I did not intend to do any interviews when I went to that event, but I changed my mind and talked to Pratt before forgetting to transcribe the quotes. Here is what he said:
"Just the experience factor. With the offense, we're doing a lot of similar stuff, but it's just guys being here. When the (Watts) twins got here last year when I first got here in the spring, it was all new to them. They came from Juco, and just adjusting to D1 was a process. Now that they have a year under their belt and i have a year under my belt and we've got a majority of the other guys coming back, it's just that experience factor. Everybody's played and gotten a taste of the offense, so it's definitely going to help us out a lot."
On how much better offense should be:
"We should be a lot better. Just more efficient, more leadership, smarter, less penalties and whatnot. Like I said with the offensive line, we had nine different guys that started a game on the offensive line last year. That was one thing we lacked last year was depth. We had our starting left tackle go out, our starting right guard, our starting right tackle throughout the season, and now this year nine different guys have gotten a taste of what it's like to start a game, and just the competition that they've been going through day in and day out through the spring and through summer practices and going into fall camp, they make each other better with just that drive to be the guy. I don't know at this point if we're going to have one starting guy (on the right side of the line). A lot of guys are going to rotate. We're really excited about that. Tyjae's doing great. He looks phenomenal. He's running full speed, feels healthy and is getting his treatment every day. All the way around we should be really efficient."
On struggles in spring:
"Honestly I really think that was part of coach Long's plan coming in. He's a really smart guy. He knows what he's doing. He's been with those top teams and led them to a lot of success. When he first came in in the spring, he put a lot on us. That was one thing he really emphasized. We had to do install every day, and that was difficult. It pushed us to our limits and kind of humbled a lot of guys as well. Coming into the summer, we've gone over so many things, and now once we get into camp we're going to start to narrow it down by game plan and whatnot. A lot of guys have been humbled, myself included, so we really are looking forward into going into this fall camp and showcasing what we can do on Sept. 4."
On biggest difference between Long and Hall:
"I don't necessarily know what the word would be. Maybe intensity. He comes out to practice every day with the same intensity. He works his butt off, and just his energy, a lot of guys, their goal that day is to match his energy. He can be tough. He can get on a lot of people's case and get on their butt, but when it comes down to it, everybody respects him and they want to play for him. He's really consistent, and that's one of the most positive things I can say about an individual in general, being consistent. He comes out there and works hit butt off every day. We know what to expect from him."
Oklahoma as opener:
"I'm pumped just for the opportunity and the opportunity we have this whole season. It's one of the toughest schedules Tulane has probably ever had. We have Oklahoma in week 1, Ole Miss in week 3, Cincinnati, SMU, Tulsa, UCF, Memphis, Houston. Now we're in position that we can take Tulane to the next wave."
"Just the experience factor. With the offense, we're doing a lot of similar stuff, but it's just guys being here. When the (Watts) twins got here last year when I first got here in the spring, it was all new to them. They came from Juco, and just adjusting to D1 was a process. Now that they have a year under their belt and i have a year under my belt and we've got a majority of the other guys coming back, it's just that experience factor. Everybody's played and gotten a taste of the offense, so it's definitely going to help us out a lot."
On how much better offense should be:
"We should be a lot better. Just more efficient, more leadership, smarter, less penalties and whatnot. Like I said with the offensive line, we had nine different guys that started a game on the offensive line last year. That was one thing we lacked last year was depth. We had our starting left tackle go out, our starting right guard, our starting right tackle throughout the season, and now this year nine different guys have gotten a taste of what it's like to start a game, and just the competition that they've been going through day in and day out through the spring and through summer practices and going into fall camp, they make each other better with just that drive to be the guy. I don't know at this point if we're going to have one starting guy (on the right side of the line). A lot of guys are going to rotate. We're really excited about that. Tyjae's doing great. He looks phenomenal. He's running full speed, feels healthy and is getting his treatment every day. All the way around we should be really efficient."
On struggles in spring:
"Honestly I really think that was part of coach Long's plan coming in. He's a really smart guy. He knows what he's doing. He's been with those top teams and led them to a lot of success. When he first came in in the spring, he put a lot on us. That was one thing he really emphasized. We had to do install every day, and that was difficult. It pushed us to our limits and kind of humbled a lot of guys as well. Coming into the summer, we've gone over so many things, and now once we get into camp we're going to start to narrow it down by game plan and whatnot. A lot of guys have been humbled, myself included, so we really are looking forward into going into this fall camp and showcasing what we can do on Sept. 4."
On biggest difference between Long and Hall:
"I don't necessarily know what the word would be. Maybe intensity. He comes out to practice every day with the same intensity. He works his butt off, and just his energy, a lot of guys, their goal that day is to match his energy. He can be tough. He can get on a lot of people's case and get on their butt, but when it comes down to it, everybody respects him and they want to play for him. He's really consistent, and that's one of the most positive things I can say about an individual in general, being consistent. He comes out there and works hit butt off every day. We know what to expect from him."
Oklahoma as opener:
"I'm pumped just for the opportunity and the opportunity we have this whole season. It's one of the toughest schedules Tulane has probably ever had. We have Oklahoma in week 1, Ole Miss in week 3, Cincinnati, SMU, Tulsa, UCF, Memphis, Houston. Now we're in position that we can take Tulane to the next wave."
