1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Good morning you guys. You guys might have some questions 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: about Northwestern. I'll start by first and foremost. You know, 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,959 Speaker 1: I'm here focused on on training camp in the upcoming season. 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: I got nothing but love and respect for coach Fits 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: And you know, I had a great experience in Northwestern, 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: really did you know, many many lifelong friends to this day. 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: You know, I met my wife there, started a family there. 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: So I had a great experience in Northwestern. Thank you. 9 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: Mike. 10 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 3: You have been showing some unusual well not unusual, it's 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 3: not the right word, but some creative different looks with guys, 12 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 3: moving guys around. Are you gravitating to more of a 13 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 3: positionless offense to compliment wings positionless defense? 14 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: I think I think the best way to put it is, 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: you know, we're just trying to find, you know, identify 16 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: roles for our guys. So whether that's putting them inside 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: outside in different spots, you know, it's part of, you know, 18 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: the reason why I love our staff as they're creative 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: and they work together on that kind of stuf. So 20 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: it's been a good to you know, kind of experiment 21 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: with it, experiment with it and then and find out 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: which roles those guys fit into best. 23 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 3: So you're trying to build up I guess, or play 24 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 3: more matchup football. 25 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: I would say, right, yeah, you know, just being creative 26 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: and in this part of training camp, you know you're 27 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: gonna put guys in different spots to see how they 28 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: respond and continue to load them up on the installs 29 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: and work for those details. 30 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: So much has play call and change from when you 31 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: played to where you are now as. 32 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: OC, it's it's I've been in a few different offenses, 33 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: So I don't know if you know much about my story, 34 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: but you know, I've bounced around the league for several years, 35 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: multiple teams, so I've seen a few different offenses, and 36 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: each one of them are different. The concepts might be similar, 37 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 1: the verbiage and all that stuff you know, might be different. 38 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: West Coast numbers. I mean, there's all kinds of different 39 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: systems out there now, and so I think when you 40 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: look around the NFL over the last call it ten years, 41 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: you're seeing kind of a transition to more spread out, 42 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: you know, more up tempo. You're seeing guys that are 43 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: athletic in different spots, whether it's in the backfield or 44 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: on the perimeter. So you're seeing these the you know, 45 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 1: coaches and players adapt to things you're seeing in high 46 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: school and in college, and that stuff's trickling up into 47 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: the national football So it's great. It's fun. I think 48 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: you're seeing a lot of creative ideas around the league. 49 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: So it's cool. 50 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: To watch like we've heard of them, you know. When 51 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 2: Yatt was drafted, speed speed, you know, and then the 52 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: whole thing with the route tree and all that, you 53 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 2: know stuff. What have you seen from him so far? 54 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: And clearly his speed seems to show up almost every 55 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: day in the training campus. 56 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: He's doing a nice job. He's doing a nice job 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: in the classroom, studying, prepping, making sure he's prepared for practice. 58 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: On the field, he's working and you know, working through 59 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: all the fundamentals and techniques that we wanted to work through. Obviously, 60 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: he's you know, he's made a couple of plays and 61 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: he's got to just take it day by day. I 62 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: think that's where not only just him, but the entire 63 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: offense can take that approach. 64 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: It is his speed when you gauge it and clock 65 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 2: it and everything that is it is it blatant? 66 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: Do you see it there? Yeah? That was definitely one 67 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: of the you know, strengths of his coming out of college. 68 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 1: You know something that you know we targeted. 69 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 3: So, Yeah, Mike Isaiah Hudgen's kind of proved to be 70 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 3: a quick study last year. 71 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: Where have you're smiling? 72 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 3: So I like that you were agreed to be. 73 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 2: So where have you seen him improve during this camp 74 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: and really, you know, grow into what you want him 75 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: to be? 76 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, as a true professional, comes to work every day, 77 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: has his routine, goes through the process of being a pro, 78 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: brings young guys around along with him as well, So 79 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: he's always trying to coach him up and and give 80 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: him his experiences and being in this offense for several 81 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: years now, you can see this comfortability in it and 82 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: his understanding of it. So he's continuing to grow. It's 83 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: just like everybody. I think he's just you know, working 84 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: on those fundamentals that we talk about and he's not 85 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: going to shy away from the work, which is which 86 00:03:59,240 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: is awesome. 87 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 4: As a co like you nearly became an NFL head 88 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 4: coach this past offseason, would you have interest in being 89 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 4: a college head coach if that opportunity arose or are 90 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 4: you focused just on NFL. 91 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: Mostly just I'm just focused on you know, training camp 92 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: really today? Would you say it come to you? 93 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 4: Because obviously that's that's going to hang out there for 94 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 4: a little while here. 95 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: I'd say that, I'm just focused on. 96 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: Mike. 97 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: What can you tell us about the offensive one? I 98 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 3: know you just had the one padded practice, but you 99 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: know you have different disguis competing for left guard. You 100 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 3: have some competition at center there. What have you seen 101 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 3: from that group? And has anybody kind of really jumped 102 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 3: out at you as far as the combination. 