The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.21.2014 | Football
Assistant head coach for offense/QB coach Shawn Watson and players met with the media
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Following Tuesday's practice assistant head coach for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson, senior linebacker Jordan Hicks, senior wide receiver Jaxon Shipley and senior tight end Geoff Swaim met with the media. Below are quotes from the availability.
Assistant head coach for Offense/Quarterbacks Shawn Watson
On if he was surprised on the decision to go for it with 22 seconds left: We had talked about it before the kickoff that if we were able to get a good return and put the ball in position to take some shots, we would. We had a plan before we ever got in that situation. Hot Rod [Roderick Bernard] did an excellent job of getting us out and putting us in position on the return to do that. Execution of the first play and, obviously, the second play was just an outstanding job by our guys.
On video of him from the press box near the end of the Iowa State game: Everybody has asked me about it. I was excited. What happens when you go through something like that is you're basically playing tendencies that happen during a game - there were tendencies going into the game we knew. They were validated during the game, and being able to nail a call during the game in that kind of critical situation – you've got to trust your instincts because it's got to happen again. It did, and that's exciting point one. Point two is execution of the play. The guys did a great job.
On ensuring Jerrod Heard is still up to speed as backup QB: The way we practice, you've heard me talk about the way we practice with our backups. Our two guy gets a lot of reps, our twos in general get a lot of reps, so we've been able to bring him along. He's actually been sharing reps in 7-on-7 because of the way we practice 7-on-7, so he's gotten that against the defense. He's gotten against the look that we're getting ready to play, for example the opponent this week - Kansas State. Then he gets a scout period, also. He gets the majority of them, he gets all of the two reps. What we try to do is when Ty[rone Swoopes] is going in and we're out of that type of realm of practice, because there's times when we put "good on good" when we do competitive drills, ones on twos, twos on ones, he's with me. I talk him through and have him give me the mental aspect before Ty runs it, and then he obviously goes out and runs the offense, this week, for example, against K-State, against our defense to give him a faster look.
On if it's too early to label Tyron Swoopes 'the guy' since he hasn't gotten a signature win: He's doing pretty good. I think what you're talking about is critical in his development and our development of our team. I think every quarterback has got to go out and get the big win because those big wins are what begin to define your career. That goes along with big wins like playing a ranked opponent, like we're playing this week, at their place. Also, it goes along with winning championships. Those are all things that he has to grow to, and that's an important part for his development, absolutely. I think that's big for him and that's his next step.
On Iowa State being another big leap for Swoopes: He played really well, he really did. He took a big step. He played really well against Oklahoma, and he took another big step this week. I think what you see is him playing with a confidence and the things we talked about before, about learning to compete in a game and just let the game come to you and react and play fast, he's learned to trust that now. That's what you saw this past week is a more consistent basis. He's playing free right now. He's not processing, he's not thinking, he's just trusting and reacting. Where all the hard work and preparation goes in really for him starts Sunday and last before the final foot hits the ball on the kickoff, I keep him working. He's really learning how to prepare, which has also helped him beside the fact that he's grown to get comfortable with what we're doing and his role in it.
On scripting plays before a game [specifically for the third quarter]: That's what I was referring to last week, I went back to that. Sometimes those get interrupted by adjustments that they've made for us. Sometimes those things are good. I always try to take a plan in there that's different from the first half plan was, so what they've prepared for is not what they're going to get the second half. They have to get their pens and papers back out or the boards on the sideline and keep scratching, keep working. We set things up for Ty really to help him and to help our receivers. There's a lot of things that go into what we do. A lot of it is for rhythm, a lot of it is for touches and who gets touches – what backs get touches, how receivers get touches. We're not only trying to create rhythm, but we're also trying to create touches for guys who can impact the game early. All of that goes into developing those openers. That opener is a list that sometimes -- I'll only go anywhere from 15 to 25. Basically for me, it's a hot list. This past week, I only used the first 21, and we were on task with what we were doing. You get off of it when you're in situational football. Those calls are not represented in nickel downs or goal line, etc. Anything that would cause you situationally to get off, you get off. We had a really good plan going on and felt good what we were doing as the week went on. That's what Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday is all about, it's getting a feel for that plan.
On why Manhattan is a difficult place for Texas to win: They've got a nice culture going. Coach [Bill] Snyder is an icon in our business. The guy has been unbelievable, he's a great coach. He's made that whole environment there - "it's theirs, it's theirs." They own it, and it's a tough place to go. They've got a great crowd, they're always into the game, the students are right behind you, it's always packed, and they're very loyal. They're very loyal. There are fans that remind me a lot of the Nebraska fans. They come out and they're there rain or shine. They're behind that team. They've created a culture there that he should get all the credit for because they believe in what he is doing and what he's done.
On senior wide receiver John Harris: He's become the poster child for what we want in our program, I think, offensively and defensively, every coach would tell you. He's invested himself in our program, and he's invested himself in what he expected to get out of it. I remember, he was considering not coming back because he was disappointed in some of the things that happened in his career before we got here. He was really down and had gotten heavy. We basically said 'hey look, give us a chance to coach you.' I was looking for a big guy. We had Devante Parker at Louisville, a big guy that could handle the boundary routes and was playing both inside and outside lanes, and we could move around. He seemed to be the best body type we had, and once we got into it and started working with him, he had a great competitive spirit about him. He's a great competitor, and that's the thing that he does for us and that's why I think we all point to him. John plays at such a high competitive level. He competes, he competes for the ball. He bailed Ty out on a short throw early in the first half. He let one go down the boundary, it was for about 37 yards, and it was thrown inside, but John out-competed the corner for the ball. He's done that several times. He's just got a great competitive edge, and he's learned to develop his skills and the fundamentals of the position that it takes to be successful, and he uses his big body – great hands catcher.
