The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Tech Quotes
11.05.2011 | Football
Nov. 5, 2011
TEXAS
HEAD COACH Mack Brown
Opening statement:That was a really fun game. And we're all proud of our military. I thought that the tributes were really special for our military personnel, our veterans. They said the jumpers hit right on the 50-yard line. It looked like it. We saw it on the jumbotron. All of those military men that did the pregame were in the dressing room shaking the guys' hands. The guys wore camouflage shirts in to the stadium for the game in honor of our military. It touches a lot of their families. Then it was a great football game. A game that [Texas] Tech started really well. [Texas Tech QB Seth] Doege hits 9-of-11 to start the drive. They keep the ball. They moved right down the field. I look up and there's 7:56 left in the first quarter. And we hadn't touched the ball. I thought, "Here we go. What happened with us last week against Kansas is going against us in this one." Even at halftime they had the ball 45 plays to our 28. But we didn't punt. We didn't have a turnover. We were able to run the ball obviously very, very good for two weeks in a row. And we had some opportunities in the passing game. I thought the passing game was very efficient. And we'll continue to do that. I'm proud of [freshman RB] Joe Bergeron. [Freshman RB] Malcolm [Brown] had a sore foot and did not play. He probably could have played. But we felt like we didn't need him. As the game went on we were prepared to play him if we needed him. [Freshman WR] Jaxon [Shipley] didn't dress. He couldn't run. We tested him this morning and yesterday. So we were able to win without both of those guys which is really important, too. I thought [freshman QB] David Ash continues to grow as a quarterback. [Sophomore QB] Case [McCoy] managed things really well. I was glad he got a throw and a touchdown to [sophomore WR] Darius White. Offensively, we were seven-of-nine on third downs. So we stayed on the field. We were every efficient. I think we were six-of-six in the red zone. All of those things were things that we've needed to do better. And the offensive line is gaining a bunch of confidence, and the tight ends. [Senior RB Foswhitt] Fozzy [Whittaker's] wild formation really helps us for whatever reason. That makes it softer up inside. And the power play was very effective there. We didn't get off the field as much defensively as we needed to. Defensively we missed three or four opportunities. We had the pass interference call in the end zone [on] the first series that we'll review. There were three times we had hands on the ball in the first half for interceptions, and we dropped them. So if there was something that we would rather do better, we'd rather get off the field one third downs. They were four-of-four in the red zone and we didn't force a turnover. Our kicking game was good. Our kickoff coverage has gotten much better since the kickoff return for a touchdown against Oklahoma State. And we're having to manage kickoff returns for us because people are kicking the ball all over the place.
On if it was a conscious decision to use the wild formation in the red zone: Yes. After Oklahoma State we thought it had been effective. We'll continue to use it down there.
On if he ever thought there would be a day where he wouldn't need his top running back in a game: No. Not last year for sure. I thought those days were over. So I like it. I'm proud of Joe [Bergeron]. Joe had not carried for more than 13 times. He got cramps. He's okay.
On if this is the offense they've been working towards: It's more like the offense that we started with. It was the offense that [former Texas RB] Ricky [Wiliams] ran. We want to throw it like [co-offensive coordinator/former Texas QB] Major [Applewhite] threw it that first year. But we want to throw it deep. We want to make people worry about us being physical. And it helps our defense. And it helps the attitude. You go back and we're all preachers of history. We go back and look, and Texas ran the ball when we were good. That's who we were. And we would throw deep. And then we played great defense. So that's what we want to get back to. We do want to throw the ball more and better than we're throwing it. We were effective today, but we'd like to hit those big ones. We would like to be more balanced. We'd like to be more like 60/40. I think we'll probably have to do that within the next four weeks to continue to win. The thing that happens is, [co-offensive coordinator] Bryan [Harsin], Major and I talked about it during the game. When you're running the ball as well as we were, it's hard to want to throw it. And it's just there. And they were putting guys on the line of scrimmage, and we were still running well. So we felt like we should keep running it.
