On how Phil Bennett influenced Todd as a young coach:
“I was born and raised playing Texas high school football. My mentors of my life were Texas high school coaches. Growing up, R.C. Slocum was someone that I looked up to tremendously, I also had the Cardinals’ Gene Stallings. I just had a connection there with A&M because Coach had been there back when he was the youngest coach, when he was 29. I started following A&M with Coach Bennett. He had a tremendous effect on myself and Coach Patterson. We were both young coaches and we were trying to learn and he was very gracious. He taught me a lot of things of our initial philosophy. That was back in the time with the Wrecking Xrew, Quentin Coryatt and all those guys. They were a very fun defense to watch and I learned the core foundations of secondary play from him. We have had a relationship learning from him and learning from each other since 1995.”
On the biggest impact Phil Bennett has had since he has been here:
“Just taking a lot of weight off me. His leadership, you don’t have to worry about what he is doing. You know how his guys are going to play, they’re going to play extremely hard. He is a masterful teacher. It gives comfort having someone with his type of experience. It’s not just his experience. You don’t find too many guys who have been doing it for 40 years that coach with the passion that he coaches with and that’s what were all about. Being a Sun Devil, is about being Sun Devil Tough. Frank Kush and Pat Tillman, you think about our past and our history - it’s about being tough and passionate. We came in 5 ½ years ago instilling our philosophy and he has been a great fit for that. The biggest way he has impacted me is he has just taken an awful lot off of me.”
On the difference of the look of the defensive line compared to last year:
“I think we’re better. All those guys are a year older and getting the right combinations in there. I think we will play JoJo (Wicker) in both spots. I do think his true position is inside. I do think that he has made us better. We have a lot of confidence in AJ (Latu) and we have a lot of guys with playing experience up front. I think we got some depth. Renell Wren has had a great couple weeks, he’s really coming on. He’s going to be solid. You look at George (Lea), Renell (Wren) and the guys we got inside. Corey Smith has been hurt but we have Hoyt (Jordan). We’re pretty deep inside at that tackle position and it’s something that I feel really good about.”
On what fans should expect of the new scoreboard at Sun Devil stadium:
“It’s going to be really nice. It was really difficult before. I would look at the screen some, but it was so different than when you would be at other places where you could see the replay. I think the fan interaction, technology, how the fans are going to be connected in the stadium, the Wi-Fi and all the things they have added is really going to change the game day experience to really integrate and have the crowd involved in the game. With that type of technology, it helps you to be able to do those things and a lot more fun and excitement. It’s just going to make it a better venue to watch the game. When I have been out there in scrimmages we have turned it on to get used to it. I got my eyes on it most of the time.”
On the number one thing to focus on when game planning for New Mexico State:
“Our whole deal throughout camp has been us focusing on what we’re doing. Focus on getting accomplished things that will win football games. That’s being our best in the conference and in the country, taking care of the football, and getting the football on defense. That’s been our number one thing. This has been a TTH camp. We have been physical. We just focus on the fundamentals of the game and get better fundamentally. We have an emphasis on what wins games and what our philosophy is. I think we have really reigned in on that. And how we do all those things and accomplish those things is discipline. That’s what our focus has been on. It’s not been on someone else. It’s been on us. Obviously, it’s the first game of the year. People can change things. Are we going to face some new stuff? I am sure we are and I’m sure they will too. The team that is going to win is the one who is most disciplined and the one who takes care of the football.”
On the feeling of the defense coming into the season:
“I don’t think in terms of that. I think in the terms of our football team. I feel better about everything. I feel better about coaching, I feel better about preparation, I feel better about our fundamentals, and I feel like were blocking and tackling better. I like what that produces. It’s been the longest we have ever practiced. We started July 24 and seems like it’s been a long time. It’s been really good. I have great belief in our team. I just know were better in so many areas. The bottom line is we have to figure out how to go 1-0 and then go from there. I do think, looking at our coaching, players, execution, discipline and our work ethic, that there are some newcomers in spots, mostly coaches, but we are a veteran team. It’s been good having this extra time. I think this extra time has helped us as a coaching staff. You can get on the same page generally. It’s so important that your tied in together into what your trying to accomplish. We just don’t randomly do things on offense or defense. It needs to be tied together. What you do on offense has to match what you’re doing on defense.”
