Here are some thoughts from Beaty during his Big 12 call:
How has the QB position been since you announced a starter:
It has been really good. We have only had a few practices since then but Peyton has done a terrific job since taking command and we have enjoyed watching him develop as someone who took care of the ball in the fall.
He really worked on the part of his game. Watching him take command of the offense and the things we’ve watched him develop. He was a guy that took care of the ball in fall camp and worked on that part of his game. Watching him take command of the offense is something we really enjoyed watching him improve on from last year.
How are the back-up QBs doing:
We believe we have three capable and talented guys who understand what we’re doing. There is going to be a place and time for all of those guys throughout the season. We’re going to need all of them. It is the Big 12 and a rigorous place to play for quarterbacks. All of them have to be ready to play in a moment’s notice.
How has it been working with Jeff Long and does it feel different:
It feels great around here. A lot of that goes to our players. The type of guys that we have on this team is what sticks out to me. The resiliency and belief and what we’re doing is infectious. The time we’ve got to spend here with a new athletic director he has been incredibly supportive already removing some of the obstacles that he said in his opening press conference.
The thing that I have enjoyed about watching him work is he has so much to do, but is still accomplishing the things he said he is going to do one day at a time.
How has Bender improved since last year:
He has really improved in a number of areas. That is one area we worked hard on all of our players not just quarterback. We developed a sound leadership plan. We’re not going to make somebody someone they aren’t. Sometimes guys have strengths in one area and you try to put them in an area they don’t naturally fit in and it becomes more of a distraction that it is a positive.
For us it was getting to know him and getting to understand that role and meeting in the middle to become an effective leader. I think it has really helped him, Carter Stanley and Miles Kendrick with our leadership styles. They address the team a lot at the end of practice. Our players address the team at the end of practice they talk about the announcements and the things that we really have to pay attention to from that day that we have to improve on. It is their team. Peyton has done a nice job of that.
How has the offensive line been:
I most excited about that unit and the amount of players and depth that we have there. Your depth can change in the blink of an eye with an injury with things that go on. We have more scholarship-type offensive lineman on the roster than we ever have had. It’s not even close. That is something we have seen already that we think will make a huge difference this year. We have depth up to two and three deep in areas that we feel really good about. If any of those guys go into a game there will not be a drop off there.
How has the QB position been since you announced a starter:
It has been really good. We have only had a few practices since then but Peyton has done a terrific job since taking command and we have enjoyed watching him develop as someone who took care of the ball in the fall.
He really worked on the part of his game. Watching him take command of the offense and the things we’ve watched him develop. He was a guy that took care of the ball in fall camp and worked on that part of his game. Watching him take command of the offense is something we really enjoyed watching him improve on from last year.
How are the back-up QBs doing:
We believe we have three capable and talented guys who understand what we’re doing. There is going to be a place and time for all of those guys throughout the season. We’re going to need all of them. It is the Big 12 and a rigorous place to play for quarterbacks. All of them have to be ready to play in a moment’s notice.
How has it been working with Jeff Long and does it feel different:
It feels great around here. A lot of that goes to our players. The type of guys that we have on this team is what sticks out to me. The resiliency and belief and what we’re doing is infectious. The time we’ve got to spend here with a new athletic director he has been incredibly supportive already removing some of the obstacles that he said in his opening press conference.
The thing that I have enjoyed about watching him work is he has so much to do, but is still accomplishing the things he said he is going to do one day at a time.
How has Bender improved since last year:
He has really improved in a number of areas. That is one area we worked hard on all of our players not just quarterback. We developed a sound leadership plan. We’re not going to make somebody someone they aren’t. Sometimes guys have strengths in one area and you try to put them in an area they don’t naturally fit in and it becomes more of a distraction that it is a positive.
For us it was getting to know him and getting to understand that role and meeting in the middle to become an effective leader. I think it has really helped him, Carter Stanley and Miles Kendrick with our leadership styles. They address the team a lot at the end of practice. Our players address the team at the end of practice they talk about the announcements and the things that we really have to pay attention to from that day that we have to improve on. It is their team. Peyton has done a nice job of that.
How has the offensive line been:
I most excited about that unit and the amount of players and depth that we have there. Your depth can change in the blink of an eye with an injury with things that go on. We have more scholarship-type offensive lineman on the roster than we ever have had. It’s not even close. That is something we have seen already that we think will make a huge difference this year. We have depth up to two and three deep in areas that we feel really good about. If any of those guys go into a game there will not be a drop off there.
