Gildersleeve interview notes from 8/17

Kcmatt7

Some notes from his press conference 3 days ago (link at the bottom if you want to watch yourself):

January - Conversation with team about nutrition focus this season. Emphasis was to drop body fat and increase team speed. Emphasis last season was to add weight and size. Now that we added weight, it is taking the next step. 1st season with new regime they had 22 players who could run 20+ MPH. As of this August, there are 69 guys on the roster who can run 20+ mph. Jared Casey lost 7% body fat this offseason and added 2 MPH as an example.
DJ Withers came in at 256 lbs and is now 315 lbs of MUSCLE. (Also was on Tait’s recent article of guys who is having a great camp). And it sounds like he will just keep getting better.
Talking about his injury prevention philosophy. Finding “strong enough” for certain guys vs. just always trying to add strength. How the human body can only produce so much force before it becomes an injury risk. JB Brown (transfer LB having a good camp) for example squatted 600 lbs. like it was nothing, and Sleeve was like “yea that’s good done for the day.”
Dealing with Freshman - biggest thing is developing culture. Not focused on anything else with them. Expectations and helping them meet them.
New weight room - Sleeve’s “Dream house” as he put it. Good momentum boost for camp, guys so excited to try it all out.
Team speed - “they don’t have squat racks at the 50 yard line” was a great line. They have a lot more technology now measuring guys and their speeds and how their max velo in the offseason being reached on the field. Skinner and Craig Young used as examples of guys who have hit their max velo on the field several times. Getting guys to play at speed vs. just having it.
Damarius McGhee (CB - LSU Transfer) from 152lbs to 175lbs. Bought in day 1.
Cornell Wheeler (LB - Michgan Transfer) - Sleeve really gave big props to him.

A kcmatt7 note - Gildersleeve could be a Head Coach. Unbelievably well-spoken and intentional and smart. We are incredibly lucky to have him.