Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet The Media
October 18, 2010 | Cowboy Football
Oct. 18, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team visited with members of the media at Boone Pickens Stadium on Monday to discuss this week's game against Nebraska. The highlights: Mike Gundy, Head Coach Opening Statement “We're looking forward to the game this week. It's a different challenge for us. Taylor Martinez is very elusive. He's been really effective running the football and he has great breakaway speed. He does a nice job with their play-pass, misdirection passing. He's done a great job throwing that. The running back, Helu, has got to be a senior by now. I remember playing him years ago. He's done a good job for them and made some plays. Defensively they are very aggressive and very good against the pass. I would expect bracket coverage on Justin Blackmon. They have it in their system and they're good at it. We have to have a great week of preparation. Hopefully our players understand the importance of focus and staying on a straight line and doing what it takes to play well on Saturday.” On the perception of how talented Nebraska is after losing to Texas: “It proves a point that we talk about each week that you've got to be ready to play. I haven't followed any of the coaches' comments from their coaching staff but it's not like they've given up football in Austin. They still have a really good football team. I'm sure going into that game Nebraska was aware of that. As far as our preparation, there are things our defensive coaches will see that may help them out. But Texas is really fast in their second-level defenders and in their backers and safeties that are in support and their corners. It helped them considerably in my opinion. It will be important that our defense play as fast. Offensively there is quite a bit of difference in what Texas' approach is and what our approach is right now.” On Joseph Randle “He's been really good for us. The comments I made after the Tech game are that he's maturing faster, he has good hands and he's blocked well. He showed a toughness to him last Saturday in running the football and finishing his runs. He also showed some endurance in that he was able to do it a number of times. We're glad he's a freshman. He was impressive early in August. I've said this before but he comes from a very disciplined, structured family and it's helped him compete early in his career. His dad coached forever. And because he's mentally tough, it's allowed him to move faster than other players do. He was kind of pre-made when he got here. We just pushed him in the right direction.” On Justin Blackmon coming out of nowhere “Dez Bryant is one reason why. When Dez was coming back all the direction was pointing towards him. Then when he got hurt, Justin wasn't ready to play yet so Hubert Anyiam and those other guys stepped up and made some plays for us. The biggest factor with him in my opinion is after the Cotton Bowl and the offseason and throughout spring ball he had tremendous work habits. He understood the importance of preparation and to practice well and train hard in the weight room. He is very dependable. Those are all the key ingredients of what makes a good football player. Once he realized how important that was he was able to make that change. Some guys it takes two or three years to figure that out and he figured it out after his first year. ” On how important the run game is against Nebraska “It's important for every game. You have to be somewhat balanced and take what they give you. I like what Coach Holgorsen and our staff have done this year. I think they have enough in the offense to run the ball or throw the ball based on the way that people try to defend us. There are a number of football teams out there who are very equal and the plans the coaches have for that game and the ability to get the players to absorb that information is different than it was five years ago. It's because there is so much parity in college football.” Bill Young, Defensive Coordinator On Nebraska's offense "They line up with two tight-ends, a lot of multiple formations. They give you a lot of different looks. It is something we haven't seen as often this year because we have seen the spread all year long." On the defense's performance against Texas Tech "We played really well at times, and we made some mistakes that we would like to correct. We got off the field on third-down and we created some turnovers which was good.” On stopping the run "Getting them in the situation to pass is the tough part. They will pass on the first down and maybe the second down, but we really have to do a good job of not letting them get big plays." Dana Holgorsen, Offensive Coordinator On offensive improvement each week "Every week is different. You have to treat them all the same. You can't sit there and think about where you're at. You worry about what you need to improve on, not what you've done well. You need to use success to gain confidence and build confidence, but you've still got to look for new ways to get better. Just treat each week the same and line up and do your best." On Nebraska's defense "They're impressive. In all my years of coaching, especially my last 10, being familiar with the Big 12, they're probably the most athletic back seven I've seen from linebackers and safeties and corners, without question, the most athletic group of seven guys collectively that I've seen. They're obviously good. They're well coached. They're athletic. They're tough up front. It'll be a big challenge." On Joseph Randle "We've said it from the beginning that we've been looking for some other guys, no matter what position. We found him as probably our third guy. It doesn't matter what position, it's all about getting the ball in their hands and there's many different ways to get the ball in his hands. He's developed into a guy that we're going to rely on. He's gotten better each week. His confidence has risen each week. He's practiced well and the more confidence he gets, the more comfortable he gets, the more he's going to touch the ball." Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver On setting his career high in receiving yards against Texas Tech "I just try to go out there and do the best I can and if it happens, it happens, and it happened last week." On being named Big 12 Player of the Week "That's what I hear. It's great. It's an honor to be Big 12 Player of the Week." On Nebraska's defense "I'm sure it will be the toughest one we'll face so far. Looking at their defensive backs, they've got some good defensive backs that we're going to have to do some adjusting to." Brandon Weeden, Quarterback On Nebraska "We haven't had a chance to watch a whole bunch of tape yet, but they are athletic. They are a very good defensive football team. They are a good football team and we are going to have to play well. I am excited to get the week started." On Nebraska's defense "You hear about them being one of the best defenses in the nation, but we don't really worry about what the other teams do, we worry about what we do. We are going to try and execute like we always do." On Homecoming at OSU "I think there will be a lot of buzz around campus this week. OSU has one of the biggest homecomings in the country and it is a big deal to everyone that follows Oklahoma State. It is a big deal for us. It is hard to not get distracted by all of it, but Coach Gundy is good at getting us focused. It is going to be a big week and I am looking forward to Saturday." Kendall Hunter, Running Back On beating Texas Tech "It was a real good road test because we wanted to see how strong we were. It was like everybody was against us and it was a good atmosphere for the young players to experience." On Justin Blackmon "Blackmon has been doing pretty well, but there's still room for improvement." On the Nebraska defense "Every defense is going to be tough, especially since they know we like to run and pass. Every defense is going to give us their best." On if the Nebraska defense is the toughest OSU will face "We don't look at it like that. We just worry about ourselves, even though we know they're a good team and good ball club and have a fast defense. We're just going to worry about ourselves right now." Markelle Martin, Safety On ending OSU's losing streak in Lubbock last week "It just felt good to go out there and win. The defense played great and the offense put up numbers. It felt great for all three phases of the team to be hitting on all cylinders." On defensive intensity against Texas Tech "We just wanted to make a statement. With so many high-powered offenses out there, it's hard to give defense credit for the things we do. We just wanted to go out there and make a play and I think we did that out there." On Nebraska's offense "They come in with some old-style running schemes to see if you're fundamentally sound; to see if you'll contain the quarterback. Just the types of things that are basic, but some teams will look past. We have to contain the quarterback and read the keys." Andrew McGee, Cornerback On Nebraska's tough offense "We just need to do our jobs. Being in the secondary I know that we have to stay on our man and we have to play defense. We trust that we have good defensive linemen that are going to contain the quarterback. It is all about sticking to our assignment and our assignment is to minimize the big plays.” On Oklahoma State being underestimated "That is fine that they thought Nebraska was going to be a big contender. That is not for us to worry about. We worry about how we are going to play every game. We don't care about what they think of us. We are going to go out and play our best every game because that is what we believe in." Shane Jarka, Defensive Tackle On Nebraska's offense "We have prided ourselves on stopping the run the past couple of years. Even though we haven't done too great against the run, we have actually done pretty decent this year. This will definitely be a test on the defensive line and the front seven that are responsible for that. It will definitely be a challenge, but we are looking forward to it." On Taylor Martinez "I haven't watched a whole lot of film on them yet, we are getting to that tomorrow. From what I have seen when they played Kansas State, he can run. I mean he can flat-out fly. We are going to be watching him the whole game and making sure that we are on him. He is definitely a threat to make plays because he is so fast." Grant Garner, center On keeping focused during homecoming week "Really, I just don't pay attention to it, I guess. Every week is the same. It kind of just gets you into a daze when you get into that routine and it doesn't really matter who you're playing." On Nebraska's defense "I'm sure they're really good. I haven't had a chance to watch them yet, but they get talked about a lot. It should be a lot fun to play against them and see what we can do and see how we match up and see what happens." On offensive balance against Texas Tech "Almost every game, we have a variation of the same game plan; we just try to stay as balanced as possible and I think we were able to do a really good job of that at Tech. It makes everything else easier for us with our screen game and pass game and run game, and it's all working. It all helps each other out."
