Kendall Hunter's success in balancing OSU's offense could be key against Texas A&M.
By John Helsley
follow me on twitter @jjhelsley
As games circled on the schedule go, Texas A&M is the one many have traced in red for Oklahoma State.
Not OU. Not Texas.
A&M.
Why the Aggies? How OSU fares against the crew from College Station always seems to provide an strong indicator of what we can expect from the Cowboys. During the Big 12 era, OSU’s best seasons — including the past two — typically feature wins over the Aggies.
This season begs an indicator, with the Cowboys beating up a series of softies to arrive at 3-0 entering this Thursday night ESPN special.
So this game, against a team holding the same could-be contender status in the South, sizes up a solid forecaster of what’s to come for the Cowboys. And the Aggies, for that matter…
A&M has failed in its recent big moments on the big stage, writes Brent Zwerneman in the Houston Chronicle.
The Aggies are ready to prove they’re improved on defense, writes Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Austin American-Statesman’s Suzanne Halliburton has this on A&M’s offense, which has been surprisingly pedestrian.
And from A&M’s weekly press conference, here’s what Aggies coaches and players have to say about their matchup with the Cowboys:
HEAD COACH Mike Sherman
On the off week… “I thought we had good preparation. We really worked some long practices. We went out there in full pads three days. We worked on a lot of fundamentals and things we need to get better at, like ball security, special teams play and getting better defensively. I thought it was a very profitable week. I thought they had good preparation yesterday at practice.”
On the atmosphere in Stillwater… “They are right on top of you. We’ve already talked about that element of it, the maturity factor our team has to have. The fans are sitting right behind you, and cheering for their team and against you. We talked about where you can’t lose focus and just allow them to do what they’re doing. We’re not going to change that, but how we handle that is in our control.”
On the importance for the program to get this win… “Obviously, every game has importance. There’s no question about that. This is a conference game. For our fans, there’s no question it’s hugely important because they will all be tuned in and watching. And our players know they are playing a team that is a challenge. I know Bill Young, he’s a great defensive coach and has done a wonderful job up there. The offense, run by (Dana) Holgorsen, is doing a great job. Their special teams are strong. They are at home. They have a lot of momentum going on. From a confidence factor, and I worry more about that for our team–the confidence factor to be able to get over this hump–that’s important for our team.”
On the team’s confidence heading into Thursday… “This team has risen to another level of confidence that we haven’t had before. I feel this team has a lot of confidence in what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with. But in order to take the next step, we have to go on the road against a good opponent like this and play well.”
On 3-0 last year versus 3-0 this year… “I think we’re playing better defense now. We’ve taken a step that way. We’re a year older and a year wiser. I don’t think we’re as fragile as we were a year ago. When things went south in the fourth ballgame last year against Arkansas, and they went south very fast, I don’t think we handled that very well. I think our team is more mentally mature to be able to handle the adversity and the bumps in the road that come in a game. If you can’t handle those things it’s difficult to win games consistently. I never would have drawn the FIU game up the way it turned out, but I think it was a learning experience for our guys knowing how to handle themselves and fight through it. We handled the adversity in that game. We’ve used it to be a teaching moment.”
On the importance of establishing the run game Thursday… “It’s important every week, but more so on the road, with the noise and the crowd and moving the chains and being able to hear the snap count. Against FIU, we had way too many 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations due to penalties and sacks. We like to have balance. In order to run it you’ve got to throw it, and in order to throw it you’ve got to run it. We have to stay out of long-yardage situations, particularly on the road.”
On the upcoming stretch of games being important for you personally… “I’d have my head in the sand not to realize that it’s important to win football games. We’ve been trying to do that since we’ve gotten here. But along the same lines, we’re trying to get the right pieces in place in order to do that successfully and consistently. I’ve got to be honest with you, and I know it’s coach speak, but I don’t think much past the next game. We’re going to go out there and play our butts off and hopefully play well. I have my own motivation. I feel a responsibility to this university and to the former students. I’m working as hard as I can work, and the players are working hard. We have a good group of kids and I’m excited about this team and this ball game. One game does not make a season, but we’re looking forward to playing it. We have high expectations.”
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Tim DeRuyter
On having (OSU Off Coord) Dana Holgorsen’s number… “Oh, no (laughing). Coach Holgorsen does a great job. Everywhere he has been he’s been tremendous. We got lucky last year (at Air Force). We had a really good club, had some tremendous coaches and the kids played really well that day. This year is a different year with different players and he’s done a great job up there. Our guys played well that day last year. I really liked our club last year. I was fortunate to be on a great coaching staff, and it’s the same way here. I think our kids are starting to buy in to what we’re doing. But it’s a totally different year. We’ve got to play well to have a chance. If you don’t, they’ll embarrass you and hang half a hundred on you in a hurry. So no, I don’t have anybody’s number.”
