Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert held his second press conference since being hired late last year. He was asked about the quarterback situation, the quarterback situation and … the quarterback situation. Gilbert talked about a variety of subjects, but they all revolved around one theme.
Here are the highlights of his availability:
- Gilbert said everything has been fast and furious since he was hired. As far as spring football is concerned, he said it has been a great process. Players have done a great job progressing from the initial installation phase to the time they need to carry it to the field. When asked to describe the install process, he said, “It’s kind of like grandma’s pie. She just puts it together, and it tastes good. That’s kind of how it happens. There’s not really a setup recipe for it. You just kind of start installing, try to put the pieces together with personnel and seeing where guys fit.”
- When asked if there was a quarterback on campus who can run the offense, Gilbert said it would be one of the three guys currently competing to start. The guys in the mix are Tyrone Swoopes, Jerrod Heard and Shane Buechele.
- During my question to Gilbert, I pointed out how Swoopes has routinely looked good in practice, but struggled in games. I asked him how he can determine if a guy who does well in practice can do the same thing in games, and here was his response: “That’s a good question. Sometimes you don’t know what guys are going to do until those lights come on. It just goes back to some of that we won’t know until we get out there against Notre Dame. Some guys they do a great job in practice, but they don’t do so well in the game, or they’re not great practice guys, but they show up on Saturdays and play lights out. I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum on that. Again, it’s about knowing a guy, getting an understanding of what he does, and once we figure out what his strengths are, then just calling plays to his strengths, and setting that guy up to be successful in every rep and what he’s doing.”
- One thing Heard brings to the table is speed. In addition, Gilbert said Heard has experience, is a proven winner in high school, spins the ball well, and is trying to know what needs to be done on offense.
- Gilbert said nobody was leading the quarterback race. He said it is too early. Gilbert is still trying to figure out the players, and vice-versa.
- The progression of those three quarterbacks has been good, according to Gilbert. He is looking for steady progression from his three quarterbacks. The main goal is not to let mistakes in practice show up after the error has been addressed.
- Gilbert has positive things to say about his quarterbacks off the field: “They’ve been great about that. They’ve put a lot of energy and effort to what we’re doing. Those guys have put in extra time. All of our guys have done a great job of getting all the info and seeing it on their iPad and watching it and trying to process it outside of when they’re with us.”
- In addition, Gilbert said they have processed the information they need to learn to his satisfaction. Gilbert said he has something to compare it to, and said his quarterbacks are right on track when compared to other places he’s been.
- Here was Gilbert’s answer when asked what it takes for a quarterback to be successful in his system: “You’ve got to be intelligent. Obviously, you've got to be able to throw it around and be accurate with the ball, and just understand what we’re doing. If you’re intelligent, you've got a high football IQ, and you equate those things, you've got a guy that’s got a chance to be successful with what we do.” The quarterback who wins the job will take care of the football, understand where to deliver the football and how to deliver it.
- Texas coach Charlie Strong optimistically believed they could name a starter by the end of spring, but Gilbert was hesitant. Gilbert said it’s still early to make that determination. He is not in a hurry, and wants to make sure they select the right guy.
- Gilbert said he will play the best guy when asked about the possibility of starting a freshman quarterback. He said you play the best guy, and the people around them have to step up. When asked about Buechele, Gilbert said, “He’s headsy. He’s got a live arm about him. Carries himself well. Has a high football IQ. Competitive. He’s urgent about what he does, and how he does it. He’s got a lot of room for growth and improvement.”
- One thing Gilbert said he has not done is watched last year’s film because he wanted to give every player a clean slate.
- Gilbert said the offensive line has looked great under Matt Mattox. They are physical, continue to grow and improve, and have excelled in the weight room. Mattox’s players have set the tone through tempo and physical play.
- Gilbert on Swoopes: “Swoopes is big. He’s got experience. He’s got a live arm. A guy who cares. He’s been around here. He carries some experience with him. He carries great leadership qualities about himself. Our guys, they respect him. He’s made plays before. Those are the things I like about him when I see him every day.”
- Texas ran 70 offensive plays in 10 minutes during a recent practice. Gilbert is trying to install tempo, and called it a mindset. Gilbert did say practice becomes difficult and times when he is pushing his players that hard, “At times it is because they’re doing something they’ve never done before. They can hardly breathe, so they can hardly think early on in this deal. They've got to get in shape, and they’re in the process of getting in shape. Then they've got to be able to think, execute and do all that in a quick period of time.”
- Gilbert said in the past, players have become comfortable in this system after two years, but there has also been success in year one. There is no magic year.
