Texas football coach Tom Herman spoke to the media after Monday’s practice. Monday marked the first day coaches began preparing their team for the season opener against Maryland.
Here are the highlights of Herman’s press conference:
- Herman said players responded well after having Sunday off. In addition, Herman said they introduced the scout team during Monday’s practice. Herman said, “Just a 15-minute block to get an understanding of what our expectations are at that tempo of practice, which is really hard. It’s going. It’s full speed. It’s not a walk-through. It’s not a jog-through. It’s getting good work. Scout team guys, if you’re not happy being on scout team, the only person who controls your spot on the depth chart is you. We told them that. Every year I’ve been a coach, that I can remember, a guy from the scout team has done so well that at some point during the season, he’s been kind of called up and thrown into the fire and done really well. Just wanted those guys to understand that every day is a tryout for them on that scout team. We talk about the scout team every day in our staff meetings. I’ll ask the offensive coaches how the defensive scout team is doing. I’ll ask the defensive coaches how the offensive scout team is doing every day, because we want to make sure those guys are down there giving a great look, but also getting trying to get better and improve.”
- There are usually MVPs named during each scrimmage, but Herman said they did not give those awards after Saturday’s practice. Herman said it was ones against twos. They graded players, but did not treat it like a game-like situation because of the format.
- Elijah Rodriguez, Andrew Beck and Chris Brown are the only players Herman does not expect to play in the season opener against Maryland due to their injuries.
- Herman said quarterback Shane Buechele is running with the ones, but added a caveat:
"As of today, Shane's starting," Herman said. "Now, does that guarantee that he'll start against Maryland? No. But, he'll talk the bulk of the ones reps. If he doesn't take advantage of them, Sam [Ehlinger] plays better than him, then that'll change. As of now, Shane is getting the bulk of the one reps, but Sam will continue to do that. Sam's playing good, and Shane is, too. It's a good battle, but you can tell Shane's played 12 games of college football."
- Here is what Herman said about the right tackle position: “If we had to play today, we’d probably jog Tristan Nickelson out with the ones and rotate. Denzel [Okafor] would get the second series, and kind of back and forth. Stick with the hot hand, so to speak. If a guy is playing well after a few series, or the other guy is not, you stick with that guy throughout the course of the game.”
- Herman said this will be a mock game week. Tuesday through Friday will be similar to the regular season so his players can get into that routine.
- Chris Warren III is currently the starting running back, followed by Kyle Porter. If Porter was unable to play, Herman said it would probably be a committee with Kirk Johnson going in first, followed by Daniel Young. Herman said they would determine if a fourth player is needed.
- Here is Tom Herman on receiver John Burt running with the ones: “He’s getting better. He didn’t have a great day today, in all honesty. His body of work throughout the three weeks of camp have been really good.”
- Herman on Texas being ranked in the top 25 poll: “We’re a 5-7 team. You are what your record says you are. We haven’t played a game yet. We’ll pay attention to those as we head down the stretch, but right now, it’s just a bunch of people guessing, right?”
- Herman said the staff just starting watching Maryland film on Sunday. Maryland has not named a starting quarterback, but Herman said if the opponent uses a mobile quarterback, it would not be foreign to his defense.
- In addition, Herman said, “Week one is always scary because good coaches find ways to maximize their personnel and put their personnel in positions to be successful. Personnel in college football changes every year. For them, you’re not sure what you’re going to get.”
- Safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Kris Boyd graded the highest in their respective position groups during preseason camp, according to Herman.
- Here is Herman’s response when I asked about his team's progression, and if could win with them: “Oh yeah. They’ve come leaps and bounds from where they were. Again, the consistency. We had a couple of guys right at the edge. We eat breakfast from 6 to 6:45 in the morning, then we have a special teams meeting at 6:45 a.m. Had a couple of guys show up at 6:40 a.m. We had a team meeting at 6:45, ‘Hey, I don’t know what planet you think you woke up on, but that’s not okay.’ They’re kids. They’re kids with habits. They’re kids that want to do right. There’s no defiance. There’s not bad apples, so to speak. They’re just kids that have some habits that need to constantly be reinforced on the right way of doing things.”
- Texas defensive tackle D’Andre Christmas needs to improve his consistency. Herman said he shows flashes, but disappears. Herman said Christmas knows what the staff expects.
- Linebacker Gary Johnson, tight end Cade Brewer, defensive end Ta’Quon Graham, defensive Josh Thompson and offensive Derek Kerkstetter had the red stripes removed from their helmets, according to Herman. Graham was the first person to lose his stripe.
- Here is Herman’s response when I asked which player/players had question marks earlier this year and has met his expectations: “Dorian Leonard. First month around us was rough. Getting him to go hard all the time. Getting him to do the right thing. Him and his position coach have formed a really special bond. He’s a changed man. I like being around him. He goes hard in practice. He’s leading. He’s one of our few seniors that’s playing a bunch. He’s gravitated toward that role. I’m sure there are others, but that one definitely sticks out for me as guy that’s done a 180 in my mind. Now, knock on wood, but he’s doing a great job.”
