Watch Sooners defensive end R Mason Thomas meet the press after practice on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.
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00:00 Yeah, I know missing a few may get you off your game a little bit
00:03 But just more the more reps you take them better you are
00:06 How frustrating was it just to sit and watch the defense as they were making the steps that they've made and now to be a part
00:13 Of it. I'm sure rewarding. No, it's not frustrating at all
00:16 Yeah, like say the first two days
00:18 It was a little frustrating a little doubtful
00:20 but cheering my teammates on was probably the best thing I could do on the sideline for those games and
00:25 Now I'm actually planning cheering my teammates on and playing that's even better
00:29 You were kind of thrown into the fire last year. What's it been like this year?
00:34 Where do you feel like you've maybe improved the most and then also just the group as a whole?
00:37 We have a talented group in the second year in coach Winnemann's defense
00:41 For me the more reps I took them better. We are so I know just repped after rep gaining weight
00:48 all above on the details just and
00:51 Getting extra filming as a group. We just excel
00:55 Take it a step further. Does it help having so much more depth this year versus last year? Yes, sir
01:00 Yeah, go in, you know guys making plays and then you go in you're making even more plays
01:06 So you just tiring the offense out, you know getting everybody's getting reps. So it's just even better
01:10 Your mind right those first two days getting your mind, right?
01:15 Just was that's a matter of self-reflection or some people in your ears and teammates of yours to help you out through that
01:19 Oh, no, when I got a setback in four days, yes, sir frustrated
01:23 Yeah, who was kind of help, you know in your ear helping you out. Yeah, for sure
01:26 My mom God for sure number one coach shave
01:30 He had to I had to like it was a reflection. I had to take a step back. Look what I was doing
01:36 anything that was you know negative or what I was doing wrong and then what happened and then I
01:43 Actually questioned a lot of times when I got that setback
01:46 Why but I just have to have the same why I just follow the plan that guys have yes, sir
01:52 What's growth you seen from Ethan this year? Ethan? Yeah. Yes, sir. Oh
01:56 Yeah. Yeah a lot. What's different about him? What's different? Yeah
02:01 You know on and on about Ethan. I mean
02:05 The way is that spiritually him as a man, you know
02:10 Him and his family, you know him towards our teammates say I wouldn't say any a difference that was him last year, too
02:17 He just took it a step further this year. He seems more confident. Yes, sir. Yeah. Yeah, just more reps now
02:24 In a new system for another year. So he's definitely looking great. Yeah, what positives do you take from Saturday Saturday?
02:31 Last Saturday, I should say last Saturday. So we knew they were going to come in UC at UC at UCF has a great offense
02:39 You know, they came in far hard. So a lot of stuff we gonna see UCF is kind of Kansas also
02:44 So the same things we're gonna see
02:47 In UCF at Kansas now, we just gotta learn from our mistakes and now go on the road
02:52 Kansas has a great offense has a good scheme and we just gonna have to use what we had UCF and fight against adversity and
02:59 Go against Kansas more pressure on the quarterback in recent weeks. You're back in the lineup
03:04 Yes, sir. Well
03:08 Really I'll say a lot of the other teams did more move the pocket sprint draw a lot of the other
03:16 Statistics you could say we had a lot of more QB's that drop back. So I mean
03:20 Without me or with me we would have had as much pressures as we're gonna get but I would say yes
03:26 We're starting to step up as we get along through the season, too
03:29 More film more reps just in the facility all day. It's just
03:38 Countless hours we put in just start building up
03:42 So we're seeing like progress
03:45 Early in the season to now we're seeing more pressure because it's a like a process. Yes, sir
03:49 It's mostly mental. So the more times you see it the more reps you get of it. It starts clicking like that
03:55 To 40, yes, sir
04:01 Yes, sir. Yep to 40 lean quick
04:04 Building more speed more muscle mass with it, too. That's why I want to be
04:11 So my diet really I didn't really notice it was a lot of your diet
04:15 So you can work out as hard as you want to and if you don't eat the right stuff
04:18 You're not gonna get the games you want. So I know my diet play a
04:21 majority of the part in here and then yeah the the training and shimmy we go through and
04:27 the extra reps
04:30 Reps and
04:33 everything like
04:35 Weight room on the field or even mentally. Yeah all went together
04:39 That's pretty fun
04:44 Yeah, I take some some TJ's
04:46 But it's mostly what we have a facility for sure
04:50 Thanks for your sir, you appreciate you