Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Cowboy Offense Meets With Media
December 29, 2015 | Cowboy Football
NEW ORLEANS - The Oklahoma State offense met with media Tuesday morning to preview the 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl. Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and five Cowboy players discussed OSU's upcoming matchup with Ole Miss. Their comments:
Quarterback J.W. Walsh
On Ole Miss:
"They are very athletic, big, fast and strong. It is always fun to go out and play a new opponent and test your team and see how you stand against other teams outside your conference. They are a good football team and we are excited for the opportunity to go to the Superdome and play against these guys."
On confidence level of throwing deep:
"I am very confident in my deep ball for two reasons; one, because I am older and much more mature so I understand the game a lot better and two, when you have the kind of guys to throw to that I do, you don't have to be very good – just get it close."
On quarterback Mason Rudolph:
"Mason (Rudolph) is one of the leaders for this team. Anytime you can get him on the field and around the guys it raises our morale. Mason and I are good friends and we enjoy each other's company and just being able to watch each other compete has been a really fun experience."
On the decline of the run game:
"It is tough for me to see all the criticism that our offensive line gets from people. They work their tails off. Nobody on the offensive line hangs their heads or makes excuses. We are all pretty upbeat because maybe we are not running the ball well, but we are throwing the ball very well. Those guys also have to pass block, which I think people forget."
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Wide Receiver James Washington
On if they need a mental rest after two losses:
"I wouldn't say we do. It's part of the game and we have to be ready for any outcome. We just have to give it our all."
On what he has learned from quarterback J.W. Walsh:
"I learned to never give up, play with your team, and enjoy the moment. He always said, 'It goes by so fast, just enjoy your time here with your guys.'"
On what moment stands out about J.W. Walsh:
"He's an all-around great guy. He's kind of like a bigger brother to me because I watch him, I learn from him, I see how he works and I try to match it. When you have someone who is going to set the bar high in practice it makes everyone else want to practice hard."
On the Ole Miss pass defense:
"I've been watching a lot of film and we just need to stick to the game plan. I don't really look into if they are good or bad. I just go out there and do what the coaches taught me and told me to do. Just execute it and see what happens."
On playing in a two-quarterback offense:
"It all starts with practice. Sometimes we have J.W. going and sometimes we have Mason going, and then switch them. You never really get a feel for one quarterback, but you know when this quarterback is in they have certain tendencies and this quarterback has certain tendencies. When you can swap quarterbacks in and out of practice like that, it keeps the wide receivers fresh and knowing exactly what to expect from our quarterback. "
On one being a running quarterback and the other being a passing quarterback:
"There has been some cases where Mason has ran for 60 yards down the field and some cases 'J Love' has thrown deep passes to me, (wide receiver) Marcel Ateman, (wide receiver Austin) Hays, and (running back) Raymond Taylor. So, you really can't tell what we are going to do with them."
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Offensive Lineman Zachary Crabtree
On the moral boost from the return of quarterback Mason Rudolph:
"It's absolutely nice. Any time a guy gets injured and to see him come back that's such a huge contributor is good to see. You hate to be without a guy that is one of your strong contributors and we're glad to have him back out there with the team."
On the struggles with the run game, and one game he remembers grading well:
"TCU went well. Not that we necessarily ran the ball well, but we moved the ball well and had great pass protection. Running wise, Iowa State, we ran very well that game."
On first reaction to hearing (Robert) Nkemdiche is out:
"He's a heck of a football player. But to be honest with you, I said it when we found out that that defensive line is still very good. It goes far beyond him. They have great backups, great ends, and other good defensive tackles. He's a big time player that makes a lot of plays, but they have a lot of other guys that make plays too."
On comparing speed of Ole Miss to other opponents:
"It wouldn't say so. Baylor has their guys who are strong and fast, Oklahoma has their guys who are strong and fast. Physically there isn't much of a difference, but if you look at their get off, they compare to Oklahoma and Baylor. They're a lot alike, but there isn't one thing they over dominant but do a lot of things really well."
