Oct. 22, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The Nittany Lions head to Baltimore on Saturday for a matchup against Maryland inside M&T Bank Stadium.
Leading up to the clash against the Terps, offensive recruiting coordinator, assistant special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis talked with the media on Thursday to preview the game. Take a look at a Q&A with Coach Gattis.
Q: Where do you see the wide receiver unit from summer camp until now? Has the group improved in the areas you thought they would?
Gattis: "I've been very pleased. I think we have done a very good job in the role they've been asked to play. They've been unselfish. They have been active in the run game. They have really taken strides there, really taking on their assignments, which has led to some explosive runs down the field. They have made some plays. They have made some contested catches. They have made big plays for us. We've had 18 explosive passes. I've been very pleased with them up to this point."
Q: How would you say the receivers, as a group, have made progress in route running this year?
Gattis: "They have made tremendous progress. I don't think it has been area lacking. They are continuing to grow each and every week. They are continuing to make progress. They have very few mental assignments that are being blown this year, which is a huge stride in terms of learning the offense and understanding things. I'm very pleased where we are. Like I said, they are a very unselfish group. A lot of guys' numbers are down, but the ultimate goal is winning the game. And the guys have accepted their role and been very active in the run game, and I'm really pleased with how far they have come."
Q: You have a number of different personalities in your room. How do you keep everyone motivated?
Gattis: "I have a great group. I think they kind of balance themselves out personality wise. It's a very interesting meeting room. You have all those different personalities. They laugh. They joke. They are really a tightknit group. They are close among each other. They push each other. They expect each other to show up and out-perform one another. I'm really pleased with how unselfish they have been. They've all had different roles. Each guy has brought something to the table. And no one is jealous of another guy. They just continue to push each other. I really like the camaraderie and the bond we have in that room. It only makes each and every guy better."
Q: What are one or two areas that Chris Godwin is better than he was last year?
Gattis: "That's very hard because last year, he was a very, very good football player. As I told people last year, he graded out as our best receiver. But a lot of people don't look at the overall picture of football. They are only looking at your production numbers. So obviously, he didn't have some of the touches and some of the catches that he has this year, but he graded out extremely high. He's a mature kid. He does everything you want and the way you want it done. I'm really happy for him. I think all of his work is paying off. And I think people are starting to see the type of player he is and the type of playmaker he is. He still has so much room to grow in a lot of areas. And you're starting to see him come into his own as a receiver. And I think what you are noticing is the trust that the quarterbacks have in him. He's an elite player in this league at his position."
Q: What does DaeSean's personality do for the group? He seems to have good balance in the group with how he works and has fun.
Gattis: "DaeSean is the jokester in the room. He really brings out the personality of all the other guys. The guys love him. He works hard and at a very, very high level. So, they all respect him for how hard he practices and prepares. He's the guy who lights up the room and makes those guys laugh and joke around. And then he practices at a high level. I've been very pleased with how he's handled everything this year. He goes from being the leading catcher in the Big Ten, and then maybe not having some of the same opportunities. But he's been very successful in the opportunities that he has had. I think right now his completion percentage (on his targets) is somewhere in the 80s. He's just got to continue to stay patient, continue to work on his craft, continue to run his routes and get open and the ball will find him...He's working extremely hard. He's just got to continue to be patient, and the plays will come just like they have during the past two weeks."
Q: We've seen a lot of Brandon Polk this season. How are the other two freshman receivers ââ'¬" Juwan Johnson and Irvin Charles ââ'¬" coming along?
Gattis: "They are coming along really, really, good. Those two guys are exciting. Could those guys be out there playing for us right now? Yes. Is it in the best interest of the team? We have a lot of different options. I just think our room is talented. You always want to make sure you put your freshmen in the best positions to succeed. We are playing six wide receivers right now. I think those guys are going to have a very bright future here. I know they are. They are very talented. If you ask anyone in our program, the sky is the limit for those guys. They have huge upside. I've been really happy with the steps they've taken forward. They are going to have big-time futures and careers here at Penn State."