OU notebook: Growing pains for Brandon Williams
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Thursday, October 13, 2011
10/13/11 at 3:03 AM
Brandon Williams' first Oklahoma-Texas game didn't end well. His 8-yard run late last Saturday ended in Christian Scott's hit, his fumble and the Sooners' only turnover on an otherwise-spotless day.
The play wasn't brought up in postgame. It had no bearing on the 55-17 final score, and the Sooners reveled in all they did right.
But when someone asked coach Bob Stoops about the fumble at his Tuesday press conference, you knew it hadn't gone unnoticed. Also, Williams' freshman standing was no excuse.
"I don't expect it, young or old," Stoops said. "That's some of why he doesn't play more than he does, as well as being assignment-responsible. There's a lot he needs to keep improving on.
"We didn't have a fumble all day, not even close to one, and he gets in there and doesn't handle but a few times and throws them the ball. That doesn't work real well. You're not going to win like that."
So it's right back to work for the ballyhooed freshman.
Asked what Williams needs to grow from his rookie mistakes, running backs coach Cale Gundy said: "Just reps. Continue to learn the offense and be more comfortable. Once you know what play is called and what you're supposed to do, you play a lot faster and smarter."
Fleming recognized again: OU cornerback Jamell Fleming added the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week national award to his trophy haul Wednesday. It was his third honor this week, recognizing his 13-tackle effort against Texas.
It's getting to the point some are comparing Fleming to Stoops' best corners of the last 13 years.
"We've had some really good ones, Derrick Strait, Andre Woolfolk," Stoops said. "But Jamell's playing great."
In tandem with Demontre Hurst?
"They're as good as any of the groups we've had," Stoops said.
King for a day: Fleming and Hurst were two of the three OU defenders who scored against Texas. The other was defensive end David King, who went 19 yards with a fumble return moments into the second half.
King kept his celebration civil, recalling the penalty linebacker Tom Wort drew for spiking the ball after a fumble return TD against Ball State.
"I wanted to high-step it. I thought about it. But then I started thinking, 'Penalty,' " King said. "And it was my first time, so I didn't know what to do. So I just turned, kept running and went and celebrated with my teammates."
"The DBs know what to do because they always practice pick-6s," said defensive end R.J. Washington. "More than anybody, they'll probably get a touchdown. I don't know what David was doing. It was his first time to score a touchdown. He was like, 'Yeeeeeaaaah!'"
"It almost happened in high school," King said. "I got a pick and was running when I tripped. I was having flashbacks."