On what a game like this does for QB David Ash: I think it is great for him. The third-down-and-four where he ran for 60 yards was a good decision. He made some great throws. Twice he ran. The option he ran well. He's really getting efficient as a quarterback. He and Case [McCoy] both made some great checks. You could see up at the line of scrimmage. Texas Tech came out with an entirely different defense in the second half. And we had to adjust some things in the first round of the second half. The coaches are on the same page [more]. They're getting to know each other better. So they made immediate adjustments because we felt like that something would happen differently to start the second half. And it happened. [Offensive line coach] Stacy [Searels] and Major and Bryan adjusted it immediately to a different type of run.
On when they told RB Joe Bergeron he would be starting: We didn't know for sure until today. We talked about it during the week. Because we wanted to make sure Malcolm [Brown] got better. A sore toe is a tough one. If he steps on it wrong you may lose him for a while. So thank goodness he didn't have to get hit today. He didn't do too much this week in preparation for hoping he could play. And then when Joe went down it was late enough in the game that we would have been okay. Because [junior RB] Jeremy Hillsdid a good job when he came in. So we're getting more effective with those four. But we have to ask Major for sure. I don't think Joe knew he would play early until today.
On if he was trying to get Joe Bergeron to 200 rushing yards: I quit looking after 140.
On when RB Malcolm Brown's toe starting hurting: I think last week it came up sometime during the game. Those backs get hit so much. It's just hard to tell. And he's just so tough. He wanted to play. He said he could. We just felt like if he's not 100%, we'd like to hold him.
On if he was surprised WR Jaxon Shipley wasn't back for the game today: No. I thought after the game when we saw him jog on the sidelines, we thought he would be fine. And we hope he'll be back for next week. It's just gone a little bit slower. But I thought Sunday and Monday he might play. Then by the end of the week, his snag just didn't get any better.
On having such a complete performance without Texas' leading rusher and wide receiver: I'm shocked. We're developing some depth. We had to play a lot more people on defense. So all those young guys are having to grow up fast. Offensively, [junior OT] Luke Poehlmann's doing a great job. [Freshman OL] Josh Cohran has come along. I thought [freshman OG/C] Dominic Espinosadid great today. All those guys are playing with a lot of confidence. So we're proud that we're building some depth. And we are getting an identity now. And the identity on offense is helping who we are on defense.
On DE Jackson Jeffcoat: He is really getting confidence. We go back and look at Jackson last year. He missed six or seven games with his high ankle sprain. So he really didn't get to have a great year. So I think he is just now learning he can get there. And it got hot in the second half, and they were out there a lot. I just noticed here they still had more time of possession than we did.
On getting to the level he wants the team to be at: I don't know. I know we'll know in the next four weeks. We have four tough games. But I told the guys, let's stop talking about six [wins] now. Let's talk about ten, if we'll play well. If you don't turn the ball over, you run the ball and stop the run - they had 30 yards rushing, or 27 or whatever it is. We had 439 [rushing yards]. If you can continue to get numbers like that you have a chance. You have a chance next week.
On if it will be a challenge to find enough plays for each of his running backs when Malcolm Brown returns: I guess it will be. But it will be a good challenge. Fozzy's not a guy that's going to carry it a lot. He's a third-down guy. He's a wild guy. I think we'll see Malcolm and Joe get more carries together now. Joe probably doesn't need 29. That was evident. And Malcolm doesn't need 28 like he had last week. So we probably could share those a little bit more and keep them healthier.
CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR Bryan Harsin
On QB David Ash's performance today: I think he did a nice job. Two plays in particular, one where he scrambled and had a big run on a third down situation where they covered everybody. It was something that we talked about quite a bit, when everyone's covered and you're not. And he took advantage of that and you could see his ability to make a big play out of that situation. And then with the throwaway when we were in the red zone, he got in that situation where he was getting flushed and he was moving backwards and you could see it just click in his mind, "This is not where I want to go," and got rid of the ball. We had a penalty on it, but still we had an opportunity to score. We had a field goal there, and he knew that and put it away. Those two things, to me, if a quarterback can do those things, we're trying to set things up to be successful. If you can get us out of a bad situations like that, take advantage of coverages and those types of situations where he can run the ball, then I think he's making progress from that standpoint. I think it was good just for his confidence as far as managing the game and knowing that he, in a couple of situations, made the right decision. That's something that all players work on. Everybody has their deals at their position that they work on week to week. He had two opportunities, and he made the right decision in both. I think for him, now he's been there. He can go back and go, "Okay, I've done that. I've been there and I've done that. I know when this comes up again I can make this play or I can throw it away and make the right decision. And if everything else is falling into place, then I'm helping this team out just by doing that."
