 inch box I mean I got off every single one of them

[01:29:51] [SPEAKER_01]: alright you got in the can't get to 12 13 or 14 and then we work them down well that tells me

[01:29:56] [SPEAKER_01]: you've got the hip mobility and so for stretching the stretch here's you know it's it's a

[01:30:01] [SPEAKER_01]: abbreviated it's about a 10 minute stretch warm up so we do a dynamic warm up then we break

[01:30:05] [SPEAKER_01]: into stretch lines and that's really just to set the tempo for the practice right we're going

[01:30:10] [SPEAKER_01]: to stretch them out kind of get them feeling good um they've got individual and stuff before that

[01:30:14] [SPEAKER_01]: so they're already kind of they're already lathered up but we're just kind of stretched the hamstrings

[01:30:20] [SPEAKER_01]: glutes hip flexors just kind of touch on it real quick but really it's more about the details

[01:30:25] [SPEAKER_01]: getting them lined up are you are you buzzing to where you need to be or your toes on the back edge

[01:30:28] [SPEAKER_01]: or your helmet in straight line facing the back edge of the white shirt you know are we clapping it up

[01:30:33] [SPEAKER_01]: alright everything's done on a cadence so we're all in sync right you get a team that's in sync

[01:30:37] [SPEAKER_01]: you got a pretty good you got a good team no matter what team it is whether what sport it is

[01:30:42] [SPEAKER_01]: and so they can that's kind of the first thing is kind of sink them all up right loosen them up a

[01:30:48] [SPEAKER_01]: little bit sink them up and then send them the practice with some intensity and some enthusiasm

[01:30:53] [SPEAKER_08]: coach blackness got so much information and it's great I think one thing that it gets overlooked

[01:30:58] [SPEAKER_08]: all the time is the strength of finishing position and you talk about the soft tissue obviously

[01:31:02] [SPEAKER_08]: that's something that you address and that's something that always gets questioned and when I was

[01:31:06] [SPEAKER_08]: going through my days of schooling as one to be a strength of the initial coach I did it my short

[01:31:11] [SPEAKER_08]: time I tried it out it's such a it's such a nomadic job that's one thing that would kind of

[01:31:16] [SPEAKER_08]: drew me away from it takes a special type of person to want to live that lifestyle one you have

[01:31:20] [SPEAKER_08]: family that's always important to think about but but secondly back to the the soft tissue thing

[01:31:26] [SPEAKER_08]: you're as a strength of finishing coach the one thing that I learned was you're always going to be

[01:31:31] [SPEAKER_08]: the the last one to be thanked and you're going to be the first one to be blamed and that's

[01:31:35] [SPEAKER_08]: the unfortunate side of being the strength of finishing coach especially when we're talking

[01:31:38] [SPEAKER_08]: about soft tissue injuries so what is your approach I know that most and a lot of people don't look

[01:31:43] [SPEAKER_08]: at it this way and maybe you can provide me a little bit more inside of that things I'm sure

[01:31:46] [SPEAKER_08]: change since I was in school most of your sauce to tissue soft tissue injuries come as no contact

[01:31:52] [SPEAKER_08]: so for so really that comes from a training perspective it's not like again these not getting

[01:31:56] [SPEAKER_08]: hammered in terror in ACLs because he's not decelerating properly or he doesn't have the mechanics

[01:32:00] [SPEAKER_08]: or you know I'm sure you can break it down a lot more eloquently than I can but what's your piece on

[01:32:05] [SPEAKER_01]: that yeah so there's a lot of digest there but so you're right you're always first one to get

[01:32:16] [SPEAKER_01]: is some but I've learned as some coaches are like say they're scared to train hamstrings because

[01:32:23] [SPEAKER_01]: they don't want guys to we can hamstring but if your hamstrings week it's going to be the first

[01:32:27] [SPEAKER_01]: thing that goes so if you don't have strong hamstrings or you avoid them then you're going to

[01:32:31] [SPEAKER_01]: have issues now you talk about non-contact injuries like ACL tears most of them are non-contact

[01:32:37] [SPEAKER_01]: but one thing I've done with these guys of implemented reflexive performance reset so looking at

[01:32:43] [SPEAKER_01]: in ACL now sometimes it's slippage or a lot of times they just plant what happens is these guys

[01:32:48] [SPEAKER_01]: we've got to make sure is that for hip extension the firing pattern needs to go the glute see to

[01:32:53] [SPEAKER_01]: fire first hamstring second and then your QL third and what happens is what happens is these guys

[01:32:59] [SPEAKER_01]: kind of get out of whack and the hamstrings will start firing first and then the QL and then the

[01:33:04] [SPEAKER_01]: glute which is an implosion of energy right that energy's coming into the into the hips versus

[01:33:09] [SPEAKER_01]: rating out of the hips so RPR what we do is I can reset them and make sure that I can test that

[01:33:14] [SPEAKER_01]: firing pattern identify the muscles that are out of sync and then reset them to keep them

[01:33:20] [SPEAKER_01]: in sync and that will actually prevent it will actually mitigate a lot of studies that

[01:33:27] [SPEAKER_01]: it mitigates a lot of soft tissue injuries so but it's something that I can't do with 130 guys

[01:33:32] [SPEAKER_01]: so I teach at home and then if they if they need it they come and test me I do that pregame with them

[01:33:36] [SPEAKER_01]: and so we'll have guys at low back so start to lock when first got here low back so locking up

[01:33:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I do an RPR session with them I mean they're over there stretching and they're trying to

[01:33:44] [SPEAKER_01]: no that's not much you need when you turn that QL off activate that glute and turn that hamstring off

[01:33:49] [SPEAKER_01]: and I do a four five four minute you know session with them they'll get up and touch your toes it's gone

[01:33:54] [SPEAKER_01]: I said oh there you go you're coming from a guy that had a lot of low back problems they played

[01:33:59] [SPEAKER_01]: her needed this bulging I mean everything

[01:34:02] [SPEAKER_01]: that was something that I found that worked really well for me and then the athletes I had used it on

[01:34:07] [SPEAKER_01]: and so I implemented it to the whole team here and so if you look at that so say there

[01:34:14] [SPEAKER_01]: that firing pattern is off or there what you get you would you hear a lot of quad dominance

[01:34:18] [SPEAKER_01]: right and so your quad can take for you hip flexions right you can start being a quad driver

[01:34:25] [SPEAKER_01]: okay what that'll do is as your quad starts to fatigue which is your muscle for breaking

[01:34:31] [SPEAKER_01]: that slight delay in neurological firing cause that muscle not to contract and not to

[01:34:36] [SPEAKER_01]: stabilize that knee and then you decide and then there you go so addressing the hip flexion

[01:34:42] [SPEAKER_01]: and the hip extensions we do make sure your so-as is on right make sure your quad is not taking

[01:34:46] [SPEAKER_01]: or your tip driver if you ever seen guys run with a close fist they're actually you're driving

[01:34:51] [SPEAKER_01]: that hip flexion what that close fist if you take that away from them though we're on slower

[01:34:57] [SPEAKER_01]: so what you got to do is reset it neurologically reset it and then you have to stay on it

[01:35:02] [SPEAKER_01]: it's not something you do want and oh look I'm fixed for forever no you've been doing this for

[01:35:06] [SPEAKER_01]: a really long time you know you're not going to get fixed in one day but if you do this daily

[01:35:10] [SPEAKER_01]: and every time you train you address it and make sure that everything's fine within 10 days

[01:35:16] [SPEAKER_01]: it just gets easier and easier address and then eventually it's gone and so that's one thing

[01:35:20] [SPEAKER_01]: that I that I do with them help with that a lot of the tenants and ligaments we do a lot of

[01:35:25] [SPEAKER_01]: repetition bandwork for that very low weight hamstring curls of your sets of 200 with a 15 pound

[01:35:32] [SPEAKER_01]: band oh yeah oh yeah so pump it full of blood we're not tearing down any muscle but we're going to

[01:35:37] [SPEAKER_01]: pump it full of blood pump it full of new your blood carries all your healing factors so the more healing

[01:35:41] [SPEAKER_01]: factors you can get to that area faster it's gonna recover so we'll do things in that nature that

[01:35:46] [SPEAKER_01]: for them I was saying seems like mindless but you tell them 200 reps and they there's their

[01:35:55] [SPEAKER_01]: I feel pretty good oh yeah there you go same with the shoulders so that's how I address

[01:36:01] [SPEAKER_01]: that side of the string obviously you got their max average your speed work and then

[01:36:05] [SPEAKER_01]: obviously keeping them healthy with the with the high rep low weight bands has worked very well

[01:36:13] [SPEAKER_08]: I could I could do this all day with good black neck I love this stuff and it takes me back to college

