Dropped a tough one on Saturday. Loves how hard the players played. Made a lot of mistakes, but were able to go compete. As bad as they played, they still had opportunities to win the game.
Coming back home, need crowd to come support the team. Dropped some tough ones, but have an unbelievable group of fans. Knows they fans will show up to show support.
Iowa State ... was up on OSU last weekend but OSU came back. Can't take any team lightly. Within this conference, everyone is competitive. Have to make sure they go compete and get the support.
On Davante Davis ... have to work on it, get better. It starts at practice and then will carry over to the game. DBs are losing their eyes, once you lose your eyes, you're going to lose your man. Have to stay focused on your man, make sure you cover.
The start of last week, OU did a good job defending them. Took some shots but OU made good plays. Buechele bounced back in the second half and made some unbelievable throws. With Buechele, people see that he's a freshman, try to mix up coverages, throw different things at him, but he responded well. The way they came out in the second half offensively and putting points on the board was a great job and they did a good job of making adjustments.
On 18 wheeler package ... they have a pass with it and he can throw the ball. Teams are loading the box, they're going to make some changes with the package since people are adjusting to it.
D'Onta Foreman ... they key with him is just staying healthy. Now that he's healthy, six games over 100 yards. He's so strong, as game goes on he gets stronger and stronger. He just kept pounding on Saturday. Sometimes they don't even block it the right way, but he can get outside and drop his pads. Is special, an outstanding player.
Any time you give up big plays, it's a mental lapse. Can't lose your coverage, especially in man coverage. When a ball goes up, WR's eyes get big... just have to track their eyes, they'll let you know when you have to make a play on the ball. OU had 6 pass plays for over 200 yards where guys lost their coverage.
On Herbstreit ... he doesn't hear half the conversations. His focus is on his team. If he takes care of business, everything else will take care of itself. The support is there, they just have to make sure they do their part.
They throw deep balls in practice, they go against their WRs on deep balls every day, and the DBs make plays. Can't stop in the middle of the route, have to play until you hear the whistle. Boyd kind of froze on the one, then it was too late. Have to continue to work on it. They throw a million deep balls each and every day, they see it a lot, have to continue to work on it.
Track has nothing to do with Burt struggling. Sometimes guys have drops. It's very competitive at the WR position. Burt will come out of it. He'll fight his way out of it. Leonard has stepped up. It's all about confidence with WRs. Same thing with DBs. A lot of WRs playing well and it's very competitive.
Have 7 games left. This is a young team that needs support. Needs fans to come out and support the team. Can't be a fair-weather fan. The team isn't going to give up hope, is going to continue to play hard. Team has a lot of good players, is going to make it interesting, is going to score some points. If he's a fan, he's going to be out there. They made some mistakes, but shouldn't be mistakes that will keep fans away.
On his first game as DC ... didn't go well since they lost. As a defensive staff, they have to continue to work. They have a good defensive staff, will get it fixed. They'll put together a really good plan.
Wheeler quietly goes about the game, then you look up and he has a bunch of tackles. He's always in the stat book. He doesn't say much, just goes about his work. Even at practice, doesn't talk. He's an outstanding player who probably doesn't get the credit he deserves. He works very hard.
As DC, he tries to dictate the flow of the game. Have to bring pressure. He focuses on hash marks, because certain offenses want to do certain plays on certain hash marks. Also focuses on field position. It's all situational, just have to have the flow of the game and be involved in that. Have to put pressure ... he's a pressure guy, loves playing man coverage. If it's up to him, he'll play man every down and see if his guys can go make plays.
In practice, they go individual right away, then go inside period so the OL can block against the DL. After that, go back to scout work, then always end practice with good on good, fast tempo. In the middle of practice, 7 on 7 in good vs. good. Fast paced, but that's how games are played.
A Foreman did really well in the return game on Saturday. Foreman is an emotional guy, addressed the team after the game. Foreman is playing well. Leonard is also playing well, Duvernay made a nice play on the TD. Collin Johnson with a big catch. Receivers are very competitive, likes the way those guys are working.
Red zone defense, have to get off the field on third downs. Mistakes were made, but they're very correctable. There's a lot that they can do. So much is separating off blocks and going in and just making the play.
All three phases haven't come together yet in a game. Played well on defense in first half on Saturday, then played well on offense in the second half. Defensively, if you don't give up big throws, you have a chance. Have to take something away and make a team one-dimensional. Saturday, didn't take either away. Even with all the mistakes, they were still in the game. They need to put it all together.
D Foreman gives you everything he has, is going to battle. He just keeps grinding. He knows he can take it the distance. Not too many people are going to catch him. Probably one of the fastest guys on the team with his size. It's fun to watch him. If it's third and one or two, just give it to him b/c he'll get the first down. Works hard, carries himself the right way, is such a competitor.
