Listen to a Q&A session with OU coach Bob Stoops from the Big 12 teleconference on Monday.
tulsaworld.com/sportsextra

NORMAN — After Oklahoma's first practice without middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds on Monday, someone asked Brent Venables how long he could go before finding a replacement.

"Oh," the defensive coordinator said with a long breath, "I'll figure it out here in the next couple days."

You don't snap your finger and replace the guy teammates referred to as "the rock" of their defense. It is a task that involves multiple players and schemes.

Venables indicated redshirt freshman Austin Box, junior college transfer Mike Balogun and Brandon Crow, the sophomore who entered the Texas game last Saturday after Reynolds lost his season to a knee injury, were in the middle linebacker mix.

He also said: "There are different packages based on what's on the field, too. Depends on what an offense is giving us, how to match it up."

"We're not going to be real detailed about it," head coach Bob Stoops said. "We'll have a middle linebacker."

There was even speculation that weakside linebacker starter Travis Lewis could move to the middle.

"I don't think so," said the redshirt freshman coming off a 19-tackle effort against Texas. "That would mess me up a little. I'm getting into a groove at Will (the weak side) right now, and to put me at Mike (the middle), that would confuse