Coaches were correct: Defense didn't miss a beat

NORMAN — All spring, the Oklahoma coaches have insisted they weren't missing a beat in the defensive backfield, despite losing both starting cornerbacks in Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker.

Turns out, they weren't kidding.

The cornerback trio of Dominique Franks, Brian Jackson and Jonathan Nelson put on a show Saturday for the 23,306 fans who came to Owen Field for the Red-White spring game as the squad comprised of the first-team offense and second-team defense won 69-40 in a scoring system that awarded points for offensive and defensive accomplishments.

"If you're going to be any good at all defensively, you better be good in this situation and I thought we were,” coach Bob Stoops said, referring to the 30-mile-per-hour wind that plagued the passing game. "I was really pleased with the play of our secondary. I thought their position all day was great. I thought the corners were excellent.”

Franks alone intercepted three passes, including a tipped ball he returned 57 yards for a touchdown in the game's first minute.

After diving for a second interception, he later returned a third pick 35 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal by Jimmy Stevens.

"(Secondary coach Bobby Jack) Wright tells us every day that when the ball goes up, we have to play like a receiver. And when we catch it, go score,” Franks said. "We're getting a little bit more comfortable as we've gone along.

"We've had a great spring and we need to carry that on into the summer.”

While Jackson didn't have an interception, he did cause one.

In the first half off a cornerback blitz, Jackson deflected quarterback Sam Bradford's pass into the air before defensive end Alan Davis made the interception.

Nelson picked off a quick pass in the first half, as well, and raced 81 yards for a score.

"All of the corners, we wanted to come out here and compete,” Jackson said. "I felt like Dom and Jon handled their business.

"As a unit, I feel like we have a chance to be real good.”

Defensive end Frank Alexander returned an interception 31 yards for a third defensive touchdown.

In all, the defense combined for six interceptions and the three touchdowns, dominating an offense that, until the final four minutes of the game, managed to score just one touchdown, in large part due to the gusty weather.

"The offense was at a bad disadvantage with the wind conditions being so horrible,” Stoops said. "Fortunately, we don't have the season in the spring or we'd have to go back to the wishbone.”

Ironically, the first offensive touchdown came on a call made by Shae Farmer of Carrollton, Ga., who, for $2,900, won an online auction to call four offensive plays.

One of those calls resulted in a 51-yard touchdown strike from Bradford to tight end Jermaine Gresham on a play-action post pattern.

Farmer, a lifelong Sooner fan making his first visit to Oklahoma, had told Wilson he wanted Bradford to throw a deep pass to Gresham.

"I was joking in the booth with him, like, hey, you're going to take my job,” Wilson said. "That was a pretty neat deal.”

Fullback Matt Clapp and wide receiver Rashad Hutchins scored on back-to-back touchdown receptions in the game's final two possessions. But before then, the offense struggled for most of the afternoon as it continued to implement a no-huddle scheme.

In the two scrimmages leading up to the Red-White Game, the offense scored just two touchdowns in more than 170 plays.

Bradford finished 12 of 25 passing for 191 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Backup quarterbacks Joey Halzle, Keith Nichol and Landry Jones didn't fare any better in the wind.

They combined to complete just nine of 33 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns and three picks.

"Obviously the corners made some plays today and we didn't take care of the ball,” Bradford said. "I think they showed up and played very well.”