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
OU vs. Kansas State: Breaking down the matchups
Quarterbacks
Dual-threat Grant Gregory has done a nice job since replacing Carson Coffman.
But not as good a job as Landry Jones has filling in for Sam Bradford.
Edge: OU
Running backs
When healthy, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown form one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation.
But Daniel Thomas could be the Big 12’s offensive newcomer of the year.
Edge: Even
Wide receivers
Brandon Banks is one of the top slot backs in the Big 12.
Ryan Broyles is one of the top slot backs in the country.
Edge: OU
Tight ends
Jeron Mastrud is off to another fine year, with 17 catches for 207 yards.
The Sooners didn’t even play a tight end last week.
Edge: K-State
Offensive line
The Sooners are still searching for consistency, going with yet another lineup last week.
The Wildcats have paved the way for Thomas, who leads the Big 12 in rushing.
Edge: K-State
Defensive line
Jeff Fitzgerald has been disruptive for the ‘Cats at DT.
The entire OU d-line, however, has been disruptive for everyone.
Edge: OU
Linebackers
Senior MLB Ulla Pomele leads a solid K-State unit.
But the trio of Ryan Reynolds, Travis Lewis and Keenan Clayton have been much better than solid.
Edge: OU
Defensive backs
Free safety Tysyn Hartman has been a big-time playmaker for the Wildcats.
But no CB duo is playing as well as OU’s Dom Franks and Brian Jackson.
Edge: OU
Special teams
Josh Cherry has struggled with FG attempts longer than 30 yards; Banks is an electric returner.
The Sooners are testing out Tress Way at place-kicker; Broyles only career punt return TD came at K-State last year.
Edge: Even
Prediction: OU 41, K-State 13
K-State is one of the Big 12’s surprises, but is yet to defeat anyone of substance. The ‘Cats are on the right path, but they don’t have near the talent to deal with the Sooners in Norman.
-JT
The words of Sam Bradford
Below is the entirety of what could be QB Sam Bradford’s final press conference at Oklahoma. Bradford will undergo season-ending surgery in Birmingham, Ala., Wed., effectively ending his career as a Sooner. Bradford is expected to enter the NFL Draft after this season.
On all that went into the decision:
It was like making the decision last year whether to stay in school or enter the draft. I wanted to get as many opinions as possible. I talked with as many people as I could to make the right decision. After talking to a lot of people, it seemed like this was the unanimous decision that everyone came to.
On realizing he won’t play for OU again:
I dreamed about coming here. The first time I got hurt, I was sitting on the sidelines knowing I was coming back. That was the light at the end of the tunnel. But to make this decision and realize I’m going to be playing my last game at Oklahoma, it’s really tough.
On whether he’ll wait to hire an agent:
No, I’m not going to see any agents until after the season. By doing that, I wouldn’t get to travel and take part with this team. If the surgery doesn’t go well, then I do have the possibility of returning. Hopefully, though, that’s not an issue.
On whether he’ll know enough about his shoulder to feel comfortable moving on to the NFL in January:
As long as I’m on the right track, and doctors feel I’m making the right progress, I’ll have enough information to make that decision.
On how he got connected with James Andrews:
At first, it’s something our doctors wanted to send images, when it first happened, to him. We just kind of stayed in contact with him ever since. My dad has been corresponding with him.
On why he delayed his announcement:
Sunday after the game, I talked with coach Stoops, I felt I would be ready to make a statement by then. I don’t think I realized the magnitude of the situation and information to make that decision, I just felt like the decision needed more time necessary, a couple extra days.
On what information he got:
Coach Stoops talked to several people late last week and got some information, very important information for me and good stuff to hear from those people.
On the finality of his career:
My teammates have been great. They have supported me all through it. Last week was the hardest game I ever had to sit on the sidelines. Especially to come into the locker room and see everybody celebrating. And realize that I’m not really going to be part of that anymore. Pretty tough.
On the rest of the season:
I think a lot of things are still in front of this team. I’m extremely proud of the way they bounced back after Texas. I still feel they fought tremendously hard that Texas game. But to rebound the way we did and go on the road in a tough atmosphere and to get a win, that just shows the character of this team and where we’re going the rest of this year.
On why he needs surgery now:
Really the same thing. When it first happened, surgery, everybody felt that wasn’t need. Everyone felt that the best thing was to let the shoulder heal itself. We tried that. It did heal and I was able to play. But the first hit I took it re-injured it and they felt like every time I kept coming back it would re-injured it. The surgery will repair the joint and put it back to normal and strengthen it.
On coming back a second time:
I thought that was a possibility. I wasn’t sure what the doctors were going to tell me. I knew there was a possibility they were going to tell me my season was over. I thought I might be able to come back, but they told me that wasn’t going to happen.
On Landry Jones:
I think Landry is a great player. He’s been put into some tough situations. It’s not easy coming in the middle of a game. Especially not getting as many reps during practice. Landry is stepping up and being a leader of this team. Last week, I was extremely proud of him. Going on the road playing against a ranked team and playing the way he did, I think it shows the tremendous upside that he has. I think he’s going to be a great quarterback here.
