Rueben Bain: "Changing our body the right way in the off season has been nice, a nice transformation"
After a great Thursday practice where the defense won according to coach Cristobal, DE Rueben Bain spoke to the media on everything from his body transformation to the new defensive scheme. Here's what he had to say:
On how he feels in the Spring so far:
“We've been working pretty hard at trying to lose weight, trying to cut body fat down, um, but eating pretty healthy. Changing our body the right way in the off season has been nice, a nice transformation.”
“It’s been really competitive, especially with the O-line. I've been trying to just focus on small details and that's going to really help me get that next step. Been working every day after practice with coach [Taylor] and it's been transcending in the right direction. So if I keep it off [the weight], I feel like I'll be alright.”
On the new defensive scheme:
“It's been coming together real well. I mean, like today was a real dominant day for us [D-line]. Guy’s flying around, making plays. So I feel like everybody's gaining confidence in the scheme, so we can just make checks without even having to look at the DC. We just run it, make all the checks that we need. I feel like we're gonna play a little faster 'cause we get the confidence that we need and just play free.”
On freshman Hayden Lowe:
“That man is ready to play right now. He's a real crazy guy, but he got a nice motor. He plays with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of tenacity, a lot of everything man. I mean he's always around the ball, he's always making plays, always chasing after the ball, always disrupting something. So he's gonna be a great player.”
On his role in the D-line
“I feel like I’m more of a leader. Just doing the small things because I know somebody is watching me, trying to do the same thing I'm doing. Like me staying everyday after practice with coach Taylor, now the whole D-line stays every day. So it feels like with just little steps like that, that's going to lead the team into the right direction.”
On freshman Donta Simpson:
“Real nasty runstopping man. Sometimes he is on the specialty packages and to be a young guy that's at that size and move how he moves is a real blessing. He's been real aggressive throughout these past 10,11 practices we had and he's been playing with a nice mindset. He’s been real active for a guy so young.”
On O-line standouts:
“So Markel Bell for sure. I mean, he's had a turnaround and has been playing real aggressive, real smart. Now [Francis Mauigoa], you know, just doing what he does, and [Anez Cooper] just doing what he does.”
On Armondo Blount:
“He has been progressing in the right direction and is not afraid to call out guys whether they’re old or young. So he's been more of a vocal guy. He’s been working every day and goes 110% every play. He's the guy that's always popping up on film for the right tape, the right violence, the right steps and everything. So if he keeps the same path that he is doing, he’s gonna be alright.”
On competition with the team:
“I feel like all great teams need a little bit of competition and accountability. So us calling each other out is something that's going to suck in the moment, but it helps in the long run. We all try to hold each other to a standard, if you don't meet that standard, somebody is gonna definitely call you out about it. So you ain't got no choice but to meet it.”
On new DT coach Damione Lewis:
“He works with the tackles, but really we crisscross so much with coaching and training throughout the D-line room that he kind of works with everybody. He's a little more energetic than [Coach Taylor], so he definitely brings that energy and juice needed to practice. In my mind he is just like an old version of Armando [Blount], 'cause he's gonna say what he wanna say. He don't care how you feel, but it's in a positive manner. It's in the right direction.”
On how he feels in the Spring so far:
“We've been working pretty hard at trying to lose weight, trying to cut body fat down, um, but eating pretty healthy. Changing our body the right way in the off season has been nice, a nice transformation.”
“It’s been really competitive, especially with the O-line. I've been trying to just focus on small details and that's going to really help me get that next step. Been working every day after practice with coach [Taylor] and it's been transcending in the right direction. So if I keep it off [the weight], I feel like I'll be alright.”
On the new defensive scheme:
“It's been coming together real well. I mean, like today was a real dominant day for us [D-line]. Guy’s flying around, making plays. So I feel like everybody's gaining confidence in the scheme, so we can just make checks without even having to look at the DC. We just run it, make all the checks that we need. I feel like we're gonna play a little faster 'cause we get the confidence that we need and just play free.”
On freshman Hayden Lowe:
“That man is ready to play right now. He's a real crazy guy, but he got a nice motor. He plays with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of tenacity, a lot of everything man. I mean he's always around the ball, he's always making plays, always chasing after the ball, always disrupting something. So he's gonna be a great player.”
On his role in the D-line
“I feel like I’m more of a leader. Just doing the small things because I know somebody is watching me, trying to do the same thing I'm doing. Like me staying everyday after practice with coach Taylor, now the whole D-line stays every day. So it feels like with just little steps like that, that's going to lead the team into the right direction.”
On freshman Donta Simpson:
“Real nasty runstopping man. Sometimes he is on the specialty packages and to be a young guy that's at that size and move how he moves is a real blessing. He's been real aggressive throughout these past 10,11 practices we had and he's been playing with a nice mindset. He’s been real active for a guy so young.”
On O-line standouts:
“So Markel Bell for sure. I mean, he's had a turnaround and has been playing real aggressive, real smart. Now [Francis Mauigoa], you know, just doing what he does, and [Anez Cooper] just doing what he does.”
On Armondo Blount:
“He has been progressing in the right direction and is not afraid to call out guys whether they’re old or young. So he's been more of a vocal guy. He’s been working every day and goes 110% every play. He's the guy that's always popping up on film for the right tape, the right violence, the right steps and everything. So if he keeps the same path that he is doing, he’s gonna be alright.”
On competition with the team:
“I feel like all great teams need a little bit of competition and accountability. So us calling each other out is something that's going to suck in the moment, but it helps in the long run. We all try to hold each other to a standard, if you don't meet that standard, somebody is gonna definitely call you out about it. So you ain't got no choice but to meet it.”
On new DT coach Damione Lewis:
“He works with the tackles, but really we crisscross so much with coaching and training throughout the D-line room that he kind of works with everybody. He's a little more energetic than [Coach Taylor], so he definitely brings that energy and juice needed to practice. In my mind he is just like an old version of Armando [Blount], 'cause he's gonna say what he wanna say. He don't care how you feel, but it's in a positive manner. It's in the right direction.”
