Southern Illinoise University Athletics
New linebackers coach Spencer Brown determined to help Salukis stop the run
03/25/2019 | 2:49:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois linebackers coach Spencer Brown has brought fresh energy and a new attitude to the Saluki linebacker corps. The former North Carolina State assistant has previous experience working with SIU defensive coordinator Jason Petrino while they were on the same staff at South Dakota.
What are the concepts you are trying to teach the linebackers during spring ball?
We're building them from the ground up. We talk about the tools of the trade are the feet, the hands and the eyes, and they all work together. First thing we have to work on is our footwork, then we're working on our hand placement on block destruction and tackling, and then everything with ball skills like catching interceptions and scooping fumbles. Most importantly, when we get into scheme, is our eyes, where we start, what we're keying, what we're reading, and that will get us to the right place. Making all those things work together in unison — the feet, the hands and the eyes — that's what we're looking for from our linebackers.
You've brought with you some unique drills and teaching aids. How are the players picking things up?
There's definitely a learning curve. Some of the things that I really like that we use are little 2x4 hand-boards that help us with our block destruction, keeping our thumbs up and our elbows tight, which are some of the fundamentals we use. Some of the bag drills are designed to educate the feet and the results are already showing up on film. Guys are no longer hopping — they're able to redirect when there's a change in the flow of the play. There's a learning curve, but guys are picking it up.
How did your experience at North Carolina State help shape you as a coach?
I had two great defensive coaches. Coach (Dave) Doeren has obviously had a lot of success at a lot of big-name schools. He is great with players. He's able to find matchups, get the best guys on the field, and especially in situations — third down, red zone, two-minute — find guys who can make plays to close out a game. (NCSU defensive coordinator) Dave Huxtable is one of the best scheme guys I've ever been around. He's detailed, nobody takes more time to focus on the details and study the film than Dave Huxtable. He's taught me a lot about patience and really just putting in the work.
Talk about working with Coach Petrino and his expectations for the linebackers.
When Coach Petrino called me, he knows I love stopping the run, and that's our first goal as linebackers. We have to be dominant in the run game, really eliminate that aspect of the offense. That's what we're really focused on and he's letting me learn our reads, learn our keys and work our run-fits, which is really a lot of fun for me to do. He's great to work with. He's very creative, he's got a lot of defensive ideas that I'm not as familiar with. He's a lot more abstract, where I'm a little bit more structured, so we bounce things off each other and it's a good working relationship.
You're more than half way through spring ball. What have you learned about returning starters Bryce Notree and Luke Giegling?
Bryce takes the coaching from the film, to the board, to the drills, to the plays. That's really fun to see as a coach and I really appreciate that out of him. He is a bull — he's 250 pounds, pure muscle — and he's flying through there every single time. I love watching him on blitzes. Luke (Giegling) is really impressive, he's football-smart. If he makes a mistake, he only makes one, and then after that it's corrected.
There's a trio of sophomores who got their first taste of college football last season. What have you seen from each of them?
Bryson (Strong) is a lot of fun to coach. He's an energy guy. Nobody loves Saluki Football more than Bryson Strong. He's done a good job of learning the playbook, staying composed and really being detailed every single time on the field, not letting the last play affect the next, and being trustworthy on every single play. Ollie (McDowell) is a special athlete. He doesn't lack confidence at all, but I don't think even he knows how good he can be. He's physical, he's tough and he really loves the game of football. Makel (Calhoun) has been a great student. He comes up and does one-on-one meetings about as much as anybody and I really enjoy coaching him.
What about redshirt freshman Nick Terrana and Purdue transfer Tim Johns?
Nick is a guy who doesn't say a whole lot, but when you get between the white lines he is flying around, he's making plays, he shows up every single practice. Tim will be a redshirt freshman and he's made the transition pretty seamlessly. He's very smart on the board and I've had fun getting him more reps and just cleaning things up with him. I think with time and plenty of reps he'll be a quality player for us.
How did you break into the coaching business after not playing football in college?
I barely played in high school. I wasn't very good there, but I've always loved the game. I played lacrosse at SMU and there's obviously a lot more football programs around there, so I got lucky with an opportunity to volunteer with the program at North Texas, stuck around after year one when Dan McCarney took over the program. We built that thing from a 3-9 team to a 9-4 bowl champion team. Another great mentor of mine, (UNT defensive coordinator) John Skladany, taught me about players, structure, organization and again, just doing the hard work, doing the little things, not relying on others to do the job for you.
You have an MBA but decided to get into coaching?
I never wanted to go to grad school, but I knew if I had the opportunity as a grad assistant I should make the most of it. I have a business background and if this coaching thing ever doesn't work out, I've got something to fall back on.
After two months on the job, are you starting to feel settled in?
Yes, I absolutely love it here. I love the staff, the coaches are great, everybody talks about a family atmosphere and it's true. I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee so I'm only three hours from home. It feels like it's in-state.
