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40 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5 f care about each other, we're not going to work for each other. So, as we kept saying, E.L.E." Gold and Black: What is the biggest area of con- cern exiting the spring? Hudson: "I think the biggest area was defining who are guys were up front. We know who are guys are at linebacker and where our limitations are. We know that. But they actually had a good spring. Our concern was who are going to be our guys where the action happens first up front? And who can we really, really count on? And how can we come out of spring with a pair and a spare at every position, a legitimate two-deep that are going to play for us? Then how can we get some older guys to quit playing like a younger guy and really play big-boy football? I think for the first time, we saw separa- tion between an upperclassman and an underclassman and maturity. You can see maturity in mannerisms. Body language in football is huge. Some guys their actions were speaking so loud we couldn't hear what they were saying. Now, you can look at their body language and see a positive." Gold and Black: It's interesting because you have a lot of young guys there with Ra'Zahn Howard, Jake Replogle and Evan Panfil. Those guys obvious- ly all played for the first time last year as freshmen. Hudson: "Right. They shouldn't have to. Unless they're just that good. We're a developmental sport. We're not always going to get (recruit) the finished prod- uct here at Purdue, but we can make it. But it takes a little time." Gold and Black: One thing you talked about spe- cifically about with Ryan Russell is his motor. So you saw him play harder for longer periods of time this spring? Hudson: "He's got the motor. It's just like there's a governor on the engine. How do you go past it and keep it wide open? It's a choice. You can choose to run that lawn mower on high or you can keep it at three-quarters. It might not cut the grass as good. We made a big deal about the white line on our football field, too, what has to happen when you cross the white line because when the ball is snapped, I'm not even allowed to be out there. You're not allowed. Coach (Darrell) Hazell is not allowed. The President of the United States is not allowed to be on the football field when the ball is snapped. Only cer- tain people are. So let's make that a very valuable item and responsibility and we did that." Gold and Black: In the jersey scrimmage and spring game, the defense generated some turnovers, but not much in a day-to-day practice environment. That could be because the quarterback isn't live and different situations, too. But how would you rate where the defense is at from that perspective? Hudson: "I was happy with it. Coach (John) Shoop and the offense, they do a great job in their style of play of protecting the football. Medium- to short-range pass- es, screens, reverses, draws, those are low-turnover. When we get our opportunity on third down, we have to create some by affecting the quarterback or when he passes on any down. "The other area that is crucial to us — I mean cru- cial — is our impact level at the ball has to be higher. You create turnovers by running into people and making the ball come out. The other thing we did — and Coach Johnson did a great job of making it abundantly clear to the running backs, receivers, anybody — if you have a ball in your hand, somebody on defense is going to strip it. It might be the end of the play, it might be after the play and it might tick you off. But when we do it on Sat- urday, it will make you happy. Any time a ball goes on a ground, if a manager drops a pass, an incomplete pass to Tom Campbell Robert Gregory's move to safety from running back this spring was the right one: The sophomore's natural ability and physical style landed him in the two-deep and drew praise from Hudson.