Dave Doeren’s 2018 Media Day Press Conference: Part 2

Head Coach Dave Doeren held a press conference at yesterday’s 2018 Media Day. Part 2 of the presser is below, with a BULLETED breakdown underneath. In case you missed Part 1, here you go.

• There’s experience in the secondary now. When we moved Shawn Boone to nickel, and had two new starters at safety, there’s a learning curve that has to take place. There’s mistakes you have to coach through. Now you’re seeing a really confident Redshirt Junior Safety Jarius Morehead. A really confident Redshirt Senior Safety Dexter Wright. A confident Redshirt Sophomore Safety Isaiah Stallings. Last year they were nervous. Now they’re confident. Cornerbacks Nick McCloud (JR) and Chris Ingram (SO) are playing with a lot of confidence.  Ingram played special teams every week, and started against Wake. He didn’t play well, but he learned from it.
• The goal is to rotate 8 guys on the defensive line. Redshirt Junior Defensive Tackle Larrell Murchison has looked really good. I really like him and Senior Defensive Tackle Eurndraus Bryant. Redshirt Freshman Defensive Tackle Grant Gibson. Those guys are playing hard. Consistent guys. Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle Shug Frazier is a guy we have to get back to full strength. Those 4 guys are big and strong in the middle.
• You know who the starters are at defensive end (Seniors Darian Roseboro and James Smith-Williams. Graduate Deonte Holden is finally healthy and working hard. Freshman Joseph Boletepeli continues to get better. Redshirt Freshman Xavier Lyas and Junior Joe Babros are the other guys.
• As the game continues to slow down for Freshman Defensive Tackle Alim McNeil, his physical skills are very obvious. He plays really fast. Just getting him in football shape.
• Feels like there are 5 inside and 5 outside guys we could play with if they’re healthy.
• Redshirt Freshman WR Thayer Thomas is leading for the punt return job, with Redshirt Junior WR Jakobi Meyers behind him.
• Redshirt Senior cornerback Maurice Trowell returned some kickoffs last year, and did some good things, and he’s probably in the lead there. Once we get the running backs healthy, thinks that will help the competition. Redshirt Sophomore WR CJ Riley and Sophomore WR Emeka Emezie have been working back there, as well as Senior WR Steph Louis.
• Off the field, Senior Punter AJ Cole is the most committed spiritually. The mission trips he’s been doing since 8th grade. He knows exactly who he is as a person. He understands how to calm guys down and talk to people.
• Thinks Senior Running Back Reggie Gallaspy is going to be a handful for people. He’s a bowling ball and very focused. It’s more about finding who goes in there when he’s tired right now. We’re going to be balanced, and be team that runs the ball when we went to run the ball. That’s our DNA. Still have weapons to fit that system.
• Redshirt Freshman WR Thayer Tomas has busted his butt and competed against some really good players. He makes plays and he can run. He’s deceptive.