The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Tracking the Longhorns: 2009 Orange-White Scrimmage
04.05.2009 | Football
April 5, 2009
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR Greg Davis
On what the offensive staff wanted to look at today: We wanted to do some real basic things and really wanted to evaluate some players. We wanted to look at some 21 (two back, one tight end personnel) and see who would perform in that personnel grouping. The wind was a factor.
On QB Colt McCoy completed less than 50 percent (11-of-24) of his passes: I wish it would have been better, but that's not a huge concern.
On working out of 21 personnel: It's something that we looked at this spring and we'll evaluate again in fall camp and see where it fits with our personnel and philosophically. We plan on being able to do some of it.
On Colt McCoy's relationship with the receiving corps: I think he's got a pretty good relationship with (James) Kirkendoll and (Brandon) Collins because they got to play a bunch last year. We've still got some work to do with Malcolm (Williams) and John (Chiles), but that's something that you can make great progress on in the summer. They'll throw 1,000 balls in the summer. I feel good about where they'll be when we come back.
On how the wide receivers and tight ends played on Sunday: Obviously (James) Kirkendoll made a couple plays and Malcolm Williams made a couple plays. We were not very consistent at tight end. It's an area that we've got to improve on.
On how John Chiles performed this spring: We had a couple different run-pass options where we were trying to get the ball to John, but sometimes, especially in a game that's running that quickly and wanting to see some different things you can't get everything in. I told John right afterwards he had a really good spring and he just has to work this summer and make sure he's in receiver shape because there's a different kind of shape for receiver than there is for quarterback. I believe John is going to be able to help us out there and help us quickly next year.
On the running back position: We'll see how that unfolds itself. Cody (Johnson) was really doing a great job when he got hurt. Fozzy (Whittaker) was doing a really good job for the first six practices and then he tweaked his ankle in the seventh practice and we just got him back practice 13. We'd like one of those guys to take it and run with it, and they've all showed some signs different days where they could be the guy.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Will Muschamp
On not playing Sergio Kindle: We got to see a lot of young guys. We saw Alex Okafor and Dravannti Johnson do some good things. He's an older guy that's kind of proved himself in what he's done here. We felt like there was an opportunity to look at other people. We did not get Emmanuel Acho reps at that position. We wanted to, but the game kind of got away from us a little bit. We wanted to get Alex as many snaps as possible.
On DE Alex Okafor: He's had a really good spring. It's hard for me to comment right after the scrimmage there, but he's really shown up in spring. He's shown the potential to be a really good football player. He's got to continue to work. He's been a quick study, as far as his learning ability and the transfer from the classroom to the field. He's got some natural pass-rush abilities. He's done some good things, but he's still a freshman. He's still got a lot to learn and we've got to do a great job in the post spring and summer program to get him ready for this season.
On the first-half turnovers: No question, the turnovers were big. It changed the vertical field position. Scoring on defense is something we've talked about doing and making big plays for our football team and affecting it in a positive way. It was very pleasing to get those turnovers. I wish we could have knocked a couple balls loose, but our offense is really good at ball security. They did the best job I've been around this past year. We've got to continue to emphasize it more as coaches to get it out of our players.
On how many times the defense has intercepted Colt McCoy this spring: He has not thrown many. He's very accurate with the football and he puts it in the right spot. Any time you intercept him, you've certainly accomplished something because he doesn't throw many.
On the advances made by the secondary this spring: I think number one, schematically, we've got a much better understanding for what we're doing and the kids have more confidence in what we're doing. I think our kids understand we throw the ball extremely well offensively, so when they play well against our throwing attack they all feel confident about what they're doing. I think confidence as much as anything, and now a number of reps accumulated over a period of time, they're reacting instead of thinking on the field as much as what we had to do last year.
On the comfort level of the defense: I think we're faster as a defense than we were a year ago. I think a lot of that has to do with the comfort level of what we're doing. The kids understand more about what we're doing and how we're doing it, and what's expected on every snap.
On the depth in the secondary: It's good. It allows competition. Those guys know if they don't perform, they're on the bench the next day. It allows for our guys to go out every day and play consistently well, and that's what makes guys compete and improve as football players. You're best motivator is competition.
On who has improved the most in the secondary: I think the two guys that would jump out to me would be Earl Thomas and Aaron Williams. They're both guys that have consistently, through 15 days, have played well, the way we want to play. We've had a lot of positives other than that, but those would be the two that would jump out at me.