[01:36:18] [SPEAKER_08]: my short time with with strength conditioning staffs but I absolutely pleasure to meet with

[01:36:23] [SPEAKER_08]: talk with you one last question for you have you been designated as the Get Back Coach is most

[01:36:28] [SPEAKER_01]: strengthening your coaches are you know I definitely probably will be if not also doesn't make

[01:36:32] [SPEAKER_01]: I like that part of it you know the Get Back Coach so absolutely well coach again I appreciate

[01:36:37] [SPEAKER_08]: you taking the time out of practice today to come join us thank you sir I appreciate you

[01:36:53] [SPEAKER_07]: and then after that I think Western Kentucky's really good but you have to see them

[01:36:58] [SPEAKER_07]: say when we're eight and five last year you have to see them take the next step they do have a lot

[01:37:03] [SPEAKER_07]: guys back from injury that missed last year like Michael Mathison and the corner back in

[01:37:08] [SPEAKER_07]: forgetting his name stout and then Jacksonville State has that strong strong run game and then after

[01:37:15] [SPEAKER_07]: that like Sam was saying it's a big tier teams with FIU MTSU Sam Houston State maybe Louisiana

[01:37:23] [SPEAKER_07]: Tech if it is really different under sunny but you know I like MTSU's chances in that middle tier

[01:37:30] [SPEAKER_07]: I think they can definitely get us high as number four maybe if you said Jacksonville State

[01:37:35] [SPEAKER_07]: all that's a tough stretch too you can get up to three but yeah like MTSU and I like FIU actually

[01:37:42] [SPEAKER_07]: I like their passing attack it will come there their season will come down to if they can

[01:37:46] [SPEAKER_07]: stop the runner or not but they have won the bigger offensive lines in the conference and then

[01:37:53] [SPEAKER_07]: the passing attack with that quarterback and the receivers they added is going to be pretty good

[01:37:57] [SPEAKER_08]: yet to play on there on FIU and about their run their rush defense and that's another one of

[01:38:03] [SPEAKER_08]: those toss up games I know I mentioned the depth they have a running back and they return a lot

[01:38:07] [SPEAKER_08]: of that talent but to be fair they weren't necessarily very great at running them all anyways

[01:38:11] [SPEAKER_08]: and so it's a matter of now that you're returning that that ability to returning all the experience

[01:38:15] [SPEAKER_08]: how do they turn that into wind how does that translate into winds for coach McIntyre you feel good

[01:38:19] [SPEAKER_08]: about him like he said the passing attack with key on Jenkins who is going to be the next flight of

[01:38:24] [SPEAKER_08]: conference USA quarterback assuming he stays in Miami the way the world works now in college football

[01:38:29] [SPEAKER_08]: who knows where he may end up but yeah I think when you look at the schedule how it breaks down

[01:38:34] [SPEAKER_08]: you talk about West the Western Kentucky game early in the year and you got the Jacksonville State

[01:38:38] [SPEAKER_08]: game that's at the end of that 14 day stretch of three games and then you end the year with liberty

[01:38:42] [SPEAKER_08]: I think if you want to give yourself a chance at solidifying that six wind season to get to a ball

[01:38:48] [SPEAKER_08]: game I think you feel good if you can at least sneak one of those I think in regards to my

[01:38:53] [SPEAKER_08]: preseason prediction I have is dropping all three of those contests but the fortunate side of things

[01:38:58] [SPEAKER_08]: are is that the Western Kentucky games at home the liberty games at home Jacksonville State you may just

[01:39:03] [SPEAKER_08]: catch it at an awkward time of the season because it's a midweek game they are coming off a buy

[01:39:07] [SPEAKER_08]: but we're coming off a 14 three games in 14 days there's just a lot a lot of ifs and butts about it

[01:39:12] [SPEAKER_08]: but when you go back to what we have in conference outside on those 50 50 games where I think we're at a

[01:39:22] [SPEAKER_08]: I believe I believe the UTEP game is yeah UTEP is also on the road and then you have an

[01:39:27] [SPEAKER_08]: Mexico State at home and then FIU in the road so those are your in my opinion your 450 50 ball games

[01:39:32] [SPEAKER_08]: three of them are on the road you're out of this advantage so another question for this team is

[01:39:37] [SPEAKER_08]: can they perform on the road to give themselves an opportunity to get to that six wind mark

[01:39:42] [SPEAKER_07]: yeah for sure and another thing too with the ending on the road at the end of the year

[01:39:47] [SPEAKER_07]: is can this team stay healthy and you talk to coach platnic and his new approach that he's brought

[01:39:52] [SPEAKER_07]: into it but like we were talking about earlier you don't have depth at some places and

[01:39:57] [SPEAKER_07]: whether you stay healthy or other team stay healthy especially up front because because

[01:40:03] [SPEAKER_07]: teams like you know Jacksonville State doesn't really have any depth on the offense line but

[01:40:07] [SPEAKER_07]: that starting unit is really good and so stuff like that will come into play but I think this team

[01:40:13] [SPEAKER_07]: is good enough to win on the road and I think they'll play discipline to enough the limit

[01:40:19] [SPEAKER_07]: penalties limit turnovers it will just come down to the fact can the team stay healthy

[01:40:25] [SPEAKER_07]: and can they limit those mistakes and can they have that trench play be consistent throughout

[01:40:30] [SPEAKER_08]: the year and one thing that seems to stand out through the conference has always been steady

[01:40:34] [SPEAKER_08]: as the quarterback play if you have good quarterback playing conference you would say you're

[01:40:37] [SPEAKER_08]: typically going to be in good hands how about cadence alter and we talk about Nick body auto

[01:40:42] [SPEAKER_08]: I think for most people he's going to be the second or third best quarterback in the conference

[01:40:47] [SPEAKER_08]: behind TJ Finley at Western Kentucky and even for him I'm excited for TJ Finley at

[01:40:52] [SPEAKER_08]: Western Kentucky because of the numbers he put up a text to state when you look at him relative

[01:40:56] [SPEAKER_08]: to the sunbelt he was in the middle of the pack but collectively if you're no college football

[01:41:00] [SPEAKER_08]: you know that the sunbelt is a very passive he conference so for him to be middle of the pack

[01:41:04] [SPEAKER_08]: of a passive he conference like sunbelt what he's going to bring to coach health and there

[01:41:09] [SPEAKER_08]: and bowlingering is going to be tough so we lean back on the secondary play because that's

[01:41:13] [SPEAKER_08]: going to be the difference maker the only team in that top tier that as a question market quarterback

[01:41:17] [SPEAKER_08]: is going to be Jacksonville State Logan smothers the NC state transfer there looks promising for

[01:41:22] [SPEAKER_08]: them he looks like he's going to be a good threat for the conference but in my opinion he doesn't

[01:41:26] [SPEAKER_08]: have he doesn't have the deep threat that you're going to see with Finley body auto saltor

[01:41:31] [SPEAKER_08]: he definitely doesn't have the the the run presence that you're going to see with body auto

[01:41:36] [SPEAKER_08]: or or saltor Finley's not necessarily as mobile but the dude's got a heck of an arm

[01:41:41] [SPEAKER_08]: he's going to be a good threat for them but to be fair to his run game per se he didn't have

[01:41:46] [SPEAKER_08]: to run very much a Texas state they were just an air raid offensive he let it fly so

[01:41:50] [SPEAKER_08]: interesting and I think with with the conference USA breakdown this year a lot a lot hinges

[01:41:54] [SPEAKER_08]: really in that middle middle portion of the schedule I know I've been harping on that a lot but I

[01:41:59] [SPEAKER_08]: feel I feel strongly that if if the season is going to go well form they've got to perform well

[01:42:03] [SPEAKER_08]: in that Louisiana tech in a small state Jacksonville state stretch we're going to take another short

[01:42:09] [SPEAKER_08]: break practice is finally wrapping up we got Mason talking to the team we've got our little

[01:42:14] [SPEAKER_08]: huddle going on so we'll probably have Mason on here any minutes of stay tuned to our live stream

[01:42:19] [SPEAKER_08]: here for Mason as well as some of his players off mute welcome back into the Blu-Rater podcast we've

[01:42:37] [SPEAKER_08]: got our first player interview after practice joining me now outside linebacker Devon Curtis Devon

[01:42:43] [SPEAKER_08]: how's it going man it's going good how about you it's hot but I can't complain compared to you

[01:42:47] [SPEAKER_08]: right now we had to make a little adjustments to our tent just be a shade of from the sun

[01:42:51] [SPEAKER_08]: but tell me your week now through fall camp yeah you're kind of one of the main states here on the

[01:42:55] [SPEAKER_08]: defense how are you jellin with these new guys how how how are things going at practice

