Highlights from our final installment of interviews from spring practice. (As I published this I realized, over the course of the spring, we featured every coach on the staff and just about every player that figures to be in the rotation this fall. Hope you've enjoyed it.)
QBs COACH TYSON HELTON
--on whether Sam Darnold primarily working with the second team made it hard to judge between him and Max Browne
"You just have to be fair about your evaluation. You evaluate each play. You know this guy was with the twos, maybe there was a busted protection so the play didn’t happen exactly how you like. The thing that was impressive with am is that he was operating with the second group and he was still able to move the ball and make plays. That shows you that when things aren’t exactly right the guy is still doing a good job for you. You’ll see more and more of both of those guys getting equal reps with the ones."
--on the tight ends being more involved
"It’s critical for our offense. We use them in so many areas. You have to be able to stretch they field vertically with those guys as well. You have to be able to control the middle of the field. We got a couple guys that can do that. And they’ve gotten a lot better in the run game. Those guys were really young last year and had to play and they’ve gotten bigger and stronger and better in the run game."
--on if that figures to make the receivers more comfortable
"No question. The simple fact they can run vertically and hold the middle of the field, that’s important. Because if the tight end can’t do that, it allows the safeties to focus their attention outside."
--on seeing JuJu Smith-Schuster break out in the scrimmage after being held back in spring
"JuJu’s been great about understanding that when the lights come on and we go to the game he’s going to have his plays. There’s going to be ways we create to get him the ball because he’s such a dynamic player. That young man loves to compete so much. When he walks into a football arena, that’s like his heaven. … What I really liked is that the ball has been spreading around this spring. We have identified other players that can make plays, and that’s going to help JuJu in the end. That’s going to take some pressure off of him. I can’t wait to see Adoree’ Jackson."
--on working with Tee Martin
"I think Tee’s done a great job’ this spring. It’s almost like he’s been doing it his whole, career. He feels so comfortable calling it. He understands situations. I cannot say enough about the job he’s done, not only calling plays but leading the group. Tee has been great at embracing, like Clay was, other ideas. He wants communication. He wants for people to talk to him."
--Helton was in the coaches’ box with Tee Martin for the spring game. He says they haven’t decided yet whether he’ll be on the field in the fall.
"The main thing is whatever’s best for the quarterback. If I did stay in the box, Clay can talk to him and other people can talk to him."
WR DARREUS ROGERS
--on who is the best quarterback on the team
"I can’t call it right now. I can’t call it. I can barely tell who’s even in the game with those two. I just know we’re going to have a successful drive. It doesn’t even matter. I think that’s a good thing to have, as a receiver and as a coaching staff. To know you got two guys that’s ready to go right away. I can’t call it. I’m happy I’m not making that decision."
--on the dynamic between the quarterbacks and the receivers
"We’re developing, and it gives us more confidence to know that the ball can come to us also. I’m out there playing relaxed, loose, making plays when the ball comes."
--on possibly being the team’s No. 2 target
"I’m trying to be No. 1, always. I’m competing against JuJu. I just want to let them know I can do the same thing on the other side as No. 9 can do. I tried to show a little showcase (in the spring game) things I didn’t do last year, catching the ball and running after making those tough catches. I still got a lot of work to do but I think I had a successful spring."
--on Browne
"Just a natural baller. Not so much a guy that’s just going to throw the ball to the first read, he goes through his progressions. If it’s not there he throws it away."
QB SAM DARNOLD
--on why there’s apparently better chemistry on the offensive line
“Tuerk was really that stronghold for us on the O-line. He was the guy making calls and when Tuerk went down, Cody (Kessler) had to start making (the calls), so it really slowed us down and I thought there was a lot of confusion sometimes last year for our offensive line.”
OT CHAD WHEELER
--on his performance in the spring game
“I could have done better. Just technique wise, I felt that way, it was kind of sloppy with my hands, so I have to look at the film and get to work.”
--on if he thinks he’ll start at left tackle
“I’m confident, period.”
--on what being challenged this spring did for him
“It made me more competitive, it was like taking a business approach to every one of these spring practices.”
--on the identity the team is building
“Physical defense, physical offense, that’s the identity of this team.”
OT ZACH BANNER
--on whether he expects to play left tackle or right tackle this season
“I can’t tell you which side, but I can tell you that I believe I’m going to start this year. And I’m not saying I’m just going to start because I’m entitled. I’m saying I’m starting because I’m working hard, I lost 30 pounds this offseason, I’m going to lose 30 more. The bottom line is I see myself playing at my highest level every year. If you watch my film from the bowl game to today, you’ll see that it’s night and day, that I got better as an individual. You’re going to see the same thing Week 1 against Alabama.”
RBs COACH TOMMIE ROBINSON
--on Dominic Davis’ role
"He can run. There’s no exception for speed and quickness. Dominic has that. What we got to do is we’ll come together and figure out how we want to use I’m throughout the course of the year and utilize his God-given talent. He gives you a little extra step in there at that running back position."
--on whether to expect more Aca’Cedric Ware this fall
"Last time I was here in 2013 I played all five of them (the running backs). So I see myself playing these guys. I like playing a lot of backs. If you take my history over the years I rotate backs. I want to get them all ready to play. Everybody’s got to be ready."
--on Ronald Jones II
"He does have a rare talent. He has speed, quickness, he has good running back instincts. At the same time he’s still got a lot he needs to work on. But he’s one of those guys that is truly blessed with a rare talent. Those guys are not every day guys."
