Oklahoma football: Landry Jones breaks no new ground with ESPN
Landry Jones went on ESPN’s College Football Live last week, and it made me feel good. Jones was no more revealing with the ESPN crew than he is with us back here in Oklahoma. The Sooner quarterback is nothing if not bland.
Which is part of what exasperates OU fans so much. They want their quarterback to be fiery and emotional and a rah-rah leader. The tall, quiet types don’t get people as excited.
But you’ve got to hand it to Jones. He’s not plastic. He’s not a fraud. He is what he is.
You can view Jones video here:
Jones’ decision to return for a fifth year in Norman certainly is great news for the Sooners, even if some are anxious – and idiotic — to see new blood running the OU offense.
I thought it would be 50-50 on Jones returning, but the idea that it’s always about money doesn’t wash with a guy like Jones. He really is different. He has different values, a different mindset.
Remember the old notion that the one thing money can’t buy is your senior in college? That’s true. Some guys don’t belong on a campus, some guys have grown tired of a campus and some guys thrive and enjoy a campus. If you’re in the latter category, I’d think long and hard about leaving early for the NFL. Life gets here soon enough.
Anyway, Jones is not any more fired up or downcast than he ever was when addressing the media last season.
He answered questions about replacing Ryan Broyles, OU’s disappointing finish to the 2011 season, how much the Belldozer helped, his relationship with Blake Bell and where the Sooners fit in the big picture.
No new ground is broken. But it should be comforting that when anyone talks to the Oklahoma quarterback for the next 11 months, they’ll be talking to Landry Jones.
-------------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
First QB under Stoops to play 4 years….needs to be a stronger leader…not a Tebow….Bradford, White, Thompson, Hybyl….none were Tebowesque. A hop in his step, fire in his eyes, the demeanor of a general on the field…not shouting, not throwing helmets and pounding the turf, but steely eyes and toughness….a leader…hope we see it this fall. Bell has it.
I’m a big Landry Jones fan. For one reason I love his toughness (the vicious hit he took that broke a tooth) and durability. You can count on Landry taking a hit and getting up and continuing to play the game. That gives me a lot of comfort. Boomer!
I think Landry is probably a good guy, but Oklahoma will never be the team they are capable of being with him running this team. There is no fire in the hole and you need that in a quarterback. I have noticed that when Oklahoma plays an Oklahoma kid at quarterback they usually do pretty well(White, Bradford, Thompson). They understand what OU football is all about and they are committed to strive for excellence. Oklahoma needs to get the best kids in Oklahoma and coach them up and they will be successful.
Arne is exactly right! I predicted shortly after Jones took over for Bradford that OU will never come that close to a NC as long as Jones is the starter. Yes, he will come out and throw for 300 or 400 yards for several games, but it isn’t going to be long before he has a bad game and gets you beat. He’s just not consistent enough to win a NC. A big 12 conference title is fine, but it’s a consolation prize once you are eliminated from the NC! Let’s give Blake Bell a lot more playing time!
I liked the genuineness and exuberance in his voice when he answered the question about Blake Bell. Made me feel good that there shouldn’t be any internal problem with that in the fall.