Gundy, Cowboys Preview Season Opener

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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the Cowboy football team met with media Thursday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview OSU's season-opening football matchup against Southeastern Louisiana. Some of their comments:

Mike Gundy

Opening statement:
"We're a healthy football team and practice has been going very well. We're excited about playing a game. The offense and defense have gone against themselves so much that I think they're ready to play a game. So we're looking forward to it and we still need the next four or five practices to get ready. We've got a number of young players that we expect to play. Those are the guys that we've shared with you over the last couple weeks. We're not 100 percent but we feel pretty good that we'll have six freshman that will play for us in the first game or should play for us early in the season. We just continue to move forward. We've got heavy days the next few days. We'll be light on Sunday, take Monday off and then be in a game week."

On running back Justice Hill and the depth at the running back position:
"He's done very well in camp and were trying to make some adjustments in the running game. We think that the group that we have now, the three or four, is better than what we were using last year with really two to three. So he's part of that group that we think makes us better."

On Marcell Ateman:
"Well I don't know that we ever feel good about losing a player the caliber that Ateman should be for our team, but that's one of those areas we talk about. We control what we can control. We certainly can't do anything about it so we move the next guy in. We'll know a lot more in a month at that position. We use a lot of receivers in a game and wear and tear on their bodies is always a factor. That's as much a concern for us as anything when it comes to losing a quality player with the experience he has, but we have other guys and our coaches need to use the strengths of the players we have and make up for the area where we lost his experience."

On Barry J. Sanders possibly returning punts and kicks:
"So far he's done really well. We'll have a group that will return punts and kicks. We feel like we have more depth there than we did last year. So we're going to use a few different guys early in the season and try to see who works best for our team."

On what the next challenge for the team is now:
"We have a bunch of challenges. We need to improve on gap responsibility and facing different styles of offense that we're going to see. For example, the first game. This offense will be completely different than what we see when we get in conference play. As we move through nonconference play, we'll see three different types of offenses and then we get into what we see in this league. So the flexibility of the speed we have at linebacker and adjusting to the different offenses will be really important for our team, and as Robert mentioned, the adjustments we can make at the wide receiver position to use Mason's strength which is to throw the football."

On the team's greatest strength right now:
"I'd say that our overall maturity at key positions should help us early in the season compared to where we were at last year."

On if Mason Rudolph could be the biggest strength:
"Well that was the maturity at the key position I was referring to. We all know there's really one key position in football at any level. You can go out this weekend and watch a pee-wee game and if their quarterback is a good player, he's going to make everybody score and they have a chance to win. Same thing in high school and college and in the NFL."

Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer

On the final details before the first game:
"Every practice there are glitches and you're trying to still get some guys going and find out who your play-makers are and who can be reliable. I love it, I really do. Of course, it just seems like this preseason has gone on forever. I don't know if it's the way the calendar is set up or because of school and all, but it's been great competition against our offense. I love the change of pace and the tempos and the time allowed for all the option we're going to see in the first game. That's extra stress for us as a defense, so to have that opponent the first game is great for us. I'd hate to have had something like this in the middle of the season, so that's been an advantage and we need all the extra time we can get on Southeast Louisiana."

On if he has determined his starting 11 for game one:
"I think so. There are a couple of spots where some guys have rolled in and out, but there will be a couple of positions where we'll put in some different guys and not have that big of a drop-off, which is good right now. Everyone is healthy and fresh and Coach has done a great job in camp of working us and stressing us out, but we're going into the season with the healthiest team we can have."

On the linebacker competition:
"It's been good. That's a spot where we've been able to rotate some guys in. In the weak side linebacker, there are guys without great separation, and there have been two guys who have done really well so that's good to have. Two guys who can go in and play for you is a luxury we haven't had in a while. You're only a play away from getting back to a stressful situation, but there's some good competition in a couple of spots."

Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich

On the running back depth chart:
"It's going to be interesting to see who emerges out of that. Kind of tailback by committee to start, then see who has the hot hand and go from there. Coach [Marcus Arroyo] has done a great job of getting all our guys assignments down so they understand the schemes. Very sound with pass protection. We all understand ball security. Now it's just a matter of who is going to execute when the bolts start flying."

On Barry J. Sanders:
"Barry has done a real nice job of some tough runs. Coming out of our endzone, I can recall a couple scrimmages back, it was one on one with him and a safety … He put his shoulder down and blew right through him and got the first down for us. The tough yards are there. We feel confident that when we hand him the ball, there will be a positive gain. Obviously, we can't block them all, he can make the other guy miss or go through them. He has that toughness factor and that strength. Veteran player that has been in the weight room for several seasons and it's pretty obvious that he has that maturity level and the physical factor for him."

On Zach Crabtree:
"Crabtree, he is just one of those guys that is all ball. He loves it. He is constantly in the film room asking questions right before he goes to dinner, and then after dinner he is back in the film room. He's one of those guys that is probably going to coach one day. I try to talk him out of it. He is one of those guys that it's just in his blood. He's one of those guys that they eat and they drink and it's part of who they are as far as football goes."

On Justice Hill:
"He has play-making ability. He is a very well-rounded tailback. He's really good through the hole. He doesn't stutter around a lot. He has good top-end speed, good change of direction and good hands as well. He's a back that can do a lot of different things, although a young back and just learning the game. His role will grow as more experience comes. A running back with just a lot of natural traits: change of direction, speed, vision. He is a smart player and a great person. Those things make him a valuable part of our team."

