The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Tracking the Longhorns: Orange-White Game quotes
04.16.2016 | Football
Players and coaches comment after Saturday's game.
Head Coach Charlie Strong
Opening Statement: It was a good day today even though the weather conditions ended up ending it. I just felt like we wanted to get out of this healthy, which we did. Just because of the limited personnel, it would have been the same group of guys coming back out the second half because we couldn't have switched off lines on either side of the ball. We had some skills guys, wide receivers and defensive backs, we could have alternated in and out, but I didn't think it would be fair enough for our guys to just continue. Let's get this thing where we have all our guys back here in June and have our whole football team. You didn't see [Jerrod] Heard today, you didn't see Jason Hall today, you didn't see [Dylan] Haines today, and they're healthy. They will be back when we get everybody back in place. You just look at the energy today, and you look at the passion. There were a lot of balls thrown out there today. At each position, there was competition. That's what you want to see. The thing we have to get sure of is our offensive line. There's still a lot of work there. We will get these freshmen in here and add a little depth to it. We have a lot of defensive linemen coming in and help us. It was fun today, and I'm just so happy our guys went out there and competed.
On the quarterback performance today: Today Shane [Buechele] had a really good day. Tyrone [Swoopes] has had his days; he just didn't do that today. At practice, you see it happening. You look at Ty, and he'll never make excuses. You see the first pass, Burt drops and he was wide open, and then the one he threw to DeAndre McNeal when Antwaun [Davis] ended up getting an interception and pulled it away. I just know this. We're going to have a quarterback that's going to be very effective and be able to move this ball up and down the field for us. Jerrod [Heard] has been out, but once you get him back, we'll be able to settle on a guy.
On the importance of the freshman coming in June: You can always add depth. Where we need it right now is up front on both sides of the football. We have Connor [Williams], [Patrick] Vahe, [Zach] Shackelford is alternating in playing some for us, and then [Brandon] Hodges is coming in. You've got to get some more depth to that offensive line, whether that is [Elijah] Rodriguez or whoever. Those are big athletic guys who can come in. On the defensive side, we're really thin. So when you get that group of guys in and you move them around and see where they can help us. I know they're young and we can't be afraid of it. We have to feed them fast and get them going. You just have to get ready to go play. You look at that defensive front, and some of them are out there playing right now. They're 290-300 plus. So, if anything, they can hold the play and not get knocked out.
On his first impressions of Buechele: I've always felt this way about Shane. Shane grew up in a family where his dad played professional baseball, his brother played baseball at Oklahoma, so competition has always been around him. I always joke with him and say, "You're the youngest of the children so you were always the gym rat" because he was always the one carrying the balls or playing catch or throwing the ball around because he was the youngest one always being ignored. The day he stepped on this campus he's been a guy who you know is going to be relaxed and patient. Nothing is really going to fluster him because he's been in that family. So when you've been in it and grown up around it, there's not too many things where you're going to be off base.
On the combination of Swoopes and Buechele: It will be really good competition. When you have a guy like Swoopes say to you, "I will be a better player because of Shane Buechele," he's respecting him. Then the players respect him. Players know players. "My man's a baller," and that's what a lot of them say. You still have to look at Jerrod when he gets back healthy. At one time, you felt like you didn't have anybody, and now I feel like we have three. You think about a year ago, you had Swoopes and Heard both out there. I've always said about Shane that when he came into the system, this offense was something he was accustomed to so it wasn't hard for him to come in right away and make those throws and put the ball where it needs to be put. He is one of those guys that's always around it, and he's going to make the other guys better because he learns the game and he wants to learn the game. You have to have that from that position.
On defense handling the up-tempo style of play: We were able to get a line set. We gave up some big throws there, but with big D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren making those runs, it was more about just getting right across the gap. Warren can still run away from people. Defensively, it's just more about getting the line. We can't give up the big throws. The first play, Swoopes throws the ball outside and Kris Boyd sets on the route. The next time, when Shane came out, we went hitch and go and he threw the ball down the field to [Dorian] Leonard and he almost scored on it. They've got to play with their eyes.
