Episode 140 of The SDSU Podcast: Special Guests Mike Schmidt and Zac Barton

[Music] you are listening to the SDSU podcast presented by the East Village times with your hosts Andre Hagan and Paul Garrison welcome listeners back to another episode of the SDSU podcast I am your host Andre H Verdian we'll be joined shortly by my co-host Paul Garrison this is episode 140 a little preview of the football team as we head into the first game of the season on Saturday night Paul and I did A Live season preview show uh Tuesday night uh which was episode 139 which went into you know details of all three phases and so and we had done articles on all three phases separately Paul had done the offense and the Special Teams and I had done defense based on our interviews with Coach Mike Schmidt for offense Zack Barton for special teams uh Eric Schmidt coach Eric Schmidt for uh defense uh in this episode we're going to play you the audio um interviews with Coach Mike Schmidt and Coach Barton unfortunately I had some uh audio difficulties when I recorded the conversation with Coach Eric Schmidt uh although I provided my quotes in the article from coach Schmid uh the the audio is a little bit not probably ready to or good to to release so we're going to have to uh scrap the audio at least whatever we have of that um so this episode you're gon to get to hear from coach Mike Schmid and Coach Zack Barton um and then Paul and I will be back at the end just to recap kind of our conversations but I think you guys will enjoy these it'll give you a better sense as we head into the season so let's get to the interview with Coach Mike schmith first uh and Then followed by coach Barton and then uh we'll finish it out so you know they said that um coach Le talked about that the first goal was to name a starter in Spring um then ASAP after fall um as the the competition continues to play out is there a possibility of playing multiple QBs for the first game yeah I think I think coach Lewis and Coach Johnson will be the best resource you know for that answer I think they're they're with those guys all every day all day um they have a good feel for that room I know one thing up front and all that I think everybody trust the decision that we end up making is gonna be for the best for for the good of the team and and we're gonna keep keep trying to give those guys opportunity to develop and see who separates from the competition just like that room I mean up front we're trying to do the same thing in a couple positions and there's a couple price shoss from yesterday and we got we gotta continue to put our head down and and keep working and and making everything a heck of a lot more consistent Rob all position absolutely and you know um for the running back position uh Marquez Cooper you know he got a couple of uh carries there at the beginning um but but he showed that he can make people Miss I mean what what have you seen from him in practice and and what he can bring to the mix yeah he he's uh he's done a great addition to the program he reminds me of some of those guys we used to have around here that um it make those explosive runs you know when you get them free to that that third level player it was a it was gonna be a tough it was gonna be a tough fit for that for that stfy dropp him down in the clouds and um he he made a and he's been in a couple live situations and each and every one of them man not only has he has he made guys miss but he's been real competitive um you know he brings a little Spirit to the offense that that was much needed and you know given the use of at QB that you mentioned the development that's going on there um is it more imperative that the running back shine in 2024 yeah I mean I think that's that always takes a little pressure off that position and and you know the better you pay on schedule the easier third down is gonna be where the quarterback going be at the focal point of of those critical situations and we can we can take the load off his shoulders as long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot you know and get ourselves behind change we got too many pre- snap penalties and even post Snap penalties that can be eliminated that they kind of stalled some drives out that we need to we need to get corrected here in a hurry to give those quarterbacks ample opportunities on third Downs to keep those drives alive um Jordan Napier is a you know just guy kind of jumps out at you physically especially you know coming from the slot um how has he progressed man he's really jumped jumped on the theme he's obviously got got more opportunity with the couple guys being down and all that I think I think he's a great learning example for other guys in that similar opportunities where he's kind of got his chance and I really feel like he he's been committed to it and he's really making a difference and you can see the steady Improvement he's made through camp and the thing that jumps out in me being a front guy and all that is family when he touches the ball he makes something happen with it and that's that's one heck of a trait to have being a skilled player you know it's not it's not an easy to take down you know's he he's got great contact balance he's always pushing the ball North after catch which is which which is a great job you know just by him and his development of matury it's been big for office and you mentioned the the health of um the wide receiver group um you know as as you guys are only three weeks from the first game you know is that becoming more of a concern or are there just kind of precautionary kind of mindor things yeah I think there's all there's all timelines for the guys certain guys got different experience levels so you're a little little more lenient and making sure their health is the number one concern when they've been in this offense and they've shown that Master the offense so you know some of it's precautionary that you know but they we got a plan to get them back and they're gonna be great additions when we do get them back um you know and and given all that they do in the Run game um is blocking more important for tight ends um than maybe the receiving in in this offense or you know is being a pass catcher kind of uh you know kind of preeminent yeah I think there's going to be more opportunities for a tight end to be in a blocking scenario just by the style in which we play but I mean if there's one fundamental that that coach Lewis is g to preach and it might be the number one fundamental of the offensive football which is blocking everybody is going to be required to do it we're gonna be trained to do it and we're gonna get we're gonna do it with the with the proper fundamentals and a guy like Mikey Harrison um