Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats One Day Closer to Spring Game
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 14, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Today, NUsports.com talks with junior Bryan Heinz about his move to the starting strong safety position after spending the past two years at free safety.
NUsports.com: You injured your knee last year against Michigan. How did the recovery go, and how is the spring going?
Heinz: The knee is doing fine. Everything is back to normal, and it is good to get back in and play again. I feel the spring practices have been going well so far. I moved to strong safety, which is a little bit of an adjustment.
NUsports.com: How has that adjustment from free safety to strong safety been for you?
Heinz: I really like it. It gets me closer to the ball, which I feel is a better fit for me. I like being up close and making tackles.
NUsports.com: What has been the biggest mechanical change for you with the new position?
Heinz: Fundamentally, the strong safety position is more run-geared than free safety, so it has been just learning what you have to do. The change has been more about knowing where you have to be on the field.
NUsports.com: How is the secondary doing overall this spring?
Heinz: We are doing pretty well. We have some injured guys, so a lot of the guys are filling in some roles and doing a nice job.
NUsports.com: What are you focusing on personally this spring?
Heinz: Just fine-tuning a lot of things. I am also trying to learn what's going on all over the field, not just at my position.
PRACTICE NOTES: Friday's practice is closed to the media ... Nick Roach was selected to represent Northwestern at the 2005 NCAA Leadership Conference, which will take place May 29 through June 2 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex and Coronado Springs Resort.
