Oklahoma State University Athletics
Q&A With Michael Cooper
April 08, 2003 | Cowboy Football
Probably the type of offense we faced last weekend in Louisiana Tech. They really opened it up. They went with five wide receivers a lot. They also ran a lot of underneath routes and really made us work in the defensive backfield.
What about a balanced offense?
No, I believe this Louisiana Tech offense is the toughest. The quarterback threw the ball over 50 times last Saturday. I was hoping it would rain because that would have definitely been to our advantage.
Did you get excited knowing the ball was going to be in the air that often?
Yes, that is what a defensive back looks for. It gave us the opportunity to showcase our skills and talents. We all looked forward to the challenge of facing an offense like Louisiana Tech.
How many different looks did you try against the Louisiana Tech spread offense?
We tried and mix it up with some zone and some man. We went into the contest with the gameplan of trying to put some pressure on the quarterback and forcing him into making bad decisions. So, basically against a passing offense like Tech we mix up the coverages on him.
Who is the toughest receiver you have had to cover at OSU?
I would say Robert Ferguson. He played for Texas A&M last year and is with the Green Bay Packers now. I have been playing against him since junior college. We have been matching up for the last three or four years. I would say he is the toughest wideout I have played against.
Is playing defensive back similar to playing wide receiver?
It is like playing wide out when the quarterback lets the ball go up in the air. Playing on the defensive side of the ball you have to have an "I don't care" type of attitude.
