Video, quotes: Mike Norvell recaps FSU football's second spring scrimmage
(Video courtesy of FSU Athletics)
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell addressed the media Saturday afternoon after his team held its second spring scrimmage at Doak Campbell Stadium in the morning.
Here's some selected quotes from Norvell's press conference:
"We did a much better job of limiting penalties. There were still some things that showed up that we've got to get better at, continue to trust our technique with. But all in all, I thought it was cleaner in regard to that."
(Offensive line play, working other guys in at center) "It was good. We still limited a couple guys. Julian (Armella) was unavailable on Thursday, but was back out there today. It's good to see him you back and working. At center, Maurice (Smith) has been so steady for us in the last few years, a great leader for us upfront. But making sure that the battle for that next center position, who is that going to be? To be able to have two or three guys that can do it. Casey (Roddick) has been getting a lot of work there. Qae'Shon Sapp is getting a good amount of work. Darius (Washington), we throw in there for a few series there today. Being able to have those guys, as they're growing and building in confidence and all the things that they can do. We know during spring that we're gonna push the different combinations. We want to see that. We want to see how guys respond. As we get a little bit further into fall camp, there are going to be times where we'll do that but we really get settled in more on specific positions. It was good to get some of the guys back, Shrader was back here today. We got some good work."
(Patrick Payton, who has stepped up at defensive end after McLendon's departure?) "Pat is a very talented young man. I think that when you watch last year, you saw the flashes, you saw the potential, but I think he's taken a lot of ownership in the details and trying to be better against the run at times, just in condensing space, playing with technique and fundamentals. He's got a great ability as a pass rusher, but that's been a big, big, huge challenge for him. Seeing him grow in that, Jared Verse, his buy-in when it comes to that and just being more detailed and fundamental. Seeing that fundamental growth has been really good. I like what I'm seeing from Gilber (Edmond) transitioning in. That's a guy who has put a lot of football this last year, but we knew coming in the opportunity and potential ahead of him are extremely high. As he's learning and building confidence in what we're asking him to do, he's playing faster and playing more physical, really trying to show up and showcase that consistency. (McLendon's departure) does provide new opportunities, whether it's guys like a Byron Turner had a couple good plays, had a quarterback sack today. Our defensive front has a lot of flexibility that can show up. We've got some guys that are inside that can play outside. Guys that we can move around to be able to attack in different matchups. I'm excited about the potential we have. I know he's not doing much this spring, but a guy like Jaden Jones, he's kind of an x-factor guy for us. Unbelievable size, agility, ability. He's doing his rehabilitation as he's coming in and you sit there and you see him and he's already put on close to 15 pounds. He's pushing over 240 pounds now and maybe closer to 250. You see and feel the strength that is developing. I like the room, I really do. I think it's exciting where it's going and it's all stemming from the competition that we have."
(Omar Graham, LBs) "I think Omar's going to be a really good player here. You see last year, he played some as a freshman and it was him just learning that transition for all the things he did in high school. I think that he's definitely taking great steps for us. He is a playmaker. He's a guy that flashes. You see him show up. He's physicality within the core, but then when he has to go out in coverage, he's a good athlete. I really like what he's doing. Brendan Gant is a guy who I mentioned last week that is fast, he's athletic, he provides a lot of flexibility in regards to that. Stephen Dix is moving better than what he has coming off the injury this offseason. I like what I've seen from him. DeMarco (Ward) is for a freshman that's just starting, he's definitely shown up. He runs and hits, that's something you like with a young linebacker. Still a lot of things he's going to have to figure out and improve upon. When you have those top three that have been established throughout the year and then you have got a competition with guys pushing them, that's exciting. I think we've really done a good job in the evaluation of a guy like Omar Graham. I think what DeMarco will be able to continue to grow and do and obviously the other guys we have coming in, we're excited for that position."
(Fentrell Cypress) "I thought he had a really good week. He had an interception (earlier this week). He's really coming on. Much like Gilber, he's a guy that has played a lot of football. When you come into a new situation, maybe a couple of new techniques, terminology. What I love is just his work ethic. He is a incredible teammate. You sit there and just the way that he is locked in with the guys that are around him trying to either learn from them or listen to them or also try to help provide his insight through the things that he's done. We've got some great challenges. Our receiving corps, I feel like is gonna be really good and I think our defense back room can be really good. Those guys go at each other. You're going to be forced into some 1-on-1 plays and 1-on-1 opportunities and you have to take advantage of it. I think he's really building in that confidence and is playing fast. Had a big play today."
(Backup QBs up and down day) "Some of it was decision making. There were a couple plays where guys really tried to do almost too much in the moment. Sometimes the best play is an incompletion. There's all different things that will show up in spring ball. Guy has a mistake or guy doesn't win or whatever might show up, just being able to show the reactionary process of what you're what you're going to do and your ownership of the downs, your ownership of the situations. There are times where if it's there, you just need to stick, step, throw and put the ball where it needs to be. That was done really well on some plays and there were some plays where we had misses I'll go back and watch the film. It's easy to sit there and watch a quarterback and say, 'Well, this is not good or that's not good.' As you get a chance to get a sense of the bigger picture, it takes 10 guys around it to be where they need to be for rhythm and timing. If somebody's too deep on a route or somebody gets beat up front, there's a lot of things that might flash and adjust. That's part of the learning process for these quarterbacks. I think that they're are all very talented. They all showcase their ability and talent that they have. We're just looking for that consistency."
(Josh Farmer) "He has been dominant in practice. I really believe that it's just the reps, it's the time in the meeting room, it's the confidence in what he's being asked to do and just how he's applying that. He's a talented individual. Strong, might be one of the strongest human beings we have on this team. Hand strength, power, punch. He's got great movements. He's a fun player to watch and coach and I'm telling you, I say it with full confidence, he is just scratching the surface. He's got an unbelievable potential in front of him because there are still a lot of things technique-wise he needs to be better at. But you see those moments of how good it can be and we need him to continue to take those steps. You talk about nine practices in, most improved players, he's definitely in that conversation. This has been a guy that has played for us. You aways talk about guys having to define a role or create opportunities, I think that he's doing that. We're excited to see the consistency show up play-in and play-out."