08-24-2023, 08:51 PM
* Gilman mentioned facing the tight ends a lot, especially in the nickel package. I assume this is because in the base defense it would be an OLB handling the TE coverage responsibility more. He called Yurosek a "monster" but also shouted out Roush and Hawkins (finally a mention). When he said "those guys inside there" it made me wonder if maybe, in the main, Yurosek is outside and Roush and Hawkins play in-line. It's also possible he was saying "those guys inside" about the TE position generally, but I think this may have been a tell that Yurosek is mainly split out whereas Roush and Hawkins are options at the traditional Y TE position.
* Humphreys got a shout out as a receiver who always shows up inside. We know Humphreys is Mr. Reliability, relatively speaking, so that's not a big shock. In terms of the "inside' reference I suppose I'm a bit confused, or at least unsure, on what receivers will be lining up where. Really interesting shout out to Jason Thompson. He struck me as one of the best walk-ons of all-time and then as a true freshman got thrust into punt return duties and looked like a total disaster, and then this off-season I've been waiting for indications that maybe as a receiver he has real opportunity in this new offense but have heard no buzz at all. As far as I know he is still not on scholarship despite his very scholarship-worthy high school profile. So to hear about him was very interesting to me. I won't overreact because it's the first I'm hearing of Thompson this off-season, but noting it.
* I've made myself very clear on the two DB coaching model. It's good! More time to work with players and not act like different positions are the same position!
* Taylor is "kind of a guy you can just walk up into his offense and chat with." Yep. No more of the imperial head coach. There are lots of models that work in college football, but I'm happy to try one where the head coach is approachable and makes the players feel loved. You can tell how much Shaw turned into the emperor removed from the hoi polloi. Minor but fun how much the players like Taylor singing/rapping/nodding along to the practice field music. Goofiness and levity can connect. Also an interesting parting comment about how Taylor "wants to win now." Maybe a sense Shaw didn't have urgency/ambition?
* It is so neat that Gilman gets to play at home in Hawaii. Really very special. (By the way, he talked about it as "starting the end of my college career back at home" so I think I was right in my post on the Porter interview that there's a very good chance this is Gilman's last year) I hope he has a game to really remember. Rooting for him hard in this one.
* Very fun questions Ben asks to close interviews on random personality things, in this case favorite music. Made me feel old hearing about Usher and Chris Brown as old soul kind of R&B, but of course I know they are, and Gilman showed reverence to the true oldies with Luther Vandross. Not sure about any of that as pregame music but I kind of dug the talk about local Hawaii reggae and how he's not bouncing off the walls but pretty chill. I've seen some good chill (and also some good head-banging) safeties, hope the music gets him playing to his best abilities this fall.
* Humphreys got a shout out as a receiver who always shows up inside. We know Humphreys is Mr. Reliability, relatively speaking, so that's not a big shock. In terms of the "inside' reference I suppose I'm a bit confused, or at least unsure, on what receivers will be lining up where. Really interesting shout out to Jason Thompson. He struck me as one of the best walk-ons of all-time and then as a true freshman got thrust into punt return duties and looked like a total disaster, and then this off-season I've been waiting for indications that maybe as a receiver he has real opportunity in this new offense but have heard no buzz at all. As far as I know he is still not on scholarship despite his very scholarship-worthy high school profile. So to hear about him was very interesting to me. I won't overreact because it's the first I'm hearing of Thompson this off-season, but noting it.
* I've made myself very clear on the two DB coaching model. It's good! More time to work with players and not act like different positions are the same position!
* Taylor is "kind of a guy you can just walk up into his offense and chat with." Yep. No more of the imperial head coach. There are lots of models that work in college football, but I'm happy to try one where the head coach is approachable and makes the players feel loved. You can tell how much Shaw turned into the emperor removed from the hoi polloi. Minor but fun how much the players like Taylor singing/rapping/nodding along to the practice field music. Goofiness and levity can connect. Also an interesting parting comment about how Taylor "wants to win now." Maybe a sense Shaw didn't have urgency/ambition?
* It is so neat that Gilman gets to play at home in Hawaii. Really very special. (By the way, he talked about it as "starting the end of my college career back at home" so I think I was right in my post on the Porter interview that there's a very good chance this is Gilman's last year) I hope he has a game to really remember. Rooting for him hard in this one.
* Very fun questions Ben asks to close interviews on random personality things, in this case favorite music. Made me feel old hearing about Usher and Chris Brown as old soul kind of R&B, but of course I know they are, and Gilman showed reverence to the true oldies with Luther Vandross. Not sure about any of that as pregame music but I kind of dug the talk about local Hawaii reggae and how he's not bouncing off the walls but pretty chill. I've seen some good chill (and also some good head-banging) safeties, hope the music gets him playing to his best abilities this fall.