Four Downs: One Week In

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma football team headed indoors for practice Friday morning as thunderstorms rolled through the area. After a week of camp and with more than 10 practices in the books, the team is rounding into form. Redshirt junior corner Zack Sanchez, redshirt junior quarterback Baker Mayfield and first-year outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons talk about the week's progress.

JUNIOR CORNERBACK ZACK SANCHEZ

1. What is the key to getting an interception versus a deflection or breakup?

“A lot of film. Film study is one thing I focused on last year to be more prepared for different situations. What route combinations teams are going to attack, and what they are going to throw at me. Just being a student of the game. Once you professionalize that, everything else is just second nature.”

2. How are the receivers looking so far?

“They are looking really good. In this offense we get to see them and use all our weapons. Durron (Neal) has been really good, and Shep (Sterling Shepard) — you know Shep is hands down the best wide receiver in the Big 12. It's not even up for discussion. Dede (Westbrook) has been really good. The young guys — A.D. (Miller) has been impressive, Mark Andrews is one of those big hybrid type guys that can go up and get it and also stretch the field. Our receiving corps has done a really good job through the first week of camp."

3. Is there a corner in the NFL you model your game after?

“I just look at all the elite corners. I like Joe Haden's game a lot. I watch him a lot. I like Aqib Talib, and obviously I played with Slick (Aaron Colvin) here. I feel like this year he will show that he is one of the best corners in the league. I just try to watch their games and take a few things from them. Not their whole game, but just a few things that I can add to my own to make myself better.”

4. What does having all the DBs in the same meeting room under just one coach change for your group?

“It's fun that we are together now. Everyone sees each other's mistakes. We all try to help each other and fix those mistakes. We aren't separated now, so we are on the same page. It's not the corners doing this and the safeties do another thing. We are all under one roof now.”

JUNIOR QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

1. How has camp been so far?

“It's gone pretty well. I'd say we need to iron out some mental mistakes, but other than that we're progressing pretty smoothly. We're only a week into it right now, but it's gone pretty smooth so far, though.”

2. You dealt with some shoulder fatigue over the summer. How are you feeling now?

“I feel fine. I'm getting as many reps as anyone else. It helps getting the other two guys in there with the amount of throws, but I feel good.”

3. What is Coach (Lincoln) Riley stressing to the quarterbacks in camp?

“Execution. He tells us to relax, take care of the ball and don't try to do too much. Stick to the basics of what we're taught to do and we'll be fine. Nothing more than that; we don't need to be a superhero.”

4. As a quarterback, what do you enjoy most about this offensive system?

“Getting the ball into players' hands and watch them go. It's fun to watch when you get some of those athletes going, and they're going to make big plays for us.”

OUTSIDE RECEIVERS COACH DENNIS SIMMONS

1. You're no stranger to this offense. What makes it so difficult to defend?

"You force the defense to account for all five of your skill players -- your running backs and receivers, and your quarterback, too."

2. What went into your decision to make the move from Washington State to OU?

"First and foremost, my wife is from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so we got a chance to get her back close to her mom and family. So family played a big role. And then the relationship I have with Coach (Lincoln) Riley and Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh played a part. And it was a great opportunity to work under a guy like Coach (Bob) Stoops. It's kind of hard to pass that up with all the success and brilliance he's had in his career thus far."

3. How would you evaluate your receivers at this stage of camp?

"We're still in the early stages of developing. We're nowhere close to where I expect them to be or what I think they're going to become. So it's a work in progress every day. Today, a couple of young guys stepped up and made some plays. We just can't be a one-person unit; it's got to be a collective group that's ready to rotate in and make plays down after down."

4. How will your unit be different by the end of camp from what it is right now?

"If I'm doing my job right, everybody's going to know where to line up and know where to go. So we won't be having any mental busts. But guys will just be playing faster. I think once they get comfortable and know their assignments, they play faster, balls gets out faster, we get up field faster and the offense moves faster."

JUNIOR CORNERBACK ZACK SANCHEZ

1. What is the key to getting an interception versus a deflection or breakup?

2. How are the receivers looking so far?

3. Is there a corner in the NFL you model your game after?

4. What does having all the DBs in the same meeting room under just one coach change for your group?

JUNIOR QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

1. How has camp been so far?

2. You dealt with some shoulder fatigue over the summer. How are you feeling now?

3. What is Coach (Lincoln) Riley stressing to the quarterbacks in camp?

4. As a quarterback, what do you enjoy most about this offensive system?

OUTSIDE RECEIVERS COACH DENNIS SIMMONS

1. You're no stranger to this offense. What makes it so difficult to defend?

2. What went into your decision to make the move from Washington State to OU?

3. How would you evaluate your receivers at this stage of camp?

4. How will your unit be different by the end of camp from what it is right now?

Players Mentioned

Mark Andrews

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield

Zack Sanchez

Zack Sanchez

Sterling Shepard

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics