Over the last year or so, much has been questioned about Randy Sanders and his relationship with Casey Clausen. Obviously, I read their minds, but if you watch them daily on the practice field you do see a relationship that is evolving. I had a chance to chat with Clausen this week to get his thoughts on where this offense is and what Sanders is trying to do with it.

How much new stuff has been put in the offense this year?

“I think there is quite a bit of new stuff. There are a lot of new formations. New motions, sets and just a lot more things than we did last year. Play wise, I think we put in a lot more things as far as reads and different combinations of routes and a lot of stuff underneath wise. A lot of that stuff they got from the Titans and what they do with the tight ends. I think offensively we have put in a good bit of new stuff and the biggest things in the new formations.”

Do you think that Coach Sanders is now starting to get to put his fingerprint on the offense, kind of developing his style?

“Yea, I think so. I think Coach Sanders has been limited with the injuries we have had this year. We have not been able to do all we have wanted to do offensively because we have been down in the receiver position. We just have not been able to run everything we wanted to run. I think these last two games offensively we have gotten better and we have improved. It is pretty amazing to me what we are going to be able to do when we get a complete offense back. I think we are moving in the right direction. I think Coach Sanders has done a great job the first four games of putting us in the right position to be successful.”

When you do get everyone back, what do you think this offense will become and what to you think the perception of Coach Sanders will become?

“I think the biggest thing with coach Sanders is his feel for the game. I think that is why he wanted to come down to the sidelines because he wanted to get that feel back. He wanted to feel what the tempo was and how we were playing. We can line it up in two tight end sets and pound it or we can line up in 4 wides and throw it. It is basically how we are going and what the strengths and weaknesses of the defense are. We can come out and throw it 40 times a game or we can come out and run it 45 times a game. Since I have been here and since Coach Sanders and Coach Fulmer have been here we have been a balanced attack we have been able to run it as well as throw it. As far as Coach Sanders and his mentality, he is going to get after you any way he thinks is best that might be running the ball or throwing the ball. The biggest thing I would say that is his biggest assets is his mind and his feel for the game. He has been a quarterback, he understands what we are seeing and the qualities he brings to the offense are really good I think.”

Do you think now that you have some experience and some more weapons with the emergence of Kelley Washington, do you get the sense that Coach Sanders calls a game more off feel now?

“I think so. An example is like if we line up and run 6-gap and get 8 yards then we are going to line up and run it again until they stop it. I remember like three or four times we called hitches outside and we hit it. They were playing off and we hit it again and again. Coach Sanders kept doing it until they adjusted to it. It is all about the feel for the game and getting into a rhythm. Just like the players try to get into a rhythm, you get into a rhythm as a play caller. Coach Sanders tries to get into a rhythm and keep a defense off balance. He is playing a game within the game.”

Do you feel like the last two games that is really the first time since you have been the quarterback that you were dictating to the defense and they were having to change based off what you were doing?

“I think so. Both Coach Sanders and I are getting to the point where sometimes we will have two or three plays called in. He trusts me to get us in the right play. Georgia played alot of zone. He told me that this was a game where there was going to be a lot of stuff underneath. Obviously if there is something down field than you take it, but just be patient with the zone. I think these last two games, we played o.k. Obviously, we could play a lot better, but I think we are getting a real feel for what this offense can do once we get everyone healthy.”

But you had the defense adjusting to what you were doing?

“Exactly, if they were trying to take away Kelley then reading off the linebacker if he turns and drops 8 or 9 yards then you dump it off to a back and let him get those yards. The biggest thing is just getting first downs and scoring touchdowns. That is the biggest thing I was upset with, not the mental mistakes or the physical mistakes, but when we get the ball and we drive 75 yards and when we get down there we are kicking field goals. Nothing against Alex Walls, but against the good teams you have to score touchdowns and you can’t settle for field goals and that is what I was so upset with after the game.”