No significant injury updates. Banged up from the last four weeks but nobody other than Hudson and Roach that will be out.
Really proud of the team, proud of the resilience. Proud of the way the offense kind of carried the game. Have been leaning on the defense for a long time. When playing an offense as powerful as OU, one of the best in the country, knew they were going to score points and were going to have to match them.
Was proud of the way they handled the fourth-quarter comeback. There was no negativity, just people saying get us the ball back and we'll go win the game.
Wasn't happy they put themselves in that position. Didn't execute well when they slowed things down, holding penalties were concerning late in the game but they came through. Really pleased with the resilience of the team to be able to win in that fashion.,
Maybe the most proud of how they came to work yesterday. Came to work yesterday to get better. Have done a good job of managing all the distractions. Coaches have educated the older players, older players have educated the younger guys.
Baylor is a winning team with a good offense. They understand what's at stake this week. Every step they take makes the next week that much more important. Liked their practice on Sunday and how guys carried themselves.
Good to be back home. Two straight road games difficult, really excited about what hopefully has become the new normal in game day experience. Wants to thank students again, personally invite them to make home field advantage the way it was the past couple home games. Excited to get back in front of home fans.
On anything that stood out from rewatching the game ... OU is really fast. UT is fast on defense, but they're faster. Had a long conversation with their recruiting department about going out and finding those guys. They're not elite fast on offense right now, but they are big and strong.
Big play, third and 20 on first drive of second half, tunnel screen to LJH just trying to add yards to the punt. LJH first contact 14 yards shy of first down, him and rest of teammates willed him to within two yards of first down. Made decision to go for it on fourth down easy. Thought that was the play of the game. Reflected their culture in the program.
On tuning out the outside noise ... a lot of it is education. Team meeting yesterday was roughly 24 hours after the OU game. Had 170 something text messages. Had 9 text messages after the Maryland game. People in the program are going to be the ones that will be by the players' side, that's taken hold with the kids and they really believe that. There is no mid-season conference champion. There's a lot of season left, a lot.
On the 1-0 philosophy ... has always believed in the value of competition. Human nature is to not do things that are difficult, not do things that are time consuming, not do things that are painful. In order to win, you have to do those things. They want to go 1-0 every week, but it's more about winning every rep in practice, winning every off season drill, winning every test you take in the classroom. Compete against your own best self. If you've done something 100 times, is your 101st going to be better than your 100th? That's against human nature. And the little demon in your head that says "nobody is watching, it's okay to only do 9 pushups instead of 10." They battle that guy all the time and try to go 1-0 against that guy.
On developing a program where winning expected and not just a bonus ... Doesn't think they're at a place where you can say winning is expected, and that's okay. Winning is the fruit of the labor of the week of preparation. It should be celebrated immensely, regardless of the opponent. They go into every game expecting to play their best by having confidence in how they've trained. They expect to play their best, that's the standard. If they play their best, their best is good enough. That's more the expectation than expecting to win. There's a level of arrogance that comes with expecting to win that he doesn't want his players to have. Each week is a battle.
You can have long-range goals, but you have to parse that into specific weeks where you go 1-0, celebrate that win and erase it. But expecting to win - that word "expect" - breeds entitlement and arrogance.
On playing to the level of competition ... Baylor is a really good football team they're playing, and in the Big 12, they're all going to be good. Texas is battle tested, play really good people each week. They're at a program where it's an impossibility that they think they're just going to show up and win football games. Have you seen the last four years? They're not good enough to do that. Hopefully some day their C game will be good enough to win, but right now they have to play their best to win.
On seeing how his team responds to being 5-1 and top-10 ranking ... He said when they lost the opener, that game will not define them, how they respond to it will. Told them the same thing about the Oklahoma game. That game will not define them, how they respond to it will. That game is not the ultimate goal. But he understands they're responding to different things. But neither one of those games will define them, nor should it. Their response will.
Burt and Brennan Eagles' injuries have a lot to do with fewer WR rotations. And in games they've been in, tight games, the three guys who start and play the most, there's a significant difference in their level of play. But Devin Duvernay can't play every play, he'll get worn down with the routes he runs. Collin Johnson is a little different as an intermediate guy, you don't see the drop off in his play as he gets a lot of reps. They have to manage that over the rest of the season. Have a chance to take a deep breath and get bodies fresh next week. Up until that point, they're going to empty the chamber and play the best guys. Philosophy last year was they were all pretty equal in level of play so it was easy to play more of them. This year top guys have separated.
Believes success of QB can mean more than 50 percent of your team's success. Team really believes in Ehlinger right now. Coaches and his teammates really, really believe in Ehlinger and his abilities. He's not a finished product. There were a lot of plays he wishes he had back, even after a performance like he had against OU.
Told Ehlinger after the Maryland game he doesn't need to look over his shoulder, he didn't lose the Maryland game. That was coaches, players, offense, defense, special teams. Having a head coach believe in you allows you a little more confidence. That doesn't mean his leash was going to be infinite, but they made the decision for him to be starting QB for a reason and one game wasn't going to deter them from that decision.
