By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor offensive line coach Eric Mateos and veterans Khalil Keith, Jacob Gall and Grant Miller - three-fifth of the 2021 starting lineup - met with the media last week to discuss what this unit expects from itself into 2022.
Eric Mateos
(Bringing back veteran line compared to last spring) Not a big difference. Everybody has individual things to work on and focus on. We’ve put in some wrinkles to our scheme up front for us. When you’re in year two, there might be an adjustment that you don’t put in year one because the guys are more comfortable with the offense. There are some differences there, but there are not a lot of differences from a daily objective of individual and unit improvement. Standards are high, just like they were last spring and last season. Not a lot of difference in expectation, but there are some wrinkles and things we’re adding in to keep guys interested and keeping them on their toes and keeping them developing mentally.
(Getting all the guys back) I’m excited that they’re back, and I love them. They’re part of my family. My wife and I like having them back because I just enjoy them as people. They’re all great players and they all bring their own individual piece to the puzzle. Love having all of our players back. It’s an exciting time for our younger guys who are working hard and maybe didn’t get the amount of snaps they wanted a year ago. They’re fighting and grinding for a starting spot. Of course, that will go a long time until we get into training camp. But it’s just nice having all of them back. Really miss JohnCarlo and Xavier. It stinks when guys move on, but it’s just part of it. I’m just going to savor this time and enjoy my time with them as people.
(How have you created culture where they want to be back) I think people just want to feel appreciated, players, especially offensive linemen. A lot of linemen grow up maybe not the most handsome kid at the school, he might be swimming with his shirt on. A lot of them grow up and might have some insecurities. I think inherently very loyal people. I think they just like to be treated with respect and be pushed. I think we have a very clear understanding in our room that we want to have the most fun in the country in our meeting room, and we also want to be the hardest working group when we’re on the grass. So that balance is easy to say and hard to do. I think they enjoy that kind of environment for growth because it’s not fourth and one in every meeting, it’s not the end of the world if we make a mistake. We need to be right on Sept. 3. I think they just enjoy that type of atmosphere.
(Younger guys making impact) Some guys are not getting as many reps right now as we wish they were because of injuries. But I think the younger group as a whole you can feel their urgency. Especially the first year, they don’t necessarily have a bunch of skins on the wall. So they’re just trying to figure me out, figure the system out, learn how to get in a stance on the right side of the line. So when you transition to a second year, and even guys transition to a third year, because some of the freshmen in 2020 really kind of missed an off-season of development. So it’s a lot of guys making big jumps. Football IQ is the biggest one. Vic is always going to get those guys stronger and push those kids to put weight on their back and lift the house. But I think their development from a football IQ standpoint is what I’m most proud of. Putting on an NFL game, and saying hey this is this protection, and this run, and this call, this guy’s footwork isn’t great, and being able to watch that and evaluate it is a huge step for young players. We’re seeing that and it’s exciting.
(Having Galvin back after named Big 12 offensive lineman of year) He’s a great player and we’re happy he plays for us. He’s got a lot of work to do to improve this season. He made a big jump because he became a real team guy, a real unit guy. It wasn’t all about him, it was about the strength of the unit. He’s got to make some big strides if he wants to repeat. There are a lot of great linemen in this league and on our team. He’s going to compete against guys in our own room for that if he wants to win that again. We love Connor but there’s a lot or work to be done before Sept. 3. But we’re glad he’s with us.
(What’s been the biggest improvement this spring) I would say our overall level of physicality. I feel that we’re stronger this year. I feel like we’re thicker. I’d say this spring we’re playing more physical than we did all of last season. I think it’s part confidence, part familiarity with the system. I think it’s part Vic throwing 10 pounds on their neck. I think it’s all kind of a mixture of that. I think the physicality that we’re playing with right now is different than the fall.
(Less moving around with vets back) It’s a challenge. I would like to move more around than I am right now or probably will in training camp. We’re not quite as healthy as we want to be. We have five more freshmen joining us in the summer. We have quite a few pieces that are missing from the puzzle right now in the room. Once we get a full allotment of players we’ll probably shuffle guys more. I think it’s important in development. If you just get zeroed in on one spot, you can get lost in your own world. I think it’s important for Connor Galvin to get right tackle reps. I think it’s important for Khalil to play guard and for Grant Miller to play center. I think all of those are really important, not just for our benefit, but for their futures. They all have professional aspirations, and when you get to that level it’s where can you add value. We’re trying to develop depth and good scenarios for our team, but also develop them so when they go to the next level they’re ready to get moved around. It’s a benefit to both of those areas.
