Doomsday101
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The Longhorns held their first open practice and first practice in full pads on Tuesday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Afterward, several players spoke to the media.
QB Garrett Gilbert
On how the spring has gone so far: So far I feel like we’ve got pretty good chemistry as an offense. I think we’re doing a good job getting our timing down right now. Offensively, I think we’re forming the attitude we’re going to have as a team.
On playing under center: I enjoy it. Obviously, I’ll do whatever coach asks of me. I think it’s a lot of fun.
On utilizing more play-action this season: That’ll definitely help. Our offensive line has been doing a great job so far. It helps keep pressure off and keeps the defense on their heels.
On replacing Colt McCoy: I try not to think about that. Obviously, Colt was a great player. I learned a lot from him last year, but I’m just trying to be myself.
On his goal for the spring: As of now, I’m just trying to earn these guys' respect and trying to slowly become a leader.
On the National Championship Game: It was a great learning experience. Obviously it was a tough deal, but it’s something that we can really learn from after the disappointment. Now we’re trying to move on and learn from it.
On learning his role as a quarterback: I think as a quarterback you have an obligation as a leader. I think right now, obviously being a sophomore, trying to get my feet under me here in spring, I think that’s what is so helpful. I’m just trying to earn my way into the lineup.
On where the offense is right now: I feel very comfortable. I’ve got a lot of great players around me. All of our receivers are doing a great job catching the ball. Our running backs are doing a real good job running and the line obviously is doing a good job blocking. I feel comfortable with where our team's at.
WR James Kirkendoll
On Garrett Gilbert: He brings a lot to the table. He’s a young and we've got a lot of stuff we’ve got to work on, and we’re looking forward to everyone getting better and getting on the same page with him.
On Gilbert’s play in the National Championship: Anytime a freshman like that steps in, especially not playing the whole year, and fills the role like that, obviously he brings a lot to the table.
On what the offense took from the National Championship: It definitely gives (Gilbert) a lot of confidence playing like that because there’s no bigger stage. It gives us a lot of confidence as an offense because we’ve seen what he can do. He just has to get everyone on the same page and develop trust with everyone.
On the wide receiving corps: We’ve got a good, veteran group coming back, a lot of guys like me, Malcolm (Williams) and John (Chiles). We’ve got some young guys coming in the fall, and we’ve got some young guys in now. We’re just going to work hard every day, see what happens and compete. We’re just going to try to get on the same page with Garrett and some of the younger quarterbacks.
On today’s practice: This was a good first day (in pads). It was one of the best first days I’ve had since I’ve been here, especially as an offense. I feel like we touched on a lot of new stuff. Everyone’s gelling pretty good. Everybody’s looking good from what I’ve seen today. I think we’re going to be alright.
WR Malcolm Williams
On the start of practice: We’re basically getting back into the feel of playing the game and trying to get out there and trying to have fun and see what we can bring to the table next season.
On replacing Jordan Shipley: Jordan is a great player. Somebody has to step up. Whenever somebody leaves, somebody has to step up.
On Garrett Gilbert: Garrett has stepped up tremendously. He’s been playing very well. As time goes on, he’s gotten better. It’s a pleasure to help him mature.
On Garrett Gilbert’s progression: He’s been out there and going through reads like he’s been there the whole time. He’s matured so fast and he’s just a pleasure to be around.
On the two-back sets the offense has been running: It’s a little different all of a sudden, because now it’s more run-based. It’s a lot of fun. We go out there and play and have fun with it.
On how the new formations will help the receivers: I feel like it will help us tremendously, because it will help us get off the press more, give us more time to run our routes, and do a lot more with what we can.
On incorporating more trick plays: As an offensive player, when you do have trick plays it’s a lot of fun. You can go out there and go along with whatever is going on. It’s fun to have a trick play up your sleeve that you can pull out at any time.
DE Sam Acho
On if he expects to get more attention from offenses this season: I think guys like me, Kheeston Randall and Eddie Jones are going to get a lot of attention out there, but that’s our job to get out there and try and make plays.
On having the fans at practice: It was exciting. It was our first day of full pads. It was exciting to have the fans out there. It was a fun day.
On his goals for this season: As a team we want to play well, play hard and win the Big 12, which is our goal year in and year out. As a team we want to win games, work hard and do everything we can to win.
On filling in for players like Sergio Kindle and Lamarr Houston: Guys like Alex Okafor and Eddie Jones, Calvin Howell, Derek Johnson and Kheeston Randall are all guys that are going to have bigger roles on this defensive line. It's time for other people to step up, and that's what we have to do.
On his first impressions of this year’s team: It was a lot of fun to see the offense out there running the ball and throwing the ball and doing all kinds of different reverses. It was a lot of fun. The defense is still playing hard and trying to get better.