On if it takes junior college recruits some time to adjust to his defensive scheme:
“Well, it depends on who they are now. Chris Young, it didn’t take him very long. Koron Crump has been pretty good too. I think the second year is big for them because you have to understand that you don’t have that long to develop them. I’ll tell you one thing that we have, we have more success transitioning the junior college player to playing at a high level and starting in the Pac-12 Conference. You look at the guys like Marcus Hardison, Marion Grice got an opportunity as well, Jaelen Strong. You look at the guys we’ve developed that have now gone on and in the league and doing well. I think that has been something that I am very proud of how we do that. I think that is because our teacher’s mentality. For some guys, reps are important. To play fast you can’t be thinking so when you are learning and trying to figure out, you don’t play as fast. The difference in the complexity of the game as you move up in level is what is challenging. So, different guys in different positions it takes longer. Damarious Randall was pretty quick. He played at a high level pretty quick. Chris Young was a guy that played at a really high level. Marcus Hardison’s first year was solid, second year, big jump. I think that is with anybody, whether it be a freshman to their sophomore year. I think there is a big maturation deal. I think it is different when it is junior college players because they are older, but it is still about the volume about what you have to have and execute. Then it depends on what position you are playing. I know those guys are better, how can they not be better. Guys like J’Marcus Rhodes, I think J’Marcus is poised to really have a great year. Some of that is us figuring out where he fits or where the best spot for him is.”
On how much of a benefit it is to have Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage in the backfield:
“I am excited about those guys have worked. Usually you don’t talk to a lot about it, but I think fundamentally those guys have improved as much as anybody in our program and they were pretty good players. I really like how our guys are working. I like how we are coaching them too. We are being the most demanding on the best players on the field. We talk about on offense, being a band of brothers. We talk about being desert dogs on defense. I really like how our guys expect the standard to which their coached to be high every day. That group is a very talented group, but that is just one thing to be excited about. I am more excited about how they have developed as far as their character and their toughness. They are better, they are a lot better fundamentally, both those guys. I am excited to watch them get after it and watch both those guys play a whole bunch of plays.”
On what his message will be to the young secondary players before the opening game:
“Do your job. That is about it.”
On what he expects the emotions to be like at the Pat Tillman statue unveiling:
“It is something that is very important. Obviously, who he was as a person, giving his life for his country, but who he was as a Sun Devil. That is pretty special. I have gotten to know Kevin (Tillman) very well. Obviously, I have a tremendous respect for the football player that he was. I mean he was a warrior. I was joking last year, we would show his highlights as the last thing we look at before we go out the door. Well, about half of those are actually illegal. You can’t hit like that anymore. It was interesting, I remember watching it going, ‘I don’t know how smart this is to be showing this’. I said, ‘Guys, I want you to play with that passion, but that was different back in the day’. There wasn’t any targeting. It means a lot because of the person that he was. We talk a lot about brotherhood and how important his family was to him. What type of son he was, what type of brother he was, what type of teammate he was. That is one of the things we changed about the Tillman Tunnel. We put his teammates in there because that very important to him. I am excited because of what he did on the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the community, and for our country. He is the only person that is on every wall, but also too he is such a great representative with his life and who he was and what he was about, about what it is to be a Sun Devil to us. To take the field through Tillman Tunnel and now to have his statue there now. We start the tradition this year of every player touching the that statue before they take the field. I can tell you what my message is going to be is don’t talk about it. If you are going to go out there and touch that statue, you get out on that field and you bring it like he did. If we do that, great things are going to happen. I think it is important to all Sun Devils, who Pat was to Sun Devil nation and who he was to our country. It is pretty amazing. That is going to be a special deal and Wednesday we are going to do the unveiling for the family and for our players. It is a special deal and moving from that end down here, I thought it was real important because we had an opportunity to really do something special about that. I think it is going to be one of the most special things about our place as far as an entrance and how we do things. Also, a way to honor and remember someone that gave so much. It means a lot to me personally. I know that.”
On if he still offers the Tillman practice jersey:
“Sure do.”
On if any player has been awarded it yet:
“Not yet. One of the things we did is just trying to get back to dialed in. I just felt like we kind of slipped a little bit on some of those things that we did that were important. You don’t lower the standard for anybody, you raise the standard. So, we raised that standard back up to where it was when we first started doing it and I like that. I hope somebody will earn it. It is a pretty high standard now to wear that one. 3.84 G.P.A., so you have to be at least in that range. We look at how you practiced and how you played. I’ll tell you, some of the most impressive things to watch about him was how he practiced. If you ever get a chance to watch some of his training tape film or practices that he had here, he was a warrior on game day, but I will tell you it was impressive to watch him. I watched a lot of old Cardinal training camp videos and that is the way want our guys to play, with that kind of passion. On the same hand, earning that jersey, you also have to elevate the other 10 guys on that field. All the people that I have heard talk about him hear say that he was a guy that really did that. He probably wouldn’t like all this attention. 3.84 in the classroom, what kind of teammate he was and the kind of respect he gave to not just some people, but all people. Then obviously, what a giver he was, whether it be signing things for people helping people out. He was just a giver and he gave it all. It is a pretty high standard to wear that jersey and I felt like you kind of need to earn that jersey and it is pretty hard to do it.”
