 
Tracking the Longhorns: Oct. 28
Oct. 28, 2008
Defensive ends coach Oscar Giles On Melton's transition from offense to defense: He's responded really well. He was a running back when he first got here. The crossover was not an easy one and it's still a work in progress. I think he has improved and is improving each and every day. He's taking lessons and learning. It's fun to see him have success and it's fun for our defense. But we tell him to not rest on his laurels and understand that each week is a chance for our defense to get better. On facing the Texas Tech offensive line's wide splits: Tech has a very unique system and Coach [Mike] Leach has done a great job with their program. Their offense has always been productive. Their splits have been very productive for them. They don't allow many sacks. We have to do a great job of getting off blocks and getting to the quarterback. Their (offensive) line does a great job, we just have to cut off the edge and really get to the quarterback as soon quickly as we can.
On the similarities between the offensive lines of Missouri and Texas Tech: It's similar, but I think both teams present different problems for us. You have to look back and see how we did against Missouri, and hopefully we'll try to repeat that performance. On the moment when Melton turned the corner at defensive end: Any time you make a change, a lot of times it becomes a deal where you have to feel comfortable with the position. Each and every week he's gotten better with it and I'm really happy to see that he's having success with it. Any time you change a guy from offense to defense, it becomes a very unique deal. Give him credit for doing it, helping our defense and helping our team. On how Melton changed physically and mentally with his position change: He started off with Mad Dog (Jeff Madden) and those guys working him out in the weight room. He's working out with the rest of the defensive line. But he's always had that explosion and quickness. The thing that he possesses is the (ball) get-off. To play that position, you have to have tremendous get-off and he's got that. On whether he ever could have expected the kind of success Brian Orakpo has had this year: I'm really excited about Brian. He's done a great job and is very coachable young man. I'm excited about his future and I'm really excited for what he's doing for this defense and our football team. He's a tremendous leader. He's done a great tremendous job in the classroom; he'll graduate this fall. I'm really excited for that young man. On what Coach Muschamp has brought to the defense: Coach Muschamp has possessed the intensity for our defense, and we're a reflection of him. Our defensive scheme, our kids are more reflective of him. We talk about being blue collar. Our guys in that staff room are the same way. On the importance of depth against Texas Tech: [Sam] Acho, Eddie Jones, Henry Melton, Sergio, Russell Carter - as many guys as we can get in. At the tackle position, we've got Aaron Lewis, Lamarr Houston, Roy Miller, Kheeston Randall - the more the merrier, because it's going to be a long game. It could be a 90-play, 100-play game. We really feel good about our depth there. On the difficulty of substituting against high-tempo offenses: It's that way week to week. The guys on the field have to do a great job. We've done a great job of conditioning. Our guys are in great shape. We'll get them in. We just have to make sure that the guys in there are doing the job. On whether Texas Tech's running game has improved over past years: They've always had a tremendous running game. People overlook it because they throw the ball tremendously well, but they run the ball well. So we have to do a great job up front and in the front seven of stopping the run. It's very similar to what they've done in the past. They have two great tailbacks back there and the (offensive) line has done a great job. We just have to come off blocks and get to the quarterback, or get to the ball carrier on a run. On Sergio Kindle's development as a pass rusher: Coach Muschamp has done a great job with Sergio, using him in ways that help our defense. I'm happy to have him as a defensive end. He's done a tremendous job for us. He gives us a chance to bring another guy off the edge. But again, it goes back to Coach Muschamp's philosophy of putting guys in a position to be successful. On Brian Orakpo and his consideration for national honors: I think he's done a tremendous job on and off the football field. Getting his degree from The University of Texas and having the chance to play at the next level is a tremendous honor for him. He's been through so much adversity as far as injury goes, being in the right place at the right time. I'm really happy to see him have success. On learning from Kansas's ability to pressure Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell: From week to week, it's the same things we have to do - we have to get off the ball and we have to get to the quarterback. You look at the previous game and try to get some stuff, but really and truly, we're going to do what we do and hopefully we can get back there. DE Henry Melton On where he gets his energy to play hard: I pretty much feed off my team. I see my team out there bleeding, sweating, trying to do the same thing I'm doing, which is trying to make plays, and I just try to make them. On the decision to move to defensive end: We meet with our coaches every off-season and we talk about what we expect from this year and what they expect from us. My coaches said I could be pretty good, even pretty great, so I took the challenge. On his initial move to the defensive line: It was pretty bad. I had never even gotten down in a stance when I played in high school. I played standing up. (My teammates) had a good time watching me try to work my feet and stuff. On his uncle Ray Crockett's desire for him to play defensive end: It was in his head when I first got here. He wanted me to start off there, but I asked the coaches to give me a shot at running back and they gave me a shot. On his attitude as a football player: Whatever position I played I was going to try to be the best at it. On Texas Tech's similarity to Missouri: They do the spread and they try to run the ball a little bit. We've got to stop the run first of all and then we can look to getting on the pass. On the importance of getting Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell out of rhythm: You've always got to get someone out of their rhythm as a quarterback. That's pretty much what Muschamp's going to try to do. DE Sam Acho On what he's improved on since coming to Texas: Over the past year, I think my play recognition. From being a freshman last year to being a sophomore this year, getting more used to the game, being able to recognize plays, things of that nature, also working on my ball get-off, so I've improved, mainly in recognizing plays. On Texas Tech's big offensive line splits: I really don't know why they have those big splits. I'm just mainly worrying about keeping my contain and trying to get to the quarterback. On the importance of rotating players this week: It has to just because Tech's such a great offense, they spread the ball out so much that we'll run about 80-90 plays on defense so everybody has to be ready to play. On his weight room work: I'm loving it. Now that I've come here, I'm trying to work hard every day and do as much as I can to get stronger and get more prepared for the game. On playing with his brother, Emmanuel: It's fun. We played together in high school, as well. It's fun to see him on the field, on the defense or on kickoff. Whenever we're on the field together, it's a lot of fun. |
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