It's springtime and Stoops has a lot to say
Published: 3/6/2012 1:22 AM
Last Modified: 3/6/2012 7:49 PM
Ten interesting statements from Bob Stoops' spring greeting in Norman Monday:
1 – "A lot of young guys, they first get here, have a hard time handling the pace of everything, and he's handled it well. It's really been exciting to watch how he's worked, how competitive he's been, the work ethic and the physical ability to handle it."
This was Stoops talking about Trey Metoyer, the freshman wide receiver now on the Oklahoma campus after a semester at Hargrave Military Academy. It was encouraging that OU got Metoyer back after he initially failed to qualify coming out of high school (that's never a certainty).
It's really encouraging that Stoops had good things to say about the youngster, given that he is expected to waste no time in helping make up for Ryan Broyles' departure.
2 – "We do have great faith in Blake throwing the football. We wouldn't have signed him if we didn't like how he throws the ball. He'll continue to develop outside of that package."
This was Stoops on Blake Bell, a Belldozer package reference included. Those dying to see the sophomore quarterback do more than score 3-yard touchdown runs just sighed.
3 – "Lane will be the left tackle."
Such a simple, yet critical statement. Donald Stephenson might not have received Jammal Brown/Trent Williams-like attention at left tackle the past two years, but ask Landry Jones how well Stephenson protected his blind side. That job now belongs to former right tackle (and tight end) Lane Johnson.
This bears watching through the spring, summer and two-a-days next August.
4 – "I know it was brought up about Florida State, but they didn't seem to want to come here. We didn't need to go there again, did we?"
Schedule talk from the head coach. Can't blame OU for passing on another trip to Tallahassee, with Notre Dame already on the nonconference bill.
Still, I'm really going to miss Florida when touching down in El Paso.
5 – "I don't think it played to our advantage whatsoever to have so many late night games."
Stoops wants a more equal Big 12 distribution of primetime kickoffs next season. Makes a lot of sense, particularly after what happened to the Sooners under the lights of Stillwater and Waco, not to mention Owen Field against Texas Tech.
The hard part is going to get anyone in the conference office to listen. An early guess: OU plays UTEP, Florida A&M, Texas Tech, Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia and TCU at night next season.
6 – "I like how it sets up, really."
This was Stoops putting a very brave face on a schedule that includes two September byes. No way does he like how it sets up, not with nine straight Saturdays of football backloaded with West Virginia, OSU and TCU to finish.
Scheduling wasn't OU's mess, but the Big 12's post-realingment. The Sooners paid the price, though.
7 – "If coaching goes bad, I'll just pick up some tournament gold."
Stoops isn't serious about becoming a scratch pro golfer, he's just having a little fun with his recent success at the National Pro Am.
Still, as we all learned Monday, it's a good bet Stoops leans back at his desk and replays a few of his holes at Pebble Beach on slower days. He's still on a bit of a golf high, not that anyone blames him.
8 – "I don't think there's any need for magic fixes. We're coming off a 10-3 season."
This was Stoops' response to a question about his brother Mike being viewed as some sort of OU "savior." He's still a tad defensive about the 2011 season, which isn't the greatest idea since he could just as easily have said, "We're coming off an Insight Bowl season after being pegged to win a national championship."
As for "magic fixes," Stoops is correct. The Sooners don't need his brother's magic wand, but his brother's hard-driving do-it-right-or-face-my-wrath instruction. That should correct enough problems that they don't need to worry about 10-3 next fall.
9 – "R.J. Washington has really stepped up in his leadership and what he's doing."
Another crucial personnel statement. The Sooners are suddenly without Frank Alexander, a driving force last year, and Ronnell Lewis. It is an underrated problem.
Alexander's senior-season emergence made up for Jeremy Beal's departure a year ago. It sounds like Washington could do the same with Big Frank gone.
10 – "I have a special teams coordinator. I always have. Coach Wright is our special teams coordinator."
And with that, Bobby Jack Wright (better known as OU's defensive ends coach) winced.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
