We got to speak with head coach Kliff Kingsbury for the first time in over a week this afternoon, so here are a few notes...
*Kliff on the QB competition, where things are at.
"All three are playing well. So, that's kind of where we're at. They're competing hard. It's a great room, they've raised each other's level, and that's what I wanted. We'll keep pushing them, and we have a big scrimmage on Saturday, try to sort some things out through next week, and then get ready for the game."
*Coach Kingsbury doesn't have a set timeline on when he wants to make a decision on the starter at QB right now, just going with it as he feels it, and he'll make a decision when he thinks it's the right time.
*Also worth noting that Tech will use next week as a simulated game week, including some prep for Sam Houston State.
*Kliff said the team is healthy for the most part right now, no big injuries.
"Fairly healthy right now. Nothing that jumps out, nothing where anybody will miss any extended time."
*The two players who are injured a bit right now are OT Paul Stawarz and CB DJ Polite-Bray. Stawarz is being worked back into the fold with practice after his foot injury before camp started, and he's practiced the last two days. Polite-Bray has an ACL sprain, and he'll likely miss a few weeks, but they think he'll be fine.
*Kliff was asked about the type of impact that he feels Coach Gibbs has made on the program so far, and here's what he had to say:
"It's made a difference with the whole program. You watch a guy like that come to work every day, the way he carries himself, his professionalism, the way he coaches and treats the players, it's been great. It's been what we needed, and I can't say enough positive things about the overall impact that he's had on the program."
*Kliff on what he took away from last weekend's scrimmage:
"The defense, they came out and got an interception early, which was good. Lots of enthusiasm on both sides. Then, it was good to see some of those young receivers step up. When the lights came on, it wasn't too big for them. They were catching the ball, blocking, making plays, so those were the things that jumped out."
*Keenon Ward got the interception on the ball, attacked and jumped a route.
*Every coach and player we've talked with has raved about the freshmen receivers as a group, and Coach Kingsbury had similar things to say as well, noting their attitude from day one in the summer.
"I think more than anything, the mentality that they came in with from day one in summer conditioning, you could tell that they had a different look in their eye, and they're on a mission to play. Those guys have earned a right to compete, and they've really pushed our veteran receivers. Our veteran receivers have done great, but these receivers earned the right to get some playing time."
*The coaches will go back and re-evalute depth charts on Sunday before going into the simulated game week next week, will reevaluate things again before they start the first game week.
*The coaches are also moving all the freshmen receivers around to all four spots. They want to do that to give each one familiarity at each receiver position, will help them down the road with adjusting and moving players around to make sure they can get the best six to eight receivers in the rotation in the coming years.
*If you recall, Reginald Davis was arrested in the spring for possession of marijuana. Kliff was asked about the punishment for that, Davis had before said might be missing the first half of the SHSU game. Kliff noted that they're still working through the punishment for that with Kirby Hocutt, haven't decided what they'll do yet.
*Kliff on the QB competition, where things are at.
"All three are playing well. So, that's kind of where we're at. They're competing hard. It's a great room, they've raised each other's level, and that's what I wanted. We'll keep pushing them, and we have a big scrimmage on Saturday, try to sort some things out through next week, and then get ready for the game."
*Coach Kingsbury doesn't have a set timeline on when he wants to make a decision on the starter at QB right now, just going with it as he feels it, and he'll make a decision when he thinks it's the right time.
*Also worth noting that Tech will use next week as a simulated game week, including some prep for Sam Houston State.
*Kliff said the team is healthy for the most part right now, no big injuries.
"Fairly healthy right now. Nothing that jumps out, nothing where anybody will miss any extended time."
*The two players who are injured a bit right now are OT Paul Stawarz and CB DJ Polite-Bray. Stawarz is being worked back into the fold with practice after his foot injury before camp started, and he's practiced the last two days. Polite-Bray has an ACL sprain, and he'll likely miss a few weeks, but they think he'll be fine.
*Kliff was asked about the type of impact that he feels Coach Gibbs has made on the program so far, and here's what he had to say:
"It's made a difference with the whole program. You watch a guy like that come to work every day, the way he carries himself, his professionalism, the way he coaches and treats the players, it's been great. It's been what we needed, and I can't say enough positive things about the overall impact that he's had on the program."
*Kliff on what he took away from last weekend's scrimmage:
"The defense, they came out and got an interception early, which was good. Lots of enthusiasm on both sides. Then, it was good to see some of those young receivers step up. When the lights came on, it wasn't too big for them. They were catching the ball, blocking, making plays, so those were the things that jumped out."
*Keenon Ward got the interception on the ball, attacked and jumped a route.
*Every coach and player we've talked with has raved about the freshmen receivers as a group, and Coach Kingsbury had similar things to say as well, noting their attitude from day one in the summer.
"I think more than anything, the mentality that they came in with from day one in summer conditioning, you could tell that they had a different look in their eye, and they're on a mission to play. Those guys have earned a right to compete, and they've really pushed our veteran receivers. Our veteran receivers have done great, but these receivers earned the right to get some playing time."
*The coaches will go back and re-evalute depth charts on Sunday before going into the simulated game week next week, will reevaluate things again before they start the first game week.
*The coaches are also moving all the freshmen receivers around to all four spots. They want to do that to give each one familiarity at each receiver position, will help them down the road with adjusting and moving players around to make sure they can get the best six to eight receivers in the rotation in the coming years.
*If you recall, Reginald Davis was arrested in the spring for possession of marijuana. Kliff was asked about the punishment for that, Davis had before said might be missing the first half of the SHSU game. Kliff noted that they're still working through the punishment for that with Kirby Hocutt, haven't decided what they'll do yet.
