Oklahoma State University Athletics
October 6 Media Luncheon Quotes
October 06, 2003 | General
Les Miles
On Kansas State pass rush
'We are very aware that their ends make the quarterback scramble when he does not want to. We are going to spend some time on that. That is important to us. It is a concern and we are addressing it. I feel like we will get it answered by game time.'
On running back situation
'We are fortunate to have depth at tailback with Vernand Morency stepping up in the last game. He has really pursued the opportunity to play in the last month very aggressively. We are very fortunate there. I think both he (Morency) and Tatum will see time this weekend.'
On Tim Burrough coming back from injury
'Tim coming off a bruised shoulder took some time to get back on track. We look forward to having two quality fullbacks to put in the game. '
On injury situation
'We are going to miss Elbert Craig and Lawrence Pinson no question. Those are guys who have had an impact on our defense and played extremely well. Elbert may or may not return. There is a strong possibility he may be around here in the next couple of weeks with the opportunity to play. With Lawrence Pinson it is very doubtful that he will be back this year. Anytime you lose players that are important to your defense or offense, it is the players that are around him starting at other spots who have to raise their level of play. We will put good linebackers in behind Lawrence and our safeties will play well. '
On the Kansas State game
'We are looking at the opportunity to win this game. We did not make a great showing for ourselves a year ago against this team. We have not forgotten that and we want to make sure that we play up to our capability. We look forward at getting them in this stadium and playing our best football.'
On Kansas State linebacker Josh Buhl
'He has such great speed, it would be hard to slow him up. He is a guy who makes a lot of plays for them and plays for other guys. He is a guy who if someone is blocked, he will overlap his responsibilities and make the play. We have great respect for him and we have to make sure that we have a guy assigned to him in everything we do. '
Offensive Lineman Sam Mayes
On the importance of conference play
'It's important to win every game. It's conference play of course, and we want to come out and play our best football in front of our fans and everything like that. Starting the Big 12 conference is always a fun time and we're ready to go.'
On K-State's defensive line
'They always have good athletes up front. Their defensive linemen are very good athletes, probably the best I've seen so far this season, so I'm excited to get some good competition in.'
On K-State's defense
'Different personnel obviously, but I think their scheme will be more like SMU than Nebraska. Their linebacking crew is excellent, their defensive linemen are there more to take pressure off of their linebackers to help them make big plays. The second level blocks will be very important for this game.'
On the offensive line rotation
'We didn't skip one beat. Doug Koenig came in and played an excellent football game. Caleb Noble came in and played an excellent football game. Coach Moller does a real good job of getting these guys time early in the season so if they do have to come in and play a whole game, they can come in and play just like a starter does.'
On Vernand Morency
'He's strong as an ox, on some lifts he's stronger than me. That kid is amazing, and he's kind of like having Tatum (Bell) and Seymore (Shaw) in the same body, because he does have the breakaway speed but he also has the ability to pound the ball up the middle. I'm real proud of him, he had a good game, he made us (the offensive line) look real good.'
On last year's game
'Last year's game was an embarrassment in our minds of how we played. We didn't play anywhere near our capabilities in that game. This year, with them coming here, they can expect a whole new Cowboy team, we're going to be a different team than they saw last year, by far, intensity wise and just playing our game of football.'
Defensive End Greg Richmond
On defending Kansas State
'We want to make them throw the ball so we can have the opportunity to rush the passer and get up the field and try to contain Ell Roberson as much as we can. He's a great runner as well as a passer, so we just look forward to this big test we have on Saturday.'
On Victor DeGrate
'He brings excitement out there, because every time he makes a play he shows great emotion and I like that, and I feed off that too because I like to show emotion when I make plays. I just like being out there with him on the field, I think he's a great competitor. He's got a lot to learn, but I think through the year he will grow to become a mature linebacker in the Big 12.'
On Darren Sproles
'He's an excellent runner, he's a guy who can get lost in the pile and before you know it he's 20 or 30 yards down the field. He's a guy who we're going to just have to break down on and gang tackle and take pride in running to the ball, which is something Coach Clay demands every week and every day in practice. He's a terrific athlete, and we've got a big challenge when we line up and play him this Saturday.'
