JimBob
03-15-2008, 08:50 AM
Gundy looks for No. 2 QB
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
3/15/2008
Last Modified: 3/15/2008 1:47 AM
STILLWATER -- Unlike the previous three seasons of Mike Gundy's tenure as Oklahoma State's head football coach, there is no questioning who the Cowboys' starting quarterback is.
Zac Robinson's record-setting 2007 season puts that topic to rest, but establishing who the backup will be this season is still unresolved.
Friday's 49-play mini-scrimmage inside Boone Pickens Stadium didn't provide a hint.
The two competitors for the position -- sophomore Alex Cate and redshirt freshman Brandon Weeden -- experienced a few rough spots Friday.
Cate was 3-of-7 passing for 29 yards and an interception. Weeden's first pass was intercepted by freshman defensive back Markelle Martin and returned 60 yards for a touchdown. Weeden settled down to complete three of his other four throws for 18 yards in his lone series.
"It's huge for those two guys," co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gunter Brewer said about Friday's scrimmage and the three others that will take place this spring. "They have not had any live action. They found that out today. That's why live snaps are so much better than practice snaps. It's as close as you're going to get to a game against a defense that's throwing a lot of stuff at you."
The defense threw a lot of coverage and blitz packages in Friday's scrimmage to test Cate and Weeden.
Weeden's interception seemed to be a miscommunication. Wide receiver Hubert Anyiam ran a deep route down the sideline while Wee den threw an out route to the sideline that Martin caught in stride and ran back for the score. Cate was intercepted by safety Lucien Antoine, who cut in front of the receiver to pick off the deep throw.
Friday was the sixth of 15 spring practices for the Cowboys. When the Cowboys return from spring break for their next workout March 25, Brewer and Gundy hopes the two quarterbacks can continue to absorb the offensive plan.
Robinson did that in his first two spring practices as Bobby Reid's backup. Robinson said watching the other quarterbacks in drills and action was important in his development.
"It's a tough situation to be in and you can be under a little pressure (as the backup)," Robinson said. "But really it's all about playing and not worrying what the other guy is doing. I've told them to stay focused on what's going on because you can learn a lot from what the other guy is doing."
Knowing what they have already in Robinson, Gundy and Brewer are allowing Cate and Weeden to share some snaps with the first-team offensive unit in practice to expedite the learning process.
Gundy and Brewer would come to a decision by April 12, when spring practice concludes. Right now, that decision is not even close to being made.
"Weeden's head is probably spinning a lot now, while Cate has a good grasp of what we're doing," Gundy said. "They can look good in practice, but it's different when it's going fast and the clock is rolling in these scrimmages."
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OSU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Early entry: Freshman defensive back Markelle Martin made a favorable impression in Friday's scrimmage. Besides returning a Brandon Weeden interception 60 yards for a touchdown, Martin had three tackles and a pass breakup.
Not bad for someone who graduated high school in December. "Weeden threw it right to him. But the important thing is he caught it, ran and scored," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "He made it look easy. For a high school guy, he did well. Normally, he should be ordering a tux and getting ready for prom. Instead, he's out here playing with guys four years older than him."
Line shuffle: Offensive line coach Joe Wickline is playing the shuffle game again with his linemen. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Rush worked with the first unit at left guard on Friday.
Wickline is notorious for adjusting his linemen groupings for each workout before settling on a unit he likes.
"In their meeting room, they sit in rows according to which (unit) they're going to practice with that day, and it's almost like a cake walk," Gundy said. "Every day someone is in a different chair. As long as those guys play well, I'll let him do whatever he does. It does create competition, which will make them better players more than anything else."
Sidelines: Defensive end Derek Burton injured his lower right arm midway through Friday's scrimmage . . . Wide receiver Artrell Woods continues to make remarkable process after suffering a dislocated vertebra in the lower back eight months ago. Woods wore a green jersey to indicate he is not allowed to be hit. . . Southern Mississippi head coach Larry Fedora was spotted at the workout. OSU's ex-offensive coordinator is visiting family while USM is on spring break.
