Everything Lonnie Teasley said about South Carolina spring football practice on Monday

South Carolina offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley met with the media on Monday to discuss the progress of his group in spring practice so far. Here’s everything he had to say.

Just your general thoughts on how these first five, six practices have gone...

“It’s been good to be back out there on the field with the guys. We’ve seen progress day by day. Still things you’ve got to keep getting better at, but seeing progress every day.”

You’ve got the three inside guys at the guard and center spots that are going to need to be replaced from last season. How’s that going with that group with the new transfers and those other guys?

“That’s been going good. First thing is, you’ve got to make sure we’ve got the center spot right. So we got a bunch of guys repping there, RJ (Newsom) Boaz (Stanley), Markee (Anderson), Chase (Sweigart), and you know, all those guys have been doing well. So they’ve been doing well with that. And then we got guys who’ve been in the program that have played guard. So they’re just taking the next step. And then we got some guys doing some different, first time playing guard, that have been with us. All of it’s been working well out there. Guys are getting comfortable in there working with each other. We got Nick (Sharpe), who’s new. It’s just getting comfortable communicating with each other, knowing how everybody takes and that sort of thing.”

How have you see Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh work so far in the spring?

“Well, with those, I tell them, ‘You’re on year three now.’ So we shouldn’t be, you know, I expect something more out of you, and they’ve been both good with that. There are certain things, like when you’re a freshman, you know, they’re going to make freshmen mistakes, and now they’re past that point. I always tell them, we can move on to level two and 300 problems now.”

How hard is the transition from tackle to guard?

“It is hard. It’s not like everybody just says, ‘Oh, kick people inside.’ The game moves a lot faster inside, everything from before the contact. The mental processing happens so much faster. Most of the times, the center and guard who are making those calls to get everything sorted out. So you got the mental side of it, then you got the physical side of it. Everything’s happening right now. As far as tackle, you got space. So you’re not, you know, especially in pass pro, it’s not getting on you right now. Even the run game, same thing as defensive ends play out off your body. Well, now guys are playing and it’s boom right now. So you just got to get used to the mental processing is happening faster, and then the contacts happen a lot faster. So there are some reps that need to be had.”

You mentioned Markee Anderson working at center. Is this the first he’s worked at center with y’all before? Has he done in the past?

“He always snapped. Just never got reps in practice. So he would always be one of the guys to get snaps and just learn it, learning it. But just his first time ever getting some snaps in practice.”

Then just in general, how’s Markee Anderson doing in practice this spring?

“He’s healthy, so I’m happy. He’s been one of the guys where I’ve been seeing steps every day, getting better.”

How important was that consistency that you guys had with the same five on the line last year? And is that something you kind of look for in the spring here?

“I think that does help a lot. You start in camp, and then you go through the year, like you see different looks. And you may not have to say anything to a guy, you know what’s happening, because you’ve been playing next to them all year. So that definitely helps. Right now, spring ball is the time where you have time, because we don’t have to play a game where I can change the lineups around, so we can figure out who those three interior are going to be. And really all five, not just the three interior. So I’m not really worried about the consistency that much right now, because I want to make sure we get the right five out there. But I do, like you know, during practice, I try to make sure the guys are getting reps with this center, so they got experience with him. They understand how he communicates and runs the show. So right now, it’s just about getting ourselves better. But definitely by summertime, you want to have some consistency, because they can grow a lot faster.”

Would you say you’re looking more for that versatility as the season gets closer? Are you more looking towards what part of the line they’re best at?

“So by the season, one, most of those guys want to train in different positions, because all them want to play, and they know the more you can do, the faster you can get on the field. So like, say, if they’re not the in the top five to start, and they’re the six or seven and they can play tackle, guard. Well, shoot, I can go in first time we get an injury, hopefully not, you know, we don’t get injuries. But most of the time, by the season, I know who the first tackle is in, and that’s kind of how I go, like, who’s going to be the first tackle in, who’s the first guard in, who’s the first center in, and then we go from there after that. But we kind of hone in in the summer camp. And also, you know, who’s the third guard, who’s third tackle, who’s the second center, if something ever happened?”

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Two years ago, you had Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh who played right away as freshmen and didn’t get any snaps last year. What were the conversations in the offseason that kept them here?

“I would put it as just a testament to those guys and their character. As far as just trusting coach Beamer, trusting us, they know we are fair and we compete. When you have a good room, you have a relationship with guys. You can be honest with them. And so those aren’t easy conversations, because they want to play. Everybody wants to play, and they’ll tell you that. But I guess the relationships they have in this building, they knew we’re gonna do what’s best for the team, but also what’s best for them as well. So just a lot, you know, my hats off to them. Those are great stand up dudes. And, like you said, like I was saying, the relationships, I think, help a lot, where they trust you and know that you care for them. And this isn’t a favoritism thing. This is just about the Gamecocks winning games.”

How much has Jakai Moore been able to do so far this spring? And what does it mean to have a guy who’s been around here for forever still looking to be back?

“I call him Coach Jakai because he’s got a wealth of knowledge up there. And a lot of times he will help coach the young guys, because he knows what we want and he knows the language. But it’s been good just having him back out there. After missing last year, he’s been able to practice, getting back into it, but just good having him around. Played a lot of good ball here, and he’s valuable to the room, just having that older leadership guy in there.”

What specifically has stood out about Boaz Stanley since he arrived on campus to where he is now in practice?

“Very mature man. Obviously, you know, get married that young, you probably would expect that. He works extremely hard. The first thing you really get to see him do is interact in that weight room. He gets after it there. He’s strong. When he first got here, he was just letting his work speak. But now he’s getting more comfortable around the o-line room and around the team where it’s just like he’s home. So he’s been glad he’s here.”

Last year, I think you guys would have some packages where Jatavius Shivers would come on the field almost as like a blocking tight end or extra offensive lineman. What are you looking for to see from him to get more playing time?

“Jatavius is another one of those young guys who’ve been here. Now is their time. Just consistency, and that’s always with offense lineman. Jatavius is a really talented player. He’s got the length, he’s got the feet, he’s smart. Just being a more consistent player, and he’s shown that during camp so far. He’s done some good things, but just overall consistency in the running fast which he’s heading in the right direction.”

How much does it mean to have both your starting tackles back this year after being able to play so much last year?

“It’s always good when you can bring returning starters back. Just having those guys back, one, we can build on some of the things they did well, and we can get working on some of the things they didn’t do so well. We were in meetings earlier today. And I said something to Josiah (Thompson). I said last year, he just stared at me in the film room. And this year he’s on it. Just seeing that jump. And then even with Cason (Henry). He’s been here, I think he’s going on his fourth season, but that’s his first full year of playing ball where he’s been healthy. So just having those guys back and being able to work with them, they’re healthy, they’re practicing, like that’s good. Anytime I get return stars back, I’m taking it.”

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