On the development of the younger players: The number one thing for spring to me is to work on fundamentals, and the number two thing is to experiment on where you're going in the fall. We've got to get settled in the fall fairly quickly on who's going to play what, where, why and how. So schematically, you can't experiment in the fall. You've got to get ready to play the season. You've got to get ready from week one to week 13 on how we're going to approach the season. That's what you do in the spring and we did. We install things, we run them one day and we don't ever run them again. It's all for the education of myself more than anything to see if we can handle it, if it works and if it's applicable to our kids. We threw a lot at the kids. We moved a bunch of guys around, so I've got a much better comfort level about where guys can go and where they can play.
QB Colt McCoy
On the new offense he's working with: Losing Quan [Cosby] and Chris [Ogbonnaya] has given the running backs a chance to get in there and get a lot of work. It's given the receivers a chance to get a lot better with Jordan [Shipley] out. I've been able to work with those guys a lot. We've really improved. Those guys have really stepped up. It's a lot of fun because guys are competing for those spots. Guys want to be out there making plays and when you have guys that have that desire, it makes it a lot of fun.
On his chemistry with the wide receivers: They're great. Every day, they come out wanting to get better, asking questions, wanting to know what they can do to get better on different routes. The timing, we're getting our timing down, so the best thing is that they come out every day, they come out ready to work, working hard and that's when you can get better.
On Fozzy Whittaker and Vondrell McGee's performance today: I thought they did fine. In a spring game like this, it's hard. The defense is coming after you and they're doing simple things too, but we've been going at it for 15 practices. Everybody knows exactly where we're going, exactly what routes we're throwing and so it makes it really challenging, but I felt through all that, I felt that Fozzy and Vondrell both ran the ball well.
On if Earl Thomas will do big things on defense: I hope so. They're moving him from safety down to nickel. They're playing him in some different places, but I know when he's on the field, he makes plays.
On the performance of the secondary: They're just playing well together. It's the same group of guys. They hardly lost anybody. They lost [Ryan] Palmer, but Palmer played the same thing that Earl's playing. They're just rotating in and out and everybody they bring in is solid. That's another example of guys wanting to be on the field. There's a big group of those guys and only three of them are going to play. They're having a great spring too.
On having players step up into a leadership role: It's tough, but being a leader is challenging, being a leader is tough. Not everybody can do it and so that's what you do in the spring, that's what you do in the summer. Those things evolve. By the time fall rolls around, your team chemistry, your team camaraderie should be at a high level. We're working towards that, but right now we feel we are where we need to be. We've had a great spring and we just need to keep building on it.
On today's passing with the windy weather: It's a challenge. It seems like every time we've been outside this spring, the wind's been howling, but you've got to get use to it. You never know when you're going to have to play in conditions like that so it makes you really concentrate on where the ball needs to go. You can't say much about today. Offense, defense, we both know what's coming. We both know what we're doing. Like I said earlier, it makes it a challenge, but working through the wind, working through all the other conditions, the younger receivers, the secondary, I feel great.
On passing below his normal percentage: I do know that the secondary has gotten better and the offense, our goal every day is to get better when we step on the field. We dropped some balls today. We incompleted some balls. I threw a couple away. I'm not worried about that at all.
On not having Jordan Shipley this spring: When you have Jordan out there, you know you're getting a consistent guy who's going to consistently be open. He's going to find ways for me to get the ball in his hands. He really adds an extra dimension on our offense, but the guys this spring have done a great job. Like I said, they come out and work. They come out prepared for practice. When you have guys on your team doing that, following you and coming ready to play, you're going to have the best guys out on the field and they're going to make plays for you.
DT Lamarr Houston
On his role this year: This year, I'm just expected to do what I'm told, help the team and contribute, and try to rally the other guys and play football.
On losing leaders like Roy Miller and Briand Orakpo: I feel that the leadership will show in the end and towards the season, but right now we haven't decided who the leaders are. You've got to lead by example. It will come out in camp by the time the season rolls around. We'll see who's a team leader.
On the defensive line when next season starts: I think we'll look real good. We've got young guys stepping up, playing hard and putting in the effort like Ben Alexander, Kheeston Randall and Michael Wilcoxon are coming along. I feel like we're doing a really good job with those guys.
On the defensive ends for next season: At defensive end, we've got Sam Acho. We've got Sergio Kindle in there, moving around. They're doing good, coming off the edge and giving pressure and doing the things they need to do to help this defense win.
On the spring game: I think it was a good day, today. We went out there and we produced. We made very few mistakes and a lot of big plays. We'll just have to see on Tuesday, after we watch the film, how we did as a team.
