The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
04.16.2015 | Football
Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Vance Bedford and assistant head coach for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson met with the media in preparation for the Orange-White Scrimmage
Video: Bedford's media session | Video: Watson's media session
In advance of Saturday's Orange-White Scrimmage, presented by Schlotzsky's, which will be held at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Longhorns defensive coordinator/secondary coach Vance Bedford and assistant head coach for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson met with the media on Thursday.
Bedford is looking to replace six starters on defense, many of whom were productive four-year players. He and the defensive staff are looking to mold a number of inexperienced, but talented players into replacements.
Watson discussed the quarterback battle between junior Tyrone Swoopes and redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard, adjustments to the offensive scheme and recent additions to the offensive staff - wide receivers coach Jay Norvell and tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Jeff Traylor.
Texas completed its 13th football practice of the spring Wednesday and is about to conclude spring practice, which features 15 workouts and began on March 25.
The Longhorns will practice again Friday, with a number of lettermen in attendance. Saturday's Orange-White Scrimmage is set to kick off at 1 p.m. Central, and it will be preceded at 11 a.m. by a Fan Fest in and around the North end of the stadium.
Fans can purchase a 2015 football season ticket starting at just $199. Visit TexasSports.com or call 512-471-3333 to speak to a personal representative to discuss your options.
Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Vance Bedford
On if the defense has been outperforming the offense during spring: No, not at all. Offense has been going up and down the field on us right now. I really love our quarterbacks, the way they are playing right now, [Tyrone] Swoopes and [Jerrod] Heard. I think those guys have the potential to have an outstanding year. I think they can be a one-two punch. In the last few practices, Daje [Johnson] has looked like the Daje we always wanted him to look like. I'm excited for our offense right now; we have quite a few guys back. Offensive line has depth and competition. We have competition at the quarterback position. What makes you a good football team is competition. When you look behind you and there's nobody behind you, you don't get the chance to be uncomfortable. Competition makes you uncomfortable, and that's what we have with our offense right now, competition. Defensively, we have a lot of guys, especially on the defensive line, that's out right now. We're missing Caleb Bluiett, Tank [Desmond Jackson], Chris Nelson, Derick Roberson. So we have four defensive linemen that haven't gone through one day of spring practice. We're going to be a little bit young on defense. I think we lost six starters, and with them we lost 60 to 65 percent of our production. So you got a lot of guys that need to step up and do some good things for us, especially at the linebacker position. We lost two starters that had been starting for two or three years. Now you have two untested guys in Peter Jinkens and Tim Cole. Behind them, you have a redshirt freshman that came here as a strong safety. So all of a sudden he's thrust into a position where he has to play inside and give us some depth and competition. Malik [Jefferson] started outside because of an injury to Dalton Santos, so he's now playing a position that he's never played. So our second team right now, behind our first team guys, is freshmen and redshirt freshmen. Right now, those guys have come a long way in a short time, and the best thing about tomorrow, is that we don't have to play tomorrow, is just a scrimmage.
On if Malik Jefferson is the real deal: I don't know if he is just yet. When the season starts, we'll find out. Right now, he's a freshman that's running around lost and confused like most freshmen do. He has a long way to go in a very short time. Again, he's playing inside backer because of injuries. He has a lot of potential, and you know potential is a bad word that coaches don't like to use, but that's what he is right now. He's a potential football player.
On what Timothy Cole and Peter Jinkens have shown so far: Right now, Peter and Tim are starting at Mike and Will linebacker. Pete played some for us last year. He started in two games. Besides that, he was primarily a special teams player. Tim Cole played a little bit of special teams. Those guys have not played a lot of ball, but we need them to be the leaders of our defense, because we feel as a defensive staff, that leadership starts with the middle linebackers. So those guys need to step up and do quite a few things for us and get ready for Notre Dame next year.
