Tulsa World: Practice Report: Oklahoma

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Practice Report: Oklahoma

Manuel Johnson

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 8/10/2008 2:18 AM
Last Modified: 8/10/2008 3:08 AM

Position update

Weakside linebacker

At what is traditionally one of OU's playmaking positions, a battle has emerged between junior college transfer Mike Balogun and Austin Box, a redshirt freshman from Enid.

Box took the majority of snaps at Saturday's scrimmage with the starters, with Balogun taking the reest. Still, the 250-pound transfer from Lackawanna (Pa.) Community College is an intriguing prospect whom Sooner coaches want on the field at some point come September.

As to the scrimmage, defensive coordinator Brent Venables said: "I saw Mike have some really good range. I saw him explode on the ball-carrier a couple times. I saw him covering some things sideline to sideline and showing. And I saw him bust on some basic, easy things early on. I thought he got a little excited."

Balogun was backing up middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds when two-a-days began. Now he's running strictly on the weak side, with Lamont Robinson behind Reynolds.

News and notes

Head banger: OU coach Bob Stoops reported no serious injuries after Saturday's scrimmage. There was one mishap involving starting strong safety Sam Proctor.

"Sam was having a pretty good scrimmage until he got whacked in the head and went cuckoo for a little while," secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright said. "We had to get him out. I don't really know how he is right now. We'll wait and see.

"Brett Bowers came in, and I played Nic (Harris, free safety) there as well. We were fine.

"You don't like that to happen. But that's part of football. You're going to lose some guys. You always hope that you don't. We certainly hope that it's minor. And I think it is. I think he'll be fine in a few days. We'll let him rest a while."

Closed call: Before Saturday, the Sooners' first preseason scrimmage under Stoops had always been open to the public. Why the change to closed gates this year?

"A couple years ago, ESPN was doing our (spring) game and with the sideline (microphone) you could hear the quarterback talking," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "I said, 'Could you guys get that thing out of there because I don't like the fact all of my opponents hear my quarterback.' We're getting all this great coverage that everybody thinks is great, and I'm sitting there saying, 'This is not good for me. It doesn't help us with our opponents.'

"It's easy to have a guy (in the stands) that's got a buddy saying, 'Hey, they're doing a lot of screen passes. They're really working on a reverse play. They're really blitzing a lot. Their kicker doesn't kick it real deep. They're throwing a lot of bombs.'

"It's not like a guy's sitting there getting a scouting report, but it doesn't help us to have (scrimmages) open."

Get to know...

Manuel Johnson

You know you're an upperclassman when you can tell teammates about catching passes from Rhett Bomar. Johnson did so as a true freshman in 2005. He caught a few more from Paul Thompson in '06, then from Sam Bradford last year. Now, Johnson shifts from the slot to an outside receiver, where he provides Bradford one of the Big 12's most experienced targets.

What did you do for fun this summer?

We had a little break the last half of May and I went on a cruise in Mexico with one of my friends from high school. Cozumel and Progreso. It was the first time I've been out of the country.

Seen any good movies lately?

"Step Brothers." Will Ferrell is really, really funny.

See anything you wish you hadn't?

I saw something at home the other day, a Stephen King movie called "The Mist." It wasn't much.

You ever go watch a movie as a team?

We'll go catch a movie the night before a game just to get off our feet and relax.

Ever see something that had you ready to play right then?

"American Gangster." It was a real good movie. Everybody came out of that one ready to go.

Favorite sports movie?

"The Program." That one or "Remember the Titans."

Opponent watch

Washington (Sept. 13)

Jake Locker, the one player the Huskies must have healthy to make something of their season, has begun preseason camp with a problem. The Seattle Times reported Locker likely strained his hamstring while running an option play.

Locker and coach Tyrone Willingham both brushed off the significance of the injury to reporters. Asked if Locker would be ready go play by Washington's Aug. 30 opener at Oregon, Willingham said: "I don't see why he wouldn't."

"It's just a little bit sore," Locker said. "Nothing too bad."

Locker was the lone bright spot during UW's 3-9 2007 season, when he rushed for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns.

2008 schedule

Aug. 30: vs. Chattanooga, 6 p.m.

Sept. 6: vs. Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 27: vs. TCU, TBA

Oct. 4: at Baylor, TBA

Oct. 11: vs. Texas, Dallas, 11 a.m.

Oct. 18: vs. Kansas, TBA

Oct. 25: at Kansas State, TBA

Nov. 1: vs. Nebraska, TBA

Nov. 8: at Texas A&M, TBA

Nov. 22: vs. Texas Tech, TBA

Nov. 29: at Oklahoma State, TBA By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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