Q&A with Chip Kelly

[dthomas=ddixon]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-8-10 ... Kelly.html

So any thoughts on firing your quarterbacks coach [former head coach and incoming athletic director Mike Bellotti] this spring?

Chip Kelly: No, I actually gave him an incentive package to stay, but I don't think that's going to work out.

Any surprises in the process of going from offensive coordinator to head coach?

CK: No. It was exactly what I thought it would be. A lot more time needed for things outside of football. Trying to manage your day and your schedule and whatnot -- you don't get to just go off to practice or lock yourself away in a film room and watch tape all day. There are other things you have to attend to. But I knew that going in. It's just trying to get a set schedule and stick to it. You've got to learn to say no to some things. But it's what I expected.

Let's talk about the team: Who's stepped up this spring, starting with offense?

CK: [Tight end] Ed Dickson has probably been our best overall performer and most consistent performer. Ed's really bought into what we are talking about and gotten better every day at practice. He's improved his blocking at the line of scrimmage. He's really catching the heck out of the ball and running great routes. We're moving him around and using him in multiple positions. I've really been impressed with Ed. Out wide, Jamere Holland and Aaron Pflugrad have played very well for us along with Rory Cavaille. They've been the three most consistent. We're looking for Jamere to have a big season. He's as talented a kid as there is in the Pac-10. He's just a flat-out speed kid but he's got some toughness to him. He catches the ball and gets in and out of cuts. He's been encouraging. Those are the ones who stand out right now.

Defense?

CK: Walter Thurmond, our corner, who I would say is one of the top corners in the country, has been a tremendous leader for us and really set a pretty high standard with our defensive work ethic every day in practice. [Safety] T.J. Ward also in the secondary has done that. At linebacker, Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger have been outstanding. We really feel like our depth at linebacker, with the addition of Eddie Pleasant and Josh Kaddu as outside backers, and guys like Dewitt Stuckey and Bryson Littlejohn, we feel like we've got six or so linebackers who can really run and cause some problems out there. The whole linebacker group as a whole has probably been the best part of our team.

Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli seemed to make a huge leap over the last third of the 2008 season: What has he been focusing on this spring?

CK: Jeremiah just needs to be consistent. He needs to learn that he doesn't have to make it happen. He has to let it happen. Sometimes he thinks if things aren't going well offensively, he has to make the big play and he'll try to force the ball into coverage sometimes. But if he just lets his natural instincts take over -- which is what he did in the last four or five games last year -- not force the issue and take what the defense gives us and understand really how to manage this offense, I think he's as good a quarterback as there is in the conference. There have been days when he's done that and you're like, 'Wow, that's Jeremiah.' The days he hasn't been great is because he tries to force the issue.

The offensive line lost some key guys; what's their progress been like?

CK: We're young. We've got a lot of young guys getting a lot of valuable reps that I think will pay off in the long run. But they are young. They are battling up front, but our d-line is really playing well, with Will Tukuafu, Simi Toeaina and Blake Ferras and Brandon Bair -- the two best defensive linemen are Will Tukuafu and Brandon Bair -- and they've done a great job on our d-line, so our d-line is a little bit ahead of our offensive line at this point. But it's been really good work and the competition between those two groups has been outstanding. But because we're younger on the offensive line, I'd say the d-line has had the upper hand.

I didn't see that coming. I've been reading about how well the defense has been playing. You guys lost three starters up front. Has the unit exceeded your expectations a little bit?

CK: No. I've got very high expectations for our defense. I think they lost three starters, but Brandon Bair played football for us, Simi is a force and he's really had a great offseason. I always knew Simi could be a great player because he's got so much athletic ability and can really cause some problems. Blake Ferras played last year and he's a big strong kid. Will has gotten better. The difference is on the o-line, we have two guys out that started last season for us. I think that's the difference.

Is running back LeGarrette Blount out of the doghouse and how's he been doing?

CK: LeGarrette has been cleared to go since the spring term started. He's doing a nice job and is practicing well. He came into spring ball a little bit out of shape because he wasn't with us in the winter because of his suspension. I'd say he's a little bit behind in the conditioning aspect, but when he runs behind his pads, people are bouncing off him. He's got great vision and great balance for a big guy. I expect a big season out of him.

Tell me about the JC transfers who've been stepping in on defense -- it's often hit or miss with JC transfers and it sounds like you guys have hit?

CK: They've got a shot. Linebacker Bryson Littlejohn has consistently shown up in every practice. He can really run. He adds depth to our linebacker corps and he'll be a great special teams player for us. He's been impressive. [Defensive tackle] Terrance Montgomery will help I think inside. It's still a matter of him getting acclimated to this level. Those are the two guys who stand out right now.

What's the latest on your hunt for an offensive assistant coach?

CK: I'm going to hire a quarterbacks coach probably by Thursday. We don't want to lose any time on the road recruiting. We'll be recruiting a quarterback in the fall, so I want to make sure we've got a guy on the road because I can't go see guys in the spring because of NCAA rules. So we'll be at our full complement of coaches. We're brought six people to campus ... I'll have this thing finalized by Thursday.

You want to tell me who it's going to be?

CK: No. Not at all.

[GoDucksIn09]

Great article. Enjoyed the Q and A with Coach Kelly. I still remember the quotes of last spring and summer about how our cornerbacks would be amongst the best in the nation and we saw how many times our secondary would give up 20 yards on 3rd down so I will hold my thoughts on matter till season starts and see the proof. It would have been curious to see who they are most looking forward to getting after the seniors graduate from high school.

[uodux1212]

The last line is priceless.