We have Jay Niemann as our assistant coach interview this week for about 15-20 minutes.
Opening Statement
Appreciate you guys being with us. We have gotten off to a good start with the defense and that goes to the defensive line. Great guys to work with in the room and they are a lot of fun to work with on a daily basis. Same thing can be said about the staff too. Great to work with.
Q: Ask about slowing down Purdue passing attack?
Hard to get to them rushing because they get rid of it quickly. Some just rush three and drop eight back. Or you have to get your hands on people. Also you can blitz them. They are hard to get to and don't give up many sacks. Said most of the sacks have come on first and second down when they run more play action. O'Connell is a good quarterback. Mature leader.
Q: What have you seen from Hurkett this season?
Been good this year. In the 20-25 snap range. Good camp and he continues to grow. Works really hard every single day.
Q: Yahya Black and Craig and their development
Black was off to a great start and then got hurt. He is ramping up and really knows the defense. Has a great grasp of what we do and very coachable. Expect snaps to ramp moving forward. Craig is like Hurkett. 20-25 snaps per game. See that increasing. Really understands pass rushing and body position and has a big sack in the last game.
Q: Asked about Van Ness and where you see him having the greatest impact?
Said his snaps inside wouldn't have happened until we had the injuries. Like to use him outside. Rotation with Waggoner and Evans right now. Then Craig and Hurkett filter in there. He is explosive. He is good in base technique and moving around. Still learning to play the edge and will get better and better.
Q: Seven sacks and seven different players last week. How has this group developed?
That was the best part of last week was that it was seven different players. You have to have four guys who are in their right rush lanes and get to where the quarterback is expected to be. Not many major changes in the scheme and that's because our guys do things correctly over and over and they are successful doing it. Have things fine tuned as to what we need to work on and the guys do what they need to do.
Q: Asked about recruiting and the 2023 class. Is there an edge to get ahead with the 24 group?
Almost have to do both at the same time. You have to be working to finish up the current class, but you also have to be working hard on the junior and sophomore class. We are trying to finish up this 23 class, but when he is out on Friday nights he is trying to watch the juniors and sophomores as well.
Q: How do you feel about the 2023 instate group and being off to a good start in 2024? Where is the focus now with regard to walk-on players?
If you look at the 23 class, there is varying levels of relationships. There are guys in the 23 class that I have been talking to for three years. There are others who we got on in their junior year. It's an on going process. You have to keep your ears open. With a lot of kids in Iowa, they play several sports, so you have to continue to look at evaluate players who might be coming along late.
Q: How much has NIL come up with recruiting?
For him personally, hardly any questions have come up directly. We know it's out there, but for him in central and NE Iowa, he has had very few questions about it.
That's it from Jay today.
Opening Statement
Appreciate you guys being with us. We have gotten off to a good start with the defense and that goes to the defensive line. Great guys to work with in the room and they are a lot of fun to work with on a daily basis. Same thing can be said about the staff too. Great to work with.
Q: Ask about slowing down Purdue passing attack?
Hard to get to them rushing because they get rid of it quickly. Some just rush three and drop eight back. Or you have to get your hands on people. Also you can blitz them. They are hard to get to and don't give up many sacks. Said most of the sacks have come on first and second down when they run more play action. O'Connell is a good quarterback. Mature leader.
Q: What have you seen from Hurkett this season?
Been good this year. In the 20-25 snap range. Good camp and he continues to grow. Works really hard every single day.
Q: Yahya Black and Craig and their development
Black was off to a great start and then got hurt. He is ramping up and really knows the defense. Has a great grasp of what we do and very coachable. Expect snaps to ramp moving forward. Craig is like Hurkett. 20-25 snaps per game. See that increasing. Really understands pass rushing and body position and has a big sack in the last game.
Q: Asked about Van Ness and where you see him having the greatest impact?
Said his snaps inside wouldn't have happened until we had the injuries. Like to use him outside. Rotation with Waggoner and Evans right now. Then Craig and Hurkett filter in there. He is explosive. He is good in base technique and moving around. Still learning to play the edge and will get better and better.
Q: Seven sacks and seven different players last week. How has this group developed?
That was the best part of last week was that it was seven different players. You have to have four guys who are in their right rush lanes and get to where the quarterback is expected to be. Not many major changes in the scheme and that's because our guys do things correctly over and over and they are successful doing it. Have things fine tuned as to what we need to work on and the guys do what they need to do.
Q: Asked about recruiting and the 2023 class. Is there an edge to get ahead with the 24 group?
Almost have to do both at the same time. You have to be working to finish up the current class, but you also have to be working hard on the junior and sophomore class. We are trying to finish up this 23 class, but when he is out on Friday nights he is trying to watch the juniors and sophomores as well.
Q: How do you feel about the 2023 instate group and being off to a good start in 2024? Where is the focus now with regard to walk-on players?
If you look at the 23 class, there is varying levels of relationships. There are guys in the 23 class that I have been talking to for three years. There are others who we got on in their junior year. It's an on going process. You have to keep your ears open. With a lot of kids in Iowa, they play several sports, so you have to continue to look at evaluate players who might be coming along late.
Q: How much has NIL come up with recruiting?
For him personally, hardly any questions have come up directly. We know it's out there, but for him in central and NE Iowa, he has had very few questions about it.
That's it from Jay today.
