'Coach Kool' Leading Defensive Line at #CanesCamp
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes returned to the Greentree Practice Fields Monday morning for Practice 12 after enjoying their first day off of #CanesCamp 2016 Sunday.
“It was a very good, fundamental day. It was our normal – lot of kicking, lot of fundamentals, our team run, our team blitz, our move-the-field stuff, offense versus defense,” head coach Mark Richt said. “For a tough, long practice, they did a nice job, I thought.”
The offense “won” the practice thanks to a late surge from the second-string offense, but the defensive line has been a key factor through the first two weeks of camp.
“I think they’re progressing about what I figured. I think we have some talent. I think we have some guys that look like you want them to look, play like you want them to play – in terms of athleticism,” defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski said. “Now it’s getting them to do the right things and do them the right way. So far, the guys have progressed in a way that I’ve expected.”
A phone call placed by former Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel to Richt was the key in securing Kuligowski’s services as Miami’s defensive line coach.
“I called [Kuligowski] within five minutes and I would have hired him on the spot, or offered him the job on the spot, but I told him I needed to get my d-coordinator in line first,” Richt said. “Less than 24 hours after that, I said I was stupid if I wait, because I guarantee everyone else is going to pursue this guy as well. I called him back and offered him the job.”
Kuligowski’s impact has been felt throughout the defensive line.
“He knows the answer to everything,” Chad Thomas said. “He has been coaching a long time, and he knows how to get a defensive line together, get us all working, working right and working together as one. He’s a wizard.”
Demetrius Jackson mentioned Kuligowski’s impressive body of work during his time at Missouri as reason to trust his new mentor.
“I love him. He brings a lot of technique that he’s taught some of the greats before, like Aldon Smith, Shane Ray, Michael Sam,” Jackson said. “He’s bringing it here, and we trust him, because his resume, the guys that he taught, things that he produced…we knew that’s a guy we can trust. We just take it to the field and it works. It works against our great offensive line.”
Richt said that his team is getting closer to performing at the level of consistency needed to be successful come September 3rd and beyond.
“We’re getting closer, and we’re pursuing [consistency], obviously…we’re getting better,” Richt said. “Even when you watch film, offensively, when you start out, you might have seven out of 11 [players] doing it right, and you get beat. When you get eight, nine, 10 out of 11 getting it right, you’re getting closer, but you still might end up losing that rep. When everybody starts doing it, that’s when you start really clicking.”
Head Coach Mark Richt
Opening Statement…
“It was a very good, fundamental day. It was our normal, lot of kicking, lot of fundamentals, our team run, our team blitz, our move-the-field stuff, offense versus defense. For a tough, long practice, they did a nice job, I thought. The offense actually won the day today, which was great. It took the two [second string] offense to get three out of four on the very last drive against the No. 1 defense. That was huge for them. They haven’t had a lot of success against the No. 1 defense. Much more competitive, really every day – the first couple of the days, the margin was pretty bad. But even when the defense has won the last day or two, it’s been a tight, tight race. That’s a good sign. I don’t know – Groundhog’s Day, I don’t know what to tell you.”
On which players he plans on working as returners on special teams units…
“It’s so hard to say. I do think we have a good many guys that can be returners, we just have to decide. A lot of people want the most prolific return man, but I want the most dependable return man first. If he happens to be the most prolific, as a runner or a guy who can stick it in the end zone, great. But if he’s great at that and doesn’t field the ball well, or doesn’t secure the ball well, he won’t be the guy. I want the most dependable guy. We’re working so many guys, I don’t even know what to tell you on that. The good news is, we have more than one or two or three guys that can do kick and punt return.
“Braxton [Berrios], Stacy [Coley], Malcolm…we’re teaching Sam Bruce. Corn [Elder]. Then Mark Walton on kickoff return and Gus [Edwards] on kickoff return. I think Coley on kickoff return. Braxton and Corn…most of them double it up.”
