Aug. 5, 2017
Penn State Football
2017 Media Day ââ'¬" Coordinators
August 5, 2017
Charles Huff | Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach
Q. Charles, when do you hope to settle on the return game? And who are among the leading candidates right now?
CH: I would say we would hope to settle probably closer to the game because that means we've got really good competition. Obviously, in that phase, we don't do it every day. So when we get to that phase, there will be four or five days devoted to kickoff return, which I guess is what you're talking about, or punt return.
Right now we have guys who are doing really well. DeAndre Thompkins, who's done it before. Mark Allen, who's done it before. Josh McPhearson, who's done it before. Speaking punt return, just to kind of give you an idea, we have young guys who have done it in high school and have some talent, Mac Hippenhammer, KJ Hamler did it in high school as well, and Brandon Polk.
So we have a good pool, and that's kind of what we want. We want to allow those guys to have an opportunity to show us what they have. But also there's a fine line because we can't run 11 guys down there or 8 guys and see who's going to make a guy miss or who's going to make great decisions. It's obviously going to come down to who's the most consistent over the course of time, and then obviously getting in the game and being able to do it in front of 107,000.
And the kickoff return, obviously, Miles Sanders as a freshman last year did a very good job for us. I expect him to be much improved. You've got to remember that Miles Sanders was a great athlete, but Miles Sanders never returned kicks in high school. So every time he was back there, it was a new experience. I think he gained a lot from that experience. He feels more confident. He understands a little bit more. Obviously, he's gotten bigger, stronger, faster, and that's going to help.
Nick Scott, who we've seen before back there, is a guy who's done it as well in games. Brandon Polk is another guy. KJ Hamler would be in that mix as well, based on his progression on offense.
So we feel really good about the guys we have. That's probably one area going into summer camp that we feel like we can make a big improvement in, not because we're going to draw up some great play or not because we've got this secret weapon, but just the guys are a year older. They understand the scheme a little bit more. So that will help us moving forward.
Q. When we were in practice the other day, you were running a drill, and Journey Brown was kind of struggling a little bit, and Saquon [Barkley] started huffing and barking at them. Can you give us some insight into Saquon as a leader and the leader of that position group?
CH: We have a standard in this program, and we have a standard in the running back room, and Saquon [Barkley] sets the standard. Obviously, being the position coach, I kind of hold those guys to certain standards, if they want to be elite players, what they have to do on a consistent basis. You know, we map that out early at the beginning of the summer. We laid out what do you want to do? What do you want to accomplish? Who do you want to be as a group? And then Saquon challenges the group and himself to holding that standard.
Obviously, with Journey being a younger guy and he's still learning -- he's still learning where to go, how to go, and how to practice. It's all new to him. But like Saquon tells all of us, we're not going to baby you along. You're going to learn the way we did, the hard way. We learn faster like that, with a little bit of pressure on us. And Saquon does a good job of it. He does a good job with the team as well, with holding the team and his teammates to a standard.
Like I tell him all the time, if you're going to hold the team to a standard, you've got to hold yourself to a standard, and I think we all know he holds himself to a very high standard in everything he does -- on the field, off the field. He's killing it in the classroom right now. I know you guys don't get to see that. He was excited, one of his summer classes he thinks he's going to get an A in. But that's the type of kid he is. Everything he does, he wants to be really, really good at it, and if he doesn't feel he's the best, he's going to work and work and work, and he holds people around him to that same standard.
Q. So in Blake Gillikin, you had a true freshman who led all freshmen punters with 42.8 yards per kick. What's the next step for him? Because it was pretty clear that his leg was able to change field position and alter the outcome of certain games. So what's his, I guess, next step in year two?
CH: The biggest thing for Blake -- and it's a word that we say a lot -- is consistency. He had unbelievable numbers, and we'll go back and look, and he'll probably tell you that there were a handful or two handfuls of punts that he would love to have back, and that's going to be the biggest thing for him, to be consistent and kind of take the next step.
Now I'm not just getting out here and punting the ball, but I am going to place the ball and make it very difficult for returners and teams to be successful. I am going to be able to change locations, steps, in order to be efficient but also being consistent. That will be the thing.
Obviously, a year older. He knows kind of the routine now. He knows his body better. He's gotten bigger, faster, stronger. He knows how long it takes him to warm up. He knows how long it takes him to cool down. He knows kind of the routine of a game. I think he'll be a lot more comfortable.
