OU to Counter LSU Blitz?

Oklahoma has all but begged LSU to take shots at its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

The Tigers are sure to oblige.

The lasting images of last month's Big 12 title game are of Oklahoma quarterback Jason White taking hit after hit, then slowly getting up and wobbling back to the huddle.

Should LSU be able to duplicate Kansas State's defensive effort against the Sooners, the crystal football-topped Bowl Championship Series trophy likely will remain in Louisiana.

Sooner Sugar Bowl Central

``(Protecting Jason) is very important,'' Oklahoma tailback Renaldo Works said. ``If they're hitting Jason and Jason is on his butt the majority of the day, then we'll have a long day.''

Kansas State forced White to make a season-high 50 pass attempts and knocked him down nearly as many times, holding Oklahoma more than 41 points below its average in a 35-7 romp.

The Wildcats' approach was particularly impressive to LSU.

``I think just the way (Kansas State) affected the quarterback,'' LSU defensive end Marcus Spears said. ``They affected the quarterback the whole game.''

The Tigers' defense, tops nationally in scoring defense and second overall behind Oklahoma, relies on an active line led by All-American Chad Lavalais and a blitzing scheme that has overwhelmed opposing quarterbacks all season long.

White, forced to become a pocket passer after knee injuries the past two seasons, makes an inviting -- and immobile -- target.

``They're going to blitz in warmups,'' cracked Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma's offensive line coach and running game coordinator.

Why not? The Sooners' inability to keep White upright down the stretch was the biggest chink in their armor.

White and the Sooners looked so confused by K-State's pass rush that voters in the AP poll dropped them to No. 3 behind USC and LSU. Oklahoma remained No. 1 in the BCS standings, much to the dismay of BCS critics.

After USC's dominating win over No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, the top-ranked Trojans are all but assured a piece of the national title.

Oklahoma All-America defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who said he didn't watch the game, offered a mostly sarcastic salute to the Trojans.

``Good. They won the Rose Bowl,'' Harris said. ``They can be No. 1 as long as we can be national champs.''

The Sooners will need lots of improvement from their offensive line to keep the BCS dispute going a little longer.

White was sacked 11 times in the final three games of the season, including three in the stunning loss to Kansas State.

In that game, White threw two interceptions and was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season. He'd thrown at least two touchdowns in the previous 12 games.

``I got rattled a bit,'' White acknowledged. ``But you go into every game expecting to take a lot of shots.''

Regardless, Oklahoma is eagerly anticipating LSU's blitz-at-all-costs attack.

Such a scheme means slippery second-team All-America receiver Mark Clayton and several other talented teammates will draw man-to-man coverage, a matchup that usually has worked in Oklahoma's favor.

``You've got to be smart about it,'' Wilson said. ``If you live by the sword, you die by the sword. We're not going out there with a bunch of non-athletes.''

Besides, the Sooners probably won't face a tougher defense than the one they've faced in practice this season.

``I can only think of one blitz LSU does that our defense doesn't,'' center Vince Carter said. ``Going through practice all year against our defense has helped a lot.''

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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