Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Preview Baylor
November 18, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 18, 2013
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team visited with the media on Monday in Boone Pickens Stadium. Their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening statement
"It was a good win for us Saturday. Everything that we talked about in the postgame was accurate. Defense played very well and the offense was efficient in what our game plan was and what we accomplished. We took care of the football and made big plays in the throwing game. We were really good in the kicking game. We had great coverage in out units and had good returns. Out punter was really effective and out kicker made a field goal. We've got our work cut out for us this week playing the best team in the league. They've pretty much had their way with everybody that they've played this year. I think that's true and everyone can agree with that. The quarterback is good and is as accurate as any we've seen in the league in four or five years, including the guys who played in this league and are playing in the NFL right now. They've got depth at running back and speed at receiver. The offensive line is good in what they ask them to accomplish during a game. The biggest concern for us is their defense. They're very athletic. They've got several guys who can play in the NFL, in our opinion. They run to the ball, they make plays, they tackle, they play with a lot of energy and they're aggressive. They're also good in the return game. Number 42 for them has done it for a number of years and has been very effective. They are very deserving of being third or fourth in the country. A lot of credit goes to them. It should be a lot of fun Saturday night."
On the how great the defense has been for both OSU and Baylor
"It's hard for me to speak for Baylor, except I see more athleticism on their defense. Their schemes are very similar to what they've done there in the past. Phil Bennett has been there for quite a while. I think they've improved and recruited players that get to the ball fast, but that's just an outside guy looking in. For us, it's the same. We're more athletic and more aggressive on defense than what we have been the last three or four years. Our players have bought into it and they're consistent in their play each week."
On Baylor's offense
"It's hard for me to speak about what their thoughts are. But from an outsider looking in, the plays they are running are very similar to what they were running four or five years ago. They have guys doing it that can catch and run. They're quarterback is really accurate and for that reason they are scoring a lot of points. Their philosophy is good, but I don't see a lot of difference in what their goal is offensively. They're quarterback is really accurate and throws nice passes, and when they catch it they don't catch it and fall down. They catch it and run it into the end zone."
On Baylor averaging 62 points a game
"It's a lot of points. You can talk about them just like you talk about other offenses in this country that run up big numbers. They deserve to be in that conversation."
On what OSU's defense has to do to win the game
"We have to score because they're going to score. In a situation against a team that is as successful as they are on both sides of the ball, defensively you have to have a great plan, and they have to understand it and run to the ball and play with great effort. There's only so many ways you can line up on defense; similar to the flip side of the conversation that we were having here a couple of years ago. That doesn't really change much in a game. Offensively, we have to run our plays and we have to play our game. In the kicking game we have to try to find a way to be sound and win that part of the game. That gives us a chance to win the game."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On Clint Chelf's performance against Texas
"He played with a lot of poise. He's a great leader, made a lot of great decisions and got us into some good plays. He did a great job not only in the passing game, but also the running game as well. As a runner, Clint Chelf is a good athlete, and he has really good feet. He has good game speed. He may not run the fastest 40, but when someone who outweighs him by 50 pounds is chasing him, he can turn on the turbo boosters. He's done a great job."
On feeling pressured to outscore Baylor
"We're going to try to execute our offense to the best of our ability and let the chips fall where they may. We're just trying to look through the film like we do every week and trying to prepare the best game plan we can come up with."
On attacking Baylor's aggressive defense
"It's the same stuff you've faced against any good defense. You have to concern yourself with your play, making sure your assignments are sound and making sure you're taking care of the football while coming away with points on every series."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On why Baylor's offense has been successful over the years
"They are the way they are because they have great talent, a quarterback with a fast and accurate release, running backs who can make you miss and an offensive line that will maul you. The difference between their teams in the past and this year, is the five guys up front. They average 300 yards rushing. They've always had the skill guys, from what I can remember."
On the challenges Baylor's offense presents
"It seems like we always go into a week thinking 'Wow these guys can really hurt us.' Last week against Texas, we knew they were going to be a challenge. They had scored a lot of points, and the guys responded. It's no different this week. The kids aren't blind. They turn on the film and see them scoring at will. Our guys know what they want to do. It's going to be fun."
On what specifically makes Baylor difficult to defend
"They have athletic ability and players to begin with. They are coached well, the offensive line is really good and the running backs can break tackles. They spread the field, so that if you miss a tackle, there isn't another guy to get him. It becomes a big chunk play."
Fullback Kye Staley
On getting back to full health
"Yeah, I'm feeling better. At the beginning of the season it was really frustrating. I hadn't been out there with my teammates and playing due to injury. I kept rehabbing in the training room, getting a lot of sleep and just getting my body right that way I could get back out there with my teammates to make plays and get wins."
