Aug. 10, 2009
On what he saw today: It's your typical first day, a lot of retention from the spring and summer, obviously the kids are in good shape. I thought we bounced around, got our hands on some balls today, so I'm excited about that, but there's a lot of retention from spring and summer.
On where Lamarr Houston is compared to where Roy Miller was a year ago: I don't really compare players, everybody is different, but I expect him to have a big year just like we expected Roy to have a big year last year. In order for us to have success, we feel like we've got to get some dominant play inside, and he's certainly very capable of doing that. He's worked awful hard through the spring and through the summer. Really last year as his first year as an inside player, which it all happens a little differently and a little quicker inside, I think he adapted well as the season went along. He had an ankle injury which slowed him a little bit, but we're expecting a big year out of him, and he's expecting one out of himself.
On how to grow leadership: I think we've kind of defined some things for the players. Never having a bad day, and being very inclusive within the team, including everybody in what we're trying to do, learn from mistakes, move forward with mistakes, as long as we get enough guys buying into that. You generally always have a lot of guys that are going to work hard on your football team, and you have a lot of guys on the fence, and we've just got to pull those guys off the fence to the right side, and make them buy into the work ethic, the blue collar attitude, the relentless effort that we need to play with on defense, and that's what we're trying to do.
On the notion that they're going to work harder than any team in the country: Well, I think you get what you work. You don't get what you talk about, you get what you drill. So we need to go out and work hard, and have that type of effort and that type of attitude.
On if he is looking at moving any defensive ends to tackle: We really have six in the rotation and six is plenty to play with, and we'll adapt and adjust within what we do, and within our scheme, to get the best 11 on the field. That's what we're always looking for. So, if it means moving somebody, we will. We certainly will, but it's not something we feel like we have to do right now.
On how big an adjustment it is for freshmen at defensive tackle: It's tough. I always feel like playing as a freshman is harder by position when you get closer to the ball, because it happens faster. The bodies are bigger. When you're on the perimeter, as a wide out or a corner, a lot of times your athleticism can take over. The ball is in the air a little longer and you have a chance to really react and let your athleticism take over as opposed to instinctively playing the game. An inside player, those are tough to play as freshmen, but we're going to do it. Kheeston (Randall) played last year, and I thought played pretty well. We're going to play the best players and if it means it's a freshman, we're going to do it.
On what makes Roddrick Muckelroy the player that he is: He's got a tremendous work ethic. I mean he's got the lunch pail attitude. He's a tough kid. Football is very important to him. He takes notes in the meetings. He asks questions. He asks the right questions. He watches film the right way, and he does it every single day.
On what Sergio Kindle needs to add to his pass rush: Well I think more than anything, just instincts in the run game with his hand in the dirt. And then from a pass rush standpoint, have a little bit more of a repertoire as far as changing things up and not just being a speed rusher converting to power, having to counter off of that. You know I learned a lot from Jason Taylor. He didn't have a whole bunch of moves, but he was really good at what he did. We've tried to really work on building on the things he does so well. He's got great initial quickness and take off early in the down, convert that to power, and work in a counter from that. Really that's what we've tried to hone in on just getting really good at those things.
On what the big jump is between freshman and sophomore year when playing in the secondary: I think that more than anything it's comfort with the scheme, terminology. I mean I think all of those things that should be a carryover into the second year first of all. Secondly, as a coach we're working on more fundamentals, as opposed to working on scheme. We were teaching an awful lot of scheme last year as far as what to do, when to do it, how to do it, when the motion happens how we adjust. Those are the things that this year the kids have a better understanding, and you're obviously more able to focus on fundamental play.
On if there is a difference in expectations in what the defensive tackles are asked to do: We've never asked our guys up front to do a whole lot. We want them to play hard, and I don't want to put a lot on them mentally. I want them to play fast, and that's something that I just feel like when you're that close to the ball, it's a huge reaction game. You've got to be reacting, not thinking.
On whether Lamarr Houston's ankle injury slowed him down: He couldn't press off of it. When you get one of those, it's hard. Especially when you're facing some of the double teams, and you've got 700 pounds leaning on you, and you've got to be able to pry and set in the hole, and it's just tough. You're not able to anchor.
On what his reaction is to looking at tape of last season and seeing so much passing as opposed to runs: It's obviously a different league. We knew that coming in, but I don't think you really have a true feel until you go through a season and you face the coordinators, and you face the play callers and what they like in situations. The quarterback play in this league was really phenomenal last year. I mean, it's really good. Regardless of how good you can be, some days when a quarterback is on, it's tough. We're facing really good quarterbacks in this league. We need to play better and I think a lot had to do with the exceptional play from that position.
On if he looks at more speed and reaction as opposed to asking the interior defensive line to do a lot: Well, we've got to develop more depth at that position. We feel like we've got a rotation of about six guys going into fall camp, but we won't find out a lot about them until we put on the pads. We don't do a whole lot with them in shorts. So, we'll find out our answers as we move through camp and get the best 11 on the field, and that's what we'll do.
On what he is really looking at in the first couple of days: More than anything, great effort to the football, a lot of great execution, and working more on fundamentals. We do install a lot in the first couple of days with the split practices, because the younger kids get an awful lot more reps.
On if he is pleased with the secondary's play: There's no question we've got an outstanding receiving corps, and we have the best quarterback in the country. So, when we're able to react and make plays on the ball against that, then it ought to give our guys an awful lot of confidence.
On if he saw the retention from last year from the younger players in the secondary: Oh yeah. You're not making the calls as a coach. They're making the calls, and that makes you feel a lot better about where we are as a defense, and how much further along we are as far as your terminology and scheme. We're able to teach a lot more fundamentals as opposed to teaching scheme.
On if he has to temper his players' attitudes and overconfidence: It's a daily process. In order to be a good coach and a good player, you better bring enthusiasm and passion every day. Hustle is a habit. Passion is a habit. It's something that you're expected to do every day at Texas, and that's what we expect.
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