Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Football Report, August 6
August 06, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Photo GalleryAug. 6, 2013
STILLWATER - Dressed in full pads for the first time during fall camp, the Oklahoma State football team practiced Tuesday for approximately two hours on the grass fields adjacent to Gallagher-Iba Arena. After practice, coach Mike Gundy and members of the team visited with the media. Their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On the first day of practice with full pads:
"We had a good workout today in full pads. We had some heat, which is really good for our football team. They got a little sluggish towards the middle and then we finished strong. When we kicked the music on I think it got them revved up. We had a good day. We've been fortunate our players have stayed healthy. We just have to continue to push through these next seven or eight days. They're really crucial for us to get ready for our first game."
On what he looks for during the first day of full pads:
"Just guys playing with effort. It's still really early on in the season and there are going to be mistakes. They just have to get up and play the next play."
On the incoming freshmen:
"You really have to be in it for four or five days. They have to get fatigued so we can see who can push through it and still play when they're tired."
On the first five days of practice:
"I like where we're at. Our body language, our attitude, our team chemistry with these guys is really good at this point and that's what it really comes down to. There are a lot of coaches who can draw plays and a lot of players who can make plays. How they come together as a unit and what kind of football team they want to be is based on their effort and I like their effort at this time."
On picking up the tempo of practice to get ready for Mississippi State:
"I think we're in a good position right now. As I mentioned earlier, these next seven days, their bodies really go through a transition with the heat and the pads. They've hit each other so they're sore and we have to have quality practices. We're only two weeks away from starting to back down here in practice and get ready to play a game."
On the offensive line playing in pads:
"I thought we played pretty well. I think our defensive line was aggressive and came hard off the ball and that makes it hard for our offense to make plays. That's really what I see. I see an offense that's very similar to what we've had in the past up to this point. But I see a group of guys on defense who are in attack mode."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On his first fall practice at Oklahoma State:
"It's been a really good experience. We've got a lot of great coaches and a lot of great players and the facilities are outstanding. I'm just really excited."
On his first impressions of the offense:
"There are a lot of good players here who understand what's going on and they play fast. It really all starts with fundamentals and making sure that we're doing a good job of being sound with assignments and making sure we know where to line up. The better we get at that, the faster we can go."
On the up-tempo offenses of the Big 12:
"It's a lot of fun and our players really enjoy it. That's important and our fans enjoy it too, so that's a good thing."
Running Backs Coach Jemal Singleton
On the adjustment period for incoming freshmen:
"It's mostly mental. You watch the freshman walk off the field, body type and strength they look like college football players. What they are not is mentally strong and that's the toughest part. It's not just football; it's all the other stuff they have to learn to manage. They have to be able to separate football time and academic time. It's usually not a skill set problem, it's knowing what to do."
On the depth at running back:
"The thing with my two older guys is they are both going to play, there's no if, ands or buts about that. This is Big 12 football and as a running back you're going to take a pounding. So we need more guys to step up that we can put on the field. We want to get those guys rolling and it might go week by week."
Defensive Line Coach Joe Bob Clements
On practicing against OSU's quick offense:
"It's taxing mentally. You have to run around fast and you have to think fast. The benefit of practicing against our offense on a daily basis is there is no one that they will line up against that will go any faster. We're ready for that. With our guys, you see their knowledge and that they pick up things at a fast pace because they are forced to. They have to think fast. If they don't, they are left standing still and everyone's moving. "
On how fast the offense is:
"You don't have much time to make corrections out there because they're already putting their hand on the ground and are ready to go."
Defensive Tackle Calvin Barnett
On the first day of full pads:
"The first day of full pads always brings competition. We're just natural competitors - that's what we do. When you get the pads on, you get to go full speed, everything is fast and you don't hold back."
On full pads making the offense vs. defense sessions more intense:
"Of course it makes those drills more intense. We're all trying to compete, we're all trying to get better and we're trying to make each other better. That's part of it."
Linebacker Shaun Lewis
On how the quarterback situation affects the defense:
"As a defense, it doesn't matter who plays quarterback - we have a job to do. All we can do is worry about that job and keep them off the field. As a defense, we didn't do as well as we wanted to last year, but this year we feel confident in our ability to get the job done. We have two great quarterbacks, so it's not really a concern."
On the defense vs. offense goal line scenarios in practice:
"I thought the defense did really well today. Anytime Coach Gundy makes us go again after one play, I think that means the defense won. We will go and watch the film, but from an intensity standpoint, I think the defense was excited and pleased with how we did."
Offensive Lineman Jake Jenkins
On whether the lineman work better with either quarterback:
"I think some guys work better with different quarterbacks, but I think it just varies from guy to guy depending on how they're going to receive the ball, how they pass, because they pass differently and both quarterbacks make different decisions. I think it varies guy to guy on how they adjust."
On finally being able to hit in full pads:
"When we put on full pads, it's just like going shorts and shoulder pads. There's not much difference. It's just another day. The main difference is the offensive lineman have to wear the knee braces, so it's a little more tiring."
Running back Jeremy Smith
On being a running back for the first day of full pads:
"For me, once you put the shoulder pads on, you just go from there. You don't really need pads in your pants. We got to do the goal line situation, so you could say we got some good live action. I liked it. I have to keep my legs healthy and get rest at night."
On if running backs coach Jemal Singleton has changed since becoming a father:
"Coach Singleton was always the kind of coach who would joke and laugh with you to make you more comfortable with the game, but now you can see he is more of a father figure. He is still the same guy, but he tells us 'you need to do this or that' a bit more now. I think that just comes along with it."
Wide receiver Josh Stewart
On the first practice in pads:
"It was pretty good. Both the offense and defense are getting better every day. Everybody is looking good. We're just ready to start the season on August 31."
On the receivers:
"No matter who is doing what, we are all going to work together as a unit. We're not trying to be bigger than someone else. It's all as a team. It's not even just me and Tracy Moore. You have Charlie Moore along with some freshmen like Marcell Ateman, Ra'Shaad Samples and Jhajuan Seales. We've got them everywhere."
Offensive lineman Parker Graham
On first practice with pads:
"I think it went really well for the first day of pads. We're still working out the kinks with five new guys playing together, but for where we're at right now, I'm really impressed by how the young guys stepped up. Devin Davis is doing a great job. Jake Jenkins is doing a great job with making the calls. Everything is pretty fluid right now and it's impressive."
On the weather:
"We're playing a couple of indoor games at the beginning of the season. We had those first couple of humid days, which was good to get used to because that's how the indoor environment is going to be. Now, we're getting the heat, which is going to be Oklahoma. It's not a factor for us. We're just going to grit through it. With each day, it's going to get, hopefully, hotter so we can keep testing ourselves and keep pushing."
