Practice report (9-28-09): Sam or Landry
The big discussion following Monday’s practice was on Sam Bradford’s recovering shoulder and whether he’ll be able to play at Miami.
Bob Stoops was thrilled:
“You’re going to ask me every day. And I’m not going to tell you. Until I have a feel.”
What I was able to piece together was this: Bradford threw several passes, way more and way longer than he has, but is still not all the way back.
Whether he can by the end of the week without his shoulder falling off will determine his status for Miami. I think those inside the Sooner camp are hopeful. But at this point, no one knows for sure.
Other news, notes:
* Freshman guard Tyler Evans came into the interview room wearing shorts and boots. Had the Cowboy at the Beach look going.
* Ryan Broyles learned his lesson about discussing injured Heisman QBs with the media. Didn’t say a word about Sam today. Other anything else, for that matter. Didn’t even watch Miami-Va. Tech.
* I have no idea what his grades are, but OG Brian Simmons has me thinking he might be the brightest guy on the team. Sharp, funny, polite, knows what he’s talking about. Appreciates college football’s history outside Oklahoma, which is refreshing. I really enjoyed interviewing him today for a story I’m working on for Thursday.
* OL coach James Patton said he’s looking forward to seeing how his unit reacts to a hostile environment. I think this group will play well Sat. and is eager to prove BYU was a fluke. Then again, I said the line would play well against BYU.
* The team had the entire weekend off, including Sunday night. Bradford obviously flew to Alabama. But most of the other guys hung around and watched football.
-JT
No more injuries, please
I mentioned this in the OU notebook today, but all the high-profile quarterback injuries this season have really hurt college football.
The worst part, it seems, is there’s no solution. Unless you want to outlaw sacks or mobile quarterbacks, no rule change could have prevented those injuries. It’s mostly just bad breaks and bad blocking.
I didn’t see the hits that knocked out USC’s Matt Barkley (the next week, anyway), Baylor’s Robert Griffin or USF’s Matt Grothe, but Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford went down on hits delivered by unblocked defenders. Both hits clean and legal.
It’s a shame, and there’s not much else to say. Less than a month into the season, we’ve seen more high-profile quarterbacks go down than I ever remember in such a short span. USC has a loss, and Aaron Corp is a big reason why. OU’s Landry Jones has played well in his two starts, but he didn’t play well enough to win against BYU.
Now, Florida will be faced with the same dilemma in two weeks that the Sooners face now: How careful should teams be when they bring back a star player from an injury?
I doubt Bradford plays against Miami, but most (including Vegas) think OU can beat Miami with Landry Jones.
LSU hasn’t looked great this season, but if Florida trots out John Brantley in Baton Rouge in two weeks, the Gators have a good chance of joining the ranks of teams bitten by quarterback injuries this season.
Monday’s chat recap: Jake Trotter
View As Web Page
-JT
Recruiting watch
How Oklahoma’s 2010 commitments did Friday night.
QB Blake Bell: Completed 12 of 15 passes for 226 yards and totaled 5 TDs as his team remained unbeaten.
DB Aaron Colvin: Had a TD catch, and played great strong safety in Owasso’s 19-14 win over Enid.
WR Justin McCay: Had an all-around great effort with a pick for a TD, to go along with seven receptions, and a 52-yard TD run in a losing effort.
FB Trey Millard: The 250-pound bruiser rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in Rock Bridge’s 26-0 win over Hickman.
-JT
Video: Sam or Landry?
-JT
Video: Breaking down Miami
-JT
Practice report (9-22-09)
The Sooners resumed practice Tuesday with Sam Bradford’s progression being the focal point of just about everyone. Bradford did about as much as he did Monday, throwing a few short passes and participating in some individual QB drills.
It doesn’t seem like much now. But the big thing to watch will be how Sam progresses throughout the week. If he’s doing the same thing, say, Friday, than I think his chances of playing at Miami are slim. But if his production increases as the week goes along, then his chances of playing are decent.
