The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Players press conference transcript: Aug. 17
08.17.2007 | Football
WR Limas Sweed
On his wrist: It's feeling good. I have a full range of motion and everything feels fine. I just made a catch and fell down on the play, and sometimes that's how things happen. I got up and did the next play and didn't feel much at all. The thing about it is nothing is really wrong, we're just being extra cautious about it. From the looks of [the splint], you would think it's broken in 30 different spots, but we're just being cautious about it and that's all. It's just one of those things you have to play by ear, I'll wake up tomorrow and practice depending on the way it's feeling. Right now I just want to be cautious about it and the coaches want to be cautious about it, and I'm going to continue to do rehab and just take it from there.
On what the doctors saying about his wrist: We'll find out a little bit later what the doctors are saying about it, but from my standpoint, I have a lot of range of motion and things are going good. That's one of those things you have to find out later on, and the doctors never really said anything. We have a great strength staff and great trainers, and they're doing a lot of things to get me ready for the opener. We'll see how it goes. I never really lost any range of motion or anything.
On getting ready for the opening game: I'm doing everything I can to get back. I'm working with the trainers and with Coach Madden's staff. God willing, I will put time in with them, and we'll leave it up to Him and see what happens.
On the difference between the Colt McCoy of last year and this year: There's definitely a difference. For one, he definitely has solidified himself as the starter, and anytime you can solidify yourself as a starter, it boosts your confidence. You can see it in the guy's eyes. He's calmer and more relaxed and he takes charge in the huddle.
On what he sees in the young receivers: There's a lot of young talent out there. These guys are extremely raw talented and they are real fast and catching onto the system really quickly. They are learning the blitzes and being in the right place at the right time, so they are advancing really quickly in my opinion. It's tough playing that position as a true freshman, but we do a great job of helping those guys. We stay after them and we take them up to the tent and do walkthroughs, so those guys are getting drilled. We meet for a couple hours and then they may meet outside after that for another hour, just so they understand the system.
On the young defensive backs: Deon [Beasley] and Curtis [Brown] have been doing a really good job out there. They're able to see the game and I think they see the game a lot quicker than guys at that year level.
On John Chiles: A lot of the young guys are picking up on the system extremely well. He's passing and running the ball extremely well. He's basically just taking the whole offense and learning it exceptionally well. Without a doubt he has made a lot of progress since spring. His reads, accuracy and his overall confidence level have improved.
LB Scott Derry
On what to expect from the linebackers: You're going to see a group of hard-hitting, fast-running linebackers who are willing to lay it all out on the line just to win each and every game. It's a competitive nature through and through. That's what we're all about there, each person is competing right now to gain a spot on the defense and if that's not earned, do anything they can to help this team when their time is called.
On ending last year on a good note: I think that springboarded me right into the off-season. It really helped me get off on the right foot there to work hard all off-season and all summer to get myself into a position where I can do some of the same things as I did last year and be a similar type of player to help this team win.
On being a student of the game: That's the way I like to picture myself. I'm all football and I'm all about winning, especially when it comes to defenses. I want to learn what every single person is doing on the field and not just myself. That's how I was able to learn the SAM, the MIKE, and the WILL last year, but the same time this year, I just want to know what everybody is doing so I can make sure each and every person is lined up. I think that's a little role I want to put myself in this season as a senior and hopefully step up at the same time.
On what he can improve on this year: Like I was saying, I want to be able to help out some of the other guys and help direct some of the secondary if we have some of the younger guys in there. Maybe help some of the safeties get set up if they need to roll down to the strong side or weak side. I just want to be in that position where if there is a question out there, I can be the guy out there directing everything.
On the depth of the linebacking position: That's what I love about our linebacker position right now because we have so much depth. Anybody can step in and play in just about any position. I know that Coach Mac Duff has been talking a lot about position flexibility right now and that's how we feel. We want guys that can play numerous positions and at any point in time anybody can be out on the field playing and that really helps the competitive nature of the position.
