[Barron/Upchurch-MGoBlog]
Ben Braden and Khalid Hill
Ben, you struggled with injuries in the early going. How are you doing now and how did you feel on Saturday?
“Feeling really good. Saturday was a good feeling being able to go through a whole game. I feel solid. Yeah, it was a rough start in the beginning but the training staff’s been great and all my teammates have been really encouraging. Physically, I feel great. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
The whole team, it seemed like, gathered around Jeremy. How tough is it to see someone like that suffer a season-ending injury?
KH: “I feel like it was real tough to see Jeremy go down. He’s like my brother and to see him fall down--I’ve dealt with the same injury he has, and to be in a game in your fifth year, it’s not how you want to go out. I wanted to shed a tear with him when he was on the field and went to him and told him everything was going to be okay, if he needed me I’d be there for him.”
BB: “Yeah, being the same class as Jeremy, you see that and…I was speechless watching it because he’s worked so hard since he’s been here, and to have something like that happen, I feel for him and his family. Anything he needs, the whole team will be there for him.”
Khalid, it wasn’t this particular game but the game against Colorado, what’s your reaction when you’re going out to block on the edge and you see a defensive back turn away from you and want no part of you?
“I mean, it’s sometimes funny because they act like they want to hit me and then they run away. When you see a big guy coming, I mean, you try to get around him or attempt to run back, but it’s whatever, you know. I don’t like when they chop me, but it’s cool.”
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Do you think you’ve created an intimidation factor with some of these guys already?
“I wouldn’t say intimidation. I just want to go out there and play as hard as I can and block as good as I can block. Not going to lie: Marcus Allen, he tested me a couple times on the edge. I commend him for coming down and hitting.”
Ben, are you and Grant [Newsome] starting to develop a chemistry over there, and are you starting to get better each game, would you say?
“Yeah. Just like when Mason Cole got here his first year his first couple games, just getting used to each other and communicating. Coach has his technique and his system for us but then also it’s almost like an underlying technique for him and I, like how do we feel or what am I going to do in this. I think Grant and I have really started to bond well in that area as far as communication and getting used to playing next to each other.”
Both you guys will have a role in taking on a Wisconsin defensive front that’s pretty big and physical. Thoughts from each on embracing that challenge?
KH: “I feel like they’re big guys we’re going to attack like every other week. Practice hard, play hard, think with intelligence, [and] we’ll step up to the challenge.”
How much pride do you guys get in getting helmet stickers for games, and would it surprise either of you to know that Peppers has the most stickers for every game?
BB: “I think it’s a cool addition that Coach Harbaugh’s brought. Peppers having the most, he’s definitely earn it day in and day out. All the practices and workouts, he’s a very good leader. He’s always out there encouraging people; he’s vocal. He’s worked really hard and it’s showing on game day, so I think if anyone’s going to have the most he definitely deserves it.”
Khalid, we’re a third of the way through the season. Can you talk about your transition to fullback? What do you enjoy most about it, what do you think you’re best at, what do you still need to improve at?
“I think I enjoy the position move. I like getting the ball. It’s worked out well, as you guys see. I think one thing, playing fullback I need to learn to get lower, a little bit lower. I tend to play very high because I’m not used to playing the lowest position. At tight end I was blocking and you had to stay low, but I’m used to running routes all the time and stuff like that. It’s a transition I’m working at and getting better at it, and I enjoy the transition.”
You’re in a battle for the touchdown lead on the team with Amara. Is that something that you think you can continue to compete in season long?
KH: “I mean, I don’t know. [/laughs] I just want to help the team get the win. If I get called in and score other touchdowns, I will.”
Did you ever consider a number change?
KH: “I considered it. I talked to Coach Wheatley about it and he said just stay unique. If I want to wear 80, wear 80. You don’t have to change your number just because people think you should. Just wear 80.”
Do you guys feel like practicing against top-level players in practice gives you an advantage against opponents on game day?
BB: “Yeah, absolutely. I mean, playing against one of the best defenses there is, it’ll always make us better. To get better you have to play against people that are better than you or are really good. You have to play—I’m trying to figure out how to say it, but to get better you have to play against those that are really great. You can’t play down at all. I mean, even in gametime, we’ve got to keep playing and pushing ourselves.”
KH: “Yeah, I agree with Ben totally because our defense is one of the best defenses in the country I believe and practice, some days it’s hard to move the ball in practice because they’re locking us down. That gets us better as a group. To go against the best you just get better.”