By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Good interviews with the Miller who is flipping from right guard to left guard and arguably the top choice at RB in McWilliams. BTW, Baylor will have a scrimmage at McLane Stadium on Saturday. Not sure of how the media schedule will work once school starts on Monday. Will keep you posted.
Grant Miller
(Name a play that shines for the O-line) I’d probably go to that play against Oklahoma where it’s third-and-12 and we’re trying to get the first down and hopefully clinch the game. Jake’s going down field with his helmet off and everybody’s going on their assignments. They shifted around before the play, so it took a while for communication. I would say a lot in terms of five-man protection as well, if you’re talking about a specific schemes and plays. That’s where we really need to be on our P’s and Q’s because they’re going to bring more guys than you can block. You have to have protection or your quarterback’s going to be picking his teeth out of the turf.
(Running backs) I see a lot of talent, a lot of high ceilings. Obviously we’ve got a young running back room. I was impressed with the touches that Taye got and what he was able to do when he was on the field. What a lot of people forget is the work ethic and the legacy that Trestan and Abram left behind. A lot of these guys were in the room with them, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see these guys surpass those guys one day. They’re able to build on that work ethic and follow up on what they left behind starting at a young age, freshman and sophomore year, so I think the ceiling is really high for these guys. I think they’re eager to learn and I think they have the coaching staff and the right strength staff to succeed.
(Shapen) I think he’s got a little bit of swagger and confidence. I don’t know if it’s the baseball thing, but when he comes into the huddle there’s a certain amount of calm, swag and confidence that comes when he plays. Coach Aranda talks about playing yellow. He doesn’t come out there playing yellow, he’s playing green all the way every single snap.
(Taye) I think he’s a little bit of a combination of Abram and Trestan. I really think Trestan is his own guy. I feel with his speed he can outrun guys, but he’s also not afraid to put his shoulder down and bowl people over and get some extra yards. I’ll be really interested to see Taye in action this year.
(Are they moving linemen around) I think for a lot of O-line coaches, a lot of those guys are scarred and scared after COVID. Knowing how fast two guys can go down and what your O-line could look like in just a few days or after just one play. The point is everybody on the line knows multiple positions. To take your talent to the next level, you want to be able to play two positions. I really think that’s what we’re locking in right now is everybody learning to play multiple positions. If the time comes when we need certain guys to fill in different spots, and shuffle some guys around where everybody feels comfortable at their primary position as well as their secondary position.
I can play any of those three in the middle. I played at right guard all year last year, so the transition to left guard is really the same, just flipping the plays. When I was at Vanderbilt, I pretty much played all my games at center. The biggest adjustment is flipping from our inside zone schemes (at Vandy) to the wide zone scheme here in terms of playing center. But like I said earlier, the second year in the program you understand footwork, schematics and what your coach wants for you a little more. I’m feeling more comfortable at center.
(Changing positions right to left) It’s really not too bad if you’re talking about the same position. Right guard to left guard, right tackle to left tackle, the footwork, the technique, the mindset, the eye position, it’s all the same. If we call one play going right, it’s going to be flipped to the other depending what side you’re on.
Taye McWilliams
(What’s that like getting a real shot to start this year) Well, right now, I’m not even worried about that. I’m just trying to get buried in the process and work hard to be the best running back possible. Me and the guys in that room, we’ve just been buried deep watching film, going over our plays and just trying to stay on the steady incline up.
(Get a lot done in the spring to solidify your spot) I have no idea. I don’t even really stay worried about that, because I would look at it as nothing’s promised. Anything could change in a day, so I just try to get better.
(What do you bring to the position) I feel like I’m a tweener type of guy that could do a little bit of everything and I’m a hard worker. I’m just trying to get it done.
(In what ways do you take things from the games of Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner and kind of add to your game) Well, they took me under the wing, so they were always in my ear telling me what I can improve on, what I should have done, what I could do better. So, those guys had a great influence on me, making me into what I am, really.
(Like about this offense) Slash and gash. You can just get up field, run hard, run fast, look at your read keys, and it’s going to take care of itself.
(Feel like eyes are on the running back position after losing what you did) Yeah, I feel like we’re underestimated a little bit, because I really feel like as of right now, we really have the chance to be the best running back room in the nation, just the way that we’re working all together as a collective. We’re going to impress and surprise a lot of people this year.
(How much easier does it make it as a RB when you’ve got five experienced OL in front of you) Way easier. It makes life super-easy. You don’t have to worry about a lot of things that you usually have to worry about.
(On Sqwirl) Sqwirl, that’s my guy. He’s the most explosive person that you’ll ever meet, and he’s going to get up the field fast and he’s going to get it done.
(Josh Fleeks) He’s really the (Ebner) replacement. That’s our elusive guy, he’s going to be able to juke and cut people out, get put in the empty formations and run routes.
(Are you fully healthy) Yes, I’m fully healthy. I got a little nicked-up earlier. It’s nothing serious. I’m ready for it.
(What makes you feel like you’re ready to take on that bell-cow, three-down back kind of role) My mentality changed. I grew up a lot in the time that I was given. So, I just know mentally I could get it done.
(What changed) Really, time gave me that chance, and knowing that the guys in front of me are gone, so I have to step up.
