Tulsa World: Broyles emerges as a dependable playmaker

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Broyles emerges as a dependable playmaker

OU's Ryan Broyles (85) out running KU's Darrell Stuckey (25). Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World

By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/28/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 10/28/2009 10:49 AM

Go to Dave Sittler's Blog

NORMAN — Ryan Broyles a go-to guy?

It wasn't all that long ago that Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops would have told you where to go if you suggested Broyles would be a player he's depending on to save an offense and a season.

Dependability wasn't always Broyles' strong suit. Off the field issues forced him to redshirt his freshman season, and his position coach had zero confidence him when it came to being responsible in big-game situations.

But less than a year after Broyles was considered someone who was wasting his immense talent, the third-year sophomore has become the most dependable and consistent player on offense.

With a unit ravaged by injuries to its playmakers, Stoops had little choice but to give Broyles a shot. He has responded by demonstrating he's capable of carrying most of the offense on his 5-11, 178-pound frame.

"I am so proud of Ryan Broyles," said receivers' coach Jay Norvell after Broyles' 11 receptions for 121 yards helped the Sooners' sputtering offense get rolling in the second half of last Saturday's 35-13 win at Kansas. "He's not healthy, and yet he said, 'Coach, keep me in there.' And he really responded by making a lot of tough plays."

At this time a year ago, Norvell knows there is no way Broyles would have begged to play

even though he has a damaged shoulder. Last month, Norvell told the Tulsa World there wasn't anything he liked about Broyles' game for most of last season.

"I really didn't trust him," Norvell said. "I thought Ryan was a young kid just running around out there having fun. He just kind of had a laissez-faire attitude, happy-go-lucky."

Norvell's opinion started to change when Broyles responded to his challenge to grow up and produce in the Big 12 Championship game. With six receptions for 85 yards in the first half as OU rolled to a 38-7 lead over Missouri, Broyles proved he could be trusted to deliver on the big stage.

Stoops and Norvell knew this season that they had a changed Broyles on the team when he returned to play in the Texas game just two weeks after he fractured his shoulder against Miami.

Broyles was aware how much the Sooners needed him. Tight end Jermaine Gresham was lost for the year in preseason, quarterback Sam Bradford was lost for the season after a first-quarter injury against Texas, running back DeMarco Murray couldn't stay healthy and a young receiving corps couldn't hold on to the ball.

So Broyles volunteered to play in pain and has continued to do so while being OU's most dangerous weapon.

"Ryan has really come on and is doing a great job in every part of his life," Stoops said Tuesday. "He's really become a stronger student-athlete and what we're asking him to do in his workouts."

Even though he missed one game and all but one series of the Miami contest, Broyles ranks among the Big 12 Conference leaders in receiving and scoring. He has 36 receptions for 500 yards and eight touchdowns in less than six games for the No. 22 Sooners (4-3, 2-1 Big 12).

When OU's inexperienced offensive line couldn't open holes for the running game against Kansas, Broyles essentially became a running back. The majority of his 11 receptions were bubble screens, short tosses into the flat that he turned into big gainers.

"It was just using it as the running game, that's basically all the bubbles will work for," Broyles said Tuesday. "As much as we want to do that, we know we can't do that every week."

In other words, OU needs to find a way to get its vertical passing game going. Broyles can catch the long ball just as well as he handles the screens.

Several receivers have had their moments, but they've also dropped several catchable passes. Broyles remains the only consistent receiver, even though he's still nursing a bum shoulder.

"I didn't know what it was at first," said Broyles of the injury that played a key role in the 21-20 loss at Miami. "It just felt like a cramp and they didn't know what was wrong until I got the x-rays."

Stoops has always admired Broyles' versatility, which includes returning punts and kickoffs when he's healthy. But the OU coach believes Broyles has learned to channel his competitiveness in a way that has allowed him to play hurt and also lead by example.

"He wants to stay on the field," Stoops said. "It was a bit sore (at KU), but he felt not enough to keep him off. Some guys might not have done that.

"He's an example of how to compete. He plays hard and he's a good example in that way for sure."

In other words, when Stoops is looking for someone he can totally rely on in these unsettled times, he's confident Broyles has become one of his go-to guys. By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer

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	Report Comment pat, Kiefer (10/28/2009 3:24:25 PM) BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!! See you Saturday!
	Report Comment sooner mike, Sperry (10/28/2009 10:24:49 AM) Im glad we have a dependable reciver to thorw to that can catch the ball. We will be alirght the rest of the season with out sam BOOMER SOONER
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (10/28/2009 9:35:00 AM) BOOMER SOONER!!

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