Highlights from our latest coach and player interviews...
Adoree' Jackson
--He said he will "for sure" return kickoffs this year. He said the coaches are still debating whether he'll return punts while mentioning Steven Mitchell Jr. and Su'a Cravens as possibilities.
"They want to see how comfortable I am catching it."
--He said he's still learning some of the intricacies of the position.
"You have to be looking up, looking back, figuring out where everything is. I've never been a fair-catcher. I guess you could say I'm getting more used to fair-catching and figuring out when to fair catch, counting the hang time. In college, guys have speed and everybody's fundamentally sound."
Toa Lobendahn
--He said prior to Monday, the only time he had ever lined up at right guard was probably for a walk-through.
“I just had to get used to it. When you first get out there your vision is messed up and it feels weird because you’re in a different stance but I got used to it pretty quick.”
--He fully expects to play guard once Wheeler is healthy but is open to whatever the coaches want. He also acknowledges that any of the three interior positions are probably a better fit.
“Because of my body type right now and the way I’m built.”
--Does he expect to replace Max Tuerk at center next year?
“Yeah, probably. That’s a possibility, for sure. We don’t know yet.”
--Tuerk, who has started at all three positions, has served as a mentor for Lobendahn.
“He’s a great leader for our team. I’m always looking to him to give me assurance on stuff. He’s a wise man.
--Tuerk has told him the key to being able to move around is watching a lot of film and taking as many reps as possible at different spots.
--Lobendahn is at 290 pounds and plans to play between that and 295 pounds.
Darreus Rogers
--He’s practicing with greater focus.
“I’m feeling good, I know everything. I get to play faster and it’s there for me to take it this year. I want to make sure I’m on the field and being a leader to the young guys and just do what I have to do for my role.”
--There were certain improvements he felt he needed to make after last season.
“Playing faster, less thinking and just more playing naturally. Now I got a second year under my belt with Coach (Steve Sarkisian) Sark’s playbook and I just feel too good out here. The game has slowed down tremendously for me. I feel great and I feel like I can play without thinking.”
--He sometimes feels like an underdog.
“Sometimes but I just take it as a challenge for me, a chip on my shoulder, so I’m just coming out here and working hard.”
--The arrival of Isaac Whitney and De’Quan Hampton certainly got his attention.
“It’s ‘SC. Dudes are going to keep coming in, top dudes all the time. All I got to do is make sure I’m doing my job and working hard. I was that guy one year, coming in, pushing other dudes and I see how it goes. I know the system, I know everything and now it’s on me to do what I got to do.”
--He knows he needs to build more chemistry with the quarterbacks.
“I have to gain a lot of trust. I had some opportunities that I missed. But I’m making sure those opportunities that I get now, I’m catching them, capitalizing on them and just going out there and playing hard.”
Soma Vainuku
--He says he hasn’t been feeling anxious about not being involved.
“Not at all. Your film is your resume and I put that out there everyday. The coaching staff knows how hard I work and everything. I’m just doing my part, I’m a team player, whenever my number’s called, I’m here for them.”
--He views his role as a super sub, of sorts.
“I’m going in for Tre (Madden) or Justin (Davis) whenever they need me. I want to be more versatile in the sense that I can be a fullback or running back at anytime. Whenever someone goes down, they know they can count on me to go in there for them.”
--The reason he wasn’t present for summer workouts was because he had a job and was always scheduled to work.
--He weighs 265 pounds but his plan is to play at 250 this season. He said he’s not looking to lose all of it before the opener because dropping too much weight in a short manner makes him more susceptible to injury.
“I feel great. I think this is one of the healthiest times I’ve (had) coming into a camp. I had a good offseason and in the summer as well. Maybe not being at as many PRPs as I wanted to, but I’m feeling healthy and I’m feeling very good about the season."
Viane Talamaivao (from Saturday)
--He’s noticed quite a difference from the line compared to a year ago.
“There’s something about this team that feels right. The chemistry between all of us, we’re all on the same page and it allows us to play fast. There’s not that much thought going into every play. Now we just execute.”
--The improved depth should have an impact on multiple fronts.
“We have the ability to play the best five. They refer to it as platooning. Instead of just subbing people, we’re going to keep subbing people, keep fresh legs on the field and ultimately it gains everyone experience. And it makes competition in our unit high at all times. You’re always on your toes.”
