Guy Morriss Teleconference Quotes
9/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 12, 2004
Q: Were you disappointed with the way the Texas State game went?
Morriss: "You go back and look at the tapes and we were real close on a lot of things. Our problem is we have to focus on the details, the little things that are really hurting us, it is a breakdown here and a breakdown there. It's not a lot of major busts, it is technique and little things that we have got to get corrected. Instead of ending up in a two or three yard gain, maybe the play could go 15, 20 or 30 yards if we execute the way we should. A couple of throws we didn't need to make and we were forcing it which cost us. But, the kids gave good effort. They need to come in and see this tape and see who I'm talking about and pay attention to the details."
Q: How was the play of Baylor's offensive line against Texas State?
Morriss: "A couple of times we were trying to work combination blocks and we are supposed to be stepping with our outside foot. We make a cross-over and they step down inside and go the wrong way. So, it was little things like that. Our pass protection was better, but it has to get even better quicker or we are going to be in trouble. Again, it was just a lot of little stuff. I'm more encouraged now that I've seen the film, because it is stuff we can get fixed, we just need to stay on them hard about it. I think we know maybe a little more about who our play-makers are and who will get it done up front and who won't. In Chris' (offensive line coach Chris Lancaster) mind, he's settled on five, maybe six guys he knows he can count on and they'll have to do the playing."
Q: Is the offensive line one of your biggest frustrations right now?
Morriss: "I think it is. Evan Stone, Chad Smith and Joe DeWoody, the three new guys doing most of the playing are the guys who can play themselves out of the mistakes they are making. They are going to get better. The left side just has to play better. They are veteran guys, but they are making mistakes they should not be making. We have to do a better job communicating and they have to pick there game up. Getting Glen Oskin back this week will give us another option, no question."
Q: What was the players' reaction after the game?
Morriss: "I think they were happy to get the win, but overall they were kind of disappointed (in the way they played). I don't know if it was some of my comments or that they might have taken this team lightly. I don't think so. You look at the kids on tape and we were running around all night pretty good. I don't think we were overlooking them. I think we have to understand that the little stuff can kill you. It just makes you look foolish out there. I was nervous about it (the game). The thing that we have got to do that will help us is that we have to eliminate the penalties, too. All that stuff (penalties) we have to stop. We are not good enough to come back 1st and 15. We aren't consistent enough to overcome that as many times as we had to."
Q: What was your team's mood at halftime, up 21-3 after the big play to end the first half?
Morriss: "Honestly, I think they were a little surprised, because we had really kind of struggled in the first half. We got one early, then we hit one late second quarter to go in 21-3. I think they were a little shocked it was as close as that and we had to rally there late in the second quarter to get the 21. But, I didn't sense anyone panicking or there wasn't any finger pointing or anything like that."
Q: How did the secondary play?
Morriss: "They played a lot better (this week). Again, it is no knock on Texas State, but they aren't a really prolific passing offense. Texas State's game is the option. When you are limited to 20 hours a week, you can't get enough looks at it (the option). They do just enough to give you enough to worry about, but it doesn't overload their kids. They are pretty polished at. They have two guys back there who do it pretty good."
Q: Did anyone impress you on defense against Texas State?
Morriss: "I think it was more of a team effort. Willie (Andrews) and Maurice (Linguist) played pretty good. Maurice (Lane) always plays pretty good. He (Lane) had the one breakdown and until we talk to them, I don't know what happened on that play."
Q: Does the open date this week come at a good time for your team?
Morriss: "In lieu of the fact that we are going to get our two linemen back (OL Glen Oskin and DT M.T. Robinson) no matter if we were open or playing somebody this week, I'd rather have it later on in the season because that's (nine straight games) a long stretch in this league."
Q: What can the offense take from the last scoring drive of the game, even though it was just a field goal?
Morriss: "Two drives (one at the end of the first half and the field goal in the fourth quarter) kind of came at crunch time, which is good. That should stick in their psyche. When they needed it, they came through with a couple of drives and got points on the board. After they see the tapes, again, we got better from last week to this week. If we can make those type strides again, then we'll be headed in the right direction. Again, it is just a matter of the little things. We have to get that fixed."
Q: What will it take to get the offense in gear?
Morriss: "The effort was there, I don't question anyone's effort. The lack-luster part of it was the attention to detail and that's what I'm going to tell them today. Right now, stability is the key. We can't be changing up a lot of things and that sort of stuff. Then they'll begin to see us as panicking and all of the sudden what we've been teaching for 18 months isn't good enough anymore. We just have to do a better job of demanding perfection, basically. You are always working toward that. We are going to check our hole card as coaches to make sure we are asking them to do the right things and that we've got the right people on the field in the right positions. We have to find a way to get better."
Q: How was the atmosphere for the first home game?
Morriss: "I think we made some strides in that area, too. There were a lot of good things. I enjoyed the fireworks and I liked looking across the way and seeing all the yellow shirts (Baylor Line) in the student section. That was really good to see. We are all in this together and we appreciate all the fans that came out and supported the team."
Baylor Notebook: The Bears will take Monday off, then practice Tuesday through Thursday this week ... Three players made their first career starts as Bears in the Texas State game--junior offensive tackle Evan Stone, sophomore cornerback C.J. Wilson and redshirt freshman tight end Mike Miller ... Two true freshmen, defensive end Geoff Nelson and defensive back James Francis Jr., saw their first career action as Bears ... Miller's first career reception was a two-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Dane King late in the first quarter which gave Baylor a 14-3 lead ... Miller came back with a career-long 19-yard reception in the fourth quarter against Texas State ... Sophomore wide receiver Dominique Zeigler recorded a career-high five catches for a career-best 80 yards against Texas State ... Zeigler's 27-yard second-quarter reception was a career-long ... Sophomore punter Daniel Sepulveda averaged a career-best 55.0 yards on six punts against Texas State, as five of his six punts went 56 yards or longer, including a 60-yard punt against the Bobcats, the fourth 60-yard or better punt of his 14-game Baylor career ... The 2004 Ray Guy Award candidate is averaging 49.2 yards per punt through two games this season and has watched six of his 11 punts on the year travel 50 or more yards ... Senior place-kicker Kenny Webb is 31-of-31 on PATs in his Baylor career, including a 3-of-3 effort against Texas State ... Junior outside safety Willie Andrews had six punt returns for 63 yards against Texas State and now ranks ninth on Baylor's all-time list with 37 career returns ... Baylor improved to 38-17 in home openers at Floyd Casey Stadium and 76-22-5 all-time in such contests ... The Bears' 18-point halftime lead over Texas State (21-3) was their largest since enjoying a 24-point advantage at 30-6 against Tulsa in 2002.
