Mason: Defensive Line is Tip of the Spear, So Lacy Gives Line Multiple Blades

STILLWATER – Sunday was a day off for players. That meant a couple of hours of meetings, but no practice, now walk thrus, and no lifting. Coaches and staff were at work and the Extreme Camp wrapped up with the 120 campers watching presentations and enjoying question and answer sessions with defensive coordinator Derek Mason, offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn, and to finish head coach Mike Gundy. I know the Extreme Camp cost is now $3,000, but there is good reason why the same guys keep coming back and new ones cycle in. Forget the gear you get, the time at practice and eating with the team at training table. The social time with the coaching staff, including an evening at Mike Gundy’s home, and these final day presentations are worth every penny. If you want to know Oklahoma State football those exchanges get you closer than anybody. If the media could, they would sign up. Mike Gundy called the group on Sunday “family” as in they are part of the football family, and they are.

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Derek Mason is a ball of energy at practice.

Derek Mason was awesome and went over his learning process of the defense, how he did it, and then he presented an up-to-date depth chart and talked about, as he has before, that the defensive line is the tip of the spear. He talked about the depth at the “Leo” end position with Brock Martin, Collin Oliver, Trace Ford, and Tyren Irby and how that makes the defense so versatile, but he also talked about Tyler Lacy. Lacy is now 6-4 and 290 plus pounds. He plays the strong defensive end, but look for him sneaking inside and lining up at the three technique.

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Williams at Minnesota was a 6-time Pro Bowl player.

According to Mason, who compares Lacy to former Oklahoma State and Minnesota Vikings great Kevin Williams, Lacy can take his athletic ability and explosive power and bring it inside to create a mismatch with an offensive guard. Mason knows, he was an assistant coach for the Vikings when Williams was going to Pro Bowls and playing at several spots on the Minnesota defensive line.

“Lacy can really create some mismatches for us,” Mason said. “He is an end athletically, but he is strong enough to play inside. We just need to get his pad level down a little.”

Lacy is gung ho about the new responsibility and how he will move around this season.

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Lacy won’t harp on it, but playing inside and outside on the defensive line will increase his value at the NFL level.

“It was a weight on my shoulders at first, practicing at different positions,” Lacy said. “After I got used to it, I realized that this is going to benefit me more. (It will) make me more versatile and keep me on the field in almost any situation. That is a plus for me.”

I’ll hand it to Mason, very similar situation as Kevin Williams started out as an end, but as he grew, he moved some inside. The Vikings used him at both places during his NFL career. If you are Lacy, just to be compared to Williams, who is one of the best that I ever saw come through Oklahoma State, is awesome. The increased work and ability to show he can play tackle or end will help Lacy’s resume’ for the NFL. He isn’t talking about that, although he admits he agrees with the thought.

“I’m not going to talk about me, I’m talking about the team and if I’m out there on the field and I’m better at this position or better this time then I’m fully going to go do it,” he said. “I fully for the team and I’m ready to get down and dirty.”

“I have no doubts on this defense,” Lacy added. “I’m done on this defense. I just feel like the guys on the back end of the defense, the linebackers just need to get their feet wet. We get through those first three games at the start of the season (nonconference). I feel like those games, it’s always different between practice and games. You’ve got people watching it. Once they get through the distractions then we’re going to be fine. We’ll be right back where we were last year.”

Lacy won’t be. He could be when he plays end, but he’ll be in his new spot too, inside at defensive tackle.

The Cowboys will be back on the practice field early Monday morning in helmets and shoulder pads. Tuesday will be the first day in full pads, a big day. Wednesday is another day off, but starting Thursday will be the biggest grind of camp with six straight work days, although one of those will be a light practice with special teams work only followed by a young players practice only.