Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Cowboys Preview Kansas State
November 14, 2017 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State coordinators and selected players met with media after practice Tuesday inside the Sherman E. Smith Training Center to preview this weekend's matchup against Kansas State. Some of their comments:
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On Justice Hill and his breakout year:
"Well having a good run game helps just about everything. You're able to keep the run game off balance but it helps with your play action pass. You're able to throw it more; gives you more flexibility as a play caller, but it's not just about him obviously. In order to run the ball well you need people to be physical on the line of scrimmage, so I think you have to give our offensive line some credit and our perimeter blocking has improved as well. And those are the things we are stressing in practice and we will continue to get better at those things … The run game helps the pass game and the pass game helps the run game. It's both and they complement each other very well."
On how running helps the passing game:
"When the defensive line gets their attention in the back field ... they don't know if it is run or pass and therefore it negates pass rush. At times, situations dictate and sometimes it negates itself but for the most part when you are first and second and you are balanced and you can mix in your play pass, you're keeping the defense honest."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On the defensive performance from the Iowa State game:
"We gave up some big chunk pass plays, and they had good receivers that came down with the ball a few times. The kids gave tremendous effort, and you just hope that more times than what we did, we can get the ball on the ground and compete for the ball more when it's in the air. That's what we tell them, come out here and practice and keep fighting and never let up, and kids came up with huge plays there at the end. Finally got the ball on the ground from those big receivers, so that was good."
On moving on from the ISU game:
"Just same thing, execute the game plan. Game plans are only good if it's executed on Saturday. Practice was good today. I think they executed well, but that's got to carry to Saturday."
On why Kansas State's offense makes them difficult to prepare for:
"There's a lot of checking the line of scrimmage. They want to see what look you're in. They're not in a big hurry. That ball is usually snapped with less than 10 seconds on the clock, which is a lot different. You've got to stop the run and the quarterback run game ... Every play is a run and every play is a pass."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the OSU running game being successful:
"We were confident coming into this season. With the offensive line personnel coming back, it was looking pretty good. We lost Larry (Williams) and had some other guys get banged up mid-season, but we got them all back now. We're just proud of them … the way they protect, the way they run block and have been opening up all kinds of lanes for Justice (Hill) and J.D. (King), so they are doing a great job."
On knowing they need to win out to contend for titles:
"We have to weigh how everything structures...playoff and the Big 12. Every week is huge, whether we are playing Tulsa or Texas Tech, we play them all the same. We come up with a plan and try to execute it and control it."
Wide Receiver Marcell Ateman
On the how the receivers are clicking on the field:
"I am proud of every single one of them. It starts up front when our line is improving every single week and Justice (Hill) has been playing phenomenal and we give a shout out to the offensive line because it opens up passes for us."
On his positive national attention:
"I try not to pay too much attention to it, but it's a blessing once I see stuff like that, but I am just trying to keep winning football games and keep doing what I'm doing because it all starts on the practice field."
Defensive Back A.J. Green
On Kansas State's running game:
"We do some run support, but also with their quarterback run. He can run it and step back, and he'll throw the ball so you've got to keep your eyes on your man and play every play."
On what practice has been like this week:
"We just have to lock in. We have to focus. We have to get in the film room, watch the film, know what they like to do, know their tendencies and go out and execute."
Safety Jerel Morrow
On what he's seen from Kansas State:
"They're a very disciplined team. Their record doesn't reflect how they work. They're a hard-working team. They always are, that's how it's always been. We can't take them lightly. We've got to do our job each and every play or they'll make us pay for it."
On preparing for three possible quarterbacks from KSU:
"It's not too bad, we've just got to figure out what kind of quarterback they were and how to tweak the game plan to that, but for the most part they're going to run what they've run since the beginning of the season."
On the team is treating the final two games of the regular season:
"We're just taking it one game at a time. It's K-State here until the clock reads zero."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On Justice Hill and his breakout year:
"Well having a good run game helps just about everything. You're able to keep the run game off balance but it helps with your play action pass. You're able to throw it more; gives you more flexibility as a play caller, but it's not just about him obviously. In order to run the ball well you need people to be physical on the line of scrimmage, so I think you have to give our offensive line some credit and our perimeter blocking has improved as well. And those are the things we are stressing in practice and we will continue to get better at those things … The run game helps the pass game and the pass game helps the run game. It's both and they complement each other very well."
On how running helps the passing game:
"When the defensive line gets their attention in the back field ... they don't know if it is run or pass and therefore it negates pass rush. At times, situations dictate and sometimes it negates itself but for the most part when you are first and second and you are balanced and you can mix in your play pass, you're keeping the defense honest."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On the defensive performance from the Iowa State game:
"We gave up some big chunk pass plays, and they had good receivers that came down with the ball a few times. The kids gave tremendous effort, and you just hope that more times than what we did, we can get the ball on the ground and compete for the ball more when it's in the air. That's what we tell them, come out here and practice and keep fighting and never let up, and kids came up with huge plays there at the end. Finally got the ball on the ground from those big receivers, so that was good."
On moving on from the ISU game:
"Just same thing, execute the game plan. Game plans are only good if it's executed on Saturday. Practice was good today. I think they executed well, but that's got to carry to Saturday."
On why Kansas State's offense makes them difficult to prepare for:
"There's a lot of checking the line of scrimmage. They want to see what look you're in. They're not in a big hurry. That ball is usually snapped with less than 10 seconds on the clock, which is a lot different. You've got to stop the run and the quarterback run game ... Every play is a run and every play is a pass."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the OSU running game being successful:
"We were confident coming into this season. With the offensive line personnel coming back, it was looking pretty good. We lost Larry (Williams) and had some other guys get banged up mid-season, but we got them all back now. We're just proud of them … the way they protect, the way they run block and have been opening up all kinds of lanes for Justice (Hill) and J.D. (King), so they are doing a great job."
On knowing they need to win out to contend for titles:
"We have to weigh how everything structures...playoff and the Big 12. Every week is huge, whether we are playing Tulsa or Texas Tech, we play them all the same. We come up with a plan and try to execute it and control it."
Wide Receiver Marcell Ateman
On the how the receivers are clicking on the field:
"I am proud of every single one of them. It starts up front when our line is improving every single week and Justice (Hill) has been playing phenomenal and we give a shout out to the offensive line because it opens up passes for us."
On his positive national attention:
"I try not to pay too much attention to it, but it's a blessing once I see stuff like that, but I am just trying to keep winning football games and keep doing what I'm doing because it all starts on the practice field."
Defensive Back A.J. Green
On Kansas State's running game:
"We do some run support, but also with their quarterback run. He can run it and step back, and he'll throw the ball so you've got to keep your eyes on your man and play every play."
On what practice has been like this week:
"We just have to lock in. We have to focus. We have to get in the film room, watch the film, know what they like to do, know their tendencies and go out and execute."
Safety Jerel Morrow
On what he's seen from Kansas State:
"They're a very disciplined team. Their record doesn't reflect how they work. They're a hard-working team. They always are, that's how it's always been. We can't take them lightly. We've got to do our job each and every play or they'll make us pay for it."
On preparing for three possible quarterbacks from KSU:
"It's not too bad, we've just got to figure out what kind of quarterback they were and how to tweak the game plan to that, but for the most part they're going to run what they've run since the beginning of the season."
On the team is treating the final two games of the regular season:
"We're just taking it one game at a time. It's K-State here until the clock reads zero."
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
