Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Practice Report - August 17
August 17, 2012 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 17, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State football team practiced today for two hours on the grass practice fields adjacent to Gallagher-Iba Arena. After practice, offensive line coach Joe Wickline talked about the progress of his position group:
On where the offensive line is in its development:
"I think we're on pace, I really do. That's the biggest thing you can say. We're on time. Any time you lose three starters, anybody out there has to bring some guys along - guys that haven't played as much, guys with a lot of promise and ability. It's still not the same...it's a different chemistry. It's a different camaraderie. We're trying to develop this group. Probably the way you'd break it down right now is ones and twos. We have a solid first bunch. There's no real question marks - can this guy do it, can that guy do it? Knock on wood, if everyone stays healthy with the first bunch, we have what we need and what we've had. We can be as successful or more than what we've had. We may not have this guy or that guy, but basically as a group, they're doing really well. They're on time. There's still a long ways to go, believe me.
"The third guard and third tackle have really started to rise up. Daniel Koenig and Devin Davis are fighting for a starting job right now. Devin's a little bit behind him, but Devin is definitely a swing tackle - he's really going to be a nice player and he's a solid third tackle. That's what you want to have. You want to have three tackles. At the guard position, you have Brandon Webb and he still has a long way to go. It seems like he's been here for 13 years. He's a solid answer for a third rotating guard. At center, you have Evan Epstein, who has been in it for a while now and he's going to get his first start. He's earned it and done a nice job. Behind him, we've got two guys battling in Jake Jenkins and Travis Cross. Both those guys are about even right now at center. Travis can also flip over and play tackle or guard. He's a guy that's going to travel and fight for a second-team job and ultimately a first-team job.
"You've got an answer for the first bunch. You have an answer for the third tackle. You have an answer - knock on wood that nobody gets hurt - for your second and third center. What you've got is `where are you at with your fourth guard and your fourth tackle?' Right now, it's Eli Dickerson, who has played a bunch of different positions, but he's trying to hammer in there and be even with Brandon Webb and push Jonathan Rush and push Lane Taylor and those guys. He's a big-body guy who knows what's going on and we're driving him hard. He's got a ways to go and he'll get there. The other one is a junior college transfer who got here this summer, Chris Grisbhy, who is still learning the plays. A pass, a run, right from left and it's all brand new to him. You can't give up on him. He's 325 pounds and 6-4 ½ and has a lot of ability. That kind of rounds out not only your third guard and tackle, but also your second bunch."
On his comfort level with replacing Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Grant Garner with Evan Epstein:
"Grant did a nice job, he really did, and nobody can dismiss that. He's a great kid and a great guy. So sharp and had leadership skills - everybody knows all that and it's well-documented. Evan is old enough - will he be Grant Garner? No, but will he be good enough to get done what we need to get done? Yes he will. The thing that's going to help Evan is he's got a sixth-year player and a fifth-year player on both sides who can kind of pick up the tackles and pick up Evan as it goes on. They've been around forever. If you had brand new guys at guards and brand new guys at center, then I'd have a real issue with center. So you have a couple older guys that can take care of that inside as long as we can snap the ball and make the right point. The youth now is on the edge. I'm concerned about it - we all are until the lights come on - until we get it done. We'll find out, but to this point, he's progressing."
On Jonathan Rush's recovery from his season-ending injury in 2011:
"He's 100 percent go. He's doing a nice job. The thing about him is he hasn't taken a snap since the Texas A&M game last year. That's a long time. You haven't taken a snap all fall or all spring. You kind of bounced around a little bit in the summer, but you really haven't had a snap so it's almost like he put it on cruise and did nothing for a good period of time. But now every day - and as old as he is - every day it starts where his foot is in a little better step, that hand is in a little better placement, the eyes, the call, the recognition, it's almost like he's getting back into it again. He's been rusty. He did not just come back where he left off. That's the way O-line is. Repetition is the mother of all learning and he's a guy that didn't have any and as old as he is, he needs to have it every day. He's a guy that when he does get there, he'll be a mainstay."
