The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Spring drills: Larry Mac Duff
03.01.2007 | Football
On spring football: I enjoy the teaching part of being a coach and this time of the spring is really a neat time because you're going back to your basics and your fundamentals. You get back to the purest form of teaching as far as the fundamentals involved with being a good football player.
We'll continue to get in to a few more things each day as we go through the spring and I think our players are really interested to see what direction we'll go.
On getting a chance to evaluate the current players on the roster: I've been looking at a lot of game film from last year and we've had three practices. But, it's really too early for me. Guys look really good running around in shorts sometimes and then when we put the pads on sometimes it's a little bit different. I'm very encouraged. I'm encouraged first and foremost by their attitude. The group as a whole is very coachable. I would say that they've been coached very well before I got here. Gene [Chizik] did a great job with them before and I can see fundamentally that their base is really good. They have a very good understanding of football concepts and defensive concepts. They're hungry to learn, hungry to grow and hungry to get feedback. I'm encouraged by their athleticism. I think as a group we have an athletic group. Robert [Killebrew] and Scott [Derry] have some senior leadership and are good examples for the young guys. It will be interesting to see as the spring goes because we're going to give guys opportunities to compete for some positions and it will be interesting to see where it all ends up at.
I know that as I look at tape, I see Scott and Robert have made a lot of plays for The University of Texas on defense. As I get into drill work, I see some younger players that don't happen to have the same experience but are very athletic, so it is a good combination to have. We need all those guys to be a good football team next year.
On a Larry Mac Duff style of linebacker: I think the guys I've really enjoyed coaching through the years and guys that have been tremendous impact players at the linebacker position are guys who love to play the game. They really enjoy it, play with enthusiasm and play it like it is really important to them. There is a real sense of toughness about them. There's a real sense of pride in everything that they do. They are a very, very competitive type of players. They are guys that are technicians, guys that try to do things right assignment-wise, and being an unselfish player is really important in all of that. There is not just any one thing, but those kind of characteristics that I see in a lot of our players and that is what I'm encouraged about.
I like guys that are producers, guys that show great production. Whether he is 6-2 or 5-11 or whether he's a 4.6 or a 4.75 (40-yard dash) guy, what does the tape say? If the tape says he lines up, he cares, he plays hard, he makes things happen and he plays within the framework of the defense, then there is a place for him in our rotation. Sometimes people get caught up in a guy having to be a certain height or a certain speed. We look for guys that have great attitude, guys that will line up and be unselfish, execute the defense and make plays regardless of what their physical qualities are. Usually, those guys are good athletes. Usually, those guys have good instincts.
On bringing in his defensive philosophy: The University of Texas has played some outstanding defense. You don't win a National Championship, one year removed, without playing outstanding defense. They've been good in all three areas. There are a lot of things here that I'm learning and I'm contributing as I go, but there are a lot of things here that have been outstanding. We absolutely want to keep doing those kinds of things.
On being known as very organized: Right now, it is probably a little bit frustrating for me because I'm used to being really organized in everything I do. I'm trying to get on top of things as far as having everything in its place. I think being organized is part of the foundation of being a good teacher and being a good coach. Players know when you're organized, know when there is a system, know when you have answers to problems. I think being an NFL special teams coach causes you to be organized too, because your dealing with an entire football team. I don't know if I'm the most organized guy, but I take a lot of pride in trying to be organized and have a plan for the things I'm doing.
On what he learned from Dick Tomey (former Texas defensive line coach and current San Jose State head coach): I took a lot of things from him. Whatever is on the tape is my responsibility as a coach. Players are mirrors of their coach. You have players that line up, play hard, do things right and play with a lot of emotion and enthusiasm. That speaks to their character and their background, but it also speaks to the way they are being coached.
The fact that people matter. Caring about people is really important in coaching. That is one of the big reasons why I'm really fortunate and feel great about being at The University of Texas, because that is coach Brown. People are so important to him. Everybody on our team, everybody on our staff and everybody that works here is really important to him. I believe that, and I know that to be true just being here a short period of time.
