JimBob
03-16-2008, 08:23 AM
OSU defense is progressing
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/16/2008
Gundy says the newcomers are doing well in practice.
STILLWATER -- So far, so good.
Through six spring-practice sessions, that's the assessment of Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy when asked about the Cowboys' six defensive newcomers.
"I like what I see," Gundy said. "They've got a ways to go. They've got to get in better shape. They've got to learn to play at a high level every single day. But they're doing the right things on a daily basis, which is encouraging."
At the semester break, the defensive roster swelled with the addition of five junior college transfers (tackles Swanson Miller and Chris Donaldson, end Jeremiah Price and defensive backs Lucien Antoine and Maurice Gray), along with one early-arriving high school recruit (defensive back Markelle Martin).
With OSU being ranked 101st nationally in total defense last season and 112th in pass defense, the coaches wanted to recruit immediate help.
That resulted in the signing of six junior college defenders (the five who already are enrolled, along with a linebacker, Donald Booker, who moves to Stillwater this summer).
Gundy already has a nickname for the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Antoine -- "The Punisher." The name speaks for itself. Antoine is a big hitter.
In spite of having played football for only three years, he apparently also has an ability to read plays. Antoine intercepted an Alex Cate pass on the final play of Friday's 49-play scrimmage at Boone Pickens Stadium.
At the cornerback position, the 6-2, 180-pound Martin was responsible for Friday's biggest play. He picked off a Brandon Weeden pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.
"(Martin) is the type of guy I was lucky enough to coach at Ohio State -- a bigger corner," Cowboy defensive coordinator Tim Beckman said. "If he can't play that, we knew he could play safety. So we wanted to see what he could do at corner. You're talking about a 6-foot-2 corner that's got great feet and hips. He's doing an outstanding job as a freshman."
A native of Haiti, Antoine had never played football until his senior high school sea son in Coral Springs, Fla. When he arrived at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, he was a walk-on. At the end of his sophomore season, he was voted a junior college All-American.
On March 7, during OSU's first practice in full pads, Antoine wowed the coaches when he blasted wide receiver Dez Bryant with a crushing hit.
"I tell you where (Antoine) has really impressed me is just handling his everyday activity," Gundy said. "You always worry about mid-term guys not being able to get out of bed and not going to class. They stay in trouble for a semester, so they can't perform out here. He's been a guy who's really stayed on a straight line."
None of the newcomers was with the No. 1 defensive unit on Friday.
The starters were veterans Ricky Price and Quinton Moore at the safety positions, Jacob Lacey and Perrish Cox at the corners, Derek Burton and Ugo Chinasa at the ends, Orie Lemon at middle linebacker, Patrick Lavine at outside linebacker and Andre Sexton at the star position (the linebacker-safety hybrid position occupied last season by Donovan Woods).
The newcomers have been working primarily with the second unit.
Beckman says several of the new defenders will challenge for prominent roles after their conditioning and knowledge of the schemes have improved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSU SCHEDULES
SPRING
March 25: 3:30 p.m.
March 26: 3:30 p.m.
March 28: Scrimmage (open) 3:30 p.m.
March 31: 3:30 p.m.
April 2: 3:30 p.m.
April 4: Scrimmage (open)....3:30 p.m.
April 7: 2:15 p.m.
April 9: 3:30 p.m.
April 12: Orange-White Game................................. 4 .m.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/16/2008
Gundy says the newcomers are doing well in practice.
STILLWATER -- So far, so good.
Through six spring-practice sessions, that's the assessment of Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy when asked about the Cowboys' six defensive newcomers.
"I like what I see," Gundy said. "They've got a ways to go. They've got to get in better shape. They've got to learn to play at a high level every single day. But they're doing the right things on a daily basis, which is encouraging."
At the semester break, the defensive roster swelled with the addition of five junior college transfers (tackles Swanson Miller and Chris Donaldson, end Jeremiah Price and defensive backs Lucien Antoine and Maurice Gray), along with one early-arriving high school recruit (defensive back Markelle Martin).
With OSU being ranked 101st nationally in total defense last season and 112th in pass defense, the coaches wanted to recruit immediate help.
That resulted in the signing of six junior college defenders (the five who already are enrolled, along with a linebacker, Donald Booker, who moves to Stillwater this summer).
Gundy already has a nickname for the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Antoine -- "The Punisher." The name speaks for itself. Antoine is a big hitter.
In spite of having played football for only three years, he apparently also has an ability to read plays. Antoine intercepted an Alex Cate pass on the final play of Friday's 49-play scrimmage at Boone Pickens Stadium.
At the cornerback position, the 6-2, 180-pound Martin was responsible for Friday's biggest play. He picked off a Brandon Weeden pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.
"(Martin) is the type of guy I was lucky enough to coach at Ohio State -- a bigger corner," Cowboy defensive coordinator Tim Beckman said. "If he can't play that, we knew he could play safety. So we wanted to see what he could do at corner. You're talking about a 6-foot-2 corner that's got great feet and hips. He's doing an outstanding job as a freshman."
A native of Haiti, Antoine had never played football until his senior high school sea son in Coral Springs, Fla. When he arrived at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, he was a walk-on. At the end of his sophomore season, he was voted a junior college All-American.
On March 7, during OSU's first practice in full pads, Antoine wowed the coaches when he blasted wide receiver Dez Bryant with a crushing hit.
"I tell you where (Antoine) has really impressed me is just handling his everyday activity," Gundy said. "You always worry about mid-term guys not being able to get out of bed and not going to class. They stay in trouble for a semester, so they can't perform out here. He's been a guy who's really stayed on a straight line."
None of the newcomers was with the No. 1 defensive unit on Friday.
The starters were veterans Ricky Price and Quinton Moore at the safety positions, Jacob Lacey and Perrish Cox at the corners, Derek Burton and Ugo Chinasa at the ends, Orie Lemon at middle linebacker, Patrick Lavine at outside linebacker and Andre Sexton at the star position (the linebacker-safety hybrid position occupied last season by Donovan Woods).
The newcomers have been working primarily with the second unit.
Beckman says several of the new defenders will challenge for prominent roles after their conditioning and knowledge of the schemes have improved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSU SCHEDULES
SPRING
March 25: 3:30 p.m.
March 26: 3:30 p.m.
March 28: Scrimmage (open) 3:30 p.m.
March 31: 3:30 p.m.
April 2: 3:30 p.m.
April 4: Scrimmage (open)....3:30 p.m.
April 7: 2:15 p.m.
April 9: 3:30 p.m.
April 12: Orange-White Game................................. 4 .m.