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Oklahoma shuffles its linebackers
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 12/31/2008  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 12/31/2008  2:34 AM

 NORMAN — Oklahoma will have a plan at middle linebacker against Florida.

But whether that plan is Austin Box, Mike Balogun, a combination of both — or neither — won't be known until much closer to kickoff of its Jan. 8 national championship showdown in Miami, Fla.

Box, a redshirt freshman who stepped into the lineup in the eighth week of the season but went down with a knee sprain in the regular-season finale, is scheduled to return to practice on Wednesday.

Balogun, a junior who replaced Box for spot duty in the Big 12 championship game against Missouri, has "practiced really, really well (and) been very consistent," OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said Tuesday night.

In OU's last game, weakside starter Travis Lewis started at middle linebacker, and strong safety Nic Harris started at weakside, with Quinton Carter starting at safety for Harris. That same configuration could happen against Florida, too.

"Mike continues to make some improvement and is doing well with the extra snaps," said head coach Bob Stoops. "It's good to have Mike ready to go, and everyone else. It's no different than how we played the Big 12 championship game."

Said Venables, "I feel good about him in there. I really believe we'll have two guys that are ready to play."

Venables said he has no expectations about Box's return, "outside of they're releasing him to play. He should have no limitations. Now it's a matter of how well he picks things up. He has enough time. But again, it's not like it's a veteran guy coming back. That's a big difference. Technique is everything in a game like this, where the margin for error isn't much.

Junior achievement: Stoops declined to identify which underclassmen have requested a non-binding evaluation from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, other than to say "Virtually all of them, but we're not going to answer any questions on that until after the bowl game."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week reportedly said discussion of an impending 2010 cap on rookie salaries was unfounded until at least 2011. Goodell said in an ESPN.com story that he had spoken with USC coach Pete Carroll and Florida's Urban Meyer in particular about concerns their respective junior quarterbacks might have had about the cap. Stoops said he wrote Goodell a letter "and got something back," and was further comforted by Goodell's position.

"There's so much false reporting out there that people say this and that that don't know," Stoops said.

Davis back: Defensive end Alan Davis "has been practicing," Stoops said, and will be expected to return to the four-man rotation with Frank Alexander, Jeremy Beal and Auston English. Davis injured his knee Nov. 8 and missed OU's last three games.

Granger report: Stoops said he doesn't expect back surgery for junior defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger to be career-threatening. Granger will miss the national title game, but is expecting to resume his career next season.

"There's always that chance, but we're optimistic in that he's made great improvements already," Stoops said. "I think it's something that's going to help him. They didn't need to be as extensive as they thought they were going to have to be when they did it, so there are a lot of positive signs that it won't be. But you never know that it won't be career-ending."



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

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5 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Willard_Roker, (12/31/2008 11:20:40 AM)
Our defense has been in constant decline since Mike Stoops left and Venables took over. If we loose this bowl game you can bet it will be because of our defense and it will be time for Venables to go the way of Chuck "third and" Long.
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ncross11, (12/31/2008 4:22:41 PM)
You're and idiot
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Democrat, Tulsa County (12/31/2008 4:42:09 PM)
Hey Willard, long time.

Do you remember telling me that McCain would win your home state of Nevada? How do you like them apples?

I have to agree with ncross11 (although I won't be quite as unfriendly). You really don't know what you are talking about. Venables is one of the best defensive coaches in college football.

I expect that the team will play well next week and the game won't be decided until the final minutes.

Boomer Sooner!
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B_Tho, Guam (1/1/2009 12:24:09 AM)
I would have to agree with Willard on this one. Venables is a good coach, but our defense hasn't been the same, starting with the first game after Mike Stoops left (Darren Sproles ring a bell). Hopefully he puts together a solid game plan against the Gators. Go Sooners
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Col Don Martin, Loudon (1/1/2009 9:56:01 AM)
Mike Gundy letting all the lame players remain on the field and running the same plays time after time was totally unconscionablle, particularly when losing the game began manifesting itself to the obvious degree even recognizable tp all football neophytes. If OSU can find a way to lose, Mike will implement it.
 

 
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