Pick your poison: English, Beal or Alexander
Published: 8/28/2009 2:24 PM
Last Modified: 8/28/2009 2:24 PM
Oklahoma defensive ends coach Chris Wilson announced on Thursday that senior Auston English and junior Jeremy Beal will start next week against BYU, with sophomore Frank Alexander rotating in.
The fourth spot, Wilson said, is being tugged about between redshirt freshmen David King and R.J. Washington.
Senior offensive tackle Trent Williams has seen the fearsome threesome plenty in his career. Last year, while playing right tackle, he had to block Beal every day. Since moving over from right tackle, he's gotten a steady dose of English. Alexander has been the swingman, so Williams has had lots of turns against him.
So, after a recent practice, I asked Williams which defensive end was harder to block: the '07 Big 12 sacks leader and '08 preseason Big 12 player of the year (English), the '09 All-Big 12 performer (Beal) or the freakishly good favorite among teammates and coaches (Alexander)?
"They each got their own thing you have to work on and you have to be watchful for," Williams said. "I mean, A-Town (that's English's nickname to teammates) has got strength and speed. Frank, he's real strong, real good with his hands, real rangy, so you've got to get close to him because he can push you off and make plays. And you've got Jeremy Beal, who's just unbelievably quick off the ball and if you're not on your Ps and Qs every play, you'll easily give up two or three sacks to him. They all got their strengths."
That's no answer, of course. Then again, it's the best answer Sooner fans can hear. OU is stocked at the position.
— John E. Hoover
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