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Wide Receiver Marcell Ateman
On the quality of Oklahoma State's wide receivers:
"That's what makes us great, that's what makes us a good football team. You don't have to just rely on one person. We can all make plays and I think that's something that we can show defenses."
On Oklahoma State's recruiting:
"When the guys come here they're willing to get better. You have a lot of one-star, two-star, three-star [players], and when we come here we work to become a top receiver and a go-to guy. I just think it's the mentality you have when you come in here and Coach Glass and Coach Gundy push us to have success in our game. "
On Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich:
"He's evolved into a great coach. Even when he first got here, his enthusiasm and will to win has always been there. He's more comfortable with us, he's adjusted to us and he knows who we are as players. When he brings us together as a team he knows what we can do. He knows our strengths as a football team and he never tried to steer away from that. He kept up the tradition."
On facing Ole Miss:
"We know that the defensive line is great. As a team, we have to handle the things that we can control. If (wide receiver) James (Washington) and I end up going off in the game and making big plays, it is what it is. We know that we can do it. As a team we have to make sure we handle the little things before we can make the big plays."
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Running Back Raymond Taylor
On being in New Orleans:
"I've loved New Orleans so far. It is a lot of fun. This is my first time here, and I get to experience it with a lot of my teammates so that has made it really enjoyable. I am originally from Wichita, Kansas. The Superdome will be just the second NFL stadium I've ever walked into. I have only been in Cowboys Stadium so that is all I have to compare it to."
On conference pride:
"There is a lot of conference pride going into this game. We feel like we have a lot to prove for our conference. We believe in the strength of our conference, and I feel like sometimes we get overlooked. If there is any chance, especially against a good SEC team, that we can display what the Big 12 has to offer then we need to do it."
On Ole Miss:
"Ole Miss has a lot of really good athletes, and they move really fast. That is what we have been preparing for. The speed really stands out for their team. They move towards the ball with great speed."
On watching the Texas vs. Baylor game:
"Knowing what had to happen for us to come here, it was intense. We have known all year that Texas is one of those teams you can't sleep on. It was a long game. I know in the second half they were just trying to hold onto it."
Quarterback J.W. Walsh
On Ole Miss:
"They are very athletic, big, fast and strong. It is always fun to go out and play a new opponent and test your team and see how you stand against other teams outside your conference. They are a good football team and we are excited for the opportunity to go to the Superdome and play against these guys."
On confidence level of throwing deep:
"I am very confident in my deep ball for two reasons; one, because I am older and much more mature so I understand the game a lot better and two, when you have the kind of guys to throw to that I do, you don't have to be very good – just get it close."
On quarterback Mason Rudolph:
"Mason (Rudolph) is one of the leaders for this team. Anytime you can get him on the field and around the guys it raises our morale. Mason and I are good friends and we enjoy each other's company and just being able to watch each other compete has been a really fun experience."
On the decline of the run game:
"It is tough for me to see all the criticism that our offensive line gets from people. They work their tails off. Nobody on the offensive line hangs their heads or makes excuses. We are all pretty upbeat because maybe we are not running the ball well, but we are throwing the ball very well. Those guys also have to pass block, which I think people forget."
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Wide Receiver James Washington
On if they need a mental rest after two losses:
"I wouldn't say we do. It's part of the game and we have to be ready for any outcome. We just have to give it our all."
On what he has learned from quarterback J.W. Walsh:
"I learned to never give up, play with your team, and enjoy the moment. He always said, 'It goes by so fast, just enjoy your time here with your guys.'"
On what moment stands out about J.W. Walsh:
"He's an all-around great guy. He's kind of like a bigger brother to me because I watch him, I learn from him, I see how he works and I try to match it. When you have someone who is going to set the bar high in practice it makes everyone else want to practice hard."
On the Ole Miss pass defense:
"I've been watching a lot of film and we just need to stick to the game plan. I don't really look into if they are good or bad. I just go out there and do what the coaches taught me and told me to do. Just execute it and see what happens."