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
3/15/2008
Last Modified: 3/15/2008 1:47 AM
STILLWATER -- Unlike the previous three seasons of Mike Gundy's tenure as Oklahoma State's head football coach, there is no questioning who the Cowboys' starting quarterback is.
Zac Robinson's record-setting 2007 season puts that topic to rest, but establishing who the backup will be this season is still unresolved.
Friday's 49-play mini-scrimmage inside Boone Pickens Stadium didn't provide a hint.
The two competitors for the position -- sophomore Alex Cate and redshirt freshman Brandon Weeden -- experienced a few rough spots Friday.
Cate was 3-of-7 passing for 29 yards and an interception. Weeden's first pass was intercepted by freshman defensive back Markelle Martin and returned 60 yards for a touchdown. Weeden settled down to complete three of his other four throws for 18 yards in his lone series.
"It's huge for those two guys," co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gunter Brewer said about Friday's scrimmage and the three others that will take place this spring. "They have not had any live action. They found that out today. That's why live snaps are so much better than practice snaps. It's as close as you're going to get to a game against a defense that's throwing a lot of stuff at you."
The defense threw a lot of coverage and blitz packages in Friday's scrimmage to test Cate and Weeden.
Weeden's interception seemed to be a miscommunication. Wide receiver Hubert Anyiam ran a deep route down the sideline while Wee den threw an out route to the sideline that Martin caught in stride and ran back for the score. Cate was intercepted by safety Lucien Antoine, who cut in front of the receiver to pick off the deep throw.
Friday was the sixth of 15 spring practices for the Cowboys. When the Cowboys return from spring break for their next workout March 25, Brewer and Gundy hopes the two quarterbacks can continue to absorb the offensive plan.
Robinson did that in his first two spring practices as Bobby Reid's backup. Robinson said watching the other quarterbacks in drills and action was important in his development.
"It's a tough situation to be in and you can be under a little pressure (as the backup)," Robinson said. "But really it's all about playing and not worrying what the other guy is doing. I've told them to stay focused on what's going on because you can learn a lot from what the other guy is doing."
Knowing what they have already in Robinson, Gundy and Brewer are allowing Cate and Weeden to share some snaps with the first-team offensive unit in practice to expedite the learning process.
Gundy and Brewer would come to a decision by April 12, when spring practice concludes. Right now, that decision is not even close to being made.
"Weeden's head is probably spinning a lot now, while Cate has a good grasp of what we're doing," Gundy said. "They can look good in practice, but it's different when it's going fast and the clock is rolling in these scrimmages."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Early entry: Freshman defensive back Markelle Martin made a favorable impression in Friday's scrimmage. Besides returning a Brandon Weeden interception 60 yards for a touchdown, Martin had three tackles and a pass breakup.
Not bad for someone who graduated high school in December. "Weeden threw it right to him. But the important thing is he caught it, ran and scored," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "He made it look easy. For a high school guy, he did well. Normally, he should be ordering a tux and getting ready for prom. Instead, he's out here playing with guys four years older than him."
Line shuffle: Offensive line coach Joe Wickline is playing the shuffle game again with his linemen. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Rush worked with the first unit at left guard on Friday.
Wickline is notorious for adjusting his linemen groupings for each workout before settling on a unit he likes.
"In their meeting room, they sit in rows according to which (unit) they're going to practice with that day, and it's almost like a cake walk," Gundy said. "Every day someone is in a different chair. As long as those guys play well, I'll let him do whatever he does. It does create competition, which will make them better players more than anything else."
Sidelines: Defensive end Derek Burton injured his lower right arm midway through Friday's scrimmage . . . Wide receiver Artrell Woods continues to make remarkable process after suffering a dislocated vertebra in the lower back eight months ago. Woods wore a green jersey to indicate he is not allowed to be hit. . . Southern Mississippi head coach Larry Fedora was spotted at the workout. OSU's ex-offensive coordinator is visiting family while USM is on spring break.