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the entire staff. Start with the defense, and with an overview [involving] each position coach. They go down the depth chart and say, for example, "We're going to play Jason [Cabinda] the entire game. But I'd like to get Gary Wooten a series in the first half and a series in the second half." Or "I'm going to play Jason Cabinda the entire game, and I'm not comfortable at this point putting somebody else in the game." Or it may be a two-to-one rotation or a three-to- one rotation, three series to one series. So each position is different based on the experience and the depth, and how the guys practice and prepare. We really want to stay out of situations where you're playing one guy the entire game. We'd like to have a rotation not only to keep them fresh but also in case some- thing happens so that you've got an ex- perienced player behind them. On the defensive line, we've been for- tunate that we've been able to do that. That's been really helpful for us. And you see young guys like Antoine White get- ting more and more reps and having suc- cess. That's going to help us even more. It's basically a case-by-case scenario. I'll either agree with them or challenge them. Typically, a big part of my role is pushing our staff to play more guys, to create that depth, because as position coaches, all you want to do is make sure that your guys play well in the game. Obviously playing the veteran the en- tire game rather than rotating a young guy in allows you to grade out higher. But I've got to push our guys to make sure that they're willing to play those other guys so they can gain the experi- ence. Then obviously you like to try to make sure you're not doing it at critical times in the game. On third down, obvi- ously, you would like your best guys in there when the game is tight or you feel a momentum swing coming on. But even then, you still have to be commit- ted to playing those guys. How do you think your wide re- ceivers are doing so far as route run- ning and being on the same page with Christian Hackenberg? I think better. I thought we had some drops early on in the season, but I think overall we're doing some good things. We need to continue building there. I think we've got some guys who can have a more significant impact in the game and making opportunities for them in the way we're calling the game. I still think there are some things that we talk about a lot about [concerning] the top of routes, attacking defenders, leverage, nodding, doing things like that where they're getting open more. We can do some things at the top of our routes with nods and stick moves and things like that to go from a one-yard separation to a three-yard separation. Those things are really helpful. Are you happy with the progress Mike Gesicki has made this season? How do you think he's handling some of the ups and downs that come along with learning as you go? I think he's playing much more physi- cal. I got a@er him on Saturday during the game at one point. When I actually went back and watched the tape, over- all, I thought he played more physical and is embracing that role much more than he did last year. He had some op- portunities to make some plays for us earlier in the season that I know that he'll make moving forward. I think he's progressing. Mike is a re- ally, really good athlete who is still learning how to be a tight end. He really worked hard in the off-season in terms of his body and his strength and those types of things. But now [it's all about] translating all that work in the off-sea- son to the field and the physical aspects of the game. I still think it could show up as a receiver as well. Once he catches the ball, he lets defenders know he's willing to lower his shoulder and run you over at 250 pounds. That's going to create opportunities to make guys miss and jump over people and those types of things. But it's got to start with the physical element. Were you hoping to get some work for one of your backup quarterbacks in the non-conference season? Can you assess how the backups are doing in practice? We'd like to do that all the time. You'd love to get those guys some work and some experience. We're excited about those two guys. Trace [McSorley] and Tommy [Stevens] are both doing ex- tremely well in practice and in their preparation. There is a lot of confidence on our team with those guys. There is no doubt you'd like to get those guys some work in not just nonconference but conference games, as long as the situation presents itself. Some staffs will say no matter what, we're going to play the backup quarter- back in one series in the first half and one series in the second half. I don't necessarily believe that, because you're working to find a rhythm on offense. S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . 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