Publisher
Good interviews with the Miller who is flipping from right guard to left guard and arguably the top choice at RB in McWilliams. BTW, Baylor will have a scrimmage at McLane Stadium on Saturday. Not sure of how the media schedule will work once school starts on Monday. Will keep you posted.
Grant Miller
(Name a play that shines for the O-line) I’d probably go to that play against Oklahoma where it’s third-and-12 and we’re trying to get the first down and hopefully clinch the game. Jake’s going down field with his helmet off and everybody’s going on their assignments. They shifted around before the play, so it took a while for communication. I would say a lot in terms of five-man protection as well, if you’re talking about a specific schemes and plays. That’s where we really need to be on our P’s and Q’s because they’re going to bring more guys than you can block. You have to have protection or your quarterback’s going to be picking his teeth out of the turf.
(Running backs) I see a lot of talent, a lot of high ceilings. Obviously we’ve got a young running back room. I was impressed with the touches that Taye got and what he was able to do when he was on the field. What a lot of people forget is the work ethic and the legacy that Trestan and Abram left behind. A lot of these guys were in the room with them, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see these guys surpass those guys one day. They’re able to build on that work ethic and follow up on what they left behind starting at a young age, freshman and sophomore year, so I think the ceiling is really high for these guys. I think they’re eager to learn and I think they have the coaching staff and the right strength staff to succeed.
(Shapen) I think he’s got a little bit of swagger and confidence. I don’t know if it’s the baseball thing, but when he comes into the huddle there’s a certain amount of calm, swag and confidence that comes when he plays. Coach Aranda talks about playing yellow. He doesn’t come out there playing yellow, he’s playing green all the way every single snap.
(Taye) I think he’s a little bit of a combination of Abram and Trestan. I really think Trestan is his own guy. I feel with his speed he can outrun guys, but he’s also not afraid to put his shoulder down and bowl people over and get some extra yards. I’ll be really interested to see Taye in action this year.
(Are they moving linemen around) I think for a lot of O-line coaches, a lot of those guys are scarred and scared after COVID. Knowing how fast two guys can go down and what your O-line could look like in just a few days or after just one play. The point is everybody on the line knows multiple positions. To take your talent to the next level, you want to be able to play two positions. I really think that’s what we’re locking in right now is everybody learning to play multiple positions. If the time comes when we need certain guys to fill in different spots, and shuffle some guys around where everybody feels comfortable at their primary position as well as their secondary position.
I can play any of those three in the middle. I played at right guard all year last year, so the transition to left guard is really the same, just flipping the plays. When I was at Vanderbilt, I pretty much played all my games at center. The biggest adjustment is flipping from our inside zone schemes (at Vandy) to the wide zone scheme here in terms of playing center. But like I said earlier, the second year in the program you understand footwork, schematics and what your coach wants for you a little more. I’m feeling more comfortable at center.
(Changing positions right to left) It’s really not too bad if you’re talking about the same position. Right guard to left guard, right tackle to left tackle, the footwork, the technique, the mindset, the eye position, it’s all the same. If we call one play going right, it’s going to be flipped to the other depending what side you’re on.
Taye McWilliams
(What’s that like getting a real shot to start this year) Well, right now, I’m not even worried about that. I’m just trying to get buried in the process and work hard to be the best running back possible. Me and the guys in that room, we’ve just been buried deep watching film, going over our plays and just trying to stay on the steady incline up.
(Get a lot done in the spring to solidify your spot) I have no idea. I don’t even really stay worried about that, because I would look at it as nothing’s promised. Anything could change in a day, so I just try to get better.
(What do you bring to the position) I feel like I’m a tweener type of guy that could do a little bit of everything and I’m a hard worker. I’m just trying to get it done.
(In what ways do you take things from the games of Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner and kind of add to your game) Well, they took me under the wing, so they were always in my ear telling me what I can improve on, what I should have done, what I could do better. So, those guys had a great influence on me, making me into what I am, really.
(Like about this offense) Slash and gash. You can just get up field, run hard, run fast, look at your read keys, and it’s going to take care of itself.
(Feel like eyes are on the running back position after losing what you did) Yeah, I feel like we’re underestimated a little bit, because I really feel like as of right now, we really have the chance to be the best running back room in the nation, just the way that we’re working all together as a collective. We’re going to impress and surprise a lot of people this year.
(How much easier does it make it as a RB when you’ve got five experienced OL in front of you) Way easier. It makes life super-easy. You don’t have to worry about a lot of things that you usually have to worry about.
(On Sqwirl) Sqwirl, that’s my guy. He’s the most explosive person that you’ll ever meet, and he’s going to get up the field fast and he’s going to get it done.
(Josh Fleeks) He’s really the (Ebner) replacement. That’s our elusive guy, he’s going to be able to juke and cut people out, get put in the empty formations and run routes.
(Are you fully healthy) Yes, I’m fully healthy. I got a little nicked-up earlier. It’s nothing serious. I’m ready for it.
(What makes you feel like you’re ready to take on that bell-cow, three-down back kind of role) My mentality changed. I grew up a lot in the time that I was given. So, I just know mentally I could get it done.
(What changed) Really, time gave me that chance, and knowing that the guys in front of me are gone, so I have to step up.