Adoree' Jackson
--He said he will "for sure" return kickoffs this year. He said the coaches are still debating whether he'll return punts while mentioning Steven Mitchell Jr. and Su'a Cravens as possibilities.
"They want to see how comfortable I am catching it."
--He said he's still learning some of the intricacies of the position.
"You have to be looking up, looking back, figuring out where everything is. I've never been a fair-catcher. I guess you could say I'm getting more used to fair-catching and figuring out when to fair catch, counting the hang time. In college, guys have speed and everybody's fundamentally sound."
Toa Lobendahn
--He said prior to Monday, the only time he had ever lined up at right guard was probably for a walk-through.
“I just had to get used to it. When you first get out there your vision is messed up and it feels weird because you’re in a different stance but I got used to it pretty quick.”
--He fully expects to play guard once Wheeler is healthy but is open to whatever the coaches want. He also acknowledges that any of the three interior positions are probably a better fit.
“Because of my body type right now and the way I’m built.”
--Does he expect to replace Max Tuerk at center next year?
“Yeah, probably. That’s a possibility, for sure. We don’t know yet.”
--Tuerk, who has started at all three positions, has served as a mentor for Lobendahn.
“He’s a great leader for our team. I’m always looking to him to give me assurance on stuff. He’s a wise man.
--Tuerk has told him the key to being able to move around is watching a lot of film and taking as many reps as possible at different spots.
--Lobendahn is at 290 pounds and plans to play between that and 295 pounds.
Darreus Rogers
--He’s practicing with greater focus.
“I’m feeling good, I know everything. I get to play faster and it’s there for me to take it this year. I want to make sure I’m on the field and being a leader to the young guys and just do what I have to do for my role.”
--There were certain improvements he felt he needed to make after last season.
“Playing faster, less thinking and just more playing naturally. Now I got a second year under my belt with Coach (Steve Sarkisian) Sark’s playbook and I just feel too good out here. The game has slowed down tremendously for me. I feel great and I feel like I can play without thinking.”
--He sometimes feels like an underdog.
“Sometimes but I just take it as a challenge for me, a chip on my shoulder, so I’m just coming out here and working hard.”
--The arrival of Isaac Whitney and De’Quan Hampton certainly got his attention.
“It’s ‘SC. Dudes are going to keep coming in, top dudes all the time. All I got to do is make sure I’m doing my job and working hard. I was that guy one year, coming in, pushing other dudes and I see how it goes. I know the system, I know everything and now it’s on me to do what I got to do.”
--He knows he needs to build more chemistry with the quarterbacks.
“I have to gain a lot of trust. I had some opportunities that I missed. But I’m making sure those opportunities that I get now, I’m catching them, capitalizing on them and just going out there and playing hard.”
Soma Vainuku
--He says he hasn’t been feeling anxious about not being involved.
“Not at all. Your film is your resume and I put that out there everyday. The coaching staff knows how hard I work and everything. I’m just doing my part, I’m a team player, whenever my number’s called, I’m here for them.”
--He views his role as a super sub, of sorts.
“I’m going in for Tre (Madden) or Justin (Davis) whenever they need me. I want to be more versatile in the sense that I can be a fullback or running back at anytime. Whenever someone goes down, they know they can count on me to go in there for them.”
--The reason he wasn’t present for summer workouts was because he had a job and was always scheduled to work.
--He weighs 265 pounds but his plan is to play at 250 this season. He said he’s not looking to lose all of it before the opener because dropping too much weight in a short manner makes him more susceptible to injury.
“I feel great. I think this is one of the healthiest times I’ve (had) coming into a camp. I had a good offseason and in the summer as well. Maybe not being at as many PRPs as I wanted to, but I’m feeling healthy and I’m feeling very good about the season."
Viane Talamaivao (from Saturday)
--He’s noticed quite a difference from the line compared to a year ago.
“There’s something about this team that feels right. The chemistry between all of us, we’re all on the same page and it allows us to play fast. There’s not that much thought going into every play. Now we just execute.”
--The improved depth should have an impact on multiple fronts.
“We have the ability to play the best five. They refer to it as platooning. Instead of just subbing people, we’re going to keep subbing people, keep fresh legs on the field and ultimately it gains everyone experience. And it makes competition in our unit high at all times. You’re always on your toes.”
