OU Coach & Player Quotes on A&M

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, receiver Mark Bradley and linebacker Lance Mitchell met with the press corps at the weekly media luncheon on Tuesday afternoon in Norman.

No. 2 Oklahoma (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) travels to College Station on Saturday to face No. 22 Texas A&M (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) at Kyle Field. The game will kick at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised by ABC Sports.

Head Coach Bob Stoops
On Oklahoma State:
"I'm proud of our players and the way they competed through four quarters and finished out an excellent game. You think through that game and the way we played in the first half was excellent football, outside of two critical errors that gave them 14 points. Offensively, Jason White and Mark Bradley with three touchdowns were some big, big plays to retake the lead. It made a big difference."

Photos | Sooner Gameday Central: Texas A&M | Game Notes

"Defensively, we played an outstanding first half. It was a well-played first half except for giving up 14 points away from home. That was another thing we overcame. I liked the resolve on the sideline and our guys were angry more than anything. We bounced back to take the lead 21-14 at halftime."

"In the second half, we came out running the ball so well. Adrian Peterson had another exceptional day. Those guys in front of him are also really playing well. Wes Sims, Davin Joseph, Vince Carter and Jammal Brown are having exceptional play. J.D. Runnels and Bubba Moses were exceptional at blocking and our receivers helped out some with those long runs. Anytime you run the ball for over 300 yards, you increase your opportunity to win big time. That was a big factor in winning that game."

"Defensively, we gave up some big plays throwing the football. Some were due to excellent play on Oklahoma State's part and some I would like to think we could have been in better position as well and make a play. We also felt all along that handling their run game would be the biggest factor. We did that in a good way. The guys came up with some stops at the end of the game when we had to have them. Defensively, Jonathan Jackson and Lance Mitchell were players of the game."

On the kicking game:
"Outside of the two critical mistakes, the return punt for a touchdown after Blake Ferguson set it up by pinning the ball on their five yard line. He reacted back and really punted the ball great in the second half. The rest of it was solid. Trey DiCarlo was also recognized as player of the game. He kicked well and made a critical field goal. We protected him better which has been a problem in the past."

On the win:
"Overall, it was a good win. It was another important game in the Big 12 South that put us another step stronger in the Big 12 South race. To come out with a win was definitely pleasing. It sets up our next game to be even more important."

On Texas A&M
"Texas A&M is still in position for the Big 12 South race. This is another one of those games that will make a difference in the Big 12 South and the Big 12 Championship game. We see it as that. They are a team much improved from a year ago. Six straight wins up until last week game so we see that as an excellent team. Quarterback Reggie McNeal is one of the better players in this conference. He's the big key to them offensively with the run and pass. It will be a big challenge to go down there and play well and put ourselves in another step closer to the Big 12 South championship."

On Texas A&M Quarterback Reggie McNeal:
"He's played well throughout the year. Everything goes through him from run game to passing game. We have to do an excellent job defending him."

On McNeal maturing over the last two years:
"In his third year he just seems to be a little bit more comfortable. It's probably more fair to compare it to last year because they had a whole new staff last year. He's probably just more comfortable in what they're doing and how they want their offense run."

On Texas A&M's improvement:
"There are some different players out there, but I'd probably say they're more comfortable in what they're doing. They're a year further along in their systems is probably the biggest difference. There's confidence in what they're doing"

On the offensive line:
"They're the best line that we've had. It's not even close to this point."

Linebacker Lance Mitchell
On OSU quarterback Donovan Woods...
"I thought we handled him pretty well, but the situations he beat us deep on were situations that you expect the deep ball on. I don't think we took his abilities for granted. It was third and ten and third and 13 every time, so we were expecting the deep ball."

On playing at A&M...
"We've played in stadiums where the fans are a lot closer, but at Kyle Field the stands are kind of pushed back on the other side of the track, so their fans can't really be on top of you like they were last week (at Stillwater). The last time we played at College Station we lost, so we really want to focus on that loss rather than the blowout at home from last year."

Any similarities between Reggie McNeal and Vince Young?
"No, they're a lot different. McNeal is a much better passer and he is real elusive. A&M's offense really revolves around McNeal. Texas uses Cedric Benson a lot more in their run game whereas A&M uses McNeal in their run game a little more."

On his reaction to A&M's overtime loss to Baylor...
"I was extremely surprised. Everyone thinks that Baylor isn't that good, but as we watched them on tape, they really did look pretty good."

On A&M utilizing the long ball in the same manner as OSU...
"As we look at it, we expect them to come in and try and beat us deep. We just have to be ready for it."

Wide Receiver Mark Bradley
On his versatility...
"Whatever Coach needs me to play is where I will play."

If he had his choice between offense and defense...
"I think I'm doing well at receiver right now, and I think it would be hard for me at this point to get back to playing cornerback. I'm happy where I am right now and I think the defense is playing well."

On his experience at cornerback helping as a receiver...
"It helped when I first got here with learning coverages and it helped me with knowing what the secondary was going to do.

On playing physical...
"You have to have a mentality of being physical here. Looking back through history at players like Ricky Dixon, you just have to play physical and let your presence be known."

On facing challenges during the regular season...
"I think it's going to help us in the long run. By getting up on teams so early last year we didn't really have to face too much adversity or struggle. I definitely think it will help in the end."

On his father and former OU player, Danny Bradley...
"It's a tremendous blessing to have a Dad that has come through this program and also gone on to the NFL. He's really helped me a lot in college ball. Everyday after the game he tells me what I need to work on, which is basically the same thing that the coaches tell me, but once you hear it constantly, over and over, sooner or later its going to start to sink in."

On A&M's defense...
"They're going to be physical. I think they'll bring different disguises in their secondary and just let their presence be known out there on the field."

Free safety Brodney Pool
On the criticizing of OU's secondary against OSU...
"I'm my greatest critic, so I don't really listen to what other people have to say. People may get upset, but the guys that I sit with in the room before the game know that its up to us to get it done and I'm pretty sure that we'll do that. We won the game and that's all I'm concerned about"

"If the quarterback makes a perfect throw it's pretty tough to defend. People that play football know how hard it is to play in the secondary. I think its one of the hardest jobs on the field."

"I'm going to get better week in and week out regardless of what people say. I'm only human and I can only do so much, but we will learn from that game."

"I remember Woods caught one on his fingertips and another with one hand -- you just can't do anything about that."

On Woods almost catching the last long ball towards the end of the game...
"Well -- almost doesn't count. He didn't catch the ball so it doesn't really matter."

On A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal and the offense...
"He's a great quarterback. He can run. He can pass. I think his strength is his passing game. I saw him in high school and he is a fast guy. He's one of those guys that can sit back there and throw the ball, so it's going to be a challenge for us. I'm pretty sure we'll be ready for it."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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