On if he is comfortable starting Buechele in the fall: I would be comfortable if he wins the job. Even though he is a freshman, you have enough guys around him now. Whoever walks out there at that position, you've got two big running backs you can turn around and hand that ball to, so you take the pressure off the quarterback. You've got wide receivers that can win outside. We didn't get to see Collin Johnson enough today, but we had him beat a few times. Burt dropped one but ended up getting a big catch. Armanti Foreman made some catches. DeAndre McNeal didn't really get the ball where we needed to put it, but you have enough guys. If you can protect the quarterback and play good defense, then you're going to feel pretty good about whoever goes out there.
On starting the younger player if his skill level is tied with an upperclassman: When we make that decision, it won't be a guy. It will be a guy that clearly stepped out where we can say, "Boom. That's the guy. Let's go with him, and let's go play." When you think about it, even if it ends up being Ty and Shane, you've still got a big, physical quarterback who can deliver the ball but can still run over people. I told Shane today, "Listen. You don't need to be pulling that ball because for sure we don't need to end up losing you from someone banging you up. I know how quick and how fast you are, I just need to see you deliver it." We'll make it for where they both will have a chance to go in and be successful.
On where the most progress was made this spring and where improvement is needed: Probably at the quarterback position is where we've made the most progress. You just saw those guys, and what I talk about in spring ball is it's individual improvement and guys just getting better. You look at that position and I felt like it got better and the competition made it better. Where we have to get better is the offensive and defensive line. That's where we have to improve. We just don't have enough bodies there right now. The only way we're going to be successful is if we can move people on offense and stop people on defense and have our lines hold up. Inside, we just have to have bodies.
On forcing turnovers: You look at us today, and I'm not exactly sure on the number, but you see DeShon Elliot come up there and bang somebody and Antwuan Davis makes the interception when the ball is tipped up, and then Holton Hill makes a play on the ball. If the ball goes up, we should be able to get our hands on it. We're athletic and we have speed. When you have speed on both sides, whether it be a wide receiver or defensive back, it's about putting pressure on them with the front seven.
On Armanti Foreman: Armanti is working hard, and he's doing a really good job. I said to him that when he came out of high school, he was the one who was really highly recruited and D'Onta was kind of the other guy. Now when you get him here and D'Onta is coming on, and I said to Armanti, "Don't let his success affect you. You just continue to get better. The thing about him is he is a really good football player, but both of you guys are twins and play off one another." So sometimes he gets down on himself and you just have to constantly remind him, "Get your head up. The ball is not always going to come out to you." Some days we will go out there practicing and Collin may have a good day. So you just have to be sure to go support your teammate. That's been good with our upperclassmen is they have been able to support our younger guys and continue to bring them along.
On Collin Johnson: He's 6'6" and he plays 6'6". We had him beat on a double move, and his feet ended up out of bounds. Throwing down the sidelines, he's the one guys will have to try and beat. He's a player that if you get him one on one, he can make the catch. He's physical. He goes out there in practice and tries to throw guys off that try to run him over. He'll lower his shoulder and run through them which isn't something you normally see from a receiver. He's going to be a special player here.
On Chris Warren and D'Onta Foreman and the expectations of offense: We need to turn around and hand that ball off. If we need to throw it, we will throw it, but let's ride those hulking guys until we can't ride them anymore. What is great about both those guys, is at practice, meetings, they are working together. Sometimes guys get their feelings hurt. Some guys get up an ego. There is no ego in either one of those guys. And it has been fun. What you saw today happens at practice. They break through the line of scrimmage and once their clear the second level it is over with. Not many guys in the secondary are going to come up and tackle them. And [Kevin] Vaccaro is tougher than any guy that I have been around. He is hauling after them in practice. But this why the quarterback position is critical but also you have to have the running game. If you can run downhill with the ball, then you can take a lot of pressure off that quarterback. Now you have to throw the ball out there like at a ball park to go in. Get the running game going. We always talk about having to be physical and now we have to play physical.
On the kicker position: I need one. You have to get me one somehow. If it comes down to where we can't find one, then it will just be automatic 35 and in. That's the way you are going to win your games. You see guys go out and make some from a lot longer, but just 35 and in is being consistent. It is more or less right now, is just rushing. Just stand up there and kick the ball. We weren't even rushing today. Just take your time. Take as long as you want. Today you could have stood there and take whatever time they wanted to. I do not have a number one kicker right now.