On how much leadership are they teaching now, or if they have to let leadership take its course: It'll actually take its course. We are always looking for leaders. As coaches, it's our job to develop leaders. I look at Duke [Thomas], and he has taken a leadership role in the DB room. Last year he felt that with two seniors in Quandre [Diggs] and Mykkele [Thompson], that it was not his place to speak up. Now he's doing that. At linebackers right now, we are very young. You look at the defensive line, we have some experience but you lost leadership there. Caleb Bluiett has the potential to be a leader, but he's on the sideline, and it's difficult to be a leader on the sideline. From a leadership standpoint, we have a long way to go, but the best thing about it is that we have some time. It's coming. They work hard, and I see a lot of good things ahead for those guys
On how much does it help to practice against a spread offense given that so many teams use it now: A lot of people believe that, but I'm on the fence there. For me as a defensive coach, the game is about fundamentals and technique. To do fundamentals and technique, you slow things down, you teach them the little things, then you pick things up and you go fast. Right now, we've got a lot of young guys that are always in chase mode, they forget the fundamentals real fast. That's the thing about it. Long-term wise it's going to benefit us, short time wise, which is spring, you don't get as excited about it. That's because you have a lot of young guys out there and their heads are swimming because our offense is going a thousand miles a minute. As coaches, we've got to stay calm, and I'm not a calm guy whatsoever, but's that's just part of it. But it's going to benefit us down the line because we've been looking at opponents already – Notre Dame, Cal. Cal uses no-huddle. Notre Dame is from the spread with a two-back set. So what our offense is doing right now is to help against those opponents.
On if John Bonney can be a breakout player this year: John Bonney. He's a redshirt freshman that has not played one snap right now. My expectations are that he's going to be a freshman. We're going to have a lot of freshmen playing out there for us next year, and sometimes you're going to make freshman mistakes. He's athletic, and I think his athleticism could help him out as the season goes on. He should get better and better each ballgame. He's a guy with a lot of upside, but he hasn't played college football yet.
On the state of the secondary right now: Right now, we don't have a lot of depth. We've got some talented freshmen coming in. They're going to come in and they're going to be on the second team. Not because they deserve to be on the second team, but because of the lack of depth. That's just what we are at this time. We lost some keys guys on the secondary, so we have to add some guys to come in and compete and get ready to go. At the University of Texas, that's not what you really want, but that's just where we are at this time.
On if Jason Hall can be one of those guys that step it up this year: That's a good question; I'm going in a different direction to answer that one. My wife and I, we look at the weather every night after I get home. We talk about the weather more in Austin, Texas, than in any other place we've ever been. They say a cold front is coming in, and it drops two degrees. That's the cold front. They say it's going to rain, that we're going to have a flash flood, and it rains a quarter of an inch. Jason Hall is like that flash flood that never happens. He's a freshman, he makes freshman mistakes, he does freshman things, and he sometimes he flashes.
On Poona Ford's progress: Poona, last year, he played well for us as a true freshman, he really did. Right now, Poona Ford is one of our top three defensive linemen. Bryce Cottrell has had an outstanding spring. I'm really excited; I talked to him after practice yesterday. I said: "You had an outstanding spring. They only guy who doesn't believe that, is you. You have a lot of upside; you can do a lot of things to help us this season. Don't worry about the 'what if's.' You make a play and show excitement." Shiro Davis had a solid spring for us. With the guys that are injured, if they come back and give us anything, we can be pretty decent with the defensive line. If you're decent with the defensive line, you have a chance to be decent with the defense. Going back to last season, Poona Ford was one of our better guys because he's a technician. He walks out there. He looks like a guy that should be a chef, just put a hat on him and that's it. But all of a sudden, he gets down and he's a technician. He gets in a great stance, his first step is good. He uses his hands and enters the right spot. He does the little things right and he understands football. What made Malcom Brown a great football player was not just his athletic ability, he understood the game. Poona Ford has that in him; he has that kind of ability. He's not as big as Malcom, but as far as being a football player and understanding the game, he brings that to the table.
On what Shiro Davis brings: Shiro has been pretty solid for us. The best thing about where we're at right now, is that he and Bryce Cottrell play the same position, so that gives us a solid two-deep. So I feel like when we get all the guys back and they play well, that's going to be a pretty good position for us this year. They have to replace Cedric Reed, and you get two guys to do that for us at that position, we have a chance to be alright.
