By Taylor Grafft
Unified
One of the more interesting topics of conversation among the players following head coach Charlie Strong’s Tuesday press conference was how much more unified the team became this offseason.
Gone are the days of cliques within the locker room, quarterback controversies and players claiming seniority to justify a starting role.(Continue reading below…)
(…Continued from above.) Junior defensive tackle Paul Boyette Jr. expounded upon how far the Longhorns have come since last season to make sure team chemistry was solid.[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
“Last year, guys were timid with communication,” Boyette said. “This year, we’ve been around each other at more team events, and we let each other know that we’re all a family. We’re all going to grind together. We’re all going to sweat together.”
“It’s absolutely a more ‘together’ team (than last year),” sophomore tight end Andrew Beck added. “Unfortunately, there were some (cliques) last year. I think part of it is (that) when you change coaches, guys tend to go to their comfort zone. Now everyone is used to everybody, and I’m hanging out with players that I didn’t get to hang out with last season.”
The coaches took measures over the offseason to ensure that the players got to know their teammates better.
Each weekend, assistant coach Pat Moorer assigned players the task of calling five different teammates, “just to talk,” in an effort to strengthen team bonding and help players get to know each other off the football field.
“Coach Moorer wants us to call five guys over the weekend just to talk,” Beck said. “It’s not really forced on us, but more recommended. You get to know guys you normally wouldn’t talk to from different position groups.”
The coaches aren’t the only ones hoping to improve team chemistry. Boyette also said he goes across campus to guide teammates back to his condo, where they shoot pool, go bowling or “just chill and have fun.”
“If I have to make two or three trips to campus, I’ll do it. I’ve done it before,” Boyette said. “I want to make sure guys are having fun.”
Quarterback controversy among the players?
A lot has been made this offseason about which quarterback would start against Notre Dame, and the amount of repetitions with the first-team offense incumbent Tyrone Swoopes and challenger Jerrod Heard were getting.
Tuesday’s press conference was more of the same, as media members continue to try and figure out the coaching staff’s plans for the two quarterbacks, and how each of their skill sets fits into the Texas offense.
One reporter asked junior offensive lineman Kent Perkins which quarterback he preferred, and then if he thought he had a better chance of winning with one or the other.
Perkins didn’t exactly take the bait, saying he felt Texas could win with either quarterback under center.
“So far, both quarterbacks have been doing real well,” Perkins said. “We played with both the quarterbacks and the first-team offensive line in the spring game, and I felt good with both of them.”
Perkins resisted the urge to admit preferring one quarterback over the other, although when pressed, he did admit the familiarity gained during the year of playing with Swoopes serves as a foundation for the confidence he has in the Longhorns’ 2014 starter.
“I like Tyrone,” Perkins said, “because I played with him last year and I’m comfortable with him.”
The best players will play
With the talent Strong and his staff brought in with the 2015 recruiting class, the level of competition this offseason has been one of the highest in recent memory.
Fans should probably have a roster handy for the season opener at Notre Dame, because quite a few true freshmen likely will be suiting up and playing for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball — with a few even vying for starting positions.
It would be easy to assume that the upperclassmen would be threatened by the incoming players challenging for positions on the depth chart, but according to the staff and players like senior linebacker Peter Jinkens, the best players will play.
“If (the freshmen) are better than me, then they’re better than me, but there’s no hardship on me,” Jinkens said. “But you like to be pushed so that you can be your best. At the end of the day, the best player plays.”
[/s2If]
[s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
[article-offer]
[/s2If]
Discover more from Horns Illustrated
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.