UC LB Jonathan Thompson Training Camp Interview

So Domaine Wilson, I feel like I didn't see him a lot in spring. He's been first team, taking a lot of snaps so far in the fall. What's his best trait that you've seen through four practices? He's been very, very, very physical. Whenever he sees the ball, he's going to attack it. He's in a lot with me, so we're communicating a lot, calling out plays. So I think his best trait for him is pulling his trigger. You don't want to meet a running back for sure. Any other new guys that can move in? Yeah, yeah, for Phillip, Sam, of course, Monte, of course. And George has been balling, too. He transferred from wall snapper to linebacker early in the spring. And he's just been balling ever since. So I feel like we got six to seven guys who can really go. Do you guys kind of use any bulletin board material on the doubt for this team coming into this season with how difficult the schedule is perceived to be, stuff like that? I don't think we really worry too much about the noise, because we always believe in each other. We work so hard that we feel like it's just gonna pay off regardless of what people say, regardless of who we play. But having a hard schedule is amazing. So you get to go against good teams every week and prove yourself. So I don't think we use that as bulletin board material. We're just motivated in general, so. You succeeded in last year's defense. Why is this year's gonna be better? There's a lot of different things going on. I had a play today where I was covering number one receiver all the way down the field. I didn't do that last year. So it's just showing versatility in my game and being able to blitz off the edge, which is the edge they've added to the quarterback. Just doing different things in this game of the defense, I think, will help me make more plays, ultimately. What's been the biggest adjustment for you, both minimally and physically, out there in this new defense? Just making sure I check the defense. I'm kind of in control when it comes to checking the call, whether I see a formation or not. So I've just been studying a lot and making sure I get everybody on the same page, because it changes up for the front four guys and the back end. So just making sure everybody's on the same page, for real. It seems like there's been a lot of plays where you guys have kind of run in two calves and put an Antoine Peake at the dog, and he's brushing the passer. Is it weird to see him brushing the passer? Or are you kind of accustomed to him being that physical? It was weird the first day, because I was like, dang. But he's doing pretty good at it. He's matched up a lot with Joe Cotton, so I just think that's a great work for him, because Joe's a great player. But seeing that is exciting, because Peake can affect the game in all types of ways, and he's closer to the ball. So it's been weird at first, but now I'm used to it.