ISU D-backs coach: 'Get big' on drops

AMES - If Iowa State football fans see a more muscular secondary this fall, it will indicate two things.

One, strength and conditioning director Yancy McKnight's offseason training regimen continues to reap dividends.

Two, Cyclone defensive backs are dropping too many potential interceptions in practice.

“We tell them to get big on the drops,” said new ISU secondary coach Troy Douglas, whose three defensive backfield groups at North Carolina ranked no worse than 31st nationally in picks. “Swell up, get big. Get your pushups in.”

How many?

“At least 15 pushups during practice,” free safety Jacques Washington said. “And 10 during drills.”

That's a lot of potential chest work.

But to a good purpose.

The Cyclones were tied for 68th among 120 Football Bowl Subdivision programs in interceptions last season with 11.

Douglas' Tar Heels averaged 17.3 per season in his three years in Chapel Hill.

“Defensive players are supposed to be greedy,” said junior cornerback Jansen Watson, who's turned heads this spring with his technique and play-making ability. “You want to take the ball away from the offense as much as you can.”

Watson's poised to replace NFL-bound Leonard Johnson, providing a solid bookend to right corner Jeremy Reeves, who is out this spring with a wrist injury.

“Me and (Johnson) are really close,” said Watson, who played primarily on special teams his first two seasons. “He gives me some technique (advice). He gives me information. So I feel like it's a shoe to fill, but there's always different expectations for each other. ... I feel like I'm good enough to make the team better.”

Washington pegged Reeves' speed in the elite 4.3 range.

Watson, he guessed, was in the low 4.4s.

Reeves stands 5-feet 7-inches tall.

Watson is a self-described 5-9 and three-fourths.

“And both can jump, so I don't think size is going to be that big of a deal as long as you play your technique,” Washington said.

One of Douglas' turnover-inducing teaching techniques hinges on how much his players crave attention - from a variety of fronts.

“You won't be talking to defensive backs on pass breakups,” Douglas said. “I tell them, ‘You want the girls, you want the interviews, you want to get on TV, intercept the ball.' That's how it works.”

Makes sense.

Pushups and all.

“Coach Douglas is a unique character,” said safety Durrell Givens, who could replace pro prospect Ter'Ran Benton at strong safety this season. “He's very funny yet serious at the same time.”

They get it.

Now they plan to get after it - one pick, date, and interview at a time.

“Anything you can say that might entice an individual to make more plays, why not?” Givens said.