Junior Defensive Tackle Clay Coe
On the feel of practice this week
'You can feel the energy that is going around. Everyone was really excited at practice last night. It's funny because I was actually excited to get up in the morning. I can't wait for practice tomorrow and I can't wait until Saturday.'
On Kansas State
'Everyone on their team can move very well. Their offensive linemen get to the spots and they zone block really well. We just have to be prepared and try to contain them and get off the field after third down.'
On Containing Ell Roberson
'Our ends are going to get up the field, and they are going to get on the pass rush. it's our job in the middle not to let him run straight up the middle on a scramble. When we get him pinned in and he steps up out of the pocket it's our job to be there. It is going to be a tough job, but we are going to be up to the challenge.'
'You have to get up the field and make the option bubble. You have to contain him, you can't let him get outside the end and you can't let him get up the middle. That's just half of it. He is going to make plays. He is a great player, we can't get frustrated on what he does. We have to take it one play at a time and not let it affect the next play. You have to wrap him up and you have to gang-tackle him.'
On Saturday's Game
'It is a big game for us. It will just give us that much more confidence going in to the rest of the Big 12 games. We know we can play with these guys and it will be a great opportunity to get in there and play.'
Senior Fullback Tim Burrough
On scouting Kansas State
'We are getting very familiar with their front seven, learning their tendencies and how each person plays.'
On getting to Big 12 play
'We take it one game at a time. I am happy that we are into Big 12 play and have a chance to make a difference. We can get back on track to where we are supposed to be.'
On his health
'It is a good opportunity for me, as a fullback, to get some touches. I feel like I'm healthy, I'm 100 percent ready to go back and keep up my responsibilities to the team.'
On home games
'it's good to play some of our tough games at home to help add to our advantage. Last year it was a tough game and it was a tough game on the road. It will be better for us to have this type of game at home so we can have our fans behind us.'
On the attitude of the team
'I wouldn't call it vengeance, but we are ready to play this game. As far as an attitude change, we have picked up the intensity. We want the chance to play this game, we want the opportunity to go into the Big 12 and show we can have some positive play.'
On Kansas State pass rush
'We are very aware that their ends make the quarterback scramble when he does not want to. We are going to spend some time on that. That is important to us. It is a concern and we are addressing it. I feel like we will get it answered by game time.'
On running back situation
'We are fortunate to have depth at tailback with Vernand Morency stepping up in the last game. He has really pursued the opportunity to play in the last month very aggressively. We are very fortunate there. I think both he (Morency) and Tatum will see time this weekend.'
On Tim Burrough coming back from injury
'Tim coming off a bruised shoulder took some time to get back on track. We look forward to having two quality fullbacks to put in the game. '
On injury situation
'We are going to miss Elbert Craig and Lawrence Pinson no question. Those are guys who have had an impact on our defense and played extremely well. Elbert may or may not return. There is a strong possibility he may be around here in the next couple of weeks with the opportunity to play. With Lawrence Pinson it is very doubtful that he will be back this year. Anytime you lose players that are important to your defense or offense, it is the players that are around him starting at other spots who have to raise their level of play. We will put good linebackers in behind Lawrence and our safeties will play well. '
On the Kansas State game
'We are looking at the opportunity to win this game. We did not make a great showing for ourselves a year ago against this team. We have not forgotten that and we want to make sure that we play up to our capability. We look forward at getting them in this stadium and playing our best football.'
On Kansas State linebacker Josh Buhl
'He has such great speed, it would be hard to slow him up. He is a guy who makes a lot of plays for them and plays for other guys. He is a guy who if someone is blocked, he will overlap his responsibilities and make the play. We have great respect for him and we have to make sure that we have a guy assigned to him in everything we do. '
Offensive Lineman Sam Mayes
On the importance of conference play
'It's important to win every game. It's conference play of course, and we want to come out and play our best football in front of our fans and everything like that. Starting the Big 12 conference is always a fun time and we're ready to go.'
On K-State's defensive line
'They always have good athletes up front. Their defensive linemen are very good athletes, probably the best I've seen so far this season, so I'm excited to get some good competition in.'