Khalil Keith
(Linemen returning) It’s been great working with the same vets. We all know what we’ve got to do personally and as a group to get better. I ended up making an announcement, but I was the last guy. I knew I was coming back.
(Playing different spots) It’s good for here and the next level, it’s always a good thing. I’ve been mostly at tackle this spring. I haven’t moved around that much.
(How much can line improve) We have personal goals, just being more reliable, everybody doing the right thing every play, trying to make the execution as close to 100 percent as possible.
(Cutting down on penalties) Yes sir, pre-snap.
(What’s biggest step line has taken) As a unit, I think the biggest step we’ve taken is being more gritty and bringing that edge every single play.
(Take pride in Abram rushing for 1,600 yards and giving up few sacks) We don’t really pay close attention to stats, because we’re not big on stats. We just try to be the best we can be, just working hard and being gritty and executing. We focus on those things. We let the quarterbacks have all the glory and shine. That’s how it usually goes.
(What was last year like for you, after going through all the ups and downs) It was great to accomplish the ultimate goals. Since I’ve been here, it’s been a roller coaster with different coaches, different schemes. So, it was great, it was a great feeling, just feeling that peak, but we want more.
(Is the goal this year to make the CFP Playoffs) Oh yeah, for sure. 100 %, definitely.
(How did you improve individually last year) More technique, I got more technical. I took that stuff into the game where I was more focused on the more technical aspects of it instead of just being . . . I think I was more reckless in the past, just not really focused as much on the scheme. So, I feel like mentally, I evolved.
Grant Miller
(What’s it like having so many veterans who know the system) The main thing I would say is maturity and wisdom. Obviously, this is now our second year in the program underneath Coach Mateos and Coach Grimes, so I would say just the maturity that comes with understanding what the expectations are, what the standard is. And then I’d say just being able to have another year together, just being able to gel and kind of be on the same page a little bit more than we even were last year. I’d say those are the main things for us.
(On coming back) It’s definitely something I considered, for sure. Whenever you get a chance to come back and play with kind of the same guys that you’ve had success with, it’s obviously something that you think about when determining some of the factors of whether or not you want to come back. To know that I could come back and pretty much play with the same guys and the same group that had a lot of success, to come back and try to push the envelope and go even further, to take this thing to new heights, it was definitely something that interested me.
(Are you moving around as much as you did last year) It’s pretty much been something for us, Coach Mateos and Coach Grimes just talking about [versatility], but also just your ability to move around and switch positions. So, I’d say all of us are really moving around, learning new positions, trying to get better. We know that it will help us more at the next level, too, as well as availability in terms of you may never know what happens over the course of a season, having guys ready to play multiple positions if that’s where you’re needed.
(Have you played center, is that a natural position for you) Yeah, I started pretty much all my games that I played at Vanderbilt at center, so center does have a natural feel to me. But I also started every game at right guard last year as well, so I’ve gotten more acclimated to guard. I really feel comfortable with both, which is what I really feel like what our coaches’ goal is. Not to feel more natural at one position than the other, to feel natural being an offensive lineman wherever you’re put.
(On Coach Mateos) I’d say Coach Mateos has played a really big role in our success. I wasn’t here the year prior, but just understanding maybe some of the struggles or some of the culture that was here at Baylor, I think Coach Mateos really helped in terms of reshaping that. And like I said in the few interviews that I had last year, I could already tell in a short time kind of the foundation he was laying to take this place to even greater places and really blow the roof off the capabilities of what this O-line can do.
(Is there a comfort level now that maybe you didn’t have last year when you and Jacob were new) Yeah, I think throughout the course of the season, we started to really hit our groove and really started to gel and really started to understand each other. I think just also being in Year 2 of the playbook, whether anybody was here – even Connor – it was a new playbook for him. So, to kind of be in semester two is what we like to call it, we’re learning some next-level stuff, getting really into the whole depths and details of our playbook and then also just kind of understanding each other and being on the same page more, understanding our play styles, things like that. And I think that’s the kind of stuff that we’re expounding upon right now during spring ball that I expect to look even better in the fall.
Jacob Gall
(what’s it like having so many veterans back) Obviously, our chemistry has been a ton better coming into this spring, being in the weight room a lot longer. I think I’ve only been here for 10 months, something like that. So, I think just the time has helped us so much and build a relationship with each other and just trust each other a lot more.