He doesn't lack confidence. I don't know if you've ever met him. He's a very confident young man. But I think the thing for him is going to be consistency and being able -- a lot of people can do it two or three times, but being able to repeat those bomb of a kicks when we need them and then pinning teams in when we need them and then being able to keep returners at bay.
Q. How has [freshman running back] Journey Brown looked in the limited time you've seen him?
CH: He's looked good. Now, at the same token, he's in a group with a guy who's really, really good. So obviously, there's a difference. But he's looked really good.
The one thing I'm really surprised about is Journey's ability to retain the information. Obviously, as a freshman, there's a lot. That's a testament to the other guys in the group, and I challenged those guys to study with him at night. He started early. We've got a few installs in, and he's got a pretty good grasp. He's still a freshman.
But physically, he has it. It's going to be the other things like with all the other freshmen. The good part with him is he's in the room with a lot of good leaders who played early, and they kind of know how to take that next step from high school to college and make an immediate impact.
Q. Coach, can you describe the conversation you guys had with Joey Julius when he decided to leave the program? And the second part is, who's in line to be taking over the kickoff duties?
CH: I would love to talk about any of our guys. Right now Tyler Davis is an unbelievable kicker, field goal guy. Tyler Davis also was kicking off all year in the event that something happened, just like any backup quarterback or anything. Tyler Davis has been preparing all summer.
I really feel Tyler Davis is probably taking the biggest step maturity-wise of a lot of men on the team now. Tyler Davis is almost like 60 when you look at him compared to everybody else. He's a lot older. But he is such a mature kid. If you watch the way he works, if you watch the way he warms up, it's almost like meticulous. It's like Phil Mickelson. He goes out and does the same routine every single day. It's almost like Groundhog Day. But because of that, he's so consistent, and he's so reliable, and he's done that this summer with kickoffs and field goals.
And then there's a fine line because you can't go out every day and just kick 100 balls. You're body starts to fall apart. But he's done an unbelievable job of taking care of his body, kicking, getting stronger, getting faster. He's even taken a role now of helping the younger guys. He's become a little bit more vocal, which shows his maturity and growth. And that's something we challenged him with this summer, to start taking a little bit more of a leadership role, and he has, which has helped Alex Barbir. It's helped Blake. We feel good about where we are there.
Q. Obviously, the offensive line has a direct impact on your running backs. The excitement they may feel when they see the depth that that group is growing and what they see on film, just to have that little extra inch or two of space for, whether it be Saquon or anyone else. Just talk about the line and their development.
CH: Well, you said it. The depth we have at running back, we have that depth at O-line now. That's one of the things that's really helped our program. Not only do we have very, very good starters, we have a lot of guys behind them that can push for time and spell some guys or battle some guys if some guys have to come out or whatever.
Coach [Matt] Limegrover has done an unbelievable job of building a culture in that room of it's not the starting five, it's all of us. Those guys know I may have to go in at right guard. I may have to go in at left guard, and it helps. They challenge the running backs, and the running backs challenge them. I tell the running backs all the time, when they do their job and you miss a cut, they're probably not real excited about it. So you've got to hold your part too.
But they've grown so much. Obviously, playing young guys has helped. But last year they were the unsung heroes of what we did. Building on that, they have a lot more confidence. Some of those guys are back. They're challenging the younger guys. The younger guys that redshirted last year are taking bigger roles. We've probably seen a lot of growth from those redshirt guys that are really impressive.
So it's great to be around a good group of O-linemen. It's one thing when you've got three or four, and you're like great. But it's another thing to be around a really great group.
Q. The last couple of years, you seemed to have a coverage ace like Von Walker or Nick Scott. Is there somebody who is an understudy to Nick this year or who you think could have a really big year on special teams in the coverage aspect of the game?
CH: There's a lot. The one that probably jumps to mind right now is the guy who led our team last year on special teams tackles, probably Ayron Monroe. Ayron Monroe played a huge role last year, and his role is going to grow. If you were saying, 'okay, who's the Von Walker of the group right now?' it's probably Ayron.
There's probably another -- the one thing that's a little bit different is there's probably six or seven of those guys that have played significant roles, and now putting them on the field together, although they all may not rack up 10 tackles, if 10 people get one tackle, that's a pretty good day.
But Ayron Monroe has done an unbelievable job. Juwan Johnson, who's going to have a bigger role on offense, has done a really good job for us. Christian Campbell, Troy Apke's done an unbelievable job. We've had to pull Grant Haley back because he wants to be on every coverage unit. And we've got some younger guys. But he's another guy that's done an unbelievable job.
