Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Q&A With Offensive Coordinator Blake Rolan
10/29/2020 | 2:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Nick Hill added some power-five experience to his coaching staff last year by hiring Blake Rolan to assist as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. In his first year at Southern, the offense was a top-five unit in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, with the rushing attack earning the second-best spot after posting nearly 232 yards per game on the ground. On the eve of the first game of the 2020-21 season, Rolan spoke with SIUSalukis.com about what he expects in his second year with the program.
What's the biggest lesson you learned from your first year at Southern?
Be ready to adjust. Obviously, the COVID crisis has forced us to adjust in terms of football, coaching, personnel and staffing. You've really got to be ready to adjust and wear different hats. At the same time, you have to stay on your message and stay on point. My wife had a new baby at the beginning of the pandemic, so I definitely had to learn how to adjust.
What's been the approach from you and the staff in regard to all of the uncertainty that's surrounded playing college football this year?
The approach has been to tell them not to take a minute in the day for granted. We preach to have a positive mindset because it's easy to be negative. We have to be positive with there being so much negativity out there. Enjoy the ability to play this game and practice. If we get shut down for a week or two, or aren't able to play a full season, then take advantage of the opportunities you get outside of football. Having a positive mindset about it is easier said than done. That's really been the main approach with coming to work every day. We talk consistently about being able to control our attitude. That's really the one thing we can control.
What's been your message to the offense this fall?
The message with that has been that there can be plays that go your way and plays that don't throughout the course of a game. We're always preparing for the next play and trying to have a positive mindset on that. It's also important to have every offensive player on our roster ready to go in the game at any time. You never know when a guy could be out because of a positive COVID test result, depth or injuries. Now more than ever, the threes and fours on your depth chart need to be taking reps and taking practices and film very seriously because they don't know when their name's going to be called. You see it all across the country. Programs are losing players and coaches because of COVID and need to have their backups ready to play and perform.
What have been your first impressions of the offense?
It's good to get a lot of returners. I feel like we now can start developing the individual techniques. We know a lot more about our guys who've returned. We know their strengths, what they might not be good at, what they need to improve on and what they individually need to focus more on in these practices. When you get a great group of guys returning for you, you're hopefully putting them in better situations to be successful. They understand our communication style. Our coaching points have been reiterated multiple times. So, they should have a better feel for what we're trying to get out of practice or situations. Last year, you're working with a new quarterback, new players up front and some new receivers. I feel like we've got a lot of players back now and we can really hone in on our specifics and techniques as opposed to putting plays in.
Who's stood out to you in practice?
The guys who show up every day and practice hard. I think we've done a good job and are practicing better. We practiced better towards the end of last season, which is why we went on a little run there. Our guys understand what the expectations are now. Obviously, you've got your leaders and guys who bring it when they're out there every day. ZeVeyon Furcron sticks out because of energy, positive mindset, size, strength and ability to move people. Avante Cox has proven to be a guy who shows up and works really hard every day. He can be a major impact on our offense. It's been good seeing Beau Branyan at tackle, as he's really improved and helps solidify that spot. We've got a really solid two-deep with the guys up front. Jacob Garrett is sort of our multifaceted guy who can do multiple things. He's always bringing it every day. You never need to worry about getting him going before practice. Karé Lyles is settling in. He knows the offense a lot better after being in it for a year now. It's really the first offense he's been in for more than a season in his collegiate career. Giving him a lot more comfort and confidence has been important. At tailback, Romeir Elliot coming back has been great. Javon Williams Jr. is returning after earning a lot of accomplishments last season as a freshman. Now, the expectation is really high on him. Justin Strong is a guy who's now at running back and has showed dynamic ability back there. Then you've got some newcomers like Jerron Rollins, who had to sit out all of last year after transferring. Now he's in the fold and is playing well. Landon Lenoir has played a lot of football. He's a guy who's put a lot of time and effort into this program and we expect some big things from him.
Have there been any surprise individual performances?
Justin Strong has been a really good surprise. We didn't really put him at tailback until a few practices into the spring. He'd been playing on defense with his brother over there. He's definitely a good surprise and a good addition to the offense. Jathen Jones is a young receiver who shows a lot of potential, upside and is fun to watch. He's just a young kid out there with a lot of size, speed and a good attitude. So, it's been fun to get him out there and work him as a true freshman receiver. Pop Jones III is a running back we got in who was supposed to come in the spring, but because of COVID his arrival wasn't until July. He's a transfer from West Point and is a newer guy that people don't know much about. We've got some big expectations for him. Up front, it's good to see Calvin (Francis Jr.) return and play guard and center. Derek Harden is also true freshman offensive lineman who's been playing well. There are definitely some good players out there. Some are coming up as true freshman or transfers, while some are fourth and fifth-year seniors.