RB Vondrell McGee
On his performance today: Personally I think I did okay. I could have done a little bit better. I had a fumble and I could have been a little more physical in blocking, but as a team I think we probably did okay.
On the running back corps this spring: It's a good thing that we have a lot of running backs that can play and step up to the plate. It's going to happen, running backs are going to get hurt. We get beat up all the time, but we've got a lot of guys that can step in there and help out.
On the competition at the running back position: It's been a battle since spring started with everybody really.
On his personal goals for the 2009 season: Do anything to help my team win. If I have to pick up a block or score a couple touchdowns, I'll do that -- just do my job.
On the importance of the running game: I think it's real important because if you can run the ball, I think we're unstoppable really. We just have to pick it up in the running game and help Colt out because he does his part.
RB Foswhitt Whittaker
On today's scrimmage: I think we had a good scrimmage. All of us played healthy and we were able to refrain from a lot of injuries. I think we went out there, worked hard and had a good game.
On the performance of the running backs: For the running backs [we want to] stay consistent, make every play count, do what we can to help the offense in any way possible, whether it be run, pick up blocks, run routes, catch the ball - anything we can to contribute.
On the feeling of playing in front of a crowd again: It was a fun feeling. Any time you can go out there and have fans at your back that show up and support you, it's just a great feeling.
On the tough goal line series at the end of the game: The defense had a great showing. It was tough for me trying to get in there, but on fourth down, my other running back complemented me and got in there. We ended up scoring, but the defense did a great job.
S Earl Thomas
On the difference in the secondary between this spring and last spring: Everybody is more comfortable and we have a good feel for the game. I was just happy to be back on the field.
On his interception: We were in a little bracket coverage and I sat on the route and God blessed me to make the catch.
On the chemistry in the secondary: Our chemistry is definitely good this year. Last year, we were new to it, all of us being young. As a unit we worked together during the spring and we grew, and it showed today.
On ending spring football: We ended on a pretty good note. Our defensive line pressured the quarterback, and we were able to cover (the receivers). Like I said, it was a good way to end for everybody.
On forcing more turnovers this season: Last year we had trouble catching the ball. We had two picks. I was really proud of Nolan (Brewster) for coming down with that pick. That was a good ball adjustment in the air. We're making good strides. I'm proud of all the defensive backs.
WR James Kirkendoll
On the wide receivers' emphasis as a group: Every time we go out to practice or games, we're looking to catch every ball and just get better at something whether it's blocking, whether it's catching the ball, route running. Everybody is giving it their all every practice, that's what we try to do.
On which positions he is playing this year: I'm playing all three spots. I'm playing slot, outside, split end; I'm playing all three.
On what the receivers accomplished this spring: I think we've all matured. Some of the younger guys, DeSean (Hales), D.J. Grant, Brock (Fitzhenry) all of them matured. As a whole group we're kind of young, so we have no choice but to step up and make big plays. I think it's starting to show. I think we're going to be real good this year.
On how he performed Sunday: I think I had a pretty good day. There's a lot more stuff I could work on, but I had a pretty good day. As a receiver group, I think we produced today.
On replacing Quan Cosby: We've got big shoes to fill. The year before we had Limas (Sweed) and Billy (Pittman), and they leave, we just had Quan (Cosby) leave this past year, so we've got to really fill the void. We've got to step up and make big plays, period.
On competition among the receivers: That's the best thing about coming to a place like Texas. You play against the best every day. It brings the best out of you, so by the time the game comes, you're ready.
On the wind: You can't really worry about the weather. It was good for us. We got a feel for it. We know what to expect if it happens during the season.
CB Chykie Brown
On forcing more turnovers: The coaches are on us hard about getting turnovers after last year. Every day in practice our goal is to get at least three turnovers. It turned out pretty good.
On intercepting Colt McCoy: That's a good feeling right there because you're going against a great quarterback.
On the sense of urgency among all members of the secondary: From practice to games there isn't any time to slack because anybody can start. All eight defensive backs can go out there and start.
On Earl Thomas' versatility: It's a good thing to turn to. He can play a lot of different positions. It helps the team out a lot.
On competition: The competition is always a good thing. It shows who is the best player in best-on-best. We're all friends off the field, but on the field, it's a job.
On sophomore CB Aaron Williams: Coach Akina was saying Aaron had a good season last year, so he's going to give him a chance to play every chance he gets.
On which defensive back had the best spring: All of us. We're all at the same level right now. Coach Akina said anybody can play. I think we all had a great camp.