Highlights from our latest player interviews...
Tre Madden
--He’s been working to win the starting job but it’s even more important to him to finish games.
“That’s what it’s all about. The first play is not going to win the game. In crunch time, I want to be on the field.”
--In hopes of lasting the entire season, he conditioned rigorously during the offseason and regularly got massages to take care of tendons and muscles. He also paid more attention to his diet and what he ate.
--He said he weighs 225 pounds and doesn’t believe that will be too much stress for his knees and ankles.
--He said Ronald Jones II seems to be in a better place in light of feeling homesick.
"He’s doing way better now. It comes with the territory of being a freshman he’s far away from home. I can understand that. I was a little homesick and I was right down the street. He’s doing really well now and we’re all loving on him."
--Madden praised Jones’ speed, Dominic Davis’ hands, and Aca’Cedric Ware’s all-around game and pass-blocking.
Cody Kessler
--He says Tre Madden is the total package.
“He such a powerful running back but he has everything. He’s fast, he can run the ball, he can throw the ball, he can catch the ball. He’s an all-around athlete. That’s awesome to have. The best part for me, all that stuff’s great, but the biggest thing now in college football for a running back is the mentality they have, the mindset. He knows protections, he knows who to pick up, he knows the calls, and it’s not just the run game. I feel so much more comfortable knowing we have a guy back there that if there’s a DB pressure or whatever it may be off a blitz, I know he’s going to pick it up, even if it’s from my blind side. I can always trust him that protection’s always going to be very important to him.”
Toa Lobendahn
--He believes this year’s offensive line has a better grasp of the playbook.
“Once you get the plays down, it just comes to fundamentals. We can focus on technique rather than messing up on mental errors.”
He’s expecting a few things in particular from the Arkansas State defense.
“A lot of movement. Some outside blitzes from the corners. And for them to play fast.”
--He says he’s been able to get comfortable quickly at right guard in a short amount of time. He said the biggest difference now is the communication he has with Zach Banner compared to what he had with Chad Wheeler.
Su’a Cravens
--He respects Arkansas State.
“We can’t overlook them. They won their conference (three of the past four years) with four different coaching staffs. They’re a great team. They got a lot of speed on the outside. They’re going to try attack the perimeter. They got a fast quarterback. We got to be ready for them. Arkansas State doesn’t get the credit they deserve sometimes. We’re not overlooking them.”
--The key to defending dual-threat quarterback Fredi Knighten is being disciplined in assignments.
“You can’t get caught sleeping, you can’t get caught looking in the backfield. He’ll scramble to throw and at the same time he can tuck it and run for a lot of yards.”
--He says the USC defense doesn’t have a true first team and second team.
“We platoon, so any defense that’s in there is going to be ready to compete.”
--After eight months of practices and workouts, he’s eager for the season to begin.
“I want to be able to hit a quarterback without getting yelled at.”
Tre Madden
--He’s been working to win the starting job but it’s even more important to him to finish games.
“That’s what it’s all about. The first play is not going to win the game. In crunch time, I want to be on the field.”
--In hopes of lasting the entire season, he conditioned rigorously during the offseason and regularly got massages to take care of tendons and muscles. He also paid more attention to his diet and what he ate.
--He said he weighs 225 pounds and doesn’t believe that will be too much stress for his knees and ankles.
--He said Ronald Jones II seems to be in a better place in light of feeling homesick.
"He’s doing way better now. It comes with the territory of being a freshman he’s far away from home. I can understand that. I was a little homesick and I was right down the street. He’s doing really well now and we’re all loving on him."
--Madden praised Jones’ speed, Dominic Davis’ hands, and Aca’Cedric Ware’s all-around game and pass-blocking.
Cody Kessler
--He says Tre Madden is the total package.
“He such a powerful running back but he has everything. He’s fast, he can run the ball, he can throw the ball, he can catch the ball. He’s an all-around athlete. That’s awesome to have. The best part for me, all that stuff’s great, but the biggest thing now in college football for a running back is the mentality they have, the mindset. He knows protections, he knows who to pick up, he knows the calls, and it’s not just the run game. I feel so much more comfortable knowing we have a guy back there that if there’s a DB pressure or whatever it may be off a blitz, I know he’s going to pick it up, even if it’s from my blind side. I can always trust him that protection’s always going to be very important to him.”
Toa Lobendahn
--He believes this year’s offensive line has a better grasp of the playbook.
“Once you get the plays down, it just comes to fundamentals. We can focus on technique rather than messing up on mental errors.”
He’s expecting a few things in particular from the Arkansas State defense.
“A lot of movement. Some outside blitzes from the corners. And for them to play fast.”
--He says he’s been able to get comfortable quickly at right guard in a short amount of time. He said the biggest difference now is the communication he has with Zach Banner compared to what he had with Chad Wheeler.
Su’a Cravens
--He respects Arkansas State.
“We can’t overlook them. They won their conference (three of the past four years) with four different coaching staffs. They’re a great team. They got a lot of speed on the outside. They’re going to try attack the perimeter. They got a fast quarterback. We got to be ready for them. Arkansas State doesn’t get the credit they deserve sometimes. We’re not overlooking them.”
--The key to defending dual-threat quarterback Fredi Knighten is being disciplined in assignments.
“You can’t get caught sleeping, you can’t get caught looking in the backfield. He’ll scramble to throw and at the same time he can tuck it and run for a lot of yards.”
--He says the USC defense doesn’t have a true first team and second team.
“We platoon, so any defense that’s in there is going to be ready to compete.”
--After eight months of practices and workouts, he’s eager for the season to begin.
“I want to be able to hit a quarterback without getting yelled at.”