On if the strong side defensive end position will be split 50-50 between Shiro Davis and Bryce Cottrell: There's no doubt. It's going to be split 50-50. We need both of them to play because right now, with all the spread teams and the pace of the game, you need to play two deep. And I think we won't miss anything, they're going to be the same. I think that Shiro Davis is better against the run, Bryce Cottrell is a great technician, and he's pass-rushing ability is very explosive.
On if he has been able to sleep at night after the 6-7 season: Yes I do. I learned a long time ago. When I first got into coaching, I'd never had a losing season. As a player, I've never been on a losing team. My first year at Division I, we went 1-11. And believe it or not, I was broken hearted after every game. My father said, "Vance, if you're going to stay in coaching, you must learn how to deal with it. You're not going to be happy about it, but you're going to have to learn to deal with it. Otherwise, get out of coaching." My father told me that in 1987. I've never forgotten that. Do I like losing? No. Do I have a knot in my stomach to get ready for next season? Yes. But when I go home and I spend time with my wife, it's about her. So I don't have any trouble sleeping at all.
On if the defensive line the strength of this team: There's no doubt about that. I think that is those guys coming back, and if they are anywhere close to what they were before the injuries, that's going to be the strength of our defense. Because again, we're young at linebacker, we're young in the secondary. You look at any great defense across this country, whether is high school, college, or the NFL, when you see a good defensive front, you're probably going to see a decent to great defense. We should be pretty good upfront this season.
Assistant head coach for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson
Opening statement: It's been a really good spring for us. The things that we've done offensively have really played to the skill set of our quarterback first and foremost, which both of those guys have had really good springs for us. Then it's also played to what our skill around them can do. It's been a really good spring so far. I think everyone is excited. I'm happy with the progress we've made thus far. It's been a good spring.
On what led to decision to up the tempo of the offense: We basically sat down as an entire staff, and obviously [head coach] Charlie [Strong] as the head of that. We knew at the end of the season exactly what our skill set was and what we'd be dealing with in the season coming up. Everything starts with your quarterback. We looked at what we had in both Tyrone [Swoopes] and Jerrod [Heard] and obviously in what we had recruited to the program in Kai [Locksley]. What is it that we can do to put them in the best position possible to be successful to play to that skill set? That was obviously more of a spread, wide-open attack where they have a lot of run-pass options available to them, where they can use their skill as a runner. Both of those guys, and Kai included, have different running styles, but you can run all three of them. Then also into that is what we can do to help our offensive line. Keeping things consistent for them and we can get them really good at the blocking patterns we are asking them to do. It became a no-brainer for us as we moved on. We added the speed element, which is something we added a bit last year. It was something we felt like we played better at and it would aid what we were getting ready to do. Everything that we saw pointed us in that direction.
On if each quarterback has his own package: There's no package for either. It's built for both of them. It's built for the type of quarterback we want to bring into our program.
On QB Jerrod Heard's improvement: I told him yesterday coming off the field that he's the single most important thing that's happened to this football team was his improvement. He had a great winter and we spent a lot of time together. I think just the natural process of having been in the program. Different things can happen to him from a defensive standpoint. He's seeing so many different defenses than he saw in high school. He's more comfortable with that. He's more comfortable with what we are doing and the style of play we are running and how to make decisions in that. He's really has upped the ante and that started back in the winter. The first week, he was getting his feet under him and it was hit or miss. I pulled him aside and told him that he needed to eliminate the bad plays, the ones that hurt the offense. It's real simple. I think it took him through what he needed to see in those mistakes. He went out last Monday so it's been two weeks of really good football. In the course of that happening, just what happens to everyone in that room and Tyrone [Swoopes] being that guy in front of him, his ante went up because it has to. It's made our whole football team better and stronger. I was taught the teacher will appear when the student is ready, and he was ready to go. He's really hung onto the things we've asked him to do. He's done a really nice job with it.
