Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Cowboys Preview Iowa State
November 07, 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 Iowa State. Some of their comments:
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On Iowa State this year compared to previous years:
"They're a little bit more structurally different. They have a better ability to cover you, with just sheer numbers, dropping in windows, dropping eight defenders and doing a good job of it. They're playing with more intensity and with more experience it seems. They understand their schemes and how to attack you. They've done a great job of just playing with an extremely high motor. They run around and makes plays. They use their hands real well and shed blocks and just try to get to the football. They do a heck of a job doing that. I see more urgency, more effort, more passion and they're playing smart in my opinion. You definitely try to coach effort. You try to coach getting to the football and more intensity and passion, but at the end of the day it comes from your players. You try to encourage it. You try to bring it along, but at the end of the day the players have to make a decision. It's the same thing with our offense or anything in a team sport. Sooner or later, the leadership has to come from within, and that's where I think great teams rise and separate themselves from good teams."
On team leadership this week:
"Our guys have great attitudes. They love practicing, so to get out here and get moving again is something that's a lot of fun to see and was expected. Our guys understand there's still a lot of football to be played. This week is a great opportunity for us. This is a huge game. They're all big. For us, the last several weeks has been "March Madness." That's the way it's been for us. The way it's going to be. It's college football."
On the game plan for Iowa State:
"Balance is a huge part of the game plan and what we try to do. Not all the time is that run-pass ratio. I like where we're at with it. We've got to go back tonight and figure some more situations out. The guts are in. The first and second down calls are in and now it's about refining it, seeing what we can tweak. The biggest thing as the week progresses, you ask yourself, 'What can happen? What else can happen? What can we anticipate? This is what we've seen on tape. What else could happen?' We just look for things you could anticipate them doing based on the past and how you would try and defend yourself."
On Brad Lundblade and Johnny Wilson:
"I think that if you were playing guard next to him you feel some sort of comfort level with him being able to communicate. Not that Johnny (Wilson) didn't do a hell of a job for us. He stepped in and did a great job. Now we just have more depth with him moving to guard. It's always a benefit when your guys are healthy and can provide depth but yet bring all that experience to the field. There's a lot of football games he's played. There's a lot of snaps he's had to make it all work more efficiently for us up front. I didn't see (Lundblade help Wilson.) I'm sure Henson has seen it, and it's awesome to hear that because there's so much truth to your peers coaching you. That's a big deal, and it's something that our experienced players do a great job of, bringing up the younger players and coaching them and making sure that everybody's on the same page. I think when a veteran guy has been there and done that and he's got that street credit, you tend to listen to what he has to say. I know (Brad's) a really smart young man. There's no question about it. He works really hard. He cares a whole bunch, and that's key."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On not buying into negative talk and bouncing back:
"You tell them the same thing as you do about not buying into the positive talk after they've played good. It is what it is, and we saw where we could've done better and after that day it's done. You preach to them the same things you did after the games they played their tails off. They had some mistakes, got them corrected and took accountability, and they're moving on. I saw a lot of them up and down the hallway Monday watching tape. Today they had a lot of energy. These kids are resilient. The coaches, we probably take it a lot harder than they do. We beat ourselves up continually. There's good leadership in this group, and I think they'll bounce back. Like I said after the game, the effort was tremendous. They just made a lot of plays on us. We talk about the process. We talk about, win or lose, what you have to do. We've got another game, and the outside world is going to debate and analyze it. We correct it and move on. If not, they beat you twice."
On Iowa State:
"They look great. They've beaten great teams by being consistent. They have good coaches, a lot of formations, shifts and motions. They'll get you out-gapped by doing a lot of pre-snap things to make you think, like they did against us last year in the first half. We've got a lot, definitely, to look through on that film and say we better go up there buttoned up to have a chance."
