Gundy Addresses Turnovers on Big 12 Teleconference
STILLWATER -- Saturday's loss to Texas Tech is certainly a game that many Oklahoma State fans are trying to forget. It snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Pokes in Lubbock and it just wasn't a fun game to watch.
Quarterback Spencer Sanders accounted for five turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles, and the offensive line had one of their worst performances this season. None of that's to say that Tech isn't a good team or didn't apply pressure to create and force turnovers, but it just wasn't the Pokes' day.
Spencer Sanders had a rough day at the office, but he will bounce back
Every Monday, the Big 12 Conference hosts a Head Coaches Teleconference. It's a way for media members around the country to ask questions about the previous and upcoming game without having to travel to the school.
With Oklahoma State being on an open week and local media has an interview opportunity with coach Gundy on Tuesday, the call with Gundy only lasted five of the allotted 10 minutes. Sanders' turnover situation against Texas Tech was the first topic addressed.
Is he making mistakes that he shouldn't be at this point, or is this something you have to deal with with a young quarterback?
"I think it's a combination of both," coach Gundy said. "When you have a young quarterback, you're gonna have some mistakes. You remember [Sam] Ehlinger when he was a freshman? I think it's very similar to that. Some of the other [turnovers] weren't his fault. We had to do a better job of protection and route running. So, it's a combination of both."
Is Spencer Sanders a guy who should bounce back from this and learn from it? Have you figured out what kind of player he is from that standpoint yet?
"Well, he doesn't have a choice," coach Gundy said. "If you're going to play quarterback at this level, you better have thick skin and you better be able to figure it out and compete. So, there's not a choice when it comes to that for him and that's what he's done throughout his career. I don't anticipate that being an issue."
After watching the film, how much of your problems Saturday were attributable to what you said that 'five turnovers, you can't win doing that'. But how much was attributed to that a opposed to other things that didn't go right?
"Really it was just the turnovers," coach Gundy said. "You take those away...we gave them 18 possessions, so it's way too many possessions. We were much, much better in the score zone, we scored touchdowns instead of kicking field goals. We improved in that area. Defensively, we held them to 2-of-13 on third downs, so we improved in that area. But if you turn the football over, you essentially take yourself out of the game."
There were a lot of mistakes in Saturday's game, but if you eliminate the turnovers, then you eliminate any momentum swings in Tech's favor and probably go down and score. Other than maybe one or two of the turnovers, the Cowboy offense was really clicking.
So, the Pokes need to take this much-needed week off, take a breath and adjust so they can get ready for Homecoming against Baylor next week.