you know who plays that position I mean he he just he's doesn't have the weight that you would typically see from that but he still gets the job done I mean how does he do that competive um he's really smart he knows the strengths and he eliminate then he just bu limitations with the way he plays through his shranks and finds windows and he's got great courage across the middle which always helps inside receiver um and you know you mentioned that that everybody needs to block um does having like special teams and everybody participating that at the beginning of practice do do you think that help with some of those fundamentals and yeah that's a great deal we do at the beginning of practice there's there's a point where everybody's gonna have to block I think I think what what those drills do is it if those drills turn you into a complete football player and I think just great that they go around rotate they do different things and they're forced to do everything you your wide receivers are forced to tackle and all that that's really just 101 football training um body position and on contact kind of the courage part of it too you know so those DRS help a whole football team not only on special teams but they they got great carry over into what you're doing offensively and defensively um you know coach I how would you uh evaluate um the depth of the o line um it seemed like at FanFest you know it seemed like there was a little bit of a drop off between the first and second team which isn't uncommon but how have you developed that depth and how do you feel like that's going um for your group yes it's it's a it's a constant battle kind of same thing the receiver is going for making sure we get those guys to the gate you know and and making sure we're not overworking the guys if we're coming off injuries from last year so you're it's a constant maneuver there but at the same time making sure they got five guys out there his cohesive unit um we have rotated so much the first two weeks or so I think guys are getting used to playing next to all different guys you know but you'd like to kind of narrow that down here down the stretch so so we can we we start fighting next to the same guy and really feeling his skill set you know but health is going to be the number one priority of our players we're gonna make sure they're healthy you know going into going into week one and uh so we can go out there let it rip a little bit um Nick Williams is a guy who you know at least the parts that I've been able to see has kind of been right tle from day one he's never left and what have you seen from you know a steady veteran yeah I think he's got so much experience under him you know my challenge to him was to one semester left you know I had about you know what 10 months going to be about 10 months total in his in his whole development cycle you know and I I just wanted to you know you're not gonna you're not gonna change much about how his body developed and all that that Lance career but you can you can change and I want to make sure that the film he puts out there yet this year you can see improvement from where it was a year ago right like I want to have that impact on him where you can see a guy late in his career still those those jumps in his in his play and U that's what I kind of challenged him I think the best way that we can do it our best approach you know hasn't been as much fundamentally and technique wise you know because he came in he came in with so many reps under his belt that's that's not the problem just just the the way in which he plays the game I think there's more to end the rep he can do to create a little bit more you know there there there's stuff we can work on on contact and protection that we can stop Rush your speed a little bit better so we'll continue to work on that stuff but really just trying to trying to take his game you know from from one level to the next is what I what I would like to see here when it comes you know to to getting through the season um Joe Boran is a guy who was first on the depth chart without you know seemingly taking a rep and practice I what did he do during Sumer workouts that elevated him so high in the um coaching St lives yeah I I think that was an educated guess kind of everything you know everybody was new the coaches were new you know he had the Fortune not being with us in the spring um but like kind of just past performance and and and the way he picked it up in the summer really impressed us you know and and that's the great thing about this is is like we we feel like we got we got two left tackles over there you know and and we might we might have to maneuver some stuff around Christian Jones if you watched closely last night he was in their guard you had Jo and Christian in there and that's a I mean that that's that the Force out there and Christian probably had his best day I've ever seen him have yesterday so that there are bright spots out there we got to continue to build the consistency up right but but like both those guys are gonna have a huge impact regardless where they are labeled on on the deck chart and at any position like like you can move lateral on that thing too not good vertically um and then you know you mentioned um Christian Jones I mean on one of the play that he was at left guard that was the big 40 yard run that they went I mean from being able to to see that much success for him I mean what does that do for you know the growth and the things that you've been trying to instill in him yeah I think that's what that's what makes our our job so unique right like you put in so much work to get them over a hump and and really what you're trying to do you're trying to get you get a guy who been playing one way right you trying to get him do it another way and all he's got to do is feel it himself and you got you got to somehow find a way for him to get over the hump do it right and then have thing starts comeing habit and like and he went out there and play the best football I've seen from him I expect him to continue because all that does now you go out there you put a good product out there just builds confidence in the player and it's a lot easier to repeat and you've never done it it's hard to repeat right and and um I'm hoping this thing kind of Skyrocket this his development and you know we've only been together for whatever it's been now five five months or so and if if we're at where we're at I think there's still a lot of room to grow with with with his frame and his athletic ability question a couple more questions coach um you guys have had I don't know if you've had a a full debrief on the the FanFest but I mean are there any um just like General takeaways that that you