On if Tyrone Swoopes will start the Orange-White Scrimmage: Yeah. It wouldn't be fair to the football team or those guys that are competing to name a starter right now. We're going to let those guys compete. It's been healthy and good for both of them. They've both embraced it. Jerrod [Heard] had a breakout run yesterday and the first guy that met him in the end zone was Tyrone and that's how I want my room to be. Whenever the quarterback position is right, the team is right. It also not only comes in competition, but the spirit in which they compete. One of the things that happens in this position because it has so much responsibility and pressure on it, you begin to respect each other's work. Those two guys have been each other's best ally and best friend in this competition. They've made each other better and they've embraced the competitive part, which is what I wanted to see and get. I feel like I have a room that I left and the rooms that I'm used to now.
On if he wants a two-quarterback system: You don't want to do that. I don't even want to go down that road. I think when you do that stuff and there's a saying 'if you have two, you have none.' You have to have leadership. They aren't competing to share time. They're competing to be the starter. That's what's best for the football team.
On bringing in a transfer quarterback after the semester: It's less of a need. We don't really have those types of talk right now because of the way those guys have performed. I'm a humble guy. I've learned in this profession – it's a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month process.
On if he's set a date to name a starter: No, there's no date. You don't do that. You do it whenever it shows itself. I've been in this profession and coaching position a long time and you don't do that. It's not what's right for the team or those guys competing. You don't put a date on it unless you have to. I think those things show themselves. Over the course of time, those things show themselves at a point that's reasonable for the team and you manage it that way as a coach.
On if he plans on finishing spring practices without naming a starting quarterback: We're going to let those kids compete is what I'm saying. We're going let them compete. Tyrone [Swoopes] is walking out there first [on Saturday] just because. I'm sure Charlie told you guys yesterday, Jerrod has made it a competition where it wasn't a competition before.
On the quarterback's evolution as a leader: For all those guys, the example I talk about – I think both are an example of this – it starts with your work ethic. You shouldn't have to lead by words if you lead by example. Both of them have been leaders by example. In our winter conditioning, they were two of our most competitive players in it. I really believe that that's what both of them are. They have been great competitors in that they've done whatever we've asked them to do. Their teammates respect them for the work they've put into it. Now you see the production that both of them are putting out on the field. It just continues to garner more respect.
On whether the switch to spread system still allows the ability to sell recruits on what he did with Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville: Today, I listened to all those experts talk about the Draft. I think the number one position in this sport of football is the quarterback. You have to have a plan to develop those players on and off the field. It starts off the field because if it doesn't happen off the field, it'll never happen on the field. That begins with learning defensive football – understanding how defense is put together, what they are trying to do to you. It just streamlines the information and makes it easier. I'm doing the same things I did with Teddy Bridgewater with these kids. I'm not doing anything different. Defensive football is taught. The decision making process and passing game is taught. What's a little bit different – and we ran Teddy a little bit but not much because what he brought as an elite passer – I'm doing more with those guys in the run decision game because of what we are doing, but the development is the same. There's fundamental training on the field that they've got to have and that's probably the biggest thing I've seen in both of them – the footwork, letting their eyes take their feet to bounce, getting the ball out, being efficient with the football, being a one-piece passer. I see all of that in their work. I did the same things with Teddy. I'm doing the same core things with them. There [are] fundamental things at this position that you have to do. I think it's in the classroom and on the football field. What's different is the style of play but that's it.
On if it's easier to learn the spread like NFL Draft experts say: There's validation in the things they are saying. I watch that stuff all the time because my hobby is football. I watch it at home. I was watching Jon Gruden do his quarterback school with [Oregon quarterback Marcus] Mariota. Just watching some of things, I know where Jon was trying to take it. Here's the deal, those kids in the spread offenses, they have the chalk in their hands more than a guy in a drop-back system does because it's on the move decision making, its athletic decision making. I think the core principles of teaching them to be a passer and the fundamental aspect of training. I'm going to teach my guy that way. I'm not going to ever let a kid be an elite quarterback and not understand how to manage a game of football, situational football, decision making and the fundamental aspects. They're going to be trained. I teach them footwork and drop back mechanics from underneath center because you can't have lazy feet. You've got to step through your drop and that's all about getting the balance and getting the ball out. So those core fundamentals, I'm just taking my background and tweaking it to them and what we're doing with the kids I'm handling now. But so much of the stuff is exactly the same.
