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University of Minnesota Athletics
Player's Perspective - CB Dominic Jones
3/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Gophersports.com caught up with junior cornerback Dominic Jones following the seventh spring practice to talk about his thoughts on Denver Broncos head football coach Mike Shanahan attending practice, the changes to the defense and his excitement about being a key part of the corner blitz package.
GS.com: On everyone having a hand in the success of Golden Gopher football:
DJ: A lot of times as you’re being recruited, there are multiple people that you are talking to and dealing with. So just to hear everyone on Coach Brewster’s staff be on the positive side and talking about the same things as your head coach, that’s very important. It’s important for us to constantly hear talk about national championships and Big Ten championships. It instills a positive attitude inside of us.
GS.com: On the initial shell-shock of having Mike Shanahan at practice:
DJ: We were all shell-shocked. It was definitely overwhelming at first, but it’s important to have a guy like him come back because you cherish his words. He’s been there on every level and he’s been successful. He has won two Super Bowls so to have him come here is pretty special.
GS.com: On how much having someone like Mike Shanahan reinforces the players’ respect for Coach Brewster:
DJ: He’s done so many things already that have kind of overwhelmed us. This is going to be my third season here, and just in these last couple of months, there have been so many things that have happened that we just cherish. Bringing in the turf from Pasadena and things like that makes us hungrier and makes us want to be more successful. It’s definitely important.
GS.com: On Coach Brewster bringing people back who have connections to Minnesota:
DJ: Coach Brewster is bringing back a lot of people who have played here. The thing that impresses me is that he wants everyone to have a piece. He wants everyone to be a part of what we’re trying to do. He doesn’t want to single out anybody. Today he talked about us being a state and playing for the state of Minnesota, not just the University.
GS.com: On the tempo of practice:
DJ: Even with the new system going in, they don’t care if you make mistakes. Everything now is geared more towards effort so everything is up-tempo. If we can practice at 110 percent the games will be easier. We stress all the time to practice how you play, but at the same time we want to go beyond that so when the games come they will be a lot easier.
GS.com: On the upbeat way the team begins each practice:
DJ: I think you need that. A lot of guys were kind of in their shell last year. This allows us to come out of our shell and be ourselves without any complaints. It’s a great way to open up practice and the coaches get involved too. They show a lot of energy and we give a lot of energy back.
GS.com: On Steve Davis’ adjustment to the linebacker position:
DJ: I’ve been talking about this since our freshmen year. He kind of played me off then but he thinks he can be really good, especially with the coaches and the way he’s being taught. He has the experience of playing on the line, so he knows their alignment and therefore can kind of base what he does off that. I think he’ll be pretty good.
GS.com: On how many times he blitzed last year:
DJ: None. I was playing safety most of the year, and when I moved to corner I still didn’t blitz. We had some in, but the situation never arose where I got put on the blitz. Now I think I’m blitzing four or five times a practice.
GS.com: On Coach Brewster’s confidence in him to get to the quarterback:
DJ: Coach asked us before spring practice what we wanted to do and we said we wanted to blitz more, and he said, ‘OK, if we blitz you have to get there.’ He’s going to blitz guys who can get there. He wants to blitz linebackers and safeties as well, but he wants guys who can get there and who the other team will have trouble blocking. A fullback or running back isn’t really used to blocking someone as fast and elusive coming in, so I’m loving life out there.
GS.com: On everyone having a hand in the success of Golden Gopher football:
DJ: A lot of times as you’re being recruited, there are multiple people that you are talking to and dealing with. So just to hear everyone on Coach Brewster’s staff be on the positive side and talking about the same things as your head coach, that’s very important. It’s important for us to constantly hear talk about national championships and Big Ten championships. It instills a positive attitude inside of us.
GS.com: On the initial shell-shock of having Mike Shanahan at practice:
DJ: We were all shell-shocked. It was definitely overwhelming at first, but it’s important to have a guy like him come back because you cherish his words. He’s been there on every level and he’s been successful. He has won two Super Bowls so to have him come here is pretty special.
GS.com: On how much having someone like Mike Shanahan reinforces the players’ respect for Coach Brewster:
DJ: He’s done so many things already that have kind of overwhelmed us. This is going to be my third season here, and just in these last couple of months, there have been so many things that have happened that we just cherish. Bringing in the turf from Pasadena and things like that makes us hungrier and makes us want to be more successful. It’s definitely important.
GS.com: On Coach Brewster bringing people back who have connections to Minnesota:
DJ: Coach Brewster is bringing back a lot of people who have played here. The thing that impresses me is that he wants everyone to have a piece. He wants everyone to be a part of what we’re trying to do. He doesn’t want to single out anybody. Today he talked about us being a state and playing for the state of Minnesota, not just the University.
GS.com: On the tempo of practice:
DJ: Even with the new system going in, they don’t care if you make mistakes. Everything now is geared more towards effort so everything is up-tempo. If we can practice at 110 percent the games will be easier. We stress all the time to practice how you play, but at the same time we want to go beyond that so when the games come they will be a lot easier.
GS.com: On the upbeat way the team begins each practice:
DJ: I think you need that. A lot of guys were kind of in their shell last year. This allows us to come out of our shell and be ourselves without any complaints. It’s a great way to open up practice and the coaches get involved too. They show a lot of energy and we give a lot of energy back.
GS.com: On Steve Davis’ adjustment to the linebacker position:
DJ: I’ve been talking about this since our freshmen year. He kind of played me off then but he thinks he can be really good, especially with the coaches and the way he’s being taught. He has the experience of playing on the line, so he knows their alignment and therefore can kind of base what he does off that. I think he’ll be pretty good.
GS.com: On how many times he blitzed last year:
DJ: None. I was playing safety most of the year, and when I moved to corner I still didn’t blitz. We had some in, but the situation never arose where I got put on the blitz. Now I think I’m blitzing four or five times a practice.
GS.com: On Coach Brewster’s confidence in him to get to the quarterback:
DJ: Coach asked us before spring practice what we wanted to do and we said we wanted to blitz more, and he said, ‘OK, if we blitz you have to get there.’ He’s going to blitz guys who can get there. He wants to blitz linebackers and safeties as well, but he wants guys who can get there and who the other team will have trouble blocking. A fullback or running back isn’t really used to blocking someone as fast and elusive coming in, so I’m loving life out there.
Players Mentioned
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