saw from from that event or the staff saw yeah you talked about as an offense I mean obviously obviously we go to we got to eliminate the negative plays I think the G we got we got a gap right now we got some real explosive plays which is a great thing because that means we have explosive players to go create those plays right that means we're we're timing up in the relationship between the running back and offensive line to create explosives so like there are some bright spots right but the gap between the bright spots and the low spots are really big like we had an alignment issue up front that took away that that uh a long PA there with the with the first rep of the of the two group you know so like plays like that are just you know they eliminate momentum and and those gaps between the good and the bad is so big right now we got we gotta we got to bring that up a little bit stting from the bottom and moving that thing back up top you know we got to close that Gap and um continue to force the details of the game and U and that'll make it he of a lot more competitive yeah absolutely I thought that that pass there on that screen or whatever check down was was one of the better ones of the of the night as the bummer got the in the way um final question coach what what what do the offense need to do overall for it to be a successful year yeah I think I think we got to score more points than the opponent I think it comes comes being that simple I know it's coach speak but but I I think that's that's the deal I think we're gonna fight obviously year one you know new scheme all that I think it's gonna be a battle of consistency can we stay ahead of the change is going to be a huge emphasis we've already had third down discussion as a group trying to teach them the game and and the importance to that it really relies on first second down so so can we eliminate the negative plays from create enough explosives so you don't got to put a 15 20 play drive together right because I think a lot of times that's a little unrealistic um but we got to create explosives we got eliminate negatives and we go to just make sure that ball is going north because if we can go north get a couple first downs Force the tempo on the defense you know I I I think we're completely different unit sometimes you know and I think you see that when we do go scrimmage that Temple starts getting on the defense and it makes it really hard for them to get into all their calls it makes it really hard for them to disguise anything they're trying getting up line up and they're reacting instead of attacking you know so so I think that's gonna be the critical thing and that's gonna be our Edge and we got we gotta get consistent enough to get those a couple first downs and use it to our advantage that's perfect uh Mike thanks for taking some time on a Sunday to talk um and you know best of luck with everything rest C no problem thank you all right brother coach what's going on what's going on how are you I'm doing very very well thanks for taking some time it's a crazy time of the year well we got go practice today got a little more time today so ni appreciate it man um so I mean just jumping into it you know as someone who's worked with Coach Lou the most I mean what have been your mindset with kind of cting an example for how he wants his assistance to um to coat I think he's pretty uh I think he I think we just know each other you know I mean like um I know things that irritate him and I try to do the best I can to make sure that's not happening you know what I mean because you got I actually have no idea with was now with been in the era of nli he's doing off the field to raise as much money as he can for the program you know what I mean and then also calling the offense um it's a lot you know what I mean like and then as involved as he is in special teams uh he literally doesn't have a free minute so anything I can do to help him just help things run smoother because you know myself and and MJ were that we're out of Advantage because he''s been with him for so long we know how he likes it done you know I mean this is a new schedule for everybody else except us you know what I mean like um we kind of know what's coming and and it's our job to try to get out in front of it as much as we can um ease the burden in any way that we can to help him so he's just not he can when he's out on the field especially specifically when he's out on the field we can we can let him concentrate on on just being there and doing that um and you know as you've gone through this now you know through most of all Camp um two scrimmages I mean what have you seen as your takeaway from um the springes and to special teams in general General I think that we the level of consistency with that being a new scheme you know what I mean those guys truly understanding why we're doing what we're doing you know what I mean um and just not doing it because it's a line on a boorder what was presented to him in a meeting you know I mean like I really want him to understand why we have this leverage on this Earth Play you know I mean why we're calling this protection you know I mean um and and we're getting there and which it's been it's been a little like riding a roller coaster you know what I mean some days it's been really really good and other days man that that that drop has kind of come out of nowhere you know what I mean um so just right now it hadn't been an effort issue uh at all we just got to get to we got to make sure that the understanding of why we're doing things is is at an elite level by next Saturday at :1 or 502 when we kick this thing off um we've got to be on the same page and everything that we do and I told those guys in the meeting the other day I was like hey man there's going to be some times where I bail you out with what we're doing scheme wise but there's going to be a lot of times for you guys just bail me out um which is pure effort um and getting things done you know what I mean kind of works I kind of works both ways um so we haven't gotten there yet but we had a we had a really really clean last couple of practices um from where they were at from the first scrimmage the second scrimmage was drastically better and then when we finished up with a what we did situationally um special teams wise um before we had gave him this break today was was better so we just have to keep we got to keep that momentum we got to keep getting better we gotta keep you know what I mean working at it understanding it and and and going the extra mile with it you know what I mean because now that we're cut back now that we're out of Camp you know I mean a 20- minute meeting eight minutes on the field ain't gonna get it done