Oklahoma State University Athletics
Spring Football Week 1 Practice Report
March 11, 2005 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State players are learning a new offense and new defense under two new coordinators, but coach but Mike Gundy and his staff plan to have at least half the playbook installed by the end of spring drills.
Gundy said the plan is to have 50 percent of the new schemes implemented by the end of 15 spring workouts, add another 25 percent the first two weeks of two-a-days and introduce the final 25 percent the first month of the season in September.
"On offense we have to find out what weapons we have on the perimeter (at wide receiver) and who can run the ball," Gundy said. "Obviously, we have to find out who will play quarterback. We have to find out all that before we can zero in on what we want to do."
Under new offensive coordinator Larry Fedora, the Cowboys will feature a more wide-open, attacking, no-huddle offense. Fifteen spring practices will help coaches determine what best suits the personnel.
"The objective is to find out who our players are and that's at every position," Fedora said. "Who can we win with and who can we count on. Can they grasp what we want to do? We know we're not going to get 100 percent of the offense in. But if we can come out of the spring and feel we've found who our players are, that's what we're looking for."
Running back and wide receiver will be important evaluations.
"If we have several wide receivers capable of making plays then that doesn't put as much pressure on us to run the ball," Gundy said. "If someone comes through at running back we can use a fullback more and use two tight ends more. We should know a lot more after spring (drills) what direction we'll be going."
On defense, the transition will be slightly easier. OSU is moving from the 4-2-5 philosophy to run the traditional 4-3 scheme.
"I'm not a defensive guy, but there probably will be more carryover for them," Gundy said. "But it is different because we'll play more cover two (in pass defense). We rarely played cover two in the past. We're also moving some safeties to linebacker so that's different for them."
Because everything is new, each practice is invaluable. But the Cowboys are a veteran team -- with 15 returning starters -- and they are cramming by watching tapes of Florida's offense in the film room.
"Fifteen practices is never enough," said Woods. "You can never practice enough. We'll probably practice for a year and they'll still put more things in. But we're only allowed 15 so we'll have to take advantage of that."