After the game, was thinking about being in this situation before ... everything is about fundamentals and technique. Told the guys, it's a simple game that they make too complicated. In practice, DBs knock down every ball, then they get into the game and it's different. You can't ever relax in a game. Have to stay focused every play. Have to continue to preach that, continue to coach it.
When one phase is playing well and the other isn't, it's not a lot of fun for the phase that's not playing well. If they want to make it fun, have to play together, play better than what they're playing.
On last year's ISU game ... this is a different ISU team, but the memories are there. Told the guys, you could almost see it coming. It's something they will talk about, but UT has a different team now too. They have to play well, it's a conference game, they're back home, have to get fans back into it and play well.
Told D Foreman to go introduce himself to Emmitt Smith on Saturday. Foreman is a different back with a different skill set. People don't realize how strong and fast he is. Doesn't take many big hits. Once he clears the line of scrimmage, even DBs have trouble with him. Likes how he has such an awareness, can see everything around him after he breaks the line of scrimmage. Works hard at practice, doesn't just go through the motions.
If you watch this league, not many are playing really good defense. It's a match-up league. When they move to what they're doing on offense, what people are doing in H.S. has carried over to college. Teams spread you out and it's about match-ups. If your OL can hold up and QB can find the mismatch, you're going to score a lot of points.
When people saw what Baylor and TCU were doing, everybody jumped on board and it has kind of taken off in this league.
He understands the fans' frustration. Yhe players signed on for it, but they also signed on to come to UT and get support. Sometimes they don't play as well as they should and he understands it, but they need the fans' support. The kids are going to play hard, even until the very end of the game on Saturday. They're going to give everything they've got and leave it out there. They make mistakes, but they need the support of the fans. They haven't played as well as they should but the support should be there.
Tells the players, "I'm not going to quit on you, so don't you quit on me." Team is okay with its confidence. The players just think about the next opponent, just put a plan together so they can go win.
Tells the team all the time, you're in control of yourself. They can control however they want to go. Also tells them to go be their best, on the field and off the field. Also, just live in the moment. Do those things, a lot of good things are going to happen for you. Just continue to coach, continue to grind it out, eventually things will turn.
ISU ... playing two QBs, spreading you out. Lazard on the outside is a tall WR. Lanning played so well against Texas last year. Warren the RB is playing well. Have to continue to improve, get better, take it game by game.
Coming back home, need crowd to come support the team. Dropped some tough ones, but have an unbelievable group of fans. Knows they fans will show up to show support.
Iowa State ... was up on OSU last weekend but OSU came back. Can't take any team lightly. Within this conference, everyone is competitive. Have to make sure they go compete and get the support.
On Davante Davis ... have to work on it, get better. It starts at practice and then will carry over to the game. DBs are losing their eyes, once you lose your eyes, you're going to lose your man. Have to stay focused on your man, make sure you cover.
The start of last week, OU did a good job defending them. Took some shots but OU made good plays. Buechele bounced back in the second half and made some unbelievable throws. With Buechele, people see that he's a freshman, try to mix up coverages, throw different things at him, but he responded well. The way they came out in the second half offensively and putting points on the board was a great job and they did a good job of making adjustments.
On 18 wheeler package ... they have a pass with it and he can throw the ball. Teams are loading the box, they're going to make some changes with the package since people are adjusting to it.
D'Onta Foreman ... they key with him is just staying healthy. Now that he's healthy, six games over 100 yards. He's so strong, as game goes on he gets stronger and stronger. He just kept pounding on Saturday. Sometimes they don't even block it the right way, but he can get outside and drop his pads. Is special, an outstanding player.
Any time you give up big plays, it's a mental lapse. Can't lose your coverage, especially in man coverage. When a ball goes up, WR's eyes get big... just have to track their eyes, they'll let you know when you have to make a play on the ball. OU had 6 pass plays for over 200 yards where guys lost their coverage.
On Herbstreit ... he doesn't hear half the conversations. His focus is on his team. If he takes care of business, everything else will take care of itself. The support is there, they just have to make sure they do their part.
They throw deep balls in practice, they go against their WRs on deep balls every day, and the DBs make plays. Can't stop in the middle of the route, have to play until you hear the whistle. Boyd kind of froze on the one, then it was too late. Have to continue to work on it. They throw a million deep balls each and every day, they see it a lot, have to continue to work on it.
Track has nothing to do with Burt struggling. Sometimes guys have drops. It's very competitive at the WR position. Burt will come out of it. He'll fight his way out of it. Leonard has stepped up. It's all about confidence with WRs. Same thing with DBs. A lot of WRs playing well and it's very competitive.