On the key to the game for the offense
"Pretty much stick to what we do best. We've been doing an excellent job of running the ball and being the most physical team on the field. We just have to go in this week with a good game plan and give a great effort and hopefully we'll come out with the win."
On Baylor's defense
"They are very much under the radar. Their offense is well-known for points and their yards. Defensively, they aren't getting the credit that they should. We're not looking past them at all. We are looking forward to the challenge."
Offensive Lineman Parker Graham
On the keys to success this Saturday
"We know that this game's going to be very physical for us up front, for both offense and defense, and we know we're just going to have to put more points on the board than them. We've got to make sure and get each opportunity we have to score because we know that they score points in bunches. We're making sure we fire on all cylinders, and hopefully everything will work out for us."
On the Cowboys' play late in the season
"Stuff doesn't always work out for you, and you've got to be able to play through the adversity. Like what happened with us against West Virginia, it could have gone one or two ways: We could have gone down and lost a couple more games and downed ourselves, but we decided as a team to come through and push ourselves through it and that's what's gotten us here. Baylor obviously has been playing extremely well. They've got an offense that's clicking really well right now, and hopefully we can cause them some problems and come out with a win on Saturday."
On the team chemistry
"It's just a camaraderie we have, as the older guys and as the team throughout. We understand that the enemy's on Saturday, and we're not fighting with ourselves and stuff; we're just using each other to get better every day in practice and that's showing up on the field."
Safety Zack Craig
On Baylor's offense
"This year they are, by far, the ultimate offense. Everyone talks about their quarterback, but they average 300 yards rushing a game. I don't think people really realize that. Their passing is great but their running backs are some of the best in this league."
On stopping Baylor's explosive offense
"They're so balanced. They average 300 rushing and 300 passing. We can't key on the passing or key on the running. We've got to stop both. We've got to have a great pass rush and great secondary. We've got to key on the routes and fill the holes. It's going to be a challenge, but we're excited about it."
On the team's level of confidence going into this week
"Well, we could always improve. We've done really well the past six weeks or so. They have us ranked really high in the in the Big 12 and nationally. I think with how good they are, this is going to be our hardest challenge by far this year. We're excited for it, and starting tomorrow we've got to get ready for it."
Receiver Charlie Moore
On College GameDay coming to Stillwater
"All of that stuff is so awesome for the university and this team. It's going to make it a little more fun and more alive in warm-ups and during the game. It's going to be a great atmosphere. We're just excited to play the No. 3 team in the country."
On Baylor's defense
"Their defense is very good. They're very physical. Obviously, their offense has been putting up big numbers, so they're a good team. We're going to focus on the defense, and we'll let our defense worry about their offense."
On Baylor's progress over the past couple of years
"There's no surprise there. Those coaches have built up a great program. There's attitude at Baylor now. It's different than it's been in the past, and we see that. They're a great team, and they're playing great football right now."
Linebacker Deion Imade
On his role on special teams
"My role on the defense is very limited right now. I'm mostly a special teams player. A lot of guys are taking real pride in that right now. A lot of guys are doing a lot of great things on special teams."
On how the team will plan to limit Baylor's big-play ability
"They have very good athletes on the offensive side of the ball, but one of the things Coach Spencer harps on is 11 men to the football. If one person misses, you've got to be there to capitalize on that and make the tackle."
On special teams stepping up and playing a role against Baylor
"We're going to use a lot of depth, so everybody is going to be doing whatever they can to help us out. We have some great athletes that will match up against Baylor's athletes, like Miketavius Jones, Ashton Lampkin and Dominic Ramacher."
Safety Lyndell Johnson
On the defense's comfort level coming into this weekend's game
"When it comes to comfort levels, you can never be too comfortable. You have to be ready for a battle every week. The main things you have to focus on are studying the game plan, watching tape and making sure that you've got the game plan down enough to know what you're going to be doing on the field at all times. With Baylor, they can run and pass, so we have to focus on our keys. If you have a man, you have to keep your eyes on that man. A big play can happen on any play, so you have to focus on doing your job."
On the defense's special personnel units
"With Baylor spreading out their receivers so wide, I'm pretty sure we're going to be in all different types of packages. Whatever they choose, we have to go out and execute our game plan and do our jobs. They're a good offense, so we can't give them any room to think that they've got us down."
On his adjustments to a new position this year
"I wouldn't really say much has changed since the beginning of the year. I'm going out hard every week and putting everything I can into practice, so I'm having more confidence. We're winning and feeling good. What really matters, though, is going out there and getting a Big 12 championship. I'm going to do whatever I have to do to put my team in the best position to win. My teammates are doing the same, and we all feed off of each other. We push each other day in and day out."
