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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Defensive Media Session Quotes
September 02, 2014 | Football
Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops
On if he feels like he is ahead of the curve on covering spread, hurry-up and no-huddle offenses:
“I think it's all about how much you see it, and it's probably more prevalent in our league than it probably is a lot of others places. It's kind of all over now so that's the fad and where we're in right now in trying to keep the defense off balance but we see it more so we adjust. It doesn't bother us.”
On if it is as big of an adjustment for coaches as it is players:
“It is for young players, I think. It's being able to think quickly, changing your calls, being able to adjust to formations, motions, and that can affect a younger player that isn't used to it or anticipating what's happening. So I think it just affects younger players more and some of our guys that have seen it, they're used to it. But again, it's kind of the people that are doing it that give you the challenge. We seem to adjust fairly well.”
On how the linebackers played against La. Tech:
“Caleb Gastelum played well. I thought he maybe had one or two missed fits but overall I thought he played really well and the rest of the guys – the first group – I don't know if we missed many assignments. Even technique I thought was pretty good so I thought the first group played really well.”
On DB Zack Sanchez being a top-performer on the defense:
“Sure. Zack is a playmaker for us and when he's playing well, we're usually playing well. He's a guy that helps our defense play with some swagger and some attitude and when he's playing well he's a really effective player.”
On Tulsa QB Dane Evans' performance against Tulane:
“I thought he was amazing. His accuracy, his ability to get the ball out quick, put the ball in some tight windows, was very effective. I thought the receivers did a great job catching the football and making plays, competitive plays, competitive throws, and they did a good job a year ago with third downs and keeping the ball. I thought they had a good plan and they keep you off balance. They run the ball effectively so it's a very complete offense.”
On if he has seen the strides he has wanted to see with his defense:
“I think we're better than we were a year ago, schematically, and understanding our position on the football. That's just assignment-wise. Against Louisiana Tech, no one is getting carried away here. We've got a long way to go. Our guys competed well and they did what we expected them to do so I don't see that changing. We want to be a consistent group every time we step on the field. (The players) expect great things so we'll see. Next game's up and we'll be excited to play in Tulsa and hopefully we can play as well.”
On how DB Steven Parker played in his debut against La. Tech:
“He played really well. Again, for his first game, a high school kid, he shows signs of being able to be a very complete safety, cover, run, hit, tackle – there's nothing he can't do from a safety position. He sees the game very well, he feels it pretty well, he blitzed extremely well. I was very pleased with his very few mental busts, out of position very few times; overall very pleased with his improvement.”
On playing in Tulsa with the Tulsa area being such a big recruiting town for them:
“A lot of kids - the Union, Jenks – have always been a part of our program and for those guys to be able to go home I'm sure it's fun for those guys. They played in that stadium in high school and to go back and play Tulsa I'm sure is exciting for a lot of our players.”
On his relationship with Tulsa Head Coach Bill Blankenship:
“Yeah, I think I recruited in Tulsa (Union) when I was at K-State, too. But I've known Bill many years and really respect him as a coach and as a person, that's for sure. Really good guy, always good to me when I recruited his players.”
On DT Charles Walker:
“Charles (Walker) started to play well and really came off the ball a couple times, consistency, playing the same way. Every time he shows signs of coming on. Again, it wasn't perfect. All of our two's are very young. It's still a very young defense. We have a lot of freshman playing in there for the first time and it was a different experience for those guys. Some of them froze and couldn't really react the way they wanted to, but it's good to get them out there and hopefully now they know what to expect and can play better.”
Cornerback Julian Wilson
On his play against Louisiana Tech:
“I thought it went well. I graded out well when I got my sheet at the beginning of the week. There is always room to improve so I have to work on those things this week and come out ready for Tulsa.”
On Tulsa's passing game:
“Their receivers run good routes and catch the ball well. They are big guys. I think No. 1 is like 6'4 and No. 88 is like 6'2. They have a 6'- guy in the slot. They have a lot of guys with great size who can run.”
On the young players who got playing time in the secondary:
“I felt like all of those guys played well. Hatari Byrd, Steven Parker, Stanvon Taylor and Jordan Thomas—all those guys—came out ready to play, trying to prove that they can get on the field.”