you know what I mean it's going to have to be guys coming in extra one-on-one um it's going to have to be a lot of Their Own film study on stuff you know what I mean like we're have to take this into an extra gear to keep this thing at where it's been in the past year um and could you talk to me through um you know how you guys start every practice with special teams how did that develop um and you know what what are all the things that you're trying to accomplish because you know Mike Schmidt um he he said that it creates football players because everybody is kind of moving through all the different drills but I me what do you see it from your perspective I don't know who I stole it from that's that's unfortunately I'm getting really old um I think it was the University of St Thomas up in Minnesota um where I started at any with nona we've had a bunch of crossover between those two staffs and um I think it's the most important thing that we do because it it it trains the whole roster and then once you get into the season it gets so scheme related you're really not working on technique anymore you're not working on blocking tackling you know inside hands leverage P all that stuff you get away from because you're get scheme stuff and for us to have that 10 minutes of special things Indie to start every day that lets us work through that stuff all year long you mean like we did it's the same format in the spring right like we're starting every practice with special teams Indie like crew individual you know what I mean and you see us like everybody doing something like we got returners going we got Gunners going like we break everything into into pods um so everybody's working so you're also training now with a PO game rule you're training everybody you know what I mean um and that's been that's been huge for us to just Bas work on the the basics all the time of hey man I'm working Zone footwork all year long I'm just not doing it uh first couple times in Camp and then we're ready and do 11 on 11 this allows us to work that technique all year long and I think longer I've been doing this the more I see it like guys are getting better wise as the year goes on you know what I'm saying and then when we get into you get into the battle and you get into the part four where you need it you've done that technique a thousand times you know what I mean compared to the guy that's lined up across from you um and I think our guys have done a really good job of making it okay not only we work in zone footwork during the real but okay like where you line why are you using Z foror right now you know what I mean like why do you have this split you know hey when we're blocking if we're always it's always like Defender you block point you know what I mean like they got to understand that what Ty forward they're going to use is based off of that so we just worked that all year long you know what I'm saying like I think that's been a huge advantage and um the guy that I worked for at wiona bought into it at went on State and then when I got with Lou I brought it up he was on you see him he spok SP St out there every time we do that you know what I mean um and we just adopted it and then last year Kansas um ended up doing the same thing he allowing us to do that as well and I think that had a huge impact on but the culture shows kids it's really important and it gives them a chance to get better at what we're asking them to do you know what I mean and uh I think it developed especially with the four game rule with young PBS and it lets you get those guys ready to play you know what I mean um which is really really good like I I don't see a Dallas by I tell the guys all the time like the most important thing we do is a 10 you know what I mean like everything that we embody is in that 10 minutes you know what I mean like valuing the ball I mean we we chart everything every ball that's on the ground we know it you know I mean like how they recover the ball during that period if they fumble it you know what I mean like um it it allows us to continue to get better throughout the year which is a big deal obviously it's great I think the last time we talked um you know uh you know Gabriel present had had gotten the scholarship but it you weren't exactly seeing the consistency that you wanted um you know where has that competition gone and and you know is there any surprises maybe Nick Lopez being able to take that job I think Nick Lo Lopez is gonna play this year he has unfortunately um got got banged up has been playing a whole lot so he hasn't been able to show what he can really do um so going into game one davee is the guy and we're still having consistency isues um the last time that we spoke uh unfortunately I feel exactly the same as I did the first time we spoke by um it's UNL it's not like the puny job uh with somebody coming and just taking that thing and like hey man like the guy like P is the guy you know what I mean like there's no h stands or butts he goes out there and shows every day that he's the guy you know what I mean um to the team to the Cook Ki tap if you go out you watch that kid work you watch what he does when we put him game situation um he's got a chance to live up to the standards that have been set here before you know I mean with the with the NFL punters that have come through here in the past you know what I mean um kicking wise we'll have great days where we go 100% And he's killing it and the next day we're not where we need to be you know what I mean um so from a day-to-day standpoint he knows that I'm brutally honest with those guys uh he's Gabe is probably his toughest critic um we need to get this bottom line like no sure C we need to be more consistent you know I mean like we need to be more consistent we're not going to put put you in a situation where you got to make a 55 order you know I mean um we need you to make the kicks that you're supposed to make and that's that's it you know what I mean um we'll figure out a way to get protected and you got to clean the pipes and we've gota we got to do that we we got to do that higher level right now um and you mentioned Tyler I mean is is being able to to match the NFL guys I mean is that has you been able to like trim time off of you know how quickly he's able to punt the ball has being able to punt it you know he I think when I talked to him he said that he enjoyed you know the weather and being able to kick all year um I mean is it is it more hang time is it is it what what is it to to take that next step he's he's a bit of anomal you watch a kick break like swing breaks uh and his head comes up right away and that's against all like as a punter those the two huge no notes you know I mean like