Aug. 20, 2008

Head Coach Dave Wannstedt

Training Camp Day 16 quotes

August 20, 2008         

Opening Statement:

“We altered our plan a little bit today. We ended up with a 50-play scrimmage with our second and third group. We have more decisions to make with those two units than the actual starters. The starters got about 25 plays; we controlled the tackling with those guys. We moved the ball and were able to use the officials. It was a good day. We got a lot of work done, young kids got a lot of work. When we watch the tape we will make some final evaluations and set the depth chart and get ready for the opener.”

On naming the starting quarterback:

“Billy Stull has had an excellent camp. The guy has played smart and made good decisions with the football and throwing the ball accurately. He has showed great leadership skills and he will be the starter on opening day. I’m pleased with all of our quarterbacks; they’re doing a really good job. We all know you can only play one and Billy will be the starter.

“Coming out of the spring I wanted to give them all an opportunity to work hard in off-season preparation. It was important that they all had a fair opportunity to win the starting job. Billy never backed off. He came out of the spring as the starter and never missed a beat and has earned the respect of the coaches and his team and we feel confident in naming him the starter.”

On the second and third QBs:

“We don’t have an order, that’s going to be the challenge. We can’t work five quarterbacks but we have got to plan for that. We’ll work through it; the scrimmage today will help us in how we stack the quarterbacks around Billy. We’ll definitely redshirt one, possibly two.”

On the difference in Stull from last year to this year:

“I’d like to say he’s smarter just from being in meetings and seeing 12 games worth of film from last season, being coached through the off-season. I know he is stronger. Bill was never redshirted, he came in playing behind Tyler Palko and took the year off last year. Working in the weight room with Buddy Morris will benefit him.”

On the defense’s progress:

“Today the defense played the most consistent they have played all training camp. I don’t think we gave up a big play. I’m talking about mental mistakes where guys are out of position. The defense was clean and the effort was good and the results were what we wanted.”

On the starting offensive line:

“We’re still working through that. Lucas Nix and Chris Jacobson have really made progress everyday. We have some really healthy competition going on the offensive line. In the next couple of days we will have to name a starting group. Lucas is going to play, whether he is the starter or not we will determine.”

On Jonathan Baldwin and the receiver group:

“We’ve got him playing. I’ve been with Oderick Turner for three years and this is the best camp he’s had. Competition does that. I don’t think he is feeling pressure from Baldwin, he knows he has to go out there and produce. The more talent we bring in makes everybody a little bit better.”