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Austin Clark – November 24, 2020 Download PDF version

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Outside Linebackers Coach Austin Clark

(I know coaches don’t come in with preconceived notions about players but with that being said, has the impact LB Andrew Van Ginkel has made in various areas maybe even exceeded a little bit what you thought a second-year guy with six games coming into the season would do for you all this year?) – “Yeah. I can tell you that I do have a preconceived notion. I actually remember ‘Gink’ (Andrew Van Ginkel) was coming out of a JUCO when I was at Southern Cal. I joked with him that he was a highly recruited JC guy and we get a good laugh out of that. Yeah, he’s definitely exceeded all expectations. Having not really known him, getting to know him personally and how he approaches every aspect of the game and how he operates, how he’s wired – he’s a tough, smart, physical guy that is a team first (guy). He’s becoming a technician, I think, on the field. I think he’s seeing the fruits of his labor and I think he’s only going to continue to get better.”

(I’d like to follow up on LB Andrew Van Ginkel. Looking back at some of his history, he was a high school quarterback and defensive back, a skinny little guy, kind of like myself. You talked this year about his work in the weight room and his improvement both getting stronger and better in the pass rush. I’m curious now that you’ve got that timeline to work with, what have you seen from him as far as development from the time he was a kid back in JUCO to now a NFL player making big plays every single week?) – “I think you’re seeing kind of what you just described. You’re seeing a guy that everything he’s done physically – in terms of just if you took last season to this season, I know that’s something that he said, from the minute that I met him when I got here, he’s said ‘I want to become more physical.’ He had all of these goals in place from last year that he wanted to accomplish. I think that’s kind of what he’s done through his journey, his unique journey, through different colleges. Obviously he was great at Wisconsin. I think that’s exactly what you’re seeing. He’s doing a hell of a job and I love the guy.”

(When LB Andrew Van Ginkel punched the ball out down there at the one, did you realize what was happening in live action? Or did you have to see it on replay on the scoreboard of something? What was your reaction when you realized the ball was out?) – “’The ball was out. Let’s go.’ That was it. Yeah, absolutely. He knew right away. It was a hell of a play by him. That’s a big-time player making a big-time play to give us a chance. We preach takeaways and we need them every week.”

(I don’t know if you’re a big coffee drinker, but I feel like if you’re in the same room with Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile, if you didn’t have your cup of coffee, he’ll give you the juice you need with his energy. What kind of person is he, or coach is he, and how does his energy permeate through the coaching staff and into the players?) – “I love ‘Camp’ for a variety of reasons. I think energy is No. 1. I think his passion for the game of football and the fact that relationships matter to him, both as a coach and to our players, I think make him a great coach. Me as a young coach, I think I learn a lot from the guy. I think he’s doing a hell of a job and I’m fortunate to work with him. And he’s got a good taste of food. (laughter)”      

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