On the new defensive scheme: We have some run blitzes where we will be able to get in the backfield and disrupt some plays and maybe some tackles for losses on run-downs. But also on third-and-longs, we're going to have some packages to mix it up, and not only are the linebackers going to be able to come free, we have a great defensive line and we're going to be spinning down some corners and safeties. I think everybody will be able to get in the sack column this year.
RB Jamaal Charles
On if he has been getting hit a lot: Yes, I've been getting hit a lot. I have to take the pounding if I want to get hit during the season. That's why I hit the weights this summer -- to take the pounding.
On what he weighed when he reported compared to what he weighs now: I weigh about 205 right now. I haven't lost any weight. I lose weight, but then I gain it right back.
On how strong he is in the scrimmages: I have knocked one person over. I am trying to do that more this year instead of just running around people. If I'm in your way you have got to feel me. I am a more physical runner than I have ever been.
On how he is doing mentally compared to the past: I'm just ready to go out there and step up and be a leader. I'm focused. I don't want to drop the ball or make mistakes, and I just get prepared for the season coming up.
On comparing high school to college: It's no different than high school. The only thing different is that the guys up here are stronger and big. I think me running the ball 20-25 times; I don't think anything has changed, but the people.
On if he gets better has he get more carries: If I can stay in the game and get comfortable in the game. Not just me, but anybody in the game if they touch the ball a couple of times. They get five or 10 carries for a couple of yards and then the next thing you know they, make a long run.
DT Derek Lokey
On goal line situations: I tease Coach Davis about it, but I understand that there are a lot of guys who are a lot more comfortable with the ball in their hands. The goal line is such a sensitive situation and you have to take care of any opportunity once you get down there. So I tease him and I feel comfortable with the ball in my hands, but there are just so many other guys that touch it a lot more than I do.
On if there is a push to get after the quarterback: As a defensive tackle unit, our goal is more to stop the run because we can control that. A lot of times in past situations we pull a lot of double teams from where we are lined up and things like that. Our first priority is to fit our guys and stop the run. After that, we put in a lot of things on defense that will put pressure on the quarterbacks. We will stop the run first and then get pressure on the quarterback. Not because the guys are young and we don't have trust in them, but anytime you have pressure, it helps the defense as a whole.
On Duane Akina as a coordinator: We have a lot of movement. It's all kind of to be seen, but we have worked on a lot. A lot of different things, a lot of new looks, what will be seen when is to be determined. It is exciting, it feels like there is a lot going on and a lot going in and we are excited to see how it will look this year.
On the young players: I have been really impressed with Ben Alexander at this camp. I think Ben has really come around and has been playing some really good football. If he keeps working and keeps hustling I think he will be a good one before he comes out of here.
OT Tony Hills
On how the offense is looking: I think we're looking pretty good. As far as the offensive line, we're getting better each and every day and we're gelling with one another. Coach McWhorter is doing a great job of giving us looks from our defenses and the defense is giving us great looks. Individually, we're seeing different looks from different people.
On Chris Hall: He has had a great spring and he works hard every day. He knows what he is doing out there and he has earned it. I guess you could consider him one of those Pittsburgh Steeler guys -- he goes to work everyday with a smile on his face. To tell you the truth, for me personally he is an inspiration. I see a guy like that working hard and just because I've been here longer doesn't mean I can't learn anything, and one thing I've learned from him is you have to come to work every day and get better every day. The one thing I've noticed with Chris is that he comes and plays hard every day, you have guys that have been in a battle before.
On Chris Ogbonnaya: I think the thing you get with Chris is you get a change up. He is a quick runner and a very powerful runner. Jamaal is developing into a power runner, but he is still a slasher, he is a slasher with power. You get many different looks. Once again it still falls on the offensive line and the receivers too to get the explosive plays. We have to be good up front to get these guys to the next level.