On looking at the positive of the surgery:
That’s where my mindset is right now. It’s unfortunate that I have to have surgery but I look forward to the rehab process and getting my shoulder back to where it is and getting to the draft and showing everybody I’m still the same player I was before I got hurt.
On his popularity:
Like I said earlier, these guys have been so supportive and I think that’s one of the hardest things about being hurt. We go through so much together. We go through workouts together – I spend more time with these guys than I do anyone else. To go through as much as we do and to have it taken away and not get to play with them and not get to compete with them, that’s the hardest thing and that’s the hardest thing about sitting on the sideline. Knowing that if I was healthy, I could help these guys. It’s just a helpless feeling that I can’t be out there with them.
On what might have been if he hadn’t gotten hurt:
I don’t know if I can really answer that. We are extremely close and we’ve had three losses by I think five points. We’re a couple of plays away in every game from winning. Like I said, I think this team has a lot of character and it was shown last week the way we came out and played against Kansas. I think everyone realizes we still have a lot of football left in this season and I look forward to helping these guys win.
On whether he’ll get his degree:
I will not get it in December. I’ll be a couple of hours short. Talking to my advisors, I’ll be able to take a couple of online classes and I should be able to finish in the spring.
On what advice he received:
They really just tried to help me gather information and they wanted it to be my decision. They told me they supported me no matter what I decided. They really just told me to stay positive, and whatever decision I make, just to have my heart in it 100-percent.
On not having any regrets about coming back:
No. Absolutely, 100 percent, no regrets.
On whose advice he put the most stock in:
Everyone. Coach Stoops, he played a big part in it. He talked to a lot of very important people, at least I felt, in making the decision. Coach Heupel, all my coaches, my family, the doctors – pretty much everybody. But some of the people Coach Stoops talked to late last week, that really helped me make my decision.
On possibly being the first OU QB to break the NFL barrier:
I don’t know if it’s so much the people around here as it is me, myself. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do and I look at it as another challenge. I look forward to working as hard as I can to make it happen.
On when he dreamed of being an NFL player:
I don’t know. I made that decision that I wanted to go to the NFL, probably a long time ago. You grow up wanting to go to the NFL and obviously I grew up in Oklahoma and wanted to play here. But you grow up and you watch the Super Bowl and you watch all the quarterbacks and it’s something I dreamed about. I think I’ve come a long way and I think I have a long way to go to prove that to people and prove that to myself.
On how the timing affected the decision:
I think maybe at the beginning it did. It felt a little overwhelming. It’s obviously something that I prepared and wished I was doing at the end of the season. I think going through the process last year really helped me understand what all needed to be done and who I needed to talk to. So that made it easier.
On being a national story:
I don’t really pay attention to the media much so I couldn’t tell you I knew that. Sometimes I really wish it wasn’t that big of a deal. Obviously if it is, it’s a nice complement to me and my teammates and what we’re doing at this university.
On how enjoying college affected the decision:
Like I said earlier, it’s extremely tough considering this is where I grew up and this is where I played. To put this in the past is extremely tough and I’ve been extremely blessed to be here. The past three-and-a-half years have been the best three-and-a-half years of my life. I wouldn’t trade a day of it.
On if he still doesn’t know about NFL rookie salary slots:
Yeah, we’ll figure that out later.
On whether his college relationships were worth putting off the NFL money for another year:
No doubt. Some people think money is everything, but to me, money is not everything. You look at these guys and the friendships and the experiences I’ve had here – not many people can say that. I wouldn’t trade any of it for money.
On being satisfied with his career:
Definitely. Obviously we’re a little disappointed that we didn’t win the national championship last year and that’s something that’s always going to bug me and bug everyone who as a part of that team. If you look back over some of the things we’ve done over the last couple of years, I think we’ve been extremely blessed.
On whether he feels he’s losing his youth:
I don’t know if you can say that. I’m still relatively young, I think. Anytime you enter into professional anything I think you do lose something. Obviously things do change but it’s just another chapter in my life and I look forward to the new challenge and I’m up for it and I can’t wait to start working as hard as I can to succeed in that chapter.
-JT
OU 35, Kansas 13: Postgame thoughts
It looks like the Sam Bradford era is officially over. Sunday, the announcement came that Bradford is undergoing season-ending surgery on his separated shoulder. If all goes as planned, he will enter the NFL Draft.
That means the Landry Jones era has officially begun. Jones was sharp in the second half against Kansas, and really pretty well the whole game. In the first half, he didn’t get much help from his receivers, outside Ryan Broyles.
Jones completed 26 of 38 passes for 252 yards and 2 TDs. The lone pick wasn’t his fault, as it bounced off the hands of Cam Kenney into the arms of a Kansas safety.
The Sooners appear to be in good hands with Jones going forward. H
Other observations:
* Adron Tennell had the best game in his career. Tennell, after a terrible start to the season, is getting a second chance due to the inconsistent play of the other WRs. Tennell had 6 catches, 47 yards and a TD.
