It’s Game Week, y’all - and nothing says Game Week like the Charlie Strong Monday Press Conference. Thanks to the magic of the Longhorn Network, we’ll be bringing you the highlights of Charlie’s convo with Kurt Bohls and the rest of the Burnt Orange press.
Aaaaand I just sprinted out of the bathroom, and here we go:
Charlie on ND: Zaire and Kizer are outstanding QBs who both bring diverse skills to the table; their OL is tough especially on the left side, their receivers are young and fast, their DL is big and salty. Sounds about right.
Charlie on what it takes to beat ND: Win the line of scrimmage, play physical, take care of the football, relax and enjoy it. Your platitude determines your attitude!
Charlie on the QB for ND: He knows who’s starting, but keeping it a surprise. Has no interest in naming a starter for the sake of giving the media something to write about between now and Sunday.
Charlie on semi-delicate question around Swoopes getting booed: We’ve got to play well everywhere to take the weight off either QB, but both guys have to be ready to execute the game plan.
Charlie on injuries: Vague, but said that pretty much everyone is going to be available (Vahe, Nickelson, Boyette, etc)
Charlie on the starting QB (again): The starting QB will know who he is before Sunday, even if Kurt doesn’t.
Charlie on what’s different for Swoopes: A different scheme, better playmakers around him (we went from one or two to four or five at RB and WR), a better and more stable OL.
Charlie on what he’s learned about the team since the start of Spring: How much the team is willing to work and how well they’ve been able to come together as a single unit. They may be playing ping-pong, shooting pool or just sitting and talking, but there’a s lot of camraderie being built. When the seniors start taking ownership then you start seeing things change.
Charlie on (incoherent question): The team has been focusing on specific prep for ND and what the Irish can do in addition to their general position work.
Charlie on QB again: The starter will be the starter until he’s beaten out or something else. Both guys are going to play because of the work they’ve put in, you may package it where the other guy goes in during the third or fourth series, but the starter is going to be the starting quarterback. We’ve never had a problem of two good quarterbacks before, but there’s not a short leash - the starter still has to get in the flow and run the offense. Once we name the starter that’s who will play and that’s who’ll get most of the work.
Charlie on whether things are different for QBs in this offense: The QB is reading the defense now with the option to hand off or throw. The game plan is simpler so he doesn’t have to make a ton of different reads.
Charlie on freshmen who’ll see times: Collin Johnson, Duvernay and Lil’Jordan will see snaps at WR. Porter will see some snaps at RB, OL will depend on how injuries go. The defense will see guys in limited roles and a lot will see special teams.
Charlie on what’s better this year: A better attitude, guys show up and take care of their bodies, they’ve got better confidence and belief in each other, and we’re better on size and speed.
Charlie on getting off the field on 3rd down: We have to tackle better this year - we were there and missed tackles last year.
The condition of the OL (just realized I don’t have to type ‘Charlie on’ before everyone of these): OL should be fine, Vahe will practice tomorrow and Nickelson has been practicing, Shack will work back in this week.
2016 Texas vs Louisville: QB is a major difference because you knew what you had in Bridgewater, but it’s a totally different team. If things are going to go well in Year Three you have to have things start breaking your way.
How questions on ND’s starter impacts defensive prep: It doesn’t much, because we have tape on both and we understand the game plan and handle business based on who’s in there. They can both run and both throw, so the offense doesn’t change substantially from one to the other.
Any significance to no depth chart released today: Guys are still fighting for some spots this week, so we’ll let that play out and you’ll probably see one later in the week.
Whether they worked on tackling last year (Sweet Lord): Yes, we worked on tackling last year.
On Antwaun Davis: He’s had an outstanding camp, he’s a versatile guy who can play multiple positions and can also help out on STs.
On Malik improving this year: His leadership - he’s been providing that and he feels he’s old enough to speak out now.
On waiting that extra day to play (Saturday to Sunday): It’s tough, we’ll tell guys not to get too involved in those Saturday games because we’ve got ours on Sunday.
On how he’s changed from his first game to now: Laughter, more laughter...I was excited my first game, but now it’s more of a focus on making sure your coaches and players are ready to go. I and the coaches and the players can’t get caught up in the noise - just make sure everyone studies and knows what they have to know about ND, and then everything else will take care of itself. I’m a lot more comfortable - I like this football team because I see guys who are coming together and who want to win and aren’t just talking about it - they’re working at it to get it accomplished.
On Bevo XV: The players are going to be so locked in that they probably won’t pay too much attention, but they’ll get the chance to see Bevo.
On using last year’s game as motivation: We’ve seen highlights but we just flashed them up and said we’re not that team anymore - we’ve taken those steps to become a better football team. I’ll throw something up to give them a stick in the side and get them fired up, but we’re a different team.
Bryan van Gorder question from Chip van Goiter (seriously, dude has not been taking care of himself): His plan is always going to be about getting after the QB, he’s not going to change his approach.
On managing the QB controversy including guys who changed positions: Buechele hasn’t been here, Heard volunteered and we said we’ll move you back if we have to do that, Kai also volunteered and we’ve got that attitude now where guys want to make whatever moves they have to so they can help the team. We haven’t made a big deal about who’s in what role in the locker room - they count plays and know when it’s there time to come up so they’re managing all that themselves and they have a lot of respect for one another.
On his relationship with Sterlin Gilbert: The offensive staff game plans so they’re running it - he’ll get on the headset and check in but I’m not going to run in and say don’t do this or that. One time as a defensive coordinator I made an all out blitz call and my head coach said “please don’t do that” but we ran it and hit the quarterback. Gilbert and his guys have total control.
On the kicking game: “Aussie” keeps getting his leg stronger and stronger. Getting Domingue is big - he hardly ever misses in practice and it’s good to feel like you get the ball down there and can get points. Our returners are good - Jacorey Warrick has had a great camp and has the speed to run past our DBs on vertical routes and has the speed to get that ball out there on returns. Duvernay has that speed too.
On confidence in Buechele: I met with our seniors and said it’s important that you talk to the guys who haven’t been in that 100,000 person spotlight before. They’ll say they’re ready but they’ll be all over the place - I know they won’t be fine those first moments, but once they get out there and get a few plays they’ll settle down but they don’t know what they’re stepping into yet. We have to be careful about that buildup with all the spotlight on Sunday - it’ll be a special moment but we have to manage our younger players.
On OL leadership: Perk doesn’t say much, but he spoke up and people listened when he said how physical we need to play. Perk and Connor and Vahe are three guys who have played some and Nickelson has experience. Center is new but I told McMillon last year he’s a center and he fought me on it, but now he’s like “Coach I’m so glad you moved me.” Whoever lines up at QB we have to protect him so that’s going to be key.
***And that’s it. NOTE: HD is not a forgiving medium for sportswriters.