Notebook: Tyron Taking Leadership Role, Gundy Addresses Ammendola Struggles

STILLWATER — You can say a lot of things about Mike Gundy’s weekly news conferences, but you can’t say they are uninteresting.

Monday was no different. If you’re here for the snowflake talk, you can get that here. But here are some of Gundy’s talking points that involved playing football.

Tyron Johnson Providing Leadership, Spark in Bedlam

Bedlam isn’t too big for Tyron Johnson. He proved it in 2017 when he posted a career-high 118 yards receiving, and he proved it again Saturday.

Johnson’s role this season has undoubtedly increased since that performance against the Sooners last season. Johnson has started every game this season, and OSU coach Mike Gundy said he is becoming more of a vocal leader in the absence of guys such as Mason Rudolph, James Washington and Marcell Ateman.

Johnson is from New Orleans, and he has a particular way of speaking. Johnson will often bring up New Orleans and instead of saying something like, ‘Those guys,’ Johnson would more often than not refer to a group of people as ‘Those cats.’

“He did a good job in this game, being a little bit vocal,” Gundy said. “Tyron is a guy that we’ve talked about (being a vocal leader). I think he’s trying to do it — starting to come a little natural to him.

“He’s gotta decide English or actually Cajun when he communicates, so everybody is on the same page. I mean that in a good way. I love Tyron. He’s awesome.”

Johnson had 11 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown Saturday. Tyron not only served as the team’s hypeman with any vocal leadership, but he also did so with explosive plays. Johnson Mossed a OU corner on his touchdown and threw up Dez Bryant’s signature X celebration.

Later in the game, Johnson hurdled an OU defender. Gundy said he used to worry when his players started their ascent for a hurdle, but now he sees the moves value.

“Now, I like it ’cause I think it energizes the team,” Gundy said. “I think it energizes the players. I think it’s a good thing. I used to worry about it a lot, but you see it all the time now guys, they just keep going.”

Johnson isn’t talked about as much as Biletnikoff semifinalist Tylan Wallace, but he has slowly racked up a solid season. Johnson, a former five-star prospect, has 614 receiving yards and five total touchdowns.

“(Bedlam) wasn’t too big for him,” Gundy said. “He said, ‘Throw it to me, and I’ll go. I’ll block. I’ll run. I’ll hurdle people.’ Those are the things that you have to have in order to grow your program and continue to improve. He certainly did a nice job Saturday.”

Gundy Addresses Ammendola’s Struggles

Entering the season, Matt Ammendola’s career field-goal percentage was 80 percent. This season, Ammendola is 13-for-19, equaling about 68 percent.

It’s been a rough three weeks for the Pennsylvania native. It started on homecoming against Texas, where Ammendola went 1-for-3, missing field goals of 41 and 38 yards. Ammendola’s misses were forgiven when the Cowboys upset the then-sixth-ranked Longhorns.

The next week in the howling Waco wind, Ammendola went 1-for-3 again. He had a 47-yard attempt blocked and missed a 45-yarder. Although the Cowboys lost to Baylor, those kicks were forgiven as well because of how difficult the wind made them.

Against Oklahoma, Ammendola missed his only field-goal attempt, a would-be 41-yarder, and he shanked a go-ahead extra point in the fourth quarter. Those kicks haven’t been as easily forgotten.

The string of misses has led Gundy to check on his kicker’s mental state before sending him back out there.

“When we practice (Tuesday), we’ll find out what frame of mind Matt’s in,” Gundy said. “I don’t think it’s any mystery. At times with kickers, people try to put too much into it. I don’t think there’s any question he’s good enough to execute, so he has to be able to focus and get his mind clear so he can kick and get back to where he was three weeks ago. We just have to watch that during the week.

Gundy said in order to see if Ammendola is ready, he is going to try to build up pressure situations for Ammendola throughout the week. Possible replacements include Jake McClure, who has handled kickoff duties this season, Back-up punter Matt Hockett, who punted during the Bedlam game after Zach Sinor got dinged up, and Alex Hale, a freshman.