Fehoko encouraged by defense's trust and fundamental play
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The Texas Tech football team is less than two weeks away from opening its 2016 season against Stephen F. Austin.
Sophomore defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko is ready to get things rocking, and he shared his thoughts with us on the defense and why he's hopeful for improvement.
Q: As a whole, how do you feel like week two of fall camp went for both you and the team?
"Week two was pretty good. I think both sides of the ball are starting to clamp down a little bit on doing their jobs, things of that nature. But, as for the D-line, I feel like the D-line is starting to mold a little bit more, and I think everybody is starting to get more comfortable with each others' playing styles."
Q: Several players across the board - including Patrick Mahomes and Jah'Shawn Johnson - have all mentioned that they feel you guys on the defensive line have just played better and with more physicality than in the past so far in camp. Why do you think that is?
"Just out of respect for those guys, them doing their job makes it easier for us, guys like Jah'Shawn holding down the back end at safety. But, I just think having the scheme with coach (David) Gibbs and what coach (Kevin) Patrick is doing with his coaching has just made it easier for us to play. I think just simplifying our jobs to the basics and teaching fundamentals has made it easier."
Q: Other players on the defensive line have mentioned that coach Patrick has emphasized that each player absolutely must take care of his own assignments and technique, that there isn't room to be sloppy. What do you think of that, making sure that everyone does what they're supposed to do?
"You listen to what coach Patrick and coach Gibbs say about everyone making sure they do their job, and it's so right. I mean, if all 11 guys do or don't do their 11 jobs, you're either going to play great defense or horrible defense. Recently, the past two weeks of fall camp have been great with that. Everyone is trying to do their job. Nobody is trying to be superheros out there, and no one is trying to go out of character of what they do. I really think that's what's making this defense better as a whole. It's simply everyone doing their jobs, even the offensive guys. Everybody on the team has bought into the idea of, 'Hey, rely on the other 10 guys, and do your own job.'"
Q: Kliff Kingsbury has mentioned that he thinks nose tackle Ondre Pipkens has been the guy that's really gotten better lately, that he may have had the biggest jump of anyone on the team during camp. What have you seen out of him over the last week or two?
"Man, I love playing next to Big Pip. Big, violent dude, and he's someone I can really rely on there to eat up space with me on the inside, to help make space for the linebackers. That's what I look forward to. When you have someone you can trust next to you - heck, even Broderick (Washington) or Mych (Thomas) - I can trust those guys. For Pip, he's come along from sitting out last year. He's worked hard. He's come along really well, gotten himself into playing shape. I think he's down to 305 now. He was twitchy before, and he's getting even more twitchy now."
Q: What have you seen out of JUCO transfer Mych Thomas so far this fall?
"He's another big body, another guy that can move, and he defends the run really well. He's another guy I'll need in there. On the D-line, we'll need Big Mych a lot this year. We're going to play eight to ten guys on the defensive line this fall, and we need depth if we can get it. I think Mych provides that. Really good player fundamentally-wise, sound, and I think he's going to be a big help."
Q: And what has that experience been like for you, just having more guys in the rotation on the interior that can help you out?
"It's awesome. It's awesome to have guys that can be good depth to come in and take the load off, and not just for myself, but also for Pip, Gary (Moore) and Kolin (Hill) and Zeus (Zach Barnes), all of those guys. To play 70 or 80 snaps in the Big 12 is unrealistic, especially with the pace some teams go. You narrow that down to 45 or 50, and it helps keep guys like myself and Pip fresh. We can withstand blockers going into the third and fourth quarter, and that helps the linebackers make plays."
Q: What have you seen so far out of true freshman Joe Wallace? He's been getting a lot of buzz throughout camp so far.
"Big Joe, he's nasty, man. He's got a little chippiness to him. He's an undersized guy, but coming into fall camp I knew he was going to do some damage. He's proven a lot, still has some ways to go, but as far as how old he is and adjusting to college, he's doing it really well."
Q: Any of these other freshmen on the defensive line that have really stood out to you?
"I think Noah Jones. I think that has to do with us moving him. He was playing five-tech (defensive end) at first, but we needed more depth at three-tech (defensive tackle), and he's stepped in and learned the position really well. I've worked with him one-on-one, and we watch film together, and he's catching on to things really quick with crossing blocks, taking on zone blocks, doubles, so he's doing good. Probably put 10 to 15 pounds on him and he's gonna be deadly."
Q: How have you felt the whole front seven with both you guys on the D-line and the linebackers have been meshing so far in camp?
"I think with the linebackers, with those guys like D'Vonta (Hinton), Malik (Jenkins) and all those guys, just having them back with another year in coach Gibbs' scheme, it just makes it really easy. I can trust those guys behind me, and I know they can trust us up front, especially with Luke Stice being a leader in the middle. I feel like we all just kind of mold together. Everybody can trust each other to be in their gaps, and nobody has to be a superhero. So, I think just the camaraderie amongst each other has just been a whole lot better."