Catching up with Allen Patrick, Reggie Smith
I caught up with former Oklahoma standouts Allen Patrick and Reggie Smith, who were both in town this weekend for Tommie Harris’ annual charity golf tournament.
Smith, a defensive back, is heading into his second season with the San Francisco 49ers.
Patrick, a running back originally drafted by Baltimore last year, is now with the Cleveland Browns.
Here’s some of what they had to say:
Trotter: What did you guys learn from your first years in the NFL?
Smith: Patience.
Patrick: You have to have a lot of patience, the whole thing of the NFL, you have to be professional in everything you do outside of football, stayed grounded, keep yourself humble all the time.
Trotter: So you learned pretty quickly, it’s a business, a little bit different than college?
Smith: A lot of it’s on you. You don’t have anybody walking you through things.
Trotter: Is the physical demand tougher than college?
Patrick: I don’t think so.
Smith: Not if you went through Schmidty (OU strength coach Jerry Schmidt) every day.
Patrick: Coming from Oklahoma, going through the workouts are pretty much the same.
Trotter: Reggie, I hear your changing positions, going from cornerback to safety this year?
Smith: Yeah, I’m supposed to play more safety and some nickel.
Trotter: Allen, you went from Baltimore to Cleveland, what was that move like?
Patrick: It was a big change of scenery, they’re rivals. I’m just trying to fit in. I’m enjoying the place, trying to make something happen.
Trotter: You guys keep up with some of the other Sooners from your class in the NFL?
Smith: I talk to Curtis (Lofton). I need to call Allen a little bit more, I haven’t called him. This is the first time I’ve seen him since we left school.
Trotter: What do you guys think about this OU team, and what did you think about the team this past season?
Patrick: Phenomenal. Wish them guys would’ve played like that when we was here. This upcoming season is going to be good. I hear the defense is looking pretty good. The offense still kind of shaky with the offensive line.
Smith: Same. Just depends on how far that line wants to take it. But they could make another run.
By Jake Trotter
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Comments
Now see there, that’s just stupid! We are going to have most of our defence back and they are going to have more experience. They did hold FL. to just 24 points, there lowest all year long. It wasn’t the defence that didn’t show up for the N/C game, it was the offence. Coaches took too long to call the plays in having the players pop up like a bunch of meerkats. When they played fast Fl. couldn’t stop them. Linebackers were the weak link last year but that won’t be the case this year. ONE DEMENTIONAL? that is for a team that can only run or pass and can’t do both. Jo Adams, I don’t know what you look like but, if you keep your mouth shut you might look smart anyway! BOOMER SOONER!!
It’s great to hear those guys being so complimentary about OU and their
defense, but down deep, they know the truth. OU will be almost as good on
offense, and the defense will be like, or worse than, last year. OU doesn’t
play defense any longer. They are a one dementional team.