Last year, the Salukis held the fifth-best overall offense in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. What's going to be the key for this team to remain a top offense in the conference?
Execution of the details is really where we can take a huge jump across the board. We had some opportunities last year where one or two guys didn't get the right depth or took the wrong step. However, as coaches, we probably didn't call the best play for them in those situations. I think executing the details of third down and in the red zone will be big. Knowing those situational plays after crossing into the red zone area, we've really got to dial it up and score more touchdowns. We settled for too many field goals and had a couple of turnovers down there last year. If we can improve there and have two or three more touchdowns as opposed to field goals, it'll be a big increase. On third downs, just converting more third and medium plays comes down to alignments, techniques and confidence. I feel like, situationally, improving on third down and red zone pass protection is a part of those categories. Especially on third down, just making sure the pass protection is good, the quarterback is making the right calls and linemen are blocking their man up front will be key. We can put more points on the board if we do a better job.
You've coached some top-level college wideouts throughout your career. What do you see in this season's group of receivers that could translate to success this season?
I think we have a little more depth this year. Three or four of the guys can play all of the positions as a receiver, either outside or inside. That helps create good matchups on our end where we can get certain receivers on certain safeties, linebackers or corners. Our guys just understand the offense better across the board this year. They can do more things and line up and play quicker. I had a receiver room at Cincinnati where we had five receivers sign NFL contracts in the same year. That spoke to our depth because that allowed you to not wear guys down in practice or games. The ability for guys to take the top off of the defense is always what you're looking for. When you have the guys who push the ball vertically down the field, you open a lot more in the run game and the intermediate passing game. We feel really good about this group.
Karé Lyles is entering his final year of college football and is the starting quarterback of this offense. Has he taken on that leadership role you see from other senior quarterbacks?
I think he's just consistent. He's came in every day since the moment he got in Carbondale and worked on being 'the guy'. He's always working out, doing extra film sessions, extra stretching and anything with nutrition. He's always around the building and is always doing the extra things. People see that. As coaches and as players, you can trust a guy like that. He's been consistently performing and working hard. Now he's got the confidence under him after being here for a year. He's been a leader on our team throughout COVID and throughout the spring when we were getting shut down. He was following all the protocols throughout the summer to find ways to put together groups and get better in any way he could. He's done a good job with putting in the work to be at his best. He's taken everything serious with preparing and getting guys around him ready. He knows that no matter what, his job is to get the ball to the best players on this team. I think he's definitely come a long way with that in the last year and a half.
How have the rest of the quarterbacks looked to you?
It's a great group of guys. We have one new quarterback in the room named Jaylen DeVries. He's come in as a freshman during this pandemic and has done a great job. Being in a room with returners like Zach Zebrowski, Stone Labanowitz and Nic Baker has made it a tight group. They're all different and quirky in their own way. At times last year, there would be some uncomfortable moments just with not knowing one another. Now, they all know one another and make jokes with each other all while competing at the highest-level possible. It's a very competitive room to be in. Each one of them has increased their game at certain points.
Javon Williams Jr. exploded onto the scene his freshman year. What have you seen out of him as he gets ready for year-two?
With Javon, every day he has a positive attitude. He's always excited to get out there. He doesn't lack much confidence. He's got great people around him in the running back room. You just don't really come around guys like him who can do multiple things really well. Whether it's a football-specific activity or even just diving off a diving board. He just has all this athleticism and the tools to be great. He knows the offense better, which is good because he can do multiple things. He's better now as a running back and with pass protection. He's a guy you've definitely got to get the ball into his hands. The good thing is that he can catch it from under center, he can throw it and run it. He's definitely a great player to have on your offense that you can do multiple things with. We're just excited to see what he can do.
After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, what are some of the keys for this year's team to get over that hump and make the playoffs for the first time since 2009?
Offensively, it comes back to being detailed and executing situational offense better. As a whole, you just have to remember that feeling we had in the Banterra Center when we weren't picked. We want to be able to be in control of that decision. We left too much out there on other people's hands last season. We know that, as a team, we have the tools to win a championship. Now it's up to us to do that. There's no excuses. We play in a really tough conference, but that's why guys and coaches have come here. Put the work in and the results will happen.
What's the biggest lesson you learned from your first year at Southern?
Be ready to adjust. Obviously, the COVID crisis has forced us to adjust in terms of football, coaching, personnel and staffing. You've really got to be ready to adjust and wear different hats. At the same time, you have to stay on your message and stay on point. My wife had a new baby at the beginning of the pandemic, so I definitely had to learn how to adjust.
What's been the approach from you and the staff in regard to all of the uncertainty that's surrounded playing college football this year?
The approach has been to tell them not to take a minute in the day for granted. We preach to have a positive mindset because it's easy to be negative. We have to be positive with there being so much negativity out there. Enjoy the ability to play this game and practice. If we get shut down for a week or two, or aren't able to play a full season, then take advantage of the opportunities you get outside of football. Having a positive mindset about it is easier said than done. That's really been the main approach with coming to work every day. We talk consistently about being able to control our attitude. That's really the one thing we can control.
What's been your message to the offense this fall?
The message with that has been that there can be plays that go your way and plays that don't throughout the course of a game. We're always preparing for the next play and trying to have a positive mindset on that. It's also important to have every offensive player on our roster ready to go in the game at any time. You never know when a guy could be out because of a positive COVID test result, depth or injuries. Now more than ever, the threes and fours on your depth chart need to be taking reps and taking practices and film very seriously because they don't know when their name's going to be called. You see it all across the country. Programs are losing players and coaches because of COVID and need to have their backups ready to play and perform.
What have been your first impressions of the offense?
It's good to get a lot of returners. I feel like we now can start developing the individual techniques. We know a lot more about our guys who've returned. We know their strengths, what they might not be good at, what they need to improve on and what they individually need to focus more on in these practices. When you get a great group of guys returning for you, you're hopefully putting them in better situations to be successful. They understand our communication style. Our coaching points have been reiterated multiple times. So, they should have a better feel for what we're trying to get out of practice or situations. Last year, you're working with a new quarterback, new players up front and some new receivers. I feel like we've got a lot of players back now and we can really hone in on our specifics and techniques as opposed to putting plays in.
Who's stood out to you in practice?
The guys who show up every day and practice hard. I think we've done a good job and are practicing better. We practiced better towards the end of last season, which is why we went on a little run there. Our guys understand what the expectations are now. Obviously, you've got your leaders and guys who bring it when they're out there every day. ZeVeyon Furcron sticks out because of energy, positive mindset, size, strength and ability to move people. Avante Cox has proven to be a guy who shows up and works really hard every day. He can be a major impact on our offense. It's been good seeing Beau Branyan at tackle, as he's really improved and helps solidify that spot. We've got a really solid two-deep with the guys up front. Jacob Garrett is sort of our multifaceted guy who can do multiple things. He's always bringing it every day. You never need to worry about getting him going before practice. Karé Lyles is settling in. He knows the offense a lot better after being in it for a year now. It's really the first offense he's been in for more than a season in his collegiate career. Giving him a lot more comfort and confidence has been important. At tailback, Romeir Elliot coming back has been great. Javon Williams Jr. is returning after earning a lot of accomplishments last season as a freshman. Now, the expectation is really high on him. Justin Strong is a guy who's now at running back and has showed dynamic ability back there. Then you've got some newcomers like Jerron Rollins, who had to sit out all of last year after transferring. Now he's in the fold and is playing well. Landon Lenoir has played a lot of football. He's a guy who's put a lot of time and effort into this program and we expect some big things from him.
Have there been any surprise individual performances?
Justin Strong has been a really good surprise. We didn't really put him at tailback until a few practices into the spring. He'd been playing on defense with his brother over there. He's definitely a good surprise and a good addition to the offense. Jathen Jones is a young receiver who shows a lot of potential, upside and is fun to watch. He's just a young kid out there with a lot of size, speed and a good attitude. So, it's been fun to get him out there and work him as a true freshman receiver. Pop Jones III is a running back we got in who was supposed to come in the spring, but because of COVID his arrival wasn't until July. He's a transfer from West Point and is a newer guy that people don't know much about. We've got some big expectations for him. Up front, it's good to see Calvin (Francis Jr.) return and play guard and center. Derek Harden is also true freshman offensive lineman who's been playing well. There are definitely some good players out there. Some are coming up as true freshman or transfers, while some are fourth and fifth-year seniors.
