Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Meet With The Media To Preview Missouri Game
October 07, 2008 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER, Okla. - Mike Gundy and members of the No. 17 Oklahoma State football team met with members of the media to preview Saturday's showdown with No. 3 Missouri. Here are some of the highlights of what they had to say:
Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
“Last Saturday was a good win for us. Defense kept us going and made big plays. I thought they had a really good plan. Offense sputtered around and didn't play very disciplined. We put ourselves in difficult situations. We made some adjustments at halftime and our players got a better feel for what we were trying to accomplish scheme-wise. They were able to go out and make some big plays. Special teams was really good for us. We had the one return for a touchdown and some other returns that set us up for a good situation. Overall it was a good team game, maybe one of the best that we've played as a group: offense, defense and special teams. We came out of the game fairly healthy so we're looking forward to another good week of practice and preparation for the game Saturday night in Columbia."
On time of possession being a factor:
"You like to have a lot of long drives that end in points. Time of possession used to be a big statistic years ago. It's not as much a factor anymore because of the way people play offensive football. I think anytime you can hold the ball and score, it's good. If you hold the ball and don't score, it's not good. I know as a staff we plan on continuing with what we do on both sides of the ball and put together a good game plan."
On offensive line coach Joe Wickline:
"He does a great job with them and he has an unusual relationship with them. He stays on them and he's an extremely talented individual in the coaching profession because he has a very unusual work ethic and a high level of energy for a guy that's his age. I think the players appreciate that. I think any young person that is looking for somebody to be a leader and play the leadership role and has the enthusiasm and work ethic that he does, they're going to play hard for them."
On players handling the "big game" atmosphere:
"I think the players will be fine. I'm sure that there will be some guys competing that are young and haven't been in a big game at this level. We have some freshmen that are playing. We're trying to keep everything within realm and they need to understand that need to go out there and just play. There will be no way to make up for number of reps and experience."
On Missouri's defense
"They play very well with their offense. It's hard for me to try and say what they're trying to do. They have guys that can run. They've recruited well the last couple of years and those guys are starting to play for them. They're big: one of their safeties is 230 pounds and the other is 215. They're really physical. They have two down-guys who are 305 and the other is 290. They have an end who is 260. So they're big and they move pretty well."
Quarterback Zac Robinson
On second half improvement in the win against Texas A&M:
“I do not know if it was one thing. Our guys just kind of calmed down. Their guys were kind of pressing us in the first half giving us different looks that we were not used to. The coaches did a good job of calming everyone down. We adjusted the game plan a little bit and just went out and executed a lot better like we had hoped to in the first half.”
On how it feels to be undefeated at this point in the season:
“I'm sure I will feel it later on in the week. Mondays are usually kind of a blur. When Thursdays come around, you start getting excited about the game. We just have to prepare throughout the week, but we are definitely very excited about this game.”
On going against Missouri's 114th-ranked pass defense:
“We are excited no matter if we are playing the number one ranked pass defense. It doesn't matter to us. We are just going to go out and no matter what the defense gives us, we are going to take it.”
On first road test of the season:
“We definitely expect a tough environment in Missouri. I've never been there, but from what I hear, it is a good environment. We are excited to play on the road. It's always nice to play at home. There is something about playing on the road that kind of gets guys going.”
Offensive Lineman Andrew Lewis
On second half adjustments in the Texas A&M game:
“In the first half, they kind of gave us some looks that we were not really accustomed to in practice or anything. When we went in at halftime, we just drew some stuff up. We finally got everything adjusted and just ran our system.”
On importance of running the ball this week to keep the ball away from the Missouri offense:
“We have to have great time of possession. We have to keep it away from their offense. They are one of the best offenses in the nation also. It is very important to keep the ball in our hands.”
On how it feels to be undefeated at this point in the season:
“It feels great, but I think we need to keep working hard. This is a chance to be 6-0, but we are also playing the number three team in the nation. It is going to prove a lot about how good we really are.”
On being from Missouri:
“It means a little bit more to me. I was not really recruited by Missouri, so there's a little extra motivation. I will also get to see some of the guys I played with in the area. It will be fun to see what those guys are like now, four years later.”
On preparation for Missouri's defense:
“I think their defense is one of the best in the nation. They run at the ball, they play hard and their defensive line is as good as any that I've seen. We just need to step it up and have a big game this week.”
Linebacker Patrick Lavine
On being ready for Missouri's offense:
“I would say that we definitely have some things that we need to work on. I feel that we are ready, and I am confident that the coaches have a game plan for us to be prepared.”
On Chase Daniel:
“He is a good quarterback. He can pinpoint his passes. He can run the ball a little. He is a dual threat quarterback. They just have some good players on their team, and they make plays.”
On big game at Missouri:
“A lot of players are going to be out there fired up. There is a lot riding on this game. Neither of us wants a loss under our belts. I feel that a lot of players are going to make big plays. This is probably one of the biggest games most players have played in. Everyone is going to battle it out.”
On people calling the game a shootout:
“That doesn't bother us. The defense is going to go out there and play as hard as we can regardless of what is being said. We have progressed so much from day one to where we are now. We are building some confidence.”
On success:
“Missouri has a good offense, so they are going to make plays. It is just how we react to that after they make those plays to justify how good our defense is. We need to force some turnovers and make some big plays.”
Linebacker Andre Sexton
On Missouri not having a three and out this year:
“I definitely believe it. They have put up so many points. No one has been able to stop them.”
On what the defense has to do to stop Missouri:
“I don't think you can stop an offense like this. I think you just have to slow them down a little bit and try to contain them. We just need to get pressure on Chase Daniel by getting in his face and trying to hit him and disrupt him a bit to get him out of his groove. We need to try to force turnovers and be physical with the wide receivers and hit them every time they catch the ball. I think doing some of those things will slow them down and give our offense a better chance to put some points up on the board.”
On defending Jeremy Maclin:
“In the next couple hours, it will be my first chance to watch them on film. I've just seen him on TV in his highlights. I know that he is a really explosive player who makes a lot of plays similar to Dez. I know how hard Dez is to contain in practice, let alone the game. It is going to be a difficult task for our corners and our secondary this week.”
On the challenge of this Missouri game:
“I love an opportunity like this going in to play a top five team in their home place. With the success we've had, it is just an opportunity to showcase how good we really are. We are just excited to be in this position to play such a great team and very explosive offense.”
On what a win would do for the program:
“A win would give our fans something to be really excited about. Boone Pickens would probably be excited to see that his investment is paying off. We can't be sold at 5-0. We have to keep progressing and getting better."
