GBI Magazine

Tom Campbell Hazell likes the overall talent level of his first Boilermaker team, but he'd like to see the receiving corps and linebackers make strides in the offseason. out of multiple formations and personnel groups. I think we got that accomplished. Now were we as proficient as we'd like to be? No. But that's what we wanted to get in." Gold and Black: You had four goals coming into the spring, becoming tougher, becoming smarter, taking care of the ball and enhancing special teams. How would you rate the performance in terms of special teams? I know there are a lot of areas that encompasses, but it seemed as though there was a struggle at points to make field goals and field punts. Hazell: "We still have a ways to go. I think our punt unit got a lot better. The other units, because you don't work on them as much in the springtime, still have a ways to go. Obviously, we had a muffed punt in that last scrimmage. But those areas will continue to get better. I'm not concerned about those, we'll work extremely hard to get those things better and make sure we're all on point." Gold and Black: There are obviously different measures of toughness. You tried to instill that physical style. What about mentally tougher, can you gauge that? Hazell: "I think we took steps, but we need to take more steps. There were too many guys, in my opinion, standing on the sideline in that last game. But for whatever reason, some guys are hurt, some guys need to be able to push through some of those things. But that's part of it, too. And I'm not questioning whether they're hurt or not hurt. But those are the items we've got to get over as a football team and a program." Gold and Black: You also wanted to become a smarter team. Was that in terms of decision-making and just grasping the new schemes and executing those? Was it just an on-the-field element? Hazell: "It was more on the field when I was addressing being smarter, understanding football concepts and where your help comes from on defense and what everybody is doing on offense, not just what your assignment is." Gold and Black: What is it about the offensive line that you really like and you think is promising? What has it shown that indicates it can step up and respond to this more demanding physical style of play? Hazell: "I think there's going to be enough athletic guys up there who can block people who are moving. That's so critical. When guys start to move the front and start sending backers, I think it's really important. So I think we're athletic enough. We're probably about seven or eight deep, but they're so young and they're so hungry and the willingness is there, so that'll help them as well." Gold and Black: Defensive coordinator Greg Hudson has talked about wanting the defense to be aggressive and swarming. With some key pieces missing for at least portions of the spring on that side of the ball, did you still see what you wanted from that group this spring? Hazell: "I thought we started running toward the ball toward the end of spring ball a little bit better than we did early in the spring, and that's the whole key. If you can get guys to run to the ball, watch what happens Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5

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