“I was born and raised playing Texas high school football. My mentors of my life were Texas high school coaches. Growing up, R.C. Slocum was someone that I looked up to tremendously, I also had the Cardinals’ Gene Stallings. I just had a connection there with A&M because Coach had been there back when he was the youngest coach, when he was 29. I started following A&M with Coach Bennett. He had a tremendous effect on myself and Coach Patterson. We were both young coaches and we were trying to learn and he was very gracious. He taught me a lot of things of our initial philosophy. That was back in the time with the Wrecking Xrew, Quentin Coryatt and all those guys. They were a very fun defense to watch and I learned the core foundations of secondary play from him. We have had a relationship learning from him and learning from each other since 1995.”
On the biggest impact Phil Bennett has had since he has been here:
“Just taking a lot of weight off me. His leadership, you don’t have to worry about what he is doing. You know how his guys are going to play, they’re going to play extremely hard. He is a masterful teacher. It gives comfort having someone with his type of experience. It’s not just his experience. You don’t find too many guys who have been doing it for 40 years that coach with the passion that he coaches with and that’s what were all about. Being a Sun Devil, is about being Sun Devil Tough. Frank Kush and Pat Tillman, you think about our past and our history - it’s about being tough and passionate. We came in 5 ½ years ago instilling our philosophy and he has been a great fit for that. The biggest way he has impacted me is he has just taken an awful lot off of me.”
On the difference of the look of the defensive line compared to last year:
“I think we’re better. All those guys are a year older and getting the right combinations in there. I think we will play JoJo (Wicker) in both spots. I do think his true position is inside. I do think that he has made us better. We have a lot of confidence in AJ (Latu) and we have a lot of guys with playing experience up front. I think we got some depth. Renell Wren has had a great couple weeks, he’s really coming on. He’s going to be solid. You look at George (Lea), Renell (Wren) and the guys we got inside. Corey Smith has been hurt but we have Hoyt (Jordan). We’re pretty deep inside at that tackle position and it’s something that I feel really good about.”
On what fans should expect of the new scoreboard at Sun Devil stadium:
“It’s going to be really nice. It was really difficult before. I would look at the screen some, but it was so different than when you would be at other places where you could see the replay. I think the fan interaction, technology, how the fans are going to be connected in the stadium, the Wi-Fi and all the things they have added is really going to change the game day experience to really integrate and have the crowd involved in the game. With that type of technology, it helps you to be able to do those things and a lot more fun and excitement. It’s just going to make it a better venue to watch the game. When I have been out there in scrimmages we have turned it on to get used to it. I got my eyes on it most of the time.”
On the number one thing to focus on when game planning for New Mexico State:
“Our whole deal throughout camp has been us focusing on what we’re doing. Focus on getting accomplished things that will win football games. That’s being our best in the conference and in the country, taking care of the football, and getting the football on defense. That’s been our number one thing. This has been a TTH camp. We have been physical. We just focus on the fundamentals of the game and get better fundamentally. We have an emphasis on what wins games and what our philosophy is. I think we have really reigned in on that. And how we do all those things and accomplish those things is discipline. That’s what our focus has been on. It’s not been on someone else. It’s been on us. Obviously, it’s the first game of the year. People can change things. Are we going to face some new stuff? I am sure we are and I’m sure they will too. The team that is going to win is the one who is most disciplined and the one who takes care of the football.”
On the feeling of the defense coming into the season:
“I don’t think in terms of that. I think in the terms of our football team. I feel better about everything. I feel better about coaching, I feel better about preparation, I feel better about our fundamentals, and I feel like were blocking and tackling better. I like what that produces. It’s been the longest we have ever practiced. We started July 24 and seems like it’s been a long time. It’s been really good. I have great belief in our team. I just know were better in so many areas. The bottom line is we have to figure out how to go 1-0 and then go from there. I do think, looking at our coaching, players, execution, discipline and our work ethic, that there are some newcomers in spots, mostly coaches, but we are a veteran team. It’s been good having this extra time. I think this extra time has helped us as a coaching staff. You can get on the same page generally. It’s so important that your tied in together into what your trying to accomplish. We just don’t randomly do things on offense or defense. It needs to be tied together. What you do on offense has to match what you’re doing on defense.”