you you're not supposed to do any of that stuff I don't remember if I told you this before but he's a he's a he's a Pennsylvania guy you know I mean so um he grew up where I went to college and it's it's terrible weather you know I mean it's it's windy it's cold about halfway through the season you're kicking a brick you know what I mean um he was in Upstate New York kicking all you great conditions uh to CH a football and he played against K in the semi-final game open he went up there and played Idaho and he went the portal and and Rob came in my office like you gota look at this kid this kid just killed us in in the playoff game um so we got up here and the first six practi spring B I'm trying to change him I'm trying to get him to fit what I think a punter should be you know what I mean and he's not punt very well at all and then I finally be like hey man much when he would in my mind wouldn't kick you like you would be bit like like it's like KNE supposed to hit you in his face leg supposed to be locked out all this stuff this you know it's traditional and you watch Tyler kick and the light's breaking and like he can't get his head up fast enough and I finally said well hey like this kid's a fifth year senior like what do what he does ever since then man he's just he's been a felt you know what I mean I st I stopped screwing him up and that's the way he kicks the ball and he does it very very well uh now what he's done what I've been amazed at for him is he lets me do all this I'm used to having an oddy kid and most American kids do not like all that they don't like rolling out they don't like changing the block point they don't like kicking the ball across the field you know what I mean they're all taught like get up their hang time for forever you know I mean NFL true NFL style play and he's been he's thrown ideas at me I'm like you're willing to try to do that like sure why not and then he goes out and does it and he F the Feld with it you know I mean like uh he's hitting some he's hitting some PS man like I'm just every day like I'm usually more worried about protection I come in and watch practice I watch him and I'm like holy [ __ ] like he's dropping the nose down and stuff I think I'm making them go faster than ever had to go before um something things were asking him to do you know what I mean um and he's just been he's been all about it you know I mean great attitude he's up for trying to do stuff you know I mean throwing stuff at me like hey inection wise what if we did this what if we did that you know I mean like it's been awesome U to work with him you know I mean because he's he's older you know what I mean like this is his third school um so it's been a real joint effort it's been something I've really enjoyed with him is his ability to not only handle the traditional about of things but the other other things I've been asking him to do that are different that he's never ever done before how he handle that and how he's been able to maintain his distance and his height and all that stuff you know what I mean like um he had a really poor he had really about three days ago had a really bad day because the only bad day it can and uh or in the meetings and he's a pretty outborn kid he really quiet you know what I mean and we get done and they he like literally work them D into a frenzy he's so upset that he kick bad right I'm like hey man you gotta you gotta you got to relax bad day like bu move on and I'm in my office 10:30 night I get a text from him and I'm still watching film and that will never happen again I'm like B go to bed like yeah brother like we got an early day tomorrow I need you to go to bed you know what I mean and he comes up the next day and just kills it turn look I told you why you mad at me mad at um so he's been he's been he's been phenomenal and and the two guys behind him are are are I mean de has dramatically improved um and then he the transfer from NIU is is a is a huge like to you know I mean um he got here to the start of Camp so he's a little bit behind with what we're doing schematically you know what I mean um he his first day was literally the first day we showed up for camp for getting him in school um so have I've never been a place that has three guys comfortable putting in a game W and I'm I have no I would have no issues putting Z in the game something happens I have no issues putting in the game something happens you know what I mean like uh that side of things pun wise and we're we're in a really really good spot good to hear um you know I think the dream for everybody uh with kick kickoff returns was Jan poke and Keenan Christian uh being the guys back there um yeah but you know I don't know if hell's gonna allow it I mean who's kind of waiting in the wings to to be able to to pick up that slack um was a guy that we had in the box and then with all the injuries um he's come miles uh receiving cor wise he Dynam he runs with it when he runs with the ball in his hands he is he's physical you know what I mean uh he does no wasted movement he get North and South um so he's been a guy that has moved back into that role that I'm super excited about we got to figure out a way to get the ball and return game you know what I mean like um Team going now was is it's a it's bad deal you know I mean the guy back there with that type of speed is what you want you know what I mean um we go you got to adjust and Jordan has we taken some of other responsibilities off the off the Jordan um protection wise and blocking wise in the Stu team to be more of a returner um so he's the next guy up and I'm really really excited to see what he could do with the ball in his hands because he come he's that kind of happened we kind of prefer think about that the end the summer you know what I mean um and then with with Keenan going down um he's he's kind of slid into that spot and I'm excited to see what he can do um and then is that is that just so I know how you guys run I mean is says that's the primary spot and then the other guy that's back there with him you know to to what we do they're interchangeable you're you're so back there with Keen like it would have been Keenan and po War have off returner you know what I mean yep um to KCK the ball so that for me that spot if you could have two guys that are Dynamic returners it really put you in a bad spot now you also have to have some courage to be the offer guy you know what I mean because you're still running into the Run head first Into the Fire there I think both those guys could do that Jon started as off returner with us a 10th and then moved to the primary role um and get a great job as onprepare you know I mean and Jordan is that way too like Jordan's a big physical