--on the key to him fulfilling his potential
"Stay healthy. The main thing is staying healthy and continuing to grow every single day. You got to get better every day. He’s got the talent. The sky’s the limit with him."
QBs COACH TYSON HELTON
--on whether Sam Darnold primarily working with the second team made it hard to judge between him and Max Browne
"You just have to be fair about your evaluation. You evaluate each play. You know this guy was with the twos, maybe there was a busted protection so the play didn’t happen exactly how you like. The thing that was impressive with am is that he was operating with the second group and he was still able to move the ball and make plays. That shows you that when things aren’t exactly right the guy is still doing a good job for you. You’ll see more and more of both of those guys getting equal reps with the ones."
--on the tight ends being more involved
"It’s critical for our offense. We use them in so many areas. You have to be able to stretch they field vertically with those guys as well. You have to be able to control the middle of the field. We got a couple guys that can do that. And they’ve gotten a lot better in the run game. Those guys were really young last year and had to play and they’ve gotten bigger and stronger and better in the run game."
--on if that figures to make the receivers more comfortable
"No question. The simple fact they can run vertically and hold the middle of the field, that’s important. Because if the tight end can’t do that, it allows the safeties to focus their attention outside."
--on seeing JuJu Smith-Schuster break out in the scrimmage after being held back in spring
"JuJu’s been great about understanding that when the lights come on and we go to the game he’s going to have his plays. There’s going to be ways we create to get him the ball because he’s such a dynamic player. That young man loves to compete so much. When he walks into a football arena, that’s like his heaven. … What I really liked is that the ball has been spreading around this spring. We have identified other players that can make plays, and that’s going to help JuJu in the end. That’s going to take some pressure off of him. I can’t wait to see Adoree’ Jackson."
--on working with Tee Martin
"I think Tee’s done a great job’ this spring. It’s almost like he’s been doing it his whole, career. He feels so comfortable calling it. He understands situations. I cannot say enough about the job he’s done, not only calling plays but leading the group. Tee has been great at embracing, like Clay was, other ideas. He wants communication. He wants for people to talk to him."
--Helton was in the coaches’ box with Tee Martin for the spring game. He says they haven’t decided yet whether he’ll be on the field in the fall.
"The main thing is whatever’s best for the quarterback. If I did stay in the box, Clay can talk to him and other people can talk to him."
WR DARREUS ROGERS
--on who is the best quarterback on the team
"I can’t call it right now. I can’t call it. I can barely tell who’s even in the game with those two. I just know we’re going to have a successful drive. It doesn’t even matter. I think that’s a good thing to have, as a receiver and as a coaching staff. To know you got two guys that’s ready to go right away. I can’t call it. I’m happy I’m not making that decision."
--on the dynamic between the quarterbacks and the receivers
"We’re developing, and it gives us more confidence to know that the ball can come to us also. I’m out there playing relaxed, loose, making plays when the ball comes."
--on possibly being the team’s No. 2 target
"I’m trying to be No. 1, always. I’m competing against JuJu. I just want to let them know I can do the same thing on the other side as No. 9 can do. I tried to show a little showcase (in the spring game) things I didn’t do last year, catching the ball and running after making those tough catches. I still got a lot of work to do but I think I had a successful spring."
--on Browne
"Just a natural baller. Not so much a guy that’s just going to throw the ball to the first read, he goes through his progressions. If it’s not there he throws it away."
QB SAM DARNOLD
--on why there’s apparently better chemistry on the offensive line
“Tuerk was really that stronghold for us on the O-line. He was the guy making calls and when Tuerk went down, Cody (Kessler) had to start making (the calls), so it really slowed us down and I thought there was a lot of confusion sometimes last year for our offensive line.”
OT CHAD WHEELER
--on his performance in the spring game
“I could have done better. Just technique wise, I felt that way, it was kind of sloppy with my hands, so I have to look at the film and get to work.”
--on if he thinks he’ll start at left tackle
“I’m confident, period.”
--on what being challenged this spring did for him
“It made me more competitive, it was like taking a business approach to every one of these spring practices.”
--on the identity the team is building
“Physical defense, physical offense, that’s the identity of this team.”
OT ZACH BANNER
--on whether he expects to play left tackle or right tackle this season
“I can’t tell you which side, but I can tell you that I believe I’m going to start this year. And I’m not saying I’m just going to start because I’m entitled. I’m saying I’m starting because I’m working hard, I lost 30 pounds this offseason, I’m going to lose 30 more. The bottom line is I see myself playing at my highest level every year. If you watch my film from the bowl game to today, you’ll see that it’s night and day, that I got better as an individual. You’re going to see the same thing Week 1 against Alabama.”
RBs COACH TOMMIE ROBINSON
--on Dominic Davis’ role
"He can run. There’s no exception for speed and quickness. Dominic has that. What we got to do is we’ll come together and figure out how we want to use I’m throughout the course of the year and utilize his God-given talent. He gives you a little extra step in there at that running back position."
--on whether to expect more Aca’Cedric Ware this fall
"Last time I was here in 2013 I played all five of them (the running backs). So I see myself playing these guys. I like playing a lot of backs. If you take my history over the years I rotate backs. I want to get them all ready to play. Everybody’s got to be ready."
--on Ronald Jones II
"He does have a rare talent. He has speed, quickness, he has good running back instincts. At the same time he’s still got a lot he needs to work on. But he’s one of those guys that is truly blessed with a rare talent. Those guys are not every day guys."
--on the key to him fulfilling his potential
"Stay healthy. The main thing is staying healthy and continuing to grow every single day. You got to get better every day. He’s got the talent. The sky’s the limit with him."