The one thing we have right now is we have a lot of older guys who are delivering the message to the younger guys but are not passing the torch. Does that make sense? They're not saying, hey, Coach, take me off and play this younger guy. They're saying, hey, Coach, I'm going to help you get the younger guy ready, but I still want to be on this unit. When you get to that level, you have a true culture of success, a culture of believing in special teams.
Q. Coach, Andre Robinson came into the program as a pretty highly regarded recruit. Can you talk a little bit about how he's handled his role as a backup to Saquon [at running back] after kind of being the guy all his high school career?
CH: In our room, there are no backups. When you're in the game, you're the starting running back. Whoever runs out there first is luck of the draw, and that's the kind of mentality we've got to have because, if you take a backup mentality -- and I know that's not what you're saying he is. But you take a backup mentality, you're not going to prepare to be the starter, and then when you're the starter, you won't be ready for your opportunity.
Andre Robinson is a great example of that who goes out every day and prepares for his opportunity. Is it 10 carries, 20 carries, or 1 carry? Who knows? Who knows when it may be all 20? Or who knows when it may not be any? But he's done a really good job of preparing every single day and not letting the circumstances dictate his behavior.
That's a tough thing as a human. You're in there with Saquon and Saquon's playing, come out to practice the next day, it's hard to come out and give everything you got and prepare for an opportunity that you may or may not get. But he, along with the rest of the room, have done that.
And I think one of the things that helps that is that Saquon is such a good person, they don't resent his success. They kind of embrace his success as it's our success, and that's kind of what we have in the room, which is really good.
Q. Charles, you mentioned Alex [Barbir] a couple minutes ago. In what ways has he improved from last year to this year? What can he still learn from Tyler [Davis] and some of those other guys?
CH: I think the biggest thing for Alex, being here a year, he's a lot more mature. Everybody -- obviously, as you're a young kid, everybody that's recruited is highly recruited. You kind of get here and kind of get a gauge on where you are.
The other thing I would say is strength. He's gotten stronger. He can learn or has learned from Tyler to me, which is the most important, how to get in a routine. When you're in high school, you kick. You don't really have a routine of how you kick. But from Tyler, how to prepare on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Okay, I'm getting close to the game. What do I need to do? It's off-season. It's a bye week. Okay, it's Thursday. It's getting later in the year temperature-wise. I think those are the things that Tyler has been able to help Alex with.
For the first time, it was Tyler going through it for the first time. But now him being able to kind of relay that information has really been good.
Q. What is Alex Barbir's kicking range?
CH: Yeah, if Joe Mo puts it in the end zone and he can hit the extra point, we're all good. Everybody is on YouTube hitting 72-yarders. I'm not going to say he goes out for a 72-yarder, but we ask all of our guys to be efficient, and obviously we chart every day so that on game day we know.
I don't answer your question because it could change by week. If in practice that week he was really accurate from a certain range, that's what we go into the game with. If it changes by week -- I would make an example. Tyler Davis' range changed by week last year. In the beginning of the season, and then it kind of got further out. And with the more kicks he made in practice with the data we have, it was able to change, and we try to use that so we're not subjected to, 'oh, yeah, he can hit this.' What does the data say?
Brent Pry | Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Q. I have two parts. One, can you describe what you expect from Cam Brown, what his role will be this season. And as a second part, with John Reid's injury, how important does Christian Campbell's role become?
BP: Cameron Brown, an exciting football player. You saw that as a true freshman last year. Incredible length, very explosive. He has an interesting makeup. He's got a great skill set for a long guy, really good work ethic, tough kid. He's growing into the position. I don't know if he's a natural linebacker when he first got here, but he's growing into the position. I look for big things from Cam this fall. He's in heavy competition in the two-deep at linebacker.
John Reid, obviously, we're rooting for John. We love John. Very accomplished player. I've always been very excited about Christian Campbell, another guy with great length that is explosive and can run. He's got a lot of experience. He played as a true freshman here.
I was watching some film yesterday from 2014, the Ohio State game, and I look on this tape, and there's Marcus Allen, Jason Cabinda, Christian Campbell, Grant Haley, playing in a double overtime game basically three years ago. So Christian is one of those guys that's been through the ups and downs, and he's the healthiest he's ever been in his career here at Penn State. He's got a lot of maturity, and he's a great complement to Grant Haley out there.
Q. So looking at how frequently [Coach Sean Spencer] rotated the defensive line in last year, what do you like or maybe dislike about that philosophy? Is it kind of tough to control on the sideline? When you look back after a game tape, what do you like about it?
BP: I love Spence's rotation and what he's done with those guys. To be honest, that goes on all year long -- spring ball, camp. That's not just something you can turn on on Saturdays. Those guys have to understand how quickly that can change when a guy's injured, depending on the snaps and the drive. There's a learning process there, and being able to rotate the way we do, it's not easy to do.
Spence does a great job. His graduate assistant coach helps with that. It's something that's important in that room. If they're able to do it, if we're accomplished with it, then all those guys get more reps. So they want that. It's important to them because, if we do it well, it means more reps for everybody.
I think it's important to our depth. Late in the game, third, fourth quarter, that same O-line's been out there snap after snap, and we're bringing in guys that are fairly fresh. So it's been a real asset, I think.
Q. Brent, I'm curious, James [Franklin] has highlighted a couple of freshmen, [Tariq] Castro-Fields, and then he's also thrown out Yetur Matos as well. What's been your impression with this freshman class? And obviously, Lamont Wade being in there too? What strides has he made for him from winter to summer and the other guys?
BP: I think it's a great class. There's a lot of versatility in it across the board. With each position, we feel like we've helped ourselves. After a week, we get a real sense of the guys. Nowhere near what we'll know in three weeks, but you get an idea. You go through high school film, see them in camp, see them in workouts, but to have them out there in pads operating in your system, you see how quickly they learn and how easily things come to them, their instincts.
We've helped ourselves everywhere on the defensive board. Yetur and Tariq, those are two guys with a very high skill set, great work ethic, very good motors. They don't allow their mind to tie up their feet right now. They may not be sure about some things, but they go hard as heck and play fast. Makes a difference. Not all young guys can do that. So their skill set and, I think, their maturity as a player out there, both those things are helping them right now.
Q. There's been a significant effort to put more speed on the field on defense over the last couple of years, moving guys down, moving them in. Do you think that you've reached the point where you're happy with the defensive speed? And if so, what would be the next step as far as like the next thing you want to add? Is it more speed, more size with that speed? What would you like to see, and are you happy with the physical components of your defense?
BP: I think we've made great strides in that area. I don't know that we'd ever be satisfied. We certainly recruit speed. That's an important aspect, important trait when we're identifying prospects.
There's two speeds to me. There's that speed on the clock that we get in camp, that everybody talks about from the Nike camps and "The Opening," and then there's that speed when you put the film on or you watch a live performance. We want guys -- we want to put 11 guys out there that run by people to make plays. That's game speed. I've had guys that are 4.8, 4.75 that play much better than that, and I've had the opposite.
We're always looking to play faster. I think you've got to be careful what you're willing to give up to gain speed. You have to have some well-rounded guys out there that have a lot of characteristics that make a good football player, speed being an important one.
Q. Along those speed lines, Koa Farmer, I'm curious, since he's been entrenched there at the Sam for a full off-season, how have you seen him change from January to where you are now?
BP: Koa is a unique guy. We were just talking about him outside there. He's a guy that has great size and tremendous speed, and he brings a defensive back background. Offensive background in high school, and now he's had a chance to train a full year as a linebacker.
To me, he's what a lot of folks are looking for. He's a hybrid type player that has a lot of DB qualities -- I think his roots are there for sure -- but he's growing as a linebacker. He's getting tougher. He's shedding blocks better. His tackling is getting better. He understands the play in the box, blocking schemes, things like that. He's really come a long way. I'm very excited about the season for Koa.
He's a great worker. He's an old head out there. The guys really like him. He's a big piece to what's going on right now.
Q. What are your thoughts about the defensive end competition? Could you comment, especially on [Ryan] Buchholz, [Shareef] Miller, and Torrence [Brown].
BP: It's a great competition. I couldn't be more thrilled with the guys that are in the battle right there. I think, across the board, both sides. When you lose some guys like Sickels and Schwan, and the year they had, the production, the leadership, that's tough to replace, but we've got great candidates there. I think it goes back to the earlier question about the depth and rolling guys and playing a bunch of folks.
