Pinkel Press Conference Quotes
10/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2001
On the University of Texas -- "If you look at Texas, it only takes you a couple of minutes to see what a great football team they have. Their personnel might be as good as any personnel in the country. You look at their speed on defense. You look at the number of great players they have. You look at the speed of Lewis, their middle linebacker, the speed of their defensive line, the corners play a lot of man coverage because they have exceptional cover ability. Sims is a guy that is running that team so very well. You look at the tailbacks, the young freshman Benson is doing a great job, and then you take Williams, the wide receiver. There are not a lot of holes in their personnel. They're a well-coached, very impressive football team. They're a very, very good football team. It's a great challenge, and I will also look at it as a great opportunity."
On the offensive line's development -- "We've improved. This weeks going to be huge against as good a rush defense as there is in the country. We're playing a lot better up front. We've changed some of our blocking schemes. We've done a few, not major, but subtle changes to our blocking scheme that will hopefully create more creases. I also think we're just playing better. The players understand the offense a little better. It all starts up front. Mike Hayes and Justin Bland are our leaders, and the running backs are running hard. That too motivates the offensive line because they know they have got a guy back there that will fight for the extra yardage. It's a combination of all those things."
On Dan Davis's development -- Dan Davis has come far. He made a couple real big plays in our last game. I think the game will start slowing down for him the more experience he gets. He's played 6 games at defensive end, playing tail back prior to that, never playing a down in a 3-point stance. Him being a red shirt sophomore, he's got a great future."
On the Texas offense -- "They're great athletes. They have great players everywhere. They've got two great tail backs. Their quarterback's an NFL football player. Williams is like Gage, he can make plays at anytime. They're fun to watch on film, but they're not fun when you play them. They're a very talented, well-coached football team. Mack's done a great job building that football program. It's obvious when you see them."