On the importance of eliminating turnovers: That's number one for our entire team. We don't give it up on offense and our defense gets the turnovers. Not having that from the quarterback position is huge. Not having that from the running back position or anybody that carries the ball. The guys are doing a great job, and we have to eliminate those. We talked about that. We did in this game, and I think you can see the result. When you don't turn the ball over with the way our defense plays and you know that they're going to get them, we give ourselves a chance to win.
On sticking with the run game when it is successful: You go into a game and ideally in a perfect world you want to be 50-50 (running and passing). Then you see how the o-line is coming off the ball. You see the way a team is playing. You see how the running backs are in flow, and it's hard to pull away from that. Those guys are getting yards every single time you're calling a run play. I've always felt like if you can run the ball, everything else opens up. There were opportunities outside. Our receivers had good matchups. We took a couple shots in there. We hit one of them, had a chance at another. It was just off a little bit. That's really this style of offense there, to be able to run the football, hit some shots in there, get some of those intermediate throws or scrambles in that situation and try to be as efficient as possible.
On balancing the run game and the passing game: We wanted to run the ball. We always want to establish the run. But again, you have to go in there and if they're stopping the run, you have to have a package where you can throw the ball. We felt that pass-game wise, we had enough in there. We matched up outside well. We could have thrown the ball. But when Fozzy, Joe, the O-line, the tight ends and the receivers are blocking downfield like that, you just want to allow those guys to get into a flow and they did that. And every time they did, they took advantage of it. So that's a credit to our players more than anything. They're taking advantage of every time the ball is run and making something positive out of it.
On improvements made by the offense overall: I'm really happy about the turnovers, number one. Like every game, you'll go back on tape and like Fozzy was saying, there are always things in there to correct. We can always do something better. We can always work on something. The number one thing though is turnovers. If we eliminate those, I'm happy. Because I know that if we're not turning the ball over, we're giving ourselves a chance. I'm really happy about the red zone that we scored every time we were down in the red zone. That's been an emphasis for us. We've talked about that. Our third downs improved. So all those stats got better. But the two most important things were that we didn't turn the ball over and I felt like when we came out to play, we were ready. And it's a credit to our players. We just felt like we were ready to come out and play.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Manny Diaz
On today's defensive performance: It wasn't a perfect performance, but I thought that when the game was in the balance, we played really well. Prior to our red zone defense making them kick field goals, teams like this are really hard to stop from getting yards. We tried really hard to stop them from getting points. Really the way we went out on that first drive, it seemed like they had about 30 snaps.
On how the defense is improving: There is no magic formula. I think what this team is all about is trying as hard as we can to improve from week in and week out. And I really want to think that after the game today, we can improve from our performance against Kansas. We all individually can get better, and that is what this team's sole purpose has been since the first week of the season. There were things we did really well today, but there are things we can try and do better for next week. With Jackson, you can just see things coming along and it is big for his sophomore year. And all the guys up front did a great job. A lot of those sacks that we are [having] we are just making them hold that ball a second longer.
On DE Jackson Jeffcoat: He is using everything he has. He cannot do one thing over and over. One play may work when the guys would come inside and make a play there. I believe the offensive end did a great job with the quarterback. There is no one trick, but the main thing is being relentless in your effort.
On the physical nature of defense: I think that is the image and the attitude the football team has found a lot of comfort in. We want to be the most physical football team every time we go out there. Four-hundred-five yards - that's real and that is something we want to bring every week. We know that if we run the football on offense and stop [their]offense, we can control the football game. If you have to pass to make all the plays, balls can get tipped and things happen. Our football team is reveling on our physicality, but we can still be a lot better.
On third downs: In this game, I would say we re-determined our plays down the field out there. We had a few stops for field goals and allowed our offense to stay fresh in the second half.
