Defensive Media Session Quotes

Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops

On if there are points that he would like to see the defense improve on:
“I think just being the same team every time we step on the field is really what we are after. Really that has been the case the first three games; building consistency and not giving up big plays and being able to execute our stuff. We have kept it relatively simple and let our players play. We have enough changeups and enough pressures that we have been able to execute our defense. You don't see a bunch of guys out of place or mishandling certain formations or motions. Our system is much more sound than it was a year ago. We're starting to see the benefits of being able to have guys in the right place more than we ever have. That's a good start.”

On West Virginia's offense:
“Obviously they are a much different team this year than at any time a year ago. Trickett has done a great job. He distributes the ball and he understands what they want to do. The receivers have made a lot of big plays. They get a lot of yards after catches. They screen you as good as anybody in the country. There is a lot of offense there. They execute very well and Dana (Holgorsen) has always been an innovator on offense. Now that he has a quarterback that can execute the things he needs to be executed, they are very diverse, very multiple and can attack you in a lot of different ways.”

On Jordan Evans' improvement and having a career-high in tackles in the last game:
“He reads and reacts to things much quicker than he did at any time a year ago. A lot of that comes back to the simplicity of our defense and letting our players play fast and be able to execute the plays that we call. Jordan has been a benefactor of all of that. You can see his speed on the field and his athleticism and he has played really well.”

On how Jordan Phillips is holding up after coming back from back surgery:
“He has been as good as anybody inside. I think he is starting to play better and get in a groove. He is playing his technique better. He just has to play consistently, the plays will come, and not force the plays. That's kind of how our defense is set up. You don't know who is going to make the play. We have a whole bunch of guys that can make plays. They have to stay within the defense and he has done a much better job of that and he has made his share of plays by doing it.”

On if his team speed gives him a good chance against teams that throw screens and bubbles:
“Screens are a reaction thing. You have to react. If you get out of position on a screen they are going to crease you. That part, they can block guys if they don't see it. You have to see a screen before it happens. Once you react to it you're going to run the screen down. You have to see it before it happens.”

On when he first thought of shifting to a 3-4 defense:
“After our first year we experimented with a concept that I didn't know very well. It was hard for the spread offense and we saw so many spread teams. We just put guys on an island. That's really what happened. We got isolated a lot and weren't able to handle certain matchups. It wasn't very conducive for this type of league.”

On how Zach Sanchez keeps putting himself in position to make big plays:
“He just has a knack for making big plays. He sees things and gets himself in good position. He is just a playmaker. He has always been that way. He is a competitor amongst everything else. That's what I love about Zach. He competes. He competes for the ball, 50/50 balls. If he makes a mistake, he is going to come back and make a play to make up for it. He is a competitor. That's probably the thing I respect the most. He may get out of position but he is going to come back. He understands the game and I think he studies it well and gets in position.”

On when he knew Julian Wilson was going to be effective at cornerback:
“We had a pretty good feeling in camp and thought he was adjusting well. We didn't see anything that told us he wouldn't. You don't really know until you get in the games and start playing and he has just transitioned it to the game feel. Nothing really changed our point of view of him through practice and going into games.”

Linebacker Geneo Grissom

On West Virginia:
“These guys are fast. They use a lot of tempo and they get a lot of plays in. We have to make sure we are good and conditioned for these guys.”

On the number of sacks so far this year:
“It is huge. If we get in the quarterback's face he has to take his eyes off the receiver and it messes up their timing. If we can keep getting pressure on the quarterback it makes them one dimensional in a sense and it also makes them make more mistakes.”

On Jordan Evans:
“He is a great player and he is confident in his abilities. For him to get a full game under his belt helps him get the jitters out. There was never any doubt in my mind that he would be a great linebacker for us. He put in a lot work this summer and he is one of those guys who is accountable. You know he is going to be there to make the play.”

On Eric Striker staying grounded:
“He is one of those guys who is just going to brush off the attention and keep doing what he is doing. He is not going to get a big head. He is not going to get too high or too low. He is already a character so it's just a testament to the type of player he is and the type of character he has.”

