Football Weekly Press Conference: Arkansas
Sep 22, 2015 | Football
Kevin Sumlin, coordinators Jake Spavital and John Chavis, and select players talked Aggies/Arkansas on Tuesday at Texas A&M's weekly press conference inside the Kyle Field Media Center.
A summary of Coach Sumlin's comments are posted below.
Reaction to Kliff Kingsbury's comments following Texas Tech win over Arkansas. Have talked to Kliff. Shouldn't surprise anyone, as we spent 5 years together. He did great job here and great job at Houston. Not uncommon to have conversation with opponent of next opponent's head coach. My opinion doesn't matter, what goes on between those two guys is what's going on between those two guys. I'll just be at Texas high school convention this year. Maybe I'll referee (laughter). Known both guys for long time.
Said last year feel Arkansas very good team, feelings now this year. Still feel same way. Ended up being right thing. Overtime game last year. Took a lot out of our football team. They took it and moved forward. Really good football team at end of year. For us it's beginning of conference play. That's the reality of it. Nothing's changed from our point of view how we view Arkansas. First game of SEC, playing where we play, it's going to be a big-time atmosphere and it's a game both of us need to win.
Take on SEC West race going into conference play. Not for me (to say). I go through everything week to week. All we do is play every week. I don't set up a board and rank SEC West every week. I worry about who we are playing.
Referenced before getting beat up in last year's Arkansas game and how that affected changes you made. We've changed (some) things. Made some changes schematically and philosophically. Approach in offseason has been different. Approach to what we doing during season has been different. Anytime as a coach when you go through what we did last year, to go 5 straight weeks and win and then have drop off we had, then come back and win a few, my job is to assess where program is all the time. Want to improve good things and things that aren't working you need to figure out what the issue is. Did some research, looking into practice schedule and looking at where we are depth-wise in this league. This is a line of scrimmage and depth league. Feel better about where we are from depth standpoint defensive-line wise. Got AJ Hilliard back so have some depth at linebacker. Offensive line the same way. Built to that but also changed some things. Right or wrong, what you have to do is look at where you are and be honest. Whatever we did last year we have to help and give our guys a chance. Think we've gone and done that, we'll see how results go. Think guys feel better and fresher. Will see going forward.
AJ Hilliard playing last week. Guy hasn't played since early in South Carolina game. Missed all of last season. Was a real horrific injury. Then broke a wrist toward end of summer. Through fall camp was hit and miss. To get him to play last week thought that was a big deal. Made some plays. Did some things that are rusty. Going into this week, been able to watch video of game. Understands the game plan more. Played a lot of snaps Saturday. Think we'll benefit going forward from him being able to play Saturday.
Arkansas has not allowed sack, is that topic of motivation. Not at all. Our guys know what they need to do. Got two defensive ends that rush the passer. They want to get a sack regardless of what the stats say.
Brandon Allen. Been a good quarterback. Last year one of the few guys that really had a low interception to touchdown ratio, one of lowest in country. Threw over 20 TDs. Been efficient as quarterback. Lot of what they do comes off play action. Great run game as you know. Biggest offensive line in country. In my opinion probably one of if not the best tight ends in country. They get him loose on crossing routes, deep routes. Been fabulous for last couple of years. Got weapons. Been efficient, that hasn't been issue. Had issues in red zone last couple of weeks, but gone up and down the field between the 20s. Good QB last year, is a better QB this year.
Taylor Bertolet. He was replaced by the all-time leading percentage leader in history of Texas A&M in Josh Lambo. From a percentage standpoint, extra points and field goals, Lambo was best placekicker to ever play here. (Taylor) has worked at it over last 2 to 3 years. Opportunity to mature physically and mentally. That's to be expected. Would hope a guy 3 years later is not the guy maybe he was as freshman. Same with Drew Kaser. When I got here, Drew was guy—and Brian Polian would tell you this—Drew was guy who redshirted. Hamstring problems. Didn't punt at all. Now he's leading the country. Particularly with kickers and punters, but with anyone, you'd hope as they grow and mature physically they will mentally. That's where he is right now. 3-for-3 field goals, 5-for-5 extra points, and 7 touchbacks last week. That's not a good performance. That's a great performance. Need him to keep playing at that level. Hard to do that, but that was great performance last week.
