Oklahoma was back out for their first spring practice of the year and that means another season of post-practice media sessions!
Today was an offense day, so we spoke with Lincoln Riley, Baker Mayfield, Cody Ford, Jordan Smallwood, Jeffery Mead, and Mark Andrews.
SCOOPHD: Lincoln Riley Post Practice Tuesday
- Mayfield again took complete responsibility for his arrest in Arkansas and apologized. He spoke to reporters for a good 20-25 minutes and answered all questions that came his way. It looked like he is prepared to face the situation head on and move forward.
- He also made it a point to say that "This is my team" and that he came back to Norman "to win a national championship."
- Mayfield said he was really impressed with the new guys from the 2017 class. With such a highly rated class and so many well-regarded prospects, he was a little unsure of what mentality they would all show up with. But Mayfield said he's been very impressed how they've all bought in, put their noses down, and worked hard.
- Riley on Mayfield's arrest: “We all make mistakes. I make mistakes. I’m damn sure not perfect… I know Baker very well and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t turn this into a positive.”
- The OU OC and QB coach said this was "the most talented and deep quarterback group I've ever had."
- When asked if people made too much out of Marquise Brown's listed weight being under 150 pounds initially, Riley responded with this, “Yes. Dede (Westbrook) was probably less than that when he came. It’s all about being able to move – you have to have durability too and he’s showed that – but we need guys who can get separation.”
- Riley said he really likes the mix of talent of Sutton, Sermon, Anderson, Adams, and Flowers in the backfield.
- The Oklahoma play-caller made a point to say that people always assume the same offense carries over from year to year. In Riley’s mind, it evolves from each season. “This is starting all new. This is all from scratch again. We’re going to be different at a lot of positions… I like the pieces that we have here, the fun part is putting it all together.”
- Riley said he believes this can be the best offensive line group he's ever seen, which, he states, is a big deal considering how well they played last year.
- Ford said the offensive line can make the running backs look just as good as Mixon and Perine did a year ago.
- Smallwood was high on both Brown and Grant Calcaterra as new pass-catching additions to the Sooner offense. “They’re really good. They’re young and raw, but they’re really good. I love them because they’re willing to work… I think those guys really came in at the right time.”
- Smallwood, who himself is a big, physical receiver, agreed with Riley that people made too much of Brown's weight. “That stuff doesn’t matter. You saw Dede. You saw the other guys that have come through here before. The thing about Marquise is he’s really fast. And his speed can burn a lot of people out there in the secondary. I expect him to use his speed and not let everybody talk about his size.”
- Like Smallwood, Mead is heading into his final season in Norman, but says it doesn't necessarily feel that way. “(Smallwood)’s been here forever," Mead said laughing, "For me it feels like yesterday.”
- Add Mead to the list of guys impressed by the young newcomers. “Marquise is very fast, athletic, and talented… From what I saw both (Brown and Calcaterra) had pretty good days today. They caught more balls than I did.”
- When I asked Jeff which quarterback has the most zip, he said this: “Chris (Robison) throws the ball hard.”
- Mead said that can sometimes be a topic of conversation amongst receivers. “It’s usually more running a short route and we’re coming back to the ball, not so much down the field, but when they throw it and it hits your hands and it’s hummin’, we’ll go back to the huddle and talk about that.”
- Best non-quarterback at throwing the football?
“Me.”
Does that mean there will be some Jeff Mead TD passes this year?
“Maybe.”
- Mead has also not seen Varsity Blues (a travesty), so he did not get the Jonathan Moxon comparisons to him reading a book before the Iowa State game. It was something that his quarterback gave him grief for initially, but “He liked it after the game, he wasn’t complaining then.”
- Mead said he’ll continue to read before games this year, but most likely in the locker room. The only reason he did it in Ames last year was because, “It was loud in the locker room, so I just wanted to chill out.”
- Andrews claimed to feel much healthier than he did a year ago. Said he didn't feel fully right until the Sugar Bowl, thanks to the weeks of rest after Bedlam.
- He's also keenly aware that everyone is making comparisons between himself and Oklahoma's newest tight end, Grant Calcaterra. “You know I hope he breaks the freshman TD record… I’ve heard it a ton that everyone sees a lot of me in him and that’s a huge compliment.”
- Andrews on what he's seen from Calcaterra already, “One of the things about (Calcaterra) he locks onto the ball, plucks it out of the air, and has great hands.”
- Kinda funny -- Calcaterra waited on Andrews to get done with interviews today. He really is learning the tricks of the trade from Mark.