On playing in a two-quarterback offense:
"It all starts with practice. Sometimes we have J.W. going and sometimes we have Mason going, and then switch them. You never really get a feel for one quarterback, but you know when this quarterback is in they have certain tendencies and this quarterback has certain tendencies. When you can swap quarterbacks in and out of practice like that, it keeps the wide receivers fresh and knowing exactly what to expect from our quarterback. "
On one being a running quarterback and the other being a passing quarterback:
"There has been some cases where Mason has ran for 60 yards down the field and some cases 'J Love' has thrown deep passes to me, (wide receiver) Marcel Ateman, (wide receiver Austin) Hays, and (running back) Raymond Taylor. So, you really can't tell what we are going to do with them."
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Offensive Lineman Zachary Crabtree
On the moral boost from the return of quarterback Mason Rudolph:
"It's absolutely nice. Any time a guy gets injured and to see him come back that's such a huge contributor is good to see. You hate to be without a guy that is one of your strong contributors and we're glad to have him back out there with the team."
On the struggles with the run game, and one game he remembers grading well:
"TCU went well. Not that we necessarily ran the ball well, but we moved the ball well and had great pass protection. Running wise, Iowa State, we ran very well that game."
On first reaction to hearing (Robert) Nkemdiche is out:
"He's a heck of a football player. But to be honest with you, I said it when we found out that that defensive line is still very good. It goes far beyond him. They have great backups, great ends, and other good defensive tackles. He's a big time player that makes a lot of plays, but they have a lot of other guys that make plays too."
On comparing speed of Ole Miss to other opponents:
"It wouldn't say so. Baylor has their guys who are strong and fast, Oklahoma has their guys who are strong and fast. Physically there isn't much of a difference, but if you look at their get off, they compare to Oklahoma and Baylor. They're a lot alike, but there isn't one thing they over dominant but do a lot of things really well."
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Wide Receiver Marcell Ateman
On the quality of Oklahoma State's wide receivers:
"That's what makes us great, that's what makes us a good football team. You don't have to just rely on one person. We can all make plays and I think that's something that we can show defenses."
On Oklahoma State's recruiting:
"When the guys come here they're willing to get better. You have a lot of one-star, two-star, three-star [players], and when we come here we work to become a top receiver and a go-to guy. I just think it's the mentality you have when you come in here and Coach Glass and Coach Gundy push us to have success in our game. "
On Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich:
"He's evolved into a great coach. Even when he first got here, his enthusiasm and will to win has always been there. He's more comfortable with us, he's adjusted to us and he knows who we are as players. When he brings us together as a team he knows what we can do. He knows our strengths as a football team and he never tried to steer away from that. He kept up the tradition."
On facing Ole Miss:
"We know that the defensive line is great. As a team, we have to handle the things that we can control. If (wide receiver) James (Washington) and I end up going off in the game and making big plays, it is what it is. We know that we can do it. As a team we have to make sure we handle the little things before we can make the big plays."
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Running Back Raymond Taylor
On being in New Orleans:
"I've loved New Orleans so far. It is a lot of fun. This is my first time here, and I get to experience it with a lot of my teammates so that has made it really enjoyable. I am originally from Wichita, Kansas. The Superdome will be just the second NFL stadium I've ever walked into. I have only been in Cowboys Stadium so that is all I have to compare it to."
On conference pride:
"There is a lot of conference pride going into this game. We feel like we have a lot to prove for our conference. We believe in the strength of our conference, and I feel like sometimes we get overlooked. If there is any chance, especially against a good SEC team, that we can display what the Big 12 has to offer then we need to do it."
On Ole Miss:
"Ole Miss has a lot of really good athletes, and they move really fast. That is what we have been preparing for. The speed really stands out for their team. They move towards the ball with great speed."
On watching the Texas vs. Baylor game:
"Knowing what had to happen for us to come here, it was intense. We have known all year that Texas is one of those teams you can't sleep on. It was a long game. I know in the second half they were just trying to hold onto it."
Players Mentioned
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