On the tempo of the offense: When we scrimmage on Saturdays, I want to try and get 200 plays in if I can, the most that I have got in is 175, and probably could have got 200 but we were dressed that day and it kind of got hot on us. With this offense, you can get the plays. I think we jumped out there, when we got the 175, for the first hour we were probably in the 100s right then because we were going so fast. The good thing about it is that players don't realize how many plays they are getting now because the ball has been thrown around, the running backs are running, and everybody on offense felt like they were touching the ball. So when you say hey it is time to call it up, like when I called it up last week, they were excited like are we done, we don't seem like we have been out here that long. But because the tempo is so fast, you don't have to stay out there that long. Sometimes when I start practice, and I go in periods. I will go individual and then a team period, then I go seven on seven. And boom I am like put the ball down, let's go, let's let these quarterbacks play to see if they can make the right shots and the right reads. We still get a ton of plays. I will continue to give them time and put pressure on defense. Set the defense and see if they can stop them.
On the freshmen coming in on the defensive line: They will be here Summer I. You will get Daniels, Christmas, Giles. They will be here Summer I because they need in here so they can get with the team, get in the weight room, get in shape, and get academic in the classroom. Right now, they have to be here. It is critical that we get them in here and get them learning the defense.
On the importance of the performance of the defense line: That is a big concern because when you talk about the middle, you have to be good down the middle of your team. When you look at a football team and look at it right down the middle so you take a quarterback position and a center position, and you take the nose guard, [Paul] Boyette holding the point there who is big and strong enough. Then you have a good middle guy like Malik [Jefferson] and the two safeties when you get [Jason] Hall and [Dylan] Haines back. The defensive line is a major concern for me right now because we have to be able to stop people. We can move the ball around and we can go out and play well on offense, but if we don't stop anyone on defense- I don't want us to walk around at the 47-45 games or 54-52, we have to be able to stop people.
On the motivation for the Notre Dame game: They will be motivated and not so much because of the Notre Dame game, but they will be motivated just because of last season. I was just talking to them in the locker room that we have two weeks left of school. Some guys that academically need to get some work done. We need to make sure that we get that done, and then when you leave you will be gone a few weeks in May. But when you come back here in June, let's come back here with the right attitude. We have a small senior group and we still need a lot of leadership, but when we get here in June, I want you to teach the freshmen. We are going to need them, so there will be no separation where the old guys feel like they are better than the freshmen. There is not going to be any of that. We are coming all together as a football team.
On Kai Locksley: He probably would have played the second half, but we just were not able to get the snap number I wanted. I didn't know I was going to have to call it, but he will get his chance and opportunity.
On the performance of Buechele and the offense from today: The thing that Buechele did is he made some really good throws, and he was able to manage the offense. The thing I really like about the offense is that it creates pressure. It puts pressure on the defense, it forces you to align. It is almost like when you have to show your hand. If you play a lot of two back teams, you won't have to show your hand because you can drop down at the last second or you can show a covered rotation. If it lined three by one, then you are going to have to show the coverage rotation, the safety drops down, you know the pressure is coming from the side, so it forces you to show your hand with the offense. Then if you can keep it up-tempo and get guys where they can't get the personnel that you need on the team then we get a penalty. Say if someone was injured and number five, Holton Hill, was running on the field for him. Then we end up with too many people, and he was on the far sideline, and that's where it is tough because the ball ends up on our side, you got to be going, going, going.
On the mentality of the team: What have been different from the previous years is that we didn't have any competition. It was 'well this guy is all we got and we have to ride, and there is no one else there,' but now when you look at it you are thin on the offensive line but at least you have four or five guys that you can feel pretty good about. At wide receiver you can feel pretty good about those guys. You look at Petey, he showed up for the first time, made some place and made a guy miss him and got the ball down the field. Lorenzo Joe, [Dorian] Leonard, and the guys that have been a surprise for us and had a really good camp for us, Jake [Oliver]. He called the ball out at practice. I call him 'Automatic.' When we are out there at practice on third down, you find Jake all over it. If the ball is near him, then he is going to catch that football. If his hand touch it, he is going to catch that ball. He dropped one out there one day, and I said 'oh no, I guess I am going to have to take my name back from you.' He said no, and then the next play he caught a touchdown. Then you look at the competition of the secondary, you have some guys. Even at linebacker, you have Malik but also [Anthony] Wheeler. Tim Cole is having an excellent spring right now. You have three running backs, [Dalton] Santos will be healthy. He is going to have to come back and compete when we get him in the fall. [Breckyn] Hager, I moved him up front to outside linebacker because he goes so hard. It is amazing how hard he goes. He gets gassed. It was so funny yesterday we were sitting in here, and I asked 'does anyone have any questions?' And I see his hand go up and I said 'oh God here we go.' So I said 'What's up Hager?' He asks 'so tomorrow if we stop on a three and out are you going to makes us come out of the game and punt the ball?' I said yes we are going to play it like a regular game. Sometimes at practice when it comes to three and out, I just see first down, stay out on the field, and make the defense stay out on the field. [Hager] may be wrong in the first play but the next play will be a sack or something is going to happen. Just the competitiveness of our guys and how they are competing. They want to be out on the field so they know that they have to compete.
