Texas
May 23, 2013
Texas
Small Large
Tracking the Longhorns: Nov. 6

S MARCUS GRIFFIN
On how it feels to know he'll be playing his last home game: Actually, I haven't really thought about it, but yes it is going to be an emotional day. The biggest thing I want is to come out with a win.

On what the defense is going to have to do to contain Texas Tech: It's going to be hard to stop them because they're passing for over 500 yards a game. (Texas Tech QB) Graham Harrell is a good player, (receiver) (Michael) Crabtree is a good player and they also have a really explosive offense.

On Texas Tech's receiver Michael Crabtree:  From what I've seen on tape, Crabtree is a very good player. Last week we got some practice playing against big receivers. It's only Tuesday, so we still have a full week of practice to try and get prepared for (Texas) Tech on Saturday.

On Texas Tech's offense: I just see it as another game and another offensive face. It's fun for me to play a team that likes to throw the ball around.

On how it is to play a team that is loaded with receivers: Like I said, it's fun because it gives us an opportunity to defend the pass and as DBs [defensive backs] that's the main thing we want to do.

CB RYAN PALMER
On the Oklahoma State game: You know, we had some things that happened last week that we're really not happy about, so that's why we're really ready to play this week. As a group, we really don't feel like we played well, and so we're kind of anxious to play this weekend. This week we're just going to practice hard and get ready to play.

On Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree: If I line-up against him, I'm just going to play hard. And he's a really good player, so we'll just see what happens on Saturday.

On Texas Tech's offense: It's always fun when somebody is going to throw the ball that much, but as a DB you've got to support the run (defense) too, but it's always fun when people throw the ball. The whole secondary is ready to play. They're a great offense and you have to respect them, you just can't be intimidated. It's another challenge for us and we've just got to be ready to step up.

On learning from playing Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State is a good passing team too, but Tech is different because they've got all different kinds of routes, like spot-routes and mesh-routes. So it's going to be a challenge on our eyes and feet.

On this being the last home game of the season: Oh yeah, it's a big game. For Marcus (Griffin), Erick (Jackson) and Brandon (Foster), it's their last game at home (in their careers). We just want to go out there and put up a good performance for them because this is the last time they'll ever play in DKR [Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium]. We just want to practice hard this week and focus. This is an ABC game again so we'll be on national television, so really we just want to go in there and focus and play the best game we can to try to leave (the seniors) with a 'W.'

DB DEON BEASLEY
On Texas Tech being the ultimate test for a defensive back: Coming into the game I know they're going to make a lot of good plays on offense, they've got a lot of good players starting with (Michael) Crabtree, (Graham) Harrell and (Danny) Amendola. They have a lot of great players, so we're just going to come into the game as if it were any other. They throw the ball about 90 percent of the time, so we're just going to go out there and defend the best way we can.

On Texas Tech being a primarily passing team: They throw the ball around. They throw the ball in the flat and they throw it deep. (Coach Mike Leach) is going to take his shots as far as Coach Leach that's what he does.

On his game right now: I just try to go out there and do the best I can each week. We have a lot of great athletes, and if you wonder why I've been playing so great, it's because I’m surrounded by great players, as far as Marcus Griffin, Ryan (Palmer), Ishie (Oduegwu) and Brandon (Foster), so I have no choice but to play to the best of my abilities.

On waiting for his turn: I'm playing with some great players, so my goal is to just get on the field and do the best I can whenever I'm on the field.

On this being the last home game for the seniors: Brandon (Foster), Marcus (Griffin) and other guys that have already left taught me a lot of things since I've been here. I came in and wasn't the best corner, but now the main thing on my mind is to get these guys a 'W' for their last home game.

LB RODDRICK MUCKELROY
On Texas Tech's offense: They're going to air it out all day long so you have to get ready for the pass. It's really focusing on the offense and knowing what their tendencies are and preparing really hard each day for them.

On how they fix the tackling issues: You just go out and practice. You can work on that in practice by going back to your techniques and your fundamentals. You start there and correct those problems.

On the BCS: We're not worried about that. It is one game at a time and once the season is over we get to see how it unfolds. If we get a chance to go to a BCS game then we get a chance, but we're just focused on Texas Tech.

RB JAMAAL CHARLES
On what is helping him to produce more:
The biggest thing is hitting the holes hard and running North-South. The coaches have been in my ear about running down hill and I've been doing a better job of that the last few games. I was trying to bounce outside and run east-west to much. Now, I'm running hard to the hole, the line is blocking great and we're making big plays.

On his thoughts of his performance in the fourth quarter: It's just really helping my team and helping us to stay focused on our goals to hopefully win out the rest of the games we have. Everybody talks about Texas Tech's offense, but they have a good defense too. They're ranked third in the Big 12 in total defense and are really aggressive. We're going to have to be ready and play our best game yet.

What do you remember from the Texas Tech games you've played in: I remember last year, it was 21-0 in a hurry. They jumped out on us and we had to work hard to get back in the game. They're a good team and not just on offense. They hit hard on defense and have a lot of great athletes. We need to be ready this weekend.

On how important it is to play in the first quarter like they do in the fourth quarter: We need to get off to a better start but it's really important for us to keep finishing too. The fourth quarter, that's when we fight and never give up. We show our passion for the game and we just want to show people that Texas is going to be there until the end when it says "0:00."

On if the fourth quarter performances are due to depth: It's depth and it's also the players on the field calling the right plays, being at the right position, picking up blitzes, opening holes for the running backs and the wide receivers catching the ball from Colt. We've done a great job executing down the stretch.

On the long runs he's had recently: The offensive line is doing a great job. They're giving me nice holes and I'm doing a better job of seeing and hitting the holes. Everything seems to be going good in the running game. Colt's making good reads and adjustments, the coaches are calling great plays and the line is doing their job. I'm just running through the hole.

On it being the final home game for the seniors: This is the last game for the seniors at home and we're trying to finish it off for the seniors. We want to go out and play well and win it for them. But this also is the last home game for everyone (this year) so we want to finish strong.

On if he likes being a well-balanced team: That's what we're really focusing on right now, being a balanced offense. We're doing a good job running and throwing the ball and that makes it harder on a defense. We need to keep getting that done because it makes the running game a lot easier if you can pass and the passing game works better when were running the ball.

Coach Brown talks a lot about the importance of winning the games in the state, why is winning the "state championship" so important: It's important because we're trying to win all of our games in the state. We know if we win all of our games in the state that we will at least have a chance at the end to play for the Big 12 or be in a really good bowl game. There's a lot of good teams in Texas so if you're beating all of them, you're having a good season.


 

 

High School Coaches Clinic Mack Brown Texas Longhorns Football Camp Longhorn Storm
Rotating Image
Rotating image2
Rotating image3
Rotating image4
IMG