Patterson discusses the opening of preseason camp
8/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU head football coach Gary Patterson met with the media Wednesday as part of Reporting Day for the Horned Frogs.Included below are some of the topics addressed by Patterson.
Opening Statement ...
"What's really different now is the way summer school goes. Everyone has been here all summer, and that's one of the things that has changed with how we start fall camp. We're excited about our 105 players who are here, and I think our group is excited."
How do you keep your kids from getting overconfident because of their success?
"One thing that I reminded them about at the Mountain West Conference Media Days is that we didn't win the conference last year. The goal is to win the conference. We have to keep climbing the mountain. Some day, we want to play in a BCS game. This group of seniors have been here before. The key is keeping things in perspective. Every game counts as one. You have to set your goals high. If we can win 12 games, the seniors will have the most victories of any five-year period in TCU history."
How much better can your defense be after ranking second in the nation last year?
"It's hard to say, because I don't judge that until the end of the year. One of the things I've talked with the defense about is being hungry. They are going to have to be better to be as good as they were last year. They are not going to surprise Baylor, Texas or anyone in the conference because they're going to get everybody's best shot."
What are your team's strengths going into this season?
"We have great team speed and intensity. For speed to be utilized on defense, though, you have to be physical so we can get people on the edge. Everyone feels like the conference race goes through Fort Worth. The bottom line is that we did not win the conference title last year. Our goal in two-a-days is to become the best football team that TCU can be. We're pretty healthy, a lot stronger and older than we were a year ago."
What are your thoughts on being a consensus preseason top-25 team?
"I've always embraced it, but I don't know how you can go out and pick a preseason top 25. You don't know the chemistry and how kids worked over the summer. June and July are what make it happen, but I believe the pre-season stuff is very important to the game and helps make college football what it is."
How do you feel about your offensive line?
"We feel like we're in better shape than a year ago. The unknowns are Heath Raetz and Matty Lindner coming off injuries. We are really fortunate to have 14 of our 16 linemen returning. With guys like Blake Schlueter, Marshall Newhouse and about 10 others, you know what you are going to get. They have been in the wars and played quite a bit."
What are your feelings on this season?
"I'm excited because I think the kids are excited. I'm going to judge things by the first drill when we put the pads on. I want to see how my team will attack the heat, how they handle themselves and will they go out and prove it. If you want to win championships and be 12-0, you have to go take it. I'm going to let them prove to me that they can get it done."
How are your special teams shaping up?
"I believe you can judge a football team by the way you play special teams. It is going to be interesting to see how everyone approaches the new kickoff rule. We'll have a new punter and have to find out who is going to assume that role. We have a good snapper and feel very good about Chris Manfredini as our kicker."
Who has to step up for this year's team to be successful?
"We have nine starters coming back on defense. The key for us is on offense. (Center) Blake Schlueter has stepped up a lot this summer. We're trying to find out what type of foundation we're going to have as a football team and what we're about. I think the kids have a confidence level coming out of last year, but they have a lot of challenges ahead of them."
Where do you stand on the quarterback position?
"We coach quarterbacks like linebackers. We're going to challenge them by making practice tougher than games. I believe that's how you teach kids. We're going to challenge them until they want to break. With any younger player, you have to give them more time. I don't know how they are going to play early, but I know it's not going to be the quarterbacks' fault."
What will be the focus at tomorrow's practice?
"You have to have long-term goals, but the only way you get there is to deal in the now. All we are worried about is tomorrow. We are going to try and make tomorrow's practice the best out of anyone in the league. With the veteran group we have returning, you kind of know what you have with everyone. These guys have been through the wars. We will not be star struck when we go to Austin but have to worry first about TCU and then Baylor."
