W
Wes Mitchell
Guest
New South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Bobo spoke to the media for the first time this spring. Here's what he had to say...
** Not sure if he can put a finger on exactly all that went wrong with the offense last year, just looking at the film and not being here, but injuries and having a freshman QB were definitely factors. Told the team, that was last year, and this is this year - everyone has a clean slate and we're judging everyone on what happens from this point forward. Been pleased with the progress through five days. It's been slow progress, but they've gotten better.
** Consistency is a word that Muschamp has been preaching. Offensive football is about being consistent every single play. The way that you execute is to be consistent. Continuing to install things and the guys are picking it up. The offensive line is where they have the most experience. Eight guys have started at least a game and they're doing a nice job. QBs are doing a good job of studying.
** Every offense has an identity. Who we are and what we're going to be - that identity comes through spring and into summer and into fall. You base your identity around the personnel. No matter the scheme, though, we want to be tough, both mentally and physically. Don't know the scheme identity yet. There are incoming guys at RB, TE and WR that will shape the identity of the scheme.
** Happy with Hilinski's improvement with his footwork and his accuracy. Impressed with how sharp he is in the meeting room and his preparation. He's not a dual threat QB but he's athletic enough to move around in the pocket. In today's game you have to be able to move around unless you know the offense like the back of your hand. Being able to move can eliminate bad plays.
** Collin Hill hasn't been able to practice at all and spends the practice time doing his rehab. He's been great with the young guys in the meeting room and understands the offense and does a good job of answering questions and helping the other guys.
** The best group offensive right now is the OL, because there are a lot of guys competing there.
** Been really pleased with Deshaun Fenwick. He's embraced the clean slate mindset. He's a big physical kid and has played physical and showed some toughness in the blocking drills too. He's got good hands and is a smart kid. MarShawn Lloyd has a chance to be a special guy. He approaches every day with the right mindset and is in the meeting room 30 minutes before it starts.
** Some of the advantages to being under center at times are it helps your play-action game and it can create different angles in the running game. More downhill and you can attack both sides. They haven't been in the true I-formation that much and Adam Prentice has played more of an H-back role.
** Need the wide receivers to be more consistent. Some guys have been banged up and have missed practice though. Been really pleased with Xavier Legette. He's practiced every single day, has showed good toughness, big kid who is learning to control his body. He has the skillset. Joyner has showed toughness. He's learning to play the position and learning to run routes more fluidly. Those two guys stick out. Shi Smith is the receiver who can stretch the field. He had a deep ball catch today. Need more guys that can stretch the field and hope that one of the guys that are coming in can do that. That's a big focus in recruiting too.
** The QBs have done a good job with the under center stuff. No dropped snaps, knock on wood. Probably have been more under center now than they actually will be in the fall.
** Bobo will be in the press box during games.
** Eric Douglas, Hank Manos, Vincent Murphy and Trai Jones have all been working at center. Douglas and Manos have rotated in with the ones a lot. Jaz Turnetine, Jakai Moore and Jaylen Nichols have been the primary guys rotating with the ones at tackle (Dylan Wonnum is out for the spring).
** The incoming tight ends are very, very athletic guys. Jaheim Bell played a lot outside. He's 220 pounds and has sort of grown his way into probably being a tight end, but is a guy you can move around and even play as a big wide receiver or use him in different spots to create mismatches. Eric Shaw probably isn't quite as far along at the position and running routes, but has a huge, huge upside. Hoping Muschamp doesn't steal him for defense.
Rico Powers is a guy who can run and is big and can hopefully take the top off a defense. Ger-Cari Caldwell blew up as a senior and is a 6-4 kid who can run and jump and think he can help bring depth to that run and need it there.
** Want to be 100 percent on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 - have to convert those. Can't get whipped.
** Been really pleased with Luke Doty. Put him and Lloyd in the same category. They want to learn and want to compete. He's been accurate and was 11 of 11 a couple of days ago. Made some nice throws today on third down. He's pulled the ball down and had some explosive runs when everyone was covered. His willingness to learn and master the offense is going to give him a chance to be really, really good, because he has the skillset that the other guys don't have and he's been an accurate thrower too.
