Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
"There's a little more intent behind everything you do” - Blue Raiders wrap up first day of fall camp
8/1/2024 5:06:00 PM | Football
Derek Mason, Marcus Miller and Andy Nwaoko spoke to the media after the first day of fall camp on August 1
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Derek Mason didn't know he'd get emotional when the Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce asked him what it meant to be on the field coaching fall camp again.
After a year away from the sport in the world of television, Mason's voice shook with emotion recounting his gratefulness to be with his Blue Raider team for the first day of practice ahead of the 2024 season.
"Man, I didn't think I'd be emotional on that type of question," Mason said. "But you look at it and the reality of it is a blessing. You take every one of these days, you don't take it for granted. We lost some coaches between last year and now. I take it with full responsibility."
The first day of practice, as with many first days of fall camp around the country, could not have gone much better from the head coach's perspective, who praised many members of his leadership council for their work on the field setting the tone.
"It's good to see Nick (Vattiato), Andy (Nwaoko), Brendon Harris, Devyn Curtis," Mason said. "These guys were doing exactly what I thought they would do."
One of those leadership council members, transfer offensive lineman Marcus Miller, is grateful to be in that leadership position. But he also knows that the first day of practice, the first with coaches in a while after a summer of player-led work, had a different edge to it.
"It was more intense," Miller said. "We definitely brought more energy. Player led, there's only so much you can really do until coaches get out here, even if it's not supposed to be that way. There's a little more intent behind everything you do, a little more pressure."
There's more ink to be spilled in the days to come on every position battle and camp breakout ahead of us. But after a day in jerseys and shorts, some early storylines are emerging.
Testing the Edge's 3-4 Principles
One didn't have to be nearby on the turf of Floyd Stadium to hear Joshua Smith's voice early in practice.
The former standout Oakland Patriot who played for Mason as an outside linebacker at Vanderbilt, the defensive analyst was making the most of the start of camp to break in his outside backers, running them through a drill where they worked on drop coverage, working a Cover 3 look, then a Cover 4, and so on.
"Having a coach that played that position like Josh Smith helps them understand the details of it," Mason said. "It's one thing to drop, it's another thing to understand how to get the weight down, transfer the weight. Where do you put your eyes? What do you do at the top of the drop in order to be able transition to go make a play?"
It was a typical drill for linebackers, which is what made seeing some of the faces that went through the paces, like returning defensive end Brandon Buckner or Stony Brook defensive end transfer Andy Nwaoko, even more eye-opening. Mason joining in the instruction, pulling guys to the side after their rep to help with the details of their footwork, reinforced what the head coach had been saying all offseason: there's going to be some 3-4 principles in what Brain Stewart's defense looks like this fall.
"Edge players in this defense are special," Mason said. "Those guys have got to be able to play the run. They've got to be able to make sure that they can drop when asked to. As well as being pass rush specialists who can get the ball out of the air.
"I didn't think they'd be that good on Day One, taking some drops," Mason added. "They were a lot better, which means that the summer PRPs paid some dividends."
When the first depth chart ahead of MTSU's first game of the season against Tennessee Tech on August 31 comes out, expect to see at least one position listed as a linebacker, but on the field be lined up more like a defensive end, just one that can play with their hand in the dirt or standing up. That versatility can result in some creativity in pressure looks or run fits, or in coverage schemes, something Nwaoko is excited to work on.
"It's easier when you have a coach that's all about you," Nwaoko said of Smith. "For me, I'm just going to listen to coach and he's going to get me in the right spot."
Depth all over the field, but starters still to be determined
The position battles after the first day of fall camp are as follows: Nicholas Vattiato is QB1. Beyond that? It's pretty much anyone's ball game.
"We're having more battles going on the defensive and offensive side of the ball than I can remember having any time in my career as a head coach," Mason said.
There are a few folks you can pencil in all over the field, of course, like Devyn Curtis at middle linebacker. But the rotations the staff put together during the scrimmage periods gave plenty of guys chances with the early ones, including on the offensive line, which both Mason and Miller said could be 10-deep in starting quality early in camp. Breaking out from that group will come in the weeks ahead, but Mason is confident they'll have the tape to start that process after the non-pad practice Thursday morning.
"You're looking for power, arm extension," Mason said. "A guy being able to be anchor. The double team being able to move a guy three or four yards. You don't have to have pads on to move a guy three or four yards. I saw some of that today."
You had returning contributors, like Mateo Guevara and Julius Pierce, of course, mixing in alongside completely new players like Miller and Dumela Knox. But the units that played together rarely stayed together for their next rep, bringing in talent like Morgan Scott and J'Shun Bodiford.
"That competition breeds excellence," Miller said. "Everyone being able to battle for a spot leaves no room for error."
It's also a chance for everyone in the trenches to catch their breath, Miller notes, as the UNLV transfer is still getting used to the mid-state's humidity after being used to the dry heat of the Southern Nevada desert.
