FSU Football's Mike Norvell Recaps Scrimmage Two as The 'Noles Take Shape Ahead of the 2024 Season

Opening Statement good good morning everybody appreciate you being on um you know thought we had a a good day today uh you know good scrimmage uh started off with some situational work uh you know got some two-point plays uh you know two two-minute drill uh Red Zone just kind of things that I wanted to to see as we started off I thought uh it's really good uh you offense came out did did a nice job in those situations um you know able to move the ball you know had some production you know in that um you know thought DJ started off great you know jakai Douglas had a couple really really nice early plays uh you know scored uh you know I think scored a touchdown you had a couple couple big U big moments but I was proud of him for how he came out um you know had a lot good number of guys we held today um you most of our stting offensive line um you we were able to to get to give a couple guys opportunities to to mix it positions um you know we had a really good week I've been proud of this week the way our guys have approached it um you know the growth we saw I thought the Jacksonville practices were exactly what we needed um showed a lot of physicality a lot of toughness um but today was to see you know kind of you know guys that may be new to the program guys that uh you know are you know in very heated battles for uh spots positions you know what their rle is going to be on this team it was great to see them out there you know basically played a modified half of football after after uh the situational beginning and um you know it was good I thought the defense you know really responded well played really good there uh in that first uh first quarter you know you know offense was able to kind of you settle down and uh and respond with some some younger guys you know both sides both sides of the ball were playing you know some younger new guys but seeing seeing guys settle down into the situation um you know I thought you know it was it was definitely a a good moment for for our team to see that that depth continuing to grow um you know both you know Brock and and Luke got a a lot of work I was able to get you know obviously Trevor was able to get in this week and you know did some good things it was a it was a good work day and uh you know um you know both sides of the ball had their moments but um you know I thought it was is what what we needed to to wrap up here the second On QB DJ Uiagalelei scrimmage yeah every obviously every quarterback's got a different uh path in terms of how quickly they grasp things like could you characterize how happy you are with DJ in terms of you know from where he was in the spring to where he is now with a couple weeks to go to the season opener no I mean he's done a remarkable job and the the the investment in his study the investment and you know his uh you know just the work and overall understanding he's a very smart quarterback you he sees the field well um he's been able to you know you know some of the things that that we've adapted you know to him and then he's adapted to to what we do and I think that's what's made it um you know kind of transition well because uh you know I like I like the the speed of how he's processing uh I think the decisions you know I'm still trying to challenge him um you know with different you know trying to get some some different looks and some different uh you know unexpected you know things just to see how he's able to work himself through that and you know he does a does a great job and his response to to those those situations and so you know very excited about where he is you know we need we got two till kickoff and you it is it is uh you critical critical two weeks in front of us and you know but today was a big evaluation um you know we get we very confident in you know the guys that we have and what that's going to be but you know I think you know like I told the team I mean today's a today was a great opportunity to continue to either either Forge Your Role improve your role or uh you know just you know some guys that you know might need a little bit more time and uh just to grow and develop and you know everybody's is at a different stage but it's still about the growth and and getting better so uh but I thought DJ did a did a great job with that um you know and really all the quarterbacks had their had their you know positive moments today but I thought he started off On players who stood out outstanding you mentioned opportunities Mike I'm sure there's a decent list of of guys who kind of seized their opportunities but who who are maybe some that have kind of stood out with this tough stretch of Camp to really take advantage of of the opportunities presented you know I mean I I thought uh the really the Young group of of skilled players um you know on offense have really emerged and it really I say that it's kind of both sides um you know defensive back field I thought some guys did some good things um you seeing some continued growth but U I think all of the young you know the younger uh you know receivers were able to make you know impactful plays Yari Williams had a big touchdown um you know catch U you know the great reading ball um I think it was a brock that threw it but uh um it was good to see him you know I thought he was I thought he had a huge jump from a week ago to to what he was today um you know Elijah continued to make some plays you he still got some some areas of growth that he's going to have to that he's going to have to uh to have but I mean he's he's a guy that's putting himself in position lne McCoy was good to to get him back out in full uh full speed U you know and BJ Gibson made a couple good plays today which was which was nice to see kind of a good bounce back from from a week ago uh you know cam your Fri was a little bit limited and so but you see those young skilled guys still I mean that running back Sam Singleton Cam Davis both you know really stood out again today and I mean those guys have um you know I think both submitted themselves in our in with an opportunity to make an impact on this team uh you know this year so uh it's you know those guys have had great camps and I'm I'm excited about what they're going to bring and whatever that role is is going to be I mean they're