Sept. 11, 2005
What did you think in general of the Samford game?
"I've been through the offensive and defensive tapes one time. It's pretty much what I thought I saw during the game. We have to make these guys understand it's just endless the opportunities we had last night to make plays and we can get by, and this is no disrespect to Samford, last night, but we're not preparing for Samford, we are preparing for Big 12 opponents. If we don't know and we don't take advantage of an opportunity against an Oklahoma or someone like that, then we don't have a chance to win. I'm talking about some plays that would have been game changing, big plays, on both sides of the ball. We missed some opportunities to intercept the ball, touchdowns and we had some dumb, dumb penalties and that really bothers me. If you do that against a quality Big 12 opponent you don't have a chance to do anything and that's the point we have to get across to them. There were some good plays and the effort was there but we have to play smarter."
On making plays:
"We've just got to make those plays, the interceptions, the touchdowns, we've just got to make those plays. I'm not picking on anybody but the pass right down here that C.J. (Wilson) breaks up, make the interception. If that's against a team down the road in a few weeks, that's maybe a game changer. That's all I want. He (Wilson) makes a nice play to break it up but if the ball's right in your hands you've got to make that interception. Those kinds of things are just the next step between making the play and making a game-changing play. C.J. has that kind of ability and is that kind of a player, I've just to make them put it in the front of their brain I guess. I don't know how to express it but that can make or break you in a big game. He did everything perfect expect make the interception. We are fighting to get the ball and that could make a difference in the outcome of the game, those kinds of plays are what I'm talking about. I want to try and get them to start understanding."
On the Baylor running game against Samford:
"Samford's defense started slanting. We saw a lot of slanting and we didn't handle that very well. That's about it, otherwise, which we figured, they were not just going to let us run but it's harder on them because when they did just try to set, we were pretty effective, pretty efficient. But the slants hurt and when you mix in the stunts and that kind of thing. We've got to do a better job of handling that and we're going to start seeing that kind of defense because people see it hurt us. We're going to see it until we get it stopped; get it handled."
Do either Shawn (Bell) or Will (Blaylock) have to do a better job picking up the slants?? "No, it's just the technique part of our game, people aren't just going to sit still for you and we've got to be able to handle that and handle it on the move. All across the front we didn't do a good job of it."
Samford had 21 first downs and converted nine times on third downs, why? "That's what hurt us, third downs; we couldn't get them off the field early in the game. I think that first touchdown drive, they converted four times on third down, and, you know, I give them credit, they made the plays but there was some help from our guys too. Just little things that would have gotten us off the field. It was just technique stuff when we were looking at the touchdown plays.
What pleased you about the Samford win?
"There were good things from all phases but, again it goes back to, there were times when we didn't make the plays that we could have. That's the kind of thing that just kept us from dominating the football game because physically we were better than they were. "
In the third quarter when Samford was within 10 points, was there any concern with them just hanging around?
"Well, that's what we talked about. We didn't want to just let them hang around and hang around. We kind of wanted a feel good win and we got the win and we are happy about that, but I'm certainly hoping the players are not satisfied with the way we performed because I know I'm not. That could bite us somewhere down the road if we don't get it fixed. Just paying attention to detail, you know, we're handling the big stuff, now it's time to get the little stuff fixed. We could be a pretty good football team."
On playing the Baylor reserves so early in the second half: Morriss:
"I think we were in pretty good shape and there were some players we needed to see so we went ahead and subbed them in. I think our two running backs both gave a good accounting for themselves. Terrance (Parks) wasn't bad I think. Except for the one sack, he kind of stepped up in the pocket too far and when maybe he should have slid...Overall I think he played pretty good. I feel good about putting Terrance in a ball game, there's no doubt about that. You know, his arm strength has never been a question. He's kind of a funny guy, you think, at times, that he's just kind of mentally lackadaisical but that's just his aura I guess. I think that is why people misinterpret him a little bit. It's like the guy that runs a legitimate 4:3 and you watch him run and you think, that guy, he can't be that fast but, you know it's deceiving I guess."
After two games, your safeties aren't leading the team in tackles, which is a good thing, correct?
