Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet With Media
April 18, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team held its 11h 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:
"As we move forward, we're continuing to have good workouts and really physical, long practices, as long as players are competing and taking care of each other. We're not able to go to the ground, so we're almost in somewhat of a 'thud' technique, but we're getting a lot of good work done and I'm really impressed by the work ethic. I like where we're at. Same thing when I talked to everybody last week as we continue to move forward. We need a lot of work, but we're making some strides. We just have to keep working. We have three or four more good workouts then the spring game."
On what has stood out defensively:
"I like what scheme we're using. I think we're a very fast defense. We move side-to-side really well and we challenge in a lot of different areas. The offense has had success at times and the defense has had success at times. There aren't a lot of turnovers and very few penalties. So I am pleased with that part."
On how well Taylor Cornelius is performing:
"He's doing really well. He's been around here forever and his strength is his knowledge of our offense. He throws the ball around pretty well and he has nice size. The only thing we don't know is how well he'll handle playing in games."
On the Larry Williams situation:
"Once they pass that rule, which they did, then it has to go to a different board. Then they finalize it and so, I don't know. A week or two maybe something like that. He's not going to be involved in spring ball, but I would hope that they would give him information prior to the draft, but I guess I don't have the last say on that."
On whether he knows how the spring game will be structured:
"Not really. We'll work on that early next week, but it kind of depends where we're at. There's a lot more side show in spring games than there is actually football and I don't think there's any reason to deny that, but we would like to get some work accomplished and some things that can help us next year. We just have to determine where we're at from a functionality standpoint, more so on offense than defense. We have more young offensive linemen this spring than we've had in a number of years, so we do have some limitations there. Our goal is to try to provide a good show for our fans and give them the opportunity to meet us and do things like that, but then also get some quality work done. Hopefully, 20-25 minutes of quality football."
On the running backs:
"We're fairly deep at the running back position with the experience of No. 5 (Justice Hill) and No. 27 (J.D. King). We like what LD (Brown) has done and we like where Chuba (Hubbard) is at. Hubbard has never played in a game, so we don't know, but I'm fairly confident that we have four guys who can play at this level."
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius
On being the most experienced QB on the team:
"It has been different but it has been enjoyable at the same time. I am enjoying the process and taking it day by day."
On his role:
"I am trying to be a bigger role model and a leader for this group because I am the older guy. So those have been big things for me this spring."
On how he has stepped up:
"I just try to lead by example and do everything right. Show up early, leave late, watch film on my own."
Running Back Justice Hill
On what he's working on:
"Well I have been doing a lot of receiving this year. I am running a lot of routes and so the running part is the easy part and the receiving part is what I have been working on this spring."
On learning to be a better route runner:
"You have to learn the whole route tree, the combinations, reading safeties. It's something new, something I need to work on. So it has been fun this spring, just getting to learn this system and learning a different position."
Running Back LD Brown
On the running back competition:
"Coach Gundy preaches it every day: compete. Just compete. With us four, us five with (Ryan) Haymaker, it's something to look forward to. We all bring something different to the table and cheer for each other."
On running backs playing a role in the receiving game:
"I feel like we are just taking in the challenge. We work on it every day and we are working on catching so it is something different to learn, what the wide receivers do and learn from them as well."
Defensive Lineman Trey Carter
On the new defense:
"It's going awesome, actually, because we are getting two views from different angles with two different defensive line coaches. So it's going pretty good. The defensive line is coming together as a group. We're learning more hand placement, more hand movement. Coach Richmond coming in and teaching us new things from his perspective, it's just awesome."
On how much freedom they have:
"There is much more freedom because everybody has a gap assignment. We are doing more four-man stuff, so it's more one-on-one movements. So it's actually going pretty good as far as freedom."
On the passion he brings to the game:
"Coming from (defensive) end and doing a little switch-a-roo to defensive tackle, it just brings more flames. Me playing outside was more about certain hand techniques, but with Greg Richmond teaching us how to use our hands better it's just more excitement, more fun. This is my last year. I just have to bring it all in."
Safety Za'Carrius Green
On the secondary:
"Playing out here just gives you more and more confidence. Looking at guys like Tre Flowers and Ramon Richards, those guys are my brothers. They instilled the confidence in me already. They believed in me from the start, so I have the confidence there. Now being on this platform just have to bring it out."
On not have Ramon Richards and Tre Flowers around:
"They are still here in Stillwater so we talk everyday. They are always on my tail about everything. It's not too weird, but you do miss them."
Defensive Lineman Darrion Daniels
On the biggest takeaway from the spring:
"Adapting. Our defense is doing a very good job of adapting. With all the information we are taking, I feel we are doing a pretty good job of adapting to it and adjusting."
On the new defense:
"I feel like we have a lot more freedom. With all that freedom I feel we get stuck going back to the old habits, but we are slowly breaking them and I feel like we are getting a lot better."
On being aggressive and fun:
"On defense you get opportunities to just be reckless. I know on offense it's very strict and if you're not in the right place at the right time you could mess up everybody. Defense you're a lot more flexible and you don't come up with the tip of your shoulder. You don't come out there having fun, I feel like you won't be very successful."
