Moore feels competition, coaching have driven his growth
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The Texas Tech football team is less than two weeks away from opening its 2016 season against Stephen F. Austin.
Red Raider defensive end Gary Moore is excited to get things going, and he shared his thoughts on his growth and the upcoming season in a one-on-one interview following Friday's practice.
Q: How do you feel like things have gone so far for both yourself and the defensive line so far in fall camp?
"I feel like everything is going good, but there's always a little something lacking that you can always get better at, you know? We're running to the ball, understanding more of what the coaches are trying to do, seeing a lot. Staying in our gaps has been the biggest problem with stopping the run, so that's really been our main focus with the next two weeks still left."
Q: Your coaches have been talking about how much they feel like you've improved and matured over the offseason. Why do you think that is?
"I feel like I can get better. I feel like I've learned a lot more right now than I did in the last two years, just because I'm older and getting more reps and stuff like that. Yes, I have improved some, but I still have a little bit more I need to do."
Q: What have you thought about Kevin Patrick so far in the first seven or eight months being around him, getting to know him, and being coached by him?
"He's been great. The school he left, he was coaching one of my teammates from high school. That guy was telling me he was a good coach, and I knew he knew a lot of different moves that I didn't know, and when we would be back at home, he was teaching me those moves. Then, I found out (Patrick) was going to be my coach, and it turned out good. I'm glad I've gotten to know coach Patrick."
Q: Is he a coach you listen to a little bit more intently to because he's a guy that is a hall of fame defensive lineman from Miami?
"Definitely, cause you know he played it and knows what he's talking about. When he tells me to do something, and then I go do it, I can see a difference from what he's trying to tell us. If you do what he tells you, it works."
Q: In your mind, what have been the biggest reasons why you feel like you've gotten better as a player?
"I feel like it's the other players at defensive end like Zach Barnes, Kolin Hill, Lonzell Gilmore. All of them make me better because I have someone to compete with. They might do some move better than I do, so I want to ask them how they do that move and get better at it. We all just help each other out."
Q: What's it been like competing with Kris WIlliams for that starting job at rush end?
"It's a competition, but it's more of brotherhood. We know how the situation works. But, we know if one of us goes down, the other person can come in and take over without any slack. Me and Kris, we're eye to eye with stuff right now, so I feel pretty good about it. But, he's really fun to compete with."
Q: Other players and Kliff Kingsbury have all said they feel like the defensive line is playing better, more physical now than in the past. Why do you think that is?
"I feel like it's about listening more than anything, just listening to the coaches and what they've got to say. We've got to go execute, and if not, teams are going to start running on us again. If we stop the run, then we can start with the pass rush."
Q: What do you think you guys need to do in order to get better in run defense?
"It's pretty much just hold our gaps. If we fill our gaps, the linebackers can fill their gaps, and then all the gaps will be filled."
Q: Being two weeks out from the Stephen F. Austin game, what do you feel like you need to try and improve on or polish up before the first game gets here?
"My alignment and assignments, pretty much. I need to have my alignments right, where I need my hand placements, making sure my hands are inside, my stance, making sure I'm getting off the ball at the right time, and stuff like that. Pretty much the little stuff that you don't think affect your game, but it does effect your game and can make you late on the tackle and stuff like that."
Q: As a whole, where do you feel like the team is at right now?
"As as a team, I feel like we're one now. Going through all the hot days, the training and stuff, it's time time to come together and be brothers. I see that a lot now."
Q: Do you think a lot of that has to do with Rusty Whitt and his offseason program?
"I feel like it's more of both coach Whitt and other teammates trying to help their other brothers. If they see their leaders doing something good, they're going to follow. I think coach Whitt helped us to lead, helped guys who were followers to help to try and lead."