not scared kid you know I mean so now if you're back there who you take the ball to do you know what saying like um that puts us in a good spot and then lucky lucky Su has been working out their other offerer um and he's done a really really good job of just a natural feel of spacing between him and the primary um he's not he's less of a primary return guy than he is an offer care guy but he's done a really really good job there as well and then Jaylen as well would be another guy that would be in the mix back there great um and then you know pun returned uh with with maai um going down um for whatever period that's going to be for him um Marcus Cooper was was taking kicks at least at the at the thing I mean is is there any chance that that that he could be there because just think about his NFL chances um you know the more he can do he is he would be another uh kickoff return guy and uh I love C uh but some guys have to go down before he go back there as a pal okay uh but he's not gonna be um I know he doesn't lock for confidence um but right now our guy is is npes back there and like well just the proponent turn you know what I mean like uh there's just something about Mikey man like that little son of a [ __ ] makes plays now like he's got a feel for it she getting scared he gets what we're doing he's coming in watches it he tracks it very well do I mean um he has an idea where the ball's going um so CP is gonna be a player for sure and when desan went down last year at 10 CP moved into the primary return role um on KR putt wise it's going to be Nate and Mikey are going to carry the road until um the is ready to roll and is that Nate Bennett oh no uh so Jordan here oh okay got it got it oh so he do both of them wow okay wow um and then uh let see okay so then uh Ryan winterm um you know fans don't like to hear me say this but I I think that if there's a guy who's closest to playing at a professional level on the Aztecs and this I said last year um it's Ryan winmire um you know know what what do do he need to do in his final year of auditioning in college to be able to to kind of really you know show himself potentially for that next level um and try to reach those goals well I've never blocked I had a guy blocked in my scheme and he he's been weared me out I can block I can block I can block and um I was resistant to it and then the last week or so um during camp we threw it in there and he is he is more than capable of still throwing strike and blocking which makes it's a huge deal yeah um so I just flat locked out at that spot I think I agree with everything that you said um this has probably been the only time in my career that we had a kid named Joey Palumbo at K who ended up being a team captain for as LA champer but with Joey Joey had a could never make sure she's Health you know what I mean like major injuries so you always had that concern with with Ryan his durability and how good he is um you know you forget you're just you're just just plat out lucky you know what I mean to have that level of got when you're coming into a program to start think have that guy there your foundation is is unbelievable you know I mean and the way that kid works is second to n you know I mean like you Lally got tell the stop you got just give the stop spping right um so I mean he's he puts us to another level that's that's the last thing I'm thinking about when we go on the fields is where's that going be um and then his ability to protect and then he can he can get down there like he's gonna be an asset he's G forceing Fair catches too you know what I mean like he he's gonna run down there he's gonna take a fair catch he G do his job and have that level kid here is is a huge for us you know what I mean like you can't be I know people don't value it but I I I'm understating it his importance right now to what we're going to be you know I mean like I don't have a I don't have the vocabulary to be able to describe how much he means to us here on special teams like I don't um because if you take him out I think our backup is really really good but he ain't Ry right I mean like we had we had a breakdown issue happened yesterday like it doesn't doesn't happen you think about it you know what I mean like he putting it exactly I think that's why Tyler is take the next step because Tyler what Tyler just tells him where he wants it man and he puts it there um and those watching those two guys work together like hey this protection I want you put it here we're doing this I want you to leave me here you know I mean like they're they're that deep in the weeds with it you know what I mean um hey we make a Sex here we got to go fast you put that you put this thing here so I can roll into it like ja my ISS off and you're watching film and we're getting things off at one5 I'm like hey guys it's going to make up for a lot of unless we cut somebody loose right down the pipe we're getting this thing off you know what I mean um so those two guys working together has been has been fun to watch and I agree with you I'm glad somebody else appreciates it you know what I mean most of the time I start nering out on that stuff and everybody rolls their eyes um and then the last like area um is you know is the coverage units um you know is there anybody who's standing up the guy that I kind of wanted to ask about was Arnold esano um but I don't know if there's somebody else who would make more sense to to be able to talk about as far as just you know kind of being that special team you know Tasker kind of guy who uh you know is just is just really valuable to you like with with all of the coverages I mean there's there's uh davus McGee is gonna be a guy uh for us on team you know starting on all four um Arnold's definitely um starting on I think two right now uh and just giv math effer you know I mean um Brady Anderson starting on all four um a guy that cares and is all in on it like you got DJ Herman you know I mean um go it's been fantastic um I mean I'm leaving guys out you know what I mean um tavius the take is is a guy we can be a Difference Maker the great thing about this is these guys are you're you're not you're not prodding them to go you know what I mean like they're ready to roll you know what I mean then and then obviously we're trying to limit the the guys that are gonna be playing every snap on offens and defense is just one or two you know what I mean but like Chris Johnson is a guy that makes us different when he's out there you know what I'm saying like keep going on it figuring out ways to to use him and not wear him out you know what I'm saying like U because he's gonna he's gonna do exactly what you ask him to do as hard as you know what I mean um you can't have