The first week of spring practice has been set, with 12 more practices scheduled, including the spring game on April 27th. After each practice, various UA coaches and players spoke to the media about how the offseason went and what to expect this spring. .
The main comments from these interviews are:
Head Coach Brent Brennan
For the first few months: “It's been crazy. It's been really, really fun and it's been busy. When I became the head coach at San Jose State in '17, there was no transfer portal, there was no NIL. There's been a huge emphasis on getting to know the players as we go into it with a roster we don't know.”
On teams working on their own in the offseason: “Player-led teams are really special and that was evident in their teams. I continue to lean into it and continue to get the rest of the team to lean into it.”
Regarding the return of Tacario Davis: “That's huge. He's a player who really broke out last season and you'll see him accelerate his development. I think it's rare to have a group of guys that are this close together. They are We get along really well and I think a big part of it is being able to play at the level and consistency that he wants to play and having guys on the back end that he's played with before.” .Its.”
About spring goals: “Spring practice is such a fun time of the year because everything is an opportunity. Everyone wants to play, but the great thing about spring practice is you don't have anyone to play with. You get deep into the fundamentals. You can dive into technique, you can dive into scheme. It gives everyone a chance to practice and show themselves.”
On his coaching style in the spring: “On the field, I want to be someone who is encouraging and brings a lot of energy. Whether it’s a leader who is a player or a leader who is a coach, as we constantly seek to improve, I want to be someone who is encouraging and brings a lot of energy. I think it's really important to bring that excitement to the practice environment.”
Offensive coordinator Dino Babers
About spring goals: “I think the most important thing is knowing where we are. Then in late spring practice we'll start to put this together, execute and sharpen this, not struggle in spring football. Discovery is key. We have to find out where we are and what we have. Once we have all the tools, let's start cooking.”
About Noah Fifita: “When you're being coached and told what to do by someone else, it's very hard to judge how good that person is. Now that we're in charge, it's hard to tell how good someone is. No, you can tell he's not average. He's beyond that. Noah is different than the players I've coached, but you can see how sharp his mind is and how accurate his soccer is. , how you make things happen. All three of these qualities are qualities that lead to not only a great college career, but also an NFL career.”
On what he saw from the team: “The most impressive thing I’ve seen is the camaraderie of the players on this football team and how they try to welcome everyone into the family. The way they opened up to us. It's really unique and different from what we see today.”
On the offensive line: “Some of them are in tatters. We need to get them all back together and healthy. Some of them are trying to practice through something. I We're looking for a total team aspect of things. I know we've got great offensive linemen, I know we've got some really good receivers, but what can other players do? I want to know who they are and I want to build a complete team around them. As offensive lines go, you can't do anything without an offensive line. I know there's four cats in there. ”
About his plans. “That's a question that may not be answered until we find out exactly what I have this spring. For some players who may or may not be here, some We have scholarships available.”
Regarding the many players who decided to return after the manager change: “I think they're family, and I think they're ohana. I think people underestimate how important it is not just to come in together, but to leave together. From what I've seen, They really enjoy playing together.”
QB Noah Fifita
On the transition to a new coaching staff: “We've been struggling for a few months getting used to our new staff. The honeymoon period is over. They've taken a lot of our terminology and language and incorporated it into San Jose's language, and Coach Babers' language. Now we are just getting used to the new coaching points and getting used to their coaching style.
About Babers: “He's certainly an interesting guy. I feel like there's a military spirit in him. I'm excited for him to lead us.”
Comparing this spring to the first two years: “This year feels a lot different, in my opinion, a lot different than the past two years heading into spring baseball. From a leadership standpoint, a lot of people are asking me questions and looking to me for answers. That’s a blessing.”
OL Jonah Savinaea
About OL coach Josh Oglesby: “I've known Coach O since high school and he scouted me to San Jose my sophomore year. When I heard he got the job, we immediately connected. ”
Regarding coaching change and decision to stay: “It was a sad moment in our lives. We needed to come together as a team and in a little moment, we talked to the boys, why are we leaving what we've built? there is no.”
Defensive Coordinator Duane Akina
On how he changed the defense: “We're probably going to be a little more aggressive against the front. Second, we've added more gut-like coverage that we had when I was at Texas at Stanford. We're probably going to play the gaps a little bit differently. You're canceling. Route it more vertically, upfield, a little more aggressively. So let's say you plan on running to the quarterback instead of sitting at the line of scrimmage. Add a twist or two from the front. The secondary will be more consistent.”
Secondary side: “We're blessed, but we're blessed with people with great IQs, not people with great IQs. Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stokes — get used to that name, we need to get used to that name nationally. Dalton (Johnson) is the same, he can do a lot of things. That's one of the reasons I chose to stay.”
About his coaching approach: “I teach from the offensive side of the ball. I was an offensive coordinator, so I teach a lot of offensive theory. So now they're starting to understand that the defense is built on their position. Learn not only how the defensive structure is built.”
On the defensive line: “We're really optimistic. We lost a lot of key pieces. Bill Norton is coming back. It's stable for us. As new staff come in, some There are some players who may not have been looked upon very favorably. It's a new beginning. It's a fresh start. Joe Seumalo has done a great job.”
LB Jacob Manu
About Khaaihue: “I just met the worker, and he's a good listener. I like listening and helping kids who want to get better. I've helped him a lot.''
About Akina: “We love him. We're glad he's our DC. He's the guy who's going to push us in the right direction.”
On what he is trying to improve: “More about the mental side of the game. I just want to outsmart everyone. If I know where they're going before they go, I can beat them there.”
LB Kamuela Kaihue
In his first year: “I definitely had a lot of coaches in front of me that taught me how to work and how to practice on the field. I think last year was a great first year for me learning-wise.”
About the last few months: “It's definitely a roller coaster. Especially when you get hired and come in with that old coaching staff, you kind of get used to them, and then after the first year they leave. It's an experience for sure, I think it's a great learning opportunity. Football is definitely a business.”
LB Tay Brown
In his first year: “That was a huge kick. It was good to get some time on the field so we can get some experience next year. And with a new coaching staff, it's going to be a great year.”
CB Tacario Davis
As for why he entered the portal and didn't go anywhere else: “It's just to give new coaches a try. I was really giving them a chance. I wanted to be a part of something special.”
Regarding number change: “I was tired of being 23. I had to be in the single digits. I was aiming for about three at first, but one stuck with me.”
On why he has grown so much in 2023: “My goal every week was to get better. Some people think that even going into the season, you can't get better with practice. My goal was to work on what I failed at.”
CB Traydan Styx
Regarding Akina's appointment as defensive coordinator: “That played a huge role for us. We talked about it a lot and it was no secret that we grew. We give a lot of that to Coach Akina. Coach Brennan That definitely swayed our decision when we hired him as our DC.”
On Davis' return: “That was huge. Tacario might be the player who improved the most last season from the first game to the last game. He has all the physical tools and is getting smarter and smarter.”
S Gunner Maldonado
About creating Run It Back videos: “It was a weird few days when everything first happened. The three of us wanted to be together forever. And then someone like Noah or T-Mac comes up to you and… , and when they said let's keep it at home, that's very encouraging. Once I decided, I was like, let's do something cool.”
S. Dalton Johnson
On the reaction at the UCLA game after announcing his return: “I've never heard anything like that for McKale. It was very exciting and a lot of emotions came up. It definitely showed that the entire U of A community, the school, the students are behind us. .”
