Remember when Spikes called OU dirty?
For those who haven’t heard, Florida LB Brandon Spikes was recently suspended for a half for attempting to eye-gouge Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.
Remember back in August, Spikes randomly attacked Oklahoma, calling them the dirty.
“Compared to Oklahoma, you won’t find anyone (as dirty),” Spikes said, referring to Florida’s meeting with OU in the national championship.
Pot, meet kettle.
-JT
Stats don’t lie when it comes to Landry Jones
Basketball season has arrived.
Close to Tournament time, I’ve always enjoyed in late Feb., when ESPN takes a comparison look at three teams on the bubble, but reduces their identity as Team A, Team B, Team C. You’re always surprised when the team most deserving of a spot, Team A, is like Marist, while B and C are like Kentucky and Indiana.
In honor of that, here’s an anonymous comparison of Big 12 quarterbacks:
QB A: 1,657 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs, 62.4%
QB B: 1,977 yards, 15 TDs, 8 INTs, 72.0%
QB C: 1,650 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs, 63.7%
QB D: 2,385 yards, 16 TDs, 7 INTs, 64.1%
So which QB would you take for all-conference honors? It’s tough. But you’d have to take a long look at QB A, with his high TD vs. INT ratio.
Who’s who:
QB A: Landry Jones, OU
QB B: Colt McCoy, Texas
QB C: Zac Robinson, OSU
QB D: Todd Reesing, KU
Of course, Landry Jones won’t be named first-team All-Big 12 QB. Not with Colt McCoy still around. But looking at the numbers, he’s having just as good a season as any of the elite QBs in the league.
The exciting thing for the Sooners?
Jones is the only one of the four not a senior.
-JT
Sooners name starters
Oklahoma released its projected starters on Monday for Tuesday’s exhibition opener against British Columbia.
G: Tommy Mason-Griffin, freshman
G: Willie Warren, sophomore
G: Tony Crocker, senior
F: Ryan Wright, senior
F: Tiny Gallon, freshman
Though coach Jeff Capel has been publicly non-committal about how much impact Mason-Griffin and Gallon could have right away, for them to be starting this early in the season says plenty.
Capel said junior forward Orlando Allen’s conditioning was not where he wanted it, but expect him to get some quality minutes spelling Gallon and Wright. Against British Columbia, a lot of players could get a lot of minutes, but anyone who shows up to the Lloyd Noble Center on Tuesday night should get a good, long look at Oklahoma’s new pair of McDonald’s All-Americans.
British Columbia has seen another memorable Sooner debut. In his first game, former Sooner Blake Griffin scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Thunderbirds in 2007.
Chat: David Ubben (11.2.09)
OU 42, K-State 30: Thoughts and observations
What did we learn following Oklahoma’s 42-30 victory over Kansas State on Halloween?
For starters, quarterback Landry Jones continues to thrive, despite the pressures of replacing a Heisman Trophy winner.
Jones told me after the game that he feels like he’s playing his best ball of the season. I agree.
Jones was 14 of 14 to close the game. 14 of 14. That’s Sam Bradford precision.
“I’m seeing the stuff easier out on the field and seeing the coverages more,” Jones said.
And the scary part is that Jones still has a ways to go.
“He will get better,” coach Bob Stoops said. “There are still some spots out there that he’ll see, geez I could have gone a few different places.”
If Jones continues to improve, the Sooners could easily finish this season 9-3 with six straight wins, which would probably put them in the Cotton Bowl, likely against LSU. Not bad for a team that had to replace the best QB in all of college football.
Quick hits
* People forget just how great a coach Bill Snyder is. The Wildcats are so well-coached, and even being down 28-9, stayed with their game plan and never panicked. I was somewhat skeptical about how effective Snyder would be in a comeback. But after watching the way his team played Saturday, I believe K-State is on the way back. In fact, I am now picking the Wildcats to win the North.
* DeMarco Murray does two things very well. Catches the ball out of the backfield. And doesn’t go down easy between the tackles. His longest run was only 14 yards, and most of his 62 rushing yards came tough between the tackles.
* Dejuan Miller is really beginning to emerge. Nine catches, 94 yards, 1 TD. The question now is, will he sustain it, or is he just the next flavor of the week at receiver?
* Remember Adron Tennell? Since dropping a touchdown pass against Tulsa, Tennell has quietly been one of OU’s most reliable targets. He had the best game of his career last weekend against Kansas. But he was just as good against K-State, finishing with four catches for 62 yards. Best stat, though? No drops.
* Is Jeremy Beal the best defensive end in college football? He was terrific again with 1 1/2 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. He is now 7th nationally in sacks and tackles for loss.
* After three straight dominating weeks, the Sooner secondary finally broke down in the second half. Brandon Banks hit OU up for several big catches. OU’s secondary is still outstanding. When you face great WRs week after week, you’re bound to get burned.
* The Sooners did something interesting, beginning the game in a true 4-3 base defense with Austin Box in for Keenan Clayton at LB. The idea was to counter K-State’s power rushing attack. Box and Clayton rotated in and out at strong-side linebacker throughout the game.
They said it
Bob Stoops on receiver Ryan Broyles: “The guy is something. He is really talented with his quickness, ability to make big plays, make people miss him right after the catch. He is a great competitor.”
Stoops on safety Quinton Carter, who led OU with nine tackles: “He had a big night. Tackling was excellent. His run fits and all, covered well and had a big interception towards the end.”
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on facing first-and-45: “My first idea was that we had so many negative plays that I ran it, to settle everybody down and see where we were at and see if we could get in that 50 yard field goal range. As we always tell the quarterbacks, you don’t have to throw it and both of those throws were check down throws. When it is third and real long, and you throw it underneath and make a guy miss, getting the ball in space is good. So the nice thing is that Landry didn’t force it.”
Defensive end Jeremy Beal: “I thought the offense played exceptionally well. Especially in the second half when they answered every time they scored. That helped us out a lot. The defense, we didn’t play as well as we needed to, especially in the second half, but we came out in the fourth and made some key stops that helped us to a win.”
Broyles on the other receivers: “It’s good when guys step up, it’s definitely a good thing. We just have to keep moving up from here. We have a lot of talent and a lot of guys have the chance to play, we just have to make the best of it.”
By the numbers
351: Brandon Banks’ all-purpose total. The K-State slot receiver had 156 yards receiving and 195 in kick returns, including a 98-yard touchdown.
79: OU has now outscored its opponents 79-0 in the first quarter this season.
40: DeMarco Murray’s career TDs. He had three Saturday. Only seven all-time Sooners have more.
14: Landry Jones completed his final 14 attempts of the game.
2: OU blocked extra points. Adrian Taylor and Auston English each blocked one.
-JT