RB Fozzy Whittaker
On the play of the offensive line: The offensive line is doing a great job. They continue to just get better and better and stronger and stronger and as running backs, we just have to continue to hit it and I feel like that's what we've been doing. It's just determination. You look into their eyes and you can just tell that they're focused and ready to push them off the ball no matter what kind of play it is. If it's a run call they're digging in there deep making sure that they rule the line. If it's a pass play they're making sure that they give the quarterbacks time to throw the ball.
On how success running the ball opens up the offense: I think it complements it a lot. Whenever you can run the ball, it kind of opens up the passing game a lot more. The defense has to worry about both play action and running the ball. It's kind of hard to stop, and it keeps us more balanced. They focus on one, and you hit them with the other. And David was able to scramble a couple times and get him some runs too.
On the play of the offense and QB David Ash: It's just taking care of the ball. That's our number one goal offensively is to make sure we take care of the ball. Offensively, we did a great job of that. Rushing, all the back that were carrying it made sure we took care of the ball. Throwing it, Ash was able to make sure we were in good position and making sure we handled that number one goal. We already knew that David had [a strong arm] in his arsenal. He has a very strong arm and just seeing him throw it over the top to Mike Davis a couple times is what we've already been practicing, and what we knew.
On the play of RB Joe Bergeron: Joe is very hard to tackle and attack. With somebody of his size, he's a big back but still can run and has great feet. It's kind of hard to tackle him because he has so many moves in his arsenal. He can lower his shoulder. He can give them the stiff arm, and he can juke. Just finding a way to attack him is the hardest thing. Being one of the old heads in the running back room, I take it upon myself to make sure that both [Malcolm Brown and Joe] stay motivated. Even when Malcolm is on top, making sure he's still grounded and making sure Joe is still hungry and fighting for everything. And now that Joe is on top, making sure that he still stays humble and that Malcolm stays hungry. In that sense, I feel that both of them will continue to play off each other.
On whether or not this is the best the offense has played so far: I would say that this was a pretty good showing for us. We still have things that we can work on and get better at, so I wouldn't say that it's the best, but I feel that we did very well.
S Blake Gideon
On the first two series: It was huge. We talk all the time that how if we give them a little, the worse that can happen they could get in the red zone. We want to keep them out of the end zone, that's the main thing. We want to keep them with field goals, and we know our offense is going to catch up eventually if they aren't starting fast like they did today. Our main stress is to keep them out of the end zone, and we were able to do that today.
On becoming bowl eligible: The sixth win is significant, and we understand that. We understand the weight that carries and becoming bowl eligible was definitely one of our goals. We weren't able to achieve that last year, so it is important. But at the same time, we have more games to play and we aren't going to stop at six wins. We have a good team to get ready for next week, and we need to keep that in mind.
OG David Snow
On playing tough: When you play offensive lineman [position], that's what your goal is every week. To pound someone. That's our goal, and we are going to continue to work on that.
On QB David Ash's presence in the huddle: He's been growing up fast. He commands the huddle and has been doing a really great job for us, in getting the plays in and making all the shifts.
WR Marquise Goodwin
On how RB Joe Bergeron handled the starting role: He handled it well. As any other [running] back, he got out there and did his job. The linemen blocked, and he got up field.
On 439 rushing yards: It's very impressive. Last week we did it, and this week we had to show them that it wasn't a fluke last week.
On how running the ball will open up the pass game in the coming weeks: It will help it a lot. That's why I don't mind it too much. I'm doing my job and doing what I'm supposed to do. The big plays for the receivers will come as long as we keep blocking.
DE Jackson Jeffcoat
On what he worked on this last week: We worked on playing like ourselves. [Defensive coordinator] Manny Diaz always talked about being a tough team and getting after it and having people always being up-tempo and in the line ready to go.
On Manny Diaz's pre-game speech: He said to go out there and have fun. He said that guys that don't go out there and have fun don't go out and make as many plays. So he says to have fun and enjoy it.
RB Joe Bergeron
On his performance today: It wasn't easy. It took a lot of hard work. The line did their work up front, which in turn the running backs did theirs. It all starts up front. The line made the holes, and I just ran through them.
