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OU's Jones fitting in nicely
Landry Jones is continuing the trend of solid QB play in Stoops' OU tenure

Oklahoma freshman quarterback Landry Jones looks downfield during the Texas game. The Sooners are 4-1 in his starts this season. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/4/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/4/2009  1:41 PM
NORMAN — After Landry Jones' performance against Tulsa — 336 yards, a school-record six touchdowns — some Sooner fans liked the idea of injured Sam Bradford taking the rest of the year off.

But after Jones' showing in relief of Bradford against Texas — 250 yards, but two fourth-quarter interceptions — many OU faithful were pining for the days of Paul Thompson and Nate Hybl.

In reality, among quarterbacks in the Bob Stoops era, Jones so far fits comfortably in between.

OU's record with Jones behind center is 4-1. Only Jason White's 5-0 start in 2003 and Hybl's 5-0 beginning in 2001 were better.

In his five starts, Jones has twice been named the Big 12 Conference's offense player of the week.

Only Josh Heupel (18) threw more touchdown passes in his first five starts than Jones (16).

Jones' completion percentage (64.94) ranks behind only Bradford (71.17) and Heupel (67.0) among Stoops QBs in their first five starts.

Jones' passer efficiency rating — the NCAA's statistical measurement that rewards high completion percentage and yards-per-attempt — is a strong 156.13 in his starts, way behind Bradford's NCAA record pace (194.36) and White's own remarkable number (170.15).

"It's exciting to see what he's been able to do," Stoops said.

It was 10 years ago, in Stoops' first season as the Sooners' head coach, that Heupel was OU's Golden Boy, slinging passes around in Mike Leach's Wild West Show of an offense. In Heupel's first game, he set the school record for touchdown passes (five). The next week, he set the school record for passing yards (420). The next week, he set both (five and 429).

Now Heupel is OU's quarterbacks coach. He guided Thompson's Big 12 title run, he helped turn Bradford into a Heisman Trophy winner, and he's done wonders so far with Jones in his redshirt freshman season.

"Rarely do I bring up something from when I played," Heupel said. "But somewhere along the line, there are experiences I went through that hopefully I can translate to them or share with them that will help them. Maybe it's just in how they prepare on a weekly basis."

Jones' replacement of Bradford has been better than most expected. His two worst games (BYU and Texas) were in relief after Bradford was injured. His next-worst game (Miami) was the week he and Bradford shared first-team snaps in practice. The Sooners lost all three of those.

With Jones as the full-time starter in practice, the Sooners are 4-0. And here's the thing: he's getting better each week.

"With more and more time on the practice field and in games," Stoops said, "he'll improve."

Coaches say Jones' progress is most noticeable in how quickly he gets through his reads. Instead of checking the primary option or two and then either throwing it away or scrambling, he's processing the first options quicker and getting to the later ones.

With more time on the field, Jones also has begun anticipating his targets quicker, throwing the ball before his receiver breaks out of his pass route.

"I've played a couple games now and I'm starting to get in a real flow of it," Jones said, "just kind of knowing all the stuff that's going on out there. I feel a lot more comfortable and just seeing stuff a lot better."

Just as Bradford did, Jones spends endless hours with Heupel in film study, collecting as much visual data on himself and his own tendencies as he does on that week's opponent — which, this week, is Nebraska and one of the Big 12's most ferocious defenses.

In his desire to improve, his pursuit of perfection, Jones looks every bit as focused as Bradford or White or Heupel.

"It's one of those things that, to me, is not always visible to the guys sitting up in the stands or what you read in the Sunday morning stat line sheet," Heupel said. "It's not the big things, the big pieces of the puzzle that you're trying to fill in. It's the little pieces. That's what was stressed to me from a lot of different coaches I had. That's what you're pushing for."



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

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COMMENTS 
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23 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you.  -- Web Editor Jason Collington
 

 
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (11/4/2009 8:13:49 AM)
hippy...lj shaved it off last week...keep up with the times.

