Practice report (8-14-09)
The news coming from today is that Mike Balogun is ineligible pending an NCAA investigation about whether he played semi-pro ball after his 21st birthday. If he did, then he’s done for the season. If not, Balogun will reinstated.
But should that stick, Austin Box will play a more prominent role this year, as Ryan Reynolds’ backup in the middle. We’ll know about more Balogun by next Wed. Stay tuned.
Other notes from practice:
* O-line coach James Patton said Brody Eldridge will move back to tight end once starting center Ben Habern is back 100 percent. I asked Patton where it’s possible Eldridge would remain on the o-line even after that happened, and he said, “No.” Coach Bob Stoops said he expects Habern to be able to do more work on Monday.
* I spoke with Brody about the challenges of playing center. He said the biggest thing is learning how to snap the ball. That’s why for the majority of the first hour of Thursday’s open practice, Brody was practicing his shotgun snaps with the QBs, while the rest of the o-line worked on blocking drills.
* Cornerbacks Jamell Fleming (back) and Desmond Jackson (academic misconduct) are being held out of practice right now. That’s why you see true freshman Demontre Hurst getting a strong look at corner. For now, count on him and Lamar Harris being OU’s top two cornerback reserves.
* Bob Stoops still is not ready to name a backup QB between Landry Jones and Drew Allen, though it’s hard to see Jones not being the first QB off the bench.
* WR coach Jay Norvell said while he’s not talked about much, Brandon Caleb is having a solid camp. I asked Norvell how many WRs he plans to play, and ideally he said 6, though wherever the dropoff is, that’s how many he’ll play. Right now, he’s sifting through Caleb, Tennell, Madu, Broyles, Miller, Owens, Reynolds and Kenney (did I forget anyone?)
-JT
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Thats a lot of expierence when you only have one ball. Sounds like Mr. Kenney
will make his mark while Michael Vick’s fan club president is setting on the
pine. When a coach has a player with a TO ego it makes it hard on everybody
in the locker room. He should have left last season. His attitude makes him
a liability for the offense and the team as a whole. He wasn’t the best hustler
out there and very seldom ever finished a play. Dig it Jermaine, you got no
game.