Shareef and Ryan Buchholz had some great experience last year. Torrence Brown, being the third wheel, played a bunch of snaps. There's experience there with those guys, and we're very excited about the talent in Shaka [Toney], in Daniel Joseph, in Shane Simmons. Now I know he's been talked about a little bit here -- I've seen it all over Twitter -- Yetur Matos. There's good competition there.
We're just five days in, but there's a lot of reps to be looked at, to be viewed, and to evaluate these guys. We're going to keep growing in the right direction. We've got great candidates to have good end play.
Q. Brent, when you're talking about Shaka [Toney], everybody kind of mentions his size, but what makes him a little bit special, a little bit different, where he's able to compete at that position at that size?
BP: I think Shaka is a kid that has great takeoff, which is very important at the defensive line position. He understands leverage very well, and he is a smart football player. He really understands the game from a defensive line standpoint, from a defensive end perspective. He's got a lot of qualities that you hope to grow into with guys as they come in as freshmen, and he's bringing a lot of those to the table.
The one aspect is the weight, but he makes up for it in so many other areas. He's a guy -- I've been around undersized ends a bunch of places, and there's a place for them. They have to have some elite qualities in other areas. When you have that kind of speed and athleticism on the edge, you couple it with a football IQ, there's pretty good stuff right there.
We were talking the other day, defensive ends nowadays against these spread offenses, there's more and more about those guys that remind me of linebacker play. There's more and more techniques involved. It's not just edge rush or play a base block. There's all kinds of things going on, these spread offenses and spread runs and perimeter throws. So we've got to do more and more with those guys.
I think, when you look at our technique sheet for our defensive ends, it's certainly grown over the last four or five years, and Shaka is a guy that brings a good football IQ to the room.
Q. [Offensive line coach Matt] Limegrover and [Offensive Coordinator Joe] Moorhead haven't been here obviously as long as you have, and just curious how the offensive line has evolved. If you could compare and contrast, where that OL was, what it's like for the defense to go against them and where it is now.
BP: Two things that stand out to me with the offensive line is the physicality. We've got pretty good front guys that are lining up toe to toe daily with those guys. Even going back to spring, just the movement and size and power and working together, it's hard to find a weakness.
And then the second piece is they can roll that second unit out there, and normally, there's been a guy or two that you kind of feel like, okay, we're going to take advantage here. I don't feel that way right now. Matt's done a tremendous job with those guys. Couldn't be more excited about that group he's working with.
Joe Moorhead | Offensive Coordinator
Q. What is the biggest difference you've seen going into year two with this offense, particularly when you have all the quarterbacks returning?
JM: I think we have the base foundation of the offense. The kids have a very solid understanding of what we're doing and why. And I think year two of fall camp, I think we're seeing better attention to the little details, the intricacies, and operating at a higher level.
Q. [Head coach] James [Franklin] talked a little bit before about the challenges of picking a third team quarterback. You guys are pretty solid at one and two. Can you tell us about the guys that were involved and how they've kind of developed, including [Sean] Clifford, who's only been here for a little bit.
JM: I think obviously Trace [McSorley] and Tommy [Stevens] solidified themselves as one and two. Jake [Zembiec] and [Sean Clifford] are battling it out. Both are doing a great job. Jake was dealing with issues last year he was battling through injury-wise and is fully healthy now. Sean comes in with a very advanced understanding of offensive football. Obviously, Coach Steve Specht at Saint Xavier did a great job with him.
It's very early in camp. They're both doing a great job. Competition brings out the best in everyone. We'll continue to give them repetitions and see where it goes.
Q. Can you describe the progress that Tommy [Stevens] has made, not only physically, mentally, maturity, from the time you've gotten here.
JM: I think it's been -- you know, he's just improved across the board. I think the one word that you mentioned probably describes it best is maturity. There were some things mechanically we worked on with Tommy with his off-arm to tighten his release a little bit, but I think overall Tommy's approach to the game and his understanding of the preparation aspect of it is a critical component to his success.
He's got tremendous physical tools. He's blessed with the ability to throw the ball well, and he's an awesome runner. But the mental part of it, he's made tremendous strides in the understanding of our offense. He's taken positive steps forward every day, and he's picked up where he left off at the end of spring ball.
Q. One of your players was saying, when you huddled with your team at a certain point in the Purdue game last year, you said they were going to score a touchdown on a given play, and they did. How often do you do that, and how are you able to do that?
JM: Well, we don't use the word "huddle," but that's okay. We prefer the term "congregation." We kind of mill around, but that's tangent.
