I made it for the last five minutes only today because it was moved to Yulman Stadium from the Superdome and finished at 11 instead of 12, which was the original plan. No practice report, but Willie Fritz said Keyshawn McLeod would start at right guard, clearing up the closest race in camp.
FRITZ
Why the venue switch?
"It was a nice day. We saw we were going to beat the weather. We just kind of had going down there as a backup plan. We'll probably have to go there (the Dome) tomorrow (because of the weather report).
How good do you feel about the offense going into the season?
"Great. I feel good about it. The great thing for me is Will (Hall) has got a lot of head coaching experience, so he knows how to organize things. You think about what ifs. Sometimes that's what I have to do for everybody--make sure they are doing this, that and the other thing. He's been there and done that as a coordinator and as a head coach, so that's an advantage for me."
Some coordinators appear more concerned about stats than anything else.
"He sees the big picture. Moreso than anything else it's just how to put it all together. This goes before this and this goes after this and there's a rhyme and reason for installation. That's good."
What is the decision at right guard?
"Keyshawn's going to start, but Ben (Knutson)'s going to play a bunch. Cam Jackel will play some, too. We have a lot more depth than we've had."
It is possible all 22 starters for you on Thursday will have started games before in college. Is that nice to have?
"Oh, I think it's good. We have 15 seniors, but only one of them was here before we got here. Those guys have helped us become a little bit more of a veteran squad than really what we are probably, but we have a lot of young kids who are going to be able to play. I like where our roster is at right now."
P.J. HALL
What do you remember from the loss to FIU two years ago?
"Yeah, I remember a lot from that game--the formations they lined up in, we remember it all. We've watched film on it. It wasn't a good game for us."
How much better do you feel you are as a team now than two years ago?
"A lot better. We didn't come into the game prepared. We kind of took the game lightly, but it's a totally different story this year. "
Is payback a little motivation?
"You can say a little bit. We need to get them back but for the main part we just need to start our season off with a win."
How do you like the defense's progress in camp?
"I feel real good about that. All three levels, from the D-line to the linebackers to the DBs, we have a good group."
FRITZ
Why the venue switch?
"It was a nice day. We saw we were going to beat the weather. We just kind of had going down there as a backup plan. We'll probably have to go there (the Dome) tomorrow (because of the weather report).
How good do you feel about the offense going into the season?
"Great. I feel good about it. The great thing for me is Will (Hall) has got a lot of head coaching experience, so he knows how to organize things. You think about what ifs. Sometimes that's what I have to do for everybody--make sure they are doing this, that and the other thing. He's been there and done that as a coordinator and as a head coach, so that's an advantage for me."
Some coordinators appear more concerned about stats than anything else.
"He sees the big picture. Moreso than anything else it's just how to put it all together. This goes before this and this goes after this and there's a rhyme and reason for installation. That's good."
What is the decision at right guard?
"Keyshawn's going to start, but Ben (Knutson)'s going to play a bunch. Cam Jackel will play some, too. We have a lot more depth than we've had."
It is possible all 22 starters for you on Thursday will have started games before in college. Is that nice to have?
"Oh, I think it's good. We have 15 seniors, but only one of them was here before we got here. Those guys have helped us become a little bit more of a veteran squad than really what we are probably, but we have a lot of young kids who are going to be able to play. I like where our roster is at right now."
P.J. HALL
What do you remember from the loss to FIU two years ago?
"Yeah, I remember a lot from that game--the formations they lined up in, we remember it all. We've watched film on it. It wasn't a good game for us."
How much better do you feel you are as a team now than two years ago?
"A lot better. We didn't come into the game prepared. We kind of took the game lightly, but it's a totally different story this year. "
Is payback a little motivation?
"You can say a little bit. We need to get them back but for the main part we just need to start our season off with a win."
How do you like the defense's progress in camp?
"I feel real good about that. All three levels, from the D-line to the linebackers to the DBs, we have a good group."
