2019 Fall Camp Soundbites: Day 10
August 12, 2019 | Football
SEATTLE – Members of the Washington football team met with the media Monday afternoon following the Huskies' 10th practice of fall camp. Read some of what they had to say.
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH IKAIKA MALLOE
(On Benning Potoa'e's adjustment to the interior of the defensive line) "Really good. We're also playing him on the outside, as well. He's very versatile, kind of like [Josiah] Bronson. Those two guys are accepting the roles, have been doing extra meetings on their own, extra work on their own so they can play all positions and not get confused. Be good at all instead of just average at all and good at one."
(On which player is keeping the defensive line's energy up during fall camp) "Right now, it's Levi [Onwuzurike]. Levi's kind of like the energy plug there. He's the oldest of everybody in terms of experience, and then Benning and Bronson. We have so much to prove. We're young in that room in terms of playing experience, but to have the energy and the want-to to practice, I don't think that will be a hard thing for us. We have so much to prove with those three guys leaving last year."
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER ARIEL NGATA
(On his growth from last year to this season) "Last year I was playing slow, trying to feel things out. This year, I just feel faster, I feel like I know what I'm doing. Less thinking, more playing."
(On his approach to improving his game) "It just took a lot of mental reps, just sitting back and watching. Playing was a good experience, it gave me something to learn from. Taking those mental reps, I learned from the older guys like Tevis [Bartlett] last year, and all those older guys that really set an example with their play style. It was something where I could watch from behind and see how they play fast and then incorporate that into my game. I just feel like it clicked over the spring."
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN LEVI ONWUZURIKE
(On how well the freshmen defensive linemen are progressing) "At first, the freshmen were kind of lagging as freshmen always do, but I think we have a really smart group of guys who want to learn. [These guys] actually want to learn. I actually think their class is smarter than when I got here. They are getting it quicker than when I got here. Also, that was [our returners] teaching them, everybody chipping in trying to teach them. They're moving quicker than I ever did or any other class ever did."
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN BENNING POTOA'E
(On his progress moving to the interior of the defensive line) "It's really just learning the plays and being able to put it into your style of play, being able to play more comfortably and more freely. Less thinking, just really reacting and feeling things out. Just seeing what moves or techniques and stunts are better to use against certain teams, players, and schemes. It's really just feeling it out and putting your game into this different position."
(On his leadership style as a veteran on the defensive line) "I feel like I learned it growing up with my dad being in the military and seeing the way I was brought up, the same with my brother and my sisters. Seeing the way he raised us, just seeing it, taking it in and playing football from a young age, I was able to take it in how I carried myself and how I treat others. The older I got, whether it was in middle school, high school, or college now that I'm one of the older guys, it got easier to put into action."
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH IKAIKA MALLOE
(On Benning Potoa'e's adjustment to the interior of the defensive line) "Really good. We're also playing him on the outside, as well. He's very versatile, kind of like [Josiah] Bronson. Those two guys are accepting the roles, have been doing extra meetings on their own, extra work on their own so they can play all positions and not get confused. Be good at all instead of just average at all and good at one."
(On which player is keeping the defensive line's energy up during fall camp) "Right now, it's Levi [Onwuzurike]. Levi's kind of like the energy plug there. He's the oldest of everybody in terms of experience, and then Benning and Bronson. We have so much to prove. We're young in that room in terms of playing experience, but to have the energy and the want-to to practice, I don't think that will be a hard thing for us. We have so much to prove with those three guys leaving last year."
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER ARIEL NGATA
(On his growth from last year to this season) "Last year I was playing slow, trying to feel things out. This year, I just feel faster, I feel like I know what I'm doing. Less thinking, more playing."
(On his approach to improving his game) "It just took a lot of mental reps, just sitting back and watching. Playing was a good experience, it gave me something to learn from. Taking those mental reps, I learned from the older guys like Tevis [Bartlett] last year, and all those older guys that really set an example with their play style. It was something where I could watch from behind and see how they play fast and then incorporate that into my game. I just feel like it clicked over the spring."
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN LEVI ONWUZURIKE
(On how well the freshmen defensive linemen are progressing) "At first, the freshmen were kind of lagging as freshmen always do, but I think we have a really smart group of guys who want to learn. [These guys] actually want to learn. I actually think their class is smarter than when I got here. They are getting it quicker than when I got here. Also, that was [our returners] teaching them, everybody chipping in trying to teach them. They're moving quicker than I ever did or any other class ever did."
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN BENNING POTOA'E
(On his progress moving to the interior of the defensive line) "It's really just learning the plays and being able to put it into your style of play, being able to play more comfortably and more freely. Less thinking, just really reacting and feeling things out. Just seeing what moves or techniques and stunts are better to use against certain teams, players, and schemes. It's really just feeling it out and putting your game into this different position."
(On his leadership style as a veteran on the defensive line) "I feel like I learned it growing up with my dad being in the military and seeing the way I was brought up, the same with my brother and my sisters. Seeing the way he raised us, just seeing it, taking it in and playing football from a young age, I was able to take it in how I carried myself and how I treat others. The older I got, whether it was in middle school, high school, or college now that I'm one of the older guys, it got easier to put into action."
Players Mentioned
DL
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