Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables (right) saysthe team may operate its linebacking corps by committee possiblyuntil the middle of the season. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG World sports writer
Published: 8/27/2008 3:25 AM
Last Modified: 8/27/2008 3:28 AM

Linebacker by committee?: Ryan Reynolds, Keenan Clayton and Mike Balogun are penciled in as Oklahoma’s starters Saturday night against Chattanooga. There are only seven career starts (all Reynolds’) at the position, leaving media to ask Bob Stoops about the group at the coach’s first press conference of the season Tuesday.

“I think they’re doing well,” he said. “I think they’re working and performing to the levels we’re used to. I expect them to get better as the year goes with the experience they’re going to gain. But I think they all have come on.”

Still, it is not enough for defensive coordinator/linebacker coach Brent Venables to feel comfortable with a set group just yet.

“I really believe it will be somewhat of a committee, possibly until midway through the season, maybe even through the season,” he said Tuesday. “That may not be a bad thing. We’ll just kind of see how it goes.

“I like the group of players. I like the group of young men. They’ve worked extremely hard at doing what’s required. None of them have to be Superman, but they all need to be solid. They need to be consistent. They need to be physical. They need to be sure of themselves. The more we do it, the more sure and consistent they’ll be.”

Venables includes Lamont Robinson, Brandon Crow, J.R. Bryant and Travis Lewis in the mix. Austin Box, who appeared en route to starting at weakside linebacker before injuring his knee, is expected to return next week against

Cincinnati.

Roll call: Box and safety Quinton Carter are both out this weekend with torn knee cartilage. Outside of that, expect a few more holes in the Sooners’ lineup Saturday.

“I’m not much for announcing suspensions, because then they get their pictures in the paper and everybody talks about that,” Stoops said. “Like everybody, there will be some guys that for various reasons, from academics to many other issues, that we may hold out. We’ll see when we get to the game.”

The most public oTseason transgression was Phil Loadholt’s arrest for suspicion of DUI in late June. He is listed as the starter at left tackle.

Murray ready to run: Tailbac k DeMarco Murray launched his OU career with five touchdowns on opening day 2007 against North Texas. One year and one knee surgery later, the Sooners expect a similar burst in their ’08 opener Saturday night.

“He looks really good, like he always does,” Stoops said Tuesday. “I’m anxious to see him out there in live action. We’ve limited the number of scrimmage reps he’s had. But he’s had some and has looked strong and powerful.”

On the subject of his most recent preseason scrimmage Aug. 18, Murray said: “I thought I could have done much better, as far as speed and stuT like that. I felt I was a little slower because that was my first major scrimmage.

I thought I could have done a lot better blocking wise. I had a couple missed assignments in there. But I’m getting back in the groove.”

Meanwhile, expect more division of labor among OU running backs.

“I don’t believe it is (Murray’s) style, to tote it like Adrian (Peterson), 30-35 times a game and pound it inside,” Stoops said.

“They’re just diTerent styles in the way they run. But I think he’ll be advantaged by the quality of back Chris Brown is. I think the two of them really complement each other in a great, great way.”

Tulsans kickin’ it: Stoops said Matt Moreland, a walk-on redshirt freshman from Bishop Kelley, has won the kickoff job.

Jimmy Stevens will handle field goals, although it is possible the Sooners will use Moreland or Union freshman Tress Way for longer kicks. Or Way may redshirt.

“Tress Way is doing a great job punting and kicking and is going to be really good for us,” Stoops said. “Whether we use him . . . I don’t know if it would be right to use his year.”

By GUERIN EMIG World sports writer

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