Have 7 games left. This is a young team that needs support. Needs fans to come out and support the team. Can't be a fair-weather fan. The team isn't going to give up hope, is going to continue to play hard. Team has a lot of good players, is going to make it interesting, is going to score some points. If he's a fan, he's going to be out there. They made some mistakes, but shouldn't be mistakes that will keep fans away.
On his first game as DC ... didn't go well since they lost. As a defensive staff, they have to continue to work. They have a good defensive staff, will get it fixed. They'll put together a really good plan.
Wheeler quietly goes about the game, then you look up and he has a bunch of tackles. He's always in the stat book. He doesn't say much, just goes about his work. Even at practice, doesn't talk. He's an outstanding player who probably doesn't get the credit he deserves. He works very hard.
As DC, he tries to dictate the flow of the game. Have to bring pressure. He focuses on hash marks, because certain offenses want to do certain plays on certain hash marks. Also focuses on field position. It's all situational, just have to have the flow of the game and be involved in that. Have to put pressure ... he's a pressure guy, loves playing man coverage. If it's up to him, he'll play man every down and see if his guys can go make plays.
In practice, they go individual right away, then go inside period so the OL can block against the DL. After that, go back to scout work, then always end practice with good on good, fast tempo. In the middle of practice, 7 on 7 in good vs. good. Fast paced, but that's how games are played.
A Foreman did really well in the return game on Saturday. Foreman is an emotional guy, addressed the team after the game. Foreman is playing well. Leonard is also playing well, Duvernay made a nice play on the TD. Collin Johnson with a big catch. Receivers are very competitive, likes the way those guys are working.
Red zone defense, have to get off the field on third downs. Mistakes were made, but they're very correctable. There's a lot that they can do. So much is separating off blocks and going in and just making the play.
All three phases haven't come together yet in a game. Played well on defense in first half on Saturday, then played well on offense in the second half. Defensively, if you don't give up big throws, you have a chance. Have to take something away and make a team one-dimensional. Saturday, didn't take either away. Even with all the mistakes, they were still in the game. They need to put it all together.
D Foreman gives you everything he has, is going to battle. He just keeps grinding. He knows he can take it the distance. Not too many people are going to catch him. Probably one of the fastest guys on the team with his size. It's fun to watch him. If it's third and one or two, just give it to him b/c he'll get the first down. Works hard, carries himself the right way, is such a competitor.
After the game, was thinking about being in this situation before ... everything is about fundamentals and technique. Told the guys, it's a simple game that they make too complicated. In practice, DBs knock down every ball, then they get into the game and it's different. You can't ever relax in a game. Have to stay focused every play. Have to continue to preach that, continue to coach it.
When one phase is playing well and the other isn't, it's not a lot of fun for the phase that's not playing well. If they want to make it fun, have to play together, play better than what they're playing.
On last year's ISU game ... this is a different ISU team, but the memories are there. Told the guys, you could almost see it coming. It's something they will talk about, but UT has a different team now too. They have to play well, it's a conference game, they're back home, have to get fans back into it and play well.
Told D Foreman to go introduce himself to Emmitt Smith on Saturday. Foreman is a different back with a different skill set. People don't realize how strong and fast he is. Doesn't take many big hits. Once he clears the line of scrimmage, even DBs have trouble with him. Likes how he has such an awareness, can see everything around him after he breaks the line of scrimmage. Works hard at practice, doesn't just go through the motions.
If you watch this league, not many are playing really good defense. It's a match-up league. When they move to what they're doing on offense, what people are doing in H.S. has carried over to college. Teams spread you out and it's about match-ups. If your OL can hold up and QB can find the mismatch, you're going to score a lot of points.
When people saw what Baylor and TCU were doing, everybody jumped on board and it has kind of taken off in this league.
He understands the fans' frustration. Yhe players signed on for it, but they also signed on to come to UT and get support. Sometimes they don't play as well as they should and he understands it, but they need the fans' support. The kids are going to play hard, even until the very end of the game on Saturday. They're going to give everything they've got and leave it out there. They make mistakes, but they need the support of the fans. They haven't played as well as they should but the support should be there.
Tells the players, "I'm not going to quit on you, so don't you quit on me." Team is okay with its confidence. The players just think about the next opponent, just put a plan together so they can go win.
Tells the team all the time, you're in control of yourself. They can control however they want to go. Also tells them to go be their best, on the field and off the field. Also, just live in the moment. Do those things, a lot of good things are going to happen for you. Just continue to coach, continue to grind it out, eventually things will turn.
ISU ... playing two QBs, spreading you out. Lazard on the outside is a tall WR. Lanning played so well against Texas last year. Warren the RB is playing well. Have to continue to improve, get better, take it game by game.
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