they're pushing and they got great Futures in front of them um really excited about their growth and just ownership of the offense and um you know defensively I talk about the defensive back field I think that's it's been you know it's good to see I think our linebacking core is really growing up um you know you see the the confidence and the speed which those guys are playing with and then you know I've been really pleased with those those guys on the interior um you know of the defensive front we had you know obviously some newcomers you know but Daniel Lions I think has had a a great fall Camp I mean he's really I'm excited to watch the film I saw him flash just a few times even today playing on the other side of the line of scrimmage but you I think he's had a great fall Camp I think he's really you know pushing and submitting himself as a guy that can be U you know a key member in that in that rotation um you know but I really like that that interior group and how they're they're growing up and whether it's KJ Samson you Grady Kelly Tomy w i mean those guys are are doing a nice job so we'll get a chance to watch a little bit more of it I know you Byron Turner flashed a few times there uh you today as well so uh get a chance to watch the film and and kind of see where it's all On the offensive line at Mike you talked about limiting number of guys on the offensive line I guess uh how nice is it to have that room in a spot where you're able to do that and I guess how did guys who might not be really in especially that that first team mix uh handle kind of maybe working with the first team more if you limited some guys I thought they did a good job I mean there were some you know that's say nerves but I mean it was there's some early early areas where we got to be better in communication you know when we got into that you know first quarter um you had had a few mistakes where we didn't have everybody you know playing as one um you know it's a lot of different different factors that go into that it might not just on the o line but you all all positions that uh um you know when you get you know newcomers that are out there it's just you the emphasis on communication uh is is critical but um it was good we got Bryon Estes got back and um you was able to get work you know there is a um you one of the guards you Andre AO has had a incredible week very excited about what I'm seeing out of him um you know his versatility playing Center end guard um has been really good and I think he's you know he's definitely put himself in that in that mix um you know of guys that uh you that that we can count on and uh it was good to get you know both the both are kind of our young tackles you know Jaylen and uh Jaylen early and Lucas Simmons got a lot of work and um you know we'll be able to go back and and see you know some of the good and some of the areas where they got to continue to improve but uh you know it's it's definitely it's great to have the depth that we have um you know the competition that we have but it's it's still always about you know improving I thought Jacob Rizzy um you know he looked it was better today you know first scrimmage you know I thought there were some things were moving moving fast thought he's had a good response throughout the course of the week and excited to watch a film uh just to see how it operated you know I thought our Snaps are better today um you know a lot of lot of good On the most important thing for the team things Mike what's the most important thing for your football team to accomplish over the next seven days it's just a the consistency the continued Improvement uh of execution um you know I think when you look at when you go through the work yeah this this team has worked and I mean it's they they they've dealt with with circumstances they've dealt with um you know challenges um there's a lot of competition every day and that's not going to stop I mean we're going to you know Monday we'll be a uh you know kind of a modified day for us where we're still going to get a lot of good on good um we will get a little bit of an introduction uh you know into uh into Georgia Tech and uh then we're going to transition you know Tuesday and Thursday will kind of Be You Georgia Tech focused as we have you know different elements of of things that we're going to do throughout this week but it's it's about the consistency of execution um you know to make sure our Communications on point the the details the discipline um you we've got to we got to see that continue to grow over these next two weeks um but you know got a lot of confidence in what these guys will do and how they'll work you know I just want to go see that uh you put on display um and you kind of go from there I know one you know one of the keys or one of the um I guess ideas behind going over to Jacksonville is is the camaraderie part you've talked about that some is that something you can see during the moment that there are those moments that are are are good for the team and good for that camaraderie or is that something you might see later on down the line no I mean I think you see it immediately I I think just you know um the care the care for each other and the willingness to give more because of who you do it with and that's something that uh you know everybody wants to play I mean we know that it's it's always it's always a but are you are you willing to give everything that you can not just for you but for the guy that's across from you for the guy that you're competing with uh you know throughout the throughout the journey and you know can you celebrate their successes even even at times where it might be against you because it's going to give you an opportunity to respond and go get better um you know it's just that the that mindset is something that's big um you know it's not only on the field but you know who guys are off the field you know the opportunity for this this one team to to set and Forge their identity and then and push forward with it with everything they have so uh you know I thought it was a a great couple days you know grateful for I told the team you know here even this morning just I'm grateful for their their willingness to just to buy into each other and you know how they work and and you how they take care of each other and you just uh uh the competition that we have but it's it's