Mike Leach on Pac-12 coaches call
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FROM PULLMAN -- Mike Leach made his first appearance on the weekly Pac-12 coaches call today. We have a summary of his comments below. Read on.
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Leach was asked about the difference between living in Key West and living in Pullman.
"It’s an incredible contrast. I’m very lucky, two times in a row I’ve gotten to live in some of the most beautiful places in the country with a contrast to it," Leach said, saying the two places are scenic in different ways.
Asked if things have sped up since he started coaching again: "You mean am I having trouble here in the fast-paced intensity, and it’s not as laid back where it’s hustle and bustle and meetings and iPods and sutff? I’ve managed. I get by. It’s pretty laid back here. It’s every bit as laid back here as it is in Key West so it’s been good. The demands of coaching are ... it’s an intense business experience and all that, there’s no question, but as far as the locale, well this place is at least as laid back and maybe more than Key West."
Leach said again that he thinks WSU's offense more closely resembles BYU of old than BYU does. He was also asked again about making the trip to Provo, repeating that because of the routine that accompanies a road trip, he really won't be able to see much other than his hotel room and the stadium.
Leach said Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday are both playing "really well," and said again that nothing has changed from the other day when he said t hat Tuel would be his starter if the season started today. He was also asked what he thought of playing two quarterbacks in the same game, and responded that he's never thought it was a good idea and it's probably not something he'll ever try.
"It’s not the quarterback as much as you’re asking your team to adjust to two different things, two different people," Leach said.
He said the offense took to his offense "better than average. I think we got a good core of receivers and we’ve had some young guys emerge. We’ve been pleasantly surprised with their progress and things like that. We’ve played pretty steady andprety consistently in practice and we need to maintain that. That’s the hardest thing this time of year is consistency."
Leach talked a bit more about recruiting to Pullman, and how most people haven't been here but tend to like it once they take a visit.
He said he's curious, like most other teams, to see how his defense performs once their first game kicks off.
Asked about playing a team like BYU in the opener instead of a patsie, Leach said: "I haven’t spent much time thinking about it. I don’t have any control over it. You line up and get as good as you can each day and go out and get it done, you know?"
The coach was asked if he takes a "chip on your shoulder" approach to coaching due to the way his Texas Tech career ended.
"Maybe a little. I try to worry about the task at hand, just worry about ourselves ... being the best players that we can be. ... You have a chip on your shoulder on every play. Constant improvement, gauging it with film, there’s always an element of that," Leach said.
All for now.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple