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STORY: Notebook: Players, coaches discuss the upcoming season

W. McKay

The Electric Factory
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Jan 15, 2009
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The local media was able to sit down with a large number of Red Raider coaches and players yesterday afternoon at Texas Tech media day, and the following conversations were the most noteworthy ones I had throughout the event. I'll have more content with other stories and notes over the next few days, but here's the notebook to get things started.


Jinks talks running backs


I sat down for a good while with assistant head coach and running backs coach Mike Jinks yesterday afternoon, and you can tell that he's very happy with his tailbacks as a unit right now. They've been working hard, and they're trying to get better.

"We've been able to spend some time with them this summer, and I'm happy with where they are from a physical standpoint. I've seen them around the facility a bunch, which is always a good sign. They're studying their craft, asking questions, and really they're just hungry. Just like every other position group, we went 4-8 together, all of us. So, as a football program, I really like where we are right now."

Redshirt freshman DeMarcus Felton has had a year under his belt to acclimate, and Jinks has made sure to let his other backs know he could take one of their spots if they aren't careful.

"He's hungry, ready to get in, ready for his opportunity. And, like I've always said, it's going to be tough to keep him off the field and keep him settled in, but I'm very impressed with his progression," he said. "It's like I've told these guys: Don't let him in. cause he many not come out. He's ready to roll."

Like Felton and Stockton last year, it's now true freshman Corey Dauphine's turn to try and prove himself worthy of carries in a stacked backfield. Jinks said that the Port Arthur native is going through some growing pains right now, but if he breaks through, he won't have any problem putting him on the field this fall.

"Corey, on the other end, is in the process of picking up and learning our system, so he's still kind of like those kids were last year. If Corey can come out and compete and does some things, and if we can get 10 to 12 plays better out of Corey than one of those other guys, then he'll play. If not, then hopefully we've got to the point where we can allow a kid like that to develop."

The tailbacks coach has a ton of depth at his disposal right now, and with the way his players are competing with one another right now, it's making the whole unit better right now. His job is easy as a coach right now, and he's having fun trying to figure out how to split up the carries.

"Competition is the greatest motivator of all time. Those guys in our room right now, I feel like they all want to see each other be successful. They all want to be the man, but not a selfish soul in that room, and that's something I really appreciate. As far as coaching, I really don't have to raise my voice too often. The toughest deal for me is trying to figure out how to manage the touches."

Jinks touched on each player in his unit shortly, giving a bit of a state of the union on where everyone is at.

"I think Dre has really separated himself right now. He's one of the most underrated backs in the entire country. He's a true all around, all purpose threat. I'm looking forward to him leading the way. Then, you look back at the video from our team for last year, and who's to say that Justin Stockton wasn't the most explosive player on our football team? So, what do you do there? Then Q has a special skill set. But, it's a good problem to have, and I'm going to throw DeMarcus into the mix."


Hays excited for his seniors, incoming freshmen

When Lee Hays got here in 2013, he was a bit scared once he figured out the depth and age situation on his offensive line. Now, heading into the third year, he has three battle tested seniors leading the way on one of the best O-lines in the conference.

"Unbelievable. I'm really proud of them. I have a really good group of kids. With Le'Raven, Kaster, and Alfredo, towards the end of this summer, I actually had to tell them to relax a bit because they were working so hard, and I couldn't ask any more of them on that. They're watching film on their own every Saturday, and not one time this summer did I have any issues with any kid missing. I had one kid fall asleep, one of my freshmen, but he figured out the rule on that real quick. But, no real issues, and really just happy for them, looking forward to seeing them shine in their senior season."

In fact, Hays has built a special bond with that elder trio on the left side.

"I've been blessed, always had good kids, but this group here is the hardest working and do the most of any group I've ever seen. I can't say enough about them. I'm gonna be a little bit lost when they all graduate. This has been a special little group for me," he said. "I just want them to have the most success they can right now. I can't say enough for these guys. I hope everything happens for them."

The competition at right tackle is the biggest question mark on the offensive line for this fall, and one of the primary competitors for the job is JUCO transfer Paul Stawarz. Hays has been very pleased with the OT, and once he gets healthy again in a few weeks, he expects him to really fight with Justin Murphy for that starting job.

"Really, he's been beyond (anything I thought he would be)," he said. "Paul right now has an amazing work ethic. He's has a bit of a foot issue, and you just have to tell him over and over again to stop it, settle down, calm down, and the poor thing thought I was going to cut him after he got here because the rules are a little bit different out at JUCO. But, he's never missed a class, never been late, and really looked good in the offseason this summer. I expect him to contribute and compete, and he would be right now if it weren't for the setback with his foot."

Hays also talked about Omeka Okafor, who transferred from Houston and will get a chance to play this fall.

"Big, strong kid I had at Houston. He has all the potential in the world. He smiles too much, and I've got to turn that smile upside down, get him to frown, get him to come off the ball like and assassin, and he knows that's what it's going to take for him to come off and play. He's got to be ultra aggressive, and if he does that, he'll have a chance to compete."

There's been quite a bit of talk already about the incoming group of five freshmen on the O-line, most of which has been extremely positive. Hays echoed those sentiments, noting that he's been very happy with them so far.

"I really, really, really got lucky. I can't tell you how happy I've been with this group of freshmen. They're just grinders, all good kids," he said. "It's been a dream summer for me so far and I'm looking forward to seeing if that carries over once we get started. And, it's really like Christmas. When the pads come on, that's my Christmas day, and I've got a bunch of toys under the tree. I'm going to run down there, open them up, and I'm either going to see a full grown man sitting in there or go, 'Ok, baby boy.'"


Webb talks QB competition, the offense

After missing essentially the last third of the season due to being banged up with a shoulder and ankle injury, junior QB Davis Webb is back healthy, and he's ready to compete for the starting job under center over the next month. He feels great about where he is, and he's focused on eliminating distractions this offseason.

"It feels great. I'm at 230 right now, in the best shape of my life, and I'm benching 335, squating 525, strongest I've ever been, and I really feel like this competition has driven me pretty hard. I've really made a commitment to myself, trying to keep my small circle intact, cause I know how good I can be. I've gotten rid of all the distractions, and I really feel like I'm ready to have a good year because of that."

Competing with Mahomes, Webb noted that both have had great offseasons, and both will compete extremely hard to win it. They've become close friends, but make no mistake: Webb wants the job and believes he can take it.

"We both had a good summer, competed really hard against each other, and I feel like Coach Kingsbury is going to pick the guy he feels can win the most games for this team, and I feel like I'm the best quarterback for this team, and I'm sure he (Mahomes) feels the same way. But, we're good friends off the field. We hang out every weekend, and me and Pat are very close. I feel like, no matter what happens, I'm going to make this decision hard for Coach Kingsbury, and I feel like if I get the opportunity, there's no chance of me giving it up."

As for the offense as a whole, the junior QB believes that confidence has been a big factor in things improving by leaps and bounds this offseason.

"I feel like everyone is a little more confident, everyone is playing with a little bit more swag. If you watch at times last year, you look at Devin, and he wasn't playing with much swag. Now, he's the most confident kid on our team. I feel like he's going to have a great year this year because of that. I feel like Dylan Cantrell is going to have a breakout year this year. Just guys like that have more confidence in themselves, and therefore they're going to play a lot better."


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