Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Preview Texas Tech Game
November 07, 2011 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 7, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team visited with the media at Boone Pickens Stadium on Monday. The highlights:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement
"The review of the last game is what we thought it was going to be; two very good football teams playing. Kansas State had a good game plan. We would like to give their players and coaches credit. They did a great job. I mentioned Kansas State's quarterback during the Big 12 telephone conference this morning. He is very smart player. He makes good decisions and is well-coached. I did not realize how big he was, until I saw him in a live game. It is interesting when you view players on television or on tape and then you see them in person. No matter, whether they are a quarterback or a different type of player your perception changes when you see them play live. He was an impressive player in this game. We lost the turnover battle by two. That put us in a difficult situation in the fourth quarter. We took points off of the board with one of our turnovers. We found a way to win. Our offense played very well in the second half when we needed to score points. Our defense made plays at the right times during the game. We would have liked to have more three-and-outs in the second half. We were not able to force a turnover. When you have special seasons you will have games like this one. It was good to get that game under our belt. We have a new challenge this week. We are back on the road in Lubbock. Texas Tech is moving the ball and scoring points. They play a fast-paced game like we do. We had discussions with our team last night, about the BCS and what people think about Oklahoma State. Our approach has remained the same each week. I mentioned to our team that being ranked number two is really no different than three. Ultimately you have to go play. You have to be competitive each week and find a way to win. Our team understands that. Our team is handling everything very well, at this point. Our attitude was very positive in the team meeting last night. Like it has been for the last two years. The team listens to music in the team room, while joking and having fun. Obviously, when you are winning at any level it is fun. That's where we are. Our challenges on offense, defense and special teams will stay the same. We will have a little different approach with Texas Tech's style of offense. We need to prepare hard this week be ready to go play on Saturday."
On crowd noise
"When Kansas State got down to the four or five yard line, our crowd was really into it. As I mentioned after the game, the play before that, when they rolled to the right and threw back to the left; I was not concerned at all. I felt like the time was working against them. They had one timeout and still 33 yards away. I believe there was 19 seconds on the clock. If you break it down, most plays take a minimum of five or six seconds, unless you are on the goal line. If you figure that they have to cover 33 yards in 19 seconds. Our crowd was into the game. We had the largest crowd in school history. They did a great job of being loud at the game. When we were trailing by ten and we came back on the field offensively, it got really loud. That was a good lift for our team. Our crowd has been tremendous. Over the last two or three years, our crowd has learned how to be our extra player. For a number of years our crowds did not know when to be loud or when to not be loud. The crowd now knows when defense is on the field and when there is a third down or fourth down. Even in pregame they have been good about making noise. We are making strides in a lot of areas."
On difference in ranking
"Starting about three weeks ago we have controlled our own destiny. Everyone knew that LSU was going to play Alabama. We cannot get our ranking out of the player's heads. If you act like it is not there, then the players' response would be different. I am pleased that people across the country see OSU as a quality football team. Enough so, that they would give us a computer number. I do not know much about that. I do know that you have to be highly ranked and the computer has to like you. I am glad everyone has to like us."
On handling pressure
"There is not a release valve. I run every day. I guess that is my release valve. At the end of the day, I go home to my kids. There is a certain point that you can release the pressure, but it doesn't go away until you go to sleep at night. As soon as I wake up, to get the dog to bed, it comes back in to my mind. I am sure it is the same way for our players. I wish there were coaches and players out there that have been in this situation or are in this situation that know how to relieve it. I wish they would let me know. I certainly do not know how, other than to focus on practice. Trying to get three or four good days of work and telling the players to play hard on Saturday. That is something I am comfortable with. We have told the team for years that on Saturday we want them to have fun and play hard. That is easier said than done with the position we are in. That is how we have approached the games for a number of years at OSU."
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken
On Texas Tech's defense:
"They've played two power-running football teams (the past two weeks), and there's no denying that presented some problems for them defensively. Unfortunately, we're not that. What they see every day in practice is pretty much what we do, so we'll have to play awfully well. I think they do a good job on the perimeter. Like I said, where they've had their issues is just those teams that mash you and run the ball, and that's not us. So we have to find a way to, every week, be balanced in what we do and play better and not turn it over."
