Video & Transcript: Dave Aranda Previews Away Game At TCU

Head Coach Dave Aranda took questions Monday morning looking forward to Baylor's away game at TCU on Saturday.

Aranda: It's good to see you guys. You know, being able to look at the tape from Saturday, a lot of good. There, there's a fair amount of correction though. I think I can look at perimeter blocking and execution on offense and on defense doing your one-eleventh, not going outside of a job assignment. Probably too many busts on that, on that side of the ball. I think special teams really working hard to get big plays in the return game. I think that is something that can be, and it should be a big part of our game, but you know, really outside of those things, just so many positives, really proud of the team, proud of the coaches. You know, I think coming off the, by working and getting into a rhythm of practice where guys are really intentional about bringing their best day in and day out, I think, you know, we always look for really exceptional things and it's really doing the unexceptional in an exceptional way, you know, every day, day by day. And to get back in the groove of that, I think was really what led to Saturday. You know got another great opponent coming up, you know, heard the news like you guys did yesterday with coach Patterson, my heart breaks for him. You know, I can remember him coming up as a young coach and finding kind of bootleg videos of coach Patterson, putting in a defense. And you know, there's like a five tape series somehow that was filmed and I've got two tapes and I'm trying to find like where the other tapes are at. And, you know I had my Hotmail account and trying to find people that have this and have that. And what is this coverage that he's talking about? And you know, I can remember when after the rose bowl game, when coach Glasgow's talking about defense and it's like a Nike, it's like something you have to pay money to get into. And so I didn't have any money, you to find... asking my mom for money so that I can pay. So I can listen to the coach talk about their defense. And so it's just. You know, a lot of memories of learning ball and learning teaching methods and you know, what to do and what not to do. And so it's a sad day thing as a coach, you know, you don't ever want to see it, you know, it's part of it. I think it always reminds you of when you're growing people and you're really kinda pouring into, to you know, becoming a better version of yourself and then you have to measure that versus, you know, being a performer, you know, I think the reality sets in. It's difficult to accept still.

With that, I'll take any questions you guys have got.

Q: How would you expect TCU to react coming into Saturday?

Aranda: I think, I think it would be very motivated. I think there's a rivalry to start. I think their pieces are there the talent is there. In watching the tape, it's been a little off here, a little off there. We need to be talking about doing one 11th, you know, there's eight guys, nine guys doing this, and then the two guys are not and whatever it is, and then they get hit. There's things like that, that show on tape.It is not something that is hard to diagnose. I think they're really close. And so I think for them to have a spark for them to rally, which I would anticipate they're going to do makes it that tougher of a game.

Q: When you’re the first team to play an interim coach. And you don't have any tape with him being the head coach. Is there any sort of wildcard factor to that or do teams usually look kind of similar because it's such a quick change?

Aranda: That’s a good question. I think, you know there'll be a different, a different play call, or though he's called it before. I think there's going to be a fair amount of similar things on that side of it. Offensively, I think there, there is a pretty strong history of an attack there, a lot of deep roots. And so we're going to go off of that, but I think anytime there is that chance. You want to leave, open the ability to adjust. And so to give yourself a way out or a curveball, or change up to kind of what their main stuff is.

Q: Dave the other day, a lot of your pass breakups seem like they were a game of inches., How much of that is technique that you guys have coached and worked on in practice? And how much of that is just athletes being athletes and making plays?

Aranda: I think a lot of it is, is athletes. I think we've got guys that have got great instinct and great ball skills, you know, I think the last two years just speaking for me, but you go back previous to that in terms of you know, interceptions and Deflections and bad balls and all that I think are way strong. You know, whether you're talking the line of scrimmage or you're talking in the backend like this right here, but you know, there is a knack for playing the ball here at Baylor. We're fortunate. I'm fortunate to be a part of it. And, you know, I think defensively, we do make a point of it and we coach it, but I think it's a lot of it's there. And so, coupled on top of, or added to, would be the zone coverages that we play. So very, very predominantly zone and a lot of vision and stressed. And that's really kind of where we're coming from to start with. And I think you go back to last year, probably a little bit more bracket, maybe a little bit more tighter coverage at times, this year, much more zone. And so it, it aids in making, making plays on the ball down.

Q: Two early interceptions for Gerry on Saturday, did the Texas defense authority something different early?