QB Garrett Gilbert
On how the spring has gone so far: So far I feel like we’ve got pretty good chemistry as an offense. I think we’re doing a good job getting our timing down right now. Offensively, I think we’re forming the attitude we’re going to have as a team.
On playing under center: I enjoy it. Obviously, I’ll do whatever coach asks of me. I think it’s a lot of fun.
On utilizing more play-action this season: That’ll definitely help. Our offensive line has been doing a great job so far. It helps keep pressure off and keeps the defense on their heels.
On replacing Colt McCoy: I try not to think about that. Obviously, Colt was a great player. I learned a lot from him last year, but I’m just trying to be myself.
On his goal for the spring: As of now, I’m just trying to earn these guys' respect and trying to slowly become a leader.
On the National Championship Game: It was a great learning experience. Obviously it was a tough deal, but it’s something that we can really learn from after the disappointment. Now we’re trying to move on and learn from it.
On learning his role as a quarterback: I think as a quarterback you have an obligation as a leader. I think right now, obviously being a sophomore, trying to get my feet under me here in spring, I think that’s what is so helpful. I’m just trying to earn my way into the lineup.
On where the offense is right now: I feel very comfortable. I’ve got a lot of great players around me. All of our receivers are doing a great job catching the ball. Our running backs are doing a real good job running and the line obviously is doing a good job blocking. I feel comfortable with where our team's at.
WR James Kirkendoll
On Garrett Gilbert: He brings a lot to the table. He’s a young and we've got a lot of stuff we’ve got to work on, and we’re looking forward to everyone getting better and getting on the same page with him.
On Gilbert’s play in the National Championship: Anytime a freshman like that steps in, especially not playing the whole year, and fills the role like that, obviously he brings a lot to the table.
On what the offense took from the National Championship: It definitely gives (Gilbert) a lot of confidence playing like that because there’s no bigger stage. It gives us a lot of confidence as an offense because we’ve seen what he can do. He just has to get everyone on the same page and develop trust with everyone.
On the wide receiving corps: We’ve got a good, veteran group coming back, a lot of guys like me, Malcolm (Williams) and John (Chiles). We’ve got some young guys coming in the fall, and we’ve got some young guys in now. We’re just going to work hard every day, see what happens and compete. We’re just going to try to get on the same page with Garrett and some of the younger quarterbacks.
On today’s practice: This was a good first day (in pads). It was one of the best first days I’ve had since I’ve been here, especially as an offense. I feel like we touched on a lot of new stuff. Everyone’s gelling pretty good. Everybody’s looking good from what I’ve seen today. I think we’re going to be alright.
WR Malcolm Williams
On the start of practice: We’re basically getting back into the feel of playing the game and trying to get out there and trying to have fun and see what we can bring to the table next season.
On replacing Jordan Shipley: Jordan is a great player. Somebody has to step up. Whenever somebody leaves, somebody has to step up.
On Garrett Gilbert: Garrett has stepped up tremendously. He’s been playing very well. As time goes on, he’s gotten better. It’s a pleasure to help him mature.
On Garrett Gilbert’s progression: He’s been out there and going through reads like he’s been there the whole time. He’s matured so fast and he’s just a pleasure to be around.
On the two-back sets the offense has been running: It’s a little different all of a sudden, because now it’s more run-based. It’s a lot of fun. We go out there and play and have fun with it.
On how the new formations will help the receivers: I feel like it will help us tremendously, because it will help us get off the press more, give us more time to run our routes, and do a lot more with what we can.
On incorporating more trick plays: As an offensive player, when you do have trick plays it’s a lot of fun. You can go out there and go along with whatever is going on. It’s fun to have a trick play up your sleeve that you can pull out at any time.
DE Sam Acho
On if he expects to get more attention from offenses this season: I think guys like me, Kheeston Randall and Eddie Jones are going to get a lot of attention out there, but that’s our job to get out there and try and make plays.
On having the fans at practice: It was exciting. It was our first day of full pads. It was exciting to have the fans out there. It was a fun day.
On his goals for this season: As a team we want to play well, play hard and win the Big 12, which is our goal year in and year out. As a team we want to win games, work hard and do everything we can to win.
On filling in for players like Sergio Kindle and Lamarr Houston: Guys like Alex Okafor and Eddie Jones, Calvin Howell, Derek Johnson and Kheeston Randall are all guys that are going to have bigger roles on this defensive line. It's time for other people to step up, and that's what we have to do.
On his first impressions of this year’s team: It was a lot of fun to see the offense out there running the ball and throwing the ball and doing all kinds of different reverses. It was a lot of fun. The defense is still playing hard and trying to get better.