"That's a good sign. Overall we didn't play bad, but again it goes back to dumb penalties and missed opportunities and if we get that part fixed, we will be alright. We've got to get it fixed."
What was your message to the team after the game?
"Just that very thing, happy to get the win. It's always good to get the win no matter how you get it or how it comes about but you've got to learn how to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself and you've got to eliminate the penalties."
Did the storm delay bother you at all? Morriss: "No not really. I don't think that had anything to do with it."
You finished strong for the second straight game, which has to be pleasing, yes?
"That was good to see. I don't think we ever really felt like the game was in question, and, I hate to keep saying it, but some of the problems we talked about makes it appear and just kind of not feel good about the win."
You are obviously looking for more than just a win against Samford:
"Yes, like I said, we are not just prepping for a non-conference season. I'm not sure last night, as many opportunities as went by, if we're playing a Texas or an Oklahoma, things might not have gone so good for us. That's what they've got to realize. If we're going to get where we need to go, we can't do that."
Are you pleased with the starting line-up?
"It's kind of two-fold, you can play your way out or somebody can play their way in. I think it's too early to tell just yet. There are some guys that need to step and play to their supposed ability and not just when the ball is in their hands. Most of our concerns are mental right now, getting lined up right."
How did you feel about Shawn Bell's performance?
Morriss: "For the most part, not too bad. His throws, a few of them could have been a little sharper, like the two that were a little bit behind. I would like to see him be a little calmer in the pocket, step up and slide and don't try to break the pocket. He just needs to settle and trust his protection. I think he has a better feel of how it is breaking down and he's got a pretty good feel of the pocket."
Baylor Sunday Notes: Baylor is 2-0 for the first time since 2001 season after last night's 48-14 victory over Samford and will seek its first 3-0 start since 1996 (and just its 25th in school history) when it takes the field for Saturday's 2 p.m. (Central) nationally-televised (ESPN Classic) game at Army ... Saturday's game at Army begins a stretch which has Baylor playing three straight and four of five away from Floyd Casey Stadium. Prior to 2005, the last time the Bears played three straight road games in the same season was 1988 (at Kansas, at Iowa State, at Army) ... Baylor hasn't won consecutive games outside of Waco since the 1996 campaign when it opened the season with a 24-16 victory over Louisiana Tech at Shreveport and posted a 14-13 win the following week at Louisville. Since then, the Bears have dropped 44 of 47 games away from home ... Baylor junior running back Mario Price lettered as a true freshman at Army in 2002, then redshirted at Baylor in 2003, before picking up his first varsity letter as a Bear in 2004. He's No. 4 on the depth chart at running back and had three carries for 10 yards against Samford ... Junior punter Daniel Sepulveda, the 2004 Ray Guy Award winner, currently leads the nation in punting with his 47.6 yard average. He averaged 51.0 yards on five punts against Samford and placed two inside the Bulldogs' 20-yard line with a long of 61 yards ... Senior wide receiver Shaun Rochon's 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against Samford equaled the sixth-longest punt return in school history and was the first punt return touchdown recorded by a Bear return specialist since Thomas Everett's 75-yard return against Wyoming in 1985. Rochon's return was the longest by a Bear since 1968 and his 22.8 yard return average ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 10 nationally ... Junior place-kicker Ryan Havens, who handled the Bears' kick off chores the past two seasons but had never kicked a PAT or field goal in a collegiate game, has hit 8-of-8 PATs and 4-of-5 FGs over the first two games. Havens ranks 11th nationally in field goals made per game (2.00) ... Senior defensive end Montez Murphy recorded a career-high nine tackles (six solos) against Samford ... Junior wide receiver Trent Shelton had a team-high five receptions for 54 yards against Samford and in the process caught at least one pass for the 24th straight game ... The Baylor defense held Samford to 55 rushing yards, its best performance against the run since limiting SMU to 30 yards in 1995 ... Baylor has won nine straight games when scoring 35 or more points since a 49-42 triple-overtime loss at Missouri in 1996 ... The Bears improved to 7-2 under coach Guy Morriss when scoring at least 24 points, including 4-0 when putting 35 or more points on the scoreboard