* It was nice to see Chris Brown get going again on the ground game. The Sooners have had a heck of a time running the ball this year behind its current line. Still, 66 yards against Kansas is hardly a banner day. For the Sooners to win out, they have to run the ball more efficiently than they have.
* The o-line instability continues. Tavaris Jeffries was suspended. And RT Cory Brandon got the start over Jarvis Jones, which speaks more to Jones’ inconsistent play. Only LT Trent Williams has started every game on the line this season. And he’s currently banged up with a slightly sprained ankle.
* Jeremy Beal is a stud. So is GK McCoy. Will the Big 12 defensive player of the year battle come down to those two? Suh from Nebraska is in the mix, too, but has NU continues to slip, his chances fade.
* Adrian Taylor is really an unsung hero with this defense. The Jr. DT is playing every snap at a high level. He isn’t McCoy. But he’s not that far off.
* Jon Nelson has emerged at safety and had a very strong game against Kansas. He will continue to press Sam Proctor for playing time. His emergence off the bench has been nice, since the defense while talented is not deep. Def. coordinator Brent Venables only plays three subs: DE Frank Alexander, LB/S Joe Ibiloye, and now Nelson.
* Who is playing better at CB? Brian Jackson? Or Dom Franks? Deciding for All-Big 12 corner between the two won’t be easy. No right answer at this point. No wrong answer.
-JT
Bradford travels with team
He may end up having surgery. But not this weekend. OU quarterback Sam Bradford traveled with the team to Lawrence, Kan., for the Sooners’ game Saturday against Kansas.
-JT
OU at Kansas: Breaking down the matchups
Quarterbacks
Landry Jones has three career starts. Todd Reesing has 31.
Edge: Kansas
Running backs
DeMarco Murray is questionable with a gimpy ankle, but Chris Brown is healthy and ready to go.
Jake Sharp is a nice back, but he’s no Chris Brown.
Edge: OU
Wide receivers
Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier give Kansas the best 1-2 punch at WR in the Big 12.
OU’s WR rotation changes week to week.
Edge: Kansas
Tight ends
With Brody Eldridge at guard, the Sooners are left with walk-on Trent Ratteree and James Hanna.
Kansas can’t do much better.
Edge: Even
Offensive line
Neither unit has stood out. Sooners are banged up. KU has allowed Reesing to be sacked 12 times already, and behind its line, could only rush for -8 yards against lowly Colorado.
Edge: OU
Defensive line
The Jayhawks are better up front than they’ve been. Still not enough to come close to competing with GK McCoy and the bunch.
Edge: OU
Linebackers
KU is unveiling three new starters this season. OU has three starters back, who are playing better than they did last season.
Edge: OU
Defensive backs
Darrell Stuckey is an All-Big 12 safety for the Jayhawks. But OU’s overall unit is better, coming off a shutdown performance of Texas, the league’s best passing offense.
Edge: OU
Special teams
Neither team excels here. But Tress Way is a better punter than Alonso Rojas, and Jimmy Stevens has been more accurate than Jacob Branstetter.
Edge: OU
Prediction: OU 30, Kansas 17
Jayhawks hit some big plays with Briscoe and Meier, but OU’s defense gives the Sooner offense a couple of easy scoring opportunities, which proves to be the difference.
-JT
Chat recap: Trotter (10-22-09)
-JT
Bradford cancels press conference; wants to gather more information before making decision
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has cancelled tonight’s press conference.
He was expected to announce his next step after re-aggravating his throwing shoulder against Texas last weekend.
According to a school spokesman, Bradford still wants to gather more information before making a decision about whether to undergo season-ending surgery.
-JT
Sam Bradford: What to expect
When Bob Stoops finally got around to Sam Bradford during Tuesday’s press conference, he had a hard time keeping his head up. That’s when you knew, Bradford’s season was over.
Tonight, Bradford will officially announce his next step following a re-aggravation of his separation shoulder suffered last weekend against Texas. That announcement is expected to be that Bradford will undergo surgery on his shoulder, effectively ending his junior season.
During tonight’s press conference, Bradford, however, will probably not get into the next step: jump to the NFL or come back for his senior year. And even if he is leaning one way, it would be unwise to make that decision before seeing how the surgery turns out. What if Bradford’s shoulder is slow to heal? What if he doesn’t feel right three months from now? Limiting his decisions now would be a mistake, and the Bradford family knows this.
But at least this will finally put some closure on what has been a nightmare season for the returning Heisman Trophy candidate. And at least now, the Sooners can begin to move on with Landry Jones, who has the pedigree to be a worthy successor.
-JT
Sooner recruit suspended for season
West Orange-Stark football player Trey Franks was suspended for the remainder of the season by the school board Monday, according to a report in the Beaumont Enterprise. .
Franks, a wide receiver and defensive back, is verbally committed to OU.
It’s unclear what Franks did to warrant the suspension.
Franks was one of three students suspended from extracurricular activities for the fall semester for “violating the district’s student conduct code.”
-JT
