TU has had four practices (Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun) and took Monday off. They hit the practice field again today. Here's what Coach Montgomery said after the past two practices...
SATURDAY PRACTICE
Montgomery: "There was a little more excitement with putting on pads. I think with the change of schedule (due to storms), and having to bump things around that kind of took some of the juice out of the first day of pads, just because you're all revved up for it this morning, and then weather happens like it does. It's Oklahoma, it's going to change, so just hold on. We still had good energy and still got what we wanted out of it.
"I really am anxious to see the film. So many times at practice, you've got a feeling one way or another. It was really good or really bad or something like that. It's never as good or bad as it seems until you watch it on tape. Tape shows it all. The eye in the sky never lies.
"We put the ball on the ground too much today. We missed too many tackles today. We missed blocks up front. We missed open receivers because we were bouncing with our feet a little bit. DBs had a chance to make picks and we didn't make them. It's the little things when you throw shoulder pads on, you're really anxious about everything. It's just about relaxing and getting used to it and getting back in the groove of it.
"We'll get back on schedule tomorrow. I thought about moving it, but there are so many different factors that go into it. So we're going to bounce back tomorrow and go back on our regular schedule, and that will give us about a day and a half to recuperate. We'll have meetings tomorrow afternoon and then Monday we'll have our media day and a day off from practice."
SUNDAY PRACTICE
Montgomery: "We had to battle through some things today. Some young guys had to get a lot of reps. We had some guys that got a little banged up here and there, nothing major. It's just things that happen when you start competing and our guys are competing right now. You've got to battle through that part of it. I thought defensively we've been flying around and playing really well. I think our back seven, that was as quick as I've seen them in a long time. I'm really proud of what we're doing there.
"I think the combination of guys we've got up front are really starting to come together. I like the moves we're making with them right now. I think our running backs have been really, really good. Dane (Evans) has made really good decisions until that last one right there at the end of that team (portion). But he's operating like a fifth-year guy and that's what we want. Receiver-wise is where we've got to get better. We've got guys coming off injuries that are just kind of still knocking the rust off. Most of them are just trying too hard, trying to make every play instead of just being smart and sitting down when they need to sit down. I love the progress that we're making, but we've still got a long way to go.
"I like our length and our speed back there (in the secondary) and our aggressiveness. I think those guys have really been competing for the ball at the point of attack. There's not a lot of windows out there and they're opening and closing real quick, so it's good to see that. I think our linebackers have done a great job of expanding and working, and then sticking the run when they've got to. I thought our D-line played extremely well yesterday. Jerry U (Uwaezuoke) is really playing well. Hayden Carman is playing well, (and so is) Jeremy Smith. But, I think overall defensively we're leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year at this time."
SATURDAY PRACTICE
Montgomery: "There was a little more excitement with putting on pads. I think with the change of schedule (due to storms), and having to bump things around that kind of took some of the juice out of the first day of pads, just because you're all revved up for it this morning, and then weather happens like it does. It's Oklahoma, it's going to change, so just hold on. We still had good energy and still got what we wanted out of it.
"I really am anxious to see the film. So many times at practice, you've got a feeling one way or another. It was really good or really bad or something like that. It's never as good or bad as it seems until you watch it on tape. Tape shows it all. The eye in the sky never lies.
"We put the ball on the ground too much today. We missed too many tackles today. We missed blocks up front. We missed open receivers because we were bouncing with our feet a little bit. DBs had a chance to make picks and we didn't make them. It's the little things when you throw shoulder pads on, you're really anxious about everything. It's just about relaxing and getting used to it and getting back in the groove of it.
"We'll get back on schedule tomorrow. I thought about moving it, but there are so many different factors that go into it. So we're going to bounce back tomorrow and go back on our regular schedule, and that will give us about a day and a half to recuperate. We'll have meetings tomorrow afternoon and then Monday we'll have our media day and a day off from practice."
SUNDAY PRACTICE
Montgomery: "We had to battle through some things today. Some young guys had to get a lot of reps. We had some guys that got a little banged up here and there, nothing major. It's just things that happen when you start competing and our guys are competing right now. You've got to battle through that part of it. I thought defensively we've been flying around and playing really well. I think our back seven, that was as quick as I've seen them in a long time. I'm really proud of what we're doing there.
"I think the combination of guys we've got up front are really starting to come together. I like the moves we're making with them right now. I think our running backs have been really, really good. Dane (Evans) has made really good decisions until that last one right there at the end of that team (portion). But he's operating like a fifth-year guy and that's what we want. Receiver-wise is where we've got to get better. We've got guys coming off injuries that are just kind of still knocking the rust off. Most of them are just trying too hard, trying to make every play instead of just being smart and sitting down when they need to sit down. I love the progress that we're making, but we've still got a long way to go.
"I like our length and our speed back there (in the secondary) and our aggressiveness. I think those guys have really been competing for the ball at the point of attack. There's not a lot of windows out there and they're opening and closing real quick, so it's good to see that. I think our linebackers have done a great job of expanding and working, and then sticking the run when they've got to. I thought our D-line played extremely well yesterday. Jerry U (Uwaezuoke) is really playing well. Hayden Carman is playing well, (and so is) Jeremy Smith. But, I think overall defensively we're leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year at this time."