Senior LB Jordan Hicks
On his explanation for the defense's play: We just came out and it was a lot of eye control. It was undisciplined play. That's really all it was. It's just on us.
On DT Malcom Brown: I think he's the best in the country. Obviously I play behind him, I know. I see him every day. I see what happens every day. I see what he does and how he works and how he plays. That's the thing. He works for it. He's not just one of these guys who comes in and is super, super naturally gifted. Well he is super, super naturally gifted but he definitely works like he's trying to prove something. I've got all the respect in the world for him and everything that comes at the end of the season, he deserves.
On if this is a grudge match: It's no grudge match. It's Kansas State. They've always produced good teams. Coach Snyder has always produced great teams out there and that's what they are, they're a team. They beat you because they're a good team and they've got good players, their quarterback is really good. They've got Lockett out there who is very explosive. Everybody has to be on the same page on defense.
On playing on the road and what's so special about Manhattan: I love it, especially K-State. It's been a while since I've been there. The atmosphere there is awesome. They're right behind you. They're talking crazy to you. Those are memory games. You're always going to remember that. It's you against the world. You go in there to somebody else's house, and that's just the way it is, you'll remember that.
Senior WR Jaxon Shipley
On if he gets more out of a close win than beating someone bad: I'd rather beat someone bad. When it comes down to it, I think you learn that this team has a lot of fight and we're not going to give up and that shows for the last two weeks, honestly. Because with Oklahoma, I don't think we ever gave up, we were still fighting there towards the end. The other day, you never know what can happen if you go into the overtime, so thank goodness, we were able to get some points on the board before the end of the game. But if we're being real honest, everybody wants to win by a whole lot, but I think that a win is a win, and it's just as important.
On if he thinks they are a dangerous team: I think we show spurts here and there of that. I don't think we've hit on all cylinders. The thing is, one game we'll have a really good game on offense, one game we'll have a really good game on defense. It seems like there hasn't been a fully complete game yet, but I think we've showed that we can be explosive on all sides of the ball and once we get that together, I think we can be a really explosive team and a dangerous team.
On if Tyrone is carrying himself any differently after last game: I think he is. He's one of those guys that doesn't show a whole lot of emotion but I think he's starting to really feel confident and you can see that, not an arrogant confidence by any means. He's one of the most humble guys I know and you can just tell he's really starting to get confident and I think that's great for us, as wide receivers, just to see that your quarterback is really starting to feel comfortable and feel that he can get the job done. It's really hard to go and do what he did on that last drive. Not many guys can lead a team down the field with [22] seconds and get points on the board. I think he's showing that he can get the job done and if I were him, I'd be confident, too.
On if there's anything different about Shawn Watson as a coach: I think the thing that separates him is he's a guy that if he has you out there on the field, it means he believes in you 100 percent. I think that shows with John Harris. John is a guy who didn't get to play a whole lot and then these coaches, especially Coach Watson, were really open to these guys. It didn't matter what your past was here. It didn't matter if you were a walk-on or a scholarship guy, they were open to, if you can play ball, we'll see what you can do and then we're going to believe in you. I think that's an awesome thing because there's no telling where John would be right now if Coach Watson and [wide receivers] Coach [Les] Koenning didn't have the trust in him that they do. I think John's had an unbelievable year and it's been awesome playing beside him and it's been really cool to see the way he's responded to these coaches and stuff. I think the thing with Coach Watson is everybody respects him and he's a guy that's really a player's coach.
Senior TE Geoff Swaim
On Tyrone Swoopes leading the game-winning drive: It was huge. I think at the time, you're not really reflecting on it, you're just playing the game. But Sunday and yesterday, you had a chance to think how far he's come and how far we've come and how much better we can get. Seeing him make plays like that, I'm sure it feels good for him. It's great to see that from us and we have all the confidence in the world in him. That's never been an issue, but seeing that play out is obviously a huge boost for us.
On how he would describe Kansas State's offense: Effective. They put up points. They control the ball. They run the ball well. Obviously, [Kansas State QB Jake] Waters is a hell of a quarterback and he can run well and he can also throw the ball. I think that's one thing he doesn't really get recognition for is he's a really good passer. They're real effective and they do their jobs. That goes for the whole team. Their whole team is very disciplined. When we play them, you have to be as disciplined, if not more disciplined, than you already play at because they're not going to give up dumb plays and they're not going to beat themselves, so you have to play at that much higher of a level.
On if this is a no-mistake kind of game: Absolutely. Anytime you're on the road, that's the case and it's always true, no matter where you play at. Even when you're at home, you can't give up plays like that, but especially on the road in front of a crowd like that, everything counts and it's going to count even more, no matter what you do. The kicking game is a huge part, it's a third of the game and one play can change the course of the game, especially in special teams. When you see a blocked kick or you see a missed kick, or things like that, not only does the momentum swing but you can go from potentially having three points to they run a kick back. That's a 10-point swing right there, so they're huge, especially on the road, it's even more so.
