Post Practice Notes and Quotes with the Offense

Coach Josh Heupel

– Was asked how the lack of reps that Trevor has had since he doesn’t really have a full season affects things and Josh basically say, it doesn’t matter. Said “we are where we are” and the team is going to have to out an execute on Saturday…no excuses. Said that you’re only as good as your next game or your next play.

– Said that OSU is great at getting turnovers so OU has to take care of the ball. And said that they (OSU) are great in the red zone and great in third down defense.

– Did say that even when the QBs haven’t had time in the games…they’ve definitely gotten better just getting more time in practice. And said that the team around the QBs has gotten better. Said they expect Trevor to be even better this week than he was against K. State

– Said he has confidence that Trevor can execute what they ask him to do but said that he seems more comfortable when the play isn’t there and he has to make a decision to just take whatever is there. He said the game is slowing down for Trevor.

– Said that Trevor has prepared well every week regardless who the starter is/was.

– Said that OSUs defense isn’t completely different…not a complete overhaul…but there are subtle differences. One difference is he said their corners are pressing and challenging outside WRs a lot more (OSU used to play a lot more soft coverage) so they force you to win one-on-one battles.

– Said in order to stay focused his message to the players is “don’t read, listen, or watch” the media. Said that the great QBs at Oklahoma followed that rule…said that Sam Bradford, Jason White, etc…didn’t pay attention to the media in order to remain focused. “Whatever they’re (media) talking about right now today they’ll (media) flip…and do a complete 180 the following week if you don’t go out and perform well. You’re only as good as your next performance. That’s the world that coaches and athletes choose to live in.”

– Josh was asked if it was hard for him to ignore the press and media in his time in 2000 and he said, “no it wasn’t. That’s just who I was. I think it’s harder in todays world because kids are used to being on Twitter, Facebook, constant interaction…I think that is harder for them than it was for the guys I mentioned before (Jason and Sam)”

– Said that being a QB is the second hardest job on the field…said, “the hardest job in sports is to be the backup…to be ready to play and take advantage of that opportunity”

– Said that no matter how you simulate the zone read in practice it just isn’t the same as a game. Said that the reps in the game have really helped Trevor get better and better at the zone read.

– Said Trevor has gotten better at being able to go through his reads and then take off instead of just looking at one guy and taking off.

Trevor Knight

– Said that last weeks prep was really good but said the break was nice. But he said that since the break they’ve come back and worked hard and he feels good about where they are in terms of preparation

– Said that he does feel like he sees an improvement in his game. Said that the additional snaps gives him more confidence but also said that the more he sees the more he’s able to give Coach Heupel input on what he feels comfortable doing in various situations.

– Said that OSU’s defense is very good…said, “they’re very technically sound…they play hard…they play physical…they’re going to be a tough matchup”

– He talked about how he had never played in cold weather in his life up until the KSU game and said that getting that out of the way makes it easier to go into this game since he knows what to expect

– Said the game is going to be huge…its going to be loud and wild but said that the start of the game is so important…said it sets the tone for the game.

– Said that things are moving slower for him. Says he’s seeing things a little easier. Said that playing complete games helps as well because things slow down throughout the course of the game

– Said that he continues to get better at the zone read and feels better running it. He said that a lot of the zone read is just “feel”. Its a lot more about just playing football and not trying to overthink it and he feels like that really suits him. You do have to be technical with it and you have to make precise decisions but there is a “feel” sense to it. The decisiveness and precision ensures that the ball does end up on the ground at the mesh point.

– Said that they cannot put the ball on the ground in the run game and they have to take care of the ball in the pass game.

– Said that having a loud opposing crowd isn’t necessarily bad…said “you’ve got to ride that energy”

10 Comments

  • JD says:

    I wish saturday would hurry and get here!

    • AlexOU says:

      With ya on that JD….it’s Wednesday!!! 3-days & we’ll see. I’m gonna be freakin out by Sat 🙂

  • Adrian says:

    We have to win this. Even if we aren’t winning the Big XII we have to shut the cocky cowboy fans up and remind them they’re the little sister school.

    • Super K says:

      We’ve beaten them 9 out of the last 10 years but some of them still run their mouths so I suspect beating them this year won’t change that lol 🙂

  • AlexOU says:

    Said that Trevor has prepared well every week regardless who the starter is/was.

    Love this, kid is driven & great attitude. Being a leader sets good example that rubs off. Could do wonders for chemistry of team.

    • JY says:

      Probably the most underrated quality in a leader.

      • AlexOU says:

        He really has Tebowesque leadership qualities it seems. Says all the right things, says them well, with conviction & doesn’t get rattled by things, smoothly navigates. I’m in no way comparing their talents, very different players. But I’ll gladly take the leadership qualities.

  • JD says:

    Curious that the coaches tell them to stay “off the grid” so to speak yet I remember Wort talking about the forums…I guess he got to believing all the neg and look where it got him. He’d prob be a major contributor this year w Nelson going out

    • AlexOU says:

      Smart to do for QB’s especially. Other positions don’t get near the critique. With TK’s insight, I highly doubt he was ever told to stay off…likely did it on his own. Everything I’ve read about him (& parents too) points to incredibly good parenting with great perspective on life. Just a real solid foundation for the young man. He acts closer to 40 than 20.

      • Yost says:

        Yeah the way I took was Josh said was he was referring to the QBs avoiding the media. They probably tell all the players to do that but it’s a point of emphasis with the QBs.