[01:42:59] [SPEAKER_03]: it's been good we've got a real good mix of new and older guys so I've been able to kind of

[01:43:04] [SPEAKER_03]: help jell and make the transition easier for both just you know inside and outside the locker room

[01:43:09] [SPEAKER_03]: so it's been good I'm starting to gain trust and more and more when you talk about the

[01:43:14] [SPEAKER_08]: the linebacker core you're the first thing that pops up to a lot of heads and parkers another

[01:43:17] [SPEAKER_08]: name that pops up when you talk about the defense collectively your front line kind of got depleted

[01:43:22] [SPEAKER_08]: and you guys decided to stay I want to know from your perspective what led you to stay here

[01:43:27] [SPEAKER_08]: and was it Mason or was it a situation where like I know you've been here a long time was a situation

[01:43:31] [SPEAKER_08]: if you wanted to stay home was Mason a big part of that what was that what was that talk like

[01:43:35] [SPEAKER_03]: it's kind of makes of everything I trust coach Mason entirely and like you said like we've got

[01:43:40] [SPEAKER_03]: such a good linebacker core that I just really wanted to come back and play with those guys and even

[01:43:45] [SPEAKER_03]: some of the deliment we rotate a lot of deliment last year so people like de Montesmith big man

[01:43:51] [SPEAKER_03]: but stew like those are guys with experience I love playing with and how are you how are you

[01:43:56] [SPEAKER_03]: you jellin with with the new defense coordinator it's been nice I feel like he has trusted me

[01:44:01] [SPEAKER_03]: which is a big thing for me it's just the trust that we can communicate after you know

[01:44:06] [SPEAKER_03]: practice is like this and fix any sort of little things that you know we have math

[01:44:09] [SPEAKER_08]: it seems like when you go from shafr to stewer both have lots of knowledge but steward has a

[01:44:15] [SPEAKER_08]: little bit of a different philosophy relative to shafr as far as debt is there any adjustment period

[01:44:20] [SPEAKER_08]: for you or is he kind of made that transition in co-dry sick might be a part of that too

[01:44:23] [SPEAKER_03]: has he made that transition easier for you oh they've made the transition very easy they've been

[01:44:28] [SPEAKER_03]: very helpful in explaining the terms and always willing to answer questions that I haven't

[01:44:32] [SPEAKER_03]: had and then therefore I can go on and help other linebackers because I've been around the game

[01:44:37] [SPEAKER_03]: for a lot longer so I know concepts are posed to just schemes when you talk about your age

[01:44:44] [SPEAKER_08]: your experience on this roster one thing that a lot of us outside opinion wise have been curious

[01:44:50] [SPEAKER_08]: is the depth at linebacker you got a lot of top-end talent and one thing that you have kind of been

[01:44:54] [SPEAKER_08]: positioned with as being a leader on this team is even though those aren't your teams in the future

[01:44:59] [SPEAKER_08]: but you play it important rock part in their level of development over this season whether they

[01:45:05] [SPEAKER_08]: read shirt whether they get a few reps here and there is that a part of your game that you take

[01:45:10] [SPEAKER_08]: you don't take lightly you think that's very important in regards to the level of MTSU and Derek Mason

[01:45:14] [SPEAKER_03]: what comes in the future absolutely because when I was a young freshman I had countless guys like

[01:45:19] [SPEAKER_03]: DQ Thomas and Cody Smith they helped me bring me a lot of so it's my turn to do the same

[01:45:24] [SPEAKER_08]: yeah a lot of big names you've actually been able to work with through the years and again that's kind of just

[01:45:27] [SPEAKER_08]: invaluable experience throughout one thing that I'll draw a pair of LL here too and I hate to do this

[01:45:33] [SPEAKER_08]: too because you got your girlfriend she's been here at MTSU for years heck of a soccer player but when I did

[01:45:39] [SPEAKER_08]: my interview with her earlier one thing about her was that development side of things how that

[01:45:43] [SPEAKER_08]: stuff's invaluable even though she had the opportunity she probably could have gone somewhere else she

[01:45:49] [SPEAKER_08]: much like that here on the defense so when I draw on that parallel to you talk about what Mason

[01:45:54] [SPEAKER_08]: brings to the table as far as getting this football team out and about getting your name out there

[01:45:58] [SPEAKER_08]: you feel that that connection with the community with this new coaching staff absolutely and it'll

[01:46:03] [SPEAKER_03]: be little things like going to the boys and girls club or just making an appearance at the

[01:46:07] [SPEAKER_03]: farmers market on the weekend you know just little things and you start gaining more and more

[01:46:10] [SPEAKER_08]: with the community all these new guys they're their new to my free's borough where where you take

[01:46:15] [SPEAKER_08]: them to what what where's the hangout spot when you're not when you're not at practice when you're

[01:46:19] [SPEAKER_03]: not doing game film where are you taking these guys well go USA usually a fun spot to go to if we're

[01:46:24] [SPEAKER_03]: going to you got to go to the boulevard there's just a whole bunch of can do now there's main event

[01:46:29] [SPEAKER_03]: there's just so much to do and you know with Nashville 45 minutes away there's a whole there's a place

[01:46:33] [SPEAKER_03]: I like called game terminal whole bunch of old arcade games so that's pretty cool play this put put

[01:46:38] [SPEAKER_08]: ever get a little a little tough out there go USA is that was that what you guys are doing I mean

[01:46:43] [SPEAKER_03]: imagine how competitive that can get it can get very competitive and you know if you lose

[01:46:47] [SPEAKER_08]: you're going to be hearing about it for the next week or so I overheard at the CUSA media days

[01:46:51] [SPEAKER_08]: too about the NCAA football what your experience now you see yourself alive in action are you

[01:46:56] [SPEAKER_08]: getting better because I know that Nick threw out that he was watching guys play a known with scorn

[01:46:59] [SPEAKER_08]: how is how is your NCAA football career going right now it's going pretty good I mean more hours

[01:47:04] [SPEAKER_03]: are being logged every day so well they used to be but you know with the camp grind but I'm slowly

[01:47:11] [SPEAKER_08]: absolutely well that was outside linebacker senior graduate now graduate outside linebacker

[01:47:17] [SPEAKER_08]: Devon Curtis Devon I appreciate you taking the time to join us today sir thank you

[01:47:31] [SPEAKER_05]: like you said I'll come up from a new school so you just trying to fill your way out and just

[01:47:35] [SPEAKER_05]: try to gravitate so you're going group of guys and in the debut room you know we kind of all have

[01:47:39] [SPEAKER_05]: our similar personalities and we all have the same interest in everything so I'm has been a really

[01:47:43] [SPEAKER_05]: smooth transition I pretty much know a lot of the coaching staff and everything so I'm really

[01:47:47] [SPEAKER_08]: just here trying to help in any way I can and your introduction in the college you actually

[01:47:50] [SPEAKER_08]: new Derek Mason right that was your initial recruiting prospect so like tell me how

[01:47:55] [SPEAKER_08]: that changed over the years because obviously he was out of Vanderbilt you go to wake for

[01:47:59] [SPEAKER_08]: his he's no longer in the head coach position he comes into issue did you reach out to him

[01:48:03] [SPEAKER_08]: he reached out to you how did that recruiting process work so it really came as a shock and a surprise

[01:48:07] [SPEAKER_05]: to me so upon graduated from wake 4 is I was in the transfer portal and I was just kind of

[01:48:17] [SPEAKER_05]: talk about the heart he hired here and I really didn't want to text him individually so I was

[01:48:22] [SPEAKER_05]: like I'm going to get a little time and he hired me to be blue who was actually my position coach

[01:48:25] [SPEAKER_05]: for now the freshman I've been to put up so as soon as I saw a blue get higher I texted him the

[01:48:30] [SPEAKER_05]: same day restart to him and he was I hey man we just going to get you on the visit this weekend you

[01:48:34] [SPEAKER_05]: know see if you want to be a part of here see if you want to come here and everything so

[01:48:37] [SPEAKER_08]: talking about secondary coach Bryce Lewis right yeah when he talked about coaches he's coming

[01:48:41] [SPEAKER_08]: to issue from Vanderbilt as well I'm sure they have the connection there with with Mason that's

[01:48:45] [SPEAKER_08]: always interesting to hear the story of all the guys because it seems to be that way that

[01:48:49] [SPEAKER_08]: it was just a text message a visit later and then boom you're a blue writer so that's always

[01:48:53] [SPEAKER_08]: a cool story but I want to hear your connection Bryce Lewis obviously you have a good

[01:48:57] [SPEAKER_08]: rapport with him coach defensive coordinator Brian Stewart what's that connection like so

[01:49:02] [SPEAKER_05]: is really cool to be able to play for somebody who's coach at a higher level and then they feel

