Camp Confidential: Five Questions With Chad Lunsford
8/25/2018 2:15:00 PM | Football
Throughout preseason football camp, GSEagles.com will take you on a behind-the-scenes look at different aspects of the football program that go beyond the practice field. In today's final installment, we check back in with head coach Chad Lunsford.
Q: Game week is here. How excited are you and the boys to finally turn your full attention to South Carolina State?
CL: I'm very excited about the South Carolina State game coming up. Our guys have gone through a long off-season and a long training camp. Coming off last year, guys were ready to get back out here and show us what they had and now it's time to get Georgia Southern football back to what it used to be.
Q: Let's start with the offense. How do you feel about that grouping as we head into game week?
CL: I think the offense has come along nicely. The line has been one position that's work itself out throughout camp where we had guys competing for spots. Those guys are starting to gel as we set our starting five and 10 guys who we will feel comfortable with playing. Shai Werts has looked comfortable at quarterback and his fundamentals have improved. I think we have a nice stable of running backs and I can't wait to see what those young guys bring to the table. We still have some work to do on the outside at receiver in terms of solidifying the starters. And I like what Ellis brings us at tight end. But I do feel a lot better about this group as we leave training camp.
Q: Let's move to the defense. How do you feel about those guys?
CL: I think we're really strong up front and we have a good two-deep along the line. I feel good about how those guys have picked up the new 3-4 scheme and I think you're going to see a group that's going to play sound, disciplined and fast. We have to have some young corners step up to back up our veteran guys and the same thing has to happen at safety, but I feel really good about the starting unit.
Q: Who are some true freshmen who impressed during camp and are sure-fire locks to see significant action this season?
CL: I'll start off with C.J. Wright. He's a guy who's really shown a lot at the nose tackle spot and shown he's ready to play. Davarius Bargnare is a guy who came in and did a really good job at receiver. He's still learning how to play at college football speed, but he's catching on. Marcus Rogers is another receiver who came into camp with a great work ethic. He's earned his time to be able to play in these games. Another one would be NaJee Thompson. I don't know how much we'll see of him early, but he's a guy who started out at defensive back who we moved to receiver and is really starting to show some things there. Justin Birdsong at corner is another guy who has shown he can do some good things for us if he gets into a game. I'm sure there will be others, but those are the ones who stand out to me right now.
Q: How important is it for Eagle Nation to show up to Paulson Stadium next Saturday?
CL: It is so important to get that place packed. The Power of Paulson is something unbelievable. We have an 83 percent winning percentage there and a lot of it has to do with the atmosphere our fans create. Our guys really feed off the energy and enthusiasm our fans bring. We want to fill that thing to capacity and then fill it to standing room only and I challenge Eagle Nation to get Paulson rocking because our guys really do feed off that.
BONUS Q: How do you feel about Kado's "Swag Like Chad" and will we hear it next Saturday during warmups?
CL: When it first got presented to me, it kind of caught me off guard and I didn't know how to take it. I kind of pushed for them to name it something else but the guys felt very strongly about what they wanted to name it. Now that I've had a chance to hear it and see the lyrics, I really like the song. They did a good job of touching on tradition of Georgia Southern football, mentioning former great players, and the history of Paulson Stadium, so it's a really good anthem for us. We'll see if we end up playing it on September 1st, but I know the guys are pushing hard for it. We'll think hard about it, that's for sure!
Q: Game week is here. How excited are you and the boys to finally turn your full attention to South Carolina State?
CL: I'm very excited about the South Carolina State game coming up. Our guys have gone through a long off-season and a long training camp. Coming off last year, guys were ready to get back out here and show us what they had and now it's time to get Georgia Southern football back to what it used to be.
Q: Let's start with the offense. How do you feel about that grouping as we head into game week?
CL: I think the offense has come along nicely. The line has been one position that's work itself out throughout camp where we had guys competing for spots. Those guys are starting to gel as we set our starting five and 10 guys who we will feel comfortable with playing. Shai Werts has looked comfortable at quarterback and his fundamentals have improved. I think we have a nice stable of running backs and I can't wait to see what those young guys bring to the table. We still have some work to do on the outside at receiver in terms of solidifying the starters. And I like what Ellis brings us at tight end. But I do feel a lot better about this group as we leave training camp.
Q: Let's move to the defense. How do you feel about those guys?
CL: I think we're really strong up front and we have a good two-deep along the line. I feel good about how those guys have picked up the new 3-4 scheme and I think you're going to see a group that's going to play sound, disciplined and fast. We have to have some young corners step up to back up our veteran guys and the same thing has to happen at safety, but I feel really good about the starting unit.
Q: Who are some true freshmen who impressed during camp and are sure-fire locks to see significant action this season?
CL: I'll start off with C.J. Wright. He's a guy who's really shown a lot at the nose tackle spot and shown he's ready to play. Davarius Bargnare is a guy who came in and did a really good job at receiver. He's still learning how to play at college football speed, but he's catching on. Marcus Rogers is another receiver who came into camp with a great work ethic. He's earned his time to be able to play in these games. Another one would be NaJee Thompson. I don't know how much we'll see of him early, but he's a guy who started out at defensive back who we moved to receiver and is really starting to show some things there. Justin Birdsong at corner is another guy who has shown he can do some good things for us if he gets into a game. I'm sure there will be others, but those are the ones who stand out to me right now.
Q: How important is it for Eagle Nation to show up to Paulson Stadium next Saturday?
CL: It is so important to get that place packed. The Power of Paulson is something unbelievable. We have an 83 percent winning percentage there and a lot of it has to do with the atmosphere our fans create. Our guys really feed off the energy and enthusiasm our fans bring. We want to fill that thing to capacity and then fill it to standing room only and I challenge Eagle Nation to get Paulson rocking because our guys really do feed off that.
BONUS Q: How do you feel about Kado's "Swag Like Chad" and will we hear it next Saturday during warmups?
CL: When it first got presented to me, it kind of caught me off guard and I didn't know how to take it. I kind of pushed for them to name it something else but the guys felt very strongly about what they wanted to name it. Now that I've had a chance to hear it and see the lyrics, I really like the song. They did a good job of touching on tradition of Georgia Southern football, mentioning former great players, and the history of Paulson Stadium, so it's a really good anthem for us. We'll see if we end up playing it on September 1st, but I know the guys are pushing hard for it. We'll think hard about it, that's for sure!
Players Mentioned
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