"It's great also in getting some rest, it's hot out here," Miller said. "I thought the dry heat would've been worse. I can't even think now."
After a year away from the sport in the world of television, Mason's voice shook with emotion recounting his gratefulness to be with his Blue Raider team for the first day of practice ahead of the 2024 season.
"Man, I didn't think I'd be emotional on that type of question," Mason said. "But you look at it and the reality of it is a blessing. You take every one of these days, you don't take it for granted. We lost some coaches between last year and now. I take it with full responsibility."
The first day of practice, as with many first days of fall camp around the country, could not have gone much better from the head coach's perspective, who praised many members of his leadership council for their work on the field setting the tone.
"It's good to see Nick (Vattiato), Andy (Nwaoko), Brendon Harris, Devyn Curtis," Mason said. "These guys were doing exactly what I thought they would do."
One of those leadership council members, transfer offensive lineman Marcus Miller, is grateful to be in that leadership position. But he also knows that the first day of practice, the first with coaches in a while after a summer of player-led work, had a different edge to it.
"It was more intense," Miller said. "We definitely brought more energy. Player led, there's only so much you can really do until coaches get out here, even if it's not supposed to be that way. There's a little more intent behind everything you do, a little more pressure."
There's more ink to be spilled in the days to come on every position battle and camp breakout ahead of us. But after a day in jerseys and shorts, some early storylines are emerging.
Testing the Edge's 3-4 Principles
One didn't have to be nearby on the turf of Floyd Stadium to hear Joshua Smith's voice early in practice.
The former standout Oakland Patriot who played for Mason as an outside linebacker at Vanderbilt, the defensive analyst was making the most of the start of camp to break in his outside backers, running them through a drill where they worked on drop coverage, working a Cover 3 look, then a Cover 4, and so on.
"Having a coach that played that position like Josh Smith helps them understand the details of it," Mason said. "It's one thing to drop, it's another thing to understand how to get the weight down, transfer the weight. Where do you put your eyes? What do you do at the top of the drop in order to be able transition to go make a play?"
It was a typical drill for linebackers, which is what made seeing some of the faces that went through the paces, like returning defensive end Brandon Buckner or Stony Brook defensive end transfer Andy Nwaoko, even more eye-opening. Mason joining in the instruction, pulling guys to the side after their rep to help with the details of their footwork, reinforced what the head coach had been saying all offseason: there's going to be some 3-4 principles in what Brain Stewart's defense looks like this fall.
"Edge players in this defense are special," Mason said. "Those guys have got to be able to play the run. They've got to be able to make sure that they can drop when asked to. As well as being pass rush specialists who can get the ball out of the air.
"I didn't think they'd be that good on Day One, taking some drops," Mason added. "They were a lot better, which means that the summer PRPs paid some dividends."
When the first depth chart ahead of MTSU's first game of the season against Tennessee Tech on August 31 comes out, expect to see at least one position listed as a linebacker, but on the field be lined up more like a defensive end, just one that can play with their hand in the dirt or standing up. That versatility can result in some creativity in pressure looks or run fits, or in coverage schemes, something Nwaoko is excited to work on.
"It's easier when you have a coach that's all about you," Nwaoko said of Smith. "For me, I'm just going to listen to coach and he's going to get me in the right spot."
Depth all over the field, but starters still to be determined
The position battles after the first day of fall camp are as follows: Nicholas Vattiato is QB1. Beyond that? It's pretty much anyone's ball game.
"We're having more battles going on the defensive and offensive side of the ball than I can remember having any time in my career as a head coach," Mason said.
There are a few folks you can pencil in all over the field, of course, like Devyn Curtis at middle linebacker. But the rotations the staff put together during the scrimmage periods gave plenty of guys chances with the early ones, including on the offensive line, which both Mason and Miller said could be 10-deep in starting quality early in camp. Breaking out from that group will come in the weeks ahead, but Mason is confident they'll have the tape to start that process after the non-pad practice Thursday morning.
"You're looking for power, arm extension," Mason said. "A guy being able to be anchor. The double team being able to move a guy three or four yards. You don't have to have pads on to move a guy three or four yards. I saw some of that today."
You had returning contributors, like Mateo Guevara and Julius Pierce, of course, mixing in alongside completely new players like Miller and Dumela Knox. But the units that played together rarely stayed together for their next rep, bringing in talent like Morgan Scott and J'Shun Bodiford.
"That competition breeds excellence," Miller said. "Everyone being able to battle for a spot leaves no room for error."
It's also a chance for everyone in the trenches to catch their breath, Miller notes, as the UNLV transfer is still getting used to the mid-state's humidity after being used to the dry heat of the Southern Nevada desert.
"It's great also in getting some rest, it's hot out here," Miller said. "I thought the dry heat would've been worse. I can't even think now."
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