Ted Roof TCU Postgame
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof speaks to the media following the Sooners' victory over TCU.
Transcript
00:00 - I gotta ask you about Billy Bowman.
00:01 - Yeah.
00:02 - Just the last two weeks,
00:03 just his athleticism, his playmaking ability.
00:05 Just your thoughts.
00:06 - Well, he's leading the country in interceptions.
00:08 He's leading the country in interception touchdowns.
00:12 He's leading the country in interception return yards.
00:14 But it's about a lot more than that with Billy.
00:16 It's about what he brings to us every day
00:18 and not just about his playmaking ability,
00:20 but the leadership that he provides for our defense.
00:23 And really, really proud of him.
00:25 I'm not surprised, but I'm really proud of him.
00:28 - Carmix and Thomas has struggled with injuries,
00:30 his ankle's all seasoned.
00:32 Finally today, you guys sat here,
00:34 they talked about how good of a pass rusher he was
00:37 during the fall camp.
00:40 What was it like seeing him out there
00:42 finally get that type of process?
00:43 - It's awesome.
00:44 He's a kid that has worked his butt off
00:47 since he's been here.
00:48 A guy that, you know, like so many careers,
00:51 they go like that,
00:52 and to see him like finally get healthy or healthy enough,
00:55 you know, that's a big deal.
00:56 And obviously it's a shot in the arm for our team.
00:59 But again, he works his tail off
01:02 and I have a lot of respect for that kid.
01:05 - How did your pass rush affect him?
01:06 - At times we affected the quarterback.
01:10 You know, moved him off his spot.
01:11 We didn't sack him as much as we'd like.
01:13 I think we got close a lot.
01:14 But, you know, again, like every other defense today,
01:19 you know, room for improvement.
01:22 But, yeah.
01:25 - K.U. had a really good first half.
01:27 - Best dress.
01:28 - And then the second half, what happened?
01:30 What was the difference?
01:31 Why was the ball like two times?
01:33 - Well, I take responsibility for everything.
01:35 It starts with me.
01:36 But, you know,
01:38 a play here, a play there,
01:41 and especially a momentum play,
01:42 like where we have a chance to have a negative yardage
01:45 and for it to go to second and 12
01:46 and instead we miss a tackle
01:47 and it goes to, you know, first down
01:49 or all those types of different scenarios.
01:52 We got a chance to get off the field on third down
01:54 and don't.
01:55 So, I mean, there's a lot of things.
01:56 It's not just one thing or one person.
01:58 It's a combination of a lot of things.
02:00 And, you know, today wasn't our best performance.
02:03 But at the same time, you know,
02:05 there were some good things that happened
02:07 during the course of the day.
02:08 But we've got to do a better job moving forward.
02:12 Whatever's next, we got to play better our next game.
02:14 - Was there any similarities between this week
02:17 and last week in the struggle with the running defense?
02:23 - Yeah, there was some struggle.
02:25 Absolutely, there were some similarities.
02:27 Yeah.
02:28 - What happened last week?
02:29 - You know, again, it's not just one thing.
02:35 You know, it's one guy here, one guy there.
02:37 The next time it's this or a call or whatever.
02:40 So, it's not, I'm not going to hang in on one person
02:43 or one thing.
02:44 But again, you know, that allowed them to stay in the game.
02:49 You know, and so we've all got to do a better job.
02:52 - Is it correct?
02:53 - Absolutely, it's 100% correctable.
02:55 And that's the encouraging thing.
02:57 You know, it's all correctable.
02:59 - Can you talk about Gentry's journey
03:01 to get back on the field?
03:02 I know he's still playing through Bain
03:03 and we had a little mishap in the second half.
03:05 Just what's your thoughts, your side of him,
03:07 the way he's playing?
03:08 - Gentry's a guy that's extremely prideful
03:10 and a guy that cares a lot.
03:13 Cares a lot about our team.
03:15 Cares a lot about his teammates.
03:17 And again, a guy that, just unfortunate
03:21 where he is right now, especially for a young player
03:24 because, you know, it's not like he's played three years
03:27 and played 600 snaps a year.
03:29 I mean, he's, you know, a young player
03:30 needs reps to develop.
03:32 And that hurts, you know, when he can't practice
03:37 or, you know, things of that nature.
03:39 It takes away from his preparation.
03:40 But, you know, I believe wholeheartedly in Gentry Williams
03:44 and he's going to be a wonderful player here in Oklahoma.
03:46 - Is he basically in a situation
03:47 he can't get healthy 'til after the season?
03:50 - You know, I can't really say that.
03:54 I didn't get my doctor.
03:59 I didn't get my doctor's.
04:00 I was something, the least amount of math and science
04:02 that I could possibly get in college.
04:04 So I can't give you a prognostication on his health.
04:08 - Ted, we don't know what's going to happen
04:10 with the Big 12 Championship game.
04:11 If you guys do not play in that game,
04:13 talk about the importance of recruiting
04:15 and closing on the class you have right now.
04:16 - Oh my gosh, yeah.
04:16 I mean, to show the progress
04:19 and to make the progress that we've made this year,
04:20 you know, as far as the jump.
04:22 We've got a wonderful class put together
04:24 and, you know, to be able to keep that,
04:27 which we anticipate, and at the same time,
04:29 add to it and make it better.
04:31 And, you know, not just the 24 class,
04:33 but the 25 class as well.
04:35 I mean, so there's, the momentum is huge, you know,
04:38 and winning creates momentum.
04:41 - Ted, I think we asked you this early in the season,
04:44 but what's the, how has the reactions
04:48 that you've gotten from recruits and their families
04:49 been different throughout the year
04:51 as you all have shown the improvement from last year?
04:54 - I think what's happened is sometimes people ask
04:59 and sometimes they don't, you know, like,
05:01 okay, what's the, can you guys do this?
05:04 'Cause as a group, you know, that was year one.
05:07 And now we can say, here's what we told you
05:10 and it's come true.
05:12 So there you are.
05:14 Yeah.
05:18 - What's the conversations like with guys
05:20 who could leave early, like Danny, Billy Bowman,
05:22 guys that could go to the pro?
05:23 Do you have those conversations?
05:25 - Absolutely.
05:25 You tell them and you tell them the truth,
05:27 you know, based on my experience of doing this for 37 years,
05:30 if a guy's ready or not, and you tell them the truth.
05:33 And 'cause I want what's best for our guys.
05:35 I want what's best for University of Oklahoma
05:37 and I want what's best for each individual
05:38 one of those guys.
05:40 'Cause I care a lot about, like all our coaches do.
05:43 And that's how you build relationships is through trust.
05:45 And trust comes from telling people the truth.
05:47 So you have truthful, honest conversations
05:50 and then you let the chips fall where they may.
05:52 We good?
05:54 - Thanks, Ted.
05:55 - All right.