Oklahoma State University Athletics
Coaches Corner: Doug Meacham
August 12, 2010 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 12, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. - Okstate.com visited with inside receivers coach Doug Meacham after Thursday's practice to talk about his position group. His thoughts:
Regarding his general observations on the inside receivers early in camp:
"I'm seeing the light starting to come on for guys a little bit. In terms of schematics, I think they understand their assignment work. Now we're starting to see guys fine-tuning their route-running and pinpointing different kinds of coverages and things like that. In terms of specific routes or blocking assignments, I think they have a full understanding of all our schematics. Now it's getting to the point where you're honing in on the quarterback and receivers getting on the same page with particular things and really just understanding the variety of adjustments that you make in certain coverages. The wheels are turning at a faster rate right now and we're only going to get better from here because the foundation of the offense is in and they understand and they know it."
Regarding the early depth chart among inside receivers:
"Tracy Moore is at the Y position with Justin Horton as his backup, then Josh Cooper is at the H position. His backup will more than likely be Michael Harrison or Bo Bowling. We have some other kids too. Charlie Moore at Y is a guy and Anthony Hill at H is another pretty solid guy. We're three-deep at those two positions."
Regarding any surprises that he has seen early in fall camp:
"Among the inside receivers, all the guys have been here so there hasn't been anything that has totally surprised me. Montra Nelson is a Y and he's doing things that a typical freshman would do, with the grind of it and the speed of practice, he's going through some adjustment time just like all the rest of them are. I don't really know yet what he's capable of doing because he is handcuffed with the speed and information and really just playing against a bunch of guys who are good. We have so much depth at the inside positions that those other guys are getting most of the reps."
Regarding who has caught his eye early in camp:
"The guys I'm pleased with are Tracy Moore and Josh Cooper. Both of them are going to make a lot of plays for us. Those two guys right there, we're going to lean on them to carry the load."
Regarding what the coaches look for in an inside receiver as opposed to a wide receiver:
"The H is more of your punt returner -- a twitchy guy that can make people miss and has a lot of acceleration and explosiveness. The Y is more of a bigger guy that's going to bang and match up with linebackers and can also block out there on the perimeter -- kind of like an Adarius Bowman type. You've got a pretty big contrast there. You've got one guy that's more of a bigger, physical type and then you've got the punt return, make you miss, shake you and screw you down into the turf type of guy that is an H. Your outside guys are typically your long, fast, deeper route guys that will take you over the top or run you on a post. That's kind of how we look at it."
The Cowboys practice again Friday before scrimmaging Saturday.
