Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet with Media at Spring Practice
April 05, 2017 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team held its 11th practice of the spring Wednesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center. Coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the Cowboy football team met with media just before today's practice began. Their comments:
Mike Gundy
On how the cornerbacks have developed this spring:
"Good. Curry has been improved, just from being a veteran, but the young players have continued to get better. They still make mistakes, but what I like about the young group of corners is that they are long, rangy and they seem like they are going to be physical, which will help in this league as skilled as the wideouts are on the perimeter. They're going to take some lumps at some point during the season, but hopefully we can bring them along enough that as we progress we can trust them more in the middle of the season than we could now. We may have to score a few points early though."
On how he balances his perception of practices when the offense and defense match up:
"I would prefer to see the defense win every day, but my message to the guys in the locker room after practice is to get over it. That's just the way it is in the spring. The defense kind of had their way last Friday. On Monday the offense had their way. ... It's just spring ball. Sometimes, coaches will go with ones vs. twos instead of ones vs. ones so that they can feel better about it. I would prefer good vs. good so they get good quality work and coaches have to get over it after practice."
On what distinguishes Tyron Johnson from the other receivers:
"One thing that I have mentioned to our staff and the team is that so far, whenever the lights come on and we keep score, he makes plays. In most team sports, there's something to be said about that. If he continues on with that and does it throughout August practice, if he takes care of business like he should--he's learning to adapt to our culture--then, he's going to get to play a lot. In specifics, he seems to be very shifty at this point and he seems to be very durable and has the ability to break tackles."
On the Cowboy Backs:
"We've chewed on them pretty good. They have big shoes to fill. You guys know that we couldn't have won 11 games last year without Veatch and Jarwin. We don't have a lot of experience at that position. We have guys that have skill that they have to develop. Part of it is experience. ... They're dedicated. They're working hard. They understand the importance of that position in our offense. I would say that's why they're out here."
Wide Receiver Jalen McCleskey
On Tyron Johnson:
"He has been doing really well. He has been getting the plays down so instead of just worrying about what he has to do on each play, he can just play now because he knows what he needs to do. So he has just been showing what he can do on the field."
On having Tyron here :
"To have him on the same college team, it has just been really fun."
On the young cornerbacks:
"They are doing really well. I get to see them in one-on-ones. They have been doing really well. I think they will be a benefit to our defense."
Safety Ramon Richards
On the move to safety:
"It's been fun. Coach Hammer (Dan Hammerschmidt) is a guy who kind of lets me play with my instincts as long as it's within the system and he doesn't try to change the type of player that I am. I listen too and we kind of work together."
On how playing safety suits him:
"I feel like it does because I can use my instincts a lot. I can look around and use my eyes, whereas at corner, you're kind of locked in and can't look around, but at free safety I get more freedom."
On the development of the cornerbacks:
"I love it. I still talk to them all the same and I kind of feel like how Kevin Peterson felt when me and some of the other guys came in. We're teaching them that it's deeper than what they think it is. It's fun, watching them grow."
Cornerback Darius Curry
On being the veteran of the cornerback group:
"It's cool. Coach Duffie makes sure that I'm always on top of everything and makes sure that the young guys know what they're doing. If they have any questions, they can always come ask me anything. Even with that, they're learning pretty fast, so if they need me, I'm here, but if not, I just watch after them."
On the development of the corners:
"They're doing great. There's some really good competition between all of us and I feel like all of us are prepared for the games."
Mike Gundy
On how the cornerbacks have developed this spring:
"Good. Curry has been improved, just from being a veteran, but the young players have continued to get better. They still make mistakes, but what I like about the young group of corners is that they are long, rangy and they seem like they are going to be physical, which will help in this league as skilled as the wideouts are on the perimeter. They're going to take some lumps at some point during the season, but hopefully we can bring them along enough that as we progress we can trust them more in the middle of the season than we could now. We may have to score a few points early though."
On how he balances his perception of practices when the offense and defense match up:
"I would prefer to see the defense win every day, but my message to the guys in the locker room after practice is to get over it. That's just the way it is in the spring. The defense kind of had their way last Friday. On Monday the offense had their way. ... It's just spring ball. Sometimes, coaches will go with ones vs. twos instead of ones vs. ones so that they can feel better about it. I would prefer good vs. good so they get good quality work and coaches have to get over it after practice."
On what distinguishes Tyron Johnson from the other receivers:
"One thing that I have mentioned to our staff and the team is that so far, whenever the lights come on and we keep score, he makes plays. In most team sports, there's something to be said about that. If he continues on with that and does it throughout August practice, if he takes care of business like he should--he's learning to adapt to our culture--then, he's going to get to play a lot. In specifics, he seems to be very shifty at this point and he seems to be very durable and has the ability to break tackles."
On the Cowboy Backs:
"We've chewed on them pretty good. They have big shoes to fill. You guys know that we couldn't have won 11 games last year without Veatch and Jarwin. We don't have a lot of experience at that position. We have guys that have skill that they have to develop. Part of it is experience. ... They're dedicated. They're working hard. They understand the importance of that position in our offense. I would say that's why they're out here."
Wide Receiver Jalen McCleskey
On Tyron Johnson:
"He has been doing really well. He has been getting the plays down so instead of just worrying about what he has to do on each play, he can just play now because he knows what he needs to do. So he has just been showing what he can do on the field."
On having Tyron here :
"To have him on the same college team, it has just been really fun."
On the young cornerbacks:
"They are doing really well. I get to see them in one-on-ones. They have been doing really well. I think they will be a benefit to our defense."
Safety Ramon Richards
On the move to safety:
"It's been fun. Coach Hammer (Dan Hammerschmidt) is a guy who kind of lets me play with my instincts as long as it's within the system and he doesn't try to change the type of player that I am. I listen too and we kind of work together."
On how playing safety suits him:
"I feel like it does because I can use my instincts a lot. I can look around and use my eyes, whereas at corner, you're kind of locked in and can't look around, but at free safety I get more freedom."
On the development of the cornerbacks:
"I love it. I still talk to them all the same and I kind of feel like how Kevin Peterson felt when me and some of the other guys came in. We're teaching them that it's deeper than what they think it is. It's fun, watching them grow."
Cornerback Darius Curry
On being the veteran of the cornerback group:
"It's cool. Coach Duffie makes sure that I'm always on top of everything and makes sure that the young guys know what they're doing. If they have any questions, they can always come ask me anything. Even with that, they're learning pretty fast, so if they need me, I'm here, but if not, I just watch after them."
On the development of the corners:
"They're doing great. There's some really good competition between all of us and I feel like all of us are prepared for the games."
Players Mentioned
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