Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Report, April 1
April 01, 2015 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER -- The Oklahoma State football team held its eighth practice of spring ball Wednesday, holding a scrimmage 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 today's scrimmage:
"We had 118 plays and I wanted the young guys and some veterans to get snaps today. Essentially, it was just an all-out scrimmage for us. Early the offense played pretty well and later the defense kind of took over. It was very controlled from the defensive standpoint, in my opinion. We have a number of guys on our team that have to pick up the pace and play at a higher tempo than last year if we want to be successful this year -- particularly the two-year guys that came into our program. Maile, Mays, Burton, they're all doing pretty well. The quarterback made some good plays. He missed a throw or two, threw a pick. We didn't put the ball on the ground, the defense ran well and I think we dropped four balls so we have to do a better job of catching."
On Motekiai Maile:
"I thought that he weighed 285, and the other day they said he was 306. He's showing signs of being athletic. He made a nice play today -- a one-handed grab. His attitude has been good and he seems to understand the tempo of this level of football. To this point, it looks like he's been a good take for us. I've said a long time ago we need to wait until we get to the middle of the season to evaluate a guy, but up to this point he's had the right temperament."
On how much stock he puts in recruiting class rankings:
"I think there are some services that are very knowledgeable, but it's become so saturated that I'm not sure where the information is coming from. For me zero, because I can't tell you what any of them are. There are some that are coaches who are on the road all the time use because they think there is some credible information, but if I were to use rankings from recruiting services while here at Oklahoma State, I would be unhappy every year because very seldom am I ever in the top 25."
On his stance on an early signing day:
"If it were me, I would have a signing day on July 1. They're talking about doing it at the same time as junior college now, and I still think that's beneficial, but the administrators, AD's, presidents, those that have to be fiscally sound with budgets and such would have early signing day because it saves money. I've said that for five years."
Linebacker Ryan Simmons
On the new look defensive secondary:
"It's completely different. A lot of guys have come back with confidence. The confidence is skyrocketing right now. The guys who didn't get a chance are getting their chance now. We're just out here trying to make our name known."
On the team's progression this offseason:
"There's great competition throughout each and every practice, but nobody is fully there. Everybody's got a lot of work to do, myself included. We're just out there trying to get better each and every day."
On the progression of Victor Salako:
"I think it's confidence with him as well. He came in not knowing the system and not knowing pretty much anything about the offense and now that he's been around he's definitely blossomed. He's getting better each and every practice."
Running Back Rennie Childs
On this year's increased workload:
"It excites me. I've been waiting on this for a long time. I've been wanting all of the carries."
On the toll of being the No. 1 running back:
"That why we have Todd Mays and Raymond Taylor, to have my back when I get tired, and whenever they get tired I can step in and help out. It's just a team thing, team effort. We're all just there contributing to the team and putting our skills and everything we have toward the team goal, which is being Big 12 champions and national champions."
On today's scrimmage:
"It went pretty well. The offense was moving around pretty well. The defense played very well today. They were very physical. They did their thing out there today."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On his performance in the scrimmage:
"I wasn't really very pleased with the way I played. I made a lot of mistakes. There were certain mistakes that were easily correctable, so we'll get back there in the film room this afternoon and tomorrow morning and correct things for Friday. So, not a great day."
On his work ethic:
"I kind of know from how I played what I need to work on, but obviously [Mike Yurcich] knows a lot better about what I do in practice because he's the offensive coordinator. He's going to make sure I know what I need to improve on and he's going to let me know for sure."
On having another year of experience:
"As far as the mental makeup, it's been a lot easier this spring as far as coverages, pre-snaps, recognition and stuff like that, which comes from another year of being here. Each day I try to continue to improve and do the little things right. That's kind of what we're focused on."
On the offensive line:
"They're doing a tremendous job with the addition of [Victor Salako]. [Jesse Robinson] has really stepped through. Michael Wilson, Brad Lundblade and obviously, [Zachary Crabtree] are a pretty solid front we got here on the ground. They're giving me a lot of time to throw, which is great. We're all working together to make strides and to improve this off-season."
Defensive End Emmanuel Ogbah
On his goals for the season:
"My goal is to get enough sacks to help my team win."
On Big 12 competition:
"I don't feel overshadowed because I like being the underdog. That's how I work harder. It makes me work harder and I'm just trying to advance myself."
On having another year of experience:
"I feel l can be much better because I'm more experienced now and I have a better work ethic. I'm trying to get to the next level so I'm going to try to be the best I can be."
On the offensive line:
"They definitely started giving me more of a challenge. Crabtree is definitely stepping up and the new offensive lineman Victor is a real good guy too. He's stepping up too. I think our offense will be good this year."
Wide Receiver Brandon Sheperd
On what it means to play angry:
"It's pretty much like a fight every day. Every time you go into practice you have to go in with the mindset that you're going to hit them hard and if you're going to fight there's going to be a fight. It's spring ball. There are a lot of angry men out here. We've been hitting each other for about three or four weeks and after a while it starts to get the best of you. That makes you angrier."
On the shoeless Bedlam touchdown:
"It was definitely a first. I didn't even know I had it off until I got into the endzone and Mason Rudolph almost stepped on my big toe."
On the stop-and-go touchdown against Washington:
"I caught the ball and I saw the guy to my right fall, but I knew there was one more person because they were in a cover four or cover two, so I knew there was a safety somewhere around me. I looked around and caught him in the peripheral of my eye and I knew he was the only guy I had to beat, so as soon as I beat him it was a wrap."
Linebacker Justin Phillips
How playing in front a large crowd in high school helped in Big 12 play:
"It [helps] because there's a lot of people out there and the noise level and the atmosphere and just being there... [It helped with] the competition level too because being up there on a big stage is good. Just being out there isn't too much of a difference"
On having another year of experience:
"It was great because I got a feel for the game and a feel for the speed. The chances when I did get to get in there I tried to make something happen. I tried to make a couple of plays. In the Bedlam game when, unfortunately, someone went down, I was the next man up, so that was a good feel for it to see what it's really like."
On competing for a starting position:
"Right now [Glenn Spencer] is just getting everybody in shape, so he just wants me to do my best. He wants me to compete for it. He's not just going to give it to me, so every day when I'm out there at practice I'm competing and trying to work hard so I can get it."
Defensive Tackle Vincent Taylor
On the team's progression this offseason:
"It's been great. We've got a lot of young guys that are competing and it's making it fun."
On the upcoming season:
"I can't wait to compete with my brothers and having the opportunity to compete for a starting position."
