Gundy, OSU Players
Meet With Media
Cowboy coach,
players look ahead
to Saturday's game
against Grambling
State.
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected Cowboy players met with members of the media Monday at Boone Pickens Stadium to review last week's win over Rice and to preview this week's game against Grambling State. Here are some highlights of what they had to say:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On the offense against Rice
"The game was good to get back on the winning track. I thought that our players played with really good effort. We improved in many areas. I thought the quarterback played more consistent than he had all year. We didn't throw many passes, but when he did it worked out well for us. He ran the ball effectively. We thought our tailbacks were able to get some tough yards for us. Keith Toston converted on some key third and fourth downs for us."
On the defense against Rice
"Defensively we improved. We tackled better, but we still have to improve and be more efficient. The turnovers in the situations that we put the defense in are concerning. We have to do a better job of taking care of the football, and not giving them the ball on the other side of the 50. It was a good win for us and we are looking forward to another week of preparation."
On the Grambling State defense
"The team we are playing is a little unusual. Grambling State has a defensive lineman who has scored two touchdowns and got another one to the three yard line in three games."
On the Grambling State offense
"Offensively they have a quarterback who has a lot of ability. He moves around a lot and makes plays. For our defensive to get him pinned up will be a challenge."
On resting injured players
"I have never been big on not preparing to play the next game. I just feel like you just have to go all-out in the next game. If we have a guy who needs to be rested then we will not practice him as much, and maybe not play him. If they have the capability of playing, and it's not an injury or situation that could affect their career, then we will play them."
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On the OSU
running game
"I am not as
concerned with the
running game at this
point. We have two
new guards playing
and we are bringing
those guys along
each week. The guys
playing tailback
gave us some good
touch yards, but
when
Kendall Hunter
is in there and
breaks a sixty
yarder it pushes up
the yards per carry
average up a little
bit. We are thrilled
with the guys we
have in there, but
it is a little
different when
Kendall is in there
obviously, he is an
All-American."
DE
Richetti Jones
On being able to
play again and
getting his first
sack
"It felt great to be
on the field and
play football with
my teammates and
have fun, to just
play the game that I
love. That sack was
one of the best
feelings I've had in
my life. If it
wasn't for the other
10 guys, I wouldn't
have gotten it, but
it felt wonderful."
On fighting
through his hip
injury
"I've never wanted
to quit, but it's
been a long, rough
road. I broke my hip
my senior year of
high school and I
had to recover from
that. It was a long
road because I
wasn't the same
player that I was in
high school coming
into college. I
didn't have the same
mobility that I had,
or the same strength
or speed. I had to
build myself back
up."
On defensive
improvements needed
before Big 12 play
"We need to improve
on a little bit of
everything. There is
always room for
improvement, even if
we beat everyone
100-0. There is
always room for
improvement. As
players, we don't
know right off the
top, but our coaches
will know after they
watch the film."
DT
Ugo Chinasa
On what the
defensive focus is
for this week's game
against Grambling
State
"We have to go out
there and play hard.
We've got to get
pressure on the
quarterback and stop
the run. We need to
work on everything."
On getting
more pressure on the
quarterback against
Rice
"It felt pretty
good,
Richetti Jones
had the sack.
Everybody has got to
get back there and
get some pressure.
It felt good. It is
very important for
us as defensive
linemen to get to
the quarterback to
help our defensive
backs."
TE
Cooper Bassett
On his comfort
level at tight end
"I'm very
comfortable. I
haven't had the
opportunity yet this
year and I have no
problem with that.
Whatever I'm needed
to do, if that be
blocking, that's
fine. I came here to
play tight end and
that means I'm
supposed to block
and catch the ball.
When the opportunity
arises and the ball
comes my way, I'm
confident I'll be
able to catch it and
hopefully do
something with it."
On the
importance of the
offense succeeding
early in the game
"We were very happy
to start the game
off with a
touchdown. Rice is
not a bad team.
Their defense
presented some
troubles. Especially
with offense, you're
going to have those
times when you have
trouble clicking. We
had a few penalties.
As an offense, we
want to score on
every drive. If you
start beating
yourself up about
it, you're going to
dig that hole down.
We know we're going
to be able to put
points on the
board."
RB
Keith Toston
On what has led
to struggles in the
running game
"There have been
plays where I've
made the wrong cut
and didn't get in
the hole quick
enough and it closed
on me, there have
been plays where the
guard or tackle
might not pull fast
enough and there
have been plays when
we've actually broke
and the receiver
might have missed
the block downfield.
It's pretty much
everything, but
we're addressing it
and continuing to
get better."
On playing
without
Kendall Hunter
for the second
straight week
"I'm pretty
comfortable with
every running back
that we have. There
are a lot of us, we
started the year off
about six deep and
all of us could
play. The top three
of four, we might
start on other good
teams. Anytime you
have a running back
go out it hurts, but
to have a lot of
backups like we
have, it keeps us
moving."
On
improvements before
Big 12 play
"We want to go out
there and try to
focus on the little
mistakes we made the
week before. We want
to try to focus on
game day and get the
job done. We're
going to focus on
Grambling State like
we're playing OU
this week. Practice
is going to be like
it was last week and
the week before
that.
On if the
running game will
arrive
"There's no doubt in
my mind. We're just
missing it barely.
When we break down
the tape, we can see
that it's little
things that are
costing us our big
plays. With the guys
we have on this
team, we could have
a breakout game at
any time and I think
we'll be okay."
C
Andrew Lewis
On if a bye week
would be beneficial
this week given some
of the team's
injuries
"I think I'd rather
have a game. I'd be
more comfortable
giving our offensive
line another week to
try to get better
and improve.
Hopefully we'll
spark our offense
and have a better
running game next
week."
On if this
game presents a
chance to jump start
the offense
"It seems like in
seasons past, it's
taken a few games to
finally get the
offense going.
Hopefully, this
game, the offense
will start clicking
on all cylinders and
we'll do well."
On not having
a 100-yard rusher
yet this season
"It's our offensive
line's job to have a
running back go over
100 yards rushing.
We do take that
personally. We want
to keep on
grinding."
On struggles
in the running game
"I think it comes
back down to
communication.
Everybody's got to
be on the same page.
On the offensive
line, when I make a
point, everybody has
got to know what
they are doing. We
have to have
everybody blocked
up."
On fewer
penalties last week
"I think players
were playing
smarter. Coach Gundy
always talks about
playing smart. I had
a clipping call last
week. You just have
to think and focus,
`is it really worth
a 15-yard penalty?',
and just don't make
stupid mistakes."