On the decision to use Gus Edwards on kickoff returns…
“He might be the off-return man, but he’s back there. He’ll probably be more of an off-return man. But if the ball goes his way, he’ll be returning it.”
On if he has seen the players practice with the level of consistency they have been preaching…
“Not yet. No one is really doing that yet. But we’re getting closer, and we’re pursuing that, obviously. For those guys to be saying it, they know how important it is. We’re getting better. Even when you watch film, offensively, when you start out, you might have seven out of 11 [players] doing it right, and you get beat. When you get eight, nine, 10 out of 11 getting it right, you’re getting closer but you still might end up losing that rep. When everybody starts doing it, that’s when you start really clicking. I will say this, today, if we caught the ball when the ball was right in our hands – I’m talking about the tight end and wide receiver position – it would have been, not a landslide, but there would have been no drama at the end. We dropped too many balls today.”
On what he has seen from the team’s defensive line…
“I just like the way the defense is playing, period. I like how hard they’re playing. I like the energy they’re playing with. I definitely like what the front four is doing, but I like what all of them are doing. They’ve really impressed me. It’s night and day on the effort level and the execution, especially open-field tackling – it’s changed dramatically from the spring to the fall.”
On his decision to hire Craig Kuligowski before hiring a defensive coordinator…
“I think he’s one of the best in the business, if not the best. If I had a defensive coordinator who didn’t want him, I figure I probably don’t have the right d-coordinator. Any d-coordinator would be super excited about Coach Kul being a part of it.”
On his relationship with Kuligowski prior to hiring him on his staff…
“I just knew him through Coach Gary Pinkel [former Missouri coach]. He and I got to know each other and become pretty good friends, through the head coaching thing. He actually gave me a call and said, ‘It looks like Kul might not get retained. You ought to talk to him.’ I called him within five minutes and I would have hired him on the spot, or offered him the job on the spot, but I told him I needed to get my d-coordinator in line first, but he’s my first choice and all that. Less than 24 hours after that, I said I was stupid if I wait, because I guarantee everyone else is going to pursue this guy as well. I called him back and offered him the job.”
On why Kuligowski has never been a defensive coordinator, given his success as a position coach…
“It’s probably still a very real possibility one day. He has tremendous value as he is, and he’s helping Manny coordinate, I can tell you that.”
On playing first string versus second string in scrimmages…
“In the fall we tend to go ones versus twos and twos versus ones. In the spring we’ll go ones versus ones. Part of it is, say you’re in the season, and you’re mostly scout-team work but will still do stuff against each other. Let’s say we need Cover 2. We might ask Manny, ‘With the twos, can you run some Cover 2 for the one offense?’ Defense might need to see zone read. The scout team could do it okay, but you’re No. 2 offense is going to give you a lot better look. The two offense and two defense tend to give a really good look. If there’s something we do in our system, we’ll call it that way, if that makes sense. That’s a big part of it.”
Defensive Line Coach Craig Kuligowski
On how talks with Coach Richt progressed into becoming Miami’s defensive line coach…
“It’s like every coaching job. You talk to a few people, somebody asks you if you’re interested in the job, you say yes…I don’t really know the timing, that’s [Coach Richt’s] deal. I’m happy to be here. We got to the airport, me and my wife, and we said, ‘That’s Mark Richt picking us up. Nice.’ It’s a good thing.”
On never having served as defensive coordinator despite ample success as defensive line coach…
“I’ve asked myself that same question a few times over the years. But the truth is, God has a plan. If his plan is for me to be a defensive line coach for the rest of my life, or if he has plans for me to be a coordinator later on in life, or a head coach, great. If not, that’s okay too. I’m happy doing what I do. I love doing it. I just want to be the best at whatever I do. That’s what I’m trying, with God’s help.”
On if he has ever been offered a defensive coordinator job…
“There’s been some talks and stuff like that, but in the end, it has to be for a good job.”