them out there for every every rep you know what I'm saying Max Garrison I mean literally a guy that's if you told Max hey on this kick off I want you to like the old days with the wedge you know what I mean Max would have been one of the wedge Busters you know what I'm saying um a guy that's gonna throw every just throw his body in there recklessly for for the good of the team you know what I'm saying like um I think we've had more guys here like that than I've ever had before you know I mean like I I could just keep going on and on about the guys on the roster uh like that you know usually have one or two guys that are like that get a chance Nam John Henry we had one guy like that here I feel like here I could name five or six you know what I'm saying um and there's more guys you know I mean we got some we got some some pressing puppies that are choing at the bit just to go you know what I mean and it's going to be cool to figure out a way to use those guys for before game you know what I mean like going into the minor Leakes grabbing a guy that's ready to go t buer came up who who early enrolled you know what I mean he had a rep on our front line stuff literally guy went down I think like Max got D or something like that right and I grabbed T off the boundary who' been here all spring and said hey man you're gonna do this technique on R3 you know what I mean on kick return and he goes in there and puts on a clinic you know what I mean it's just hadn't done it hadn't done it all C grab him off the boundary that you got that guy here to take and go and he you know what I mean it was literally the best rep we've had off all c um so like things like that had had been like that in other places you know what I mean like um so I'm excited to see if we can put this thing together and collectively get you know connect as units and and start fast and and and hold through the entire season because certainly is not I was tell them the other day it's not an effort issue you know what I mean like we got some guys like Arnold that are just going to leave it all out on the field to whatever you have to do so extremely lucky that way um hoping that on the coverage units that I tell the kickers they can be so good that nobody else matters right and I would love that you know I mean you you're a really good kicking kickoff unit is the guy that puts it uh at the top of the letters in the end zone that's usually a pretty good kick off you know what I mean hwise the snap and the punter can be so good that nobody else matters you he's putting that thing on the tick marks or putting it up in the air for 5 seconds you don't have to cover anything so um you got some guys that can do it but I think I tell the Specialists man you guys can be so good that those other guys don't matter um and then and then uh is penia he's gonna be the uh the kickoff specialist yes he gonna be right now he's plays kickoff guy and the F guy all right perfect coach I appreciate your time it's always great to talk to you all right man appreciate you have a good one Paul uh those are interviews that we just uh listened to with Coach Zack Barton and Coach Mike Schmid uh we also interviewed Eric coach Eric Schmid Andre some audio recording issues uh on the back end and and unfortunately that interview uh is not good to to air not ready for prime time but uh if you if anyone read my article uh I did use the quotes in there from coach SCH in there and I tried to put in all the relevant information he provided um as much as I could in an article anyway but uh you know just going going through the three phases and the three articles we put out you did the offense and the Special Teams um any um main takeaways from your conversations with Coach Barton and Coach Schmidt Mike Schmidt yeah well absolutely I mean a couple things um first of all the uh just the that staff is busy um you know we we requested these um like I want to say it was at the beginning of July and they worked hard to find a spot for us and so like the m so normally we do it over Zoom for anyone who wants to reveal the curtain right we do it over zoom and these had to be phone calls and so like Mike Schmidt was on a random Sunday after the the fan Fest and then you took Eric Schmidt on on your lunch break I took Zack Barton on my lunch break and you know I the the the the the phone call that I took and and how I was picking up I have maybe the squeakiest chair I have ever heard there's a couple just like right at the very beginning there's these like really loud I'm like oh man which don't I think come across as much on on Zoom so um all those technical difficulties and trying to do it so I think most of all I'm incredibly grateful um as my initial thought to San Diego State um their media relations Colin thank you Jamie getting this set up um helping us to track them down and and and these coaches have been working incredibly hard and they literally will have like 15 minutes the entire day and we appreciate the guys you know coming and having those conversations with us yeah coach Eric Schmidt as well definitely um I what I took away from our conversation is that you know he saw a lot lot of growth from the spring to the summer and and and the fall and that makes sense because it's a new system a lot of new players I think some of the names he highlighted that he saw as people that had made huge jumps Trey white and ton Luli not too long after our conversation and before this episode comes out those two were named as captains um and Trey W was named as a special teams Captain uh ton Loui as a defense but you know Trey white is obviously a bigger big part of the defense as well and I think that factored into a lot because he saw what the teammates saw in these guys bring in leadership as young guys right Trey white is a red shirt sophomore and ton Luli is a sophomore so they have a you know they played a total of three years of experience and now going into their fourth you know the fifth year fourth and fifth year um they're Captain so I think what he how he spoke about them how glowingly kind of came to fruition when they got named captains Sean Lewis has said great things about those guys too um and so I I think that was it was promising the way he was talking about the defense and and what they're looking to do the edges you know obviously the defense of line is the biggest question mark because there's so many new faces there and the lack of production last year from the defensive line and I think that's you know getting pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run is going to be a big deal and you know I think it's it's you know the linebackers in the secondary there's still a lot of new pieces but I think they're a