Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet With Media After Practice
April 11, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team held its eighth practice of the spring Wednesday at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center.
Coach Mike Gundy and several Cowboy players met with media after practice to discuss the spring thus far. Some of their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening statement:
"We had another good workout. We're getting really good effort and we're halfway or so through spring. The guys are competing well and we have a lot of young players. More young players who are in the ones and twos than we've had in a number of years, so it's an interesting group. We have some veteran players, not a lot who are in the middle and then really young players, but I like where we're at. Quarterbacks are competing well. I like what Coach Knowles is doing on defense. I think our players are understanding the system. We're getting some good play out of the wideouts and running backs. The young players are getting a lot of work on the offensive and defensive lines. We'll have a scrimmage on Friday, give them the weekend off then be back at it next week."
On Kenneth Edison-McGruder moving back to safety:
"I like what he's doing. You're always somewhat hesitant to comment in practice versus what they will do in September. I like his energy and I feel like this system fits him more so. We may have found a home for him, but we'll find out in September."
On the Cowboy Backs:
"They're coming along. (Jake) Ross is doing well. Sione (Finefeuiaki) has more movement and enthusiasm I would say because he knows what direction he's going now. Finally, Jelani (Woods) is doing well. There will be a role for Jelani and certain things we can do. He's doing really well at this point. Other than Sione and (Britton) Abbott, it's all new for those guys. So you have to kind of wait and see how fast they pick it up and where they're at in August."
On new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles:
"He's doing well and it's really too early for me. I listen to his meetings and obviously I'm in staff meetings with him. Watching him coach and his approach has me very encouraged with the relationship he's built with the team on that side of the ball. … He's highly intelligent, he has a unique way of developing relationships with players and I'm encouraged by that part of the game."
On Johnny Wilson playing center:
"He's doing real good. The good news is he was next to Brad Lundblade for most of the year. He's not as far along as Brad was, but Johnny will be fine. I don't think that will be an issue, just based on the experience he was able to gain last season."
On Justice Hill's leadership:
"He doesn't talk very much. He's very humble, but an extremely hard worker. He's leading by example which is far more valuable than talking. It's the same as what he's done since he got here. I would say he leads by example."
Wide Receiver Tyron Johnson
On competing in practice:
"Coach (Kasey) Dunn preaches competing, so every day we try to bring different competitive spirit from the inside receivers to the outside receivers. We joke around a lot about who's going to catch the first big one, and Landon Wolf made it today."
On his new role:
"It's different, but it's something I've always been prepared for. Coach Dunn talks to me about stepping up a lot, being a leader to these guys and setting a good example."
On how the receiving corps will rebound from losing talent:
"Coach Dunn was just joking with us about that. We're pretty good. We're going to fly under the radar. A lot of people will think we're not that good because we lost some big targets to the draft, but that's how it goes. We reloaded and we have a lot of talented receivers that have to get on the same page as the quarterbacks and learn the plays. It's just stuff that comes with spring practice, over the summer and in fall camp."
Cowboy Back Britton Abbott
On being recognized as the OSU Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
"It was a total surprise. I had no idea. It was my last banquet, so my parents came down. I went to practice and it was a regular day. It got to the end and they gave me the award. I was really grateful for it. I'm happy that everybody was there, including some of my classmates and teammates."
Linebacker Justin Phillips
On spring practice:
"The spring has been great. Ultimately as a team, we're coming together as a defense, learning the new scheme. Everybody's been improving."
On new additions:
"We have a lot of new safeties out there. Some of the younger linebackers that haven't gotten a lot of reps last season. Devin Harper has been really good. Amen's (Ogbongbemiga) been good. We got a new dude, Blake Barron, he's been real impressive as well. I think a lot of the new guys that have stepped up from last season improved and are showing some life."
On Kevin Henry coming back from injury:
"Kevin, he's the same dude. He's a savage. He's quick off the ball and reads and reacts so well that it allows him to make plays. I'm always impressed with him and happy he's healthy again."
Safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder
On how the safeties are adjusting:
"The safeties are adjusting good. We have a lot of guys, young guys, stepping up and making plays. The safeties are adjusting good in this defense."
On understanding the new defensive scheme:
"The coaches do a good job of teaching us with meetings and having walkthroughs and teaching us the plays. Everybody's grasping it pretty good."
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On the running backs:
"The running back crew is real deep this year. They're challenges on the defensive line and defense as a whole. They're finding holes, they all have great vision and they're very physical at the point of attack. I feel like they're going to cause a lot of problems for people next year."
On the new defensive scheme:
"The new defense gives us a lot more freedom. It gives us a lot more leeway because the linebackers are told to make us right in certain situations or certain plays. It gives us a lot more versatility in what moves we can use in rushing the quarterback, so we have less responsibilities in that aspect of it."
On getting to stand up before the snap:
"It's a different game. I get to come down with a head of steam instead of just taking two steps. It's a lot more fun getting to run out and open up a little bit going to the ball. I plan to make a lot more tackles that way."
Kicker Matt Ammendola
On how he's feeling:
"My leg is feeling a lot better this year. We've been spreading (my kicks) out a good bunch, which is nice. It feels nice. We've been changing the steps up in the process. I feel a lot more confident going into this year."
On Coach Gundy mentioning he might be taken off kickoffs to focus on placekicking:
"I'm not going to disagree with him. I talked to him one-on-one, and they said I totaled almost 200 kicks last year. I'm not completely out of the running for it. I want to see if I can handle it this year. We'll see what happens."
On the other kickers:
"They're good. Like I said, we're changing up the whole process of running through kicks and whatnot. We're working on tackling drills, getting our abs right and trying to stay as fit as possible."
