Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Practice Report - August 18
August 18, 2011 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 18, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State football team practiced for just less than three hours Thursday morning dressed in full pads on the grass practice fields adjacent to Gallagher-Iba Arena. After practice, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Glenn Spencer talked about his group:
On what makes Shaun Lewis special:
"Shaun has got a knack for what we call `pulling the trigger' when it's time to make a play. He's got exceptional acceleration to the ball, to the break point. He can close fast when he decides to attack it. Good players can do that. He's just got to improve his ability to get to those situations so he can continue being a big-play guy."
On Shaun Lewis's preparation:
"Since day one, Shaun has been a great note-taker. While others come in and think they're going to commit things to memory, he's got his little notes with him. From time to time, you have to change something based on how you're getting attacked, and when I change something, he's quick to make note of it, which tells me that it's important to him. Typically, he hears it from me and writes it down and I'm sure that later on during the evening, he's looking over those notes. He's always been a good studier on film. He's got to look for clues, he's got to look for tips, which is all part of what separates the really good players from the guys that are out there just trying to make it."
On Shaun Lewis off the field:
"Shaun has high character. He doesn't talk a lot. He's very respectful and takes care of his business. He's got a lot to him inside that will make him successful at whatever he chooses to do."
On Caleb Lavey:
"Caleb Lavey is a student of the game. It doesn't take him but a couple times to get a read down. He has a lot of tenacity and a lot of pride. If it matters a lot to them to be a good football player, then they typically do, and it matters a lot to Caleb to be good."
On Alex Elkins:
"Alex Elkins is a wild buck right now, a free spirit. He plays so hard, which is exactly what we thought we were getting. So much is so new to him. The system he came out of was really, really simple and ours isn't complicated, but there are a lot of reads and adjustments and things can change on the snap, so every day is a new day for him. What you want to see towards the end of camp is that you're wanting that guy to start compartmentalizing and sorting things out. Camp has been a process for him, but his tenacity and his want-to is going to allow him to play a lot for us this year."
On the personality of the Cowboy linebackers at this time:
"They're young and eager. They're chomping. There aren't a lot of seasoned guys there, so a lot of times they're making the same mistakes. You miss older guys in the room. Some of the guys that are going to play for us are guys that I'm still having to bring on. They're not veterans that have seen a lot of games and been in a lot of wars. The good thing about it is that there is a lot of competition for a spot and a lot of energy in the group. There's a lot of want-to, which is good. You have guys competing every day, every drill, every period in practice. They're not coasting, because they know if they coast, there's a guy nipping at their heels. That's been the pleasure of it. I'm looking forward to some personalities to come out as they mature together."
On if athleticism is the biggest strength of this group:
"They are athletic, but the biggest strength in my book is that they're coachable. They've got to do so many things. This person needs to know what's going on in front of him and behind him. On a shift or change from the offense, they have to process a lot of information at once. If they're coachable, then they'll grind it out and eventually get better and better. These guys are coachable and that's the best thing for me. Sure, they're athletic enough to play in this league, but there are a lot of great athletes out there that aren't good linebackers. A ton of them. I want good linebackers, not just a bunch of good athletes."
