Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Report, Aug. 5
August 05, 2014 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State football team held its fifth practice Tuesday morning at the Sherman E. Smith Training Facility, practicing in full pads for the first time. Coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team met with media after the approximately two-hour long practice session. Their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening statement
"We had a good day in practice today, and it was our first day in pads. Our effort, our enthusiasm and the players' attention has been really good. I'm pleased with where we're at. Our message to them over the last few days, which will continue for the next few weeks, is that we need to get a little better every day. We need each drill and each team setting to improve. I think they're buying into that aspect of it, and we have a number of young players that are getting better. I see some signs of improvement since the first time they went out there. That's encouraging. We had nine players, I counted, on the second team today that are true freshmen, basically. Those guys are going to have to play, so I'm encouraged in that area. We've got a long ways to go, but the team is getting better and the attitude is great."
On if he sees the opener against Florida State as a great opportunity
"There are two ways to look at it. First thing, once we signed on to playing it, we saw it as just that; a great opportunity. It's great for the coaches, staff and the players, period. I have some 'if's' based on what my long-term plans will be, but that's irrelevant at this point. The players understood that, and that conversation took place in February. This is where we are, this is the game that we have and we've had plans for it throughout the entire summer. We've been planning to play and compete enough to win the first game. That's what we're concerned with right now, other than getting a little bit better each day."
On progressively getting to know the newcomers to the team
"I'm getting better with it. I had to ask about a couple of defensive guys today, but I'm getting there. You know, just from a distance, there are two or three guys at a certain position that are built the same and look the same, but that's a good thing. They're very athletic, this group. We've enjoyed watching them develop over the last five days."
On the team's scrimmage this weekend
"We'll go full team, but we really won't tackle to the ground. We don't ever do that, but we'll have a majority of the practice be a team competition on Saturday."
On the defense's experience
"They're still very young. We've got a number of players that have a lot of experience and understanding, and then there's a gap. Then, we have more players that are talented, but don't have any experience. It's really the best definition of where we're at right now as a defense."
On what he's seen out of Tyreek Hill, and if he can compare him to a former OSU player
"Well, he's still fast, and he seems to be more durable. You're always concerned when you have a really talented track athlete who plays football, but he has made strides. His attitude is really good, and that's important at that position. He's considerably better now than he was in the middle of the spring. We'd have to go way back, and there hasn't been anybody recent. The guy that he reminds me of a little bit is, although he's much thicker and heavier, would be Rafael Denson, but he's faster than Rafael Denson. I don't know if these guys were even born when Rafael Denson played, but he's the only guy I can think of that can get in the same category of the type of athlete that Tyreek is at this time."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On getting into a solid practice routine
"We've been showing some intensity, some juice and some emotion. We've done a good job of that. I thought today, at first, that we didn't have that edge coming out to practice, but as the day went on, we got better. Then, there's the mental mistakes, which have a collective accountability out there. There's a responsibility to get it right, which you realize can be a process as coach."
On younger guys who have grabbed his attention
"We've got a bunch of young linebackers in the mix, and we're rotating the depth chart right now to give them all a fair shot. I can't really say that anybody has stuck out. There have been good things and bad things that I've seen, and we've got to establish some depth there. We're going a couple of young safeties and a couple of young corners that will be getting some playing time, too."
On Josh Furman
"He's had his highs and his lows. It's a different position for him. He's got some abilities against the passing game, just as an athlete. You've got to bring him along in some run fits with his aggressiveness in the run game. It's more of him not having done it and not having been involved in that role before, so there's got to be sense of urgency with continuing to bring him along."
On Seth Jacobs' changes over the summer
"He put on a lot of weight, and he's going to be a much more physical player. He has made some great strides in the offseason, and he's really playing well in camp so far. Mentally, he knows what to do. He's going to play a couple of different positions for us, and I'm still going to dual-train him, as well. He's going to be playing some star, also, kind of depending on the situation on the field. Seth is smart enough and has been in the system long enough to handle that."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On balancing reps between three different quarterbacks
"You just have to make sure that you're trying to split it up evenly, for the most part. With whatever drill we're in, you've got to make sure that a different guy is starting that drill the next day for you. For example, if J.W. (Walsh) starts an inside run on Monday, then on Tuesday, we start someone else and make sure we're rotating them throughout the week and getting a fair share there."
On the progress of the quarterbacks
"They're all doing real well. They're all progressing. The biggest thing is that they compete, and they're all great teammates. The awesome thing about being able to coach those young men is that they understand the concept of a team."
On having experience with each of the quarterbacks prior to beginning camp
"You know, any time you get an extra year to get to know somebody, whether it's your wife or it's the quarterback, you're going to get to know them a little bit better. I think it really helps with communication, and the big word there is trust."
On Tyreek Hill
"Yeah, I've seen him. He's doing a great job, and he's picking up the offense real well. The little things need to get ironed out, but Tyreek's doing fine and progressing well."
Linebacker Seth Jacobs
On practicing with full pads today
"It's a good feeling to get back in pads. Everyone's flying around. Everybody's getting more reps. Everyone's working hard and trying to get their assignments right."
On the progress of the new defensive personnel
"We're all learning. We're all trying to do the best we can to play the best we can. Everyone's hustling and giving a good effort. Like I said, we're all learning. As long as we get better every day, we should be fine."
On the young defense matching up with Florida State
"It's exciting for everyone. This is an opportunity that kids dream to be a part of. It's a great chance for us to show what we can do as a team."
Defensive Tackle James Castleman
On practicing with full pads today
"It's about the same, but now that we have pads on, we're not scared to hit. Now, I'm not saying we're scared to hit, but now we have full pads. We follow through all the way. We're not scared to take it all the way to the ground. We want to make sure we keep everybody on the team healthy, but at the same time, we'll still go all out."
On practicing without having to worry about classes or outside stress
"I feel like it benefits us. With the new guys coming in, it gives us a chance to get to know them better and see what they're like since they're not always around doing other things. I feel like it is a lot better that we're always doing something together."
Receiver Jhajuan Seales
On the progress of the young receivers
"We're going to be a group that surprises a lot of people. They came in ready to get after it, so they have made a lot of improvement. They are great receivers and making a lot of plays for us."
On what the younger guys have done to impress him
"Jump balls and getting across the middle. They all have speed and can go up and get the ball."
On practicing with full pads today
"It's a great thing. We hype it up in the locker room with the defensive backs, telling them we're going to get after it and make it a competition out there. It's a great environment for everyone."
Running Back Desmond Roland
On practicing without having to worry about classes or outside stress
"It's very beneficial. We don't have to worry about papers due or tests we're taking next week. We can just focus on football, and that's just like a class. It's two or three straight weeks of football, so we can keep our minds set and focus on that."
On having to sit out during the spring due to injury
"It really killed me to see my brothers and teammates practicing while I was just running gassers and working out. I just really missed the game. My first day back, I felt like I was really blessed to be back on the field. I really missed it. I'm just now getting back into the swing of things after a missing a whole spring of football. It feels different."
On practicing in the heat
"It wasn't that bad. We'll get used to it eventually. It doesn't make a difference whether we're practicing inside or outside. At the end of the day, we still have to practice."
Running Back Rennie Childs
On his running style
"If somebody's in my way. I'm not going to be scared and run out of bounds or juke. If I'm in a situation where I have to juke, I'm going to do it, but if I'm in a situation where I have to run through them, then I'm going to run through them."
On practicing in full pads today
"To me, being a running back, there's really no difference. Having those shoulder pads and going out there doing inside drills with the first team or second team defense, it's just like going full speed with full pads on. There really isn't a difference."
Kicker Ben Grogan
On his freshman season
"I think the ups and downs were good from an experience standpoint. I'd rather do better on bad days, but I think the year of the ups and downs helped me during the offseason."
On using misses as motivation to get better
"I try not to think about it much. I try to forget about that kick, but at the same time, I know that it was there and that it happened. It's not going away, so I have to make sure I keep working so that it doesn't happen again. I don't think about it when I'm kicking, but maybe when I'm in the weight room, it's something that will push me."
On having chemistry with your holder and long snapper
"I think that it makes a difference, having a rhythm with those guys. Last year, I had four weeks with the guys that I didn't even know because I hadn't been here, so it was different getting used to that. We got better as the season went on. Getting to work with Kaleb (Smith) and Kip (Smith) all offseason helped a lot."