On Holgorsen’s offensive differences between Houston and Oklahoma State… “The big difference is that the run game is much better. A lot of the concepts are the same but when you are handling the ball to (Kendall) Hunter it looks a little different. They do a tremendous job of putting a lot of stress on you.”
On whether he senses the defense is fired up about playing OSU… “I think our guys are excited about the challenge, number one because it’s our first league game. And number two, I think the guys have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because of how we’ve played in the past. The guys feel we have a chance to be a decent defense. We’ve played decent the first three games but we really haven’t played anyone near the capability that we’ll see Thursday night.”
On the defense better handling adversity… “Well, we had a few turnovers in the last couple of games. When you are a young team like we’ve been, you don’t handle adversity well. This year, we haven’t been perfect but we have handled that much, much better. Part of it is training and part of it is maturity and having been there. They feel better about themselves when adversity does hit them. I like where we’re at, but again we haven’t been on the road. So we have to face that challenge of a hostile crowd and one of the top offenses in the country. Hopefully we’ll handle those situations well on Thursday.”
On whether he’ll temper the defense’s excitement Thursday… “I want our guys excited. Atmosphere and a setting like this are why you play and coach in college football. You play defense with attitude and emotion, and anything that raises that level is good. I think our guys are going to be fired up for this. I know I am, and I know our staff is.”
On how to stop an offense like OSU… “It’s tough. You’ve got to be multiple. You’ve got to disguise things and make it a little bit of a chess game. It’s difficult against this kind of offense which is up tempo, because they force you into things quickly and then check with the sideline. That’s all part of the challenge. But we think we have some good players on our side too, and we look forward to the challenge.”
SENIOR QB Jerrod Johnson
On what to expect from Oklahoma State… “Oh, it’s typical OSU. They are big, fast, athletic, and they run to the ball well. They have playmakers on their team. Anyone in the Big 12 is going to be talented but Oklahoma State especially. If you watch the way they walk off the bus they are very impressive.”
On the battle in the trenches… “It’ll be huge. That is what decides games. The front seven play is the equalizer in every game. That war right there will be huge. Our offensive line has been working really hard and it will be a loud environment. We’ve been working on some things in communication to combat that. I think the up-front war will decide how the game will be won.”
On the first conference game bringing more excitement… “I think it does. You play your first three games, and you don’t want to overlook them, but you play teams you don’t know much about. They probably know more about you than you do about them, and they come out and give it their best shot. But with Oklahoma State, you know about their coaching staff. You know about their players. You have friends on their team. Conference play is a little more exciting because you expect to play teams like Oklahoma State when you come to A&M to play in the Big 12. You look forward to it.”
On whether A&M can be a good road team… “I think so. I don’t think it’s a sense of doing that much more, it’s just a sense of knowing what you’re getting into. Knowing you can’t communicate as well as you are used to. Preparing for adversity basically. It’s going to be a great environment, and it will be very loud. There are so many things you can try and explain (to the young guys), but once you experience it you have a completely different mindset. You learn through experience, and I think we’ll be able to handle that adversity much better this year.”
JUNIOR OL Evan Eike
On getting into a rhythm… “Rhythm is a big part of tempo. We really focus on getting that first first down. That gets everyone going and gives us a chance to move ball and get the defense back on its heels.”
On playing on the national stage Thursday night… “We’re excited. It’ll be a big-time stage, a lot of fun and a fun environment. We want to start fast and well. We want to get into a rhythm and play well offensively from the beginning of the game. We want to play a complete game.”
On the bye week… “We had a great week last week. We feel we corrected a lot of things. We’ve got to come out in a good rhythm and get things going and communicate. If we play well early, we can get it going offensively and hopefully sustain that the rest of the game.”
JUNIOR WR Jeff Fuller
On the OSU offense putting more pressure on your offense than usual in a game… “Yeah that puts a lot of pressure on us. I know our offense has to pick it up, but at the same time I have a lot of confidence in our defense.”
On the atmosphere in Stillwater… “It’s a hostile environment, but I actually like that. I like playing against big crowds. One of my favorite games in high school was playing in a basketball game at Hebron. It was a very hostile environment. That brings a lot of excitement and energy to the game.”
