OU Football Notebook: An encore for Jones
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
11/27/12 at 4:02 AM
An encore for Jones: Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones won his second straight Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award on the heels of his performance against Oklahoma State. He threw an interception on his third series, a turnover that set up OSU's 14-0 lead, but shook that off to finish with an OU-record 46 completions and 500 yards. It was Jones' second straight 500-yard effort, and the second straight time he either won or tied a game in the closing moments with a length-of-the-field drive.
Asked to describe his feeling after Saturday's overtime win, Jones said: "Just extremely satisfying. After the game, in those moments when it's a tight game, you actually pull it out and you win, and your offense does a great job of it at the end, of finishing it, there's not much of a feeling like it."
Special award for Saunders: Jalen Saunders' 81-yard punt return for a Bedlam touchdown was enough to get the OU wide receiver the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.
It was quite a moment, particularly since Justin Brown has been OU's primary punt returner all season.
"Justin caught a bunch of balls and a bunch of yards," coach Bob Stoops said, "and we had been talking about that the last couple weeks. 'Let's get Jalen some catches back there because of how dynamic he is.' "
So now the Sooners have the nation's fourth-leading punt returner in Brown, and a backup who might have made their biggest play of the season (Saunders' 81-yarder pulled OU within 38-36, and Jones' 2-point pass to Brown tied the score).
What does Stoops do Saturday at TCU?
"We'll work them both," he said. "They both play so hard and so much, Justin needs a break here and there."
Brown's big day: Brown contributed to Saturday's victory with 15 catches - a number that equaled Ryan Broyles' school-record - for a career-high 146 yards. A pretty nice day that became even nicer later, when Penn State beat Wisconsin in overtime to finish its season a surprising 8-4.
"I knew they were going to have a good season," said Brown, a three-year Nittany Lion before transferring in the summer. "It was nice to see how they won on their Senior Day, too."
King questionable: David King went into Bedlam fighting an ankle injury, something Stoops said he aggravated early in the game. That leaves OU's most effective defensive end questionable going forward.
Without King for the majority of Bedlam, the Sooners used Chuka Ndulue and Geneo Grissom primarily, with R.J. Washington, Rashod Favors and P.L. Lindley rotating in. That group combined to make three tackles.
The best play by an OU defensive end Saturday was probably Favors' catch-and-return of Quinn Sharp's second-quarter squib kickoff. That put the Sooners on their own 43 and set up a touchdown drive.
Stoops to Tennessee?: In the aftermath of Derek Dooley's firing, the Rivals site Volquest.com posted a picture of Stoops to promo its "coaching hot board" list of candidates.
A reporter informed Stoops Monday he had suddenly become popular in Knoxville.
"I didn't know that. I like that job I have," he replied. "No, that's not right. I love the job I have and the people I work for. I'll try and keep it another year."
