8/9/2004 - Football
Transcript Of Kyle Eckel's Comments From Media Day
Transcript of Kyle Eckel's Comments from Media Day (August 5, 2004)
Q. How do you make sure you guys don't get complacent this year after the year the team had last year?
A. I think a lot of it has to do with the senior leadership on the team. We have to stay on the younger guys, because they weren't here when the times were tough. I was here when we went 0-10. We know what it's like and we don't want to go back there and a lot of it is up to us. I know the coaching staff will definitely be on everybody about it as well.
Q. Do you think the senior leadership last year had a lot to do with last year's success?
A. For sure, especially in the summer. They made sure that everybody was working hard and practicing hard. There's a lot of truth in the saying that if you practice hard you will play hard and I think that showed up last year.
Q. You're 20 pounds heavier than you were last year, was that on purpose?
A. Last year I came to camp at 240 and this year I weighed in at 244.
Q. What do you want to play at?
A. Around 240. I will lose a little weight during the season. Mid-season I will probably weigh in the high 230s. Last summer I really wasn't able to work on my legs much because I was rehabbing my knee all the time. This summer was a different story. I was working on my legs a lot. I have a lot more strength in my legs, a lot more muscle there. My leg feels a lot better. I'm 100 percent. Last year I went right from rehabbing to two-a-days and I sure didn't feel 100 percent then. The weight I put on is in my legs and it's good weight.
Q. Did you miss spring practice this year because of your knee?
A. No, I had minor shoulder surgery. I needed to get that cleaned up.
Q. You've received a lot of preseason accolades and people know who Kyle Eckel is now. Do you feel like you will be a marked man this year? Do you feel like you have something to live up to?
A. If you're talked about a lot there's pressure that comes with it, but as far as being a marked man I think other teams knows our triple option attack now, there's no surprise, but if you focus too much on one position we will burn you with the other two and if you focus too much on two of the positions, we will burn you with the other position. We call it the option factor. It surprises teams. It's a whole different offense to prepare for. It's not your typical offense to defend; you have to play assignment football. A lot of teams aren't used to playing like that. Against us you have to focus on your assignments. I'm sure teams we played last year will be more prepared for it and it's something we have to take under consideration. We have to work harder.
Q. What are your thoughts on Aaron Polanco being the starting quarterback and how does he compare to Craig Candeto?
A. I feel good about Aaron. He's fast, he's strong, he runs strong and he has a great arm. He's a different player than Craig. Craig is Craig and Aaron is Aaron. He's not going to try and take Craig's place, he's going to be himself out there and it's going to be pretty good. I think you guys will be pretty impressed with what Aaron does out on the field.
Q. Will he be able to direct the option attack as well as Craig? Craig had it down pretty well and was pretty smooth. Do you think Aaron can be every bit as good in that respect?
A. He's been in the system for three years and running with him in practice he seems pretty smooth to me. I think he will do a real good job out there.