My guess, based on what he’s been able to do, that Sam is not back until Baylor or Texas. We’ll see.
Other news and notes:
* LB Austin Box was back in practice from a minor back issue. He probably could have played Sat., but trainers recommended he be held out for Tulsa.
* Something that has been overlooked is that Sam Proctor and Quinton Carter have switched positions. Proctor is now the free safety. Carter, who is terrific at helping against the run, is the strong safety. The idea is to get the two playing in the positions they feel more comfortable. Now that Proctor has some experience, d-coordinator Brent Venables felt OK about moving him back to free safety, a position with a bit more responsibility in the vertical pass game. Both played very well in their new/old spots against Tulsa.
* LB Travis Lewis hasn’t missed a minute of Miami’s games with Ga. Tech or Florida State and plans to watch every minute of Miami-Va. Tech.
-JT
Chat recap: Jake Trotter
-JT
Recruiting Watch
A quick look at how players from OU’s 2010 recruiting class did during their high school games Friday night.
QB Blake Bell threw for 281 yards and 2 TDs as his Carroll (Kan.) Golden Eagles moved to 3-0.
RB Roy Finch led Niceville (Fla.) to a back-and-forth 28-20 win. Finch posted a game-high 199 yards on 25 carries.
DE Chuka Ndulue had three sacks to help lead Dallas Jesuit to a 38-35 victory.
-JT
OU 45, Tulsa 0: Postgame thoughts
The Sooners delivered their most impressive performance of the young season by blanking Tulsa, 45-0, OU’s second consecutive shutout. QB Landry Jones was the story of the day with a school-record 6 TDs, but the defense was just as impressive with a season-high six sacks.
Thoughts and observations:
* Jones’ Tulsa game reminded me a lot of Sam Bradford’s Miami game two years ago. Bradford had 5 TDs that game and began to draw a buzz. The same is happening with Jones right now.
* Brandon Caleb is the No. 2 WR. No one else is nearly as capable. He had a great game, and really showed Idaho State was a fluke. If Cam Kenney can come along as the No. 3, the Sooners WRs will be fine.
* Poor Adron Tennell. Can you imagine a longer walk than from the back of the end zone following that TD drop to the sidelines. Adron is a really nice kid. Just has no confidence right now. Still, coaches haven’t given up on him yet, even if the fans have, though I’m not sure how much patience the coaches have left.
* You could make the case (easily, in my opinion) that DE Jeremy Beal is OU’s second best defender by GK McCoy. Beal’s stat line Sat.: 3 sacks, 3 TFLs.
Said defensive coordinator Brent Venables, “He was all over the place. Very disruptive for us. He was a catalyst for a lot of good things that happened for
us.”
* Other notable def. performers included LB Keenan Clayton (11 tackles, was everywhere on the field), CB Brian Jackson (had that big pick) and LB Ryan Reynolds (13 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks).
* Broyles is turning into a star. I got an email from a Texas Longhorn writer today talking about how impressed he has been with Broyles this season. Can’t say I disagree. As long as Caleb continues to deflect pressure off him, I think Broyles is in store for a monster year.
* LB Austin Box had a back flare up of some kind that didn’t seem to fire up Venables. When asked why Box didn’t play, Venables said, ” I don’t know what his issue is. They said that he wasn’t gonna be able to go. I don’t know what that means. He said he could’ve gone, but…”
Box has not played much this year, and as long as OU stays healthy, I don’t see that changing, especially with the emergence of freshman LB Ronnell Lewis.
* RB DeMarco Murray look terrific and needs to keep seeing his touches increase. He only had 12 touches against Tulsa as off. coordinator Kevin Wilson continues to work him back into the flow following a hamstring and toe injury.
* With TE Trent Ratterree’s TD drop, the tight ends continue to be absent from the passing game. Brody Eldridge, that just isn’t his forte. James Hanna had his first career catch, but is a ways away from making a huge contribution.
-JT
