Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Report, March 25
March 25, 2015 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - Dressed in full pads, the Oklahoma State football team held its fifth practice of spring ball Wednesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Facility. After the approximately two hour-long session, coach Mike Gundy and several Cowboys met with media, Their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
On Mason Rudolph's improvement:
"He's improved considerably over the last two practices. He's still got a ways to go. The multiple defenses that we see now and the speed coming off the edge at quarterbacks isn't easy for them to pick up. He's got a long way to go, but he's been a good leader and he had a great offseason. His body is in really good shape. His arm has developed and he should continue to get better each day. For him, he needs to be able to spread the ball to the guys that can make plays."
On the running backs:
"Rennie Childs had a good practice today and a good practice yesterday. The other guys are understanding. They're going the wrong way sometimes because they haven't been here. In our offense, as fast as we play, you're going to make some mistakes; but that's how they learn. So far we've been pretty good."
On the offensive line:
"By the end of spring ball we're going to have eight guys that we're comfortable with putting in a game."
On the team now versus last spring:
"We're a more mature team this year. Last year we had a large part of our two-deep that didn't understand college football, and we're the opposite of that this year. We have a large part of our team that does understand college football. They need to do a lot of learning and they need to progress, but at least they understand the game."
On if the end of last season helps begin this season:
"We've talked about it a lot, being able to win the last two. When you finish strong everybody is excited, and there's a lot of excitement now about our team because we were so young last year and everybody is coming back. They should be excited about the group that's coming back."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the feel of spring practice:
"Everybody has that extra level of energy. It's good being here for a year now and seeing how last year's spring practice compares to this. It's 10 times better. We're ready to go now, and we know we have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be."
On his confidence level:
"I think this team is confident, everyone feeds off everybody. The defense is feeding off of us and we're trying to play at a high level. The energy level is high and we're just ready for the season to start."
On the receivers:
"We didn't lose anybody. We got everybody coming back so we've got a lot of weapons out there. We have a lot of weapons to use and it's going to be a fun season."
On the offensive chemistry:
"It's great. Anytime you get to come close with a group of guys after a year of being here and being friends - just going through day-to-day stuff - you're going to become closer and our chemistry is 10 times better than it was last spring. We're going to be on the same page for sure."
Quarterback J.W. Walsh
On Mason Rudolph starting:
"Being able to get along helps tremendously. At the same time we all have the same goal in mind, a common goal. We want what is best for the team and that is to listen to the coaches and to trust their decisions. We want to help the team the best we can. We're really good friends so that helps a lot to be able to communicate with each other and help each other out."
On his role on the team:
"When I look in the locker room right now, I'm one of the oldest guys. I've been around here the longest. I feel like I have that leadership role and the experience on the field and off the field. I've been through some injuries. I've been around a lot of things. I feel like I have a lot to show the team and a lot of experience to help them get through. Experience, age and leadership is a big part of my role right now."
On offensive packages for him:
"I know those guys (coaches) trust me on the field and they tell me they're going to give me every opportunity to play and that is a good feeling. At the same time whatever the decision is for them is the decision for me and I am going to be on board with it and ready to roll, because our team is going to be very successful this year and it's going to take everyone on board for that."
Cornerback Kevin Peterson
On practice:
"It was great. This is our second day with pads. Coach has been getting us ready in the weight room, so really just ready to go out there and see what we can do and see how the weight gain is. We've been ready to get back in pads and hit each other."
On the defensive group:
"This defense looks the most physical since I've been here. I'm going on my senior year. We just all look like we're flying around to the ball. We're trying to get strips. We're trying to get turnovers and really emphasizing getting the ball back to the offense to go score more points. Ever since we started these past three or four days of practice we've just really been emphasizing, `Get the ball back. Get the ball back.' With pads on it's really just been attack, attack, attack. It's been fun to get out there and do what we can."
On the coaching:
"The coaches have been driving into us, `Get the ball out. Make them feel you every time you make a tackle.' Every time they blow the whistle during a team period you're supposed to try and rip the ball from them. And at least two seconds afterward you see the whole defense, all 11 guys, out there stripping the ball. So everyone is just out there trying to get it out. Everybody is swarming the ball, really attacking and trying to get the ball back."
On the competition for a starting position:
"Coach sat us down and told us there is no corner starting right now. We have three, four, and five guys that can play and we have more guys coming in whenever summer starts. There's not any positions on lock down, so you've got to go out there with your best every play or you're going to get your spot taken."
Cornerback Ashton Lampkin
On practice:
"It's the best feeling because God is letting me be able to play football again and just be out there with my brothers. It's indescribable."
On the competition for a starting position:
"We're a brotherhood first and foremost before anything, before competition and before anything. They know that they are my brothers. Anytime they need something they can come to me. Anytime I need something, I come to them; but they know at the same time that we're all here to compete for a job. (Ramon Richards) got to compete for his job. I got to compete for my job. (Kevin Peterson) got to compete for his job, and the guys coming in have to compete for their job. So the best of the best is going to play. We've got to go out there and compete every single day."
On the strength of the defense:
"I feel like our defense is pretty strong. Our offense is strong as well though. Don't get me wrong. Everybody is strong. We're strong on offense, special teams and all of that. We're just trying to build right now. We'll just continue to build on what we have, what we're going to get coming in here in the fall. Just keep on grinding. All we can do is keep on grinding and just have a great season."
Receiver Brandon Sheperd
On practice:
"It's going pretty good. When the pads come on that's when it gets fun. Everybody is just flying around, having fun and excited, and just happy to be out there. So it's been a pretty fun time the last two weeks really."
On the youth of the team:
"We got a lot of younger guys coming along better than we thought they would. It just adds on to the core and makes us a lot better with the seniority we have on top of the young guys coming around."
On his progress:
"I feel like I put on a little extra weight in the off-season, so I'm trying to figure out how to work with that and play it to my advantage and the style of receiver that I play. Other than that, everything has been going pretty well for me."
On the strength of the team:
"Our corners right now are on point. They give us some really good looks day in and day out. To the point where it frustrates them to go out at us and it frustrates us to go at them. We tell them what they're doing right and what they're doing wrong and vice versa, so it's kind of helping each other out."
Offensive Lineman Zachary Crabtree
On Coach Adkins:
"He brought credibility because of where he came from. Not just the Buffalo Bills, but before that if you look at his track record, he was a good guy and knew what he was doing. At the same time, when you get in the film room with him and you listen to him talk about a player or break something down, he knows his stuff and knows it really well. It's great to have the opportunity to get to work with a guy like that. It's an honor and you have to be thankful for those opportunities and you make the most of it."
On offensive line improvement:
"If you look at what we were last year at this point to what we are now, it is unbelievable the progress we have made. Last year we barely could do a drop back without the quarterback having to scramble for his life. He was catching the snap and getting his feet hot and running, but now we're giving him time and they're getting a chance to make the plays. That is due in part to us in the offseason with Coach Glass and learning a lot. On top of that it is Coach Adkins working on a lot of new things."