On if someone is standing out on the short-yard plays: We haven't had a lot of short-yardage situations. I guess if you look at it, anyone of those guys with the power that they have and the strength that they have can pick up the yards needed.
On Derek Lokey doing short yardage situations: I think to have Lokey doing goal line things that will definitely help us out. We are getting a lot of help from a lot of different people. Coach has been doing a great job of putting people in position to help us win all the games.
S Marcus Griffin
On how the secondary is looking: From the first week I can see progress from every individual, on down from the young guys, the freshman and sophomores. I think everyone, in my opinion, is doing a great job just learning the plays. Coach Akina has really been stressing those to be a good secondary and everyone is buying into it.
On which young player in the secondary may surprise us this year: I think all four could be a big surprise. They are all tremendous athletes.
On how his role has changed on the team: I'm naturally a quiet person. One of my biggest goals this year is to be more of a vocal leader. I'm use to my brother doing all the talking, but I'm going to have to start doing some of it now. When the younger guys have questions, it's my job to answer those questions because they look up to me for help.
On Erick Jackson: He has always been a good athlete. I think he's been plagued by injuries throughout his career. I think this year he's more focused and with it being our last go around, since we're seniors, he's doing a great job.
On his injuries last year: I think I was plagued by my ankle injury the whole season. The Ohio State game it was hurt really bad, but then ironically against Oklahoma I hurt my left ankle. I was just trying to manage along as best I could. I think during the Ohio State game my right ankle hurt the most. I was surprised I was able to keep playing and as far as my left ankle it hurt pretty bad, but not as much as my right ankle.
On blocking punt and if he learned anything from his brother, Michael: He was a guy taking all the glory, but if you sit down and break down the tape you can see a lot of that was by design. We have a really unselfish team and everyone does anything they can do to win.
DT Frank Okam
On how good the defense is going to be: I think with the experience and talent we have we can be pretty good. As long as we understand our defense and play our techniques, I think we can be one of the best defenses in the Big 12. We can still play the run pretty well, our secondary has come a long way, and they're doing a great job with Coach Akina back there. I don't feel like it will be a drastic difference, I think we will do a lot of things different, but overall, it's defense, you have to go out there and hit someone.
On if there were a lot of adjustments to be made with Coach Mac Duff coming in: I don't think there has been too much. With this being my third coordinator in four years so I'm use to change and different things. You get use to change and adjusting to whatever is in front of you.
On how camp is progressing: Camp is going well, it's been a grind, but it's been a good one. The only difference with previous camps is this is my last one and I've been appreciating it more. I think as a senior you understand why two-a-days are important and why camp is so important.
On who's having a great two-a-days: This year's two-a- days have been different. I think what is surprising me the most is how well and how fast the first groups are gelling together. You can see how it is very team- oriented on both sides of the ball and how you're working together as a unit. It isn't about individuals, but an "I need to do this to help the guy next to me," type of deal.
On how he has gotten better from last year: Over the summer working with the defensive line, we stressed fundamentals in our summer workouts and practices so working on the fundamentals has helped our game in a big way.
On Coach Mac Duff: He is a great guy. He's different, he's not as tight and tense as Coach Chizik was, but he's very passionate about the game and you can tell he has a lot of knowledge and understands a whole lot. So when you have a guy like that, that has such a mental advantage, you listen to what he says.
On thinking about Arkansas State: It's not hard to think about it at all. We have already started preparing and Arkansas State has been a solid team in their conference the past couple of years. They won their conference two years ago and almost won it this past year. I know they're going to do a great job, plus my cousin, David Johnson, plays tight end for them. I know it's going to be a family affair.
On his cousin David Johnson and if he's asked what it is like to play here at Texas: He's a very talented player and he can do both -- block and receive. He hasn't asked what it's like, but if he did ask I wouldn't tell him; he can just find out when he shows up. We have a lot of family coming in for the game.
