After the first day of practice, first year Head Coach Bobby Petrino spent a
few minutes talking with the media about his thoughts and impressions from the
first day of fall camp.
Q: What are your thoughts after the first day?
Petrino: It's fun to get out here and get going. I really
don't like the way that the [new] rules....that don't allow us to bring the
freshmen in early. I'm a little bit concerned about that because they
stand around a little bit more than they used to. Usually we've had them
for five practices then the veterans come in...We've got to do a good job with
them.....[But] overall it was a good first day. I saw a lot of plays being
made out there and I'm happy with the way the defense ran to the ball.
Q: Talk about your offensive and defensive play
Petrino: Well, we made some mistakes, that's for sure, but I
thought Stefan had a good day. I thought he threw the ball pretty
well. Tinch made some great catches out there and our two tight ends made
some plays. The defensive front, I thought, did a nice job [and] we're
focusing on running to the football.
Q: What are your thoughts about the newcomers?
Petrino: I like the way they look. I think we got some
guys that can really run. We've got some bigger secondary players and it's
a nice looking group of offensive and defensive linemen. I would think
it'd be somewhere between six and ten [freshmen that will see playing
time]. We actually don't have a lot of choice because the class in front
of them is so small and we have to balance that out. Kolby Smith did a
nice job and there's some good players out there.
Coach Petrino (ITV) |
Q: Talk about Tyrone Saterfield and his progress in the weight
room this summer?
Petrino: Ty's done a great job this summer. he's down
about twenty pounds. He's actually weighed in at 303 and he's done a nice
job in the weight room. He's stronger, much faster and in better condition
than he was during the spring. So I can't say enough about how hard he's
worked.
Q: Talk about freshmen offensive linemen Renardo Foster and Kurt
Quarterman.
Petrino: Well, I think right now he's [Foster] a little bit
away. He started out in the spring as a defensive end and then he
got injured...but I would think they'll start to compete for it [and] eventually
start to put some pressure on those older kids. I know they want to make
their way into the depth [chart] sooner than later.
Q: What did you think of Michael Bush's play behind center?
Petrino: He did a nice job. You know, he really showed
very good arm strength.....he shows he has the quickness to do the things you
want him to do. I think the defensive looks were something he's not used
to. Guys moving all over the place and our defense is pretty much in tact
from the spring, so they were disguising and doing some things that they didn't
even do in the spring and that was a little hard on him.
Current first string quarterback, Stefan LeFors, spent time with the media
after practice to discuss his progress and the competition for the starting
quarterback job.
Q: What did you think of your first day back at practice?
LeFors: You know I thought my day was kind of rusty. I
came out rusty in the beginning. The more reps I got..the looser I got, so
I felt better as the day went on.
Q: How difficult is it to learn a new system?
LeFors: It's a lot different. I think basically the system
is different. Our pace that we're going at is rapid fire and you have to
have your head on straight. You know, taking everything in, trying to soak
everything in...it's nice though.
Q: What's the biggest difference this year with the new staff?
LeFors: The fact that I'm getting more reps. The pace is a
big difference and the head coach is so much more involved with the offense,
especially in calling plays and giving us feedback. We ask him questions
after every route or after every play, so it's helpful.
Q: I understand you've been giving advice to Michael Bush..what
do you think of his progress?
LeFors: He's come along way because of working through summer
workouts, coming out there and throwing. We have been trying to help
him....we're all family so we are just trying to help each other be the best we
can.
Q: How do you feel about helping out the guy trying to take your
job each day?
LeFors: I really don't think of it that way. I'm just being a nice guy helping people out.