2023-10-10 00:56:15
STILLWATER – Mike Gundy and several players met with the media Monday in Stillwater to look back at the Cowboys’ big win over Kansas State and preview Saturday’s matchup with the Jayhawks. Here are some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On the Kansas State victory:
“The offensive line played really good. They covered guys up. They did a good job protecting (Alan Bowman) – moved them around some. The challenge for us now is to do it again – to stay where we are and improve. We ran better against them. In my opinion, the best rush defense team we have played up to this point and we had quite a bit of success, so the challenge is to stay focused, get their motor running and practice well in all the things that could affect us this Saturday.”
On Cameron Epps’s big game:
“He played really well. The thing that he did that’s getting everyone’s attention is he finishes plays. You’ll see the young players that have a promising future at times be in the right spot, but if they don’t finish the play, we don’t talk about it as much. Either one of those (interceptions), if he goes up and tries to intercept it and drops it or tips it away and he doesn’t make a big play, it’s not something that grabs as much attention. He was able to finish those plays, which was a good sign. Most of the time, guys like that early in their career that have the ability to finish plays will do that throughout their career. We’re excited about where he’s at. He’s got a long way to go. It’ll be a challenge for him every week because he’s not experienced and he’ll see different things.”
On rotating offensive lineman:
“We’ve got some guys that are beat up a little bit and we have to save some reps on them in games and practice and rotate them around a little bit. At some point, as a coach, you would love to have six or seven guys that you’re rotating on your offensive line to save those guys. They are the one position that most people play throughout the game, and they can potentially get 70-75 snaps in a game, where you have defensive lineman that are rotating on them, who are actually better athletes anyway. We don’t have that luxury, but we do have a few positions where guys are rotating in, and it helped us a little bit.”
On the importance of balance on offense:
“We were able to rush the ball from the start of the game, which allowed us to throw the ball, which kept us balanced. (Balance) kept their safeties and corners playing games to try and support, instead of the other games we were in we couldn’t do that. You have to stay balanced offensively. Now, defenses have caught up to offensive football. If we don’t stay balanced it’s a tough night for us. When we stay balanced that allows us to do multiple things.”
On the Kansas offense:
“(Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr.) are both good. The third team back, who they bring in on goal line – he’s a problem, he’s an issue too. He pounds you straight ahead. They’ve got a good package. They’re smart, they know what they’re doing. (Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki) is a traditional wishbone guy and when you look at what they do with the different types of run plays they have, they’re trying to do the triple option for the most part. They’re doing it off some pull plays. They’ve revolutionized it a little bit, pulling guards, pulling both guards and tackles and still running option off the backside of that. What they’re doing is really, really good. They’re good at it, it’s a little different and unique. So, it’s a really tough preparation during the week to get prepared for what they do.”
Wide Receiver Rashod Owens
On his relationship with Alan Bowman:
“My relationship is really strong. We bonded all spring, all winter and especially during the summer. We took a trip to Cali and we trained out there and got our connections right and together. A few more guys also did, too. We always shoot each other texts. We talk about film. We talk about coverage and leverages in different defenses and everything, so I will say that me and Alan have a pretty good relationship with each other.”
On changing positions frequently:
“It’s not that challenging. One thing Coach (Kasey) Dunn loves is players who can play anywhere on the field. That helps him especially to be able to move guys around like me.”
Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On his team-first mentality:
“I’m all about the team’s success. So, whether I have 10 catches and we win, or whether I have one catch or two catches and we win, to me it’s all the same. As long as we’re winning, that’s all I care about.”
On riding a strong start against Kansas State:
“I think that just set the tone for the rest of the game. You saw from the first drive our energy level and just the plays that we were making, that it was just going to be a good game from that point. Just because of our energy level and some of the plays we were running, I think that just set the tone for the rest of the day.”
Defensive End Anthony Goodlow
On the team coming together:
“It’s everything from starting at the beginning of the season and coming together as a whole unit, watching film together and going out to eat together kind of made our chemistry a lot better. Just coming out here, practicing, wanting to get better every day.”
On gaining momentum heading into the Kansas game:
“Preparing-wise it’s not much of a difference. It’s us executing and doing our job. (The win) definitely gets the momentum going. It gets us very excited for the next game, we just have to keep it going. It’s a big turning point. The energy is high, we just got to keep it there and keep rolling.”
Nose Tackle Justin Kirkland
On stopping Kansas State’s run:
“I think for us as a defense and the D-line, that’s kind of our M.O. is stop the run. Preparing for them, they’ve got some good talent on their side. So, we knew it was going to be a challenge coming in. We just decided we’re going to ball out and buy into everything the coaches were saying, and it turned out good in the long run.”
On stopping dynamic rushing teams:
“I think that’s our that’s our backbone is stop the run… Me personally, that’s what I’m supposed to do. Pass rush is just on top of that. So, I think coming into each game with a mindset of the D-line’s going to stop the run to put people back in coverage, and then they’ll shut down that side and we’ll just watch the offense go to work.”
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