On assessing the state of the defensive line and what he has seen through camp so far…
“I think they’re progressing about what I figured. I think we have some talent. I think we have some guys that look like you want them to look, play like you want them to play – in terms of athleticism. Now it’s getting them to do the right things and do them the right way. So far, the guys have progressed in a way that I’ve expected. I haven’t been disappointed. They’ve bought in, they’re working hard, they’re teaching each other the drills now. They’re making it their own. I really feel like it’s going to be successful, because the guys have really bought into it. They haven’t really fought me on anything, to be honest.”
Defensive Lineman Chad Thomas
On what Coach Kuligowski has taught him…
“Finishing. He’s on me about finishing. I can’t really say ‘teach’ finishing. He’s on me about finishing and showing me what to do.”
On if he sees Coach Kuligowski as a wizard, in terms of depth of knowledge and success coaching the position…
“I would say a wizard, because he knows the answer to everything. He has been coaching a long time, and he knows how to get a defensive line together, get us all working, working right and working together as one. He’s a wizard. Everything. Hand movement, feet movement, how to get our hips around…everything.”
On what is motivating him entering his junior season…
“My last two years. I didn’t live up to my expectations. I made some plays, but I didn’t make enough. Just going off that and we’re in a defense that I like. I just have to perform. I have to do my part. All the coaches are doing their part.”
On if he feels more comfortable in this defensive scheme as compared to years past…
“Very comfortable. It’s the same as my high school defense. I feel, on the line, that’s what it feels like. I feel free when I’m out there running.”
Defensive Lineman Demetrius Jackson
On Coach Kuligowski…
“I love him. He brings a lot of technique that he’s taught some of the greats before, like Aldon Smith, Shane Ray, Michael Sam. He’s bringing it here, and we trust him, because his resume, the guys that he taught, the things that we produced…we knew that’s a guy we can trust. We just take it to the field and it works. It works against our great offensive line. Like I said, we’re ready to go.”
On the new defensive scheme….
“I love it. Most of us here, that’s where we came from – our background in high school, that’s where we come from. A 4-3, attacking-style [defense]…just playing as we’re natural rushers. It helps us a lot, being able to get after the quarterback and make plays in the backfield.”
On the scheme bringing out the best in the players…
“It makes all of us better players. The whole defense. The ones and the twos. We’re just ready to go.”
Defensive Lineman Gerald Willis
On the advantages of rotating on the defensive line…
“It’s a real good advantage because we have fresh legs. Everyone knows what they have to do, so it’s a good advantage.”
On what the defensive line has improved on most in camp…
“Get off and everybody knowing their stuff. In the spring, everybody didn’t know their stuff. Now everybody knows the plays and are working on moves to get to the quarterback.”
On what defensive lineman RJ McIntosh brings to the defensive line…
“RJ is physical. RJ is a big, physical guy and I am more of an athletic guy getting to the quarterback. He’s more of a pounder and I am more like someone that tries to get to the quarterback.”
On how the defensive line played in last week’s scrimmage…
“The entire d-line got good feedback. We just have to get to the quarterback more. We got like 12 sacks, I think, and coach wants at least 20. We just need to keep getting to the quarterback more.”
Defensive Lineman R.J. McIntosh
On what he has learned from Coach Kuligowski…
“Definitely the pass moves. I played defensive end last year and a little bit of tackle, but more tackle this year. He has definitely helped me with being inside, using my quickness…swim moves. I knew them, but he’s helping me set up the o-line a little bit better.”
On if learning under Coach Kuligowski has been like learning with an entirely clean slate…
“It wasn’t learning entirely new, but it was more enhancing the things that we knew. Getting better at the things we knew. And [Kuligowski] has definitely added some new stuff.”
On taking on a leadership role despite being a sophomore…
“Age doesn’t matter. The [freshmen] linebackers, you know their story…age or year doesn’t matter. You have to be able to come out here and take this very serious. It doesn’t matter who it is…if I see someone messing up, I’m going to try to correct them.”
