LB Dillon Doyle
(Like the progress you’re seeing) So, definitely progress being made. Really proud of the young guys who have kind of taken a step and really taking charge of their growth process. A few names that come to mind are Alfonzo Allen, Romario Noel, a lot of those young DBs like Devin Neal. Lorando Johnson has done a great job. Really proud of the way that those guys have progressed and kind of taken just a really great learner’s mindset to the game. I think they’ve really become students of the game over the past . . . we’re only nine days into camp, but I think they’ve had a great nine days. We’re going to continue to grow if they continue on treating their work like they are now.
(Taking on the responsibility of being a leader) I would say it’s a responsibility, but I think it’s just serving the guys kind of around me. It’s asking what they need, it’s asking if I can help them do anything to help them learn the defense better; if I can help them with a technique here or there. And when I ask those questions, I really want to answer the question. So, I’m just having that kind of teacher’s mindset once you know the material, and helping everyone around you. I got that from Jalen Pitre, I got that from Terrel Bernard. That’s kind of the culture we’ve built at Baylor. And I’m just really proud to be a part of that, and to be a part of that servant leadership mindset that Coach Aranda preaches.
(What are the things you want to do personally) I mean, everything, certainly. But, some areas to note are probably leverage in tackling, leverage in pass coverage, whether that’s zone or man; using my hands a little bit better in the passing game, wrapping up in tackling, running through tackles. And just overall, playing faster. I think as you get older, you start to understand the game a little bit. We talk about just the loop of learning. And so, just becoming so that you can play green and not really have to think about what you’re doing. It’s funny, back when Baylor basketball went on their run to win the national title, it was publicized that MaCio Teague had read the ‘Inner Game of Tennis.’ So, I’m reading the ‘Inner Game of Golf’ right now, trying to follow in his footsteps. And a lot of that is just taking the thinking out of the game like, ‘Hey, you know how to play the game, like you’ve grown up doing it. There’s no reason to doubt yourself. Like, you’re at this level and everybody’s skilled.’ But, I think it’s the mindset that really sets you apart. So, obviously, I’m confident in my mental abilities, confident in my physical abilities, and letting myself just go and play has been the biggest thing.
(Being back on the turf today, with a few people in the stands, feel more real?) Yeah, a couple days ago, we had a night practice here (Wednesday night). And that was pretty cool. It’s like a throwback to . . . I mean, we kind of lose track of days in camp, but it felt like Friday Night Lights. It was a good feeling to get back on the turf out here. And, obviously, McLane is a special place to all of us. Something we talk about is how much we want to protect McLane. Obviously, we have a focus when we step on the practice field, but things are a little bit different when we step on the field at McLane. And when we step on this field, everything is intentional, and we want to really put our brand on tape and make sure that we’re playing Baylor football and being intentional, focused and driven in everything that we do.
(Haven’t had a chance to watch film, obviously, but what are some of your initial takeaways from the scrimmage today) So, initial takeaways, I think we can do a better job communicating, obviously. I think any defensive mind or coach or player knows that the first scrimmage is always going to be a little bit rocky when it comes to tackling. And especially with the rules now with camp, we don’t get to wear full pads all the time. So, you can practice tackling all you want on bags or even on men. But, until you get into a full-speed situation, it’s just not the same. So, we have a lot of learning to do from that perspective. And then also, when we get into move-the-ball periods . . . before this, it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s third-and-10 and again, it’s third-and-10 and again, it’s third-and-10.’ So, it’s a bunch of third-and-10 calls in a row. But now, we’re going through actually a game flow. So, it’s first-and-10. OK, maybe we get a sack, and it’s second-and-12, and we want to pressure them. Or, maybe we want to drop back into coverage. So, it’s going through those game flows and kind of learning how those things go, because especially for young guys, it’s really valuable to kind of have that mindset and just go through things logically, the way they would be in a game. And that’s quite a bit different, and there’s a lot more mental hoops to jump through from the standpoint of, obviously, the calls are very different styles, so there’s very different techniques involved. So, when you’re playing one technique on one play, you have to make sure to kind of flush it. And then next play, it’s a blank canvas, and we’re going to play that play. So, it is quite a bit different.
(On the offense) The offensive line is playing really fast and, obviously, I enjoy that. It’s a great challenge, and I think it makes us better defensively, the front seven. That’s really fantastic. And then, Coach Grimes is always, always scheming, he’s always been creative. That’s always kind of a joy. We had a team meeting, and there was an interview of a guy that got knocked out, and he said, of that moment I’m a fan, because I’m a fan of the game, a fan of the fight game. So, when we get hit on big plays, like sometimes you just have to kind of like put your hands up and be like, ‘Hey, I’m a fan of the game. That was a great call by Coach Grimes, I really enjoyed that play.’ Because when they start pulling guards and stuff like that, that can be really difficult as linebackers. So, obviously, you’re going to move into the next practice and get on the whiteboard and draw that up, but really proud of how they’re progressing. And Blake Shapen has done a fantastic job of taking a leadership role for the offense. There are so many names I could name, but their communication and their execution, their energy, it’s been really fun to kind of butt heads with them for the last nine days. And we’ll continue to do that as camp continues.
