Live-Blogging the Coaches Show

5:55pm - CNC came around and welcomed everyone. Shaking hands and small talk all around. Big difference from years past...a coach who's on time, I could get used to this...

6pm - Announcement and recap of the week's athletic events. I really like David, he's doing an excellent job!!!

First Break

Another observation - I really like the Hoover location of Full Moon. Lot's of space for the show and the fans, but not nearly as many people here as their were last week from what people are saying...

6:05pm - Hard practice Tuesday, ~70 plays, Backed off Wednesday and normal practice today - Says team should be fresh and ready to go - Gave the team two days rather than one (Sunday and Monday) - Coach could feel the excitement during and after practice - CNC's Opinion of the Big Ten - Big and Physical, MSU is no exception, using Power O and Zone Lead - Secondary - Dunbar will not play, others will have to step up - Carlie and Sanders will get the job done for us

Second Break

6:13pm - Joe from Alabaster - What's the defence? - Base out of the 4-3, may change to 3-4, depending on the flow, Cover 2 in the secondary - Pressure on the QB? - 2 DE, Brian Turn? and Brandon Jefferies are speedy, two others I missed their names - Defenseive Line? - Play 2 deep at each spot on defense Tim Davis at Nose Guard

How much Subbing, how may are playing - Front 4 will rotate constantly - Keep them fresh, everyone who plays is excited, play young guys early and grow them early

3-4 vs 4-3 and the differences, how do you decide - Have to have 2 linebackers that are fast are needed for the 3-4 as well as a big physical nose guard, 4-3 need more down linemen, less linebackers - 3rd downs will bring nickle/dime packages

Eric Shue on defense, blitz? Certain situations will bring pressure, but not always. 3rd down is a big decision for that - Blitzes leave people open, QB/RB will have to make plays

Break

Another observation - Lot's more Football Talk from CNC than from other coaches in the past...

6:22pm - Talking about the trip and week for Coach, first time as a HC? Busy preparing, hoping to contemplate that tonight or tomorrow, sure it will hit him soon - Long process to become HC, what are some of the things he's picked up from people - Being Organized, if not, you create confusion, likes to plan ahead, make sure you're doing is correct - communicate with the players

Email from TMCarty - How has Matt McCans progressed? Was told his story, watched the film, was very impressed, very young, lot's of potential to grow - OLine is physically and mentally demanding - very impressed watching him grow - Tuba to Starting left tackle

Toughest position on Oline - Center, snapping and against the nose guard attack, most exposed position is left tackle - Helton does good job with the game-plan

Eight guys on the defensive front, what about the OL? 7-8 guys on the line, 5 starters on the OL and 3 subs, individual subs, not line subs

Pre-season workouts, most confidence? Least Confidence? Most - secondary, corners especially, safeties as well - Least:receivers, big improvement, but not bearly where we need to be

Break

I love this live blogging thing...tons of fun!!!

6:35pm - Mark from Birmingham - Brandon Thorton - Injured? Ready? How many Years does he have? On campus Stadium? Hardship waver, so he will get 2 years - Shoulder, will not play this weeek, week-to-week after that - very fine young man, good attitude - Would love to see on campus stadium, but have work to do before that can be done.

Week ahead in Conference USA - Skipping this one to let my fingers rest...

Break

6:42pm - Weather High in the 80s - Spartan Stadium can get loud - Loco's doing free chips and wings for Gang Green (UAB Students) - Like road games, team building experience, not a lot of distractions, play good people - We will be ready for them

Picking up the blitz - QB - Senior gets the nod - Feels good about both, both will make a lot of good things happen - Running backs? Experience short? R. Slaughter, Dexter Barnett, Derell Norman, not a lot of experience, but lots of talent and energy

Physical and Multiple? can't be one-dementional offense, but have to play to your strenghts - always want to be physical, but will move the ball around and create confusion

Porn Star Waters - Done a great job, has a strong leg - Field Goals have been inconsistant, but has worked on them all summer and become much more reliable

Special Teams - Coverage? made a lot of improvement - good job of getting people who can run and can make a play - Special teams overall has been very good - very important to the team

Kickoffs on the 30 yrd line? 25 avg then, now starting from the 30-35 yrd line.

Clock Change - welcomes the return to the old, found other ways to shorten the game

Ask for 1-2 guys that fans should keep an eye on Tight end and Hb - Siglar and Amos

Break

Sense of relief? Happy it's here, relief may not be the word, though...

List of events this weekend and close...

it was fun, preview and preditions coming later tonight/tomorrow morning.
--DW