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OU loses two more starters
Eldridge, English done for the season with injuries.

OU's Auston English (left) is undergoing tendon surgery after suffering a season-ending foot injury during Saturday's loss at Nebraska. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World

 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/10/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/10/2009  4:16 AM

NORMAN — Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones says he'll keep injured teammate Brody Eldridge in his prayers. It might be better for Eldridge to keep the Sooners in his.

Already down Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham, OU lost Eldridge and defensive end Auston English to season-ending shoulder and foot injuries, respectively, during a 10-3 defeat at Nebraska last Saturday.

Bob Stoops made the announcement after practice Monday night, then had it suggested that whatever rabbit's foot he's using isn't working too well.

"Well, that's the way it goes," responded Stoops, his practicality and optimism fighting the fact he's coaching a 5-4 team for the first time in his 11 years at OU. "Other guys hopefully can play and step up. That's what needs to happen."

He's talking about David King and R.J. Washington at defensive end. The two redshirt freshmen have barely stepped foot on Owen Field behind English, Jeremy Beal and Frank Alexander. Now that English is undergoing tendon surgery, however, one or both could be asked to do so.

Provided Beal and Alexander don't get hurt this month, the Sooners should withstand English's injury. Beal has arguably been OU's best player on either side of the ball, and Alexander was effective after English sustained a knee injury this time last year.

Coping with Eldridge's loss is another story.

"He's a force," said wide receiver Ryan Broyles. "He's a great blocker. He's a great leader. And he's got the brains up there, and the experience. More than anything, he held those guys (other O-linemen) down. He just made them look up to somebody."

Eldridge moved from tight end to left guard after Brian Simmons injured his knee against Baylor Oct. 10. He weighed between 20 and 40 pounds less than the defensive tackles he was asked to block, and yet Eldridge performed as well as any OU lineman the past three weeks.

"Yeah, because he's a blocker," O-line coach James Patton said Monday night. "He just loves to block."

That attitude is now missing. So is Eldridge's reliability. While false starts and personal fouls have been pervasive on OU's offensive line all season, Eldridge was about the only lineman who seemed immune.

The ranks of able-bodied and able-minded linemen were thin even before Eldridge's AC sprain.

Simmons is practicing some, but Stoops didn't think he would be available for "probably a couple more weeks." Tavaris Jeffries and Tyler Evans, guards who have started some this season, have their own issues. Jeffries was suspended from OU's game at Kansas Oct. 24, then didn't play at Nebraska because of a family emergency.

Evans has battled both an ankle injury and, according to Stoops and Patton, inconsistent play.

The Sooners responded to Eldridge's second-quarter injury at Nebraska by moving right guard Stephen Good to the left side and sliding tackle Jarvis Jones over to right guard. That's a possible rotation, along with tackles Trent Williams and Cory Brandon and center Ben Habern, Saturday night against Texas A&M.

All Patton would commit to Monday night was: "We'll find out who the next-best blocker is. That's what we do."

"Just means we've got to keep pushing," Williams said. "We've still got games, so we can't give up."

That wouldn't appear to be an option. Though pressing through a season like this one has become tougher by the week.

"Man, guys are falling left and right," Broyles said. "Injuries are a part of the game, but I've never seen this, ever."




OU vs. Texas A&M

6 p.m. Saturday

TV: FSOK-27

Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430


Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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52 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "OU starters Eldridge, English out for season, Stoops announces," which was published on 11/9/2009.

Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/9/2009 10:41:28 AM)
When it rains it pours.
Report Comment
seymore1965, Tulsa (11/9/2009 10:43:06 AM)
I see it now. Let's see if this can be the worst OU team anyone can remember. That's sort of an extreme record... Isn't it?
Report Comment
terryf, (11/9/2009 11:03:39 AM)
I've never seen so many key players hurt in one season. Hang in there Sooners! All this playing time by younger players and backups will help next year. Get well quick Brody!
Report Comment
Jules09A, Sapulpa (11/9/2009 11:04:26 AM)
Can we find a photo of him during a game? At first glance I thought he was being booked into the county jail.
Report Comment
BMRSNR, (11/9/2009 11:05:27 AM)
When things aren't going well the injuries sure seem to get worse. Hummmmmm. From so promising to a season to forget so quickly. It was over when Sam went down in the first half of the first game. What will next year bring? Hopefully some depth and a new offensive coordinator. Pull the trigger Bob and fire your first assistant ever. Someone has to be the first to go. Might as well be Kevin Wilson. I know that's not our only problem but much of our problems start there.
Report Comment
Bison3, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:12:14 AM)
Man, when it rains it pours!! If OU loses one more guy, the practice squad is going to start seeing some real playing time. Get well soon Brody and hang tough Sooners!!
Report Comment
Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:13:42 AM)
Might be time for Bob Stoops to consider a forfeit....
Report Comment
Dweeb, (11/9/2009 11:13:47 AM)
I'm 32, weigh 285 lbs and have some eligibility left....anyone interested?
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (11/9/2009 11:28:08 AM)
i agree with terryf
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:41:56 AM)
Three great games left! Never one to give up here.