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (11/4/2009 10:00:44 AM)
lts...that could have been avoided if our coaching staff had listend to our scouts and the papers about #83's ability for returns...it took the run back for us to change our game plan. We'd be better to be proactive instead of reactive.
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/4/2009 2:13:35 PM)
Bring back the power of the 'stache!!
Report Comment
eglkeeper, Hooterville (11/4/2009 7:53:38 PM)
I don't care if the guy looks like a trogladite, if he is mobile and has an accurate gun then recruit him and let the athlete play. No more throwing telephone poles-statues. This may be a startling revelation to the Sooner Nation but the "spread" offense can now be shut down.
Report Comment
yep, Tulsa County (11/4/2009 1:19:13 PM)
Jones is calm and patient, and doesn't get rattled. He also seems to throw fairly accurately. These were the same qualities that Bradford brought. The OU scheme doesn't ask much of the QB...only need to worry about 1 read most of the time, for example. So I think we'll continue to see Jones grow, especially as the offensive line and receivers improve.
Report Comment
Alan Shore, (11/4/2009 6:12:41 AM)
If only the OU defense played as well as Landry Jones has...
Report Comment
T.B'Ville, Bruins (11/4/2009 8:46:44 PM)
Jones can take a hit! Im happy we have him.
Report Comment
MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (11/4/2009 2:57:04 PM)
The Sooners' D has played pretty well this year. Their record wouldn't be this good without them. The secondary has really stepped it up this year, and I predict Zac will have a few more interceptions and a possible concussion (due to his running)after they Cowboys get manhandled in their NORMAN bowl game this year.
Report Comment
lovethemsooners, Fayetteville (11/4/2009 9:34:42 AM)
Report Comment | Ignore User
Alan Shore, (11/4/2009 6:12:41 AM)
If only the OU defense played as well as Landry Jones has...
-------------------------------------
What games has this guy been watching? Being 3rd in the country in rushing defense isn't too shabby. As far as Jones, the jury's still out. Let's all just hope for the best. I do like the way he came out and answered in the K-State game when they came out and punched us in the mouth with that KO return. Recently when that has happened, we've folded like a cheap lawn chair.
Report Comment
SS_Hippy, Tulsa (11/4/2009 7:44:34 AM)
Landry is "filling in" at QB faster than his 'stache is.
Report Comment
Raven is my name, Guthrie (11/4/2009 11:50:19 AM)
Steff - You took the words right out of my mouth!
Report Comment
DieHardSoonerFan82, Out in the sticks (11/4/2009 7:22:34 AM)
our D has played well they just had a bad game thats all why do you have to get on here and bash that is stupid our d is the best in the country and just like every player they have bad games gees. If your a fan dont bash
Report Comment
DieHardSoonerFan82, Out in the sticks (11/4/2009 8:17:57 AM)
You got that right soonerman37 Jones will lead us to a big 12 title and maybe and hopefuly and National Title. He will have all of spring and summer to pratice for next year he will improve greatly.

BOOMER SOONER
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (11/4/2009 12:30:01 PM)
BOOMER SOONER!
Report Comment
soonerman37, Broken Arrow (11/4/2009 8:02:31 AM)
Exactly, who cares what gba writes on OU Sooner sites...
Report Comment
soonerman37, Broken Arrow (11/4/2009 8:05:50 AM)
Landry Jones had to start a year before he was supposed to. He came in during a game in which he thought he might have mop up duty. He has played very well considering how little practice he had with the first string receivers. Next year when OSU and Texas are looking for QB's, we will have a QB with experience. Landry will be better then McCoy and Robinson. He is already poised and has a strong arm. With a little maturity and practice, he will lead OU to another Big 12 title. It is nice to see that OU just reloads at QB.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/4/2009 9:56:36 AM)
Poor Josh. I know he's no Clark Gable but couldn't they have found a better pic than that? Ouch.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/4/2009 3:04:52 PM)
Lighten up red, I'm joking around. Best QB OU's ever had? I don't think so. But like you said, that's your opinion.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/5/2009 10:55:00 AM)
Waaa! Waaaa! Stats are stats plat. They played who they played. Who's your team? Not the one whose experienced, Heisman candidate QB threw 4 picks last week is it?
Report Comment
red02v, (11/4/2009 12:02:55 PM)
Who cares about Josh's pic, he's still the best QB to ever play at OU IMO. Not flashy, didnt post White or Bradford numbers, just knew how to win. And win when it counted!
Report Comment
platinumlounge, OKC (11/4/2009 8:00:18 PM)
Only an OU fan can come up with these stats. Landry Jones is 4-1 as the starter and 4-0 as 'the full-time starter in practice.' Gee, those wins wouldn't have anything to do with strength of opponents? Beating Idaho St., Tulsa, Kansas, and Kansas St....ooooohhhh scary schedule. The North division is a train wreck. Only by 'Rule Format' will a winner be regurgitated out of a cesspool of 4-4 teams. Big Deal. Also this research does not show that Paul Thompson started vs TCU in 2005 in a 17-10 loss to the Horned Frogs. I also thought that Jason White started a few games in 2001 or 2002 before injuring his knees in ech season....but I could be incorrect.
Report Comment
gba, (11/4/2009 5:27:58 AM)
who cares !!!
Report Comment
nshock, (11/4/2009 12:53:20 PM)
I had to start writing as soon as i saw, Allan Shore's comment."If only the OU defense played as well as Landry Jones has... "Sir honeestly have you watched literally one ou game?!? OU's defense, is other than Florida's the best in the country!If it wasn't for our D,Texas would of hung 50 on us, byu also, and Miami.Our Offense, namely our horrible receivers, and new qb,who lost the texas game with 2 int's in the 4th.Our front 4 is by far the best in the nation...Look it up!
 

 
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