On his mindset coming into the game with Malcolm Brown out: To be prepared for anything. Anything can happen so you have to go out there with the mindset that whatever happens you just have to play off of it.
On confidence in the running game: As the running backs, we just go out and do our part. We run the ball. We find the holes. The linemen put the holes there so we run where they [opponents] are not.
LB Keenan Robinson
On best performance as a team this season: Last week was pretty good for us. We didn't let them score at all and the offense almost scored every time they had the ball. This week and last week together are our best back to back performances this season.
On the pass rush: If we can get to the quarterback without blitzing then we're doing a great job. We didn't blitz that much because we knew that we would soften their pass game. We sat back in coverage and let our guys do what they received their scholarship for. They earned it today. We had multiple guys with more than two sacks, so that's a very good job for them and the scheme that we had.
On the speed of the pass rushers: Every week we watch tackles and offensive linemen and see what their weaknesses are. We watch film for hours upon hours everyday, and you just know what to do. They watched OU's pass rushers and K-State's pass rushers to see what worked, and they were able to convert that and use it in today's game. Their time watching film really showed today.
WR Mike Davis
On practice this week: We practice hard every week. We prepared well and came in today knowing what to do, and did everything right.
On the running game's success: It's fun but receivers want the ball, too. It just shows the little things. Blocking is a big part as a receiver. Everyone knows a receiver can catch, but it really comes down to blocking. We did a really good job of blocking today.
On the running game opening up the pass game: Yes, it will help out the pass game. Everyone will come down, and that will open up big shots over the top.
On if this is the best game this season: We have played really well against a lot of teams, but we played really well this week. There are other games where we've played really well and fought hard until the end, too.
QB David Ash:
On not turning the ball over: I did well, but there were a lot of people out there that made me look like I was doing really well. The offensive line blocked really well and the running backs ran the ball well. Whenever it starts with the run, the rest will come. I just really appreciated how everybody played.
On confidence: I try to make my confidence level the same all the time and just let my game come. Confidence always has to be there.
On the freshman running backs: It makes me excited about the future. I know I'm going to be with these guys for a long time, and we're going to have a great run game.
On the QB running the ball: It's like your progressions and your fourth read. You go through your first progression, your second progression, your check down and if it's not there then you're taking off.
TEXAS TECH
HEAD COACH Tommy Tuberville
Opening Statement: Not a very good performance, obviously. The guys were ready to play, played with the right emotion, had good practices all week. The bottom line when it comes down to it, we just do not have enough to stop anybody that runs the ball. As I just told the players, we have got to find someway, somehow to get ourselves off the field and make somebody punt. I have never been in a game where the other team never punted all day. They scored every possession and really only kicked one field goal. We did not play that great on offense this week. I thought that we put our defense back out there some times when the offense we should have stayed on a little longer and moved the ball down the field. It was a different offense than we have seen. It was not a finesse offense. It was lining up and coming right at us. We did not stand our blocks really well. We did not take on double teams very well, which you do not see in this league too much. Texas has a much better defense this year. They have improved as the year has gone on. At times we do not have enough bullets it looks like to make that big play and turn this thing around. There are a bunch of disappointed kids in there that came to play and came to play hard. It is not their fault. We will find a way to make some moves around and try to help. If we have got to put twelve, thirteen on the field, to find someway somehow to stop the run, because it has not been there all year long. When we do put enough in the box, we tend give up a big play in the passing game. Just not a good day, but I am proud of the effort. Just was not a good day of tackling, and being able to take on a football team.
On the first drive: It just was disappointing. You can tell we came to play. We ran right down the field and scored, but we got a facemask penalty. I guess it was there. I am sure it was. It was called by the referee in the back in center. It was one of those things that when you are scrambling and trying so hard, it is hard to get a break.
QB Seth Doege
On whether it was frustrating not to get in the end zone on the first drive: I mean, at the time, you know, it wasn't that big of a deal. We got points on our first drive. It was a successful drive. Our goal is to score touchdowns. I think it would have sparked us a little more, but at the same time, you can't worry about that stuff. You've got to lay the next drive.