[01:49:06] [SPEAKER_05]: and who's seen the how I supposed to be done and who's seen and like you know so

[01:49:10] [SPEAKER_05]: being under him I've learned so much so much more just even just a short period of time you know

[01:49:15] [SPEAKER_05]: I'm able to see the game in a different way that I haven't before and I'm being able to see

[01:49:19] [SPEAKER_05]: the more the ends and outs and everything it's just making me a better player and the development

[01:49:23] [SPEAKER_08]: my knowledge of the football game absolutely and to lean back on it and I asked Devon the same thing

[01:49:29] [SPEAKER_08]: guys that have so much experience at the division one level you're kind of you're putting this

[01:49:34] [SPEAKER_08]: position now where you're Mason he's building a culture and you're an integral part of that

[01:49:38] [SPEAKER_08]: because now you have to show a lot of these younger guys what it means to win football games

[01:49:42] [SPEAKER_08]: what it means to be a division one safety or secondary player however that looks and not only how

[01:49:46] [SPEAKER_08]: does that look on a football field how does it look in a weight room with coach black and

[01:49:49] [SPEAKER_08]: it kind of looking a classroom so I'm sure that's something that you don't necessarily take very

[01:49:52] [SPEAKER_05]: lightly yeah I mean I remember being a freshman and kind of coming in loss and I really know

[01:49:57] [SPEAKER_05]: it's going on just trying to find my way so now I'm on the back end of it I'm pretty pretty much

[01:50:01] [SPEAKER_05]: a lot of experience and I just know how to do it and what to do so and I see the guys

[01:50:05] [SPEAKER_05]: the younger guys that look up to me and they they ask me a question when I want to figure out

[01:50:09] [SPEAKER_05]: something and everything so I just try to be that example and be that role model for those

[01:50:12] [SPEAKER_05]: guys because I remember I wanted somebody to look up to and I had that. I've rolled in question

[01:50:17] [SPEAKER_08]: for all the football players that are going to be gracing the microphone today into double

[01:50:21] [SPEAKER_08]: a football what's it like see yourself on there and what's your game like? Man it's crazy

[01:50:26] [SPEAKER_05]: because I never always thought I was like yeah I probably want to see myself on that until I make it

[01:50:30] [SPEAKER_05]: to the NFL then boom they come out with the game so it's just it's just a blessing and it's

[01:50:35] [SPEAKER_05]: falter in the field and like your friends and you love saying hey man you got to pick

[01:50:39] [SPEAKER_05]: today and stuff so it's really cool to be able to see that in the game. Where do you stack up on

[01:50:43] [SPEAKER_08]: the roster are you are you top tier football player on NCAA 25 or you mid tier where you

[01:50:48] [SPEAKER_08]: add in regards to your teammates here are you good who's going win in a one-on-one tournament?

[01:50:53] [SPEAKER_05]: Uh I probably was that I'm top five. This some guys that play everyday who we grinded in it

[01:50:58] [SPEAKER_05]: I just play casually but it is pretty fun. You want to shout out who those guys are we'll put

[01:51:02] [SPEAKER_05]: on notice Jordan Thompson Jay's at the corner and I've durped the other corner he's those guys

[01:51:09] [SPEAKER_05]: are pretty elite at the game. I got you we see where their priorities are right all right well that's

[01:51:13] [SPEAKER_08]: that is graduate safety Brendan Harris joining us here in the Blue Raider podcast Brendan I appreciate

[01:51:17] [SPEAKER_08]: you taking the time. It's all appreciate you coming off mute welcome back into the Blue Raider podcast

[01:51:39] [SPEAKER_08]: I am now joined by Greg another graduate safety more of a Myers more of a how's it going man

[01:51:44] [SPEAKER_08]: is going marvelous nice to be here appreciate you having absolutely well you're another

[01:51:49] [SPEAKER_08]: experience guy much like Devon that we just had on a few minutes ago that has been here as whole career

[01:51:54] [SPEAKER_08]: college that's very unique in today's game and it'll lots be respected about your willingness to stick

[01:51:59] [SPEAKER_08]: around the program what was your decision that went into staying here when Mason was it was an

[01:52:05] [SPEAKER_04]: ounces the head coach. Just it's simple you know I knew Mason would come in with a good mindset on his

[01:52:12] [SPEAKER_04]: head of coaching staff and I did my research on him when I heard that he may be the next head coach

[01:52:17] [SPEAKER_04]: and the thing that got my attention was he was a man of faith you know I'm a man of faith myself

[01:52:21] [SPEAKER_04]: and to see that to know that I'm coming in with a coaching staff that knows his bigger than ball

[01:52:25] [SPEAKER_04]: but also push me to be a better man better player even a better father so just to see how they

[01:52:31] [SPEAKER_04]: handled themselves in the whole process and how they came in you know I had time to hit the portal

[01:52:36] [SPEAKER_04]: if I wanted to but to be around these guys and to see their mindset and experience that they have

[01:52:40] [SPEAKER_04]: on the coaching level I made the right decision to stay here and learn from them.

[01:52:44] [SPEAKER_08]: I loved I loved to hear that especially when talking about the character things outside of football

[01:52:48] [SPEAKER_08]: that are so much more important and and I'll echo this same question I had for Brendan is

[01:52:53] [SPEAKER_08]: as a guy that has this now responsibility of creating a culture you've met Mason now you understand

[01:52:58] [SPEAKER_08]: what he expects out of you know take talk about what the position is like for you in regards to

[01:53:03] [SPEAKER_08]: developing these younger guys understanding what it takes to win football games not only on the field

[01:53:08] [SPEAKER_04]: so our goal as a team is to win a conference championship with character integrity and academic

[01:53:13] [SPEAKER_04]: elicence excellent so to be here and to be an enroll to get back to the youth and you know like

[01:53:19] [SPEAKER_04]: build these guys up I've been here before I play behind a Javante Malfet reblankership de cutemus

[01:53:25] [SPEAKER_04]: and to see how those guys handled themselves and what they did and that extra they put in to

[01:53:29] [SPEAKER_04]: get where they are you not took some notes and now I just try to be the best example for those guys

[01:53:34] [SPEAKER_04]: by being a good off the field handling things right being on time being early doing the extra mile

[01:53:40] [SPEAKER_04]: you know I really appreciate and I really take that mental seriously to be a leader and to

[01:53:45] [SPEAKER_04]: try to build up people because you know that's what we need there the foundation that is team

[01:53:49] [SPEAKER_04]: you know me and Brendan and Devon we're going to be pretty gone soon so it's going to be on

[01:53:54] [SPEAKER_04]: those guys to keep them to coach alive and to follow up behind Mason so it's just a really living

[01:53:59] [SPEAKER_04]: what Mason is preaching and letting those guys know they can do the same thing yeah that that

[01:54:04] [SPEAKER_08]: that is a cool piece of what you've been a part of when you come to MTSU talk about guys that have

[01:54:08] [SPEAKER_08]: had their crack at college Malfet was a guy who was probably a my opinion issue when

[01:54:12] [SPEAKER_08]: it's going to fail until he gets an shoulder issue later on in his career but Blake and Chip

[01:54:16] [SPEAKER_08]: everyone knows what he's doing right now in Philly so that's that is a really cool parallel

[01:54:20] [SPEAKER_08]: that you're drawing there with a lot of those guys but I want to get back to what you're

[01:54:24] [SPEAKER_08]: seeing on the field here with with a new defense coordinator coach Stewart you got a new

[01:54:28] [SPEAKER_08]: secondary coaching brides Luis I know that Harris has a little bit of a history with him

[01:54:32] [SPEAKER_08]: how are you how are you flicking with those guys man I'm clicking pretty well you know just

[01:54:35] [SPEAKER_04]: suggestion to their coaching styles uh cause brides Lewis you know he's pretty energetic coach um

[01:54:41] [SPEAKER_04]: Stu is you know he's very serious and detail oriented so he wants you to be focused out there

[01:54:46] [SPEAKER_04]: but I'm really enjoying um soaking in the knowledge they have from the power of five level from

[01:54:50] [SPEAKER_04]: the NFL level and to just get the coaching points that you know he gave to some great pros

[01:54:55] [SPEAKER_04]: to be able to put that in my arsenal and be able to go out there and play because make me see the

[01:54:58] [SPEAKER_08]: game from a whole different perspective and I appreciate that and talk to um about the the battles

[01:55:04] [SPEAKER_08]: that are going on Mason said at first day at fall camp that he's never had a program that's been

[01:55:08] [SPEAKER_08]: deeper with more battles throughout and you're kind of a part of that with the secondary um Sam

[01:55:12] [SPEAKER_08]: Dalton writer staff writer heard him to his shoes said that his hot take was that the running back

