IrishIllustrated.com - Coleman talks linebacker battle

August 18, 2008

With just one week left of camp, Jacody Coleman says there is still plenty of room for improvement for the Hawkeyes on both sides of the ball. He is also still in a very heated battle for the starting spot at middle linebacker and he gives us his view on how that race is shaping up. Coleman also gives us his views on how Jeremiha Hunter is progressing and the play of Adrian Clayborn in camp.

Q: How would you assess the performance of the defense today?

COLEMAN: I thought that we had a pretty solid day. It wasn't the best day that we could have had and we could have made some better adjustments in our zone coverage where we didn't play it right, but it was a solid day. We can always get better with our adjustments and see things better.

Q: It seems like in these scrimmages the defense is usually dominant. Is the offense just not hitting its stride yet?

COLEMAN: We go against our offense every day in practice, so we know the checks and when they do a certain motion here or a certain motion there, so as a defense I think we will always come out on top, you know what I mean. I don't think it is really about the offense having a bad day. I play defense, so I really don't know what the offense could do better. (laugh) We had a pretty good day against the offense, but the goal is to get better every day on both sides of the ball and I think we are doing that.

Q: You said you don't know anything about offense. What about the block you laid on Bruggeman on that pick?

COLEMAN: (laugh) Bruggy told me it was late and he was a little mad about it. But, they give me late shots all the time in practice. I didn't think it was late, but I don't know offense, all I do is play defense.

Q: All you know is hitting people.

COLEMAN: That's all I know. (laugh)

Q: How is the competition going with you and Pat Angerer?

COLEMAN: It's going good. Like I said at Media Day, I really wouldn't call it competition. We do different things and Pat and I feed off of each other. We are roommates at the hotel and we have fun together. It really isn't a competition because we just come out here every day trying to help the team get better.

Q: How has Hunter done filling in for Tarpinian?

COLEMAN: I think he has done really good. Every day we come out here and try to do the things we need to do to help each other get better and that includes helping each other in the film room. Tarp has been hurt for a while and Jeremiha has filled in really well.

Q: How far do you think this team needs to come in the next two weeks?

COLEMAN: I wouldn't know how to put a percentage on it. All I know is that we need to continue to get better. We have a game in two weeks and one more week of camp. I just know we have to do things better and be more consistent. I think we need more consistency than we have had.

Q: Do you like where things are now?

COLEMAN: No, I think we should be further along from my viewpoint. I think we should be more consistent than we have been doing, but we are going to get better and get it right.

Q: Tell me about Clayborn today and how he played.

COLEMAN: Adrian had a real good day. He was out there making plays and getting in there on the pass rush. He had a real good day.

Q: Has he been like that all camp?

COLEMAN: He really has. He has been in the backfield a lot during camp. They won't let him tackle the quarterback, but he has been back there a lot.

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