Baylor Bears College Football Pregame Quote, 09/16/2024

OPENING STATEMENT

DAVE ARANDA: A lot of work to do for this next week. Lot of respect for our opponent, the skill they have, the improved line of scrimmage play. It’s a team that looks like they’re trending up. And it’s going to be a tough environment for us. A lot of positives for us in this game, too, but it’s going to take our best. The ability to take some time and put our game away that we just played. We’re not going to see anything like that defensively. So, that was a quick look at and turn to our next opponent. So, we’re excited about this Saturday coming up.

Q: What kind of feedback have you been getting from recruits on the big crowd and excitement of the game?

DAVE ARANDA: I think it’s people that want to believe, and there’s just so much, whether it’s losing or talking about losing or talking about (getting) fired or talking about just negative things, that they want to see anything positive. So, anytime you get that, you want to build on it.

Q: Is it easier to turn the page defensively when facing a little more of a traditional offense this week?

DAVE ARANDA: There is a time in the springtime or in fall camp, where there was maybe a moment or so where you’re wishing you would see a fullback or maybe more of a pro-style attack or run attack, because you wanted to see it. And now, it just seems like it’s been so many moons since we’ve seen a spread attack, where that was all that we were seeing in the spring and fall camp. So, it’s good to get back to that. We have plenty of one-on-one time throughout practice that we go through, but to get the scout work and get back to some of the things that we were doing that seems so long ago, is good to do.

Q: What areas did you see increments of improvement from the Utah game to Air Force?

DAVE ARANDA: I thought offensively, our receivers and our skill blocking for other receivers and other skill at a higher rate, a more aggressive rate since I’ve been here, it’s been the best that it’s been on Saturday. We had Monaray blocking down the sideline; Josh Cameron’s always going to do that. Ketron Jackson was doing it, Trigg is doing it. And guys that are finishing blocks for other guys, guys are getting two blocks for other guys. So, there was a great care factor and effort with all that. All that’s contagious. I thought defensively, they had to take a little bit of persuading, but I think there was a bend but not a break; there was, no one’s going to score, no one’s going to score a touchdown . . . not tonight. So, I think that still has to be developed, but you could feel that. I think those are good things. Those need to be identity things.

Q: What is Dequan’s status, and is Sawyer your QB1 this week?

DAVE ARANDA: We’re going, right now, day-to-day. Dequan is out of the sling, so we had practice this morning and he was able to move around better. There are limitations on what we can do per day, but I think we’re in a good spot. We had the Player of the Game award that we do when we win; Sawyer won that award. So, the team was really fired up and excited for him. We’re going to take it, see what brings tomorrow, what Dequan can do, and see how we progress. And hope to have an idea of what it’s going to be prior to Saturday.

Q: The secondary is going to face its stiffest challenge to date, what gives you confidence that they’re up for that challenge?

DAVE ARANDA: I have a lot of respect offensively for what they do. Quarterback makes some really hard throws. If he knows what you’re in, the throws are out before the turns are made and before the coverage has a chance to work a leverage or any of that. Once he knows, it’s bad for the defense. And then, I think the skill is such to where you can only double cover so many people. And I think in the past, people have tried to mitigate all that by trying to get to him before they get to you. And I think there is improvement on that side of it. You can see the talking and the communication up front, where they’re able to hold off. And then, the quarterback is stepping in and taking hits as he’s getting the ball out. That’s a whole NFL thing right there. So, I have a lot of respect, and it’s going to take our best. We’ve been playing a lot of running teams, so to go from one end to the other end is our task. So, it’s a lot of work that needs to happen for us.

Q: Have you been expecting that from Bryson Washington?

DAVE ARANDA: We’ve been expecting it. Yeah, I’m glad that he’s back. He needs to kind of stay back.

Q: What has allowed Devyn Bobby to have this really good start?

DAVE ARANDA: I think he’s playing more confident. I think he knows the defense. I think he’s communicating and verbalizing and taking leadership on the field, and then I think some of the run game that we’ve seen has played into some of his strengths. I think Devyn is an underrated and good coverage safety as well, and so we’ll have an opportunity to feature that and see that here coming up. But I think he’s a dude that loves football, and he doesn’t want people to score, and so I’ll take that.