[01:55:16] [SPEAKER_08]: room is a deep but he thinks the secondary room is deeper and again you're here in your last year

[01:55:21] [SPEAKER_08]: it's like one of the situations where um what a competition breeds excellence and you're going to be

[01:55:26] [SPEAKER_08]: you're going to be a product to that so tell me about those battles you're going against with these

[01:55:29] [SPEAKER_08]: guys um what's that like um and I guess draw the parallel there you feel good that that you have

[01:55:35] [SPEAKER_08]: to battle every day at practice it's going to make you a better ball player right so coming out

[01:55:39] [SPEAKER_04]: and competing with these guys every day just makes you want to have that age each and every day

[01:55:42] [SPEAKER_04]: is making me go to extra mile off the field opening my extra work being detail oriented and that's

[01:55:51] [SPEAKER_04]: me's going to be as that for so that's pushing each and every one of us in all positions

[01:55:54] [SPEAKER_04]: to stay ready to be ready and compete and it's making us make a lot of plays on the field first

[01:55:59] [SPEAKER_04]: offence and like you spoke on the run-and-back room they're pretty deep too line back

[01:56:03] [SPEAKER_04]: room is deep uh D line is deep you know I feel like our whole team is deep and it's a lot of

[01:56:07] [SPEAKER_04]: guys who are hungry to go out there and make a name for themselves and that's what we need to be

[01:56:11] [SPEAKER_08]: a good defense and great team absolutely well as we wrap up here Marveille you said this before

[01:56:15] [SPEAKER_08]: we came on we're going to address EA sports right now I know that I know that an executive for me

[01:56:20] [SPEAKER_08]: is listening to this interview right now you've got a little beef with the ratings you got there

[01:56:24] [SPEAKER_08]: and have a little football let's go ahead and let's put it on the table address with

[01:56:26] [SPEAKER_04]: what issues you got um I'm blessed to be a part of the game but there's one thing I know

[01:56:30] [SPEAKER_04]: is about my care to EA and I just want uh this to be adjusted I don't care if it's after a few games

[01:56:35] [SPEAKER_04]: but I have the slowest speed in the second area on our team and I feel like a that should be bumped up

[01:56:42] [SPEAKER_04]: you know I deserve at least a 87 speed made a lot of good plays running so on my versatility on the field

[01:56:48] [SPEAKER_04]: but if I have to prove that again just I just want to special eye to watch me throughout this year

[01:56:53] [SPEAKER_04]: so we can boost that speed up because a lot of people take me telling me they can beat over top of my

[01:56:57] [SPEAKER_08]: dude having having a tough time in cover too with Marveille mine as well I'm excited about what you

[01:57:03] [SPEAKER_08]: got this year obviously like you said maybe we'll get a couple games under your belt you'll

[01:57:06] [SPEAKER_08]: feel a lot better about that rating but Marveille I appreciate you taking the time to stop by the

[01:57:09] [SPEAKER_08]: Blue Raider podcast and the best of luck to you this season yeah sorry for you said you

[01:57:20] [SPEAKER_08]: and welcome back into the Blue Raider podcast sorry for that long haul there we're waiting on

[01:57:24] [SPEAKER_08]: Marveille he's quite the hot commodity out here at Media Day junior wide out

[01:57:29] [SPEAKER_08]: Marveille Kelly I have you pinpointed as an absolute superstar for this year no pressure

[01:57:33] [SPEAKER_08]: but Marveille welcome to the show and I'm wondering I wanted to bring up about you when I

[01:57:38] [SPEAKER_08]: talk about the super star in you and I met you at the spring game during Media Vailability

[01:57:43] [SPEAKER_08]: and the one thing I brought up was a chip on your shoulder you're coming from Auburn you maybe

[01:57:47] [SPEAKER_08]: didn't see the minutes that you wanted there but you had you had some play and time there you're

[01:57:51] [SPEAKER_08]: an MTSU to kind of make a name for yourself you fit the Mason archetype if you will about a

[01:57:56] [SPEAKER_08]: guy that's willing to work hard every day and make a name for himself tell me a little bit about the

[01:57:59] [SPEAKER_13]: grind for you here at MTSU well first thank you for having me yeah and I feel like the grind is just

[01:58:05] [SPEAKER_13]: the grind is what it is really I feel like everybody has to everybody has to put in their own

[01:58:10] [SPEAKER_13]: type of work to get what they want out of this game so I feel like the work I put in is going to

[01:58:15] [SPEAKER_13]: put me where I need to be and give me everything I want and one thing we noticed today is that

[01:58:20] [SPEAKER_08]: co-treaters not shy to give you the ball and you know I know you're rolling through ones and they'll put

[01:58:24] [SPEAKER_08]: different cornerbacks on you every every snapper so but they're not shy about getting you to

[01:58:28] [SPEAKER_08]: ball that seems to be an integral part is that a discussion you've had a lot with with Mason and

[01:58:31] [SPEAKER_08]: reader about your utility and how much you're going to be used on the offense uh not really uh we

[01:58:37] [SPEAKER_13]: normally we're never talking we just talk about different concepts with different players we're going to

[01:58:40] [SPEAKER_08]: write and so anyway but you you get a lot of those reps out there CB with other CBs I want to know

[01:58:46] [SPEAKER_08]: your take who's your favorite to go up against? Um who makes you better? Who makes me all of

[01:58:54] [SPEAKER_13]: them make me better but I say the most the most fun the goal gets are probably abdool and um

[01:59:02] [SPEAKER_08]: and trade for okay why specifically why so I mean are they more more physical with you they

[01:59:07] [SPEAKER_08]: make it hard are they good with with after catch getting that ball knocking about what about

[01:59:11] [SPEAKER_08]: their what about their game makes it more fun to go up against and practice? Um I feel like with

[01:59:14] [SPEAKER_13]: do he he has he has really good technique and he's physical at the point of the catch and trade

[01:59:21] [SPEAKER_13]: trades is physical throughout the whole throughout the whole route and I feel like that's going

[01:59:26] [SPEAKER_13]: to help with us when we go against bigger DBs and stronger DBs and you definitely bring a different

[01:59:31] [SPEAKER_08]: perspective here to MTSU because you're going in conference USA you know there there are a good

[01:59:35] [SPEAKER_08]: share of top-end talent at talk about like briling green over at liberty uh Jacksonville State has

[01:59:40] [SPEAKER_08]: got themselves to guy that's on an all-american watchlist seat there's a lot of guys out there that

[01:59:43] [SPEAKER_08]: is definitely tough but you bring some SEC experience and you know the level of talent

[01:59:47] [SPEAKER_08]: in the SEC it's littered all throughout what are kind of some experiences that you're drawing from

[01:59:51] [SPEAKER_08]: Auburn that you're going to carry over here to issue that are kind of make you better ball player

[01:59:54] [SPEAKER_13]: um just experiences like in terms of sharing the knowledge that I have for in terms of like

[02:00:00] [SPEAKER_13]: coverages and getting open and things like that because I've been under good coaches legendary

[02:00:06] [SPEAKER_13]: coaches like I heal your he was my coach at all my first mirror and he taught me a lot

[02:00:11] [SPEAKER_13]: and things things like that just just help me out and I'm just glad I'm in a position where

[02:00:17] [SPEAKER_08]: I can help them out at the same time. Perfect timing here as Nick's approaching the 10 here

[02:00:21] [SPEAKER_08]: I want to know what your connection with him is like he's he's a main stay here in

[02:00:25] [SPEAKER_08]: purpose forever when knows and loves him you're kind of a new name to people in purpose

[02:00:28] [SPEAKER_08]: bro what's your connection been like with Nick and how has he done it as far as introducing

[02:00:31] [SPEAKER_13]: you to purpose bro? That's my guy man me and Nick uh we hang out outside of football so

[02:00:35] [SPEAKER_13]: I feel like that's only that's doing nothing but helping us get a better relationship and get

[02:00:41] [SPEAKER_08]: Nick's just he's just a good guy man all around absolutely and the development off the field is

[02:00:47] [SPEAKER_08]: going to pay dividends for you any other wider severs that you kind of I know I pin pointed

[02:00:51] [SPEAKER_08]: you as the wider silver one any other guys that you see in your room that that have pressed you

[02:00:56] [SPEAKER_13]: early on in fall camp that we should keep an eye on. Miles Butler, uh camera Lacy, uh Keller Stewart

[02:01:03] [SPEAKER_13]: Sam Dr. Getsu can't sleep on Drake. Drake got hands like magnets so

[02:01:08] [SPEAKER_08]: I really I was really impressed. I love it you mentioned camera Lacy. The word I describe on him is

[02:01:14] [SPEAKER_08]: slippery like they do always seems to find a hole so I'm sorry it's interesting here you say that but