Called him midweek last week, told Ehlinger he's really good when he's confident, when he's aggressive, when he grips it and rips it. When he tries to aim, overdiagnose, he's not at his best. Told him they need to stay aggressive against OU. Not reckless, but aggressive and confident.
Need to tighten circle in a time like this, not expand it. The only people who matter in times like this are the people who watch you practice and prepare, teammates and coaches.
On if he's enjoyed the challenge of motivating the team ... it's been a challenge, for sure. But they figured out a bit of a blueprint and when you find that, you don't change. They do things the same each week, maybe they do them a little harder, a little more of them every week. In order for them to continue to get better, have to continue to ratchet up level of preparation regardless of opponent. But it has been fun, fun because of the response of the guys.
On QB stretch and digs to LJH and Collin Johnson on short yardage situations ... read a book by Brian Billick that talks about all the science and statistics of those situations, realized you really condense the plays you practice. Also, when you self scout, defenses are going to play tendencies, but tendencies are good if you continue to be efficient at them. They want to get the ball to 84 and 9 on third down. That's no secret. Beck has become a target and others have stepped up. QB sweep, there's an extra hat blocking. OU did a good job of adjusting and it was will versus will. You want to have compliments to your bread and butter plays, as season plays, you'll see more of those compliments.
On if Texas has the look and feel of a top 10 team ... Herman voted Texas 11. Doesn't know if they have the look of a top 10 team because he watches very little football. He hears Alabama is really good, but hasn't watched enough to know what he's comparing them against. Coaches see all their warts in practice and film study, so they see so many mistakes that it makes that a difficult question to answer. But polls have been around forever, but the only one that matters is the one at the end. Midseason polls are great because the kids have earned the recognition, but you have to go out and win every week for it to matter. He thinks he voted OU 12th or 13th this week.
On Charlie Brewer ... he's really good, has a chance to be special. True sophomore, can't say enough about his development. Saw him as a true freshman, knew he had a chance to be good. They've opened the offense up more, which is a credit to their coaching staff for recognizing their personnel and recognizing they have a really good QB. If career stays on current trajectory, he'll be in the conversation of great ones who have come through the league. Thinks he's really really special.
On staying aggressive when they have a lead ... KSU does make you reconsider some of that, but there's not a coach in America that would tell you to stay aggressive when up by 21 in the fourth quarter. The right thing to do in that situation will be to take the air out, keep your defense on the sidelines.
That's it for today.
Really proud of the team, proud of the resilience. Proud of the way the offense kind of carried the game. Have been leaning on the defense for a long time. When playing an offense as powerful as OU, one of the best in the country, knew they were going to score points and were going to have to match them.
Was proud of the way they handled the fourth-quarter comeback. There was no negativity, just people saying get us the ball back and we'll go win the game.
Wasn't happy they put themselves in that position. Didn't execute well when they slowed things down, holding penalties were concerning late in the game but they came through. Really pleased with the resilience of the team to be able to win in that fashion.,
Maybe the most proud of how they came to work yesterday. Came to work yesterday to get better. Have done a good job of managing all the distractions. Coaches have educated the older players, older players have educated the younger guys.
Baylor is a winning team with a good offense. They understand what's at stake this week. Every step they take makes the next week that much more important. Liked their practice on Sunday and how guys carried themselves.
Good to be back home. Two straight road games difficult, really excited about what hopefully has become the new normal in game day experience. Wants to thank students again, personally invite them to make home field advantage the way it was the past couple home games. Excited to get back in front of home fans.
On anything that stood out from rewatching the game ... OU is really fast. UT is fast on defense, but they're faster. Had a long conversation with their recruiting department about going out and finding those guys. They're not elite fast on offense right now, but they are big and strong.
Big play, third and 20 on first drive of second half, tunnel screen to LJH just trying to add yards to the punt. LJH first contact 14 yards shy of first down, him and rest of teammates willed him to within two yards of first down. Made decision to go for it on fourth down easy. Thought that was the play of the game. Reflected their culture in the program.
On tuning out the outside noise ... a lot of it is education. Team meeting yesterday was roughly 24 hours after the OU game. Had 170 something text messages. Had 9 text messages after the Maryland game. People in the program are going to be the ones that will be by the players' side, that's taken hold with the kids and they really believe that. There is no mid-season conference champion. There's a lot of season left, a lot.
On the 1-0 philosophy ... has always believed in the value of competition. Human nature is to not do things that are difficult, not do things that are time consuming, not do things that are painful. In order to win, you have to do those things. They want to go 1-0 every week, but it's more about winning every rep in practice, winning every off season drill, winning every test you take in the classroom. Compete against your own best self. If you've done something 100 times, is your 101st going to be better than your 100th? That's against human nature. And the little demon in your head that says "nobody is watching, it's okay to only do 9 pushups instead of 10." They battle that guy all the time and try to go 1-0 against that guy.
On developing a program where winning expected and not just a bonus ... Doesn't think they're at a place where you can say winning is expected, and that's okay. Winning is the fruit of the labor of the week of preparation. It should be celebrated immensely, regardless of the opponent. They go into every game expecting to play their best by having confidence in how they've trained. They expect to play their best, that's the standard. If they play their best, their best is good enough. That's more the expectation than expecting to win. There's a level of arrogance that comes with expecting to win that he doesn't want his players to have. Each week is a battle.
You can have long-range goals, but you have to parse that into specific weeks where you go 1-0, celebrate that win and erase it. But expecting to win - that word "expect" - breeds entitlement and arrogance.
On playing to the level of competition ... Baylor is a really good football team they're playing, and in the Big 12, they're all going to be good. Texas is battle tested, play really good people each week. They're at a program where it's an impossibility that they think they're just going to show up and win football games. Have you seen the last four years? They're not good enough to do that. Hopefully some day their C game will be good enough to win, but right now they have to play their best to win.
On seeing how his team responds to being 5-1 and top-10 ranking ... He said when they lost the opener, that game will not define them, how they respond to it will. Told them the same thing about the Oklahoma game. That game will not define them, how they respond to it will. That game is not the ultimate goal. But he understands they're responding to different things. But neither one of those games will define them, nor should it. Their response will.
Burt and Brennan Eagles' injuries have a lot to do with fewer WR rotations. And in games they've been in, tight games, the three guys who start and play the most, there's a significant difference in their level of play. But Devin Duvernay can't play every play, he'll get worn down with the routes he runs. Collin Johnson is a little different as an intermediate guy, you don't see the drop off in his play as he gets a lot of reps. They have to manage that over the rest of the season. Have a chance to take a deep breath and get bodies fresh next week. Up until that point, they're going to empty the chamber and play the best guys. Philosophy last year was they were all pretty equal in level of play so it was easy to play more of them. This year top guys have separated.
Believes success of QB can mean more than 50 percent of your team's success. Team really believes in Ehlinger right now. Coaches and his teammates really, really believe in Ehlinger and his abilities. He's not a finished product. There were a lot of plays he wishes he had back, even after a performance like he had against OU.
Told Ehlinger after the Maryland game he doesn't need to look over his shoulder, he didn't lose the Maryland game. That was coaches, players, offense, defense, special teams. Having a head coach believe in you allows you a little more confidence. That doesn't mean his leash was going to be infinite, but they made the decision for him to be starting QB for a reason and one game wasn't going to deter them from that decision.
Called him midweek last week, told Ehlinger he's really good when he's confident, when he's aggressive, when he grips it and rips it. When he tries to aim, overdiagnose, he's not at his best. Told him they need to stay aggressive against OU. Not reckless, but aggressive and confident.
Need to tighten circle in a time like this, not expand it. The only people who matter in times like this are the people who watch you practice and prepare, teammates and coaches.
On if he's enjoyed the challenge of motivating the team ... it's been a challenge, for sure. But they figured out a bit of a blueprint and when you find that, you don't change. They do things the same each week, maybe they do them a little harder, a little more of them every week. In order for them to continue to get better, have to continue to ratchet up level of preparation regardless of opponent. But it has been fun, fun because of the response of the guys.
On QB stretch and digs to LJH and Collin Johnson on short yardage situations ... read a book by Brian Billick that talks about all the science and statistics of those situations, realized you really condense the plays you practice. Also, when you self scout, defenses are going to play tendencies, but tendencies are good if you continue to be efficient at them. They want to get the ball to 84 and 9 on third down. That's no secret. Beck has become a target and others have stepped up. QB sweep, there's an extra hat blocking. OU did a good job of adjusting and it was will versus will. You want to have compliments to your bread and butter plays, as season plays, you'll see more of those compliments.
On if Texas has the look and feel of a top 10 team ... Herman voted Texas 11. Doesn't know if they have the look of a top 10 team because he watches very little football. He hears Alabama is really good, but hasn't watched enough to know what he's comparing them against. Coaches see all their warts in practice and film study, so they see so many mistakes that it makes that a difficult question to answer. But polls have been around forever, but the only one that matters is the one at the end. Midseason polls are great because the kids have earned the recognition, but you have to go out and win every week for it to matter. He thinks he voted OU 12th or 13th this week.
On Charlie Brewer ... he's really good, has a chance to be special. True sophomore, can't say enough about his development. Saw him as a true freshman, knew he had a chance to be good. They've opened the offense up more, which is a credit to their coaching staff for recognizing their personnel and recognizing they have a really good QB. If career stays on current trajectory, he'll be in the conversation of great ones who have come through the league. Thinks he's really really special.
On staying aggressive when they have a lead ... KSU does make you reconsider some of that, but there's not a coach in America that would tell you to stay aggressive when up by 21 in the fourth quarter. The right thing to do in that situation will be to take the air out, keep your defense on the sidelines.
That's it for today.
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