C Jacob Gall
(Two very experienced lines going against each other) Yeah, I say it all the time, the best line we’re going to go against is in practice every day. So, it’s only going to make us better. I think Apu is the best 2.0 or shade guy in the country. So, I think he’s making me better every single play. And I think our O-line has gotten better every day.
(What are you seeing from Blake Shapen) I’m seeing the confidence grow, the leadership grow. Last year, he wasn’t really thrust into the position, but now he is, and I think he’s really grown. He’s really getting into it. I think he’s just getting better every day.
(Can you see the O-line meshing together maybe better even than they did last year) Yeah, I mean, just spending more time together. Me and Grant just being here longer; new guys coming in that were already here, I guess. But, I think we’re definitely getting along a lot better. And then, our chemistry is obviously better because of that.
(First scrimmage, how did you feel about the offense as a whole) I think we’re in a good place. We’re only in camp . . . I think we’re three weeks away from the first game. So, it’s just growing every single day. It’s hard to really spot where you’re going to be week one into camp, because I think it’s what we’re just finishing up right now, I guess; practice 7, I think it was. But yeah, I think we’re coming along nicely. Still some things, obviously, you’ve got to fix and things you want to, obviously, improve on and things you want to focus on. But, I think we’re in a good spot right now.
(How are you handling all the national attention about how good the O-line is going to be) No, no, we don’t really care about that stuff. We’re in Waco, Texas, it’s not a big city, not a lot of news coming in and out. So, we try to just keep our heads down and work. That’s kind of just what we’ve always been as an O-line and what I’ve always been like. So, we don’t really listen to that stuff, because that stuff changes every day. People like you, people don’t like you. So, we don’t really care about that stuff.
(On the running backs) I think all of our running backs are great. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them, they’re all super good, and they all have like their own, I guess, advantages and disadvantages. But, I think they’re all really good, overall, and I think whoever goes out there is going to be amazing. I think it could be anyone right now. I think a lot of guys are fighting for it, and I think that’s great. I think it’s just going to build competition for the spot, and I think the best guy is going to play every single down.
(More of a running back-by-committee this year) I don’t know. Like I said, we’re a week into camp, so it’s hard to tell. But, just from what I’ve seen, I’ve seen different guys play really well. So, I really don’t know who it’s going to be, because I’m not in the running back room every single day. Most of the time, I barely even see them until they’re whizzing by me. So, I can’t really tell who’s going to be the guy or what’s going to happen with that. But, I think we have a good group of backs. And like I said, whoever comes out is going to be amazing.
(Excited about the Waco NIL Club) I mean, I’ve heard some talk about it and things like that. I think if that comes down in the summer, maybe you might be a little more focused on that. But right now, I think guys are really just more focused on practice and the season and things like that.
(On the O-line, are things starting to solidify on who’s going to play where) Yeah, there’s some solidified positions, things like that. But, nothing’s ever really safe. Especially when we’re three weeks away from the first game, we still have time to move things around, see how things work, things like that. But, we have a great group of guys. So, great players are going to come out every single day and play hard. Things can change all the time, things like that, so I don’t think anything’s like too solid. But, we have great players. So, I guess a solid unit, meaning we’re not going to change too much from the solid unit I guess we have now.
(How much comfortable are you at the center position now than you were last year) Yeah, I think just trusting myself a lot more and trusting the offense and trusting my technique and things like that. Last year, it felt like everything I was doing, I was doing for the first time. Whenever you do something for the first time, you’re not always sure about it. So, I think giving it a second time and giving it a second thought and seeing it the second time, I think it’s just really helped me grow my confidence, my trust and everything.
(What’s the next step) It’s the same goals every single year. We want to keep our guys safe, and that’s the main goal. So, if we can improve our efficiency and keep our guys upright, whether that’s from sacks or from TFLs or anything like that. So, I guess just improving on those numbers. But, at the end of the day, we’re just trying to keep our guys safe. And if we can do that better, we’re going to try and do that better.
(Made progress today with this scrimmage) Yeah, this is the end of I guess week one, and everybody’s working out here in the sun, it’s super-hot out here, so we’re just getting ready for the season. And I think a ton of guys got better, a ton of young guys I think stepped up, played well, that you’re not used to seeing. When people start tackling and things like that, you see guys start becoming more football players rather than just technicians out there during practice. So, I think it was good to see that and seeing guys get better through that.
(See anybody on the defensive side other than Apu) I mean, I go against Gabe Hall and Apu every single play. So, those two guys are amazing. And I think, obviously, both are two of the best in the nation, I think. You can’t go wrong with anybody on the D-line, but those are the two guys I go against the most, so those are the guys I give the most props to, those two.
(Gabe says he’s like 50-50 against Connor Galvin, would you agree) I don’t know. I mean, a true 50-50, how can you determine that with the plays and I guess what assignment you have there, and what you’re really trying to achieve with that play. So, defense is going to say that they’re 50-50, which is a good success rate for defense, but I think it’s all determined on that. I think Connor would probably say it’s not that, either, but defensive guys are going to say it’s 50-50, just because they like that number and they think they’re in the gap, but we’re not even running to that gap, so it doesn’t matter.
