Darcel McBath seeing growth at cornerback
First-year Texas Tech cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath has seen growth from his players throughout fall camp. He knows what good play at the position looks like.
He’s been there, he’s done that– both with the Red Raiders and in the NFL.
In order to turn around one of the FBS’ worst passing defenses from a season ago, bringing in a near-two deep amount of transfers will not be enough. It is the growth that McBath has seen that will make the difference.
“I’m really proud of what they’ve done,” McBath told the media Tuesday. “Because my style of coaching and what I’m asking them to do is so different than what some of them have done in the past, they’ve all bought in. They’re all doing the things I want them to do, the way we want to do it on defense and it’s paying off. They’ve all come such a long way that I’m proud of each and every one of them for something.”
McBath’s take on Maurion Horn’s standing
Mississippi State transfer Brice Pollock– McBath’s former protege in Starkville– is effectively a sharpie’d-in starter. Dontae Balfour had a strong showing in the Red Raiders’ first scrimmage over the weekend.
With several candidates pushing for starting playing time, returner Maurion Horn easily could have checked out. McBath has not seen any such thing from the Broken Arrow, OK native.
“He’s a competitor, man, he’s responded exactly the way we want him to respond,” McBath said. “There is no pouting, there is no ‘Well, I did this so I deserve this.’ He’s going out everyday trying to earn what he’s going to get, which I’m really proud of him. As a starter coming back, man, you could take this the wrong way. He hadn’t done it. He’s been nothing but upstanding, working his tail off. He’s grown too as a player. Talking about unsung heroes, he’s also there with those guys.”
McBath has seen growth with NFL coaching tidbits sprinkled in
Following an All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2008, McBath was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft to the San Francisco 49ers. His four seasons of NFL experience unlocked an assortment of connections in the coaching realm.
Verbiage that he believes can help his athletes are used regularly. Even old game tape– varying from 49ers, Bears and Vikings film– is an asset at McBath’s disposal. The newly-minted Red Raider corners coach uses his network to help deliver teaching points that will hit every player.
“I lean on so many people. I’d be here all day saying names and giving a shout out. I’m always leaning on my guys,” McBath said. “I think more for trying to get the message across. You know, how to get this message across? Because I’m saying it one way. It’s not hidden. So how would you go about this? That’s always key.
“Then showing them guys doing it at the next level, I think is really important, doing the same stuff, techniques and tools that we use, doing it at the next level. That triggers something in them, also. Obviously coverage, right, that we’re playing. We’re using some of the same coverage that I played when I was in the league, that they’re still playing. So anytime I can do some of that tape and get coaching points off that, we use it.”