- When asked if Kai Locksley’s future might be at a different position, Gilbert said “maybe.” He then added it might be too early to make that determination.
Here are the highlights of his availability:
- Gilbert said everything has been fast and furious since he was hired. As far as spring football is concerned, he said it has been a great process. Players have done a great job progressing from the initial installation phase to the time they need to carry it to the field. When asked to describe the install process, he said, “It’s kind of like grandma’s pie. She just puts it together, and it tastes good. That’s kind of how it happens. There’s not really a setup recipe for it. You just kind of start installing, try to put the pieces together with personnel and seeing where guys fit.”
- When asked if there was a quarterback on campus who can run the offense, Gilbert said it would be one of the three guys currently competing to start. The guys in the mix are Tyrone Swoopes, Jerrod Heard and Shane Buechele.
- During my question to Gilbert, I pointed out how Swoopes has routinely looked good in practice, but struggled in games. I asked him how he can determine if a guy who does well in practice can do the same thing in games, and here was his response: “That’s a good question. Sometimes you don’t know what guys are going to do until those lights come on. It just goes back to some of that we won’t know until we get out there against Notre Dame. Some guys they do a great job in practice, but they don’t do so well in the game, or they’re not great practice guys, but they show up on Saturdays and play lights out. I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum on that. Again, it’s about knowing a guy, getting an understanding of what he does, and once we figure out what his strengths are, then just calling plays to his strengths, and setting that guy up to be successful in every rep and what he’s doing.”
- One thing Heard brings to the table is speed. In addition, Gilbert said Heard has experience, is a proven winner in high school, spins the ball well, and is trying to know what needs to be done on offense.
- Gilbert said nobody was leading the quarterback race. He said it is too early. Gilbert is still trying to figure out the players, and vice-versa.
- The progression of those three quarterbacks has been good, according to Gilbert. He is looking for steady progression from his three quarterbacks. The main goal is not to let mistakes in practice show up after the error has been addressed.
- Gilbert has positive things to say about his quarterbacks off the field: “They’ve been great about that. They’ve put a lot of energy and effort to what we’re doing. Those guys have put in extra time. All of our guys have done a great job of getting all the info and seeing it on their iPad and watching it and trying to process it outside of when they’re with us.”
- In addition, Gilbert said they have processed the information they need to learn to his satisfaction. Gilbert said he has something to compare it to, and said his quarterbacks are right on track when compared to other places he’s been.
- Here was Gilbert’s answer when asked what it takes for a quarterback to be successful in his system: “You’ve got to be intelligent. Obviously, you've got to be able to throw it around and be accurate with the ball, and just understand what we’re doing. If you’re intelligent, you've got a high football IQ, and you equate those things, you've got a guy that’s got a chance to be successful with what we do.” The quarterback who wins the job will take care of the football, understand where to deliver the football and how to deliver it.
- Texas coach Charlie Strong optimistically believed they could name a starter by the end of spring, but Gilbert was hesitant. Gilbert said it’s still early to make that determination. He is not in a hurry, and wants to make sure they select the right guy.
- Gilbert said he will play the best guy when asked about the possibility of starting a freshman quarterback. He said you play the best guy, and the people around them have to step up. When asked about Buechele, Gilbert said, “He’s headsy. He’s got a live arm about him. Carries himself well. Has a high football IQ. Competitive. He’s urgent about what he does, and how he does it. He’s got a lot of room for growth and improvement.”
- One thing Gilbert said he has not done is watched last year’s film because he wanted to give every player a clean slate.
- Gilbert said the offensive line has looked great under Matt Mattox. They are physical, continue to grow and improve, and have excelled in the weight room. Mattox’s players have set the tone through tempo and physical play.
- Gilbert on Swoopes: “Swoopes is big. He’s got experience. He’s got a live arm. A guy who cares. He’s been around here. He carries some experience with him. He carries great leadership qualities about himself. Our guys, they respect him. He’s made plays before. Those are the things I like about him when I see him every day.”
- Texas ran 70 offensive plays in 10 minutes during a recent practice. Gilbert is trying to install tempo, and called it a mindset. Gilbert did say practice becomes difficult and times when he is pushing his players that hard, “At times it is because they’re doing something they’ve never done before. They can hardly breathe, so they can hardly think early on in this deal. They've got to get in shape, and they’re in the process of getting in shape. Then they've got to be able to think, execute and do all that in a quick period of time.”
- Gilbert said in the past, players have become comfortable in this system after two years, but there has also been success in year one. There is no magic year.
- When asked if Kai Locksley’s future might be at a different position, Gilbert said “maybe.” He then added it might be too early to make that determination.
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