Ted Roof interview 9-23-23
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof speaks to the media following the Sooners' 20-6 victory over Cincinnati.
Transcript
00:00 today? I thought they played extremely hard, strained for the most part physical
00:09 and fought through some adversity. Didn't really let circumstances take their
00:13 attitude. I think they grew some, we grew up a little bit today because that's a
00:17 tough place to play. I mean they've lost twice in the last five years there so we
00:21 knew it wasn't gonna be easy and they've done a great job running the ball start
00:25 the year and so we knew we needed to do that and contain the quarterback and you
00:29 know probably the way we played us and there's some adversity but you know you
00:35 got to do that and there's growth and now we got to fix some mistakes and move
00:39 on to next week. We've talked a lot about Danny's improvement from last year. Yeah.
00:43 Say another big tackle day for him but it felt like it was just different the
00:48 way that he was making tackles versus a year ago. Making them closer on the scrimmage and being disruptive.
00:53 The way that him and Jaren are sort of teaming up right there. How much better
00:58 does that in particular make this defense and make it easier on the other guys around them?
01:04 Well that's a long question. I don't remember the first part. I'll talk about that.
01:09 How much better is the way that those two guys are playing?
01:11 Yeah. You know year two in the system there's been a lot of growth from a knowing what to do standpoint.
01:17 And then you know that allows you to play with confidence and confidence allows you to play faster, more physical,
01:22 and more aggressive and both of those guys have done that but at the same time
01:26 with the role that Danny has assumed or whatever, off the field.
01:34 You know the growth off the field. He's probably grown as much as any player between first year and second year
01:40 that I've ever coached as far as what he's how he's developed off the field.
01:43 And it's because he puts so much into it. It puts so much time and effort into it and the details.
01:48 And it's very prideful. He's playing really well right now. We need to continue to do that and continue to get better as we move forward.
01:55 It's only four games but the growth of this defense. Has it not necessarily been surprising?
01:59 I mean I don't know. I don't think you would say it's been surprising but has it been just fun to watch them come together?
02:06 Yeah. I get a sense that they're playing for each other and you know when guys do that because they respect the work that they've put in.
02:15 And you respect another man you can fight for another man and they've done that. They're starting to do that.
02:20 And again I know I say this every week but we got a long way to go. But proud of them and at the same time enjoy the win.
02:28 And then tomorrow go back to fixing it and work on getting better next week.
02:33 What does this unit need the biggest strides compared to last season?
02:36 I think maybe playing through some adversity. Being able to handle some adversity.
02:43 Because you know regardless of what happened to that football team last week.
02:47 They're a good football team that is used to winning. And like I said used to winning at home.
02:52 We lost two games in the last five years here. So we knew there was going to be a lot of strain.
02:59 A lot of opposition today and there was. But you know we overcame it.
03:03 We fought through some things and made plays when we needed to make them.
03:06 And as a result of that we're walking out of here 4-0.
03:10 What do you make of the way DeSan played today after not playing for a few weeks?
03:14 Yeah you know a guy that you know had come in and learned the system.
03:19 And then like you said was injured and didn't play. And then came back and played and assumed a bigger role.
03:25 I thought he played well. And you know I expect him to continue to grow and get better.
03:30 Because he's still a second year guy. He's a true sophomore.
03:34 So you know to see what the development with him and moving forward with that position.
03:39 Is something that we need and we expect and so does he.
03:43 For a guy like Reggie Grimes to come in. Hasn't probably played as much as he thought he might going into the season.
03:48 But he made some impact plays today. Is that just kind of another sign that everybody's bought in on that side of the ball?
03:53 Well again and I know I say this about a lot of guys but it's the truth.
03:57 Reggie's put a lot of work into it off the field as far as preparing.
04:00 Getting himself ready so when his opportunity came.
04:03 Regardless if it is as much as what some people may have thought.
04:06 He was ready for it and you know made some big plays for us today.
04:10 Got him and look forward to the continued development and growth.
04:13 As much as Danny's grown. How much has Key Lawrence grown?
04:17 Substantially. Substantially.
04:20 From an execution standpoint. From a reliability standpoint.
04:25 And he's having fun and he's being a great teammate.
04:28 And you know again just having fun playing football.
04:32 Britt said in his press conference that Tucker was asking about.
04:36 Or talking about how many players y'all played defensively today.
04:40 Britt said you'd like to maybe got some more guys in.
04:44 Is that depth that y'all talked about.
04:48 Really for the last nine, ten months showing itself.
04:53 You know as you play games like this?
04:55 Yeah you know we did. We were able to play some guys there.
04:58 And like I said would have liked to play more.
05:01 Because you know several guys have learned that.
05:04 And you know sometimes there's not enough reps for everybody to go around.
05:08 But yeah so but it's part of being a great teammate.
05:11 Nice to have that though versus looking around.
05:14 Trying to figure out who you can throw in there.
05:17 Correct. Correct.
05:20 Do you think you guys have been able to put this type of performance together?
05:23 A year ago without two starters and Reggie and Justin?
05:26 I don't know man. You know comparing last year to this year.
05:29 The teams. I don't get into that. I just worry about what's happening right now.
05:33 And we certainly learned from last year.
05:35 And you know gotten better and moving on.
05:39 You've got the kind of depth you do at the defensive line this year.
05:41 Being able to swap guys in and out.
05:44 How much of an emphasis has that been this year building that?
05:48 So you can throw in a lot of good teams.
05:51 Yeah it's been huge. I mean it's been huge you know.
05:54 So those guys you know that weigh 320 pounds.
05:57 Don't have to play 80 plays.
05:59 You know and you get a better version of them.
06:02 You know when they're playing 40 or 38 or whatever it is.
06:06 So I mean you know that's a big deal.
06:08 Depth up front on the line of scrimmage.
06:10 Because the line of scrimmage is such a it's where it all starts.
06:13 I want to ask you about the play that Billy made.
06:17 The interception.
06:18 Starts with Kani getting after the quarterback.
06:21 And then five six different things happen to get it into Billy's hands.
06:26 Yeah it looked like it looked like we're it was a ping pong ball.
06:30 Getting bounced around but I don't know if the four guys tipping or.
06:34 I don't know but he was tipped three or four times.
06:37 But again you know you got contact with the ball.
06:42 And you got population at the ball.
06:43 Instead of people you know watching somebody else do it.
06:46 Hustling the football and staying with it and finishing the play.
06:49 And you know as a result we were able to get that interception.
06:53 Which was a huge deal.
06:55 Ted it was such a great game today by Kani.
06:57 Talk about his performance today.
07:00 Uh you know Danny's playing with a high level of confidence.
07:05 Because he knows what to do.
07:06 He's uh and that that knowledge breeds confidence.
07:10 And confidence breeds aggression.
07:11 And he's he's playing faster.
07:14 He's playing more physical.
07:15 And he's a lot of production and uh real proud of him.
07:17 Excuse me.
07:19 But again we got to go back to work and get better.
07:27 What can you say about how he performed in his first significant time on the field?
07:31 Yeah I mean you know a guy that was coming back off an injury.
07:35 And uh starting and you know started for us and played a lot.
07:38 And uh yeah I think that he he did some really good things for us.
07:42 And excuse me at the same time you know.
07:47 He's going to continue to work and get better.
07:48 Because this is his you know first year in the system.
07:51 And second year in college football.
07:52 So uh again that's a big upside for him.
07:55 And a lot of room for growth.
07:56 But really proud of him.
07:57 And proud of how he approached it.
07:59 And the amount of energy and what he brought to our defense today.