Time for Chaney to step up again Sooners look for Fiesta Bowl MVP to help fill Kelly's shoes, but more consistency is needed Sooners look for Fiesta Bowl MVP to help fill Kelly's shoes, but more consistency is needed
Hidden in the aftermath of West Virginia's dismantling of Oklahoma stood the emergence of perennial backup wide receiver Quentin Chaney.
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The Fiesta Bowl MVP reeled in four catches for 129 yards and a touchdown, proving to be the catalyst in OU's mild rallies in the second and third quarters in place of injured receiver Malcolm Kelly.
"I knew one of our receivers was going to be down. I knew I had to come out and make plays,” Chaney said after the game.
"It was time for me to step up.”
Now it's time for Chaney to step up again.
With Kelly gone to the NFL, the Sooners will need someone to stretch opposing defenses vertically to take pressure off the running game and the underneath patterns of Juaquin Iglesias and Jermaine Gresham.
That someone could be Chaney.
But first, he must prove he can consistently be the player who caught four passes in the Fiesta Bowl, not the player who inconsistently caught four passes combined during the entire regular season.
And the pressure will be on beginning Wednesday, with several young and talented players nipping at his heels.
"It's just going to be an opportunity for me to step in there at that position and be a leader,” Chaney said. "Just do what (Kelly) had going on.”
Perhaps the biggest positive Chaney has going for him heading into spring drills is a clean slate.
He will benefit from having new wide receivers coach Jay Norvell, who won't have preconceived notions that former coach Kevin Sumlin might have had.
Notions that allowed younger players like Iglesias and Adron Tennell to pass him on the depth chart.
Notions that have kept Chaney off the field.
"I've always told myself it's just a waiting process,” Chaney said.
"You just have to wait your turn and when you get the opportunity, you have to make the best of it.”
Chaney need wait no longer. His turn has come. Time to make the best of it.
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Wayne, I would say that I am about 80% BS and 20% experience. I just like football and I like to think I know a little bit about it. Bob is a good guy, he and I have disagreed on here but we respect each others opinions. I get a little irritated with all the trolls around here that have no real input. They just want to come in here and talk trash while hiding behind the computer.
By the way..jeff,midwest city...that's LESS Miles. And Bob, Edmond and Mat, Moore...can we find a bar somewhere between you two and Tulsa...I'll buy the beer and just enjoy the conversation. You are either both really good, or both great BS'rs...either way, I still buy the suds. Thanks...just my opinion...
The guy who needs to show up this season is not Quentin Cheney, it is Bob Stoops. He needs to step up and have HIS TEAM show up ready to play AS A TEAM for every game.
Several coaches making a lot less money than Bob Stoops is making produced teams that were able to beat Colorado last year.
Matt, no worries, we do tend to do very well offensively when we outmatch someone completely. I understand your views on who gets what and when. I just disagree that Wilson is the best person OU can get to run the offense. Again, I would hate to try to defend the people we have with a really good OC. With the deep threat we had last year, Gresham should have had an NFL type season being thrown to underneath. But then, I could say the same about our running backs who also weren't thrown to as much as they should have been. My OC checklist would have been 1. hand the ball to Murray 2. Throw the ball to Murray 3. Throw the ball to Gresham 4. Throw the ball to Kelly. 5. throw the ball to _____. : ) And don't get me started on our defense.
Bob, I hear what you are saying. My only point is that our offense was, in general, very successful this year. It had times when it struggled, all offenses do. The problem with having a lot of playmakers is that it opens discussion on what could have or should have been done. If we lose throwing to Kelly a lot, people wonder why Gresham or Murray didnt get it more. If we lose throwing to Gresham, people wonder why Kelly didnt get it. They do call plays with primary receivers, but, they have to check down if it isnt there. Do you know for a fact how many plays were called where Gresham was the primary receiver? Could be very few, could be a ton. Most teams with a lot of playmakers will start deep with their reads and then check down to shorter routes. This doesnt usually translate to great numbers for TE.
Matt, yes, I knew that. Did you know that sometimes O-Coordinators call plays that have "primary" receivers? Other O-Coordinators find ways of getting the ball into 'playmakers' hands more. Then there are other O-Coordinators that try to call plays that get rid of the ball faster, instead of running pass routes you can make a sandwich during, when defenses are smacking your quarterback around. I would hate to try to defense our offense under a good coordinator. You say potato I say tomato.
Bob, Did you know that Gresham led the team in TD receptions this year? Also, did you know that ALL the receivers run routes on every play (though TE's will sometimes block)? That means that the coach doesnt send out a play with the sole intention of throwing to one guy. With talent at these positions, the coach sends out a play and expects the QB to read the defense and react accordingly. So the QB will have the option to throw it to Kelly or Gresham most every play. How is it the O-coordinators issue if the defense reacts well and a guy isnt open or if the QB finds a better target, or a blitz doesnt allow time for a play to develope? Some people will never be pleased with anything.
if Tennell comes back from his knee injury 100%, i think he is better than Chaney. The Sooners will have a talentedand, deep, and young receiving corps.
Chaney will be great this year. He gets open, he is tall and fast. He has had several years to improve his hands, and should be a star this year. Boomer Sooner.
"But first, he must prove he can consistently be the player..." That's it exactly. Sometimes he's looked like Jerry Rice, others he's looked like Jerry Clower! haha! Just kidding! He has a chance to be the next great OU WR but if he's not consistent he'll be passed up by the younger guys. I hope he does do well especially since he's an Oklahoma kid.
Phil in Yukon, if you must be a jerk or a coward that hide behinds a keyboard as you obviously are, go somewhere else and do it. Your negative objective adds nothing to the subject.
I've personally met Quentin Chaney and can tell you he is a good kid who works hard. But I don't have to justify that to you. Have you never lost at anything in life to know what losing feels like? Sounds like you have no idea about anything.
You are the consummate hater who adds NOTHING to society.
Well the DOK posting another article about a player steping up. How about a TEAM playing together as a TEAM. Besides the 2008 WR recruits will play a role for replaceing the departed Mr. Kelley. Just start playing like a TEAM in August, OK OU!!!
Don't remember him being the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, records show two WVU players as being the offensive and defensive players of the game. So typical of the DOK to hype up a story for OU unless they meant he was the MVP for the losing team but that is not how the story reads.
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Oklahome wide receiver Quentin Chaney caught four passes in the Fiesta Bowl, matching the number he caught during the regular season. By Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
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Several coaches making a lot less money than Bob Stoops is making produced teams that were able to beat Colorado last year.
I've personally met Quentin Chaney and can tell you he is a good kid who works hard. But I don't have to justify that to you. Have you never lost at anything in life to know what losing feels like? Sounds like you have no idea about anything.
You are the consummate hater who adds NOTHING to society.