Coach Mike Gundy and several Cowboy players met with media after practice to discuss the spring thus far. Some of their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening statement:
"We had another good workout. We're getting really good effort and we're halfway or so through spring. The guys are competing well and we have a lot of young players. More young players who are in the ones and twos than we've had in a number of years, so it's an interesting group. We have some veteran players, not a lot who are in the middle and then really young players, but I like where we're at. Quarterbacks are competing well. I like what Coach Knowles is doing on defense. I think our players are understanding the system. We're getting some good play out of the wideouts and running backs. The young players are getting a lot of work on the offensive and defensive lines. We'll have a scrimmage on Friday, give them the weekend off then be back at it next week."
On Kenneth Edison-McGruder moving back to safety:
"I like what he's doing. You're always somewhat hesitant to comment in practice versus what they will do in September. I like his energy and I feel like this system fits him more so. We may have found a home for him, but we'll find out in September."
On the Cowboy Backs:
"They're coming along. (Jake) Ross is doing well. Sione (Finefeuiaki) has more movement and enthusiasm I would say because he knows what direction he's going now. Finally, Jelani (Woods) is doing well. There will be a role for Jelani and certain things we can do. He's doing really well at this point. Other than Sione and (Britton) Abbott, it's all new for those guys. So you have to kind of wait and see how fast they pick it up and where they're at in August."
On new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles:
"He's doing well and it's really too early for me. I listen to his meetings and obviously I'm in staff meetings with him. Watching him coach and his approach has me very encouraged with the relationship he's built with the team on that side of the ball. … He's highly intelligent, he has a unique way of developing relationships with players and I'm encouraged by that part of the game."
On Johnny Wilson playing center:
"He's doing real good. The good news is he was next to Brad Lundblade for most of the year. He's not as far along as Brad was, but Johnny will be fine. I don't think that will be an issue, just based on the experience he was able to gain last season."
On Justice Hill's leadership:
"He doesn't talk very much. He's very humble, but an extremely hard worker. He's leading by example which is far more valuable than talking. It's the same as what he's done since he got here. I would say he leads by example."
Wide Receiver Tyron Johnson
On competing in practice:
"Coach (Kasey) Dunn preaches competing, so every day we try to bring different competitive spirit from the inside receivers to the outside receivers. We joke around a lot about who's going to catch the first big one, and Landon Wolf made it today."
On his new role:
"It's different, but it's something I've always been prepared for. Coach Dunn talks to me about stepping up a lot, being a leader to these guys and setting a good example."
On how the receiving corps will rebound from losing talent:
"Coach Dunn was just joking with us about that. We're pretty good. We're going to fly under the radar. A lot of people will think we're not that good because we lost some big targets to the draft, but that's how it goes. We reloaded and we have a lot of talented receivers that have to get on the same page as the quarterbacks and learn the plays. It's just stuff that comes with spring practice, over the summer and in fall camp."
Cowboy Back Britton Abbott
On being recognized as the OSU Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
"It was a total surprise. I had no idea. It was my last banquet, so my parents came down. I went to practice and it was a regular day. It got to the end and they gave me the award. I was really grateful for it. I'm happy that everybody was there, including some of my classmates and teammates."
Linebacker Justin Phillips
On spring practice:
"The spring has been great. Ultimately as a team, we're coming together as a defense, learning the new scheme. Everybody's been improving."
On new additions:
"We have a lot of new safeties out there. Some of the younger linebackers that haven't gotten a lot of reps last season. Devin Harper has been really good. Amen's (Ogbongbemiga) been good. We got a new dude, Blake Barron, he's been real impressive as well. I think a lot of the new guys that have stepped up from last season improved and are showing some life."
On Kevin Henry coming back from injury:
"Kevin, he's the same dude. He's a savage. He's quick off the ball and reads and reacts so well that it allows him to make plays. I'm always impressed with him and happy he's healthy again."
Safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder
On how the safeties are adjusting:
"The safeties are adjusting good. We have a lot of guys, young guys, stepping up and making plays. The safeties are adjusting good in this defense."
On understanding the new defensive scheme:
"The coaches do a good job of teaching us with meetings and having walkthroughs and teaching us the plays. Everybody's grasping it pretty good."
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On the running backs:
"The running back crew is real deep this year. They're challenges on the defensive line and defense as a whole. They're finding holes, they all have great vision and they're very physical at the point of attack. I feel like they're going to cause a lot of problems for people next year."
On the new defensive scheme:
"The new defense gives us a lot more freedom. It gives us a lot more leeway because the linebackers are told to make us right in certain situations or certain plays. It gives us a lot more versatility in what moves we can use in rushing the quarterback, so we have less responsibilities in that aspect of it."
On getting to stand up before the snap:
"It's a different game. I get to come down with a head of steam instead of just taking two steps. It's a lot more fun getting to run out and open up a little bit going to the ball. I plan to make a lot more tackles that way."
Kicker Matt Ammendola
On how he's feeling:
"My leg is feeling a lot better this year. We've been spreading (my kicks) out a good bunch, which is nice. It feels nice. We've been changing the steps up in the process. I feel a lot more confident going into this year."
On Coach Gundy mentioning he might be taken off kickoffs to focus on placekicking:
"I'm not going to disagree with him. I talked to him one-on-one, and they said I totaled almost 200 kicks last year. I'm not completely out of the running for it. I want to see if I can handle it this year. We'll see what happens."
On the other kickers:
"They're good. Like I said, we're changing up the whole process of running through kicks and whatnot. We're working on tackling drills, getting our abs right and trying to stay as fit as possible."
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