103 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: Goes, Yeah, the combination and the depth channel and stuff like. 104 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: I know, I'm sure everyone's looking at that. You know, 105 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: we have a plan and so we're working through all 106 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: those spots, not just at the old line receiver. I 107 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: mean there's a lot of groups that we're working through 108 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: and how to put people in different spots, and so 109 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: that's just part of the constant evaluation process for us. 110 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 3: Do you want to try and avoid have a rotation 111 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 3: if he can? Would you rather just have five guys 112 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 3: straight through? But you know, or is a rotation acceptable? 113 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: The thing? I think, I don't know if you want 114 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: to box yourself in at this point in training camp 115 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: or a weekend. I think we just want to go 116 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: through our evaluation process and let it declare itself. 117 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: Mike, when you came to camp, the big question morek 118 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 2: was would say, Quan be here, did you have Plan 119 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: A and Plan B or how did you approache that? 120 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: Yeah? I think you know that's those are all things 121 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: that we talked about and prep four because you know 122 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: you're building the practice plans and how you know the 123 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: practice scripts and all that. So, yeah, those are things 124 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: we talked about, but you know that never really came 125 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: to fruition. 126 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 2: What is the the balance between the competition with Wink 127 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: every day and the probably the teamwork with him, I mean, 128 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: because he wants the upper hand, you want the upper hand. 129 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's a competitive camp, since it should be. 130 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: But me Wink have a great dialogue about the practice 131 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: plan and how we're gonna you know, certain things that 132 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: he wants to see, certain things that I want to see. 133 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: So we have a good working relationship and make sure 134 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: that you know, whatever we're doing putting the players in 135 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: the best position, you know, for injuries and for so 136 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: that we can get evaluations as well. And so that's 137 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: how we've been handling it. 138 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: What makes offense so difficult you know, to go against. 139 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's multiple I think you know we mentioned earlier, 140 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: how you know they have a positionless defense like that's 141 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 1: it's real, and they can they can mix and match 142 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: a lot of different players. And again, this defense is 143 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: a competitive group. They got a lot of speed, they've 144 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: got smart players, so they can they can be flexible, 145 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: move guys inside outside, and and bring and bring pressures 146 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: from multiple sides. I mean, you guys know that now. 147 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: But and wink in the in the coaching staff does 148 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: a nice job over there. Sorry. 149 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 4: How beneficial for John Michael have to face that defense 150 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 4: every day? 151 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: And how have you seen him handle the mental aspect 152 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: of them? Yeah, we had a little bit of that 153 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: last year where you know, you're seeing a lot of 154 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: those pressure looks. You know probably you know, way more 155 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: than you probably see throughout the remainder of the season. 156 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: So you kind of bank all that, all those looks, 157 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: and you're you're able to kind of pull from that 158 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: throughout the season. Oh hey remember this look from training camp, 159 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: and so you see those looks. There's a lot going on, 160 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: so you're able to process it quicker and quicker and 161 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: quicker at you know, full speed. So those guys are 162 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: able to see it that you're not just looking at 163 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: a card or in a walk through setting. You're seeing 164 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: at full speed and you're watching the guys react and 165 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: problem solved. 166 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 4: Like said this spring that he would like to be 167 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 4: used more as a receiver. Said that kind of was 168 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 4: the plan last year, but it changed. 169 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: Ideally, would you like to throw him the ball more? 170 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 4: Would that open things up more in your offense? 171 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: I think it's too early to tell right now. I 172 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: think you know, we're going through that. We're practicing all 173 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: kinds of things with the people in every position. So 174 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: we're just going to go through that process and when 175 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: the season comes, it comes. Right now, we're just focused 176 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: on today and putting our guys in a good spot 177 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: to have a good practice today. This is your second year. 178 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 3: What do you point you see? Where have you seen 179 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 3: them improved from where that was? 180 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: Here? 181 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 3: Go? 182 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, Year two is always just a little bit easier 183 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: for everybody, you know, especially when you start brand new 184 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: with the whole staff and you're getting to understand everybody 185 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: and you're you know, looking to build trust and build relationships, 186 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: and so you know that year one was kind of 187 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,239 Speaker 1: that first first part of the process. And so working 188 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: into year two, there's a lot more comfort, there's a 189 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: lot more familiarity. I think everyone has an understanding of 190 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: the strengths and the weaknesses of not only the scheme 191 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: but the players and how we're coaching it and how 192 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: we're teaching it, how we're running it. So year two 193 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: is always easier. I mean even for myself, the same thing, 194 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: just another year under my belt, being with DJ and 195 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 1: being with the offensive line, the group and the offense 196 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: and the whole staff, So everything is just a little 197 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: bit more smooth. But we still got to put in 198 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: the work and we still got to go through the process. 199 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 2: He's the right thing you've specifically seen him improve on 200 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 2: that he wasn't able to physically. 201 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I would just probably speak on just as comfort 202 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: in the offense. You know, I think he's able to 203 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: problem solve faster. I'm able to problem solve faster with him, 204 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: and we can work together and you know, speak that 205 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: same language just a little bit quicker.