Last year, the Salukis held the fifth-best overall offense in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. What's going to be the key for this team to remain a top offense in the conference?
Execution of the details is really where we can take a huge jump across the board. We had some opportunities last year where one or two guys didn't get the right depth or took the wrong step. However, as coaches, we probably didn't call the best play for them in those situations. I think executing the details of third down and in the red zone will be big. Knowing those situational plays after crossing into the red zone area, we've really got to dial it up and score more touchdowns. We settled for too many field goals and had a couple of turnovers down there last year. If we can improve there and have two or three more touchdowns as opposed to field goals, it'll be a big increase. On third downs, just converting more third and medium plays comes down to alignments, techniques and confidence. I feel like, situationally, improving on third down and red zone pass protection is a part of those categories. Especially on third down, just making sure the pass protection is good, the quarterback is making the right calls and linemen are blocking their man up front will be key. We can put more points on the board if we do a better job.
You've coached some top-level college wideouts throughout your career. What do you see in this season's group of receivers that could translate to success this season?
I think we have a little more depth this year. Three or four of the guys can play all of the positions as a receiver, either outside or inside. That helps create good matchups on our end where we can get certain receivers on certain safeties, linebackers or corners. Our guys just understand the offense better across the board this year. They can do more things and line up and play quicker. I had a receiver room at Cincinnati where we had five receivers sign NFL contracts in the same year. That spoke to our depth because that allowed you to not wear guys down in practice or games. The ability for guys to take the top off of the defense is always what you're looking for. When you have the guys who push the ball vertically down the field, you open a lot more in the run game and the intermediate passing game. We feel really good about this group.
Karé Lyles is entering his final year of college football and is the starting quarterback of this offense. Has he taken on that leadership role you see from other senior quarterbacks?
I think he's just consistent. He's came in every day since the moment he got in Carbondale and worked on being 'the guy'. He's always working out, doing extra film sessions, extra stretching and anything with nutrition. He's always around the building and is always doing the extra things. People see that. As coaches and as players, you can trust a guy like that. He's been consistently performing and working hard. Now he's got the confidence under him after being here for a year. He's been a leader on our team throughout COVID and throughout the spring when we were getting shut down. He was following all the protocols throughout the summer to find ways to put together groups and get better in any way he could. He's done a good job with putting in the work to be at his best. He's taken everything serious with preparing and getting guys around him ready. He knows that no matter what, his job is to get the ball to the best players on this team. I think he's definitely come a long way with that in the last year and a half.
How have the rest of the quarterbacks looked to you?
It's a great group of guys. We have one new quarterback in the room named Jaylen DeVries. He's come in as a freshman during this pandemic and has done a great job. Being in a room with returners like Zach Zebrowski, Stone Labanowitz and Nic Baker has made it a tight group. They're all different and quirky in their own way. At times last year, there would be some uncomfortable moments just with not knowing one another. Now, they all know one another and make jokes with each other all while competing at the highest-level possible. It's a very competitive room to be in. Each one of them has increased their game at certain points.
Javon Williams Jr. exploded onto the scene his freshman year. What have you seen out of him as he gets ready for year-two?
With Javon, every day he has a positive attitude. He's always excited to get out there. He doesn't lack much confidence. He's got great people around him in the running back room. You just don't really come around guys like him who can do multiple things really well. Whether it's a football-specific activity or even just diving off a diving board. He just has all this athleticism and the tools to be great. He knows the offense better, which is good because he can do multiple things. He's better now as a running back and with pass protection. He's a guy you've definitely got to get the ball into his hands. The good thing is that he can catch it from under center, he can throw it and run it. He's definitely a great player to have on your offense that you can do multiple things with. We're just excited to see what he can do.
After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, what are some of the keys for this year's team to get over that hump and make the playoffs for the first time since 2009?
Offensively, it comes back to being detailed and executing situational offense better. As a whole, you just have to remember that feeling we had in the Banterra Center when we weren't picked. We want to be able to be in control of that decision. We left too much out there on other people's hands last season. We know that, as a team, we have the tools to win a championship. Now it's up to us to do that. There's no excuses. We play in a really tough conference, but that's why guys and coaches have come here. Put the work in and the results will happen.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
OT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
G
/ Football
FB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballMonday, June 15
Friday, June 12
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, June 04