UTSA Head Football Coach Frank Wilson took part in a roundtable discussion ahead of this coming weekend's season-opener against UIW. The following are highlights from the discussion:
Opening statement …
“Well the moment has arrived. 2019 game week is here. Highly anticipated kickoff on the 31st. Our hometown showdown. An opportunity for the city of San Antonio to view the game that they asked for. We’re taking on a very quality opponent in Incarnate Word. Our preparations will continue on this week as we go forward.”
On naming sophomore Frank Harris the starting quarterback for UIW …
“Frank Harris will be the starter. A very, very tough decision for us. We thought that it was very competitive. There were days where other guys looked very well. We do believe that we have four quarterbacks that are competent and prepared enough to go into a game and be productive for us. At the end of the day the consistency of production, throughout a spring season, a summer program and a fall camp, were the things that we looked for. We think that Frank Harris, at this time, gives us our best opportunity for our offense to move down the field. We’ve got other guys that will continue to vie and compete, to give us the quality as we know a year ago, we went through four quarterbacks. Hopefully it doesn’t result to that but certainly we feel much more confident in the quality of depth that we have at that position.”
On what Harris brings to the table …
“Accuracy, poise, composure in the pocket, the ability to take advantage of plays that are given and when everything breaks down an opportunity to steal and create a big play for us. Where you are forever going to have to account for him because of his dual-threat ability. A guy who can really move our offense, we feel, at this time for us.”
On UIW …
“They are a good offense. They averaged 34 points a game a year ago. They rewrote their school record book. They return eight guys – all five of the offensive linemen, the quarterback and two of those leading receivers. Two of the four leading receivers from a year ago. They are a force to be reckoned with from an offensive standpoint. I like our defensive line and how we match up to them. Our secondary can step up to the plate and do the things to minimize big plays. We’ll have to tackle well in space and not allow balls to go over our head. I like our linebacker corps. We’re faster than we’ve been in the past and as athletic. Certainly it’s almost impossible to replace a Josiah Tauaefa but we have guys that can go in and give us the speed and athleticism that we need against a spread offense like this one to limit them as much as possible.”
On the rushing offense of UIW …
“They lost their leading rusher from a year ago. They have a young man who played in a backup role, rushed for about 400 yards, and did a very amicable job for them. The quarterback himself, he can extend, although not a designed run threat he does have enough athleticism to get out in space, get critical first downs and move the chains. We’ll have to be prepared for it in both the passing and running game. They are a good run team but their threat is throwing the ball.”
On the UIW defense …
“They are a good unit. They return some guys in the secondary. Three of those guys are returning guys in the secondary that have played a lot of football for them. Their most experienced group. They have one starter returning at the defensive line and one at the linebacker corps but their strength should be their secondary but they have some talented strength up front as well.”
On if the depth chart is clearing up …
“For the most part it has cleaned itself up. It’s always important to manage your team, your room. Those conversations, as we go into game week will take place today. We have a scheduled, or a tentative depth roster, right now that we are anticipating but this week’s preparation, and we have a couple of “ors” to be the starter but for the most part it’s clearing itself. At the position, like our defensive line, we’re so deep there, that those guys are going to roll in. We’re going to play – especially against a team like this and what we’re going to see this year – some high paced offenses that will require us to stay fresh and we’re fortunate enough to be that deep at the defensive line. A 1A, 1B, 1C if you will with rotations there. Everything is shaking itself out and when we step out on the field tomorrow for practice it will be pretty clear exactly who we are.”
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