What are the concepts you are trying to teach the linebackers during spring ball?
We're building them from the ground up. We talk about the tools of the trade are the feet, the hands and the eyes, and they all work together. First thing we have to work on is our footwork, then we're working on our hand placement on block destruction and tackling, and then everything with ball skills like catching interceptions and scooping fumbles. Most importantly, when we get into scheme, is our eyes, where we start, what we're keying, what we're reading, and that will get us to the right place. Making all those things work together in unison — the feet, the hands and the eyes — that's what we're looking for from our linebackers.
You've brought with you some unique drills and teaching aids. How are the players picking things up?
There's definitely a learning curve. Some of the things that I really like that we use are little 2x4 hand-boards that help us with our block destruction, keeping our thumbs up and our elbows tight, which are some of the fundamentals we use. Some of the bag drills are designed to educate the feet and the results are already showing up on film. Guys are no longer hopping — they're able to redirect when there's a change in the flow of the play. There's a learning curve, but guys are picking it up.
How did your experience at North Carolina State help shape you as a coach?
I had two great defensive coaches. Coach (Dave) Doeren has obviously had a lot of success at a lot of big-name schools. He is great with players. He's able to find matchups, get the best guys on the field, and especially in situations — third down, red zone, two-minute — find guys who can make plays to close out a game. (NCSU defensive coordinator) Dave Huxtable is one of the best scheme guys I've ever been around. He's detailed, nobody takes more time to focus on the details and study the film than Dave Huxtable. He's taught me a lot about patience and really just putting in the work.
Talk about working with Coach Petrino and his expectations for the linebackers.
When Coach Petrino called me, he knows I love stopping the run, and that's our first goal as linebackers. We have to be dominant in the run game, really eliminate that aspect of the offense. That's what we're really focused on and he's letting me learn our reads, learn our keys and work our run-fits, which is really a lot of fun for me to do. He's great to work with. He's very creative, he's got a lot of defensive ideas that I'm not as familiar with. He's a lot more abstract, where I'm a little bit more structured, so we bounce things off each other and it's a good working relationship.
"When Coach Petrino called me, he knows I love stopping the run, and that's our first goal as linebackers. We have to be dominant in the run game, really eliminate that aspect of the offense." — SIU linebackers coach Spencer Brown
You're more than half way through spring ball. What have you learned about returning starters Bryce Notree and Luke Giegling?
Bryce takes the coaching from the film, to the board, to the drills, to the plays. That's really fun to see as a coach and I really appreciate that out of him. He is a bull — he's 250 pounds, pure muscle — and he's flying through there every single time. I love watching him on blitzes. Luke (Giegling) is really impressive, he's football-smart. If he makes a mistake, he only makes one, and then after that it's corrected.
There's a trio of sophomores who got their first taste of college football last season. What have you seen from each of them?
Bryson (Strong) is a lot of fun to coach. He's an energy guy. Nobody loves Saluki Football more than Bryson Strong. He's done a good job of learning the playbook, staying composed and really being detailed every single time on the field, not letting the last play affect the next, and being trustworthy on every single play. Ollie (McDowell) is a special athlete. He doesn't lack confidence at all, but I don't think even he knows how good he can be. He's physical, he's tough and he really loves the game of football. Makel (Calhoun) has been a great student. He comes up and does one-on-one meetings about as much as anybody and I really enjoy coaching him.
What about redshirt freshman Nick Terrana and Purdue transfer Tim Johns?
Nick is a guy who doesn't say a whole lot, but when you get between the white lines he is flying around, he's making plays, he shows up every single practice. Tim will be a redshirt freshman and he's made the transition pretty seamlessly. He's very smart on the board and I've had fun getting him more reps and just cleaning things up with him. I think with time and plenty of reps he'll be a quality player for us.
How did you break into the coaching business after not playing football in college?
I barely played in high school. I wasn't very good there, but I've always loved the game. I played lacrosse at SMU and there's obviously a lot more football programs around there, so I got lucky with an opportunity to volunteer with the program at North Texas, stuck around after year one when Dan McCarney took over the program. We built that thing from a 3-9 team to a 9-4 bowl champion team. Another great mentor of mine, (UNT defensive coordinator) John Skladany, taught me about players, structure, organization and again, just doing the hard work, doing the little things, not relying on others to do the job for you.
You have an MBA but decided to get into coaching?
I never wanted to go to grad school, but I knew if I had the opportunity as a grad assistant I should make the most of it. I have a business background and if this coaching thing ever doesn't work out, I've got something to fall back on.
After two months on the job, are you starting to feel settled in?
Yes, I absolutely love it here. I love the staff, the coaches are great, everybody talks about a family atmosphere and it's true. I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee so I'm only three hours from home. It feels like it's in-state.
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