a really good On team health group did you guys come out relatively unscathed physically today and in general how is the health of the team with two weeks left before game time me I think we're in pretty good shape you know at this point of fall Camp um you a couple guys you know I don't think anything serious from today um you know I saw a couple guys you know um you know some bumps and bruises probably but I don't feel like there's anything that uh um was long term I don't right right now you know there'll be a few guys that'll be probably you know working to questionable going into the first week but we'll see where that goes um but um you kind of kind of got to see where that's at as we get into game week I'll give more updates and we're probably closer to On the running game that it seems like just from what we see the seems like the running game has had some really good moments um and you know last year was probably not quite as good as the year before like what are you seeing from the running game and is it just a matter of a bigger stronger offensive line or or why do you think there's it looks like there's some improvement in that part of the game yeah I mean it's uh you know I think I think it always starts up front you know tight ends running backs everybody plays a role in it together and and your quarterbacks play a huge role um if there are certain looks or certain things that we want to you know try to help get ourselves in in the best situation you Everybody Plays a part in that but I think the the you know yes being big strong fast you know with with twitch helps um you know that makes everything better when you can create space um but I also see like you know a group that's working well together jelling together and you I think we got a really talented running back room and you a couple guys that are older that uh know what it takes that have you know great Tempo and and balance and explosiveness in their in their uh in their run game and then we got some young you know some younger backs that I think are really you know kind of working to make an aim with themselves but they have those similar traits and uh you know so I think we've got a good balance of of some similar explosiveness you know obviously you know Trey Benson was was special I mean when it comes to you know his home R home run hitting ability but I think we got a few guys that that can that can you take at the distance and you know also I think we got the guys that are just you know very consistent and being able to create explosive runs just because of the uh the vision and the uh um you know skill that they they bring to to the On Kyle Morlock table coach what have you seeing from Kyle Morlock and his growth this fall Camp it seems like we've seen a big jump in him and what do you expect maybe for him to bring to this offense in 2024 and I love Kyle I think he's had you know just such a you know great uh development confidence you know his his route running ability you know the blocking ability of what he brings you know I want him to be an allc conference type tight end that's you know I've got high expectations for him he made a you know really nice plays had a couple nice plays last few days um you know and he was able to think it might have been two-point version maybe Red Zone but uh um that you know went up and had to make a big catch you know on the backline and he did and uh you I think he's just becoming a complete tight end that uh can do great things for us and you know Brian Courtney is continuing to to impress Jackson West continuing to to work and get better um you know like I said the two young tight ends I think both those guys are um you're going to be able have a chance to potentially make an impact depending on how early will be a lot on their development with Amari and uh U you know Landon and so you're excited we get Landon's been a little limited uh you'll hear early I think we'll get him back uh you know you know back in Action here this week uh which will be big and you're excited to see him build upon what he did you know this spring and how he's been working throughout the course of the On the secondary summer the uh the defensive backs you know the other day when we were in the indoor facility over in Jacksonville it seemed like they made a ton of pass breakups they've had a really good camp overall is are there going to be defined roles do you see in the secondary or do you envision guys playing sometimes multiple positions trying to get the best five out there four or five out there well I mean you you sit there and look at it and it's it's guys you know um you know working to Define roles or even bigger roles you know I mean that's um I think we'll have some position flexibility for guys but uh you know I like I like where we are and uh you know when you sit there I mean you look a year ago and you know AAR was our third corner and I mean I think you know throughout the course of the Season he played close to 700 snaps I mean it was a you know he played a lot of snaps just with special teams with uh you know being able to to you be in Nickel Dime you know those different situations you know we played you know I think it was over 100 snaps last year of you know of you know six DBS and when you have guys that have that type of Versatility it allows you a lot of lot of different you know things to be able to look at but you know we're gonna we're going to play the best 11 and for what the Situation's called you know I I feel really good about the growth of of our linebacking position I mean I know we've had you know two of the better better players in in the league at linebacker the last two years with kin and Tatum and you know I'm very excited about where this group is going and uh you know I think it's got a chance to be you big strong fast and you know have some playmaking ability so uh you know that there's going to be some flexibility of May maybe some three linebacker sets of what we're doing just a couple different uh different looks and trying to utilize what these guys can do and you know how they do it so it kind of all plays off of each other so yes the versatility to be there but also think guys have have really uh you know you know emerged at certain positions that U you know can really build our our depth and and competitiveness all right thank you thank you guys