Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Practice Report - August 7
August 07, 2012 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 7, 2012
PHOTOS: Cowboys Go Full Pads | OSU Training Camp Central
STILLWATER, Okla. - Dressed in full pads for the first time during training camp, the Oklahoma State football team practiced Tuesday in hot and humid conditions on the grass practice fields adjacent to Gallagher-Iba Arena. After practice, coach Mike Gundy and several players visited with members of the media. Some excerpts:
Mike Gundy
On Tuesday's practice:
"We had a good workout today - not a great one. We had some rain this morning so it was more humid than it has been. We've been very fortunate and haven't had a lot of humidity. The players were effective, but not great. We were in full pads and all that, but we need to be tougher mentally and get more out of practice than we did. We got some things accomplished - it wasn't bad. We've got to move faster. Our tempo was just average."
On the difference between practicing with pads and without:
"Just the weight. Your core body temperature goes up with the extra eight or 10 pounds on your body. They'll get adjusted to it. It takes them a while. They've been away from it since April, so it takes about three or four padded practices to get used to it, but they always get adjusted to it as time goes on."
On not having an ideal practice:
"We always communicate with our players and tell them the truth. They know that. It's like the end of the game in the fourth quarter. On a morning like today, they get a little fatigued and have to learn how to push through it and fight through it. That's all part of developing the chemistry of a football team."
On when he expects the team's practices to look sharp:
"Once we get into the eighth or ninth or 10th practice or so, our guys ought to be up and rolling. They're practicing well, but they need to practice much better in order to play and start out at such a high level like where we finished last season."
On what he wants to accomplish during this Saturday's scrimmage:
"Just basic stuff. We want guys to be in the right spot, to play hard. We want the offensive guys to eliminate penalties and mistakes and we want the defensive guys to force turnovers and use basic fundamentals. I want to see where we are at, see where the quarterback is at. I have a pretty good feel for most every other position. I understand where the young wideouts are at and the young corners who may very well play in the first game."
CB Brodrick Brown
On participating in his last camp at Oklahoma State:
"It's been a long road and I'm excited to still be blessed to go another round at it."
On what he is trying to instill in the younger players:
"Just being physical and being dominant at the position. Learn the playbook. Don't give up the deep ball - that's the main thing Coach Jones stresses on us. We can rally to everything else and make the tackle. That's what I'm instilling in them. They're willing to learn. They're willing to play hard and they'll be good."
On what he does specifically to lead by example:
"Just be a big brother to the younger guys. Just do my assignment. Always be on time. Be consistent. Just be a leader and be consistent in what I do. Play my game and do what I like to do best and everything else will fall in its place."
On playing the role of counselor to the young players:
"Yes, I do play counselor a little bit. Coach Jones coaches them up and then if they forget something, I'll tell them what I have to say. Those guys, they take it well. They listen, they're coachable, they want to get in there and get a feel for the game and learn the speed of the game. I just tell them it's a lot different than high school. The speed is a lot different and the playbook is a lot different. We've got one of the easiest assignments to do, but one of the hardest jobs out there. When they get that down, everything will be good."
On how a player gains respect in the locker room:
"Just being mentally tough, being on time and making plays. When you're out there, you've got to show the coaches that you can make plays and be in the right spot at the right time. When the ball comes your way, you've got to make it. You only have one opportunity each down, so you've got to make the best of it."
OL Lane Taylor
On how his game has changed since his freshman year:
"I practice a lot harder. Before, I thought I could just practice and then turn it up on gameday. I learned that if you want to be good, you have to practice well. That's the biggest different with my training in practices."
On how he applies that into being a leader of younger players:
"Just motivate others to work harder in practice. A lot of younger guys get the wear of training camp on them and they slow down a little bit. You've got to push them to keep on driving and try to get better."
On the brotherhood of being an offensive lineman:
"I've always believed that offensive linemen have always been the most tight-knit group. I don't know what it is - maybe it's that we're all fat. We're all close. We all have fun with each other. We all pick on each other, but at the end of the day, we're all friends and we have a good time."
On what he's trying to accomplish during camp:
"I'm just trying to work hard during practice and perfect my technique so I can go out there in the games and really play at the level I want to play at."
On who on the OSU defensive line looks good:
"Calvin Barnett. He's going to make plays out there. He has a quick burst off the ball and good strength. He'll definitely make plays this year."