I'll do it occasionally, and sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong. In that instance, I happened to be right. It feels good. I think there were one or two other occasions throughout the course of the year. To me, it's about instilling confidence in your players that any play you call has the opportunity to go the distance. That happened to be right that time.
When you hand the ball off to [Saquon Barkley], you stand a chance to be right more often than not.
Q. What is Trace McSorley's next step in his evolution as a quarterback?
JM: His next step? Well, I think that brings up an interesting topic. You know kind of this thought process that's prevailing that you hear about -- and frankly, this is gross mischaracterization, number one, of the application of our offense and [number two] the role of the quarterback -- that Trace just drops back and picks the deepest receiver and chucks the ball up and hopes the guy makes the play. That's, in a lot of ways, ridiculous at best and, quite frankly, asinine at worst.
I don't have all the answers, but I do know this. A kid couldn't lead the league in multiple passing categories and set school single-season records and be on the verge of multiple other school records if he was just throwing the ball indiscriminately down the field. In a lot of ways, I feel that minimizes the role of the people who game plan the plays, the person who calls them, and the player who executes them.
I think Trace, he just has to understand -- and he does, the preparation aspect of it is incredibly important. He does that. He's understanding the offense better. Just keep doing the things he does.
You hear people say, "well, are you guys going to be able to consistently live on the 50-50 ball down the field?" That's not what we do. Our offense is designed to stretch defenses horizontally and vertically and create mismatches by a number of personnel. So the things that we did throwing the ball down the field, they didn't happen by chance, they happened by choice.
To answer your question, Trace is going to continue his overall development by working on his preparation, his effort, and his execution.
Q. Last year, going back to 26, you guys were very successful hitting him on wheel routes and things like that. What more can you do with him in your passing game and getting him involved? How would you like to get him more involved?
JM: In the passing game, I think he had close to 400 yards receiving and almost 2,000 yards of total offense. [Running backs coach Charles] Huff does an awesome job with Saquon, and as we go through the game planning process, whether it's Saquon out of the backfield or lined up in the slot sometimes, it's just a matter of -- one of the other things we talk about in the pass game, aside from stretching defenses horizontally or vertically, he's creating mismatches by number or personnel.
That's part of the thing with the balls that we throw downfield, including the ones with Saquon. It's part of the process of where can we get him matched up on the person who can't defend him, like some of the other guys? They say 100 percent of the ball is overthrown or incompleted. So we find a matchup we feel we can exploit, whether it's Saquon or someone else, we're going to give him an opportunity to go out and make a play.
Q. So I think one of the interesting storylines this year has to be Brandon Polk, a guy before you came here was utilized on jet sweeps. You got to work with him when you came in last spring and through last summer and obviously the injury that warranted the redshirt. With Trace [McSorley] being his high school teammate and them already having some chemistry, what kind of role and impact do you see Brandon Polk having on the offense this year?
JM: Brandon [Polk] is very, very fast. He has great change of direction. He has the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. He's had a great camp so far. We're only five into it, but he's done a very good job making plays. And the slot position, the H position in our offense is one that's expected to make a lot of plays.
Coach [Josh] Gattis is doing a great job with the receivers, and Brandon is getting his opportunities. We'll continue to go through camp and see where he fits in, but he certainly has the ability to help us score points.
Q. Trace last year was very abundant in his crediting you for making sure he kept his concentration downfield, even in broken pocket situations where he could have ejected. Do you think that's a quality that's intrinsic, or can you teach it? It seems like sometimes it's just a feel that the quarterbacks have, either they have it or they don't.
JM: I think it's a combination of both. A term we use in the quarterback room is "feel the rush, see the coverage." Our pass game is dictated by throwing the ball to the receiver based on the coverage on the appropriate footwork. So he's thrown to his first read-off at one hitch, his second read-off at two hitches, his third read-off at three hitches.
When he gets flushed out of the pocket or he's forced to not be able to make the throw on his footwork, we'd like him to keep his eyes downfield. So it's exhaust your progressions quickly, run the ball, throw it away, and I think he's got a very innate ability to maintain his vision downfield through his progressions even though there may be things happening in the pocket that don't allow him to throw in footwork.
I think he had a knack with it, but it is something that we work on. I think there's guys that, at the first sight of pressure, they want to tuck the ball and run. But with the playmakers that we have and what we do schematically, I think he understands that, if he can buy time in the pocket and keep his eyes downfield, that someone's going to open up.