Tulsa World: Practice Report: Oklahoma

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Practice Report: Oklahoma

Brody Eldridge

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 8/14/2008 2:15 AM
Last Modified: 8/15/2008 11:43 AM

Correction
This story incorrectly listed a phone number to buy tickets for University of Oklahoma football games. The phone numbers are (405) 325-2424 and (800) 456-4668.

Position update

Backup quarterback

Sam Bradford is clearly set as the Sooners' starting quarterback. Still, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is quick to emphasize the need for a solid backup plan.

"Multiple years I've been here we've needed more than one," Wilson said. "We needed more than one in '02 when Jason White got hurt. We needed more the year before that in '01 (when White and Nate Hybl played). We had the situation in '05 with the two young guys (Paul Thompson and Rhett Bomar) battling. You think you've got your guy in '06 (Bomar) but made the change.

"You want a two-deep because there's going to be ding-ups and competition. Joey needs to have that attitude."

That's Joey Halzle, who stepped in for the injured Bradford at Texas Tech last year and went 21-of-41 for 291 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 34-27 loss.

"I got my feet under me," Halzle said.

That experience, plus another year absorbing OU's system, has coaches feeling confident about Bradford's backup.

"Joey has kind of settled in as a solid guy at two," Wilson said. "There's not a lot of stress on him. He's a much better player as the second guy today than he was battling it out at one (something he did

with Bradford and Keith Nichol this time last year).

"Joey is a lot more comfortable. I just think he's very settled, very confident, very assertive."

News and notes

Washington arrives: R.J. Washington, rated the top high school defensive end in the nation last year by Rivals, Scout and ESPN recruiting services, is nearly two weeks into his OU career. Impressions?

"He has a lot of talent," starting defensive end Jeremy Beal said. "I expect him to be really good in the future, once he gets it down."

"R.J. is a real explosive player," said Auston English. "It's a big jump to get the defense down. But one thing you can control is effort, and he definitely gives it every time."

Will it be enough for Washington to play this season?

"There's always that possibility," defensive ends coach Chris Wilson said. "But if you think back at the guys that have come through, Gerald McCoy to DeMarcus Granger, guys had to learn the system, it's extensive.

Tackles McCoy and Granger redshirted their first year at OU. So did Beal and Frank Alexander, a top 10-rated defensive end nationally before arriving at OU in 2007. English redshirted his second year in the program.

Tired excuse: Sooner coaches haven't forgotten the 48 points West Virginia put on their defense in last January's Fiesta Bowl. Conditioning is emphasized every August, but perhaps more so this year, because of both what happened in Arizona, and the fast-paced offensive attacks OU must defend in 2008.

"Sometimes guys were a little unsure of themselves and not playing with the kind of effort you need to play with," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said after OU's scrimmage last Saturday. "It's the great equalizer. Fatigue makes cowards of us all. That's kind of the last thing we left them with. We've got to work to be in better shape."

"I saw us getting a little fatigued when we had to play seven or eight plays in a row," said defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp. "We've got to be able to play through that."

Tickets available: A limited number of tickets remain for the Sooners' home games against Tennesseee-Chattanooga Aug. 30 and Cincinnati Sept. 6. The Chattanooga tickets cost $49, while the Cincinnati tickets are available for $62.

Interested parties should contact the OU Ticket Office at 405-324-2424. Tickets may also be purchased online at soonersports.com .

The Chattanooga game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will be televised on a pay-per-view basis. The Cincinnati kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. It will televised by ABC (KTUL-8 locally).

Opponent watch

Tennessee-Chattanooga

Already a decisive underdog in the season opener in Norman, the Mocs took a hit they didn't need Monday when quarterback Jare Gault was injured at practice.

Reports indicated Gault, who had been taking snaps with the first-team offense this preseason, suffered ankle and knee sprains which could keep him out for two weeks, including the Mocs' game at OU. Coach Rodney Allison said Gault will be re-evaluated daily on the chance he could be cleared for the opener. If he isn't, Tony Pastore becomes the likely starting quarterback.

Get to know

Brody Eldridge

How does a tight end who rarely catches passes become an All-Big 12 player like Eldridge was a year ago? When league coaches recognize his blocking skills and put him on the honor roll at fullback. You'll see Eldridge at tight end and fullback again this fall. And while he won't catch any more passes than he has the last two years, he'll likely lay out as many defenders. That's just fine with the Sooners.

Have you watched much of the Olympics?

Yeah, I have. I've watched (Michael) Phelps win all his races. I watched that swimming relay where we won by, like, two seconds. I watched our guy (Jonathan) Horton in the gymnastics. He was great. He stuck everything.

You usually watch that much?

Oh yeah. I like the Summer Olympics a lot more than the Winter. I love the track.

Is there a sport you only watch because it's the Olympics?

Swimming. That relay the other night was crazy.

Are your teammates tuning in?

We turn it on in the locker room. That's what we're watching right now, in fact. And then at the house I'll watch it with Auston (English) and Ryan (Reynolds).

Is there an Olympic sport you'd like to try?

Some badminton, maybe. I would not try water polo. I don't know how those guys do that, tread water like that the whole time. I'd drown.

Should football be an Olympic sport?

Actually, we were talking about that in the locker room the other day. Someone was like, 'What country would be closest to America if they had it?' Probably not. They're taking away softball because America always wins. I don't think they're going to put football in.

Key dates

Aug. 16: Second scheduled preseason scrimmage, closed to the public and media

Aug. 25: First day of classes

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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