Q: Do you dial up more pressure against Colorado against a seemingly weaker O-line?

DAVE ARANDA: You know, the formation is such, there’s been a lot of 10 personnel, and there’s even five wide, so 00, personnel, we would call it, early in the year. They have the ability to go 11 personnel, one tight end with three receivers. But that is limited. In this last game, it showed up a little bit more, and they ran the ball some more than they usually do. But outside of that, it’s been four wides, five wides. So the formation gets to where if the numbers are not… they’re counting on a five-one box. And if it were a five-man box, a four-one box. If it ain’t five guys in there, they know something’s up, and the ball’s kicked out quick, and then you gotta make a tackle in space. There’s all these things that to get the pressure that you have to say yes to, and you got to make sure that your people are in the right spot and your leverages are right to when you say yes, you know, it’s what you’re asking for.

Q: What are your thoughts about Deion Sanders and his approach as coach in Colorado?

DAVE ARANDA: I have a lot of respect for him. I think the energy and notoriety and the juice that he’s brought to that program, we’re going to go into a homecoming game for them, and it’s going to be packed, and it’s nationally televised, probably not for us, it’s probably for them. And so I think he’s doing a great job. I have a lot of respect for him.

Q: Is there a different level of excitement for the start of Big 12 play?

DAVE ARANDA: Yeah, I think everyone knows that to harken back to the three amigos, that this is real. And you know, the intentionality of today leads to an outcome that we want on Saturday, and then it has to be that way, where, you know, the bright lights and the TV cameras and just all the things don’t get in the way of what’s right in front of us and what we’ve been repping since, you know, Monday, and so we’ve got to be able to get that better this time than a couple weeks ago.

Q: The difference in running game from first to second half, was it just about holding on to the ball?

DAVE ARANDA: I think it was holding on the ball. We were moving the ball I thought early on and Air Force was getting 12-13 play drives, and we were fumbling it. And so I think once we were able to hold on to the ball and really capitalize on momentum the complimentary football showed up the second half particularly, and so that just always makes stuff… it makes make stuff taste a little bit better when defensively is playing fast, and then offensively, you feel a rush of momentum, and you go and drive. The five yard run is going to feel a little bit better than it was early, when it was nip and tuck and we just fumbled. But I thought we were moving the ball throughout. I think ball security is a huge emphasis. I think defensively, we got to get it out more. Offensively, we’ve got to secure it the way it’s going right now is not sustainable.

Q: Does helmet communication change making changes on defense more than offense?

DAVE ARANDA: I think there is an advantage there if the circumstances allow. If an offense were to go and get lined up early and show you where they’re at, gives you ability to talk through things. And you have to be careful with that too, because it can be a little bit of a nuisance when you’re kind of zooming in to your keys and what you want to see and everything, if you’re a dude on the field. But I think there is an ability to talk. We were talking about the depth of the fullback in this past game, and the fullback was deep. It’s these set of things. The fullback was shallow. It’s these other set of things. And so we were able to do that just with the headset and the way the timing works. 

Q: Do you have an injury update on Cooper Lanz or Carl Williams?

DAVE ARANDA: (They) were both out (practicing) today. Looked good. Yeah. So we’ll see. You know, this would be a game where you sure would like to have Carl. And so we’re hopeful that that takes place, and that today looked good, and tomorrow’s gonna be a bigger test. And then Coop looked good. He’s all bandaged up, hit his ankles about this big with all the bandages and all the things, but moved well. And so we’re hopeful that we can get smaller band aids on that thing, closer to game time.

Q: Do you have an injury update on Hal Presley? Will he be back?

DAVE ARANDA: I think there’s a chance for Hal. I think that’s going to be… he may not get the practice time that we would want him to have to get him, but there’s a chance we get Hal.

Q: How much of a weapon is Palmer Williams and his ability to flip the field?

DAVE ARANDA: I think it’s a strong one. I think the ability to be cohesive. So a huge kick with great coverage where they’re aligned, I think, is what you’re aiming for. And you know, we’ve been able to do that. And so to do that consistently is a huge weapon, especially when we do need to flip the field and we do need to get momentum. About complimentary football, you know, the other, the other side of it is that, hey, if things are are leaking, or things are going the other way, can this flip the momentum? You know, a punt like that, can certainly do that.