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OU football: Into the Hurricane
Landry Jones faces his first road test against Miami on Saturday

STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/3/2009  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 10/5/2009  12:31 PM

 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Landry Jones is in good company. Sort of.

When Oklahoma's freshman quarterback steps onto the new sod at Land Shark Stadium for Saturday's 7 p.m. showdown with No. 17-ranked Miami, it'll be his first career start on the road.

The No. 8-ranked Sooners are a seven-point favorite, but if OU prevails, Jones will break a recent string of Sooner QBs who were unsuccessful in their first road test.

Sam Bradford? Technically, his first road game in 2007 was at Tulsa. Realistically, it was the next week at Colorado. That meltdown still stands as Bradford's worst game, a 27-24 defeat in which Bradford completed 9-of-18 passes for 112 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Malcolm Kelly never even got a pass thrown his way.

Paul Thompson? Blame botched replays by Pac-10 refs if you must for OU's 34-33 defeat at Oregon in 2006, but in four ill-fated trips inside the red zone, Thompson had just two completions and was sacked twice. All four trips resulted in field goals, and just one TD would have rendered bad officiating moot. Thompson finished 13-of-23 for 174 yards with one TD and no interceptions.

Rhett Bomar? In his first road start of 2005, a 41-24 loss at UCLA, Bomar — having finished the second half against Tulsa the previous week without a pass attempt — threw the ball nicely, going 20-of-29 for 241 yards with no TDs and no picks. But he was sacked three times and fumbled four times. It wouldn't be the last time Bomar lost his grip on things.

Jason White (2003 at Alabama), Nate Hybl (2001 at Air Force) and Josh Heupel (1999 at Louisville, with school-records of 429 yards and five TDs) each won their road debuts.

Winning a nonconference game on the road isn't easy, particularly when the host is ranked. During Bob Stoops' 10-year tenure, the Sooners have played just one such team: Oregon in 2006. Counting bowl games, Stoops' teams are 3-7 — with five consecutive losses — against ranked nonconference opponents away from Norman.

"You go on the road, I think it takes a different mind-set," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "You're not as familiar. You're not as comfortable with your surroundings. And you don't have everything going your way. The audience isn't quiet for your offense and loud for your defense. It's vice-versa. And so forth."

It's most demanding on a quarterback, and especially so for one who's still either learning the game, doesn't have a firm grasp of the offense, or has yet to win the complete confidence of his teammates.

Jones looked uncomfortable at best when he replaced Sam Bradford for the second half against BYU. He made a few plays, but not enough as the Sooners lost 14-13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Jones was fine in helming nearly effortless victories over Idaho State and Tulsa. But those games were under the warm embrace of 85,000 Sooner fans. And the margin by which OU won — 109-0 combined — was as much fueled by the Sooners' unrelenting defense as it was by anything Jones did, including his school-record six TD throws against TU.

Only on Thursday of this week was Jones determined the starter as Bradford continues to mend his separated shoulder. Saturday's return to South Florida — site of last season's national championship defeat to Florida — will be an entirely different experience for Jones than his first two starts.

Miami's defense ranks 50th nationally overall, 86th against the run and 35th in pass defense, so Jones should have some opportunities. But the young Hurricanes — many of whom played in OU's 51-13 victory in Norman two years ago — are stocked with blue-chip talent under third-year coach Randy Shannon.

Stoops and OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson each said this week that whatever degree of success Oklahoma's quarterback has at Miami will be more a product of the players around him — mostly an offensive line still under construction, a receiving corps still looking for volunteers and a handful of others who would certainly like to limit negative plays and produce a few highlights.

"We need balance, take care of the ball, take care of the (quarterback) and attack 'em defensively," Wilson said. "If they get loaded up (to stop the run), we've got to throw, we've got to protect, we've got to make one-on-one plays. We're at our best when we have some balance going."

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

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JR, (10/3/2009 7:40:12 AM)
Do the best you can...Sooners!!
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TexaSooner, Houston (10/3/2009 11:14:28 AM)
OK Kevin Wilson we have the supporting cast. Let's see your magnificent game plan. It all about the game plan. This is not a Bowl game we should prevail.
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Norm, (10/3/2009 12:28:48 PM)
I know he didn't "start" - but wasn't Jamelle Holieway's first time helming the OU offense against Miami after Aikman broke his ankle?
Report Comment
smokeythebear, Tulsa (10/3/2009 6:22:33 PM)
Blow this game like we know you can Stoops.
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PhoenixIX, Jenks (10/3/2009 6:28:05 PM)
Smokey,

Good Comment!
 

 
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