On if it takes junior college recruits some time to adjust to his defensive scheme:
“Well, it depends on who they are now. Chris Young, it didn’t take him very long. Koron Crump has been pretty good too. I think the second year is big for them because you have to understand that you don’t have that long to develop them. I’ll tell you one thing that we have, we have more success transitioning the junior college player to playing at a high level and starting in the Pac-12 Conference. You look at the guys like Marcus Hardison, Marion Grice got an opportunity as well, Jaelen Strong. You look at the guys we’ve developed that have now gone on and in the league and doing well. I think that has been something that I am very proud of how we do that. I think that is because our teacher’s mentality. For some guys, reps are important. To play fast you can’t be thinking so when you are learning and trying to figure out, you don’t play as fast. The difference in the complexity of the game as you move up in level is what is challenging. So, different guys in different positions it takes longer. Damarious Randall was pretty quick. He played at a high level pretty quick. Chris Young was a guy that played at a really high level. Marcus Hardison’s first year was solid, second year, big jump. I think that is with anybody, whether it be a freshman to their sophomore year. I think there is a big maturation deal. I think it is different when it is junior college players because they are older, but it is still about the volume about what you have to have and execute. Then it depends on what position you are playing. I know those guys are better, how can they not be better. Guys like J’Marcus Rhodes, I think J’Marcus is poised to really have a great year. Some of that is us figuring out where he fits or where the best spot for him is.”
On how much of a benefit it is to have Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage in the backfield:
“I am excited about those guys have worked. Usually you don’t talk to a lot about it, but I think fundamentally those guys have improved as much as anybody in our program and they were pretty good players. I really like how our guys are working. I like how we are coaching them too. We are being the most demanding on the best players on the field. We talk about on offense, being a band of brothers. We talk about being desert dogs on defense. I really like how our guys expect the standard to which their coached to be high every day. That group is a very talented group, but that is just one thing to be excited about. I am more excited about how they have developed as far as their character and their toughness. They are better, they are a lot better fundamentally, both those guys. I am excited to watch them get after it and watch both those guys play a whole bunch of plays.”
On what his message will be to the young secondary players before the opening game:
“Do your job. That is about it.”
On what he expects the emotions to be like at the Pat Tillman statue unveiling:
“It is something that is very important. Obviously, who he was as a person, giving his life for his country, but who he was as a Sun Devil. That is pretty special. I have gotten to know Kevin (Tillman) very well. Obviously, I have a tremendous respect for the football player that he was. I mean he was a warrior. I was joking last year, we would show his highlights as the last thing we look at before we go out the door. Well, about half of those are actually illegal. You can’t hit like that anymore. It was interesting, I remember watching it going, ‘I don’t know how smart this is to be showing this’. I said, ‘Guys, I want you to play with that passion, but that was different back in the day’. There wasn’t any targeting. It means a lot because of the person that he was. We talk a lot about brotherhood and how important his family was to him. What type of son he was, what type of brother he was, what type of teammate he was. That is one of the things we changed about the Tillman Tunnel. We put his teammates in there because that very important to him. I am excited because of what he did on the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the community, and for our country. He is the only person that is on every wall, but also too he is such a great representative with his life and who he was and what he was about, about what it is to be a Sun Devil to us. To take the field through Tillman Tunnel and now to have his statue there now. We start the tradition this year of every player touching the that statue before they take the field. I can tell you what my message is going to be is don’t talk about it. If you are going to go out there and touch that statue, you get out on that field and you bring it like he did. If we do that, great things are going to happen. I think it is important to all Sun Devils, who Pat was to Sun Devil nation and who he was to our country. It is pretty amazing. That is going to be a special deal and Wednesday we are going to do the unveiling for the family and for our players. It is a special deal and moving from that end down here, I thought it was real important because we had an opportunity to really do something special about that. I think it is going to be one of the most special things about our place as far as an entrance and how we do things. Also, a way to honor and remember someone that gave so much. It means a lot to me personally. I know that.”
On if he still offers the Tillman practice jersey:
“Sure do.”
On if any player has been awarded it yet:
“Not yet. One of the things we did is just trying to get back to dialed in. I just felt like we kind of slipped a little bit on some of those things that we did that were important. You don’t lower the standard for anybody, you raise the standard. So, we raised that standard back up to where it was when we first started doing it and I like that. I hope somebody will earn it. It is a pretty high standard now to wear that one. 3.84 G.P.A., so you have to be at least in that range. We look at how you practiced and how you played. I’ll tell you, some of the most impressive things to watch about him was how he practiced. If you ever get a chance to watch some of his training tape film or practices that he had here, he was a warrior on game day, but I will tell you it was impressive to watch him. I watched a lot of old Cardinal training camp videos and that is the way want our guys to play, with that kind of passion. On the same hand, earning that jersey, you also have to elevate the other 10 guys on that field. All the people that I have heard talk about him hear say that he was a guy that really did that. He probably wouldn’t like all this attention. 3.84 in the classroom, what kind of teammate he was and the kind of respect he gave to not just some people, but all people. Then obviously, what a giver he was, whether it be signing things for people helping people out. He was just a giver and he gave it all. It is a pretty high standard to wear that jersey and I felt like you kind of need to earn that jersey and it is pretty hard to do it.”