With any new coaching staff there will always be changes.
The playbook, the practice drills, weight training program
and maybe even the uniforms.
The first noticeable change to Texas Tech football in the
Kliff Kingsbury era thus far is some that can be seen, but the most noticeable
is what can be heard.
Music rang out for a good distance coming from Tech’s
campus, the football practice field to be specific, but it wasn’t a party or
live concert, it was the soundtrack to the first official spring practice of
the Kliff Kingsbury era.
“Coach (Kevin) Sumlin and I started that at the University
of Houston,” Kingsbury said about playing music. “Went 13-1 I think that year,
worked last year so we’re going to keep it going. You know the coaches enjoy
it, kids enjoy it so it’s just the whole monotity of a hot summer day, get some
music and get people going.”
While laughing and cracking a smile, Kingsbury went on to
say right now he is controlling the playlist for the music, but there have been
some requests for country music and will continue playing it unless the center
gets some noise complaints.
The Red Raiders participated in almost a two and half-hour
practice and after the final whistle blew the new head coach was pleased with
what he saw.
“It was fun to get out here,” Kingsbury said. “It was fun to
see the enthusiasm and they flew around pretty good. A long way to go, but they
seem excited and I thought the effort was decent.”
During the practice the quarterbacks were getting reps with
the offense including sophomore quarterback Michael Brewer.
Brewer for the past two seasons has played behind Seth Doege
and learned under the system of former head coach Tommy Tuberville and
offensive coordinator Neal Brown.
With all the changes during the offseason, there were a lot
of new things for the Lake Travis native to pick up on in day one of practice.
“It’s definitely different for everybody,” Brewer said.
“Being in a old system, for me two years being in the past system and then
trying to erase that, erase all the habits from that one, from all the coaching
we had last year and turning over to this new staff, it’s difficult, it’s day
one. Thought we showed some really good signs out there, obviously there is a
lot of room to improve it’s going to be a day-to-day process learning
everything and getting comfortable with it. But I thought it was a solid first
day.”
Not only was the offense getting worked on the first day,
but equally the defensive unit.
With the offense running at a high speed it tested the
defense and sophomore linebacker Branden Jackson.
Jackson who finished 2012 with 19 tackles, 17 of those solo,
and one forced fumble said the offense had them going today and they haven’t
even opened up the offense at full speed yet.
“I thought we went fast last year when the coaches would run
hurry up,” he said. “This tempo was a lot different. I think the offense ran 50
plays at us in one period and 60 during individuals. That was the first thing I
noticed.
“We’re playing a lot faster.”
Entering the spring Jackson is listed as a linebacker on the
roster, which is different than in his freshman campaign.
Jackson said it was during the first meeting back from
Christmas break where he found out that he would be playing linebacker to begin
the spring.
“Playing linebacker, I think that’s the biggest joy I had
since signing with Tech,” he said. “That’s just always where my heart’s been, I
always feel like I could do something more if I played out there. Now that
they’re giving me that opportunity, I’m just ready to prove myself.”