On the quarterback "winning" the team: When we go out in the summer, it used to be a time when you would see guys out there and you would see one quarterback and two or three guys. Now the competition is so fierce that I guarantee you when you walk out there, it will be two or three quarterbacks and a whole lot of guys because one guy will not let the other get the edge up on them or get a step up on them. When it comes time and they go out there, and there are going to a lot out there on their own. I can guarantee you that Buechele will be out there. Buechele and 85 [Collin Johnson]. Collin and him, you cannot separate them. One day I walked into the locker room, and I see Buechele and I see Collin. I saw 8 [Dorian Leonard] and 6 [DeAndre McNeal] and they were all out there. Then I turn around and here comes Swoopes with a group of guys, so it is almost like if one finds out that one is out there, then the next guy is going out there. And then there goes [Jerrod] Heard out there. That is what is going to be great now that you don't have to say 'hey why don't y'all go out and throw the ball.' I won't even have to mention it. I guarantee that they will be out there. They will probably be out there next week throwing it and we are going to be done with practice. I will look in having someone named way before the first game so that they know. Coach Sterlin has done a great job with the offense and coaching both of those guys. It has never been where this guy is one and this guy is two. If we go with the first offensive line, Buechele is in, boom. So he will go two series and then Swoopes is in. He will be in for two series, and then boom, Heard is in. Those guys don't ever feel like hey this guys is the one. They can never walk away saying that I am the guy. They can't say that because the rotation has been that if Buechele has the first two series then he will be with the ones and then next time he is with the next unit, and then ok it is Swoopes' turn. And that's the way he alternated them out there today. If you remember, he started off Swoopes, so he goes out there first. Then, Buechele is with the twos and then he stays out there and switches them to the ones. And that way the boys don't get comfortable, and that's probably what is making this team better because they are seeing that competition at that position so now they are feeling like hey if it is happening there, I know that I have to be on par. Can you imagine the running-back part, with one slip, knock on wood, one twisted ankle, and he as to sit and you are up now. Those guys have such a good relationship. Kirk Johnson is not even back yet, think about that. And then all the freshmen coming here from Katy so there is a lot of them. But that is how you have to build them, that's why we have to continue to recruit well and get the guys in this program. You want the competition to be fierce. That is what I want to see. I want to get into this competition where we can go out there with twenty one guys on offense and twenty one guys on defense that we don't miss a beat. Where you see two teams, and you put them out there and they don't miss a beat at all.
Offensive Coordinator Sterlin Gilbert
On Shane Buechele's performance: I have to go back and look at the film to watch and evaluate it. During the game you are just seeing and trying to make some calls and adjustments. I am watching and evaluating everyone else that is out there, so we'll go back and watch film and get a clean evaluation on him.
On Buechele's progress: Just all the way through the spring, he has been diligent about his work, the way he processes it and understands it. He is a guy that's saavy bout football. He understands what we are doing and what we are trying to accomplish.
On RBs D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren: They are both big and physical. It brings an aspect to your running game that a lot of people don't have. We are very fortunate with those two guys. We are obviously going to be utilizing them on our offense, and just being a part of the process of trying to win every Saturday.
On sizing up the quarterbacks: We'll have a lot of work to do. We've still got the summer, and we have two-a-days. There is still a lot of process. There is still a lot of evaluations to go through and still a lot of reps. By no means did anyone play perfect today. There is still work to be done. There is still progression out of all of those guys.
On how this scrimmage weighs in that process: To me, it's just another practice. It's just a glorified practice, if you will. It's no different from what happened Tuesday and last week on Thursday. You just keep going backwards with that. Again, it's just a glorified practice. I want to see those guys be better offensively and be better up front.