Still advantage to play game in Arlington every year, and is there a recruiting advantage vs playing at home. You know how it is. As coach you don't make schedule. This thing made long time ago. Play the schedule you have. If you're going to leave (home), you're playing in arguably the best venue in country as far as professional stadiums go. Would I love to play at home in our new stadium? Don't think I know anyone who wouldn't. But that was decided long time ago before I got here. You get the schedule, you play it. We'll have a lot of people there. Atmosphere last year was a really good one. Will be good this year. To play seven times here and then at NRG and (AT&T Stadium) this year, for our fans the experience is a good one. For players it's a good one. Don't think you'll play in any better stadiums than we're playing in right now.
Your appearance in adidas commercial. Was opportunity with adidas, who's been great partner with us and our athletics department. Situation where they were shooting commercial for new speed presentation. Called and asked if I wanted to do it. Told me guys in there and I said okay. Had to get to LA. Was this summer. During vacation time. I don't normally go to football games dressed like that, but figured no one would know who I was if I didn't dress that way. Helps us. Whenever you have opportunity to expose not only your program but Texas A&M the brand as much as that's out there, that does nothing but help us. With adidas, where they are right now with us as an athletic department—not just football—been a great partner with us and hopefully will continue to be. Great exposure for us, the product, everything.
Satisfied with time the twos have gotten in game situations and things to work on. Shoot. Got stuff to work on with the 1s. If you're happy with the 2s being out there that means you're in control of the football game. Bigger part of the picture is that we've been able to rotate guys in meaningful situations instead of just clearing the field and putting guys out there. Ability to rotate the 2s and make them as I say "1-Bs" is a big step for program and for the individual. Biggest step is not just the 2s, biggest step has been particularly defensively, for the Qualen Cunninghams and Jarrett Johnsons to rotate with Daeshon and Myles and for us to have the confidence to put them in there on 2nd and 1st downs and get those guys off the field. That's more important to me than a wholesale sub situation. (Like) Rotation at nickel with Donovan Wilson and Noel Ellis, basically rotating series. Gets us depth and rotation that's meaningful and they can have confidence in that situation.
Has team stepped up attention now that it's start of SEC play. I don't know. Like to think that from where we are, we are trying to get better every week regardless of opponent. Correct mistakes from a week ago, eliminate bad football, hold guys accountable. If all that happens we get better as a team. Got a lot of guys playing who understand what's at stake and understand we have the tools to be a good football team. Got to get better to be the team we are capable of being. This is another chance this week.
Caden Smith. Another walk-on, from Roscoe, Texas. Had to find out where that was. Heck of a player. Guy who has been an unsung guy this year. Moved around on offense. Played some special teams. Really developed into vocal leader on the team on the sideline and during the game.
A summary of Coach Sumlin's comments are posted below.
KEVIN SUMLIN PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY
Reaction to Kliff Kingsbury's comments following Texas Tech win over Arkansas. Have talked to Kliff. Shouldn't surprise anyone, as we spent 5 years together. He did great job here and great job at Houston. Not uncommon to have conversation with opponent of next opponent's head coach. My opinion doesn't matter, what goes on between those two guys is what's going on between those two guys. I'll just be at Texas high school convention this year. Maybe I'll referee (laughter). Known both guys for long time.
Said last year feel Arkansas very good team, feelings now this year. Still feel same way. Ended up being right thing. Overtime game last year. Took a lot out of our football team. They took it and moved forward. Really good football team at end of year. For us it's beginning of conference play. That's the reality of it. Nothing's changed from our point of view how we view Arkansas. First game of SEC, playing where we play, it's going to be a big-time atmosphere and it's a game both of us need to win.
Take on SEC West race going into conference play. Not for me (to say). I go through everything week to week. All we do is play every week. I don't set up a board and rank SEC West every week. I worry about who we are playing.
Referenced before getting beat up in last year's Arkansas game and how that affected changes you made. We've changed (some) things. Made some changes schematically and philosophically. Approach in offseason has been different. Approach to what we doing during season has been different. Anytime as a coach when you go through what we did last year, to go 5 straight weeks and win and then have drop off we had, then come back and win a few, my job is to assess where program is all the time. Want to improve good things and things that aren't working you need to figure out what the issue is. Did some research, looking into practice schedule and looking at where we are depth-wise in this league. This is a line of scrimmage and depth league. Feel better about where we are from depth standpoint defensive-line wise. Got AJ Hilliard back so have some depth at linebacker. Offensive line the same way. Built to that but also changed some things. Right or wrong, what you have to do is look at where you are and be honest. Whatever we did last year we have to help and give our guys a chance. Think we've gone and done that, we'll see how results go. Think guys feel better and fresher. Will see going forward.