Today was an offense day, so we spoke with Lincoln Riley, Baker Mayfield, Cody Ford, Jordan Smallwood, Jeffery Mead, and Mark Andrews.
SCOOPHD: Lincoln Riley Post Practice Tuesday
- Mayfield again took complete responsibility for his arrest in Arkansas and apologized. He spoke to reporters for a good 20-25 minutes and answered all questions that came his way. It looked like he is prepared to face the situation head on and move forward.
- He also made it a point to say that "This is my team" and that he came back to Norman "to win a national championship."
- Mayfield said he was really impressed with the new guys from the 2017 class. With such a highly rated class and so many well-regarded prospects, he was a little unsure of what mentality they would all show up with. But Mayfield said he's been very impressed how they've all bought in, put their noses down, and worked hard.
- Riley on Mayfield's arrest: “We all make mistakes. I make mistakes. I’m damn sure not perfect… I know Baker very well and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t turn this into a positive.”
- The OU OC and QB coach said this was "the most talented and deep quarterback group I've ever had."
- When asked if people made too much out of Marquise Brown's listed weight being under 150 pounds initially, Riley responded with this, “Yes. Dede (Westbrook) was probably less than that when he came. It’s all about being able to move – you have to have durability too and he’s showed that – but we need guys who can get separation.”
- Riley said he really likes the mix of talent of Sutton, Sermon, Anderson, Adams, and Flowers in the backfield.
- The Oklahoma play-caller made a point to say that people always assume the same offense carries over from year to year. In Riley’s mind, it evolves from each season. “This is starting all new. This is all from scratch again. We’re going to be different at a lot of positions… I like the pieces that we have here, the fun part is putting it all together.”
- Riley said he believes this can be the best offensive line group he's ever seen, which, he states, is a big deal considering how well they played last year.
- Ford said the offensive line can make the running backs look just as good as Mixon and Perine did a year ago.
- Smallwood was high on both Brown and Grant Calcaterra as new pass-catching additions to the Sooner offense. “They’re really good. They’re young and raw, but they’re really good. I love them because they’re willing to work… I think those guys really came in at the right time.”
- Smallwood, who himself is a big, physical receiver, agreed with Riley that people made too much of Brown's weight. “That stuff doesn’t matter. You saw Dede. You saw the other guys that have come through here before. The thing about Marquise is he’s really fast. And his speed can burn a lot of people out there in the secondary. I expect him to use his speed and not let everybody talk about his size.”
- Like Smallwood, Mead is heading into his final season in Norman, but says it doesn't necessarily feel that way. “(Smallwood)’s been here forever," Mead said laughing, "For me it feels like yesterday.”
- Add Mead to the list of guys impressed by the young newcomers. “Marquise is very fast, athletic, and talented… From what I saw both (Brown and Calcaterra) had pretty good days today. They caught more balls than I did.”
- When I asked Jeff which quarterback has the most zip, he said this: “Chris (Robison) throws the ball hard.”
- Mead said that can sometimes be a topic of conversation amongst receivers. “It’s usually more running a short route and we’re coming back to the ball, not so much down the field, but when they throw it and it hits your hands and it’s hummin’, we’ll go back to the huddle and talk about that.”
- Best non-quarterback at throwing the football?
“Me.”
Does that mean there will be some Jeff Mead TD passes this year?
“Maybe.”
- Mead has also not seen Varsity Blues (a travesty), so he did not get the Jonathan Moxon comparisons to him reading a book before the Iowa State game. It was something that his quarterback gave him grief for initially, but “He liked it after the game, he wasn’t complaining then.”
- Mead said he’ll continue to read before games this year, but most likely in the locker room. The only reason he did it in Ames last year was because, “It was loud in the locker room, so I just wanted to chill out.”
- Andrews claimed to feel much healthier than he did a year ago. Said he didn't feel fully right until the Sugar Bowl, thanks to the weeks of rest after Bedlam.
- He's also keenly aware that everyone is making comparisons between himself and Oklahoma's newest tight end, Grant Calcaterra. “You know I hope he breaks the freshman TD record… I’ve heard it a ton that everyone sees a lot of me in him and that’s a huge compliment.”
- Andrews on what he's seen from Calcaterra already, “One of the things about (Calcaterra) he locks onto the ball, plucks it out of the air, and has great hands.”
- Kinda funny -- Calcaterra waited on Andrews to get done with interviews today. He really is learning the tricks of the trade from Mark.
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