[02:01:19] [SPEAKER_08]: Omarie I appreciate you. So far boot today having a few words with us. I'm excited about your upcoming

[02:01:24] [SPEAKER_08]: season and I wish nothing but the best. Yeah, so thank you um and welcome back into the Bluator podcast

[02:01:35] [SPEAKER_08]: I am with another familiar face on the M2 as you bluator roster quarterback

[02:01:40] [SPEAKER_08]: Are you at junior eligibility now? It feels like you've been here for a minute and COVID

[02:01:44] [SPEAKER_08]: throws a wrench in that where are you at as far as eligibility goes so I didn't get COVID

[02:01:48] [SPEAKER_09]: I graduated high school in 2021 so okay I'm going on my fourth this will be my fourth season plan

[02:01:53] [SPEAKER_09]: okay and I have this year and then one more year to play one more year okay. Okay, I say

[02:01:57] [SPEAKER_08]: you've been here for a minute and because your first season here was got a whirlwind of quarterbacks

[02:02:02] [SPEAKER_08]: you got the MVP in the bowl game there I think uh I guess that your career's just kind of been all over

[02:02:07] [SPEAKER_08]: place and you've become a mainstay. I bring up the MVP bowl game. Where do you draw from that

[02:02:12] [SPEAKER_08]: experience that has carried you at such a young age of a division one quarterback to now where

[02:02:16] [SPEAKER_08]: you're kind of a coveted top three guy top two guy and see USA you're talked about across the country

[02:02:20] [SPEAKER_08]: so where do you draw from that experience as far as your growth is at the one quarterback?

[02:02:24] [SPEAKER_09]: Yeah, I mean you're right it feels like a lifetime ago. I mean it honestly I get

[02:02:28] [SPEAKER_09]: I mean I think it had been 30 years ago and I would have been like if you told me it was 30 years

[02:02:32] [SPEAKER_09]: ago I would probably have been like you're right but I mean I think I've learned a lot since since that

[02:02:37] [SPEAKER_09]: true freshman season I mean just like you said it was kind of like a whirlwind of things going on

[02:02:42] [SPEAKER_09]: you know kind of quarterbacks here quarterbacks leave in quarterbacks in quarterbacks in quarterbacks

[02:02:45] [SPEAKER_09]: getting hurt but you know kind of sort of the end of season I try to go in and I had a role and uh

[02:02:49] [SPEAKER_09]: you know we we've found a way that season that just kind of become bowl eligible. We got to play

[02:02:54] [SPEAKER_09]: a really really good Toledo team that defense was stacked and I think they got some guys in the

[02:02:59] [SPEAKER_09]: NFL now um you know we were able to you know just bear down and pull out a win and I think

[02:03:04] [SPEAKER_09]: I learned a lot from my true freshman season. I mean obviously like my first start versus

[02:03:07] [SPEAKER_09]: Western at Western I thought five interceptions right not your ideal first start and college football

[02:03:12] [SPEAKER_09]: but I mean listen all you can do is you know control which you control at a you know

[02:03:17] [SPEAKER_09]: whatever happens go to a bad you got to move on to the next thing whether it's the next play

[02:03:21] [SPEAKER_09]: the next game you know and I think taking that mentality from my freshman year and just applying it

[02:03:25] [SPEAKER_09]: to myself more and like even my junior season last year it's just like you know good or bad next

[02:03:30] [SPEAKER_09]: play move on clear headed you know I think if you have a clear mind you can play you know you can play

[02:03:35] [SPEAKER_09]: clear and play play confident too and I think that's really important. Forge by fire is I think the

[02:03:40] [SPEAKER_08]: saying as goes about your freshman season they are like you've literally just got thrown into the fire

[02:03:43] [SPEAKER_08]: you had to figure it out it's paying dividends for you now later on in your career um one thing

[02:03:48] [SPEAKER_08]: that I think I was stunned by was you stocks to leave but you stayed you didn't immediately into the

[02:03:55] [SPEAKER_08]: portal I want to know from your perspective what went into the decision to stay where is it kind of like

[02:04:00] [SPEAKER_08]: you were waiting to see who do we hire where you in talks you know what how how did that whole how

[02:04:04] [SPEAKER_09]: how did the whole thing go down yeah I didn't I didn't want to just you know jump the gun make like an

[02:04:09] [SPEAKER_09]: emotional decision and then at the port I mean the portals that's a crazy place you know no town

[02:04:13] [SPEAKER_09]: what can happen I did I want to you know I think just talking to my parents to talking to you know even

[02:04:18] [SPEAKER_09]: talking to I mean philosophy like just getting advice from Brent from Brent Stocksill like you know kind of about

[02:04:23] [SPEAKER_09]: you know he played the position you know he's a very he's a very smart man you know just want to get

[02:04:27] [SPEAKER_09]: advice on things and you know he was very adamant about like just you know listen like wait and see

[02:04:32] [SPEAKER_09]: who they are you know maybe it's a good fit and I think you know when when they hired coach Mason

[02:04:37] [SPEAKER_09]: coach Mason the first that the the night he was hired he came and he spoke to the team and I think from

[02:04:42] [SPEAKER_09]: that moment you know we just started to build a really good relationship I think his vision we shared

[02:04:47] [SPEAKER_09]: the same goals we shared the same vision about where we want this team to be and where we want to go

[02:04:50] [SPEAKER_09]: and you know ever since then we've continued to build our relationship and you know I have full trust in

[02:04:55] [SPEAKER_09]: and I think that's why I stayed and you know we have a good group of guys whether it's guys who were here last

[02:04:59] [SPEAKER_09]: year returning or guys new guys you know we have a really really good group really talented group a smart group

[02:05:04] [SPEAKER_09]: you know a group that plays with confidence I think you know you never know what's going to happen you know

[02:05:09] [SPEAKER_09]: tables wide open and I think you know we have a really really good opportunity to do a lot of good things

[02:05:13] [SPEAKER_08]: this season I think it's interesting you bring up the point there on Brent you've worked with a lot of

[02:05:17] [SPEAKER_08]: quarterbacks but Brent was kind of a weird cog to the whole thing if you will because of his relationship

[02:05:21] [SPEAKER_08]: obviously with his father but where he is with the university I think that's it's quite the character

[02:05:25] [SPEAKER_08]: of him to say something like that in your best interest because it's very easy to make an emotional

[02:05:29] [SPEAKER_08]: decision when it happens especially if you're listening to Brent as some sort of mentor to yourself yeah

[02:05:33] [SPEAKER_09]: and I mean I mean Brent is a phenomenal human being you know he's a role well he's someone I

[02:05:39] [SPEAKER_09]: looked up to him coach stock and I think like I always say like a big reason I feel like what

[02:05:44] [SPEAKER_09]: got me an empty issue was kind of the kind of person coach stock is and I think what helped me

[02:05:48] [SPEAKER_09]: is the kind of person coach Mason is you know you take the football away and he's a really good

[02:05:52] [SPEAKER_09]: human being a really good person you know he has standards his morals and I could get behind someone

[02:05:56] [SPEAKER_09]: like that I respect him I looked up to Coach Mason he leads our team you know and that's something

[02:06:01] [SPEAKER_09]: like I saw that in Coach stock and Brent and I look up to them and they're my role models and I

[02:06:05] [SPEAKER_09]: think now like I can see that in Coach Mason leading this team as well and I have full confidence

[02:06:10] [SPEAKER_09]: in his vision his goals what he what he has us doing and I mean he's he's leading this ship

[02:06:16] [SPEAKER_09]: and we're right behind him so I'm excited a little behind the scenes I think Mason's behind

[02:06:20] [SPEAKER_08]: the camera I see I don't know if that is anything to see what I'd say that is anything to do with

[02:06:24] [SPEAKER_08]: the hide and he's hard look at them he's wearing pants out here he's crazy but

[02:06:29] [SPEAKER_08]: draw back to your to your roster where the wider seabro makeup it's kind of a whole new room

[02:06:32] [SPEAKER_08]: other than Willis is kind of a mainstay had last year how are you mentioned with those guys

[02:06:36] [SPEAKER_09]: it's been phenomenal I think the good thing is a lot of guys a lot of newer seabro here in the spring

[02:06:42] [SPEAKER_09]: so I mean we started working on that chemistry early and then miles haze they kind of got here

[02:06:48] [SPEAKER_09]: in the summer so I think just getting it grips with them like it's been really good I think a

[02:06:52] [SPEAKER_09]: Mari leads that room holding who's really a tight end in tight end room but I mean hold

[02:06:56] [SPEAKER_09]: and you could put them anywhere and he'll freaking ball out so I think holding in a Mari kind of

[02:07:00] [SPEAKER_09]: just leading like those outside guys like getting them going and then tomorrow on haze miles

