Kelly provides comfort for quarterbacks
Receiver has ability to catch almost anything
Kelly provides comfort for quarterbacks

By John Helsley

Published: August 26, 2007

NORMAN — What Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson loves most about Malcolm Kelly, he also — at the moment — hates.

One of Kelly's most impressive assets is his ability to catch anything thrown in his zip code.

High. Low. Behind him. Beyond him.

Kelly snares them all, often making it look too easy.

And inviting.

For Wilson, trying to bring along a group of young quarterbacks, that's the rub. The junior wide receiver is so good, at times OU's quarterbacks can't resist forcing throws his way.

"I think pre-snap sometimes, they go to him prior to reading what's developing, thinking he's going to make the play,” Wilson said. "And it's, ‘Wait a minute, what did you see? This read says this guy, right now.'

"So sometimes, as comforting as he is, he can be an Achilles' heel for a quarterback because he's a crutch.”

The Sooners have plenty of playmaking options in this offense.

The backfield is loaded with Allen Patrick, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown all deserving of being fed carries behind a talented line.

Tight ends Jermaine Gresham and Joe Jon Finley are sure-handed threats. And Kelly's pals out wide — Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, Adron Tennell, Brandon Caleb and others — can't be ignored.

It's just that Kelly offers something extra special: hands that provide a safe haven for passes thrown with something less than precision.

"When I see the ball, I just do what I have to do to get it,” Kelly said.

"I guess I have a knack for the ball when it's in the air.”

Kelly became the fastest player in OU history to 1,000 receiving yards a year ago, when he reached that milestone in his 19th game. He led the Sooners with 62 receptions, 993 yards and 10 touchdowns.

And he did it with flair.

Paul Thompson used to admit there were times he'd just hurl passes Kelly's way.

It's a comfort OU's latest quarterbacks apparently have learned. And Kelly likes providing the comfort.

"They know they don't have to be on point, they can have it somewhere around my reach,” Kelly said.

"They've got a lot to think about. I try to make their job a little easier.”

Kelly's approach: There's not a ball he can't catch. He convinced himself last season in the Cotton Bowl, when he went way up between two Texas defenders and pulled in what appeared to be an errant Thompson pass.

"That was one I thought I couldn't catch,” Kelly said. "Paul threw it kind of high in between two defenders. I looked up at it and thought I didn't have a chance. I just gave it a shot, went up in the air and came down with the ball.

"So I really don't think there's a ball I can't catch. I tell the quarterbacks, ‘You don't have to be perfect. Just get it close, I'll come down with it.' ”

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