On Iowa State's quarterback:
"He's a great game manager. He doesn't get rattled. He just looks like he's been starting for three years. He's got tremendous targets to throw to. Those guys just go up. Their bodies are huge and they've got great catch range. I think they've got one of the best if not the best backs in the league, as far as making people miss and explosive plays. There's a lot of talent around him, and that's probably a reason that he's real efficient."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the team going forward:
"I think there have been a lot of good games here in our history with Bedlam and the games we have won here. Guys like Brandon Weeden who have capped it out with a Big 12 title and so I think there are still a lot of games left that we are looking forward to, obviously have three big ones here in front of us, with one great opponent in front of us with Iowa State. And going up there, it's a tough place to play. That's all that's on my mind right now, there are plenty of snaps left. Last three as a Cowboy and then hopefully two more that hopefully we can get into the title game."
On Iowa State dropping seven or eight in coverage:
"The last two years they have been dropping seven or eight, especially in 2015 when we were struggling to run the ball effectively and people said we weren't going to let you throw it over our heads. I think since then we have learned how to run the ball extremely well. It's a testament to our offensive line, our coaches and our backs."
Linebacker Calvin Bundage
On how he is continuing to make an impact:
"I have just been taking care of my body and game planning for our opponents. I am just trying to make a name for myself."
On working with Chad Whitener:
"I watch a lot of film with Chad after practice. He has been helping me. He is great at watching film, which helps me because I am not really good at it but he is teaching me. That is really what is helping me a lot and getting me on the field."
Running Back Justice Hill
On changing his focus to Iowa State:
"We're not really changing focus much. We just come out and do the same thing we have been doing all season."
On Iowa State's defense:
"They are a good defense. They play a pretty sound defense. They drop eight a lot so there will be people all over the field, so it will be a challenge for us but it is one we are looking forward to."
Linebacker Chad Whitener
On practice today:
"Practice was good. Everyone is communicating really well and if we have any let downs we are running it again and correcting it immediately. So everyone is seeing exactly how it is supposed to be, so we are getting through problems if we see them."
On Iowa State and their position:
"They have always played us well and they play everyone else well. Last year they just weren't finishing games, but this year we are seeing them finish games. Credit to their coaches in what they are instilling over there."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On Iowa State this year compared to previous years:
"They're a little bit more structurally different. They have a better ability to cover you, with just sheer numbers, dropping in windows, dropping eight defenders and doing a good job of it. They're playing with more intensity and with more experience it seems. They understand their schemes and how to attack you. They've done a great job of just playing with an extremely high motor. They run around and makes plays. They use their hands real well and shed blocks and just try to get to the football. They do a heck of a job doing that. I see more urgency, more effort, more passion and they're playing smart in my opinion. You definitely try to coach effort. You try to coach getting to the football and more intensity and passion, but at the end of the day it comes from your players. You try to encourage it. You try to bring it along, but at the end of the day the players have to make a decision. It's the same thing with our offense or anything in a team sport. Sooner or later, the leadership has to come from within, and that's where I think great teams rise and separate themselves from good teams."
On team leadership this week:
"Our guys have great attitudes. They love practicing, so to get out here and get moving again is something that's a lot of fun to see and was expected. Our guys understand there's still a lot of football to be played. This week is a great opportunity for us. This is a huge game. They're all big. For us, the last several weeks has been "March Madness." That's the way it's been for us. The way it's going to be. It's college football."
On the game plan for Iowa State:
"Balance is a huge part of the game plan and what we try to do. Not all the time is that run-pass ratio. I like where we're at with it. We've got to go back tonight and figure some more situations out. The guts are in. The first and second down calls are in and now it's about refining it, seeing what we can tweak. The biggest thing as the week progresses, you ask yourself, 'What can happen? What else can happen? What can we anticipate? This is what we've seen on tape. What else could happen?' We just look for things you could anticipate them doing based on the past and how you would try and defend yourself."
