Ball State University Athletics
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Mike Neu Interview - Illinois Week
August 28, 2017 | Football
On what to expect the opening week at Illinois …
"You focus on the strength of your team and you put your players in a position to do what they do best. Let's not go out week one and adjust what we are doing from a scheme standpoint … We've watched everything we possibly can to give ourselves an edge and try to prepare the best we can … We have some base principles that are in place, offensively and defensively. Things that we know are going to run no matter what defense, no matter what offense that we see. Now we have to go out on the field and give our guys an opportunity to play with confidence."
Having a brand new set of starting linebackers …
"I appreciate everyday just the way those guys prepare, the way they practice, how important it is to them to see a guy like Jacob White to be voted as a captain by his teammates. I'm excited about the group. I know we lost three starters, but I'm excited about that position group and the battles that have taken place every day at camp."
On the number of younger players at wide receiver …
"You'll see quite a few of those guys [at Illinois]. We plan to play several guys as a wide receiver because it is early in the season. Conditioning and wanting to be fresh and those guys deserve it because of their play on the field."
"You focus on the strength of your team and you put your players in a position to do what they do best. Let's not go out week one and adjust what we are doing from a scheme standpoint … We've watched everything we possibly can to give ourselves an edge and try to prepare the best we can … We have some base principles that are in place, offensively and defensively. Things that we know are going to run no matter what defense, no matter what offense that we see. Now we have to go out on the field and give our guys an opportunity to play with confidence."
Having a brand new set of starting linebackers …
"I appreciate everyday just the way those guys prepare, the way they practice, how important it is to them to see a guy like Jacob White to be voted as a captain by his teammates. I'm excited about the group. I know we lost three starters, but I'm excited about that position group and the battles that have taken place every day at camp."
On the number of younger players at wide receiver …
"You'll see quite a few of those guys [at Illinois]. We plan to play several guys as a wide receiver because it is early in the season. Conditioning and wanting to be fresh and those guys deserve it because of their play on the field."
Players Mentioned
LB
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