Spoke with members of the offensive side of the ball on Monday. Obviously the big news of the day was that of the match-up with Texas Tech. A program that members of the current staff and team are more than familiar with.
Baker Mayfield
Lincoln Riley
Dennis Simmons
Bill Bedenbaugh
All four with direct ties to the Red Raider football program. Here's Mayfield and teammates talking about it Monday afternoon. Mayfield can say 'it's just another game' all he wants but I think everyone knows that this is a big one for the former Tech freshman phenom, even he admits it's only human to want something of a revenge. Very Tom Brady-esque statements from Mayfield, IMO. Thought it was funny.
* Really I thought the most interesting note from Monday evening's post practice session was the praise of Dru Samia via his position Bill Bedenbaugh.
Again Bedenbaugh reiterated he's never had a true freshman as ready to start as Samia. He did admit that he feels like he should have probably played him and Jonathan Alvarez more in games vs. Tennessee and Texas.
* Both Bedenbaugh and Lincoln Riley were complimentary on Samia's second career start at RT as well as Jonathan Alvarez returning to left guard after a three game hiatus.
* Back to Samia ... Let this comment sink in:
"The kid carries his Ipad with him everywhere he goes ... he's always watching tape .. he's always asking questions, he's always asking Ty what's going on and that has helped him. You have to have that to become a great football player. Not everybody has it but he wants to be a great offensive lineman and he's going to become one eventually."
* Bedenbaugh said the best thing about Samia's play is his focus and dedication to the fundamentals and technique, these attributes make up for the lack of strength/in-game experience that will eventually come. The good news being that with youth and inexperience will come maturity and room to grow.
Obviously, there's a lot to like when hearing Bedenbaugh talk on his true frosh.
"I thought he was obviously pretty good in high school. The way he worked. He moved in with his uncle- his uncle played in college- and they trained non-stop. I knew he had the mentality to do it but I didn't know if he would be physically ready. That's the biggest thing - even if you're mentally ready it's hard to be physically ready at that age," said Bedenbaugh.
"He really worked his technique on his own before he came here and then really got better this summer. It's showing up and he's going to be a great player for us."
* Bedenbaugh was asked if there was anyone comparable to Samia in regards to being ready to play so early? Try Texas Tech's Louis Vasquez.
Quality comment from Bedenbaugh on his former Red Raider pupil.
"Louis Vasquez -- he was 6'6" 330 pounds as a true freshman. He was a man ... Pro Bowl guard in the NFL but he didn't even start as a true freshman but he was physically ready."
* Lincoln Riley is pleased with the direction of the offense. He noted none of the sacks Mayfield took in the first half were because of poor line play. Though Mayfield holding onto the ball isn't necessarily a good, it could be seen as a positive that he's not trying to force the ball down the field into tight spaces, etc.
* As was the theme last week ... tempo will be a key asset for the offense moving forward. Earlier in the day Mayfield admitted that he prefers moving fast, this even going back to his days at Lake Travis.
Below is SCOOPHD highilights from Riley on Monday:
SCOOPHD: Lincoln Riley
* Has Durron Neal finally turned a corner? Currently ranking No.3 on the team with 20 receptions, Neal seems to have found a level of comfort in Riley's offense. Neal credits his own maturity as well as newfound chemistry with QB Baker Mayfield.
* A guy that we can say has definitely found his niche in the offense is redshirt junior Daniel Brooks -- anyone else sneakily excited to see what he does for the next year and a half?
* Lastly, Zack Sanchez assured me Prentice McKinney has been catching a lot of hell in the lockeroom for this drop on Saturday.
Some ICYMI information from Monday:
* OU/Kansas will kickoff at 2:00p or 2:30 next weekend
* Jordan Evans MRI brought good news with no ligament damage, injury specific to muscle
* Matt Romar expected to be available on Saturday vs. Texas Tech
* SCOOPHD: Bob Stoops Monday Media Luncheon
Baker Mayfield
Lincoln Riley
Dennis Simmons
Bill Bedenbaugh
All four with direct ties to the Red Raider football program. Here's Mayfield and teammates talking about it Monday afternoon. Mayfield can say 'it's just another game' all he wants but I think everyone knows that this is a big one for the former Tech freshman phenom, even he admits it's only human to want something of a revenge. Very Tom Brady-esque statements from Mayfield, IMO. Thought it was funny.
* Really I thought the most interesting note from Monday evening's post practice session was the praise of Dru Samia via his position Bill Bedenbaugh.
Again Bedenbaugh reiterated he's never had a true freshman as ready to start as Samia. He did admit that he feels like he should have probably played him and Jonathan Alvarez more in games vs. Tennessee and Texas.
* Both Bedenbaugh and Lincoln Riley were complimentary on Samia's second career start at RT as well as Jonathan Alvarez returning to left guard after a three game hiatus.
* Back to Samia ... Let this comment sink in:
"The kid carries his Ipad with him everywhere he goes ... he's always watching tape .. he's always asking questions, he's always asking Ty what's going on and that has helped him. You have to have that to become a great football player. Not everybody has it but he wants to be a great offensive lineman and he's going to become one eventually."
* Bedenbaugh said the best thing about Samia's play is his focus and dedication to the fundamentals and technique, these attributes make up for the lack of strength/in-game experience that will eventually come. The good news being that with youth and inexperience will come maturity and room to grow.
Obviously, there's a lot to like when hearing Bedenbaugh talk on his true frosh.
"I thought he was obviously pretty good in high school. The way he worked. He moved in with his uncle- his uncle played in college- and they trained non-stop. I knew he had the mentality to do it but I didn't know if he would be physically ready. That's the biggest thing - even if you're mentally ready it's hard to be physically ready at that age," said Bedenbaugh.
"He really worked his technique on his own before he came here and then really got better this summer. It's showing up and he's going to be a great player for us."
* Bedenbaugh was asked if there was anyone comparable to Samia in regards to being ready to play so early? Try Texas Tech's Louis Vasquez.
Quality comment from Bedenbaugh on his former Red Raider pupil.
"Louis Vasquez -- he was 6'6" 330 pounds as a true freshman. He was a man ... Pro Bowl guard in the NFL but he didn't even start as a true freshman but he was physically ready."
* Lincoln Riley is pleased with the direction of the offense. He noted none of the sacks Mayfield took in the first half were because of poor line play. Though Mayfield holding onto the ball isn't necessarily a good, it could be seen as a positive that he's not trying to force the ball down the field into tight spaces, etc.
* As was the theme last week ... tempo will be a key asset for the offense moving forward. Earlier in the day Mayfield admitted that he prefers moving fast, this even going back to his days at Lake Travis.
Below is SCOOPHD highilights from Riley on Monday:
SCOOPHD: Lincoln Riley
* Has Durron Neal finally turned a corner? Currently ranking No.3 on the team with 20 receptions, Neal seems to have found a level of comfort in Riley's offense. Neal credits his own maturity as well as newfound chemistry with QB Baker Mayfield.
* A guy that we can say has definitely found his niche in the offense is redshirt junior Daniel Brooks -- anyone else sneakily excited to see what he does for the next year and a half?
* Lastly, Zack Sanchez assured me Prentice McKinney has been catching a lot of hell in the lockeroom for this drop on Saturday.
Some ICYMI information from Monday:
* OU/Kansas will kickoff at 2:00p or 2:30 next weekend
* Jordan Evans MRI brought good news with no ligament damage, injury specific to muscle
* Matt Romar expected to be available on Saturday vs. Texas Tech
* SCOOPHD: Bob Stoops Monday Media Luncheon
