IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5 39
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BY STACY CLARDIE
SClardie@GoldandBlack.com
A
fter passing off some of his
signaling-plays-in-from-the-
sideline duties to linebackers
coach Marcus Freeman, defensive
coordinator Greg Hudson was
able to view Purdue's practices
from a different vantage point
this spring.
He was lined up behind the de-
fense oftentimes during team por-
tions of practices, allowing him to
focus on what he targeted as key
areas of improvement.
And, generally, he liked what he
saw from a unit that desperately
needed to make strides following
a season in which it gave up more
points than any other in Purdue's
history.
Hudson spoke candidly with Gold and Black recently
about those improvements — and where the team still
needs to develop.
Gold and Black: Before the spring, you talked
about wanting to see relentless pursuit and fanat-
ical fundamentals. How did your guys stack up in
those areas this spring?
Hudson: "Stacking up, I think we had vast improve-
ment. One, because you evaluate things a lot as what
you see with your eyes on film and you could see the
effort in the pursuit both in drills and in to the ball ev-
ery day in practice. Like I said (before the spring), we're
going to hurry even in a walkthrough. Our tempo was
of a much more urgent level. And also, Coach (Taver)
Johnson and I probably spent more time actually on the
field during team situations and all we coached was ef-
fort and pursuit. A lot of times last year I did a lot of sig-
naling. Coach Freeman (did it too), so that allowed me
to spend time out on the grass right behind the defense
emphasizing pursuit and alignment. Then from there,
at the snap, then our specifics, it went from the call to
the alignment to the technique at the snap that was just
constantly scrutinized and also praised when done right.
I think we saw improvement there."
Gold and Black: Landon Feichter mentioned you
used the term "C.A.S.K.R."
Hudson: "Coach Johnson had used it — call, align-
ment, stance, key and responsibility. It's just a buzz word
for the kids to remember. In order to do those things,
there's other variables. One of our foundations was ev-
erything fits with everything. Everybody had to under-
stand how everything fit. So the pressure from the D-line
knowing that when they do something it's because this
is where the linebacker is going, and then the linebacker
knowing this is where the safety is going and being held
accountable for knowing it.
"The thing that made it encompassing is we sort of —
not laughingly but — we had another phrase. We said
E.L.E., everybody loves everybody. We took a great line
from (the movie) 'Semi-Pro' and if we're not going to
q & A : g r e g h u d s o n
Relentlessly Pursuing Improvement
Hudson says group got better this spring
Tom Campbell
Greg Hudson was on the field pushing his defensive players all spring to play with
relentless pursuit and effort.