** Not sure if he can put a finger on exactly all that went wrong with the offense last year, just looking at the film and not being here, but injuries and having a freshman QB were definitely factors. Told the team, that was last year, and this is this year - everyone has a clean slate and we're judging everyone on what happens from this point forward. Been pleased with the progress through five days. It's been slow progress, but they've gotten better.
** Consistency is a word that Muschamp has been preaching. Offensive football is about being consistent every single play. The way that you execute is to be consistent. Continuing to install things and the guys are picking it up. The offensive line is where they have the most experience. Eight guys have started at least a game and they're doing a nice job. QBs are doing a good job of studying.
** Every offense has an identity. Who we are and what we're going to be - that identity comes through spring and into summer and into fall. You base your identity around the personnel. No matter the scheme, though, we want to be tough, both mentally and physically. Don't know the scheme identity yet. There are incoming guys at RB, TE and WR that will shape the identity of the scheme.
** Happy with Hilinski's improvement with his footwork and his accuracy. Impressed with how sharp he is in the meeting room and his preparation. He's not a dual threat QB but he's athletic enough to move around in the pocket. In today's game you have to be able to move around unless you know the offense like the back of your hand. Being able to move can eliminate bad plays.
** Collin Hill hasn't been able to practice at all and spends the practice time doing his rehab. He's been great with the young guys in the meeting room and understands the offense and does a good job of answering questions and helping the other guys.
** The best group offensive right now is the OL, because there are a lot of guys competing there.
** Been really pleased with Deshaun Fenwick. He's embraced the clean slate mindset. He's a big physical kid and has played physical and showed some toughness in the blocking drills too. He's got good hands and is a smart kid. MarShawn Lloyd has a chance to be a special guy. He approaches every day with the right mindset and is in the meeting room 30 minutes before it starts.
** Some of the advantages to being under center at times are it helps your play-action game and it can create different angles in the running game. More downhill and you can attack both sides. They haven't been in the true I-formation that much and Adam Prentice has played more of an H-back role.
** Need the wide receivers to be more consistent. Some guys have been banged up and have missed practice though. Been really pleased with Xavier Legette. He's practiced every single day, has showed good toughness, big kid who is learning to control his body. He has the skillset. Joyner has showed toughness. He's learning to play the position and learning to run routes more fluidly. Those two guys stick out. Shi Smith is the receiver who can stretch the field. He had a deep ball catch today. Need more guys that can stretch the field and hope that one of the guys that are coming in can do that. That's a big focus in recruiting too.
** The QBs have done a good job with the under center stuff. No dropped snaps, knock on wood. Probably have been more under center now than they actually will be in the fall.
** Bobo will be in the press box during games.
** Eric Douglas, Hank Manos, Vincent Murphy and Trai Jones have all been working at center. Douglas and Manos have rotated in with the ones a lot. Jaz Turnetine, Jakai Moore and Jaylen Nichols have been the primary guys rotating with the ones at tackle (Dylan Wonnum is out for the spring).
** The incoming tight ends are very, very athletic guys. Jaheim Bell played a lot outside. He's 220 pounds and has sort of grown his way into probably being a tight end, but is a guy you can move around and even play as a big wide receiver or use him in different spots to create mismatches. Eric Shaw probably isn't quite as far along at the position and running routes, but has a huge, huge upside. Hoping Muschamp doesn't steal him for defense.
Rico Powers is a guy who can run and is big and can hopefully take the top off a defense. Ger-Cari Caldwell blew up as a senior and is a 6-4 kid who can run and jump and think he can help bring depth to that run and need it there.
** Want to be 100 percent on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 - have to convert those. Can't get whipped.
** Been really pleased with Luke Doty. Put him and Lloyd in the same category. They want to learn and want to compete. He's been accurate and was 11 of 11 a couple of days ago. Made some nice throws today on third down. He's pulled the ball down and had some explosive runs when everyone was covered. His willingness to learn and master the offense is going to give him a chance to be really, really good, because he has the skillset that the other guys don't have and he's been an accurate thrower too.
