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
Download the OU-Kansas State Pregame Package
Click the image to download your quick look at this weekend’s OU football game from The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com — in printable and portable form. (Please note that it is a PDF document.)
Anthony Kim talks golf, basketball, Blake Griffin
Former Oklahoma golfer Anthony Kim spoke to PGATOUR.com this week, and talked about his experiences with Blake Griffin, the OU basketball team and Charles Barkley. Not all at once, of course. Here’s a few snippets:
PGATOUR.COM: Not a Clippers fan?
AK: No way, man. Even though my boy B.G. (Blake Griffin) plays for them now, I’m still a Lakers fan. Blake and I both went to Oklahoma, and my strength and conditioning coach, Darby Rich, used to be the strength and conditioning coach for the men’s basketball team and trained Blake when he was there.
PGATOUR.COM: You ever play against Blake?
AK: I don’t even fool around with Blake. How am I going to mess with him on the court? That would be like him trying to mess with me on the golf course. But I always played with other guys from the OU team, and I was probably the only guy from the golf team to do that. It was good because it was competitive, and it’s good to try stuff you don’t always practice. And I love to talk trash.
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
Bradford’s surgery a success
Sam Bradford underwent successful surgery on his throwing shoulder on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala.
The 35-minute procedure was finished at 10:45 this morning, and Bradford, though still experiencing soreness, was resting comfortably.
“It all looked great in the end and everyone seems to feel very good about it,” said Kent Bradford, Sam Bradford’s father, in a release.
Kent Bradford was able to watch some of the surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews, and said the reigning Heisman winner would go through a limited exercise session on Wednesday before returning home in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Obama reaches out to…Sam Bradford?
President Barack Obama named University of Oklahoma president David Boren co-chairman of his Intelligence Advisory Board today.
But at the tail end of his speech announcing the decision, Obama had this to say:
“I thank David for agreeing to serve in this capacity, even as he continues to lead the University of Oklahoma.”
Obama added: “And we are sorry about (Sam) Bradford’s shoulder.”
Bradford was scheduled to undergo surgery in Birmingham, Ala. today, and while Obama’s words likely won’t speed his recovery, Oklahoma’s own Sammy B can’t hate to hear that.
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
Bradford and Griffin: Just unlucky
Six hours after Sam Bradford said goodbye to Oklahoma football, news broke that Sooner Nation’s other blessed son, Clippers rookie Blake Griffin, had a stress fracture in his kneecap that would delay his official NBA debut six weeks.
Plenty credit The Clippers Curse. Others want to throw a dunce cap on Sam Bradford for giving millions of dollars an escape route.
It’s mostly just a shame.
Griffin was a lock at No. 1 in last June’s NBA Draft. Bradford was a probable top five pick in his own draft.
Griffin left. Bradford stayed.
Now, they’re both reminders that sometimes you’re just unlucky. Bradford didn’t let a pair of blitzers through unblocked. It’s not Griffin’s fault the Clippers won the NBA Draft Lottery.
Griffin had more buzz than any rookie in the NBA in the preseason, after he Youtube’d the Lakers’ D.J. Mbenga and earned the nickname “Amazin’” from his Clipper teammates. Maybe the worst part of the injury for Sooner fans is they’ll now have to wait until next year to see the phenom play in Oklahoma again.
Griffin will miss his homecoming game against the Thunder on Nov. 15, and the two won’t play again until March, when the Thunder travel to Los Angeles.
Griffin and Bradford did what they felt was right for them. Sometimes misfortune just gets in the way, no matter the decision.