On the importance of getting into a rhythm early… “It’s pretty important to come out strong, complete passes, make big plays and get big runs. But at the same time it’s a four-quarter game.”
On the off week… “I think we cleaned a lot of things up. The offense had a few pretty rough practices, but we picked up the intensity quite a bit. The defense got after us and we answered back.”
On why 3-0 this year is better than 3-0 last year… “I feel like we’re a lot more mature this year. Last year, our offense was a little more explosive at this time. But this year, we’ve gotten a lot better at togetherness, and knowing what needs to be done, and assignments, and coverages. Last year, Big 12 play was a first even for a lot of us starters. This year, I feel like we a lot more know what to expect and will be better prepared.”
JUNIOR DB Trent Hunter
On von miller’s effect… “He’s an All-American. He brings it every game and every day at practice. When you have a guy like that coming off the edge, the quarterback knows he’s coming. The quarterback always has that little thing in the back of his mind that Von is coming. It’s always good for us to have people like him and the guys off the other side up front.”
On the challenge OSU’s No. 1-ranked offense will present… “We’re ready for it. We’ve had a few good weeks but we are ready to prove ourselves against a team that’s putting up big numbers. If we have a big week against them it will put our name out there. We’re ready for the challenge.”
On the challenge OSU’s offense presents as a safety… “I feel like the way our linebackers and defensive line are getting a push up front, I trust the guys up front and put all my faith in them that they’ll do their job. They’ll be prepared for the run and we will be prepared for the pass. We plan to go out there and have a good game.”
On how to stop OSU’s offense… “The previous teams they’ve played haven’t done a good job of defending the big play. You really can’t do that if you want to be a successful defense. If we can defend the deep ball first I think we’ll be ready for anything.”
On being hyped up for Big 12 play… “Definitely. You always have that feeling in the locker room that it’s conference play now. There’s no way we can lose any momentum going into this week.”
JUNIOR LB Garrick Williams
On Kendall Hunter… “Kendall Hunter is a talented back. He’s shifty. But I think our coaches will put us in a good spot to stop them.”
On getting a chance to go against OSU’s run defense… “I’m very excited. I think Coach (Terrell) Williams told me the other day that they were rushing for 200 yards a game. It’s a good offense against a good run-stopping defense. It’s just another chance for the defense to step up and show people what we’re about this year.”
On battling adversity… “That’s the reason why the game against FIU was kind of good for us. It was a game that keeps us humble. We faced adversity, and maybe last year we wouldn’t have gotten out of that. This year, I think we are able to fight through that and we are ready for things like that. Coach Sherman stresses maturity all the time. All those freshmen who got to play last year are sophomores now, but they take the field and think like juniors and seniors. So that’s big.”
SENIOR JOKER Von Miller
On his season so far… “I feel like I’m doing what I need to do for us to be a good defense and win. I’m not really too concerned about my sack totals. I’m concerned in a way, because I want to be the best, but it’s not really on my back.”
On being on television and getting to show the nation their defense… “I’m looking forward to playing on a stage like that. It’s going to be a great game and a great atmosphere. We’re playing OSU, which is a very good team. It can’t get any better. This is what we’ve been waiting for and we finally have a chance to go out there and play a really good team.”
On whether offenses have been double-teaming him… “There really haven’t been many double teams or many chips. It hasn’t been anything different from last year. Coach DeRuyter is doing a really good job of mixing everything up and putting us in position to make plays. That keeps the offense guessing. I really haven’t gotten double-teamed or anything like that, it’s just me playing with this injury. The ankle is getting better every day, that’s all I can hope for.”
On whether the fans are eager for the team to prove itself against bigger competition… “Our aggies want us to win every game. This is conference play, and every game is really like a rivalry game in the Big 12. We want to win all these games and our fans do too.”
On matching up with Oklahoma State’s offensive line… “Their offensive line is very good. They had Russell Okung last year, and the offensive line is doing very well without him. They haven’t allowed too many sacks. Their offensive tackles have some of the same techniques, stances and tendencies that Russell used last year. Russell is one of the best I went against last year. These guys look the same, it’s just a new year. We’re just going to have to come with it.”
On this being A&M’s first TV game… “I’m not too worried about this being the first time we’ve been on. I know we have big games down the road. We’re just taking it one game at a time. As long as we play every game like we’re supposed to, we’ll be where we want to be at the end of the year. It’s okay that we haven’t been on TV, we’ll get our time eventually. We’ve been preparing for our opportunity and when the opportunity presents itself we have to take advantage of it.”