Wide Receiver Austin Hays

On dealing with the wide receiver depth in camp:
"It's been really good for us as a whole – obviously competition makes you better. I think it's just pushed us every day. We've developed leaders through competition and adversity, and it really makes you focus every single day because you know that the guy behind you is just as good as you are and if you mess up, he's coming for your job."

On the competition in camp:
"That is Coach Dunn's word: compete. He wants you to compete every single day, and whether that is running stadiums or lifting weights, that is our deal. Compete every single day, so all this talent is really good for us."

On his improvement since his freshman year:
"Well, I'm about 30 pounds heavier than I was. I don't know if y'all remember me as a freshman, but I was pretty skinny. So, I'm 30 pounds heavier and I have a lot more experience. You learn so much, just communication skills, how to be a leader, how to work hard, how to fight through pain, and I think I'm just better in all those aspects."

On the importance of blocking:
"Coach Dunn is all about competition, and we probably watch more blocking clips than passing clips on a lot of days. We're a good blocking team because we have to be."

On working with Mason Rudolph:
"Mason just keeps getting better and better. Physically, mentally, in a leadership category, everything. This year it's crazy how much he's grown since he first got here."

Linebacker Chad Whitener

On this year's camp:
"It's been a really good camp. I feel like we have matured with how many guys we have coming back. We are really focusing on getting all of our assignments and getting everything right instead of more freaking out with all the little things we have to do playing defense. Coaching effort is not our issue anymore because guys understand how our program is run."

On how it is being the starter going into the season:
"It's a lot more reps. I'll be in better shape football-wise. For me, the communication part is the most important thing I've been focusing on this camp. Making sure I'm talking to everybody, making sure everybody gets the checks. That's like the biggest difference for me."

On Gundy's hair:
"I feel like if we get on a winning streak we can talk him into growing it out."

On stepping in for Ryan Simmons last year:
"It helped a lot. As far as experience and stuff goes, being out there in actual game speed. I mean our practice speed against our offense we go really fast, but being out there against the TCUs, the Baylors, the OUs, with how fast they play – getting lined up and everything, making sure everyone is communicating, that's the biggest experience part of it."

Defensive End Jordan Brailford

On Jerrell Owens:
"I know Jerrell knows when to turn it on. He just has a motor. He runs like a horse. He's just a very gifted person and a very gifted athlete. He knows how to use his body to his advantage and knows what to do in different situations."

Center Brad Lundblade

On walk-ons frequently playing at center:
"I think centers are usually a little bit smaller, so it's just sort of natural for them to come in and be able to make an impact. A lot of walk-ons aren't 6-7, so they won't be the tackles. That might have something to do with it, but it might just be a coincidence."

On his decision to come to OSU and walk-on:
"I just had confidence in myself and knew that this is where God wanted me to go. I had some smaller scholarship offers, but I felt like I had put the work in and I felt like I could be successful at this level and so I took a leap of faith and it paid off for me."

On OSU recruiting him during high school:
"Coach (Joe) Wickline was recruiting me and throughout my senior year I was hoping I would get an offer, but it never really worked out and it got really close to signing day and I knew that here was where I wanted to come. They had never brought up the idea of walking on and I brought it up to Coach and he was like, 'If you want to do that, then we would be thrilled to have you.' So that's what ended up happening."

On the financial burden of his first year:
"It was kind of a burden that first year that I had to pay for. My parents helped me out and paid for my school. It was tough on me knowing that I had scholarships to other places that I could've gone and I could've been going to school for free at another place, but like I said – I knew this is where God wanted me to be and my parents supported me fully. It definitely made it even more rewarding when I earned that scholarship."

Wide Receiver Jalen McCleskey

On football season beginning soon:
"It feels like forever since we played our last game and just going through summer workouts with Coach (Rob) Glass, you just can't wait to get on the field for the first time."

On being a part of the offense:
"I feel like I can be a really big part of the offense. We've been working on it this offseason – getting our timing down – with the coaches and Mason (Rudolph)."

On his skills as a punt returner:
"Every time I'm back there I'm just trying to score. I want to have a big game and give great field position to the offense, so every time I'm back there that's what I'm trying to do."

On how the coaches helped him as a returner last season:
"They told me what I did wrong fundamentally whether it was looking the ball in or letting the ball get too low on my body. The next day we just watched film and watched over it and in practice that week I worked on it. It's a lot easier this year than it was last year. The game has really slowed down and that's from just getting a lot of reps in practice and things like that."

Defensive Tackle Vincent Taylor

On becoming a leader on the defensive line:
"Me and Motekiai (Maile) are the ones with the most experience. We started all 13 games last year. Now that Emmanuel (Ogbah) and Jimmy (Bean) are both gone, it's my time to kind of step up as a leader and show the young guys the ropes."

On the transition to becoming one of the team's leaders:
"It's been a little difficult, but talking with Coach (Rob) Glass, I think he got me to come out of my comfort zone. I wasn't really the type to speak out loud and tell people what to do, but after talking with Coach Glass he told me it was my time to come out and become a leader and I think he had a huge part in me becoming a vocal leader."

On his goals for the upcoming season:
"I've actually got my goals written on my window so that every time I go to open my closet I see them. I set some high goals for myself and I'm ready to achieve them."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Marcell Ateman

Jordan Brailford

Austin Hays

Justice Hill

Brad Lundblade

Jalen McCleskey

Mason Rudolph

Barry J. Sanders

Ryan Simmons

Vincent Taylor

Chad Whitener

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