Aranda: On our slot sets, there was a palms coverage to the twin side. So slot would be like a nub. So it'd be like one tight end or a wing tight end with another tight end over there, like a wing, and then all the receivers on the other side. So tight ends on this side. Receivers on that side. So to those receivers side, the corner and the safety, both key, the number two receiver over there. If he ran an out the corner, hardened his feet and the safety one over the top of one as not something they had really shown, that was an opponent scout. That was a bye week. That was that. And so I think there were a few plays, they were kind of bang, bang plays. And I think that, that That probably got into got into Gerry's thought process. And I think the other piece too would be some of the drop eight that we were seeing with, you know, we run like a three-go where number one receivers, if they win routes, they're taking the top off. If guys are on top, they, they, they kind of sit it down, and then you're -- RJ, you know, in the slot has a middle read. If there's a post safety, we'll take it under. If the middle of the field is open he'll work towards the middle of the field. And they were getting a lot of depth with their drop eight and getting underneath. And so really, the way that they were taken away windows, which has been a big facet of our throwing game, I think got in his thought process too. Really, very good to see Gerry, Sean, Jeff, all take that in stride, all say, "Hey, this is what happened. This is why it happened. Here's what we can do better. You know, technique-wise, here's what we can do better play call wise formation wise.” It was just the facts man. So, I think from that, with that approach, we're able to get by all the emotion and the feeling this and feeling that to get to the antidote. And it was good that we did it

Q: announcers on Saturday, described your team as humble with an edge. What are your thoughts on that phrase?

Aranda: Yeah. I think it's been a work in progress. I think for, for our players, to let their play do the talking. For our players to work as a team and if things aren't coming to me or if things aren’t working my way -- Right. Here's how I can help it and my teammates. And here's how I can be an asset to this team victory. You know, those are all things I think have been kind of a work in progress and I think we're still working towards it. I think one of the things that gets in the way of that, or one of the things that forces us to get in our own way is being on the road in a hostile environment. And so, I think that's the next step for us, for sure. Last time out we did not play up to standard, so I think for this team to continue to grow and to be on that type of approach, you know, daily, I think is what's been the difference.

Q: Is there anything you learned from the OSU game and that atmosphere that now knowing you're going into probably another hostile situation that you're focusing?

Aranda: Yeah, I think you know, there's individual guys, I think focusing on a daily process so that we get the best out of, for example, today, tell the truth Monday, let's make this be the best tell the truth Monday we can. And then once we get into, you know competition Tuesday and turnover Wednesday and all of it. You know, the addition of sound, probably louder and more focused on the offense, would be one. But I think, you know, it's deeper than that though. I think it's more our individual players guys that can be affected, you know, pressure creates abnormal behavior. So guys that have been to a spot knows, you know, you know what it feels like maybe, you know, how you get there, right? The awareness of being there. Just the ability to kind of snap out of it and get back out of it. And then, you know, teammates that can see guys that we're losing them for a second and let's bring them back, let's get them back. And I think when there's pressure and stuff, you tighten up, maybe some guys do, maybe with pressure, certain guys try to make every play. Maybe with pressure guys start focusing on stuff that they can't control, you know, outside of maybe just their lane, they're focusing. You know, lanes that are on the outside of it all. And so, each guy is different. They've been through that space, and they know kind of where they fit in that. So, I think the awareness is way strong. And I think for us as coaches finally the ability to really keep it simple and to do simple better allows guys to focus on that inside battle as well as the outside one.

Q: Being in the DFW area, what kind of opportunity is this for Baylor? To show up and support you guys in a way environment.

Aranda: It'd be great. I know what that feels like, you know, from just past history, when you get to where you want to be, and it takes a lot of work to do it.And I think being on teams in the past that were fortunate to be there and to enjoy the heavy lifting of those that have come before. So, when you're on certain teams like that, and you're on the road, man, you travel and you've got your contingent and they're loud and they back you up and, you know, you feel like you've got reinforcements. I think anytime that you can build or work towards that ideal, you know, it would be good for us.

Q: You did your first season here last year, did you grasp pretty quickly how intense this rivalry is?

Aranda: Yes. Yeah. You know, I look at last year really going into the game and then right after the game, the TCU coaches struck me as just football junkies, football guys. And they were very smart in their attack. You know, they get it. They had us figured out. They were a step ahead… of me. I thought they had a really good plan. And you could tell this, you could feel it on the field, but you could see it on the tape. Stuff was worked out. It was thought through and, it was very impressive by them. And then, you know, player wise, you could feel that energy too. So, you know, to go to their place with what's just transpired and just the whole environment there, I know it’ll be different.

Q: In a landscape where it seems like you have to face a quote-unquote dual-threat quarterback every week, what still allows Max Duggan to be unique and stand out?

