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23 NEIL AMENT Evan Simon's approach to training. "I can definitespot. But as a young player, you have to ask quesly see the difference," said Gordon, who wants to tions because they (the older players) know things play at 215 pounds in the fall. "We're doing a lot that you don't." more things for explosion and a lot of quick-twitch How has Ball's departure affected things? stuff that's definitely big for my position." "I do feel expectations are higher," said Gordon, a As the No. 3 tailback last season behind Montee Kenosha, Wis., native. Ball and James White, Gordon didn't get consistent How then would he answer, "What's next?" reps. He wound up catching just two passes, one "We're just going to have to find out," he said. "I for a touchdown against Penn State. "I'm confident don't like sounding cocky. I'm the type of guy that in my ability to catch the ball," he said, "but I want just wants to work and see what happens. Expectato get my hands a lot better." tions are high for our group as a whole. The stanWhen Gordon was in the slot, he was utilized aldards are high here for running backs. We undermost exclusively on fly sweeps, mostly as a decoy. stand that. We all understood that coming here." "Coach is going to use us more in the slot as receiv•••• ers," he said. "So when my number gets called to go out there, I want to be ready and prepared. That's what we're working on as a group." Gordon has been frequently going to the "movies" ― watching old video of Ball and White. "I watched Montee's junior and senior seasons," he said. "I pretty much watched everything he has done. I want to see what he does on his zone steps and try to take down every tendency that he had." He's very inquisitive, too. "I'm always asking questions when I see him (Ball)," he said. "I don't have too much pride to not hit him up. James, too. We were in the meeting room and I asked, 'What would you do differently in this situation?' I want to get his insight so the next time I'm in that situation I'll know what to do. "Both Montee and James are really good about that. It was kind of hard for me to ask ques"I'm always asking questions when I see him (Ball, on tions when I first got here. I just left)," Gordon said. "I don't have too much pride to not didn't think I should since we hit him up. We were in the meeting room and I asked, were all competing for the same 'What would you do differently in this situation?'"