OU's double trouble Teams likely to keep double-teaming Kelly

BOULDER, Colo. — Malcolm Kelly didn't catch a pass in Oklahoma's 27-24 loss Saturday to Colorado.

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Not only that, the Biletnikoff Award candidate didn't have a pass thrown his way.

"The opportunity was there,” Kelly said. "But that's the way the dice rolled.”

Why didn't OU's top playmaker touch the ball?

Defensively, the Buffaloes played cover 2, with a cornerback pressing Kelly close to the line of scrimmage and a safety helping deep on Kelly's side of the field — a scheme designed to contain an opponent's best receiver.

And it didn't help that the offense had just 19 plays in the second half.

After the game, quarterback Sam Bradford said he didn't throw it to Kelly because Kelly never had single coverage.

Instead, Bradford either checked to a run or threw the ball to the other side of the field.

Give Bradford credit for not forcing the ball.

But the downside?

Kelly, essentially, became more of a decoy than a weapon, somewhat of a trend as of late.

This season, Kelly has just 17 catches, or about three catches a game, paltry numbers for an all-Big-12-caliber wide receiver.

The state's other big-time receiver, Oklahoma State's Adarius Bowman, has 31 grabs.

Kelly is on pace to have just 41 receptions, way down from his 62 last year.

Sunday, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson vowed to get Kelly more involved.

"I need to make sure we get some things in where the ball can get in his hands,” Wilson said. "I need to get Malcolm the ball.”

Going into the Colorado game, OU coaches said they had plans for Kelly to be a bigger part of the offense.

On Juaquin Iglesias' first quarter touchdown reception, coach Bob Stoops said the play had been designed to go to Kelly, but that Kelly was covered.

"I think overall we've done a good job of working it to (Kelly),” Stoops said. "You go into the games, and some teams are going to double-cover him.”

The Buffs, however, weren't the first team to double Kelly, and after Saturday, definitely won't be the last.

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OU's double trouble
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