Dillon Gabriel Interview 9-25-23
Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel speaks to the media following Sooners' practice on Sept. 25, 2023.
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00:00 Dylan, when you go through the film, just your thoughts on how you performed on Saturday?
00:05 Definitely missed some stuff.
00:06 Things, you know, we all got to get better at, myself included.
00:11 So just as a group, you know, we just left stuff on the field.
00:14 So I think that's the biggest takeaway.
00:17 What's the biggest thing you want to ratchet up from last week to this week?
00:24 I'd say just like every week, starting out fast, you know, and finishing strong.
00:28 And, you know, kind of hitting all the goals that we set out each game.
00:33 So I think that'll be super important.
00:34 What do you need to do different to start faster this week?
00:40 Creating easy completions, moving the chains.
00:43 I mean, I don't want to sound like a broken record, but finding ways to, you know, get
00:48 in the rhythm.
00:49 Dylan, Iowa State's always been a defense that you somewhat have to be patient against,
00:53 right?
00:54 Am I right or wrong about that?
00:55 For sure.
00:56 Yes, you are.
00:57 Why is that?
00:58 I think it's just the way they play and what they, and their scheme and what they present.
01:02 Just something that you got to, you know, kind of really got to dissect and find holes
01:08 and, you know, be very patient until they give you those opportunities to take advantage
01:14 of.
01:15 I've heard a nickname for kind of the umbrella defense where they try to keep everything
01:18 just within, in front of you or further back.
01:20 For sure.
01:21 That's a good way of looking at it.
01:22 It seems like you utilized this week more in designed runs.
01:26 How did that feel for you?
01:27 Yeah, not necessarily designed runs.
01:29 Just finding ways to create extension off of the run game and, you know, use my legs,
01:37 add limbing, whatever it may be.
01:40 Just finding ways to, you know, create and help the O.
01:43 Dylan, it seems like you and Anthony have a really good rapport, a real comfortable
01:47 fight.
01:48 How did that kind of develop?
01:49 Was it during camp?
01:51 Just the whole offseason, you know, I think from January to in the fall camp, even still
01:55 now.
01:56 We continue to build, you continue to grow and the relationship continues to grow.
02:00 So I think just all the time we spent together, but also the time we're spending now, just
02:05 being able to, you know, put our work into fruition and see how it turns out.
02:13 We're seeing the different usage of the running backs, two different in each game.
02:18 From your perspective, what are you seeing about the competition in that room and how
02:20 they're being patient for when their time is called upon?
02:23 Yeah, everyone's just very hungry and loves to run the ball.
02:29 So that's a good thing.
02:30 And I think all four of them have done a great job of doing that.
02:33 So them just continue to work and compete and then also, you know, when their time is
02:40 there to take advantage of it.
02:42 Was there anything to learn from that second half?
02:44 It was a slow start off, you know, running the ball on Saturday in the first half, but
02:47 second half seems like it was a little bit better.
02:49 Was there anything to learn from that?
02:50 Yeah, a bunch to learn, but, you know, I think to summarize it all is, you know, moving the
02:56 chains and then finding a rhythm and creating that for ourselves when things may not be
03:01 going our way at first.
03:02 Dylan, you've always been a pretty good runner.
03:03 On your touchdown, you were stopped at the two.
03:04 You showed good power there.
03:05 Off-season workouts going well for you?
03:06 Yeah, Schmiddy, you know, just beating us down and him kind of holding me back a bunch
03:15 and then finally letting me...
03:16 Now I'm playing.
03:17 Now I'm playing, but it is what it is, you know, finding a way to get in and love how
03:22 it was just a team effort, you know, kind of pulling me in.
03:24 But you don't mind being physical is what I'm trying to get at.
03:26 At all, at all.
03:27 It's a physical game.
03:28 It's something you sign up for, so, you know, everyone signs the papers.
03:31 Was it surprising that you guys couldn't find that rhythm, especially considering how
03:35 you were able to do that the first three weeks?
03:38 Yeah, every game is different.
03:40 You know, every play is a play within itself, so just being able to stay present, find ways
03:48 to create completions and then create positives, you know, doesn't help when you get a negative
03:54 on that second play.
03:56 And then just shooting ourselves in the foot in a couple of things at different times and
04:01 different moments.
04:02 So a lot of it is self-inflicted and things we've got to fix internally.
04:06 Do you shift your mindset at all?
04:09 What's that process when things don't go to plan, trying to get locked back in and getting
04:12 like on the next drive?
04:13 Yeah, just creating juice, creating good juice.
04:17 Like I said, creating completions or finding ways to get positive, whether it's running
04:21 the football, throwing the football.
04:22 And then naturally as you create completions, you get into a rhythm and then things start
04:27 to unveil themselves and you're completing the ball.
04:30 You're usually getting positive yards most of the time, hopefully.
04:33 So that, I guess, is what I'm trying to do.
04:36 When the defense gets stopped like that, you're not getting completions, but can that help
04:42 you guys keep that juice going?
04:43 For sure.
04:44 Rhythm, momentum.
04:45 You know, momentum is huge too.
04:46 I think them getting a stop, you know, obviously us stopping a score is huge, but we got to
04:53 do a better job at complimenting them and finishing in the red zone for sure.
04:58 What do you remember from going to Ames last year?
05:01 What do you remember about that game?
05:04 I remember a lot.
05:05 It was a tough one for sure.
05:09 The weather was nice and we won, so that's the main thing.
05:13 But it's a new year, new game, so just continue to take it one day at a time, prepare as much
05:19 as we can.
05:20 Do you expect Zach Schmidt to score another touchdown this time?
05:25 I hope so.
05:26 I don't know.
05:27 I don't dabble in that, but if I ever were to, I'd try to get him one.
05:33 How much fun has it been to see Nick Anderson, or Nick, just have as much fun as he has playing
05:37 football these last few weeks?
05:39 A bunch.
05:40 It's super dope.
05:41 He's a guy who's super special, like I said, and he's young, but his young energy and his
05:50 manhood, the type of guy he is, it's kind of funny, you know, just the type of guy he
05:54 is.
05:55 So it's good having him and he's great for the room.
05:58 What did you see from him in the offseason that helped him develop into the player he's
06:01 been this season?
06:02 Just the work in.
06:03 I think through his freshman year, he learned a bunch about taking care of his body and
06:07 then finally getting his opportunity and taking advantage of it.
06:11 I think that just goes to show how much work he's been putting in.