Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Football Report, August 12
August 12, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 12, 2013
STILLWATER - Dressed in full pads, the Oklahoma State football team practiced for approximately two hours Monday morning in the Sherman Smith Training Facility. After practice, first-year receivers coach Jason Ray talked about his position group:
On today's practice:
"I saw some guys compete. I think there are some little things that we need to do to get better as a team. As a wide receiver unit I think our guys are flying around. They're starting to have heavy legs, but they have to compete and fight through it. Today was not our best practice, but I believe our guys are grinding through it. They have to fight and get over that hump. We have two-a-days now and a second practice coming up this afternoon. I imagine that they'll get better."
On what traits he looks for in a receiver:
"Toughness, competitive attitude and obviously the skill set to play at receiver. We want them to be able to catch the football, have great hands and great control, and also run great routes. Those things that we can't necessarily coach are those guys who come in that have heart, competitiveness and want to be great football players. If a kid wants to play the game, work hard and compete, then we have a shot to be really good at that position."
On the biggest adjustment for newcomers:
"The biggest adjustment is probably all the subtle details of playing the position, like a starting stance, not having a false start and playing better with your hands and your feet. At our level, when a kid comes in as a great high school athlete, they have to understand that there are finer details of playing the position. I think once they beat that learning curve and once we're able to get those guys going and teach them the fundamentals of really playing the position, then they start to really truly fall in and become a true receiver, not just running in a straight line and cutting here and there. They have to understand that they're going to be man-pressed. There's leverage and obviously the speed of the game as well is a transition."
On the importance of blocking in the quick passing game:
"Our blocking game and quick passing game is very important and a big part of what we do as far as playing fast and getting the ball to the perimeter with the running backs. We stress blocking a lot. We want our guys to be tough on the perimeter. They're going to spring more touchdowns as those guys get to the next level. They have to be well-rounded to play this position. You're not out there just scoring touchdowns. You have to be a guy to spring touchdowns. We have a great scheme up front with our O-Line, and our running backs and those guys are running the ball hard. When they get out to space and the perimeter, we're out there. We have to be able to move our feet so, we do a number of different drills, like hand placement and moving their feet. A lot of it is just toughness. A kid has to be tough and understand that his job is important."
On what pro players are used as examples:
"We talk about a number of different receivers. All of those guys have their favorites. Coach Dunn knows what it takes to play at that level. Wes Welker was a guy that we watched running around and making blocks. I think when you can pull examples of guys that go hard and do it the right way and they're in the NFL for a reason, then it's a positive. That's their motivation to play this game. We try to pull as many clips as possible, not just blocking but also running routes and how it's done the right way. I think our guys are in-tune to it, but we do use a number of different teams to show what it takes to play at that level."
On who's standing out to him at this point of fall camp:
"Tracy Moore, Charlie Moore and Josh Stewart are kind of becoming mainstays. Everybody else has to continue to get better. Jhajuan Seales and Austin Hays are playing well. Collectively as a group, we have to continue to mesh because we are only as strong as our weakest link. Whoever needs to pick up the slack, we have to get the whole group behind him to push him. I think we're emphasizing more of a group effort and group competitiveness more than anything. But there are guys making plays. We just have to be consistent and continue to get better. In our room, we have a Justin Blackmon Fathead as a reminder of a guy who has come through here, played hard, played well and was a first round draft pick. Those guys see it in that room. There's a culture that has already been established here at receiver so you have to take pride in that. There are guys who paved the way for where we are now. So I think our guys need to just continue to get better and the leadership is really there."
On his definition of the culture of Oklahoma State's receivers:
"The culture of receiver here is that we're going to go. We're going to play fast, we're going to get lined up and we're expected to make plays. We're going to run the football - that's a given, but when it comes to playing receiver, you come here with the mentality that we're going to throw the ball all across the field. We're going to put the ball in the air, and we have to make plays. We have to beat man coverage and we have to make the tough catches. When we do that and when we can stretch the defense out, play fast and get on them - and one of the things I realized when I got here was that culture of making plays is one that's been established here. Receivers will make plays, and that's what the culture is - they're going to be tough players and go hard to the whistle and that they're going to make plays."
