Tulsa World: OU cornerback has momentum

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OU cornerback has momentum
After stifling Texas Tech's star receiver, Franks' next challenge is OSU's Dez Bryant.

KEY PLAYER
Dominique Franks: Union grad played a key role for the Sooners against Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/29/2008 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/29/2008 3:07 AM

After stifling Texas Tech's star receiver, Franks' next challenge is OSU's Dez Bryant.

STILLWATER — Two sneaky-good plays at Kansas State, a stealthy interception and touchdown against Nebraska and a wily, acrobatic fumble return for a TD at Texas A&M are among Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks' highlights in 2008.

But nothing tops Franks' performance last week against Texas Tech and the Red Raiders' heretofore indomitable Michael Crabtree.

Crabtree has been college football's most electrifying wide receiver for the past two years, but with Franks in front of him, he had just one catch for 15 yards.

"It was great," Franks said. "Exhausting. I had a hard time getting off the field because I laid it all out there knowing that that guy is one of the premier receivers in the nation. I knew I had my hands full whenever he lined up on my side."

OU's first-year starter at the field cornerback spot — he lines up to the wide side of the field when the ball is on the hashmark — is a sophomore from Union. The Sooners' other first-year starter, Brian Jackson, a junior from DeSoto, Texas, plays the boundary, or short side, and he only allowed Crabtree three short catches.

Their challenge continues again Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium when No. 3-ranked Oklahoma visits No. 11 Oklahoma State. OSU's Dez Bryant has 68 catches and is fourth nationally with 111.9 yards per game.

"He's more of a deep-ball threat (than Crabtree)," Franks

said. " He's a big, physical guy, and he's great when the ball is up in the air. We've got to make sure we get a body on him and contest him on the deep balls."

Crabtree came into last week's game ranked fifth nationally with 7.8 catches per game and seventh with 101.0 receiving yards per game. But he finished with six catches, a season-low 62 yards and was held out of the end zone for the first time all year. Another six passes went his way but fell incomplete. He lined up wide to Franks' side about half the time, and it was a mismatch.

"I didn't want to be the guy that was on 'SportsCenter' giving him a big catch or anything like that," Franks said. "So I took it personal whenever he came to my side to break up every pass that I can, or if he catches it, make sure he don't get any yards after the catch."

Franks did break up two passes. But isn't that the idea against every opponent?

"Yeah," Franks said, "but it was a little bit different with Crabtree coming to town."

Franks and Jackson have elevated OU's cornerback play. Some of it can be traced back to head coach Bob Stoops' taking over the day-to-day coaching of the position. But most of it falls on the players themselves.

"Dom continues to play well," Stoops said. "He's made really good improvement through the year and has been a really solid player. We've been pleased; he has really done well. He and Brian have been really consistent and have made a lot of plays."

Franks is playing corner at a level not seen at Oklahoma since All-American and Thorpe and Nagurski winner Derrick Strait prowled the secondary.

"I think it would be fair that his instincts are very similar to Derrick's, and his playmaking ability," said defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "Obviously they're utilized physically in different ways. But I do feel that Dom has the same feel for the game that Derrick did."

Franks credits four hours of film study every day — maybe more.

"We get to take home tape and I get extra film study at home," he said. "When I get bored, or I can't sleep, I can pop it in and just watch it."

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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