Aug. 18, 2008
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OT Adam Ulatoski
On today's practice: It's good. We were in our helmets and shorts and we were focusing on fundamentals and getting everything done without hitting so we can get prepared for Florida Atlantic.
On getting impatient in the final weeks of preseason: I was impatient all spring because I wasn't out there, so I've been ready to play this whole time and I'm just happy to be out there now.
On how the offensive line is coming together: It's good. We're working a lot better as a whole line right now than we were before, just practicing together and getting used to each other. I think we're going to be good this year.
On building a chemistry on the offensive line: Especially with the zone scheme, you have to work together in everything or else it's not going to work. If you miss one block in a zone scheme, it can ruin the play.
On the focus for the next couple of weeks: We're still putting in a couple of new wrinkles and things like that, tweaking different plays. But we're kind of in a learning phase with Florida Atlantic, getting a bunch of the younger guys used to game week, things like that.
On giving advice to the young guys: Just look up to the older guys who know what they're doing and follow their lead.
On DE Sam Acho: I think he's a really good player. He's gotten so much better since he's been here. He's quick off the ball. He's actually bigger than he looks. You see him next to Rak (Brian Orakpo) and everybody looks small. But he's a pretty big guy actually and he can really play. He's just real quick, he's tenacious and he's going to keep on going. You can't ever take a play off with him.
On practicing against the defense and their new schemes: We've seen a lot since I've been here. It's a little different, but we have a bunch of good coaches that help us out with that. We've gotten used to our defense now, and now we're trying to get used to everybody else's.
On a clear-cut first and second team or a mix-and-match system: We kind of have a first-team line and a second-team line, then we'll rotate in some of the guys that are competing and trying to get different spots.
C Chris Hall
On the offensive line coming together: I really feel like there is some serious gelling in this two-a-days, maybe to an extent I haven't felt in a little while, but I can definitely say that this is positive and there's some really good gelling. We're working together and it's been a really good two-a-days for us.
On having a more solidified position than last year: Well, I never can complain. It's always a blast to be under Coach (Mac) McWhorter and Coach (Greg) Davis and Coach (Mack) Brown. So no matter what position that's in, it's definitely a blessing to be in there. You just have
to go wherever coach says.
On other linemen that can play multiple positions: Coach McWhorter makes it a habit to cross-train. He uses that vocabulary word a lot, to cross-train linemen to play guard and tackle, guard and center, all five, and we have a number of guys that can do that.
Steve Moore can play all five positions. Britt Mitchell can play guard and tackle, David Snow can play guard and center, Buck (Burnette) can play guard and center. We have a lot of guys that can play. Greg Smith can play a number of positions.
On OT Adam Ulatoski: Adam does a wonderful job. As far as knowing the offense and knowing the concepts, not just offensive linemen, but what we're doing as a whole offense, I can't say that we have another offensive lineman who is as skilled or who knows the offense as well as he does. We're very thankful to have him back healthy and to have him with us in the huddle this two-a-days.
On the focus in the last couple of preseason weeks: We've been doing it all this two-a-days, and it's been very good. I feel like the installation in the offense has been put in really well. Our coaches do such a great job of doing that. (We're) definitely looking forward to game day coming up pretty soon.
On giving advice to the young guys: I would say get after it with everything you've got. It's basically that football is football, no matter if it's in front of two people or in front of 100,000. Our stadium and our fans provide great atmosphere, and it's eye-opening and exciting every time. But I would just say get after it like you always have.
OG Cedric Dockery
On the depth on the offensive line: There's a lot of guys you can talk about, from Michael Huey to David Snow, Britt Mitchell has really stepped up. Like I said, our whole offensive line has stepped up, so not to name shoot, but I think we have two lines that can play.
On last year's offensive line depth and losses to injury: We were really thin last year and our coaches were struggling. After we lost Dallas (Griffin) and Tony (Hills), Coach McWhorter was really struggling to keep us on top of our game, depth wise, putting the best spreads out there. We had it together, I think we just needed more time to grow, and as the season came along, we picked up the pace and Jamaal (Charles) played well. I think it just took us some time to grow.
On coming off an injury last year: I felt pretty good all year long. I got better as the season came, Coach Brown told me that as the season came along, I played a little better. But last year to this year, it was a big improvement in my game, and Coach Brown and Coach McWhorter have really emphasized that to me. I feel like I've grown and I'm ready to step up and be a leader.
LB Roddrick Muckelroy
On if he lost any weight in the off-season: Actually, I gained some weight. I weigh 230 (pounds) right now. I was at 225 last year. In the off-season last year, I wanted to gain a little weight, just to see what it would feel like to play at a heavier weight. I've always been 225, I just wanted to gain a little bit and keep my speed at the same time and see how that goes. It's fine right now, I feel comfortable at 230, still running.
On S Christian Scott: He's a hard-hitting safety. He asks me sometimes what it's like to play in the game. I say it'll be different, but you've just got to be ready. The crowd's going to be there, just calm down and play the game.
On how the linebackers are coming together: We're all focused. Coach gives us something, we go out every day, try to practice hard and focus on what they give us. We all just come together and help out one another. If you're kind of down one day, we'll pick you up and say everything is going to be alright. We're all focused right now, playing hard. We came into the spring with a new defense, we tried to get a grasp of it then, so when two-a-days came around, we were ready for it. We've seen it once and we're getting settled in right now. Everything is coming along fine.
On how Coach Muschamp differs from last year's coaching: He just brings a lot more fire. He wants it done one way, so you if mess up, he's going to be right there with you. You do something good, and he's going to be right there with you. He's just a good person to look up to.
On rushing the quarterback: Oh yeah, I like to rush the passer. As a linebacker, when your blitz is called, you're going to know your blitz. You're not going to mess that one up. We anticipate that.
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