Weeden fortunate to have avoided injury
Published: 11/16/2010 9:38 AM
Last Modified: 11/16/2010 9:38 AM
Oklahoma State is lucky to have Brandon Weeden at quarterback for Saturday’s 11 a.m., Fox Sports Net-televised football game at Kansas.
During last week’s 33-16 triumph at Texas, at the end of a 3-yard, middle-of-the-field scramble, Weeden was crushed by Longhorn linebacker Keenan Robinson.
Robinson’s helmet slammed into Weeden’s lower back. If it had been a rib or shoulder shot, Weeden might have been badly injured. Instead, he was just really jarred and was still really sore as of Monday.
“I was hurting. I didn’t want to get up, but I did,” Weeden says. “(Longhorn defenders) were talking so much noise. I’m fortunate. It probably wasn’t one of the brightest plays I’ve had. I probably should (dropped into a slide) 4 or 5 yards earlier.
“You’re going to get hit here or there, but that was one of the worst I’ve ever taken. In high school (at Edmond Santa Fe), I got blind-sided by Larry Birdine (who played at Lawton Ike and OU), but this one hurt worse. Way worse.”
OSU offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen hopes his franchise QB learned a lesson in self-preservation.
“There’s a difference between scrambling straight ahead and scrambling side to side, where the sideline can bail you out,” Holgorsen said. “You don’t just tuck it and go straight ahead. Usually, there is more than one (defender) waiting on you to put a helmet in the kidney.”
In total offense, Weeden leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally at 331.9 yards per game. With two games remaining in the regular season, he has set school records for single-season passing yards (3,391) and single-game completions and passing yards (34 for 435 against Baylor).
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
