Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. Texas Tech Media Luncheon Quotes
November 08, 2005 | Cowboy Football
On preparation for Saturday‚s game vs. Texas Tech
“We had a few days off. We'll go back to work today. We look forward to playing another nationally ranked team and a very good football team. It presents a new challenge for our defense. I had mentioned last week that we had faced many dual threat quarterbacks and they give you a different challenge. Obviously, with this group and the effectiveness that they have had throwing the football and as successful as they have been scoring points, we will have to play to the best of our ability to slow them down. Offensively, we just want to continue where we have been the last few weeks. I've said this several times, I think that offensively we continue to get better. It didn't show up until our last game because we were able to limit our turnovers. Last week was a good week for us. We had some good practices and like I said, we gave the guys some time off and we'll get back to work today.”
On the status of freshman quarterback Bobby Reid
“It's the same. He is still day-to-day. He went out and practiced some last week just like he practiced some the week before. Some days he does more work than on other days. At times he is fatigued and at other times he feels a lot better. We practice him every day and we hope that he gets in good enough condition and that he physically feels good enough where he can play in a game.”
On the Texas Tech offense and quarterback
“I think their system is very good. I give Coach Leach credit because he is very good at what he does, but I think those quarterbacks are better than what people give them credit for. I don‚t think that you can just put anybody in there and they will be successful. He has been fortunate to have guys there that are good players and obviously they have had training, but don't look beyond that running back either. He is a really good player. He may be as good as anyone in this league. People don‚t really notice him because everybody looks to their throwing, but they are a different team with him in the game. They present different challenges than most people because of their willingness to go for it on fourth downs and you have to prepare a little differently.”
On the Texas Tech defense
“I think this is their best year in the five year's that I have watched them. They are sound, they don't give up many big plays and they tackle well. They are very sound in what they do on defense. In my opinion, they are doing the right things on defense compared to what they are doing on offense.”
On defensive preparation
“I think that Vance (Bedford) has ideas in how to slow them down. You don't stop this team, you slow them down and try to put yourself in a position in the fourth quarter to put them in a pressure situation. The most important thing when you are putting a game plan together for this game or any other game is that the players that you have to be able to execute that game plan.”
Paul Duren. senior linebacker
On Texas Tech running back Taurean Henderson
“He's very dangerous. He's a dual threat guy that can catch the ball or run it. I'm going to have to keep my eye on him. I watched them last week and it looked like they ran a little two-back, which hasn't been run much at all this year, so it's something I'm going to have to watch on film. He's probably their most dangerous guy by far.”
On the Texas Tech quarterback production and lack of drop off
“(Coach Mike) Leach won't let it happen. He puts them in positions to make play for them. It's a complex offense, and if you can figure it out as a quarterback, that's great for them.”
Darnell Smith, junior defensive lineman
On the Texas Tech offense
“A lot of people talk about their quarterbacks, but the thing about Texas Tech is most of their players would be considered to be under the radar. They don't get a lot of publicity unless they're undefeated.”
On Henderson
“He's been in the system for at least four years now, and I consider him a blue collar worker. He goes in and gets the job done. He doesn't hype himself up just because he knows he can go in and get the job done. He's very versatile. You can put him at receiver, running back or you could probably put him at quarterback. It doesn't matter because he gets the job done.”
Jamar Ransom, senior
On Senior Day
“There's definitely going to be a whole lot of emotion involved, but we're going to go out there and play hard, just treat like it's any day.
On Henderson and how to try to stop him
“He's like a Marshal Faulk type. He can beat you many ways. Everybody on the field, no matter what position has to know where he's at. What you really have to do is get some confusion going on — disguises and stuff like that. You need to try to make him see some things that really aren't there. I think that will work the best.”