Here are the highlights of Herman’s press conference:
- Herman said players responded well after having Sunday off. In addition, Herman said they introduced the scout team during Monday’s practice. Herman said, “Just a 15-minute block to get an understanding of what our expectations are at that tempo of practice, which is really hard. It’s going. It’s full speed. It’s not a walk-through. It’s not a jog-through. It’s getting good work. Scout team guys, if you’re not happy being on scout team, the only person who controls your spot on the depth chart is you. We told them that. Every year I’ve been a coach, that I can remember, a guy from the scout team has done so well that at some point during the season, he’s been kind of called up and thrown into the fire and done really well. Just wanted those guys to understand that every day is a tryout for them on that scout team. We talk about the scout team every day in our staff meetings. I’ll ask the offensive coaches how the defensive scout team is doing. I’ll ask the defensive coaches how the offensive scout team is doing every day, because we want to make sure those guys are down there giving a great look, but also getting trying to get better and improve.”
- There are usually MVPs named during each scrimmage, but Herman said they did not give those awards after Saturday’s practice. Herman said it was ones against twos. They graded players, but did not treat it like a game-like situation because of the format.
- Elijah Rodriguez, Andrew Beck and Chris Brown are the only players Herman does not expect to play in the season opener against Maryland due to their injuries.
- Herman said quarterback Shane Buechele is running with the ones, but added a caveat:
"As of today, Shane's starting," Herman said. "Now, does that guarantee that he'll start against Maryland? No. But, he'll talk the bulk of the ones reps. If he doesn't take advantage of them, Sam [Ehlinger] plays better than him, then that'll change. As of now, Shane is getting the bulk of the one reps, but Sam will continue to do that. Sam's playing good, and Shane is, too. It's a good battle, but you can tell Shane's played 12 games of college football."
- Here is what Herman said about the right tackle position: “If we had to play today, we’d probably jog Tristan Nickelson out with the ones and rotate. Denzel [Okafor] would get the second series, and kind of back and forth. Stick with the hot hand, so to speak. If a guy is playing well after a few series, or the other guy is not, you stick with that guy throughout the course of the game.”
- Herman said this will be a mock game week. Tuesday through Friday will be similar to the regular season so his players can get into that routine.
- Chris Warren III is currently the starting running back, followed by Kyle Porter. If Porter was unable to play, Herman said it would probably be a committee with Kirk Johnson going in first, followed by Daniel Young. Herman said they would determine if a fourth player is needed.
- Here is Tom Herman on receiver John Burt running with the ones: “He’s getting better. He didn’t have a great day today, in all honesty. His body of work throughout the three weeks of camp have been really good.”
- Herman on Texas being ranked in the top 25 poll: “We’re a 5-7 team. You are what your record says you are. We haven’t played a game yet. We’ll pay attention to those as we head down the stretch, but right now, it’s just a bunch of people guessing, right?”
- Herman said the staff just starting watching Maryland film on Sunday. Maryland has not named a starting quarterback, but Herman said if the opponent uses a mobile quarterback, it would not be foreign to his defense.
- In addition, Herman said, “Week one is always scary because good coaches find ways to maximize their personnel and put their personnel in positions to be successful. Personnel in college football changes every year. For them, you’re not sure what you’re going to get.”
- Safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Kris Boyd graded the highest in their respective position groups during preseason camp, according to Herman.
- Here is Herman’s response when I asked about his team's progression, and if could win with them: “Oh yeah. They’ve come leaps and bounds from where they were. Again, the consistency. We had a couple of guys right at the edge. We eat breakfast from 6 to 6:45 in the morning, then we have a special teams meeting at 6:45 a.m. Had a couple of guys show up at 6:40 a.m. We had a team meeting at 6:45, ‘Hey, I don’t know what planet you think you woke up on, but that’s not okay.’ They’re kids. They’re kids with habits. They’re kids that want to do right. There’s no defiance. There’s not bad apples, so to speak. They’re just kids that have some habits that need to constantly be reinforced on the right way of doing things.”
- Texas defensive tackle D’Andre Christmas needs to improve his consistency. Herman said he shows flashes, but disappears. Herman said Christmas knows what the staff expects.
- Linebacker Gary Johnson, tight end Cade Brewer, defensive end Ta’Quon Graham, defensive Josh Thompson and offensive Derek Kerkstetter had the red stripes removed from their helmets, according to Herman. Graham was the first person to lose his stripe.
- Here is Herman’s response when I asked which player/players had question marks earlier this year and has met his expectations: “Dorian Leonard. First month around us was rough. Getting him to go hard all the time. Getting him to do the right thing. Him and his position coach have formed a really special bond. He’s a changed man. I like being around him. He goes hard in practice. He’s leading. He’s one of our few seniors that’s playing a bunch. He’s gravitated toward that role. I’m sure there are others, but that one definitely sticks out for me as guy that’s done a 180 in my mind. Now, knock on wood, but he’s doing a great job.”