AJ Hilliard playing last week. Guy hasn't played since early in South Carolina game. Missed all of last season. Was a real horrific injury. Then broke a wrist toward end of summer. Through fall camp was hit and miss. To get him to play last week thought that was a big deal. Made some plays. Did some things that are rusty. Going into this week, been able to watch video of game. Understands the game plan more. Played a lot of snaps Saturday. Think we'll benefit going forward from him being able to play Saturday.
Arkansas has not allowed sack, is that topic of motivation. Not at all. Our guys know what they need to do. Got two defensive ends that rush the passer. They want to get a sack regardless of what the stats say.
Brandon Allen. Been a good quarterback. Last year one of the few guys that really had a low interception to touchdown ratio, one of lowest in country. Threw over 20 TDs. Been efficient as quarterback. Lot of what they do comes off play action. Great run game as you know. Biggest offensive line in country. In my opinion probably one of if not the best tight ends in country. They get him loose on crossing routes, deep routes. Been fabulous for last couple of years. Got weapons. Been efficient, that hasn't been issue. Had issues in red zone last couple of weeks, but gone up and down the field between the 20s. Good QB last year, is a better QB this year.
Taylor Bertolet. He was replaced by the all-time leading percentage leader in history of Texas A&M in Josh Lambo. From a percentage standpoint, extra points and field goals, Lambo was best placekicker to ever play here. (Taylor) has worked at it over last 2 to 3 years. Opportunity to mature physically and mentally. That's to be expected. Would hope a guy 3 years later is not the guy maybe he was as freshman. Same with Drew Kaser. When I got here, Drew was guy—and Brian Polian would tell you this—Drew was guy who redshirted. Hamstring problems. Didn't punt at all. Now he's leading the country. Particularly with kickers and punters, but with anyone, you'd hope as they grow and mature physically they will mentally. That's where he is right now. 3-for-3 field goals, 5-for-5 extra points, and 7 touchbacks last week. That's not a good performance. That's a great performance. Need him to keep playing at that level. Hard to do that, but that was great performance last week.
Still advantage to play game in Arlington every year, and is there a recruiting advantage vs playing at home. You know how it is. As coach you don't make schedule. This thing made long time ago. Play the schedule you have. If you're going to leave (home), you're playing in arguably the best venue in country as far as professional stadiums go. Would I love to play at home in our new stadium? Don't think I know anyone who wouldn't. But that was decided long time ago before I got here. You get the schedule, you play it. We'll have a lot of people there. Atmosphere last year was a really good one. Will be good this year. To play seven times here and then at NRG and (AT&T Stadium) this year, for our fans the experience is a good one. For players it's a good one. Don't think you'll play in any better stadiums than we're playing in right now.
Your appearance in adidas commercial. Was opportunity with adidas, who's been great partner with us and our athletics department. Situation where they were shooting commercial for new speed presentation. Called and asked if I wanted to do it. Told me guys in there and I said okay. Had to get to LA. Was this summer. During vacation time. I don't normally go to football games dressed like that, but figured no one would know who I was if I didn't dress that way. Helps us. Whenever you have opportunity to expose not only your program but Texas A&M the brand as much as that's out there, that does nothing but help us. With adidas, where they are right now with us as an athletic department—not just football—been a great partner with us and hopefully will continue to be. Great exposure for us, the product, everything.
Satisfied with time the twos have gotten in game situations and things to work on. Shoot. Got stuff to work on with the 1s. If you're happy with the 2s being out there that means you're in control of the football game. Bigger part of the picture is that we've been able to rotate guys in meaningful situations instead of just clearing the field and putting guys out there. Ability to rotate the 2s and make them as I say "1-Bs" is a big step for program and for the individual. Biggest step is not just the 2s, biggest step has been particularly defensively, for the Qualen Cunninghams and Jarrett Johnsons to rotate with Daeshon and Myles and for us to have the confidence to put them in there on 2nd and 1st downs and get those guys off the field. That's more important to me than a wholesale sub situation. (Like) Rotation at nickel with Donovan Wilson and Noel Ellis, basically rotating series. Gets us depth and rotation that's meaningful and they can have confidence in that situation.
Has team stepped up attention now that it's start of SEC play. I don't know. Like to think that from where we are, we are trying to get better every week regardless of opponent. Correct mistakes from a week ago, eliminate bad football, hold guys accountable. If all that happens we get better as a team. Got a lot of guys playing who understand what's at stake and understand we have the tools to be a good football team. Got to get better to be the team we are capable of being. This is another chance this week.
Caden Smith. Another walk-on, from Roscoe, Texas. Had to find out where that was. Heck of a player. Guy who has been an unsung guy this year. Moved around on offense. Played some special teams. Really developed into vocal leader on the team on the sideline and during the game.
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