(Biggest difference from last year to this year) That’s one of the things that I’ve started to notice in the spring is that guys are just trusting each other more and there’s a little bit more chemistry. And we kind of know what each other are thinking a lot more than we did before. So, I think yeah, that’s definitely the biggest difference.
(The decision to come back, was that independent or something you talked about together) I think we all kind of knew that we were going to come back together. I guess it’s all independent because we all have our own reasons for things like that. But, I think in the end, we all knew we were going to stay and come back another year and just try and get better.
(What did you feel like you needed another year) I needed another year to get better. There were still some things that I wasn’t satisfied with what I did, and I think there’s tons of room for growth for me. I’m given this extra year of eligibility because of COVID, and I think I’d be dumb not to use it and just get better before I’m ready to go to the next step.
(Feel like you need to be the leaders on the team with so much experience) Yeah, obviously, we’re probably the oldest position group, starting position-wise. And I think that just carries a lot of weight weigh a lot of guys, just being older, being in college football for so long, I think they look to us in general. But, I think just our play and how we work and things like that are another big thing of why other players look to us.
(Had you played a lot of center before you got here) I was recruited as a center out of high school and I played it my first couple years at Buffalo before I was moved to guard out of injury, and I ended up just playing well there. But, obviously I didn’t play at a high level like this before and have a ton of game reps, so it was something I had to get back to. And just a new technique and everything. I think through the season, I grew a lot, just getting better. And that’s another reason why I want to be back here another year is to play is to play another year at center and just get better.
(Did this group have a lot of fun together last year) Yeah, that’s another point is that we have guys that I know I love and I trust. And I knew I was going to be in a system that I was going to be able to work well in. So, I wouldn’t come back if I didn’t know I was going to get better, if I wasn’t put in a situation where I felt loved and trusted to do what I can do.
(Take pride in Abram rushing for 1,600 yards and you guys not giving up sacks) Yeah, we definitely do, that’s definitely important to us. Obviously, that’s our main job, protecting our guys, making sure they get yards and make sure they’re staying upright. We don’t read too much into stats, because there are so many different reasons for certain stats that are not really put in there with the stats. So, we’re not too worried about it, but obviously it’s a great marker for how successful we are. But, we take great pride in keeping our guys safe and keeping them secure.
Publisher
Baylor offensive line coach Eric Mateos and veterans Khalil Keith, Jacob Gall and Grant Miller - three-fifth of the 2021 starting lineup - met with the media last week to discuss what this unit expects from itself into 2022.
Eric Mateos
(Bringing back veteran line compared to last spring) Not a big difference. Everybody has individual things to work on and focus on. We’ve put in some wrinkles to our scheme up front for us. When you’re in year two, there might be an adjustment that you don’t put in year one because the guys are more comfortable with the offense. There are some differences there, but there are not a lot of differences from a daily objective of individual and unit improvement. Standards are high, just like they were last spring and last season. Not a lot of difference in expectation, but there are some wrinkles and things we’re adding in to keep guys interested and keeping them on their toes and keeping them developing mentally.
(Getting all the guys back) I’m excited that they’re back, and I love them. They’re part of my family. My wife and I like having them back because I just enjoy them as people. They’re all great players and they all bring their own individual piece to the puzzle. Love having all of our players back. It’s an exciting time for our younger guys who are working hard and maybe didn’t get the amount of snaps they wanted a year ago. They’re fighting and grinding for a starting spot. Of course, that will go a long time until we get into training camp. But it’s just nice having all of them back. Really miss JohnCarlo and Xavier. It stinks when guys move on, but it’s just part of it. I’m just going to savor this time and enjoy my time with them as people.
(How have you created culture where they want to be back) I think people just want to feel appreciated, players, especially offensive linemen. A lot of linemen grow up maybe not the most handsome kid at the school, he might be swimming with his shirt on. A lot of them grow up and might have some insecurities. I think inherently very loyal people. I think they just like to be treated with respect and be pushed. I think we have a very clear understanding in our room that we want to have the most fun in the country in our meeting room, and we also want to be the hardest working group when we’re on the grass. So that balance is easy to say and hard to do. I think they enjoy that kind of environment for growth because it’s not fourth and one in every meeting, it’s not the end of the world if we make a mistake. We need to be right on Sept. 3. I think they just enjoy that type of atmosphere.
