OU coach Bob Stoops wasn't as optimistic as Kevin Wilson about offensive line
By JAKE TROTTER, STAFF WRITER jtrotter@opubco.com
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15
Published: November 3, 2009
Modified: November 4, 2009 at 11:33 am
Modified: November 4, 2009 at 11:33 am
NORMAN — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops admitted Tuesday he wasn’t nearly as optimistic about an offensive line replacing four starters as offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was before the season.
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He was “a lot more so than I was,” Stoops said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “You never heard me that way.”
Before the season, Wilson publicly built up the potential of the Sooner line, even though only two of its members, tackle Trent Williams and guard Brian Simmons, had played meaningful snaps in their careers.
But from the opener, the line has struggled throughout the season, both in paving running lanes for running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown and protecting quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Landry Jones. “There is no replacement for experience,” Stoops said. “Experience is a major factor at every level of this game.”Later, Wilson was asked about Stoops’ comments.
“You guys never played cards? You watch that Texas hold 'em deal, where sometimes you bluff a little bit, too?” Wilson replied. “But those guys, the only problem I have is that those guys are more talented than they have played. They're gaining on it. But their talent level does not match their performance.
“So to me, I see their talent and their potential. But potential's a dirty word. That just means you haven't done it yet.”
Here’s more of what Stoops had to say during his press conference:
On Nebraska's tradition:
"I have played Nebraska here for a long time, I have always had a great respect for them. There's a lot of amazing tradition and history, in fact we as a team watched a lot of that yesterday. I always wonder if our freshmen, sophomores and guys who haven't been around very long have a true understanding of the tradition and history and pride of that program. I've always felt that playing them is tough."
On the offensive line's improvement:
"I would say who starts doesn't much matter, it's just how we have played the last couple of weeks. There has been more consistency. So hopefully there is more consistency and a little better play overall. They will need to be against a very good defensive front. I feel like we are making strides but we have to do it each week."
On Landry Jones' performance this season:
"It's exciting to see what he has been able to do. In five starts, he has been the player of the week twice in the Big 12 Conference, he's doing an excellent job. The other night he had right around 300 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He didn't put the ball in any risky situations. With more and more time on the field, in the practice field and in games, he will improve. Coach (Josh) Heupel reviewed the game with him the other night and there were some opportunities that we missed that he will see. Hopefully as we move forward he will just continue to get better and better."
On the receivers' improvements:
"I'm hopeful that it will progress even further in that they are just more comfortable and confident. With time on the field, people say that the game seems to slow down once you're used to being out there. The first time you're out there as a player sometimes you can't believe how fast everything is going, then you look on tape and realize 'geez, I'm going as fast as everybody.' It takes a little while for guys to calm down and realize that and then everything slows down. I'm just hopeful with more experience and time on the field that they are more comfortable and confident now and they are seeing that they are making plays that they are capable of making."
On the offense in the fourth quarter of the K-State game:
"That was the most pleasing part of the day, just seeing them respond. It gives me a feeling that as we move forward we're an overall stronger team when they can do that. I still have faith that our defense will continue to play well and that they will be able to respond in situations like that. Because through a whole season, that is going to happen. It should give them more confidence going forward to be able to do that when they have to."
On Quinton Carter:
"He's playing very well. Quinton has had an excellent year. He had an interception on the opening play against Kansas to start us off with great field position. Run support, tackling, he has been a very good player."
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A lot of this doesn't make since unless you put it into perspective. He didn't throw Wilson under the bus. He was just clarifying that he never thought the O line would be outstanding, in response to the media's assertion that he did.