Quotes/Video of MSU Head Coach Dan Mullen Media Session
On movement at quarterback position…
“Guys are developing. We are getting close to game time. Guys are getting ready to go. At this point it comes down to who is ready to give us the best plays, move the ball down the field and be ready to go. It’s starting to sort it’s self out, but I see us playing more than one quarterback in the first game. Part of the competition comes down to who is ready when the lights come on and getting in a game. You never know who between two guys is going to be better in that setting. We have to look at that aspect of the evaluation too. We have to have more than one quarterback ready to play anyways, as we know through the years here. We’ve had to play some times where we went to No. 3 and be ready to go to No. 4 on the depth chart. I think all the guys have made progress and I’ve seen good improvement from everybody.”
On how many quarterbacks are still in contention to start…
“All of them. There is always that opportunity to do it, but I think that the guys are getting that feeling of how it is going to shake out a little bit. I haven’t met with them all about it but they have a good feeling.”
On narrowing down reps at quarterback…
“Once it went down to three guys here, there are plenty of reps to go around. The throws spiked after it went from four to three. I think all three guys are still able.”
On quarterback arm strength…
“They all have great arm strength. We balance it. Brian (Johnson) does a great job of monitoring it and rep counting and making sure guys are ready to go. I’ve been impressed with their preparedness to come into this season. There has been minimal fatigue at the quarterback position during training camp and that’s great. I think they’ll learn about their work ethic and how accurate they have to be working all the little things.”
On who has been most consistent at quarterback in the last week…
“There hasn’t been one that’s been above everyone else. I have a good deal of it sorted out. There hasn’t been one guy that’s way up above everyone else. They are all still very close, even in the grading system. You would think that would make someone stand out but they are all basically within one percent of each other after about 2,500 snaps.”
On improvement at the running back…
“We’ve been able to run the ball a little bit better and that’s been important. We rested Brandon (Holloway) a good bit so it’s given us the chance to get the other guys in there and have us ready to have depth at the running back position with young wide outs and cornerbacks.”
On the health of the team…
“Coming out of camp we are fairly healthy just banged up, bruised up. Only two guys are going to miss significant time. Tolando Cleveland will miss the year with a torn ACL. We will visit later if he is going to use his redshirt year and come back. Also Cedric Jiles broke his arm, and he will be out until about mid-season and we can see how that recovery goes. Everyone else we expect to be healthy for game one.”
On filling injured positions…
“Guys need to step up, Maurice Smitherman has played corner so he is rotating in there. Jamal Peters has the physical tools to go out there and play some corner and the other guys just need to step up and go for it.”
On being comfortable with the depth…
“Comfortable is an interesting word, I would much rather have them and then I would be much more comfortable. Guys know and they develop and step up. If I’m giving them an opportunity, they know they need to be ready to take it. Injuries are tough because we are a very young team.”