Oct. 27, 2009
Defensive backs/special teams coach Duane Akina
On Deon Beasley: Deon has worked his way. He’s very competitive out there. I’ve always said that’s what I think gives us a chance to be an outstanding secondary. You’ve got to compete all year long. If your goals are to go on and to play after college, you’ve got to get used to that environment. That’s what we’ve worked hard to try to develop at The University of Texas. It’s great competition there between him and Aaron Williams, Chykie (Brown) and Curtis (Brown). Chykie was down a little bit, got nicked a little, missed a couple days. It’s nice to be in the position we’re in that you’ve got a guy that played over 600 snaps last year that can get an opportunity and come in and play well.
On Curtis Brown’s personality: He is serious, but there’s a lighter side to him. He’s very conscientious. This game is very important to him. It’s nice to see him start to have some of the success he deserves, because he’s worked really hard to get to this point in his career. We’re not close to the final product. It’s going to be really exciting when these snaps keep adding up and he keeps getting more confident in what he’s doing out there.
On Aaron Williams: It’s interesting, because expectations will get a little out of whack. These guys are sophomores. They’re still very young. We’ve heard their names quite a bit, but they’re outstanding athletes. He’s playing well. He’s got the ability to make plays. We’re not close to the final product there. Having great competition helps these guys continue to develop. We’ve got to find ways as a coaching staff to keep them motivated and keep soft pressure on them, keep them working. What’s helped them I think is the guys before, you know Huff and Aaron Ross. Guys they looked up to while they were in high school stayed in contact with these guys. A lot of the tape that I have is of those guys and I continue to tell stories about them. That’s the measuring stick. That’s what these guys are chasing, and I think that’s neat – that there’s that carrot out there that they want to be like that outfit, because I think that was a real special secondary.
On Oklahoma State’s passing game: They’re spreading the ball around a little bit more. In some ways I think that’s an advantage that everybody is involved. I’m sure that helps that wide receiving coach when he goes to meeting that there’s a few more smiling faces in that room. You’ve also got a heck of a weapon that you don’t have an opportunity to throw to the last couple of games; he’s a real unique talent. We’re preparing to line up and play against him. We can’t think that he won’t be there. I’m more concerned about us than them right now. We’ve got to make sure that we understand our plan and what we’re doing. They’ve got a lot of great weapons and they run the ball. It’s a nice offensive package that they’ve got. They create a lot of nice one-on-ones for all of those receivers.
On the special teams: I think when you just look at it all, you look at the kickoff return game, a little bit of it is the rules that have been in place the last couple of years to have more kickoff returns which is an exciting play. I think it’s better across the board. Then you’ve got a couple of unique guys with the ball in their hands. D.J. (Monroe) doesn’t need much (to break a play). He’s shown that. You’ve got Shipley. With our group, the guys have really bought in with the punt return team, that this is a lot of fun. We’re back to where we’ve got a real special return guy that’s just got some natural gifts in Shipley if we can just give him a chance, and we’ve also got some guys that can get after the punter. It’s a little bit of a two headed monster. They’ve got to be concerned about protection and concerned about coverage too. I’m really happy with what we’re doing there. I think it’s spilled over with the success that those two teams are having, whether it’s putting pressure or everybody wants to get involved. It’s spilling over to the other teams. Coach Brown and Coach Tolleson have done a great job of really selling special teams and having everybody understand the importance of it. Every time the other team trots out there it can be points, it’s field position, you know 60 yards-plus of field position gets exchanged, and the momentum it creates. We’re having a lot of fun with it. I think every time those guys trot out on the field we’re getting to the point where people are kind of holding their breath. They’re anticipating where something good is going to happen, and that’s a good thing.
DE/LB Sergio Kindle
On the similarities between this week’s game and the Texas Tech game last season: That was a whole different year and team last year. We’ve got a different type of motivation going into this game. We’re on a momentum train and we’ve got to keep it rolling.
On the offense’s performance in the win over Missouri: The defense only had a maximum of 50 snaps, that’s unusual. It was good to see Colt (McCoy) and the offense out there clicking like they are capable. They exploded out of the gate and hopefully they can keep it rolling into the next game.
On OSU QB Zac Robinson: He is talented. He can run like crazy. We’re just going to go with whatever game plan coach Muschamp puts in. Of course we’re going to have to contain him because he is mobile, but we’ll see.
On if he likes playing on the road: I do. Another good thing about that is when their offense is on the field their crowd has to be quiet for them, so we can get our calls. It’s a lot louder on our home field.
On how it feels to win on the road: It’s just as good as winning at home. Especially with the other team having the crowd behind them and the crowd against us, going out there and taking care of business the way we know how. Words can’t explain it.
On this being his first trip to Stillwater: I missed the last game two years ago so this is my first go around. Hopefully we come out with a win.
On OSU RB Kendall Hunter: I hope he plays because first of all he’s a great player, and second of all we like the challenge. We want to go up against their best to see how we maintain against them.
WR Malcolm Williams
On earning the trust of the coaching staff and QB Colt McCoy: It was more of getting their trust back along with getting Colt’s trust back. It was probably harder to get Colt’s trust back because I wasn’t really working with him as much when I moved down. I have to make a play when he throws me the ball.
On what he is doing to improve as a wide receiver: Basically just stay focused and catch the ball with my hands. Sometimes it gets to where I get relaxed and lose focus for a little bit. I’m trying to work on that and just stay focused.
On his blocked punt recovery in the end zone against Missouri: I just looked down, saw it and picked it up. I was just at the right place at the right time.
On the team’s special teams units: That’s a big team booster. We have a lot of talent on all our special teams. Anybody can make a play at any time. We’re just fortunate enough to have the people we do that can go out there and make plays.
On winning on the road: When you look around, a lot of teams can go on the road and lose focus. We try to fight against that as hard as we can and just stay focused. It starts at practice, and we just go on the road and stick together and play as a team.
On the identity of the special teams: We know that all year, special teams have been a big part of who we are as a team. It boosts us on offense and on defense. Basically the motto is, if it’s going to be anybody, why not you? That’s for every individual, so if we go for a block, why not you? It could be me; it could be anybody out there. We all try our hardest to go get it.
CB Curtis Brown
On his punt block against Missouri: I’m happy about it. I’ve been wanting a blocked punt since I first came here. Everybody else has gotten their blocks in, and I haven’t had it. I finally got the chance.
On the competition on special teams: We’ve got great athletes on that team. We have eight members of, we call it, the block party. If you do anything special it makes you feel good because you finally made the party.
On Oklahoma State’s passing game: They’re solid. Their wide receivers can run good routes. They look pretty good.
On the confidence that the defense has: Everybody’s got a level head. We all work real hard, and a big head doesn’t get you anywhere. We’re just working hard every day at practice trying to go out there and get it.
On taking pride in the defense’s play: We have a lot of pride in the defense. Compared to last year, our secondary grew. We’re not so young anymore. Having freshmen start last year, and mixing it up we have a good base, and we have confidence in ourselves.
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