On what he learned about the offense at the end of the Kansas State game:
"The good news is, what we do offensively, we didn't have to do anything different. It's really what we do, there wasn't one call that was any different that wasn't in the normal game plan. We're no-huddle, basically a two-minute offense anyway, so it wasn't as if they had to do anything different. Obviously, there was some comfort there in doing that, and the reality is we thought we had an advantage there. It's not as if we were facing a daunting task that they had been harassing our quarterback and covering us. That wasn't the case, so it was just like 'Let's go play.' We have good players and hopefully they'll turn out, that's just it. Luckily, when we called certain plays, they ended up in the right coverage that fit. You don't know that for sure. There's other times in the game we had certain shots called and they weren't in the same look and you don't get the same throw down the field and all of a sudden it doesn't happen at that moment, but the good Lord looks after you and you hit it and everybody seems real happy."
On the injuries to wide receivers:
"We're hopeful Josh Cooper will be back, but injuries are part of it. No one really seems to care if you lose guys or not, just like no one is going to care with OU and their guys out, it's just the way it is. Does it change things? Of course it does. You can't be as efficient the more you lose guys you counted on; they're starters for a reason. I thought Isaiah Anderson played well the other night, I thought Colton Chelf played well, I thought Josh Stewart played better. I thought there were a number of guys that played better, so you just have to have those guys prepare the best they can and go out and play, and you have to do things that maximize their strengths."
Defensive Coordinator Bill Young
On facing a fast-paced Texas Tech spread offense that resembles OSU:
"It will be a long game because their offense is exactly the same way as ours. You can see the umpire running off of the ball when they're snapping it. Just as soon as the officials place the ball, they're getting it snapped as quickly as they can, and therefore, there's not that much time on that clock. They don't use up much. When they throw a pass, it's either caught for a first down or an incomplete and stops the clock."
On what concerns him about Texas Tech:
"Them getting into rhythm and us getting out of kilter and not playing sound football because they go so fast that you have to get the call in there fast, you have to get it communicated, you have to get lined up and you can get a little bit frustrated as a defense if they continue to keep converting on second and third down."
On if the issues from the Kansas State game are fixable:
"I don't think there's any question. I think I over-coached our defensive tackles when they were on the guard. They were getting too high and trying to fight the double team too fast instead of fighting the guy they were on. Unfortunately, you don't see those things too easily in the game, but when you see it on film on Sunday, it's real easy to get that corrected. That was just a small thing, but there's several things we need to improve on."
Quarterback Brandon Weeden
On OSU's offense against K-State
"I felt great that we were able to go down and score real quickly. I felt confident. I felt like what we were doing all night really worked and guys were getting open. Our game plan was excellent for what they did. When they went down there and scored, I was like, `Let's do it again.' That's the kind of the attitude we have as an offense. That says a lot for where we're at as a team."
On the team's attitude late in the K-State game
"I don't think you're human if you're calm 100 percent of the time. But then, I was. I was calm, and I was confident. When you have guys around you that are such good players, that allows you to be more calm and you can relax a little bit."
On wide receiver injuries
"We'll be fine. As for Mike Harrison, I'm not sure what his status is. Josh Cooper will be back this week. We're all good. Losing Mike hurt and I feel bad for him, but someone else will step up and make plays."
On playing in a close game
"I think they're more fun to play in. I'm just that guy that wants the ball in my hands. I want it to go into two-minute offense and go down and score with the ball in my hand and be leading that ship. Those are fun. I like the blowouts where I can sit back and watch Clint Chelf play. You can look back and learn a lot more from a character standpoint. These games will make you a better football team."
On Justin Blackmon
"He's just playing with an edge. He's like that every week. We found ways and different route concepts that, no matter what they played, we could give him the ball. It doesn't surprise me what he's been doing. That's just how good of a player he is."
