Tulsa World: OU's trouble lies with the kickers

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OU's trouble lies with the kickers

OU kicker Jimmy Stevens, listening to coach Josh Heupel during the Sooners' game against Washington last year, was OU's only placekicker last season. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World file

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 8/10/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 8/10/2009 4:54 AM

NORMAN — If ESPN's Andre Ware or anyone else wants to pre-blame Oklahoma's offensive line for four losses this season, that's OK.

A harsh reality is that the Sooners could lose to any of five opponents in 2009 — BYU, maybe; Miami, possibly; Texas, certainly; Kansas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, realistically. However unlikely it might seem for OU to go 8-4 with all that experience on defense and all those playmakers on offense, it's all too probable that OU will drop a game or two — but not four — somewhere in what has already been called college football's most difficult schedule.

But the line is really just the easiest, most visible place to start. If OU, ranked third in the coaches poll, loses this year, it will more likely be because of special teams.

The Sooners went 12-2 last year. But that offense was so good, and the special teams were so bad, they could have gone 12-2 without even participating in the kicking game.

Go for it every time on fourth down? No problem. Kick it out of bounds after every touchdown? Not a big deal.

Sound facetious? What if Bob Stoops had chosen to kick it into the Cotton Bowl seats instead of to Texas' Jordan Shipley (Shipley ran it back for 6 and changed the game)? OU might have beaten Texas. What if Stoops had called for a Sam Bradford pass to Jermaine Gresham instead of a Jimmy Stevens field goal at the end of the third quarter against Florida (Stevens' kick was blocked and killed momentum)? OU might have driven down to tie the score at 14 and won the national championship.

Hmm. Maybe the Sooners would have gone undefeated if they'd only skipped special teams.

For a team that hopes to return to the big game, that has to change.

The Sooners had one placekicker last year, Jimmy Stevens, and an emergency plan, Matt Moreland. Now they have, at best count, six, including junior college transfer Cameron Kenney — he's a wide receiver who has caught Stoops' eye as a kicker — and two walk-ons, freshman Bryce Easley from Norman and transfer Tommy O'Hara from Washburn (Kan.) College.

Competition is good, Stoops says, but someone needs to put the ball through the uprights.

Punting also was a challenge last year, and Kenney can do that, too, although the job seems likely to go to Tress Way.

Way also figures to be in line for kickoffs, which were abysmal in '08 — both by Moreland and by his coverage team. Stoops says Moreland is getting more distance now. And how can the cover unit possibly be worse (they gave up four TDs), even if a handful of expected contributors are true freshmen?

Oklahoma in 2008 was last in the nation in field goals per game and kickoff return TDs allowed.

The Sooners need to kick the ball better, or they'll quickly be kicked out of contention.

THREE STORYLINES

Three storylines from Oklahoma practice:

Tennell's time: OU can minimize the graduation of Quentin Chaney, Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson by getting more passes to Jermaine Gresham, by the emergence of Mossis Madu in the slot and by the continued big-play production of Ryan Broyles. But the passing came can really keep humming if senior Adron Tennell truly has separated himself from the pack.

Who's next: Sam's the Man. But if something happens to Bradford, who's next in line? Landry Jones, a redshirt freshman from Artesia, N.M., appeared in spring practice to be clearly ahead of early arriving freshman Drew Allen. But when the summer depth chart was released, they were even. This training camp, coaches need to identify their Plan B.

Granger's conditioning: OU has two up-and-coming defensive tackles in Stacy McGee and Casey Walker. But they're not ready for a full game of BYU's forceful running and precision passing. That means senior DeMarcus Granger, coming off back surgery, must use camp to quickly get back in game shape so he can help out Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor.

OU KEY DATES

Tuesday: First two-a-day practice session

Aug. 24: First day of classes

Sept. 5: OU vs. BYU, 6 p.m., Cowboys Stadium

2009 SCHEDULE

Sept. 5: BYU (at Arlington, Texas) ESPN-25 6 p.m.

Sept. 12: Idaho State TBA

Sept. 19: Tulsa FSOK-27 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 3: at Miami TBA

Oct. 10: Baylor TBA

Oct. 17: Texas (at Dallas) KTUL-8 11 a.m.

Oct. 24: at Kansas TBA

Oct. 31: Kansas State TBA

Nov. 7: at Nebraska TBA

Nov. 14: Texas A&M TBA

Nov. 21: at Texas Tech TBA

Nov. 28: Oklahoma State TBA

Dec. 5: Big 12 Championship KTUL-8 7 p.m.

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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Few Clothes, Austin, TX (8/10/2009 8:03:11 PM)

Sounds to me that someone is already thinking up excuses for Sooner losses this year. It's usually always the ref's fault. If the Sooners only win one game this year, let it be against Texas.

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