(Younger guys making impact) Some guys are not getting as many reps right now as we wish they were because of injuries. But I think the younger group as a whole you can feel their urgency. Especially the first year, they don’t necessarily have a bunch of skins on the wall. So they’re just trying to figure me out, figure the system out, learn how to get in a stance on the right side of the line. So when you transition to a second year, and even guys transition to a third year, because some of the freshmen in 2020 really kind of missed an off-season of development. So it’s a lot of guys making big jumps. Football IQ is the biggest one. Vic is always going to get those guys stronger and push those kids to put weight on their back and lift the house. But I think their development from a football IQ standpoint is what I’m most proud of. Putting on an NFL game, and saying hey this is this protection, and this run, and this call, this guy’s footwork isn’t great, and being able to watch that and evaluate it is a huge step for young players. We’re seeing that and it’s exciting.
(Having Galvin back after named Big 12 offensive lineman of year) He’s a great player and we’re happy he plays for us. He’s got a lot of work to do to improve this season. He made a big jump because he became a real team guy, a real unit guy. It wasn’t all about him, it was about the strength of the unit. He’s got to make some big strides if he wants to repeat. There are a lot of great linemen in this league and on our team. He’s going to compete against guys in our own room for that if he wants to win that again. We love Connor but there’s a lot or work to be done before Sept. 3. But we’re glad he’s with us.
(What’s been the biggest improvement this spring) I would say our overall level of physicality. I feel that we’re stronger this year. I feel like we’re thicker. I’d say this spring we’re playing more physical than we did all of last season. I think it’s part confidence, part familiarity with the system. I think it’s part Vic throwing 10 pounds on their neck. I think it’s all kind of a mixture of that. I think the physicality that we’re playing with right now is different than the fall.
(Less moving around with vets back) It’s a challenge. I would like to move more around than I am right now or probably will in training camp. We’re not quite as healthy as we want to be. We have five more freshmen joining us in the summer. We have quite a few pieces that are missing from the puzzle right now in the room. Once we get a full allotment of players we’ll probably shuffle guys more. I think it’s important in development. If you just get zeroed in on one spot, you can get lost in your own world. I think it’s important for Connor Galvin to get right tackle reps. I think it’s important for Khalil to play guard and for Grant Miller to play center. I think all of those are really important, not just for our benefit, but for their futures. They all have professional aspirations, and when you get to that level it’s where can you add value. We’re trying to develop depth and good scenarios for our team, but also develop them so when they go to the next level they’re ready to get moved around. It’s a benefit to both of those areas.
Khalil Keith
(Linemen returning) It’s been great working with the same vets. We all know what we’ve got to do personally and as a group to get better. I ended up making an announcement, but I was the last guy. I knew I was coming back.
(Playing different spots) It’s good for here and the next level, it’s always a good thing. I’ve been mostly at tackle this spring. I haven’t moved around that much.
(How much can line improve) We have personal goals, just being more reliable, everybody doing the right thing every play, trying to make the execution as close to 100 percent as possible.
(Cutting down on penalties) Yes sir, pre-snap.
(What’s biggest step line has taken) As a unit, I think the biggest step we’ve taken is being more gritty and bringing that edge every single play.
(Take pride in Abram rushing for 1,600 yards and giving up few sacks) We don’t really pay close attention to stats, because we’re not big on stats. We just try to be the best we can be, just working hard and being gritty and executing. We focus on those things. We let the quarterbacks have all the glory and shine. That’s how it usually goes.
(What was last year like for you, after going through all the ups and downs) It was great to accomplish the ultimate goals. Since I’ve been here, it’s been a roller coaster with different coaches, different schemes. So, it was great, it was a great feeling, just feeling that peak, but we want more.
(Is the goal this year to make the CFP Playoffs) Oh yeah, for sure. 100 %, definitely.
(How did you improve individually last year) More technique, I got more technical. I took that stuff into the game where I was more focused on the more technical aspects of it instead of just being . . . I think I was more reckless in the past, just not really focused as much on the scheme. So, I feel like mentally, I evolved.
Grant Miller
(What’s it like having so many veterans who know the system) The main thing I would say is maturity and wisdom. Obviously, this is now our second year in the program underneath Coach Mateos and Coach Grimes, so I would say just the maturity that comes with understanding what the expectations are, what the standard is. And then I’d say just being able to have another year together, just being able to gel and kind of be on the same page a little bit more than we even were last year. I’d say those are the main things for us.
(On coming back) It’s definitely something I considered, for sure. Whenever you get a chance to come back and play with kind of the same guys that you’ve had success with, it’s obviously something that you think about when determining some of the factors of whether or not you want to come back. To know that I could come back and pretty much play with the same guys and the same group that had a lot of success, to come back and try to push the envelope and go even further, to take this thing to new heights, it was definitely something that interested me.