On the expectations against Tulsa:
“You can't overlook any opponent. We prepare for Louisiana Tech or Tulsa like we prepare for Alabama. You can't overlook any opponent. Tulsa put up more than 500 yards passing last week. They are going to throw the ball around. The coaches made that clear to us. We weren't happy after the game with Louisiana Tech. We gave up 16 points and every game we want to go out there and pitch a shutout. If we don't shut the team down and hold them to fewer than 200 yards we don't feel that we have met our goal. We weren't satisfied in that win, and that is why we are coming in and preparing even harder than we did last week.”
Safety Steven Parker
On playing in his first game:
“I was very excited for the first game. It was definitely something that I grew up watching as a little kid. It was exciting to get out there and actually put the Sooners uniform on. I just can't believe that life has taken this route so that I am in a Sooner uniform. I grew up watching it and I am finally in that uniform now. It was great. Particularly enjoying it with my teammates—all my teammates that I love.”
On playing with Carson Meier and Jeffery Mead who are also from Tulsa:
“I just got reminded of that by Carson Meier and Jeffery Mead, they played for Tulsa Union, so it was pretty great. I am going to enjoy playing on that field again. It feels very good. I have known those guys for a while. We played basketball and football and all that stuff growing up together. Now that we are on the same team it just reunites the friendship.”
On preparing to play as a true freshman:
“I worked my butt off as much as I could to get to the point that I am now. I worked hard in high school, but college is 10 times harder. You really have to study the game and make sure the mental and physical parts are part of your features.”
Defensive Tackle Jordan Phillips
On how it felt to be back on the field:
“It felt good. My snaps were limited, but besides that it was a good time. It was time to get back on the field.”
On if being heavier than last year has had an impact:
“No, I'm only about five pounds heavier than I was. I still carry it well and it helps me anchor down a little bit more.”
On Matt Romar:
“Romar looks really good. He is really explosive and has really good hands, maybe the best hands on the d-line. He's a good player.”
On if he was tentative on the field Saturday
“I was normal. I was ready to go. It has been way too long for me not to be able to cut loose.”
Linebacker Caleb Gastelum
On going into the game and getting more comfortable as the game went on:
“It was exciting, exciting to have the opportunity to go in. I felt very comfortable out on the field – even the first snap felt comfortable out there.”
On proving he is a pretty good linebacker:
“I'm just doing my job, doing what's expected of me on the field."
On missing an interception against La. Tech:
“I would have liked to have caught that ball but it doesn't always go how you want it. But we'll see if there's a next time. I would have liked to.”
On Tulsa's run game:
“I have a lot of respect for Tulsa. Tulsa is a good ball team. Run and pass, we're expecting it, every team does it. We're going to get into film this week, already have a little bit, and just be prepared for them when they come out.”
On going from being on the scout team to being the back up:
“Not really any different. It's all about your effort and your understanding and how hard you work. It doesn't really matter where you're doing that, as long as you are.”
Cornerback Jordan Thomas
On playing in his first game:
“It was great. It was a totally different experience from high school. You go from a few thousand fans to 85,000 fans. I had my team supporting me the entire time, so it was just a great experience all-around.”
On if he thought he would be playing this early after switching his commitment:
“It wasn't necessarily about playing. It was mainly academics and being closer to home. I wanted to study petroleum engineering. Northwestern did not serve that as a major and Oklahoma did. As it came down to it, I switched to mechanical. When it comes down it, they have three of the top oil and gas companies here in Oklahoma, and it's just a great place to be with all of the connections from Oklahoma, as well as everything around the area.”
On what it is like taking some of the harder classes and balancing football:
“It's all about time management. It's time-consuming and it's a hassle, but you just have to stay committed. We have all of the academic advisors, all of the mentors, all of the tutors we need to succeed. That has always been a plus, and that has helped me through it so far.”
On what he wants to do with his degree:
“Obviously, everyone's dream is to go to the NFL, but we all know that football is going to end eventually and you have to have a contingency plan. That's my contingency. My dad works for Chevron and it's just a great degree to have, no matter what you're doing with your life. It's a great fallback.”
On having a good camp:
“Honestly, I came in here with an open mind. I came in here as a sponge; I wanted to soak up all of the teaching, all of the coaching, and everything I have learned from all of the older guys. Zack (Sanchez) being a great player, Julian (Wilson), our safeties, Quentin Hayes, Hatari Byrd, all of those guys. They're great teachers, as well as players. Even our d-linemen and linebackers, they're all just very supportive and when you know the game you play a lot faster than you really are so that was a lot of my edge. Ultimately, it just came down to knowing the game as best as I could.”
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