On K-State's defense
'Different personnel obviously, but I think their scheme will be more like SMU than Nebraska. Their linebacking crew is excellent, their defensive linemen are there more to take pressure off of their linebackers to help them make big plays. The second level blocks will be very important for this game.'
On the offensive line rotation
'We didn't skip one beat. Doug Koenig came in and played an excellent football game. Caleb Noble came in and played an excellent football game. Coach Moller does a real good job of getting these guys time early in the season so if they do have to come in and play a whole game, they can come in and play just like a starter does.'
On Vernand Morency
'He's strong as an ox, on some lifts he's stronger than me. That kid is amazing, and he's kind of like having Tatum (Bell) and Seymore (Shaw) in the same body, because he does have the breakaway speed but he also has the ability to pound the ball up the middle. I'm real proud of him, he had a good game, he made us (the offensive line) look real good.'
On last year's game
'Last year's game was an embarrassment in our minds of how we played. We didn't play anywhere near our capabilities in that game. This year, with them coming here, they can expect a whole new Cowboy team, we're going to be a different team than they saw last year, by far, intensity wise and just playing our game of football.'
Defensive End Greg Richmond
On defending Kansas State
'We want to make them throw the ball so we can have the opportunity to rush the passer and get up the field and try to contain Ell Roberson as much as we can. He's a great runner as well as a passer, so we just look forward to this big test we have on Saturday.'
On Victor DeGrate
'He brings excitement out there, because every time he makes a play he shows great emotion and I like that, and I feed off that too because I like to show emotion when I make plays. I just like being out there with him on the field, I think he's a great competitor. He's got a lot to learn, but I think through the year he will grow to become a mature linebacker in the Big 12.'
On Darren Sproles
'He's an excellent runner, he's a guy who can get lost in the pile and before you know it he's 20 or 30 yards down the field. He's a guy who we're going to just have to break down on and gang tackle and take pride in running to the ball, which is something Coach Clay demands every week and every day in practice. He's a terrific athlete, and we've got a big challenge when we line up and play him this Saturday.'
Junior Defensive Tackle Clay Coe
On the feel of practice this week
'You can feel the energy that is going around. Everyone was really excited at practice last night. It's funny because I was actually excited to get up in the morning. I can't wait for practice tomorrow and I can't wait until Saturday.'
On Kansas State
'Everyone on their team can move very well. Their offensive linemen get to the spots and they zone block really well. We just have to be prepared and try to contain them and get off the field after third down.'
On Containing Ell Roberson
'Our ends are going to get up the field, and they are going to get on the pass rush. it's our job in the middle not to let him run straight up the middle on a scramble. When we get him pinned in and he steps up out of the pocket it's our job to be there. It is going to be a tough job, but we are going to be up to the challenge.'
'You have to get up the field and make the option bubble. You have to contain him, you can't let him get outside the end and you can't let him get up the middle. That's just half of it. He is going to make plays. He is a great player, we can't get frustrated on what he does. We have to take it one play at a time and not let it affect the next play. You have to wrap him up and you have to gang-tackle him.'
On Saturday's Game
'It is a big game for us. It will just give us that much more confidence going in to the rest of the Big 12 games. We know we can play with these guys and it will be a great opportunity to get in there and play.'
Senior Fullback Tim Burrough
On scouting Kansas State
'We are getting very familiar with their front seven, learning their tendencies and how each person plays.'
On getting to Big 12 play
'We take it one game at a time. I am happy that we are into Big 12 play and have a chance to make a difference. We can get back on track to where we are supposed to be.'
On his health
'It is a good opportunity for me, as a fullback, to get some touches. I feel like I'm healthy, I'm 100 percent ready to go back and keep up my responsibilities to the team.'
On home games
'it's good to play some of our tough games at home to help add to our advantage. Last year it was a tough game and it was a tough game on the road. It will be better for us to have this type of game at home so we can have our fans behind us.'
On the attitude of the team
'I wouldn't call it vengeance, but we are ready to play this game. As far as an attitude change, we have picked up the intensity. We want the chance to play this game, we want the opportunity to go into the Big 12 and show we can have some positive play.'
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