(Are you moving around as much as you did last year) It’s pretty much been something for us, Coach Mateos and Coach Grimes just talking about [versatility], but also just your ability to move around and switch positions. So, I’d say all of us are really moving around, learning new positions, trying to get better. We know that it will help us more at the next level, too, as well as availability in terms of you may never know what happens over the course of a season, having guys ready to play multiple positions if that’s where you’re needed.
(Have you played center, is that a natural position for you) Yeah, I started pretty much all my games that I played at Vanderbilt at center, so center does have a natural feel to me. But I also started every game at right guard last year as well, so I’ve gotten more acclimated to guard. I really feel comfortable with both, which is what I really feel like what our coaches’ goal is. Not to feel more natural at one position than the other, to feel natural being an offensive lineman wherever you’re put.
(On Coach Mateos) I’d say Coach Mateos has played a really big role in our success. I wasn’t here the year prior, but just understanding maybe some of the struggles or some of the culture that was here at Baylor, I think Coach Mateos really helped in terms of reshaping that. And like I said in the few interviews that I had last year, I could already tell in a short time kind of the foundation he was laying to take this place to even greater places and really blow the roof off the capabilities of what this O-line can do.
(Is there a comfort level now that maybe you didn’t have last year when you and Jacob were new) Yeah, I think throughout the course of the season, we started to really hit our groove and really started to gel and really started to understand each other. I think just also being in Year 2 of the playbook, whether anybody was here – even Connor – it was a new playbook for him. So, to kind of be in semester two is what we like to call it, we’re learning some next-level stuff, getting really into the whole depths and details of our playbook and then also just kind of understanding each other and being on the same page more, understanding our play styles, things like that. And I think that’s the kind of stuff that we’re expounding upon right now during spring ball that I expect to look even better in the fall.
Jacob Gall
(what’s it like having so many veterans back) Obviously, our chemistry has been a ton better coming into this spring, being in the weight room a lot longer. I think I’ve only been here for 10 months, something like that. So, I think just the time has helped us so much and build a relationship with each other and just trust each other a lot more.
(Biggest difference from last year to this year) That’s one of the things that I’ve started to notice in the spring is that guys are just trusting each other more and there’s a little bit more chemistry. And we kind of know what each other are thinking a lot more than we did before. So, I think yeah, that’s definitely the biggest difference.
(The decision to come back, was that independent or something you talked about together) I think we all kind of knew that we were going to come back together. I guess it’s all independent because we all have our own reasons for things like that. But, I think in the end, we all knew we were going to stay and come back another year and just try and get better.
(What did you feel like you needed another year) I needed another year to get better. There were still some things that I wasn’t satisfied with what I did, and I think there’s tons of room for growth for me. I’m given this extra year of eligibility because of COVID, and I think I’d be dumb not to use it and just get better before I’m ready to go to the next step.
(Feel like you need to be the leaders on the team with so much experience) Yeah, obviously, we’re probably the oldest position group, starting position-wise. And I think that just carries a lot of weight weigh a lot of guys, just being older, being in college football for so long, I think they look to us in general. But, I think just our play and how we work and things like that are another big thing of why other players look to us.
(Had you played a lot of center before you got here) I was recruited as a center out of high school and I played it my first couple years at Buffalo before I was moved to guard out of injury, and I ended up just playing well there. But, obviously I didn’t play at a high level like this before and have a ton of game reps, so it was something I had to get back to. And just a new technique and everything. I think through the season, I grew a lot, just getting better. And that’s another reason why I want to be back here another year is to play is to play another year at center and just get better.
(Did this group have a lot of fun together last year) Yeah, that’s another point is that we have guys that I know I love and I trust. And I knew I was going to be in a system that I was going to be able to work well in. So, I wouldn’t come back if I didn’t know I was going to get better, if I wasn’t put in a situation where I felt loved and trusted to do what I can do.
(Take pride in Abram rushing for 1,600 yards and you guys not giving up sacks) Yeah, we definitely do, that’s definitely important to us. Obviously, that’s our main job, protecting our guys, making sure they get yards and make sure they’re staying upright. We don’t read too much into stats, because there are so many different reasons for certain stats that are not really put in there with the stats. So, we’re not too worried about it, but obviously it’s a great marker for how successful we are. But, we take great pride in keeping our guys safe and keeping them secure.
