"I think we've established ourselves as a team that have high expectations internally."
"We struggled right through the middle of the season; we won at Auburn, lost a couple of tight games, and bounced back to win the bowl game. If you look at all the freshmen playing in that game ... it gave them a lot of confidence moving forward."
"(Kyle Allen and Otaro Alaka) went into the offseason with a lot of confidence and I think that has continued."
"We lost David Beaty, and I think he's the fourth or fifth assistant to move on as a head coach. Dave Christensen will be our run game coordinator and John Chavis, who brings a wealth of experience. There's been a lot of buy-in among our players and I like their improvement over the first 15 practices."
Added a "physical aspect" to the running game in practices. Our goal in the spring was to become a more physical team and to run the ball in a bigtime league when we want to and when we need to.
Other objective was to stop the run. Had to make changes to the scheme and to how they practice. "I've been very very pleased with the development during that short 15-(practice) window."
Q: Did you take the mindset that if you can't beat LSU, you're going to hire John Chavis away?
A: I didn't kind of; that's exactly what I did.
(Chavis') knowledge of opponents helps me, but also brings confidence to players right away.
On the LSU rivalry: When I walk in there, they don't seem to be too happy to see me either (like Chavis). It's a really, really big football game between Texas A&M and LSU. There's always a lot of subplots in that game. We're recruiting Louisiana, they're recruiting Texas and there are a lot of storylines involved.
On Christensen: I think he brings attitude and experience to the table. We've had to change our practice style. We came into the SEC with the idea that we wanted to win now and wanted to do it by scoring a lot of points. We've done that. Now, from a recruiting standpoint, let's develop the depth needed. The need to recruit, to develop and retain offensive linemen has become more important and hopefully we'll improve over the next couple of years.
Last year, we lacked leadership, especially defensively. As a young player grows, he goes from the what to do to how to do it stage and are starting to step outside of themselves and realizing that I have a greater responsibility to the team.
Notes that Obioha, is, indeed, moving inside.
(Ifedi, Matthews and Obioha) get it, understand it but we're going to rely on some guys who are in year two to say "I've seen that" and help out others.
Are we going to be the '82 Bears? I don't know (He means 85). But I know we're playing faster, with more confidence on defense.
On Ifedi: He's every bit of 335 and I think he think he's a model too. This guy is a big, powerful man.
Says the Chavis situation (lawsuit) "hasn't been a distraction to me at all."
On neutral site games: "From a recruiting standpoint, it's helped us out. We can tell guys you can play at the best stadium in college football; this year, you can play at NRG where they've hosted a Super Bowl and in Arlington, so you're playing in the best stadiums in not just Texas, but America. These types of games in these types of venues, I see the better players in the country wanting to be a part of that."
"We struggled right through the middle of the season; we won at Auburn, lost a couple of tight games, and bounced back to win the bowl game. If you look at all the freshmen playing in that game ... it gave them a lot of confidence moving forward."
"(Kyle Allen and Otaro Alaka) went into the offseason with a lot of confidence and I think that has continued."
"We lost David Beaty, and I think he's the fourth or fifth assistant to move on as a head coach. Dave Christensen will be our run game coordinator and John Chavis, who brings a wealth of experience. There's been a lot of buy-in among our players and I like their improvement over the first 15 practices."
Added a "physical aspect" to the running game in practices. Our goal in the spring was to become a more physical team and to run the ball in a bigtime league when we want to and when we need to.
Other objective was to stop the run. Had to make changes to the scheme and to how they practice. "I've been very very pleased with the development during that short 15-(practice) window."
Q: Did you take the mindset that if you can't beat LSU, you're going to hire John Chavis away?
A: I didn't kind of; that's exactly what I did.
(Chavis') knowledge of opponents helps me, but also brings confidence to players right away.
On the LSU rivalry: When I walk in there, they don't seem to be too happy to see me either (like Chavis). It's a really, really big football game between Texas A&M and LSU. There's always a lot of subplots in that game. We're recruiting Louisiana, they're recruiting Texas and there are a lot of storylines involved.
On Christensen: I think he brings attitude and experience to the table. We've had to change our practice style. We came into the SEC with the idea that we wanted to win now and wanted to do it by scoring a lot of points. We've done that. Now, from a recruiting standpoint, let's develop the depth needed. The need to recruit, to develop and retain offensive linemen has become more important and hopefully we'll improve over the next couple of years.
Last year, we lacked leadership, especially defensively. As a young player grows, he goes from the what to do to how to do it stage and are starting to step outside of themselves and realizing that I have a greater responsibility to the team.
Notes that Obioha, is, indeed, moving inside.
(Ifedi, Matthews and Obioha) get it, understand it but we're going to rely on some guys who are in year two to say "I've seen that" and help out others.
Are we going to be the '82 Bears? I don't know (He means 85). But I know we're playing faster, with more confidence on defense.
On Ifedi: He's every bit of 335 and I think he think he's a model too. This guy is a big, powerful man.
Says the Chavis situation (lawsuit) "hasn't been a distraction to me at all."
On neutral site games: "From a recruiting standpoint, it's helped us out. We can tell guys you can play at the best stadium in college football; this year, you can play at NRG where they've hosted a Super Bowl and in Arlington, so you're playing in the best stadiums in not just Texas, but America. These types of games in these types of venues, I see the better players in the country wanting to be a part of that."
