Bobcat Q&A: Don Bailey
3/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
In his five seasons as Montana State's offensive coordinator, Don Bailey has built the Bobcat offense into one of the most efficient and explosive units in the Big Sky. He helped develop Travis Lulay into one of college football's finest quarterbacks, transitioned from the power running of Ryan Johnson into an effective by-committee situation utilizing the talents of several different backs, and has rebuilt the Bobcat receiver corps several times over.
Below is a look at MSU's upcoming spring practice through the eyes of Don Bailey...
Q: What will your first thought be when you convene your quarterbacks this spring and don’t see number 14 front and center?
DB: (Pause, then laughter) It’ll be strange. Here’s a guy you could always depend on, he niver missed a single thing, never just did the minimum. But now we have to move on with the guys we have and get them ready to be effective football players. They have talents that are different from Travis’, and we have to accentuate their talents. The big thing (in finding a new quarterback) is, can he manage the game. Then it becomes, let’s accentuate his talent and can he take us to another level. It’s exciting to be teaching guys that don’t know every single thing about our offense, it’s exciting to watch three guys compete for the job. But, it will be strange.
Q: How do you approach the spring differently without a returning starter for the first time since your first season here?
A: We don’t change at all. We’re still teaching the quarterback position the same way, the reads and progressions are the same. Once you find a starter you start trying to find the things he does well, but when they’re playing the position they’re graded exactly the same way, whether it’s Travis or Cory Carpenter or Jack Rolovich or Colin Beeson.
Q: Do you look at your personnel and figure that a proven running back and solid offensive line are good ways to help break in a new quarterback and new receivers?
A: Yeah. I like running the football anyway. When we had Ryan Johnson that was one of our strengths. When we had running back by committee it was not as big a strength. At some point you have to play to your strengths. Obviously, that’s a point of emphasis, though, because when you can run the ball it definitely takes pressure off the quarterback.
Q: How do you see Evin Groves’ role evolving this year?
A: I just want Evin to continue to gain confidence this spring, and to be productive down in and down out. I want him to get through the spring healthy and become more consistent. We have high hopes for Isaiah (Taito), too. We may see some more two-tailback stuff just to use both of those guys’ talents.
Q: As a coordinator and play-caller, how has your style or approach changed in your six seasons at MSU?
A: I would say I’m the same guy. What we’ve done is try to play to our strengths personnel-wise. You can’t always get the same guy when you’re replacing a good player. We didn’t replace Junior Adams, but the last two years our wide receiver play has been tremendous. I think through the years, the biggest way I’ve changed is by playing to our strengths better.
Q: What made Travis Lulay a special player?
He never did the minimum. He had a good feel for the game. Instinctively, he understood the game. His competitiveness gave him the drive and took his play to another level. So, you have a guy with good instincts who was extremely competitive with an outstanding work ethic, which continually elevated his play. But I think the one thing that really makes Travis special is his humility, toward his teammates and his friends and his family. I’ve never heard a single person say a bad thing about Travis. People may get tired of hearing about him, but that’s a good problem to have, when people are sick of hearing about your quarterback.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing the Bobcat offense this spring?
A: Continuity in the passing game.
Below is a look at MSU's upcoming spring practice through the eyes of Don Bailey...
Q: What will your first thought be when you convene your quarterbacks this spring and don’t see number 14 front and center?
DB: (Pause, then laughter) It’ll be strange. Here’s a guy you could always depend on, he niver missed a single thing, never just did the minimum. But now we have to move on with the guys we have and get them ready to be effective football players. They have talents that are different from Travis’, and we have to accentuate their talents. The big thing (in finding a new quarterback) is, can he manage the game. Then it becomes, let’s accentuate his talent and can he take us to another level. It’s exciting to be teaching guys that don’t know every single thing about our offense, it’s exciting to watch three guys compete for the job. But, it will be strange.
Q: How do you approach the spring differently without a returning starter for the first time since your first season here?
A: We don’t change at all. We’re still teaching the quarterback position the same way, the reads and progressions are the same. Once you find a starter you start trying to find the things he does well, but when they’re playing the position they’re graded exactly the same way, whether it’s Travis or Cory Carpenter or Jack Rolovich or Colin Beeson.
Q: Do you look at your personnel and figure that a proven running back and solid offensive line are good ways to help break in a new quarterback and new receivers?
A: Yeah. I like running the football anyway. When we had Ryan Johnson that was one of our strengths. When we had running back by committee it was not as big a strength. At some point you have to play to your strengths. Obviously, that’s a point of emphasis, though, because when you can run the ball it definitely takes pressure off the quarterback.
Q: How do you see Evin Groves’ role evolving this year?
A: I just want Evin to continue to gain confidence this spring, and to be productive down in and down out. I want him to get through the spring healthy and become more consistent. We have high hopes for Isaiah (Taito), too. We may see some more two-tailback stuff just to use both of those guys’ talents.
Q: As a coordinator and play-caller, how has your style or approach changed in your six seasons at MSU?
A: I would say I’m the same guy. What we’ve done is try to play to our strengths personnel-wise. You can’t always get the same guy when you’re replacing a good player. We didn’t replace Junior Adams, but the last two years our wide receiver play has been tremendous. I think through the years, the biggest way I’ve changed is by playing to our strengths better.
Q: What made Travis Lulay a special player?
He never did the minimum. He had a good feel for the game. Instinctively, he understood the game. His competitiveness gave him the drive and took his play to another level. So, you have a guy with good instincts who was extremely competitive with an outstanding work ethic, which continually elevated his play. But I think the one thing that really makes Travis special is his humility, toward his teammates and his friends and his family. I’ve never heard a single person say a bad thing about Travis. People may get tired of hearing about him, but that’s a good problem to have, when people are sick of hearing about your quarterback.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing the Bobcat offense this spring?
A: Continuity in the passing game.
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