Drake Stoops Kansas Week Interview (10-23-23)
Drake Stoops Kansas Week Interview (10-23-23)
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Saturday, obviously a close win, but what was the takeaway offensively?
00:04 >> Just try and start faster, clean up the self-inflicted mistakes.
00:07 And I mean, they're a good team, we gotta hats off to them.
00:10 But I think there's a lot of stuff on tape we know that we inflicted on ourselves and
00:14 that we can improve upon.
00:15 And honestly, yeah, just continue to improve upon this week and
00:18 going into next week.
00:19 >> Back to back games, games kinda go down to the wire,
00:22 you gotta make plays late to win.
00:23 I mean, how helpful is that, maybe moving forward to the rest of the season?
00:26 >> Yeah, I think it gives you the confidence to know that when it comes to
00:29 crunch time, when adversity's hitting and all that.
00:32 That when it's time to make plays, you're still gonna make those plays.
00:35 And you have enough composure and enough wherewithal to still fall back on your
00:38 training and your technique and go make those plays.
00:40 And it's definitely good for the confidence.
00:42 >> Drake, what's your thoughts on Kansas this week?
00:45 >> Kansas, really solid football team.
00:47 Going all the way into Florence, it's gonna be a tough atmosphere.
00:50 It's homecoming, I heard.
00:52 I know it's sold out, all that.
00:53 So it'll be a great atmosphere to go to.
00:55 And yeah, I mean, they're a good, good, sound football team.
00:58 Really good in the run game and also the explosive pass game.
01:01 And then their defense is really solid.
01:02 A lot of good tacklers everywhere, good cover guys, good corners on the edges.
01:05 Great field backer.
01:07 I haven't dug much into the D-line, but I'm all about the secondary.
01:10 But they're a real well-rounded football team that can attack in many ways on
01:13 offense and defense.
01:13 >> They've really improved the last couple of years, haven't they?
01:16 It's become a tough game for you guys.
01:17 >> Tremendously, yeah.
01:18 They're definitely a very formidable opponent in the Big 12 for
01:21 not just us, but for anybody.
01:22 >> What do you remember about that game two years ago?
01:25 It was late, tight late, the last time you all were there.
01:29 >> Yeah, I remember it was dreary day.
01:31 We started slow.
01:33 And I remember Caleb Williams taking the ball from the running back,
01:38 I think it was Kennedy Brooks, and took off.
01:39 And that kind of sealed the game.
01:40 Just one of the crazier players I've ever seen.
01:42 But that honestly doesn't have a whole lot to do with this year anymore.
01:46 >> Yeah, but obviously gonna be a different atmosphere there.
01:48 Two years ago, they were trying to get anybody in at halftime if they could.
01:52 And now, like you said, it's sold out and everything.
01:55 >> Yeah, definitely.
01:55 No, I mean, yeah, it's a testament to how much they've improved over the last
01:58 just two years.
01:59 And people like watching good football on there.
02:01 So there's gonna be a sold out state.
02:04 >> What have you seen from Nick Anderson?
02:06 Got his first start on Saturday, played a lot of snaps, made big plays.
02:09 What have you seen maybe from his growth and
02:11 how he handled that big role on Saturday?
02:14 >> Yeah, I mean, he always came in.
02:15 He was always a mature guy, even from year one and now in year two.
02:18 But just watching his growth over the summer, getting faster, stronger,
02:21 getting a better feel for the system.
02:23 And then being able to play outside receiver at both sides,
02:26 whether it's a four or the one, as we call it,
02:28 is just a testament to his knowledge of the game and of the offense now.
02:31 And I mean, he's like Mr. Touchdown.
02:33 Every time he touches the ball, it's like he scores.
02:35 But I'm really happy for him.
02:37 And I told you all, he's gonna become a household name.
02:39 We're just waiting for the season to come for him to show.
02:41 And I'm very happy for him.
02:43 >> Drake, last year you guys won some close games, didn't end well.
02:46 This year it seems to be different.
02:47 What do you think the difference is?
02:49 >> I think, as Coach Reynolds always says, failure is just a great teacher.
02:53 So last year was a great teacher in a lot of games, a lot of close games.
02:56 We found ourselves on the wrong side of it.
02:58 And this year, say, Saturday, we found ourselves on the right side of it.
03:02 I think it's just learning from mistakes and
03:04 then finishing better in the fourth quarter.
03:06 Having better competitive stamina throughout the game and being able to
03:08 finish and make plays when they really matter and when they're really needed.
03:11 And being able to complement each other in those crucial moments.
03:14 >> You talk about finishing there,
03:17 you've had some really productive fourth quarters in the last couple.
03:21 What's been the key there?
03:22 I know some of it's just plays seem to come your way, but outside of that.
03:27 >> Yeah, just kinda, really just trying to do my part and
03:30 whenever my number's called, make the plays necessary for my team to win.
03:34 And especially when the fourth quarter comes down and say, Texas or
03:37 this game, it's close, it's crunch time.
03:39 I don't know, I would like to say being a veteran guy with a lot of experience,
03:43 I need to thrive in those moments and pick up my team and
03:46 help them out as best I can and do my part.
03:48 And I'm played nowhere near perfect, there's a lot of plays I want back, but
03:51 I couldn't let that shake me.
03:53 I had to have an next play mentality and when my number was called again,
03:56 I was prepared.
03:57 >> Greg, you guys have been able to, when you needed a drive though, go get it.
04:02 You're down in this game, last game, you got two drives.
04:06 Is that just more experience, year two in the system, or what is that?
04:10 >> Yeah, I think so.
04:11 And just a trust in each other and a belief in our coaches, the players are
04:14 calling, a belief in each other that everyone's gonna do their part.
04:17 And knowing that who we got around us as our teammates, how good everyone is,
04:21 that we feel and trust them so that we feel that everyone's gonna do their part.
04:24 And just, yeah, having that confidence that we could score at any moment.
04:28 And when we don't, obviously we're disappointed, but guess what?
04:30 There comes another series, here comes another opportunity.
04:33 So you gotta flush that one and look forward to the next one.
04:35 >> Did you talk to the team before the game?
04:37 I thought Brent mentioned that you might have discussed that before the game.
04:41 >> No, I didn't talk to him pre-game.
04:42 I talked to him coming out of halftime,
04:44 just talked to the offense in a little huddle, just briefly.
04:47 >> And how's that kind of transition for
04:50 you being the kind of guy that's gonna step up and talk to the team?
04:53 Is that how you've always kind of been, or is that-
04:55 >> No, I've always been a pretty quiet guy,
04:57 kind of just work hard, keep my head down.
04:58 But I've always said, as you get older, it kind of becomes your duty to the team,
05:03 having experience, having been through a lot to be that voice of reason,
05:06 to be that guy that's, hey, I've been here before, this is what it looks like,
05:09 this is what it doesn't look like.
05:10 And kind of step into that role for everyone else.
05:13 >> Yeah.
05:14 >> Is that a this year thing, or last year?
05:17 >> Last couple years, I mean, just kind of just whenever the opportunity presents
05:20 itself, it's really not one of those things you can, I guess, quantify.
05:24 But it's like, it happens when it happens.
05:26 >> Drake, what specifically did you guys look at from Saturday,
05:29 offensively, that you think you can clean up moving forward?
05:32 >> Specifically, let's see, sustaining blocks better,
05:36 less drops in the past game at all positions.
05:40 Yeah, running through trash, making those catches.
05:43 Obviously, we'd like to clean up some penalties and
05:46 some crucial moments that kind of put us back behind the chains.
05:49 And then, yeah, just stuff like that, yeah.
05:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]