Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Football Report, August 16
August 16, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Aug 16, 2013
STILLWATER - Dressed in full pads, the Oklahoma State football team practiced Friday morning for approximately two-and-a-half hours in the Sherman Smith Training Facility. After practice, offensive line coach Joe Wickline shared some of his insight:
On Friday's practice:
"They're continuing to get better, but we are in no means ready to call practice off or shut it down. To say we have a long way to go would be an understatement and they know it. They're working hard. It's a grind and it's a process. They're working little by little and they're taking baby steps and getting better at different things. They're starting to clean some things up as a group. I'm seeing some progression that I'm happy with, but it may be week 13 before we get it all together."
On what is at the core of his philosophy as a coach:
"As far as what we expect here as a staff, we want tough guys. Everybody is different and nowadays, it's a different brand of people but we really want tough people. That's what is going to get you through physically and mentally. You just want tough guys. Next, you want smart guys that I like to call "low-rep" guys. They're common-sense guys that understand concepts, changes and adjustments. That third thing you can ask for is great effort. Are you getting the effort and intensity? Are you getting the drive and the sweat and the technique and the work and everything put together and finishing that makes a great work ethic?"
On where this year's group is in terms of those core philosophies:
"They're getting there. Of course they're on different scales. We're talking about this tackle or this guard or this guy is a senior, junior, sophomore or freshman. We've got a bunch of different guys and we have a ways to go. By design, if everyone is staying healthy and they continue to get better every day they will start to fit in a lot of those molds."
On if Parker Graham should be considered as an honors and awards candidate:
"Just based on cross film, which allows me to watch a lot of offensive linemen in the league over and over again, you're going to have a difficult time finding a bunch better than him. He's tall, he's long and he's a very serious guy about his game. He's got a ridiculously good bend and is quick off the ball. He's got good hands and he's graduated and getting his master's degree and he's gotten really strong. You're going to have a hard time finding anyone better."
On how newcomer Brandon Garrett is progressing:
"Not as fast as I'd like him to. I'm not trying to be negative. He knows it and I'm leaning on him. He's a guy who is going to help us and a guy that we are so glad is here. If you said his production level, his performance and results have been rip-roaring fast, no, it's been slow. It hasn't gone backwards. It's going forward and it may take him a few more weeks or months. By design he is the right kind of recruit and we're glad he's here and with progress he's going to be fine."