Aranda: Yeah, he has a sense. He's a football player. He’s hooked up right, in terms of reading coverages, in terms of feeling pressure in the pocket, in terms of his instinct to move around in the pocket and then either take the grass or work the scramble. And he's pretty good at it, you know, and I think there is a grittiness and a toughness that I know bleeds into their team that I think is the main piece that you see. And so very impressed by him.

Q: Dave with a lot of high caliber recruits in Waco on Saturday, with the atmosphere and then obviously the game went well for you guys, what did that show those high schoolers?

Aranda: Yeah, it was really good to have them, you know, I was able to, at the end, to spend some time with some folks and the parents. They had mentioned just there, how they were you know, accepted here, how they were seen here and valued. And I think that's the goal, and the ideal coming in is to see the person and outside of coaches and players and all that, right. It's people, you know, and knowing kind of their story and really spending time with the recruit and their families. I think that's something that you feel. And I think, especially nowadays, we're just talking, just recruiting a general, whether it's NIL or just social media and all of it -- and all that all has its place -- But I think connection, being seen, being heard, being valued, and then just family, I think that's stronger. And I feel like Baylor football and Baylor athletics and Baylor university put that on display.

Q: As good as Jalen was last year, Pitre, is he playing at a different level?

Aranda: Maybe this year he has. I think he has a more collected presence about him. I think he's able to pace himself throughout the week more. I think he has a good feel for the rhythm of what we're asking for. You know, I think Jalen has a fire burning inside of him. And with guys like that, you know, it's the ability to kind of control it. I think he's doing that now. So when it is “be here now” mindset and practice is coming up, he's able to ignite and I think the same for games and the same for big time moments. I think the other piece of growth for him has been leadership. He came from scraping, fighting, and “Hey, see me, I'm here. Don't forget about me. Look at me.” I know what that is like, and so to fight that way and to grind like that. Then to you know, almost immediately, be looked at as a leader and be looked at as “Hey” – coming from me – “Hey, let's help with the leadership of this team”, I think it speaks very highly of him to take on that description and own it and grow into it and I’m so proud, proud of Jaylen. I think, you know, out in the field, off the field, we're blessed.

Q: Joey McGuire's name keeps coming up with these coaching vacancies. How do you keep that from becoming a distraction? And what do you think he could bring to a team when his chance comes?

Aranda: I'm really impressed with Joey and have been since I’ve known him. I first met Joey when, I think I was at the Dallas Cowboys visiting rod Marinelli. He was the DC at the Cowboys at the time and was a Cal Lutheran graduate, where I went to school, and I was at LSU at the time. So I was stopping by for the morning and Joey was there and so was able to kind of see him in, you know, throughout hallways and stuff there. And I think we ate lunch together and I was just way impressed with him. And, you know, I thought for a minute, like he worked there because of the way he's talking to everybody there. You could see all that right away. And so just being here with him and just his ability to help with our team and with recruiting and with the high school coaches in the state is a great value and I’m way supportive of Joey.

Q: It's November 1st, and you guys are in the thick of the big 12 championship race.Is that something you throw out there to the team and talk about at all? Or is that just taboo?

Aranda: Yeah, no, I think it's getting into a rhythm. I think it's winning the day, you know, I think anything outside of that you risk thinking about things that you really can't control. And I go back to last week, you were coming off the, the bye, you know, we really attacked it. There were some days I felt were, you know, everyone's in it, man. Everyone's trying, it just doesn't feel like we're there yet. Based upon where we were in that two week stretch West Virginia, BYU, prior to the bye. And that was about as about as good of a rhythm as I can remember, probably going back, for me, to 2019. And so, we did not have that last week. We were trying to get it. I don't think it was any fault of anyone. I think if anything was my fault for how we, the time off probably we gave for the bye week. It got better as the week went on, but that feeling of like, “Hey man, everyone's trying, we're a little bit disconnected.” I felt in the first half of the game we just played. So, I think the ability to play each day, to bring our best, bring our standard, you know, it's crazy how a lot of stuff will come to you if that's the case.

Q: You guys have a shutdown to really good backs in the last couple of games. What's happening there with the run?

Aranda: I think the D line and you know, I give Meatball… I give Dennis Johnson a lot of credit. I think. It's been a journey for him. And then Ron Roberts has done a great job. I've learned so much from Ron. It's probably hard just from, you know, it's, it's hard to be a defensive coordinator probably when, you know, the head coach is a defensive guy. And so Ron has handled all that amazingly. And we're blessed to have both those guys and they have grinded a lot with our players just taking on a different job description. Man change is difficult. Especially when you know your pass-rushing to play the run., and now you play the run to get the opportunity to rush the passer. I think that's a big change. There's a lot inherent in all that. And the buy-in, the work, the grind has got it to where, you know, we're winning the line scrimmage.