[02:07:05] [SPEAKER_09]: calen camp like everyone's kind of like you know it's not like one guy standing out like everyone's

[02:07:11] [SPEAKER_09]: making plays the ball spread around I think you know like I said a Mari's doing a great job

[02:07:15] [SPEAKER_09]: just being a leader in that room kind of getting guys to follow him and you know like that's my

[02:07:19] [SPEAKER_09]: guy like those all those are all my guys and I mean I'm excited to see what we do this year absolutely

[02:07:25] [SPEAKER_08]: I'm excited to have QB body auto joining us the only man that could hold up Derek Mason from

[02:07:29] [SPEAKER_08]: interview but Nick I appreciate you stepping in and joining the show thank you so much

[02:07:44] [SPEAKER_08]: all right and we are back on the Blue Rader podcast the man that we've all been waiting for

[02:07:49] [SPEAKER_08]: I've been out here since seven coach I'm dying but just all all for this man right here I'm excited to

[02:07:54] [SPEAKER_08]: have you back on the podcast this time in person coach your your weekend to fall camp how you feeling

[02:08:01] [SPEAKER_02]: it's been spectacular I think anytime I mean we're on the grass today right

[02:08:06] [SPEAKER_02]: our grass feels good it's a change up from the turf our stadium right now is is full of players with a lot of

[02:08:15] [SPEAKER_02]: energy trying to get better in a space where you know that's the only option right that's what camping

[02:08:21] [SPEAKER_02]: is campus about getting better it's about making sure that we put our best foot forward and these guys are

[02:08:26] [SPEAKER_02]: sort of attacked days I think you felt the energy when you came out here today I think you saw a football

[02:08:32] [SPEAKER_02]: team in that that's got 59 new faces but a lot of times that much newness can leave some stagnation

[02:08:42] [SPEAKER_02]: or this idea that we're sort of deer and a headlight we're not in that space right now I think

[02:08:47] [SPEAKER_02]: this this group is sort of player led by guys like Nick and Devon and in BH and and really Julia's

[02:08:55] [SPEAKER_02]: peers and other guys like that and our coach staff is doing great job just feeding them right we just

[02:09:02] [SPEAKER_02]: football's got to be played right you can you can give all the you know salilic weeds and all these

[02:09:09] [SPEAKER_02]: presentations but this game is about getting better between the white lines and that's what we're trying

[02:09:14] [SPEAKER_08]: to do coach I want to draw back it's the last week when you had your first immediate availability

[02:09:18] [SPEAKER_08]: after your first day of fall camp and something that just kind of struck a chord with me was you

[02:09:22] [SPEAKER_08]: got asked the question by Cecil Joyce the D&J about you not taking these days for granted

[02:09:28] [SPEAKER_08]: year ago you weren't here and now you're back out here you got a little emotional

[02:09:31] [SPEAKER_08]: I think that there's a part of that that I think is a blu-rayer fan you can really hang on to

[02:09:35] [SPEAKER_08]: hang your head on that as a fact that like all this matters to not only you but to all these kids because

[02:09:40] [SPEAKER_08]: if they can if they can all personify that same emotion that you have and just the question of

[02:09:44] [SPEAKER_08]: hey this is this is important to me I think there's a lot to take away from that and it speaks

[02:09:47] [SPEAKER_02]: volumes for what you're breathing into these kids lives yeah you know um the reason why you know

[02:09:53] [SPEAKER_02]: I sort of got emotional you know and I came back to this right I sort of made the decision

[02:10:01] [SPEAKER_02]: and like I didn't consult my daughters I didn't consult my wife like in in the right way you know

[02:10:07] [SPEAKER_02]: I was just excited about the opportunity but you know I mean sometimes but you could be

[02:10:13] [SPEAKER_02]: scarred by the process of what happens in this and like your family wants to see you do well

[02:10:18] [SPEAKER_02]: they think this is a great opportunity I believe it's the best scenario possible right not far from

[02:10:26] [SPEAKER_02]: you know where I been and like at a place like this this is not a rebuild this this is

[02:10:33] [SPEAKER_02]: this is like some three or four year rebuild this we have an opportunity now you know to go get it

[02:10:40] [SPEAKER_02]: and then I'm excited but emotional when it comes to it because uh you don't know when the second

[02:10:45] [SPEAKER_02]: chance is ever going to come and it came uh at the right time the right place with the right people

[02:10:51] [SPEAKER_02]: and I'm thankful so when you saw the emotions the emotions about like joy right I think you know

[02:10:59] [SPEAKER_02]: the the greatest the greatest emotion sometimes is joy and joy brings about a mirror to things in you

[02:11:05] [SPEAKER_02]: that day it just made me reflect as as I look don't take this for granted this is a special place

[02:11:12] [SPEAKER_02]: so make sure that you maximize your opportunity and I feel like there's not a day I walk into the

[02:11:18] [SPEAKER_02]: building and I'm not looking to get better along with the players and coaches to have me that

[02:11:23] [SPEAKER_08]: I'm taking the journey with it's too early in the interview coach but you got me feeling like

[02:11:27] [SPEAKER_08]: I already want to run through a brick wall and that's what I tell everybody the second after I talk

[02:11:31] [SPEAKER_08]: to you make me feel like I want to run through a brick wall but talk about talk about the staff now

[02:11:36] [SPEAKER_08]: you mentioned the 59 new players you you're overhauled the entire staff and we spoke about this last

[02:11:41] [SPEAKER_08]: week just in person pulled you side at the family fun thing last last week yeah

[02:11:46] [SPEAKER_08]: some people might look at that and say that's a disadvantage to the into issue program and you

[02:11:49] [SPEAKER_08]: just said it right there this isn't a rebuild even though you got all these new pieces by definition

[02:11:53] [SPEAKER_08]: you're rebuilding but you don't feel that way you feel that this is an opportunity for you that

[02:11:57] [SPEAKER_08]: you got new pieces but you're able to implement a new cultural with all those people you're

[02:12:01] [SPEAKER_08]: starting from scratch to per se but you've got the pieces you want and you feel good about what's what's

[02:12:06] [SPEAKER_02]: well I think again you know you really feel like you're starting from scratch when you

[02:12:13] [SPEAKER_02]: when you don't have a quarterback okay and you know Nick body out of his as experienced as

[02:12:21] [SPEAKER_02]: nuanced a quarterback coming back as there is in this conference right so you look there and you say

[02:12:28] [SPEAKER_02]: okay how do we build around it so you try to give them an offensive line that's bigger

[02:12:34] [SPEAKER_02]: no longer little more athletic and let's let's go with this group you know you try to bolster

[02:12:41] [SPEAKER_02]: the skill rooms you you implement the ability to play with tight ends you know to sort of

[02:12:49] [SPEAKER_02]: secure edges and open up the middle of the field a little bit and you get dynamic you know

[02:12:54] [SPEAKER_02]: on outside would skill that can run so I think that complementary defense we lost some really good

[02:13:02] [SPEAKER_02]: but it was sort of played into this space that if we can if we can put really good players

[02:13:11] [SPEAKER_02]: athletic players in position and I think that's the key right not making them conform but playing

[02:13:18] [SPEAKER_02]: to their strengths you know a lot of people want to say okay well it's this game and this

[02:13:22] [SPEAKER_02]: game is going to be now we looked at our players and we said this this this this is what fits our

[02:13:28] [SPEAKER_02]: this is what their strengths are skill set wise let's let's let's stay there right and I think that's

[02:13:36] [SPEAKER_02]: learning lesson for me my second time through in this that's it's gonna pay dividends for this

[02:13:41] [SPEAKER_02]: football team and it's it's gonna allow us to go further faster okay and I think sometimes you can you can get

[02:13:48] [SPEAKER_02]: stuck trying to be methodical hey man I'm trying to scratch where it is just okay and and that's a

[02:13:55] [SPEAKER_02]: place to be because it's competitive today man you watch the end of practice it was extremely competitive

[02:14:01] [SPEAKER_02]: and the energy was high well that only comes when guys know I mean it was 11-11 okay how balanced is that

[02:14:09] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean I couldn't script it any better you know for a team period at the end of practice it's 11 you know

[02:14:14] [SPEAKER_02]: to 11 and there's one play to decide it all so and you saw the energy guys are jumping hollering

[02:14:20] [SPEAKER_02]: you know chanting and somebody had to win somebody had to lose fortunately offense one defense

[02:14:25] [SPEAKER_02]: loss and you know the push-ups you know guys will do something crazy for a T-shirt and push-ups you

[02:14:32] [SPEAKER_02]: know it's sort of crazy but that's that's the love of the game absolutely and I love how you

[02:14:40] [SPEAKER_08]: talk about you're not strong arm in the philosophy there you're gonna you're gonna take with

