SoonerScoop video: OU coaches & players post-practice (Aug. 22)

OU moved its practice indoors Tuesday afternoon, and the SoonerScoop crew was out in full force to check in. We are now 10 days away from the season opener for Brent Venables and Team 129. Here is the best of the best from post-practice interviews.

OU OC Jeff Lebby

Offensive progress?

“There’s been a lot of good. There’s been plenty that we’re continuing to work through and fix and just continuing to try and create depth at every single position. I do like where we’re at, I like our guys’ effort and their attitude and their toughness. We’ve gotta continue to get better. I think our guys understand that as we work towards next Saturday.”

Balancing the QB situation between Jackson Arnold and Dillon Gabriel?

“As we get into it I think the biggest thing is making sure that we’re rolling offensively and making sure that we’re in great rhythm and we’re having great success. We’re having great balance and we’re doing the thing that we need to do to be dominant and go win a football game and put our defense in great position. So that’s where my mind is right now. We’ll see how it goes as we move forward.”

DE Reggie Grimes

Best overall trait of the room?

“I would say our motor. It’s relentless, relentless pursuit. And if we’re tired, two more are coming right back in. We’re not going to stop hounding you. I think that’s the fun part. I love going out there and getting off a few plays. I’ll be on the sideline and then I’ll come back in, and it’s the same thing over and over and over.”

How does depth help the most?

“I’m a senior now, so all these lofty goals and expectations is one thing. Just go out there and play ball, is one thing I learned. Don’t worry about the depth chart or the goals and expectations you put on yourself. When the ball is spotted, go play. I think with the guys in our room, we all kind of realized that at the same time. And we all started playing significantly better. It freed us up. That’s the main thing, playing free and being free. Being released from all these external factors and just playing football.”

RB Marcus Major

Camp role in year No. 5?

“I feel like I’m taking a bigger role, you know? Me being an older guy, I feel like I’ve got more responsibilities. Not just only trying to carry the load but trying to bring the guys with me. Just keeping up. Taking it day by day.”

Can you actually do anything to avoid the injury bug?

“No, it’s all on me really in the staying room, like I said. We’ve got a new recovery facility and I’ve been using that a lot. Just really been trying to take care of my body a lot.”

OG Savion Byrd

Staying consistent?

“Being present in the moment and taking it one day at a time. Getting the gameplans down. Learning how to watch film properly. Learning how to really be consistent, day in and day out. Being physical is not going to be the problem, just making sure my hands are in the right place, feet leverage. Just being consistent with my blocks and becoming the best offensive lineman I can be.”

Weight?

“I weighed in this morning 305, so it’s looking really good. Actually, at the beginning of summer conditioning, I was like ’65, almost 270. Just staying consistent. I had to find my routine, what I’m going to eat on a daily basis. And how I’m going to eat on a daily basis. Making sure I’m timing my meals up. Staying consistent, been the biggest thing this whole summer, camp and spring.”

OC Andrew Raym

Offensive line chemistry?

“I’ll tell you – I’ve been here for four years and this is the closest line I’ve ever been apart of. All five of us – and all 10, 15 of us – we’re hanging out together every week. We’re outside of the facility together. And I mean, we can get onto each other, tell each other truth and we take it right.”

Walter Rouse?

“Thank goodness for Walter. He brought in a lot of experience, a lot of tackle experience. Yeah, without Walter, we’d uhhh… Shoot, yeah, Walter he’s doing great for us. He’s brought in a lot of good stuff.”

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