The unassuming Landry Jones
I got my first up-close-and-personal look at Landry Jones on Monday night. Sat next to him for several minutes during an interview Jones gave to several reporters.
I came away impressed with Jones. He’s unassuming. Very unassuming. Almost like he hasn’t figured out what a big deal he now is, with Sam Bradford on the disabled list and the Sooner football fortunes transferred to Jones’ hands.
When our man Jake Trotter informed Jones that the American Moustache Association had suddenly jumped on the Jones bandwagon, Jones sort of smiled but otherwise gave no reaction. “No, really, he’s telling the truth,” I told Jones.
“Really?” Jones replied. He had to be thinking, why is there an American Moustache Association and why is it interested in me?
Welcome to your new world. The Oklahoma quarterback, no matter the experience level, is lightning-rod position. A national post. And if Bradford isn’t back for Miami on Oct. 3, millions of Americans are going to hear about, see and in their own way critique that now-famous little moustache.
I don’t know if Landry Jones can quarterback. Anyone who puts any stock in anything he did against Idaho State is frantically loading up on fool’s gold. Idaho State is a far less guide than even practice. Every Sooner could go three-quarters speed in terms of decision-making and still come out fine.
You know how they always say football speeds up when the games arrive? Well, when Idaho State arrives, the game slows down. You can be sluggish and slow and be extra careful, because you’ll still have time to get the ball off or decide which receiver is open or which play to check to.
Not anymore. Not starting this Saturday with Tulsa. But the early returns on Jones are solid. His demeanor has been reviewed well by coaches and teammates, and nothing he has done in the public eye counters that assertion.
Including keeping that moustache.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
Jones is progressing just like Bradford did when he was given the reigns, with one exception. Jones throws what Terry Bradshaw calls a “medicine ball.” Meaning Jones has such an accurate fast ball, if the receiver misses the catch, the receiver is going to need some medicine to ease the physical pain. His arm is a bazooka! Very impressive.
You are underplaying the Idaho State performance a bit.
It’s was played in a rainstorm in front of 85,000 people. He was accurate for much of the night, didn’t look the least bit nervous, and he has certainly proven he can throw a rope in wet conditions.
Sure, the competition was godawful. But even going back to the BYU game, I think we at least know he can perform some.