How was today?

DS: It was really good. It was really good. I told the guys not everything was perfect but compared to where we were a year ago, we looked like a mature football team. Playing hard, playing smart, keeping teammates off the ground. We don't have pads, so there's not a lot of contact, but guys are still being smart, giving great effort, so it was great to see.

What are you looking for out of KJ this year?

DS: The next step for KJ is mastery. He knows the offense. He knows what to do. He's been great in the offense. Had a great year last year. And now that next step is can we get it out of his hands a bit quicker? Can we find all our checkdowns in our progression faster? Great location throws. A great jump, and for him, it's not statistically everything, but going from 64 to 68%. And approaching 70%, and that's a huge jump. And that's just a couple more completions a game. Got really good receivers after the catch. Getting the ball out of the quarterback's hands, putting some pressure on these guys to make some plays. Good running backs coming out of the backfield. So for him to make good protections, manipulate the running game and now speed up his process to now where he's playing and it looks like slow motion for him.

Anybody notable out today?

DS: Pretty much everybody did some part of something. Three of our freshmen came in a little banged up, but as far as everybody else, Devery's doing well. Went about half a practice today, so we've got a couple guys like that who we're kind of inching back in. Ricky Miezan kind of the same thing just being overly cautious with him.

What’s the feedback you’ve gotten on Coach Carroll?

DS: Guys had a great summer. Coach Carroll knows us, he knows me, he knows what we need and what we needed from this summer, and he had to get it out of the guys. He pushed 'em, and he pushed 'em hard. The guys like him, the guys respect him The guys respond to him. I think he's helped our leadership group. They've gotten close with him as well. As far as getting leadership from that group to coincide with his leadership, by all accounts the guys had a really good summer. Guys who needed to get stronger got stronger. Guys who needed to gain weight gained weight. We put ourselves in this position.

Why do you think it was important to put a leadership group in action?

DS: We’ve always had such great leadership, When you, and once again using our own standards. I thought last year was fascinating because on one hand, to win nine games with all the injuries, I mean it's almost unheard of, to lose that many starters on the offensive line, your starting running back, etcetera, and still find a way to win nine games was unbelievable. But at the same time, I still thought we underperformed. We've talked so much about the word 'accountability' and I think you need to develop that accountability and develop that leadership. So this is a process that started for us pretty much the first week of offseason training after the bowl game. To develop leadership. Yes, the leadership council, but leadership across the team. The program that we brought in, the program during the spring, to really have the leadership that we need that can sustain a long, difficult season. A lot of people have contributed to making that group what it is right now and I feel great about it.

Any true freshman catching your attention?

DS: That's so hard to say, and I'll never make a comment until we put the pads on, but the good thing for me is that every freshman that was healthy that got out there you could tell why we recruited them. All those guys fit Love their personalities, the way they've integrated into the team, and now we'll see a couple days from now when we put the pads on.

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R.J. Abeytia has been contributing to The Bootleg since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Abeytia and follow The Bootleg @TheBootleg for up to the moment Cardinal news and analysis. Also, you can follow The Bootleg on our Facebook page. Drop by and give us a like!!

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