Cornerback Zack Sanchez

On WVU's improvements from a year ago:
“They're a lot better than they were a year ago. Especially in the passing game, obviously. Last year when they came in here they tried to run the ball a lot and it's a totally different story the way they spread the ball around and get it into playmakers' hands. We've got to be quick to the ball as soon as they catch the ball.”

On how WVU QB Clint Trickett has changed the team offensively:
“He can spread the ball around. His confidence is there, especially when he played Alabama, and these past two games. Throwing for 400 and 500 yards does a whole lot for a quarterback's confidence so if a QB has confidence there, you know he's willing to make the big plays and kind of force some things, so we can see that and expect that.”

On preparing for a hostile environment at WVU:
“You've just got to go in there and play the game. We have to kind of feed off the crowd. I like to go into environments like that – it's kind of fun to get the crowd in it because once you start making plays they get really quiet. You've just got to feed off their energy. Coach Mike (Stoops) talked about that, about letting it be to our advantage, not our disadvantage when it gets loud and they're heckling us and things like that. So just staying on our game.”

Defensive End Charles Tapper

On playing an explosive offense like WVU:
“It's going to be a great challenge. It's probably the biggest challenge we'll go against all season. They have a big offensive line. They're very rugged, dirty guys; they like to play dirty. They drag you around the field so it should be a great challenge for the defensive line up front.”

On WVU being an exciting challenge:
“It's going to be a great feeling going against a great crowd. Their crowd is going to be out there, they're going to be out there shouting out our names, trying to get us off our game, but that's what we came here to do. We came here to play ball and play against crowds like that.”

On if he is looking forward to playing an offense like WVU:
“Yeah. We always want to get out there and get a good challenge because that's what we come to Oklahoma to do. We come here to play against the best of the best so that's why we are out on the practice field. We grind all day and grind all night. The whole summer we prepare for games like this. So we're always excited for these opportunities."

On differences on the defense from last year:
“I just feel like we're more hungry. There's a bunch of guys that came in and stepped up and had to prove a lot, especially at the (defensive back) position. Julian Wilson had to come in and replace Aaron Colvin. Aaron Colvin couldn't really be replaced but Julian (Wilson) is stepping in and doing a great job. Our linebackers felt like they were young so they put on some weight last year. The defensive line up front, we all put on some weight and we seem to be doing fine with the run."

On defending a “screen team”:
“We know we're not going to get to do what we like most, rush the quarterback, because we've got to be aware of the screens the whole game. So when we see the guards who go off for the screens, we know that we've got to get up field and just try to make plays on the running backs and wide receivers.”

Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard

On improving on third down:
“We just have to keep working on it in practice. We worked on it today and I am sure we will work on it all week. We struggled on Saturday and that is something we have to correct. Converting on third down is a big key to the game so that is something we will correct.”

On Durron Neal's increased production:
“That is just Trevor getting the ball around and making some plays. He is getting every receiver involved and Durron is doing a good job of getting open, catching the ball and making something happened after the catch.”

On starting fast on the road:
“It is a lot different. You have to play with the noise. It's something we haven't had to face yet. Tulsa was almost a 50/50 crowd. We will see how it goes. We simulate it at practice with a stereo. That can throw a screw into the game at times. We are kind of used to it and we can tell the young guys what to expect. Hopefully we will get a good simulation of it at practice with the speakers. We want to let them know that it is a lot different when you are actually out there though. When you are in the stadium it can get in your head. Particularly for a young guy. It can get into your head pretty quick.

Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops

Linebacker Geneo Grissom

Cornerback Zack Sanchez

Defensive End Charles Tapper

Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard

Players Mentioned

Aaron Colvin

Jordan Evans

Jordan Evans

Geneo Grissom

Geneo Grissom

Durron Neal

Durron Neal

Jordan Phillips

Zack Sanchez

Sterling Shepard

Sterling Shepard

Eric Striker

Charles Tapper

Julian Wilson

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