Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

By JOHN E. HOOVER, World sports writer
Published: 9/30/2008 2:06 AM
Last Modified: 9/30/2008 3:54 AM

Bouncing back: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said all but one of the offensive linemen who sustained injuries against TCU on Saturday were able to practice Monday. So did tight end Jermaine Gresham, Stoops said.

"They're OK," Stoops said. "They all practiced. (Branndon) Braxton didn't practice, but he's expected to tomorrow."

In addition to Braxton (leg) and Trent Williams (right ankle), Duke Robinson sat out extended periods because of minor knee soreness. Gresham took a hit to the shoulder from teammate Matt Clapp while covering a punt, what offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson termed a "stinger."

Covering kicks: Against TCU, for the sixth time this year, the Sooners gave up big yards on a kickoff return. One reason, Stoops said, is because opponents are getting more opportunities than they did last year, when Garrett Hartley had 29 touchbacks on 104 kickoffs, or 28 percent. Another two dozen or so Hartley kickoffs reached the end zone but still were returned.

So far this year, Matt Moreland has had one touchback in 34 kickoffs, or almost 3 percent, and only five others reached the end zone before being returned.

Last season, opponents averaged 21.7 yards per return. So far this year, they are averaging 24.9.

"It's like anything; the more opportunities they get, eventually, something isn't perfect," Stoops said.

There also is the fact that for three years Allen Patrick, Jacob Gutierrez and Lewis Baker were superb at covering kickoffs and punts. The Sooners need to find special-team standouts to replace them.

"Yeah, that's true," Stoops said. "And it's just finding those guys, getting the experience to those kinds of guys as well, to get up in there and disrupt it more."

Blocking better: While the offensive line was maligned for its lack of push against TCU (OU ran for just 25 yards), Wilson said there was better blocking elsewhere.

"The best part of our run game was our wide receiver play," Wilson said. "Those guys for three weeks in a row have been outstanding."

One setback: Manuel Johnson's holding penalty that wiped out Gresham's 66-yard first-quarter TD catch.

But some questioned whether Johnson held at all.

"Sometimes, maybe you feel a (game official is) influenced because he's hearing a coach yell it and he kind of sees it and agrees," Wilson said. " In my eyes, it was hard to give Manuel a minus." By JOHN E. HOOVER, World sports writer

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