[02:14:43] [SPEAKER_08]: what the personnel gives you yeah one guy wasn't able to speak to at least not yet anyways it's

[02:14:47] [SPEAKER_08]: coordinator Brian Stewart but you're your defensive guy and he's kind of a guy that personifies

[02:14:52] [SPEAKER_08]: that if not strong arm in the philosophy he's working with what he's got you're having to rebuild

[02:14:55] [SPEAKER_08]: the defensive line they got obliterated in the portal but you feel good about the piece as you added

[02:14:59] [SPEAKER_08]: and then the secondary is as Sam doubtten had said to me he feels like that's probably one of

[02:15:04] [SPEAKER_08]: the deeper rooms across the roster is that secondary so how do you feel about how do you feel about

[02:15:08] [SPEAKER_02]: the defense you know I think you build a defense front to back right if you look in the

[02:15:16] [SPEAKER_02]: D-line room there were some guys here with Buckner stew the Monte a young bionum

[02:15:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Sky Woods these guys were guys who who had waited their turn but then you know you add you know

[02:15:34] [SPEAKER_02]: need to walk you you you you you meant a newly signed Alex Williams transfer from Vanity

[02:15:44] [SPEAKER_02]: that that I think's gonna you know helps to litify with that front is you bring in some guys you know

[02:15:53] [SPEAKER_02]: with with a Gillespie sitting inside and and we got another big guy I can't remember

[02:16:00] [SPEAKER_02]: they're so deep yeah I'm trying to remember all names but I mean we're just deep so I think

[02:16:06] [SPEAKER_02]: the idea that we solidified our death matters yeah I'd like for us and then

[02:16:13] [SPEAKER_02]: the back is gonna be what they are right I mean the little more experience we've got some young

[02:16:18] [SPEAKER_02]: and old we don't have the mid groups in there like what they said but secondary wise

[02:16:24] [SPEAKER_02]: everybody was wondering what we're going to do with the secondary I think

[02:16:29] [SPEAKER_02]: portal football and you know COVID you know gave us some gifts you know the Ricky Smiths of

[02:16:35] [SPEAKER_02]: the world I mean you look at the Brendan Harris you know he's a COVID gift you know when you look

[02:16:40] [SPEAKER_02]: at like where we said with Jaylin Jackson that's a COVID gift you know like these are guys

[02:16:44] [SPEAKER_02]: when who have a lot of experience but then you bring in the Mohammed you bring in the Jonathan

[02:16:49] [SPEAKER_02]: House of the World you start to look at you know what's in your program you know with Ferrell

[02:16:55] [SPEAKER_02]: and you know some of these other guys inside you know but we went to Indiana man and got

[02:16:59] [SPEAKER_02]: minds and I think these guys have made our DB room look different we're long. I work explosive

[02:17:06] [SPEAKER_02]: and that's to add to like Marveille and and and and see Jaylin some of the other guys have

[02:17:11] [SPEAKER_02]: already here so that makes you deeper in special teams right so it changes the landscape

[02:17:17] [SPEAKER_02]: of the way we can play football and I think that that's what's still was excited about he was

[02:17:21] [SPEAKER_02]: excited to see front depth and like back in you know guys I could take the ball out of the air

[02:17:27] [SPEAKER_02]: and a guy that I forgot to mention but I think he's probably had dust fall camp is de-arty

[02:17:33] [SPEAKER_02]: McDonald really that dude's played phenomenal yeah so I think we're in good hands face right now

[02:17:39] [SPEAKER_08]: yeah local guy again a de-arty McDonald Oakland product for those that don't know it

[02:17:43] [SPEAKER_08]: yep and yeah he's he's outside lineback her nickel back but now he's moving out to the corner

[02:17:47] [SPEAKER_02]: he's going to he and he's down to he he he he's a pure corner you know like in my mind

[02:17:55] [SPEAKER_02]: he's big enough to play nickel we've seen him off the slot you know he can he can give you some

[02:18:01] [SPEAKER_02]: some you know rodwoods and type of flex because that dude can can guard inside but he

[02:18:07] [SPEAKER_02]: he's something special outside he's long he's strong he should have propensity to take the ball out

[02:18:12] [SPEAKER_02]: of the air the area was a great offensive weapon coming out of high school so when you look at

[02:18:15] [SPEAKER_08]: the ball skewer I mean it's pure quite the parallel with with rodwoods and throwing it back

[02:18:20] [SPEAKER_08]: there hall of fame or but but coach I'm getting the light that is time for you to head on over to another

[02:18:24] [SPEAKER_08]: to another episode but coach I appreciate you coming on again senior all around Murphy's

[02:18:29] [SPEAKER_08]: brother but it's good to finally see you in first time in the first of today but you too

[02:18:33] [SPEAKER_08]: got got bless your coach and I appreciate you coming on you too go blue go blue yes

[02:18:53] [SPEAKER_08]: welcome back into the blu-rayter podcast finally wrapping up it's been three and a half hours

[02:18:58] [SPEAKER_08]: of recording here at practice for those that may be joining on late I've got Shane Pickering here

[02:19:03] [SPEAKER_08]: partner with me over at go middle you were able to sit in all those interviews a lot of good stuff

[02:19:09] [SPEAKER_08]: like I was saying there with coach Mason man when I talk to him he makes me just want to run

[02:19:13] [SPEAKER_08]: through a brick wall if the if the team even has half the confidence that he has I think we're in

[02:19:18] [SPEAKER_07]: really good hands oh yeah absolutely I think he's brought a new level of confidence and toughness

[02:19:25] [SPEAKER_07]: to mentally to this team and I think you're going to see that play out this year especially as

[02:19:29] [SPEAKER_07]: the season goes on into that lighter stretch of the season absolutely and I wish I could have

[02:19:34] [SPEAKER_08]: gotten an opportunity to talk to him about that stretch we've been again I've been talking about

[02:19:38] [SPEAKER_08]: harping on is that mid game stretch see how that plays out there's so many things picking up

[02:19:42] [SPEAKER_08]: the season like I talked with coach reader about the new headsets at the quarterback and where as well

[02:19:46] [SPEAKER_08]: as a member of the defense can wear there's going to be so many new things but it's it's an exciting

[02:19:51] [SPEAKER_08]: season nonetheless about what Mason's building here on and off the field if you've seen his

[02:19:56] [SPEAKER_08]: stuff throughout Murphy'sboro if you have him bought your season ticket you need to do so

[02:20:00] [SPEAKER_08]: one thing exciting about the weirder podcast we will be doing a giveaway on the first game for

[02:20:04] [SPEAKER_08]: August 31st against Tennessee Tech so keep your eyes peeled for social media if you're not already

[02:20:08] [SPEAKER_08]: following us we're on Instagram Twitter tick-talk at Blue Raider pod if you're listening to our

[02:20:12] [SPEAKER_08]: live stream over at YouTube please please subscribe your help in the channel out as we continue to

[02:20:18] [SPEAKER_08]: grow and I'm excited about what the podcast is going to turn into this fall as we go my first full

[02:20:23] [SPEAKER_08]: academic year and my first actual football season covering in Shane hopefully he'll be a part

[02:20:28] [SPEAKER_08]: of that I know he will be over at go middle but Shane signed it off for last last little bit I

[02:20:33] [SPEAKER_08]: want to hear you know what your thoughts are on the season little prediction for the folks what

[02:20:37] [SPEAKER_07]: what's that record you got formed uh record wise I don't know but I think they make a bowl game

[02:20:41] [SPEAKER_07]: that's my prediction this year I think the line of scrimmage will determine whether that's

[02:20:46] [SPEAKER_07]: in six or seven and five I was talking with some people just a minute ago and Liberty coming in

[02:20:53] [SPEAKER_07]: late that could be an interesting game so maybe even eight and four if things fall the right way

[02:20:59] [SPEAKER_07]: but that's what everything going absolutely right but I think a bowl game would be a good start

[02:21:03] [SPEAKER_07]: and I think you come out to a practice like this and see everyone's bigger physically they're faster

[02:21:10] [SPEAKER_07]: their quicker and it's exciting times for a middle Tennessee football absolutely I'm excited like I said

[02:21:15] [SPEAKER_08]: practice look went well I'm excited for him to issue you having us out today to talk with all the

[02:21:20] [SPEAKER_08]: coaches I look forward to returning back to our weekly schedule in two weeks so keep eyes peeled for that

[02:21:25] [SPEAKER_08]: we'll start breaking down again the football I know I'll have Austin Lewis on as well as previewing

[02:21:29] [SPEAKER_08]: some of our false sports along with volleyball and soccer coaches on that week as well so keep your

[02:21:35] [SPEAKER_08]: peel for that announcement coming in two weeks and until next time go blue