Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy Talks Texas Tech, Top-15 Matchup With TCU at Media Luncheon
October 10, 2022 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - Oklahoma State head coach MIke Gundy met with members of the media during his weekly luncheon on Monday. Ranked No. 8 in the nation after a 5-0 start, Gundy discussed the Cowboys' performance against Texas Tech and previewed the top-15 matchup on deck for the Pokes against No. 13 TCU. Here is some of what he had to say:
Opening Statement:
"We had a good workout yesterday. Finished up on the [Texas] Tech game and got started on TCU. Worked the guys out a little bit last night. Normal Monday: players are off and coaches are working. Trying to get ready to have a good week of practice for the next one."
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On familiarity with TCU head coach Sonny Dykes:
"Just from a distance. Obviously, I've watched him a little bit from a distance but haven't really crossed paths with him much in recruiting or whatever. He's done well. They're playing really, really good now. Obviously did a good job at SMU. I don't know a lot about him personally."
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On familiarity with TCU defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie:
"It's the same for them, though. He's going to feel like he has a good concept of us in his approach. Ours will be the same with him. Personnel could vary here and there. Same defense. Same principles on the back end and such."
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On Jabbar Muhammad's performance vs. Texas Tech:
"We thought he played well. He played 104 plays, which is not easy. Competed. They did go after him. He held his own and played a good football game. He was competitive. Got his eyes down on one tackle, but certainly played well enough for us to win."
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On concerns for Oklahoma State's secondary matching up with TCU's offense:
"This team's good on offense. They're throwing the deep ball well. The quarterback has come into his own in the last three or four weeks. He's experienced now. I think this is – what – his third year? I know he's been around awhile. Playing well. They're averaging 6.6 yards per rush. Their running backs are averaging over eight yards a carry. He's throwing the deep ball really well and he can run. I think we have one or two guys on the field that can catch him. I think he's that fast. He's playing well. We'll have to really have a good game plan. Our guys will have to play well and be really competitive. They're playing good football right now."
On if he still gets excited for big games:
"I think so. When you have a lot of hype there is a feeling in pre-game warmups that is different than without that. I still feel that. I guess my answer would be yes. I always hear coaches say this is what I coach for and some players say this is what I play for. I like the 28-point spread games, they're much more enjoyable for me. When we're in these games and get going and the crowd and the pageantry of college football is pretty special."
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On OSU's pass rush:
"It was pretty good Saturday. We were disruptive, but we need to net him up and be under control. That's a really difficult thing for a defensive linemen to do because the coach is telling them to fight like crazy and do whatever they do to get to the quarterback, but also be under control. It's a learning process they go through and the coaching of understanding who we're playing against, like the guy this week is really active and can run, so we need to have a good rush and rush together. Statistically, they've been good, but they can be better working as a unit."
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On Ben Kopenski:
"He got 36 plays and he needs to be in that 50 number. Sometimes we have personnel groupings based on the teams we're playing, speed packages, muscle packages, etc. He really needs to be in there 45 or 50 plays based on an 80 play game. This team is averaging 67.5 plays a game, the last team we played was averaging upwards of 90. For whatever reason if this ends up being a 75-play game for them, he needs to be in there 40ish or so because he has earned that and he plays smart."
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Opening Statement:
"We had a good workout yesterday. Finished up on the [Texas] Tech game and got started on TCU. Worked the guys out a little bit last night. Normal Monday: players are off and coaches are working. Trying to get ready to have a good week of practice for the next one."
Â
On familiarity with TCU head coach Sonny Dykes:
"Just from a distance. Obviously, I've watched him a little bit from a distance but haven't really crossed paths with him much in recruiting or whatever. He's done well. They're playing really, really good now. Obviously did a good job at SMU. I don't know a lot about him personally."
Â
On familiarity with TCU defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie:
"It's the same for them, though. He's going to feel like he has a good concept of us in his approach. Ours will be the same with him. Personnel could vary here and there. Same defense. Same principles on the back end and such."
Â
On Jabbar Muhammad's performance vs. Texas Tech:
"We thought he played well. He played 104 plays, which is not easy. Competed. They did go after him. He held his own and played a good football game. He was competitive. Got his eyes down on one tackle, but certainly played well enough for us to win."
Â
On concerns for Oklahoma State's secondary matching up with TCU's offense:
"This team's good on offense. They're throwing the deep ball well. The quarterback has come into his own in the last three or four weeks. He's experienced now. I think this is – what – his third year? I know he's been around awhile. Playing well. They're averaging 6.6 yards per rush. Their running backs are averaging over eight yards a carry. He's throwing the deep ball really well and he can run. I think we have one or two guys on the field that can catch him. I think he's that fast. He's playing well. We'll have to really have a good game plan. Our guys will have to play well and be really competitive. They're playing good football right now."
On if he still gets excited for big games:
"I think so. When you have a lot of hype there is a feeling in pre-game warmups that is different than without that. I still feel that. I guess my answer would be yes. I always hear coaches say this is what I coach for and some players say this is what I play for. I like the 28-point spread games, they're much more enjoyable for me. When we're in these games and get going and the crowd and the pageantry of college football is pretty special."
Â
On OSU's pass rush:
"It was pretty good Saturday. We were disruptive, but we need to net him up and be under control. That's a really difficult thing for a defensive linemen to do because the coach is telling them to fight like crazy and do whatever they do to get to the quarterback, but also be under control. It's a learning process they go through and the coaching of understanding who we're playing against, like the guy this week is really active and can run, so we need to have a good rush and rush together. Statistically, they've been good, but they can be better working as a unit."
Â
On Ben Kopenski:
"He got 36 plays and he needs to be in that 50 number. Sometimes we have personnel groupings based on the teams we're playing, speed packages, muscle packages, etc. He really needs to be in there 45 or 50 plays based on an 80 play game. This team is averaging 67.5 plays a game, the last team we played was averaging upwards of 90. For whatever reason if this ends up being a 75-play game for them, he needs to be in there 40ish or so because he has earned that and he plays smart."
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Players Mentioned
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