On Tracy Moore
"Having Tracy on the same side of the field allows you to do more and do certain things. They can't cover them both at the same time. He's had a great year. His numbers aren't as crazy as they were last year, but he's still having a heck of a year. His attitude has been unbelievable. He's had a great attitude. He's not a guy that's selfish. He doesn't complain when he doesn't get the ball. You only have one football to go around, unfortunately. You can't throw it to four guys at the same time. You have to take what the defense gives you and we had a lot of plays drawn up to get Tracy the ball and get him involved. Early on, he was able to do that. I was happy with the way he played. He's stayed focused and has really impressed me."
Safety Markelle Martin
On the back seven's play against KSU:
"I think we did alright. I think we could've done a better job. I think we have to understand for us as a defense, we played man pretty much the whole game, so most of our backs were turned, so just one guy not doing his job makes it so that the quarterback can get out and scramble against you. So for us, it's just understanding that is the weakness of the defense when everybody's back is turned. We'll do better in the long run just understanding someone has to be accountable for the quarterback, but that was just a weakness of the defense at the time."
On how this trip to Lubbock is different than last season:
"I think it's different just because of what we want to do as a team. For us, we want to finish this season undefeated, so every game counts. We have to go down there and take care of business. We understand it's not going to be easy and it's going to be a hostile environment, so we just have to bring whichever guys come on that plane, we have to go down there, perform our best game and just try to come out with a win."
On Seth Doege:
"I think he does a good job just moving the formation around and getting one-on-one coverage somewhere. I think that's something he does well. He throws a good ball. I think right now, he's playing his best. I think there are some things he does well that we have to keep our eye on. For us right now, it's just get in the film room, get more comfortable with what he's doing and just understand what he's trying to do."
Punter/Kicker Quinn Sharp
On Kansas State
"They were ranked No. 1 in kickoff return and we were ranked No. 1 in kickoff coverage so it was a challenge to us. We knew that he was going to return the ball no matter where it was. They've always caught the ball deep on punts; they've returned it inside the ten. That's just kind of the nature of their game. Going into the game we knew that was going to happen."
On Punting
"If I do take opportunities away from them they might feel like they have to bring one out just to get that chance to create a big play on an opportunity."
On Placekicking
"It's been going really well this season. I missed one at Missouri and I missed one earlier, but other than that I feel like I've done really well. We worked a lot over the summer and developed a routine and I feel like it's been going very well."
Defensive End Richetti Jones
On the defensive stop at the end of the Kansas State game
"It really wasn't just a defensive effort, it was a team effort. Basically it just showed everyone we're a team. When things get tough, we persevere through it. That's the message that we are trying to send to everyone. We are a team that knows how to persevere through hard times."
On overcoming a serious injury sustained while in high school
"It has been very interesting. I have had to have a strong faith in God and have had to persevere. It's been a great ride and I would do it over and over again. I am just really enjoying it and it's been a great learning experience for me."
Offensive Lineman Lane Taylor
On the team's No.2 ranking
"It's a really good thing for us. We have worked really hard for this. The past couple of years we have been building up to this. It's nice to see all the hard work we have put in finally come together."
On the offensive line
"We really have had to gel since Jonathan Rush went down. We can't dwell on that, but we really came together and have not missed a beat. I believe it shows the overall depth that we have as a line."
On Texas Tech
"They're a good team and they fly around the ball. They obviously beat OU and can beat anyone. They can score points and we can't take them lightly. We're just going to go out there and prepare for them like we do every week."
Linebacker James Thomas
On having a knack for clutch interceptions
"I don't look at it as luck but as a blessing. I am happy that I have been able to capitalize on every opportunity I have been given this year."
On Texas Tech
"We can't overlook anyone. Anybody can give anyone a good game. Like we saw last week, Kansas State got after our butts. I am pretty sure Texas Tech is going to have a chip on their shoulder this week and will be looking to upset us."
On Seth Doege
"I have been watching him on film. He is a really good athlete and passer. He puts his passes on the money. We will have to get pressure on him."
