Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy Addresses Media During Cowboys' Bye Week
October 05, 2021 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - With the Oklahoma State football team on its scheduled bye week, head coach Mike Gundy spoke with the media following practice on Tuesday, rather than host his weekly media luncheon on Monday. Here's some of what he had to say:
On the plan for the team this week:
"We worked them out Sunday night and they were off yesterday. We went an hour and a half today and we'll go an hour and a half tomorrow and then we'll let them off until Sunday night. The coaches will leave and go recruiting Wednesday night. Coaches don't get any time off."
On clean up needed to be done:
"We have a lot of work. This will be the most talented team we've played athletically. We have to be sound in special teams like we have. Hopefully, we can continue to play good defense, and minimize big plays. Offensively, we have to play with our special teams and our defense. What I mean by that is we have to take good care of the football and continue to rush the football. We were at 4.2 (yards) against Baylor if you take away the loss of yardage at the end of the game and right before the half. If we can keep that up that will help a lot. As I mentioned after the game, we need to be in the plus category in turnovers to give ourselves the best chance to win against these guys."
On what he's seen from Texas:
"We've watched all their games. At this point most of us are who we are now, what you see on tape is what you're going to get. We get a couple of extra days of work. That should be an advantage for us. The guys were focused today and did a good job. That can only help us. Obviously, we'll watch the game and see where they're at. Defensively, they've been four down, but they went three down last week against TCU. We'll see what they do against Oklahoma. Offensively, it's the same stuff (Steve Sarkisian) has done forever."
On if Jaylen Warren can withstand his number of carries:
"So far, but I would like not to have to go so far in depth that we have to find out. Dominic (Richardson) is getting better each week and getting more experience and needs to start taking some of that load. Hopefully, Dez (Jackson) will come back next week and get some practice and can take some load off of him as well. If we have to give it to him, we'll give it to him. As you guys that have covered me know, 25 carries is my max. I get concerned about how he'll feel in week eight or ten. He wants it, he'll take it 40 times a game. We need to do a better job with that and Dominic (Richardson) and hopefully, we can get Dez back to help."
On where he sees room for improvement:
"We have to keep doing it. This team that we're going to play next their front six or seven will be the most active we've played up to this point. Baylor is pretty good up front also, but this team will have a little more depth and be even more active than Baylor was, so it will be a real challenge for us in this game. It will give us a pretty good idea of where we're at."
