Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Gundy Meets With Media After Practice
April 06, 2016 | Cowboy Football
Practice Photo Gallery
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team held its 11th practice of the spring Wednesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center, with the Cowboys practicing for approximately two hours in full pads. At the conclusion of the session, coach Mike Gundy met with media to give an update on the team's progress. His comments:
Opening statement:
"It really hasn't changed. We're going to run the same practice that we had on Friday. We've had very competitive practices that have been long and physical. The young players have made some plays, but it's really just another day of spring ball. We started working the two young quarterbacks with the ones and let Rudolph have a break. (Chris) Carson is improved. Watching him today, he has solidified himself as an improved back from last year, so I'm happy with the direction that he is going. We've got a long ways to go, but the little things like body language, attitudes and allowing themselves to be coached has been excellent."
On the depth of the team:
"We're not going to be as deep in the secondary as we were last year and certainly not going to be as deep in the defensive line. We should hopefully be deeper on the offensive line. Receivers should be OK and the running backs should be OK, so those positions were a concern, but the others will be what we've been the last few seasons."
On Ramon Richards talking to the team after practice:
"We've allowed one player per practice to address the team if our coaching staff thinks he's earned the right. We started with our seven committee members and those seven guys have earned that right. From that point on, Zac Veatch, Ramon (Richards), and players that we trust and have worked themselves, and the coaching staff believes in him."
On Ramon Richards' performance this spring:
"He's fast and he's understanding. Now he's had enough reps to get a feel and he seems to realize the commitment it takes day in, and day out. There were three players today, I mentioned one of them in Ramon, but Jhajuan Seales in comparison to Kenneth McGruder, in that both of them competed at a high level. With Seales, I joke with him that he's like a 10-year veteran and McGruder is new. Both of them have a similar personality on the field and one is a young player that is learning on the field and the other is a veteran that realizes that he has to have a strong commitment in order to get better, even in his last season. Those are guys who I feel have been committed to the team this spring even though they're at different levels in their eligibility."
On if he has decided on a format for the spring game next Saturday:
"Not really. It'll be based on our health. If you lose a couple of guys with tweaked ankles or hamstrings, you're somewhat limited in what you can do in a game atmosphere. We want to do the best we can do to put on a show for our fans. I would love to split teams and have a game, but if we don't feel like we have enough to be able do that and play a good game then we'll come up with some other format. But our goal is to get the players on the field with the fans for 30 minutes before the game and then have a good hour and a half of a football atmosphere. Hopefully it'll be a game, but at least enough of a scrimmage that the fans will leave and feel like they've gotten a good feel for Oklahoma State football for this fall."
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team held its 11th practice of the spring Wednesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center, with the Cowboys practicing for approximately two hours in full pads. At the conclusion of the session, coach Mike Gundy met with media to give an update on the team's progress. His comments:
Opening statement:
"It really hasn't changed. We're going to run the same practice that we had on Friday. We've had very competitive practices that have been long and physical. The young players have made some plays, but it's really just another day of spring ball. We started working the two young quarterbacks with the ones and let Rudolph have a break. (Chris) Carson is improved. Watching him today, he has solidified himself as an improved back from last year, so I'm happy with the direction that he is going. We've got a long ways to go, but the little things like body language, attitudes and allowing themselves to be coached has been excellent."
On the depth of the team:
"We're not going to be as deep in the secondary as we were last year and certainly not going to be as deep in the defensive line. We should hopefully be deeper on the offensive line. Receivers should be OK and the running backs should be OK, so those positions were a concern, but the others will be what we've been the last few seasons."
On Ramon Richards talking to the team after practice:
"We've allowed one player per practice to address the team if our coaching staff thinks he's earned the right. We started with our seven committee members and those seven guys have earned that right. From that point on, Zac Veatch, Ramon (Richards), and players that we trust and have worked themselves, and the coaching staff believes in him."
On Ramon Richards' performance this spring:
"He's fast and he's understanding. Now he's had enough reps to get a feel and he seems to realize the commitment it takes day in, and day out. There were three players today, I mentioned one of them in Ramon, but Jhajuan Seales in comparison to Kenneth McGruder, in that both of them competed at a high level. With Seales, I joke with him that he's like a 10-year veteran and McGruder is new. Both of them have a similar personality on the field and one is a young player that is learning on the field and the other is a veteran that realizes that he has to have a strong commitment in order to get better, even in his last season. Those are guys who I feel have been committed to the team this spring even though they're at different levels in their eligibility."
On if he has decided on a format for the spring game next Saturday:
"Not really. It'll be based on our health. If you lose a couple of guys with tweaked ankles or hamstrings, you're somewhat limited in what you can do in a game atmosphere. We want to do the best we can do to put on a show for our fans. I would love to split teams and have a game, but if we don't feel like we have enough to be able do that and play a good game then we'll come up with some other format. But our goal is to get the players on the field with the fans for 30 minutes before the game and then have a good hour and a half of a football atmosphere. Hopefully it'll be a game, but at least enough of a scrimmage that the fans will leave and feel like they've gotten a good feel for Oklahoma State football for this fall."
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
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