BOOMER SOONER!!
Report Comment
conserv-o-king, (11/9/2009 11:49:30 AM)
Dweeb left out that he is only 5'9!
Report Comment
richard noggin, claremore (11/9/2009 11:52:28 AM)
All teams deal with injuries.

Small Game Bob cannot deliver any more.

#3 in the nation earlier this year. Another fraud. OU will lose a bowl game if they become elgible. $5,000,000 a year for this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Comment
HOGRIDER, BA (11/9/2009 12:25:15 PM)
Does it really matter?
Report Comment
FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/9/2009 12:37:03 PM)
These last few games matter in that this is an opportunity for the Sooners to perpare for next season. It's an opportunity to get players some experience, try them out in different positions and to test theri mental toughness and weed out slackers.
Report Comment
Soonerhead, Broken Arrow (11/9/2009 12:45:09 PM)
Ok, it's time to get off the "fire Kevin Wilson" bandwagon! Seriously? Are you kidding? This guy put together the most prolific offense in the history of the game last year!!! They simply do not have the level of talent that we SOONER fans are used to. All will pass. But seriously, if the state of the Sooners is the biggest issue you have in your life, then chill the heck out, you're ahead of the game.
Report Comment
unbelievable11, (11/9/2009 1:11:40 PM)
seymore1965, I remember the John Blake era. We're a LONG, LONG, LONG way away from being that bad.

If you look at OU's two-deep, there is a lot of talent coming back next year (even if McCoy leaves for the NFL)....it's time to get some work for other O-linemen and see if there's anyone who can hack it. Otherwise, time to start scouring the JUCO ranks (Phil Loadholt, anyone?) and find some starters to keep Landry Jones from getting killed next year.
Report Comment
Whoknew?, Tulsa (11/9/2009 1:17:55 PM)
Future World I notice I agree with a lot of what you say. I agree weed out slackers but in this case I see the slacker as Wilson. Everyone talks about how good he was last year..he rode Bradford's coattails last year.
Report Comment
Whoknew?, Tulsa (11/9/2009 1:20:00 PM)
Unbelievable WHEN McCoy leaves for the NFL and add Jeremy Beal to the list.
Report Comment
swivel mcgee, Tulsa (11/9/2009 1:40:05 PM)
The offensive line is a bunch of 2nd or 3rd stringers. Does OU recruit great offensive lineman anymore? The receivers are about the same except for one or possibly 2. Stoops needs an offensive line coach.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/9/2009 1:43:07 PM)
Richard, richard, richard. Do you call yourself an OU fan? Do you understand we're not talking about losing an average running back or receiver or lineman? We're talking about losing a Heisman winning QB and an All-American TE. No team just deals with injuries like that and maintains their same level of play. And although everyone knew we would be weaker on the o-line, no one expected it to be THIS bad. Williams was the only bright spot and he's playing as poorly as the other guys. No one would have ever guessed that. Do you not think we'd be AT LEAST a touchdown better with Sam and Gresham? That would leave us undefeated and everything would be okie-dokie in Sooner land. Some people act like we're just HORRIBLE and it's all the coaches' fault. Like we're getting embarrassed by 30 or something. Texas beat us by 3 POINTS and were lucky to do it, and they'll likely be playing in the National Championship game!Wake up!
Report Comment
richard noggin, claremore (11/9/2009 2:07:43 PM)
Steff M OU fan you are. Always excuses. All teams have injuries. Favored by 20 points over B Y U . Lost anyway.

Talk about all of the collapes in big games or bowl games. More typical Sooner excuses.
Lost 2 bowl games this decade with Heisman winning q-backs. Little Game Bob will lose this years bowl game.
Report Comment
swivel mcgee, Tulsa (11/9/2009 2:22:02 PM)
Let's face it, OU's offense plays like a bunch of high school kids against really good defensive teams. Does Landry Jones ever get the nod to run then he's got a sure 10 yards? Can anybody say, "shake-up".
Report Comment
seymore1965, Tulsa (11/9/2009 4:44:20 PM)
unbelievable 11, I was thinking about the Sooners getting worse every game, losing even at home and not winning another game.
Report Comment
BUCKYBABY, Bixby (11/9/2009 6:44:18 PM)
Can we please let the Quarterback run every once in a while, or at least let him move out of the pocket. It's also hard to believe a high dollar coach cannot recruit a good field goal kicker. Sooner fan 75
Report Comment
Commish, Tulsa (11/9/2009 7:29:36 PM)
This is a season to forget and also to grow. With a lot of the younger guys getting playing time perhaps it will show next season. I just hope the media doesn't 'preseason national championship' these guys to death as they did this year.
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