Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Football Update -- April 18
4/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 18, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's football team completed its 10th of 15 spring practices Thursday on another summer-like afternoon. For the fourth straight day in Chicagoland, temperatures climbed well into the 80s.
In addition to working on their long passing game, the Wildcats also spent considerable time running their offense and defense inside their own 20-yard line.
Northwestern will scrimmage at 11 a.m. on Saturday before holding three closed practices next week. The annual Spring Game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27 on Ryan Field, weather permitting.
After Thursday's practice, three Wildcats shared their thoughts on their unit's progress.
Colby Clark, Defensive Tackle
Q: You have a new position coach in Jay Peterson and a new coordinator in Greg Colby. How have you and the rest of your linemen adapted to the new coaches and their system?
Clark: "All of them have adapted really well. We lost Coach Glowik, we lost our linebackers coach, we've lost pretty much everybody. It's been a whole defensive turnaround here. So everyone's adapting really well. Coach Colby has come on board and he has a brought a great new defense with him. Everybody's adapting and playing hard. We've had a few off-days, but overall we're making some great progress."
Q: You're in just your third year with the program and already you're being counted on as the leader of the defensive line. How are you handling that?
Clark: "I don't mind it one bit. In high school, I thought of myself as a leader. I enjoy it. I'm not like Napoleon (Harris), you know. I don't come out there and talk it up. I like to come out there and just hit guys in the face. I like to get them revved up, get them all going. Making plays and leading by example is what I do best."
Q: Who are some of the younger linemen that Wildcat fans are going to be hearing about in the fall?
Clark: "Pretty much everyone. We've got Thomas (Derricks), we've got Luis (Castillo), we've got a whole bunch of new guys coming in, including freshman Loren Howard. Apparently, from what I hear, he's real good. Luis could be a tremendous player -- an All-America or All-Big Ten-type player. And hopefully I'll be there with him, too."
Raheem Covington, Cornerback
Q: The secondary has taken some hits with injuries and you're down to seven healthy players this spring. How are you guys handling the extra reps in practice?
Covington: "It's tough, you know. Guys gotta run with the ones, and some guys gotta run with the twos, and then we've got the nickel package, which messes up the rotation again. But I mean, it's actually good for us because it keeps us conditioned. So I think it's good for us. But, it's tough on guys because they get tired. It will help us in the long run, though."
Q: What are your thoughts thus far on the secondary's progress and where your unit will stand in the fall?
Covington: "Well, I think the progress is there, but we're still learning. Guys are showing signs that they want to play. Like Jarvis Adams, he's stepping up big, and I expect a lot from him this fall. We're young, but a lot of us have plenty of snaps under our belts."
Austin King, Offensive Center
Q: Can you give us an update on the progress of the offensive line and how the battles are going for the positions vacated by graduation?
King: "I think we're progressing pretty good. Guys are coming along -- even the young guys -- and we're seeing who's playing well. As far as battles for the positions of guys that left, people are switching up. I'm not 100 percent sure who's going to be in the starting lineup on August 31, but I'd go out on a limb and say Carl Matejka, myself and Jeff are going to be in that mix. So far this spring we've seen a lot other guys in the starting five mix. Zach Strief at tackle. Matt Ulrich at guard, Derek Martinez at tackle. So, I think those other guys are going to be battling out for spots in the end. We cannot take anything for granted ourselves, because nothing's guaranteed."
Q: The last two years, NU unleashed one of the most exciting offenses in college football. That offense is being tweaked this year -- do you expect to have an offense that is just as exciting. and more importantly, productive?
King: "That's our goal. Our goal is to get better. And the only way to do that is through hard work and coming together and getting better now. So, I think we have a good opportunity to do that. We have a lot of guys who want it and who want to work hard. I'm real excited about that."
