Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Football Report, August 7
August 07, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 7, 2013
Practice #6 Photo Gallery | VIDEO: Cowboys Continue Fall Camp in Full Pads
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State football team practiced Wednesday dressed in full pads. The Cowboys worked out for approximately two hours on the grass fields adjacent to Gallagher-Iba Arena. After practice, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich shared some of his insights:
On Wednesday's Practice:
"It was a lot of fun. We flew around, we made some plays. There's always room to improve. The fun part is getting into the film room and seeing it on tape, because whether you think it was really good or really bad, you're usually wrong. It's never really good and it's never really bad. It's somewhere in between. I can't wait to get in the film room to check it out."
On Shippensburg QB Zach Zulli's style:
"He was a hybrid. He was a very accurate passer who could get the ball out very quickly to quick screens and bubbles. He was a very accurate passer with good vision. Zach in the classroom wasn't as good as Zach on the field. He saw guys that were open and he got the ball to the right guys at the right time. He didn't hang on to the ball and he got a little better as a runner as well. He was able to escape and make some things happen with his feet. He wasn't very physical as a runner, but he did enough where he kept defenses honest with what he was able to do."
On how coaching Zulli could translate to Oklahoma State's personnel at quarterback and offensive style:
"The design of this offense is the design of this offense, and the Cowboy way is the Cowboy way. We're going to continue on that path. However, having a quarterback that can escape the pocket and scramble and ad lib and move in the pocket - we call it the Elway drill, where we can "Elway" right and stay within the pocket and keep your eyes downfield and throw the ball downfield - just puts pressure on the defense because they have to cover longer. Any time you're asking a defense to cover for a longer duration, your receivers have a higher percentage chance of getting open. That's what those guys give you with good feet. As long as they're securing the ball and keeping their eyes downfield, those are good things when that happens."
On if he's pleased with where the offense is from a mental standpoint:
"Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm tickled pink to be able coach these guys because they're all in. They come to their meetings ready to go. They're prepared and have a business-like mindset about it and have a very good approach."
On if he's pleased with the tempo at which the offense is currently operating:
"We can always get faster. We can always push the standard from a tempo standpoint, getting lined up fast and making sure that they're wearing the defense out and disrupting their communication and you're making them, from a substitution standpoint, take care of that as well."
On Marcell Ateman and Ra'Shaad Samples to this point:
"They're mature young men. They come with a business approach, they're very serious. Being that talented that young and being able to focus and learn and focus on the details and be coachable is a wonderful thing. Those two young men, who they are from a character standpoint, is what's awesome about them."
On how he describes Samples' and Ateman's style of play:
"Samples is twitchy. He can really double-move you. He's great in open space and can make you miss. He's got some speed to burn, too. Both have good hands. Marcell is longer. He can stretch you. He does a great job on breaking down. He gets in and out of cuts well. He goes up and gets it very well on fade balls and go routes. He's a tall frame that also understands how to high-point the ball and he snatches it real well. From a physical standpoint with his height and his strength, the young guy is pretty good right now."