On who he expects to be the top playmakers: I tell you what, from what we've seen this spring, because you still have an outlay of time on your hands, Petey [Jacorey Warrick] has had a great spring. He's been very consistent. He's done a great job for us. He's probably been the most consistent receiver we've had. He continues to deliver big plays. He hit two big plays yesterday. Marcus Johnson has begun to develop and come along, which his talents suggest, on a more consistent basis. You see Daje [Johnson] becoming more detailed now, which is something he needed to do, so he can totally realize his talent. I think [wide receivers coach] Jay [Norvell] has done an unbelievable job with those guys, because he's a taskmaster and he holds them accountable to the fundamental detail and assignment detail their position and you can see that consistency, which is his teaching. He's hard on them, and you can see it coming out. I like what we're getting in Marcus, I like where Daje is going. Petey has been awesome all spring for us. A guy like Ty Templin has been smart, tough and dependable. He's delivered for us. He's a guy that sometimes goes unnoticed but ends up making a lot of plays for you. Andrew Beck at tight end has been really good. [Blake] Whiteley has come on and, these last two weeks, has really progressed because he's coming so far. I didn't realize it until he told me last week coming back from practice that he's only played football four years. So he's a kid that's been up in Canada chasing a hockey puck around as a young kid, but he's progressing nicely for us. Not a done product but really coming along. Johnathan [Gray] has had a nice spring. I like what D'Onta [Foreman] has done. I think [Duke] Catalon is going to be a good back in what we're doing. He's been explosive, also. We just got Armanti [Foreman] back. He's been nursing a hamstring but he's been back. You like what his talent flashes. We've had him a short time, but I would expect him to be another one.
On if Jerrod Heard's explosiveness will be utilized with the offense: He's explosive. I mentioned earlier, he and Ty[rone Swoopes] have different running styles. Ty is explosive and powerful, where Jerrod is explosive and fast, meaning that both can make the same reads and decisive athletic decisions and create the first five yards. Ty will run over you and hurt you, where Jerrod will take it to the house.
On having Jay Norvell and Jeff Traylor on the coaching staff: Both of them have been awesome. Jeff hasn't missed a beat. He's been great for me, such a humble soul. He's brought a lot of expertise, and he's just a great teacher. I think he's done a great job in that [tight ends] room. He's very consistent, very fundamentally-based. He's been a great teacher for us. He added a lot to our staff room. He's got an easy input. He usually just walks up and will say, "I was thinking about…," which means he's got a really good point. I listen to him because he's got a lot of wisdom. And Jay, he and I worked together at Nebraska, and I knew he was a master coach. I knew he knows receiver play like nobody else in this business and I know what kind of taskmaster he is. He's a detailed, hard-driven, perfection-driven coach, so you felt them on the field immediately with the development in their positions. And we felt them in our staff room because they've had great input, especially the direction we're headed offensively. It's been a great match.
On if the spring game will be a tiebreaker between Tyrone Swoopes and Jerrod Heard: No we're just going to stay steady-eddy. We want it to be earned over a period of time and Jerrod just really just started to make a push and make it a competition two weeks ago, so there's consistency over time to prove and every day is fun because yesterday, Tyrone Swoopes was off the charts. The day before, the last scrimmage, which would have been Saturday, Jerrod had a big day. It's a great matchup and our whole football team is better because those two guys are performing so well right now. Again, Saturday will be another test for them and we'll see where they're at, and over time, we'll find out who the most consistent performer is.
On if this is about the time he thought the light would come on for Jerrod Heard: I was hoping it would come on, yeah. Usually a guy has to sit in there for a while. Coming out of high school, he wasn't a mid-year guy, earlier in my career when this rule started in play, I was like, "Yeah senior year, they've got to be ready for it, family has to be ready for it, but for a quarterback, it's huge." He didn't have that, so fall was that period for time for him. It's an analogy I use: the teacher will appear when the student is ready. He came ready, so it's been good to have.