On what he is looking for in Shane Buechele: I just want to look per play, what he did, what the play call was, did he do it right? It's black or white, plus or minus. You also go back and evaluate and see what he did on each and every play.
On the offense's progression: Once again, it's hard to say without going back and watching film right now, but we ran the ball well obviously a few times today with the backs and that starts up front. If we have success on the back end with the backs and quarterbacks throwing up the field, then it all starts up front. As they go, we go. With that being said, we did some good things up front today.
On the inside receiver position: I think there is still competition in that regard. Like I said, there is still a lot of football over the summer and then in the two-a-days to finalize our first 11 guys.
Senior DT Paul Boyette Jr.
On what Charlie Strong has been saying to the team: I feel like it's still going down how he's been preaching it every day. It doesn't matter what grade you are or what classification you are, you still have to come in and take your spot and be able to compete.
On the up-tempo offense: It's always going to be tough moving forward. I think now, since it's the last practice, it's really about getting back with the strength and conditioning coaches.
On if he likes a new offensive system: Most definitely. I like the high tempo. We have outstanding players on both sides of the ball, and they can move it forward. It allows the offensive skill players to go out there and make good plays. They were recruited for that reason to come here. I think the offense really allows them to showcase their skills.
On wife Imani's top-10 WNBA draft pick: It was real blessing. I love my wife a lot, and it was a real outstanding moment. It was a very special moment.
Sophomore LB Malik Jefferson
On his first impression of Shane Buechele: The first thing I said to him was, "Don't be nervous." He told me he was nervous, but I said, "It will go away after your first pass. After that, just be smooth." He went out there and made big plays.
On his confidence in the offense going forward: I like the way it looks. They put a lot of trust in each other, and everybody seems like they're going to be accountable in their positions.
On the quarterback battle: When it finally comes down to the last day of practice before we go out there and play Notre Dame, the coaches will have their minds made up. It's all up to them.
On the competition level on the team: There's going to be a lot of competition because the coaches put the best on the field. There should be no more excuses about how young we are.
Senior safety Kevin Vaccaro
On the new offensive tempo: The tempo is going to be way faster. They said it was going to be fast last year, so when we started spring ball the tempo was ridiculous. We would get done with a play, and they would already be ready. At first, we had a hard time getting the plays in. As spring ball went on, we learned how to get the calls in fast. Obviously, it's slower in the game, but practice got us to where we could think quick and communicate quick. It's going to be good in the long run.
On how the tempo will help against big opponents: We're going to be prepared for that. There's not going to be tempo factor in that.
On whether offense or defense won the game today: I think we both did pretty good. Obviously, the offense had some long plays. We had some really good things on defense, too. We had a lot of three-and-outs. Like coach said, if we get four three-and-outs, that's a take away. That's how you win ball games.
Sophomore RB Chris Warren III
On the offense today: It was good. It felt rewarding to go out there and produce the way we did.
On the running game: I felt like we did what we were looking for and were really productive. The more time we have with this system, I think we're going to get even better at it.
On his impression of Buechele: I think he played really well and very composed, especially for how young he is. He's a hard worker, and he's been out there grinding in the spring, so I wasn't too surprised. I think he is a really cool, collected guy. He talks to everybody. He's friendly. He was excited today. Everybody has their own different ways. I wasn't necessarily watching him because I was doing my own thing, but you could tell he was excited.
On the offensive tempo: It's definitely different. You feel like you get more out of what you do when you do that many reps. I just felt like we executed a lot more like we did in previous years.
On the motivation headed into the fall: I think we're going to be pretty motivated. We've been working all offseason, and I think the motivation is there. We're all ready to play Notre Dame.
Junior RB D'Onta Foreman:
On where Jerrod Heard is in the mix: Jerrod started for us last season so he still has his chance to go out there and improve himself. But I didn't see too much. He got hurt pretty early in the spring, so he just needs to keep working. I have a lot of faith in Jerrod.
On the running game with him and Chris Warren: I feel like if we keep working, the sky is the limit for us two.
On the performance and yardage today: Yeah, but we went against (the defense at practice on) Tuesday too. I have to be realistic with myself. We did well against it today too, but like I said, we have to keep working.
On the tempo of the game: Yeah it was really high, but you have to (do that). That's the cool part of it, you just have to condition and that's what we have been doing all spring is just conditioning and working.