On whether Texas' defense was distracting: We're not going to point any fingers or anything like that. Everybody is involved in this loss. It's just one of those things where we're going to go and watch the film and understand what we did wrong and learn from it.
On whether the last two defenses they played approached them differently: I think defenses have been playing us basic--kind of simple stuff. I think it's just a matter of doing things the right way and not shooting ourselves in the foot, which I think was kind of the case today. Give them all the credit. Obviously, they're a great defense. But at the same time, offensively, I think we're good enough to move the ball on anybody and when we don't, it's usually because of the same tale of shooting ourselves in the foot.
On what adjustments Texas made at half time: Like I said, it was one of those things where we know what they're doing and the plays are good plays and they should work. It's just one of those things where everybody, you know all eleven of us, have to do our job. When that happens, we're successful.
On whether the season is at a teetering point: It's definitely not the outcome we wanted. Definitely, today, you know, it's another embarrassing loss. But in the Big 12, as soon as the game is over you have to watch the film and then after 24 hours, you've got to move on and get ready for the next one. We have three games left. We've got a three-game season. We need to figure out how to win of those.
On what changes have happened since his team beat OU: In our last week, I think that we weren't ready to play. I think we kind of took things for granted a little bit and weren't focused. But this week, I felt like everybody was ready to play. Everyone was excited about it. It felt like we could win this game. It came down to not getting it done. Not executing. And that could be either the small things that we were supposed to do that we didn't, or [Texas] outplaying us.
On how frustrating it is, as an offensive player, to have so few chances: Coach [Neal] Brown always preaches that you can't worry about what you can't control. On the field, you kind of block it out. You worry about your job. You don't worry about the other guy doing his job. As for me, I trust in the guys on defense. They're going to get it fixed. They're good players. I think they want to be good, so they're going to do whatever they need to do to get that fixed and be ready to roll.
On early struggles in the red zone: I think that's the biggest thing, the penalties. You can't get in the red zone and move backwards and expect to score on a good defense like Texas. I think that was the biggest thing. The penalties in the red zone.
DE Kerry Hyder
On whether this loss is embarrassing for the defense: Yeah, we never win games giving up 50 points a game. We have to find something to stop the run. We have to do something. We have to go back to work Sunday, watch the film and just put this behind us. Work on getting ready for [Oklahoma] State.
On whether Texas made some changes up front: They didn't change much. We saw a lot of what they did on film. We just have to make tackles, and we have to get off blocks. We just have to step up and man up on the defensive side of the ball.
On whether this loss was tougher for him: Being from Austin, I wanted to come in and get this win. But, you know, I understand that it's hard for the whole team. It's just my homecoming that we lost. We've just got to get it together.
On whether this team is built to stop the run: Yeah, of course, we need to stop the run. It's just the willpower, too. We have to step up and do it. We had the right players in place to do it. We just have to come together and make it happen.
On whether this loss was disheartening: This is hard, giving up that many rushing yards and not being to stop somebody. Like I said, we just need to go back to the drawing board and see what is going to work.
On adjustments made: We made some adjustments. We did and so did Texas. They have great coaches, like we've got great coaches that are making adjustments. We trust our coaches. It's just things just weren't going our way today.
OL LaAdrian Waddle
On how tough the game was today: They came out ready to play. I think at first we came out ready to play and some things starting making us fight. We didn't play up to our full potential, especially in the first half. Things just went downhill.
On whether the speed rush was giving them trouble: They're pretty good. They're pretty fast, and they're more speed-to-the-ball guys. So they had a little power, too. They presented a good challenge for us upfront.
On how well he played today: I mean, I think I did - especially in the second half - I think I did a lot better. I don't think I played as good as I should have.
On the mood of his team: Obviously, we're down, especially after this kind of loss. But we're still hanging on to having a positive attitude because we still have three games left in the season. We need to win those three games to be where we want to be.
On missed opportunities: Especially early, I know the offensive line had a couple of penalties that set us back. You can't do that in the red zone and score touchdowns. Especially in the red zone.
On whether there were communication errors on his team: Maybe [we were] not tuned in all the way or a little lack of focus.