Tulsa World: Mind game will be in OU's plan

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Mind game will be in OU's plan

By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
Published: 12/4/2008 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 12/4/2008 3:21 AM

NORMAN The deciding factor in the Big 12 Conference football championship contest could be the game within the game.

Or, in this case, the head games Oklahoma's defense hopes to play with Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel in Saturday night's title tilt in Kansas City, Mo.

"That's a key in every game for a defense," said OU defensive end Jeremy Beal. "A quarterback is like the head of a snake. If you cut the head off, you're going to have a good chance to win."

OU doesn't plan to go on a head-hunting mission against Daniel. The Sooner defenders just want to get inside the head of the Tigers' senior.

Daniel is the best thing to happen to Mizzou football since former coach Dan Devine arrived in 1958 to restore the Tigers' roar. In three seasons as a starter, Daniel is unquestionably the major reason why Missouri is a player on both the Big 12 and national stages.

But even Heisman Trophy contenders and All-Americans have their faults. In Daniel's case, one of his greatest strengths can also turn into a weakness.

At 6-feet (on a good day) and 225 pounds, Daniel is as cocky as he is stocky. His fiery swagger has allowed Daniel to provide the swift kick in the backside that the underachieving Tigers badly needed.

The problem with an emotional player like Daniel is not letting those emotions boil over. When the versatile Daniel is cocksure and on his game, he can shred a defense with his arm, his feet and his brain. A savvy veteran, he often outthinks defenses while he's destroying them with his passing and deceptive running ability.

"He kind of wears his emotions on his sleeve," Beal said. "He's a very emotional player; that's how he plays."

Beal and his OU teammates demonstrated twice last season what can happen when a defense rattles Daniel's confidence to the point he looses his composure. Nowhere was that more evident than in the 2007 Big 12 Championship game.

Curtis Lofton, OU's All-American middle linebacker, messed with Daniel's mind in the Sooners' 41-31 regular season-win. Lofton harassed and hurried Daniel the entire game.

Lofton was back at his stalking ways two months later in the conference title contest in San Antonio. The Big 12's offensive and defensive players of the year stood face mask-to-face mask taunting each other after Lofton sacked Daniel on third-and-23 and the game tied 14-14 in the third quarter.

"I just told (Daniel) I'd see him again in a little bit," said Lofton, after OU beat the then-No. 1 ranked Tigers 38-17 to become the first Big 12 team to win back-to-back championships.

Lofton kept his word, intercepting a Daniel pass on Mizzou's next possession.

Daniel, who has thrown six interceptions and just one touchdown in three starts against OU, was undoubtedly thrilled when Lofton decided to leave OU after his junior year for the NFL.

While Lofton is now starting in the NFL terrorizing NFL quarterbacks as a rookie starter for the Atlanta Falcons, his former teammates know his secrets. One Sooner who is guaranteed to work on Daniel's mind like Lofton did is safety Nic Harris, who plays with the same emotional attitude as the Tigers' quarterback.

But Beal could also be a factor against Daniel, who is already battling through a disappointing season. While he's passed for 3,880 yards and 34 touchdowns, Daniel's 13 interceptions and losses to Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas ended his Heisman dreams.

A 6-3, 253-pound redshirt sophomore from Carrollton, Texas, Beal tossed himself a coming-out party in his home state in last season's championship game

When injuries depleted OU's depth, Beal started for the second time in his career and had six tackles and a sack. He forced the Tigers to twice settle for field goals when he tossed Daniel for a 10-yard loss and stuffed running back Tony Temple for a 2-yard loss after Missouri had moved to OU's 9-yard line.

"I don't know if I'd call it a coming-out party, but it was a big game that gave me a lot of confidence," Beal said. "It was the game that everything seemed to come together for me."

With OU again hit hard by injuries at defensive end, Beal has started all 12 games and been forced to play almost the entire way while recording 49 tackles and team-high 8.5 sacks. He leads the Big 12 in sacks and tackles (15) for losses.

OU coach Bob Stoops raved about Beal's performance in last week's Bedlam victory. Beal displayed his speed and athleticism as he recorded 6.5 tackles, caused three fumbles and had 1.5 sacks.

Beal knows the pressure Daniel will put on an OU defense that has been ripped all season by the critics. A year after OU ended Mizzou's national-championship run, Daniel and the Tigers would love to return the favor.

"Daniel has a strong arm and he can make plays with his feet by scrambling around and making more time for himself," Beal said. "The D-line and the front seven have to make sure we contain him."

Contain him, and play with his mind. By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist

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pat, Kiefer (12/4/2008 10:02:34 AM)

I can't wait to see the Sooner D Chase Daniels out of the pocket and feed him turf!

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