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:
"As we move forward, we're continuing to have good workouts and really physical, long practices, as long as players are competing and taking care of each other. We're not able to go to the ground, so we're almost in somewhat of a 'thud' technique, but we're getting a lot of good work done and I'm really impressed by the work ethic. I like where we're at. Same thing when I talked to everybody last week as we continue to move forward. We need a lot of work, but we're making some strides. We just have to keep working. We have three or four more good workouts then the spring game."
On what has stood out defensively:
"I like what scheme we're using. I think we're a very fast defense. We move side-to-side really well and we challenge in a lot of different areas. The offense has had success at times and the defense has had success at times. There aren't a lot of turnovers and very few penalties. So I am pleased with that part."
On how well Taylor Cornelius is performing:
"He's doing really well. He's been around here forever and his strength is his knowledge of our offense. He throws the ball around pretty well and he has nice size. The only thing we don't know is how well he'll handle playing in games."
On the Larry Williams situation:
"Once they pass that rule, which they did, then it has to go to a different board. Then they finalize it and so, I don't know. A week or two maybe something like that. He's not going to be involved in spring ball, but I would hope that they would give him information prior to the draft, but I guess I don't have the last say on that."
On whether he knows how the spring game will be structured:
"Not really. We'll work on that early next week, but it kind of depends where we're at. There's a lot more side show in spring games than there is actually football and I don't think there's any reason to deny that, but we would like to get some work accomplished and some things that can help us next year. We just have to determine where we're at from a functionality standpoint, more so on offense than defense. We have more young offensive linemen this spring than we've had in a number of years, so we do have some limitations there. Our goal is to try to provide a good show for our fans and give them the opportunity to meet us and do things like that, but then also get some quality work done. Hopefully, 20-25 minutes of quality football."
On the running backs:
"We're fairly deep at the running back position with the experience of No. 5 (Justice Hill) and No. 27 (J.D. King). We like what LD (Brown) has done and we like where Chuba (Hubbard) is at. Hubbard has never played in a game, so we don't know, but I'm fairly confident that we have four guys who can play at this level."
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius
On being the most experienced QB on the team:
"It has been different but it has been enjoyable at the same time. I am enjoying the process and taking it day by day."
On his role:
"I am trying to be a bigger role model and a leader for this group because I am the older guy. So those have been big things for me this spring."
On how he has stepped up:
"I just try to lead by example and do everything right. Show up early, leave late, watch film on my own."
Running Back Justice Hill
On what he's working on:
"Well I have been doing a lot of receiving this year. I am running a lot of routes and so the running part is the easy part and the receiving part is what I have been working on this spring."
On learning to be a better route runner:
"You have to learn the whole route tree, the combinations, reading safeties. It's something new, something I need to work on. So it has been fun this spring, just getting to learn this system and learning a different position."
Running Back LD Brown
On the running back competition:
"Coach Gundy preaches it every day: compete. Just compete. With us four, us five with (Ryan) Haymaker, it's something to look forward to. We all bring something different to the table and cheer for each other."
On running backs playing a role in the receiving game:
"I feel like we are just taking in the challenge. We work on it every day and we are working on catching so it is something different to learn, what the wide receivers do and learn from them as well."
Defensive Lineman Trey Carter
On the new defense:
"It's going awesome, actually, because we are getting two views from different angles with two different defensive line coaches. So it's going pretty good. The defensive line is coming together as a group. We're learning more hand placement, more hand movement. Coach Richmond coming in and teaching us new things from his perspective, it's just awesome."
On how much freedom they have:
"There is much more freedom because everybody has a gap assignment. We are doing more four-man stuff, so it's more one-on-one movements. So it's actually going pretty good as far as freedom."
On the passion he brings to the game:
"Coming from (defensive) end and doing a little switch-a-roo to defensive tackle, it just brings more flames. Me playing outside was more about certain hand techniques, but with Greg Richmond teaching us how to use our hands better it's just more excitement, more fun. This is my last year. I just have to bring it all in."
Safety Za'Carrius Green
On the secondary:
"Playing out here just gives you more and more confidence. Looking at guys like Tre Flowers and Ramon Richards, those guys are my brothers. They instilled the confidence in me already. They believed in me from the start, so I have the confidence there. Now being on this platform just have to bring it out."
On not have Ramon Richards and Tre Flowers around:
"They are still here in Stillwater so we talk everyday. They are always on my tail about everything. It's not too weird, but you do miss them."
Defensive Lineman Darrion Daniels
On the biggest takeaway from the spring:
"Adapting. Our defense is doing a very good job of adapting. With all the information we are taking, I feel we are doing a pretty good job of adapting to it and adjusting."
On the new defense:
"I feel like we have a lot more freedom. With all that freedom I feel we get stuck going back to the old habits, but we are slowly breaking them and I feel like we are getting a lot better."
On being aggressive and fun:
"On defense you get opportunities to just be reckless. I know on offense it's very strict and if you're not in the right place at the right time you could mess up everybody. Defense you're a lot more flexible and you don't come up with the tip of your shoulder. You don't come out there having fun, I feel like you won't be very successful."
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