On Brad Lundblade and Johnny Wilson:
"I think that if you were playing guard next to him you feel some sort of comfort level with him being able to communicate. Not that Johnny (Wilson) didn't do a hell of a job for us. He stepped in and did a great job. Now we just have more depth with him moving to guard. It's always a benefit when your guys are healthy and can provide depth but yet bring all that experience to the field. There's a lot of football games he's played. There's a lot of snaps he's had to make it all work more efficiently for us up front. I didn't see (Lundblade help Wilson.) I'm sure Henson has seen it, and it's awesome to hear that because there's so much truth to your peers coaching you. That's a big deal, and it's something that our experienced players do a great job of, bringing up the younger players and coaching them and making sure that everybody's on the same page. I think when a veteran guy has been there and done that and he's got that street credit, you tend to listen to what he has to say. I know (Brad's) a really smart young man. There's no question about it. He works really hard. He cares a whole bunch, and that's key."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On not buying into negative talk and bouncing back:
"You tell them the same thing as you do about not buying into the positive talk after they've played good. It is what it is, and we saw where we could've done better and after that day it's done. You preach to them the same things you did after the games they played their tails off. They had some mistakes, got them corrected and took accountability, and they're moving on. I saw a lot of them up and down the hallway Monday watching tape. Today they had a lot of energy. These kids are resilient. The coaches, we probably take it a lot harder than they do. We beat ourselves up continually. There's good leadership in this group, and I think they'll bounce back. Like I said after the game, the effort was tremendous. They just made a lot of plays on us. We talk about the process. We talk about, win or lose, what you have to do. We've got another game, and the outside world is going to debate and analyze it. We correct it and move on. If not, they beat you twice."
On Iowa State:
"They look great. They've beaten great teams by being consistent. They have good coaches, a lot of formations, shifts and motions. They'll get you out-gapped by doing a lot of pre-snap things to make you think, like they did against us last year in the first half. We've got a lot, definitely, to look through on that film and say we better go up there buttoned up to have a chance."
On Iowa State's quarterback:
"He's a great game manager. He doesn't get rattled. He just looks like he's been starting for three years. He's got tremendous targets to throw to. Those guys just go up. Their bodies are huge and they've got great catch range. I think they've got one of the best if not the best backs in the league, as far as making people miss and explosive plays. There's a lot of talent around him, and that's probably a reason that he's real efficient."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the team going forward:
"I think there have been a lot of good games here in our history with Bedlam and the games we have won here. Guys like Brandon Weeden who have capped it out with a Big 12 title and so I think there are still a lot of games left that we are looking forward to, obviously have three big ones here in front of us, with one great opponent in front of us with Iowa State. And going up there, it's a tough place to play. That's all that's on my mind right now, there are plenty of snaps left. Last three as a Cowboy and then hopefully two more that hopefully we can get into the title game."
On Iowa State dropping seven or eight in coverage:
"The last two years they have been dropping seven or eight, especially in 2015 when we were struggling to run the ball effectively and people said we weren't going to let you throw it over our heads. I think since then we have learned how to run the ball extremely well. It's a testament to our offensive line, our coaches and our backs."
Linebacker Calvin Bundage
On how he is continuing to make an impact:
"I have just been taking care of my body and game planning for our opponents. I am just trying to make a name for myself."
On working with Chad Whitener:
"I watch a lot of film with Chad after practice. He has been helping me. He is great at watching film, which helps me because I am not really good at it but he is teaching me. That is really what is helping me a lot and getting me on the field."
Running Back Justice Hill
On changing his focus to Iowa State:
"We're not really changing focus much. We just come out and do the same thing we have been doing all season."
On Iowa State's defense:
"They are a good defense. They play a pretty sound defense. They drop eight a lot so there will be people all over the field, so it will be a challenge for us but it is one we are looking forward to."
Linebacker Chad Whitener
On practice today:
"Practice was good. Everyone is communicating really well and if we have any let downs we are running it again and correcting it immediately. So everyone is seeing exactly how it is supposed to be, so we are getting through problems if we see them."
On Iowa State and their position:
"They have always played us well and they play everyone else well. Last year they just weren't finishing games, but this year we are seeing them finish games. Credit to their coaches in what they are instilling over there."
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