little bit more solidified than the than up front and I'm just curious how the rotation is goingon to work out because I think they're GNA play a lot of guys up front yeah I I love it um couple more things I think from mine um I um am a little bit surprised that Mike Schmidt wasn't the first offensive line hire um maybe they just didn't have the relationship um and him so Bole was going to come over and that was just what's going to happen but has there been anybody that you've seen that the San Diego Community has rallied around more than Mike Schmidt since he's been hired um do you mean in this on this staff I mean like yeah yeah I mean yeah exactly like coaches and things like that no I mean he Hometown guy who who played here and yeah for sure yeah and and I was just so impressed with the conversation um so if it hasn't been predicted I'll predict it right now that dude's going to be a head coach one day um and uh you know he carries a room um he carried the conversation really really well and so it's just it's it's um he he sounded like like the Run game coordinator you know what I mean he sounded like somebody who had a full grasp of the entire team um and and so I was really impressed there and then the only comment I'd want to make about um you know because we had the Articles right and they kind of stand on their own um is I I think that you know I had a couple of questions because I said that Zack Barton was not Doug Deacon but for this team he was better and um just to clarify in case there was anything I thought the article was pretty clear um as you know from the years that we've done this we're a huge Doug Deacon fans huge Believers in what he did um but when when everyone assumed that's the guy that's the guy that you're retaining suar because he's been here for a long time and you're and you're retaining Doug Deacon and and everybody else is gonna you know be looking for work from the former staff and when that didn't happen I think there was a lot of people going oh man that's a miss right like they he doesn't he must not know the great work because our special teams at San dieo State have been great you know this is what fans are saying and um I think that I didn't fully understand um at the time of his hire for sure didn't at the time of his hire like how much Barton means to um sea Lewis and how much he means to everything that he does but um you know uh watch watch them interact on the on the sidelines watch how he does how he talks to the team and things like that and I think you can you can really see what that's about and so it really has nothing to do with Doug Deacon um or even Zack Barton and their skill as special teams coaches it has to do with just the overall C of culture of the school and you know I don't even think that it's a prediction I think it's already happened and it's done um that Zack Bon has had a bigger impact than Doug Deacon would have um on the same staff because of all of the things that he brings Beyond just the Special Teams and and that was the point of of of that part yeah I when I read that line that you put in there about uh Deacon and Barton I knew you were gonna get a lot of uh oh you're my you're my editor bro she was I I didn't I got what you were saying okay good okay but I I mean Doug Deacon is a well-respected and well-loved um coach and and a lot of people felt the same way that he was going to be kept and that he was one of the better special teams coaches in the country and I knew you you you'd get a few people that would uh earmark that line but I I thought you handled it well explained yourself I'm I'm actually kind of looking forward to uh to when they break out some of the like rollout punts and all of those things in their repertoire he he I have no idea how much but he teased that that idea and and that possibility in that interview so I thought that was new um because again I mean as much as the systems for the offense and the defense are new so is the special team I mean he said like they're learning a new system and we still have to figure out how to make sure that they understand everything that we're doing and they're not just you know because there's a line that's drawn on a chalkboard somewhere and they're just following it um I think it's another really exciting part um Jordan Napier and I Napier I know you know uh we'll have time to talk about him until the season but I mean did that come out of nowhere I don't know if it came came out of nowhere I mean I think pring game pre spring game pre-spring game yeah I mean I think if if leis Brown and poke and and some of the other guys aren't injured you know for a little bit then maybe he doesn't get that as much appearances but I think the talent is there he and it's probably was shown in practice anyway sure even when everybody was healthy uh but yeah he's he's explosive and you know last year he came in as a safety I think he got moved to wide receiver because what Raphael Williams got ruled ineligible um there were some injuries uh I forget the names but there's somebody that was injured um Philip Wesley was injured bang dab coming into the season and so yeah it was like almost like oh we got to move someone to wide receiver and here it is um and but then you know you I wondered if like the staff would move him back to safety but since they brought in so many wide receivers but there was a reason they kept them at wide receiver it's because he can Flash and he's shown that at least he showed her that fan fast he sh in at other stuff so yeah he's he he's making a case to be uh a big player this year I mean and and then to be be to be the primary returner one of the primary returners at both phases I think it's it's gonna be fun to fun to watch him um a really good interviews and I know that you know uh the the the timeliness of it you know we did a lot of them quickly and we wanted to make sure we got the Articles out so apologize for you know me asking um Mike Schmidt um could this QB competition go into the season because I had no idea at that point and Danny O'Neal had just had a not so great um FanFest and so you know um but I think still think overall the information is really good and um I'm glad that we're able to get them out yeah I appreciate you guys tuning in as always we appreciate the likes the shares the follows um subscribes subscriptions to all your favorite platforms uh getting ready for the season on Saturday obviously our coverage will continue uh throughout the season whether it's articles Recaps podcast you name it so appreciate you guys tuning in and we'll talk to you guys next time you are listening to the SDSU podcast presented by the East Village times with your hosts Andre Hagan and Paul Garrison [Music]