Sooners Meet Media to Discuss Baylor

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma coaches and players met with the media on Tuesday at the weekly football press conference at the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club inside Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.

The Sooners host the Baylor Bears for homecoming on Saturday at Owen Field. The game will mark the 15th meeting between the programs with OU holding a 14-0 series record.

The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Net. Please consult Sooner Gameday Central for complete broadcast information.

OU HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
On the defense against Kansas:
"I was very pleased. Defensively, I thought the guys were very solid throughout the entire night in everything we were doing. We started off a little off on tackling but improved as we went. As far as our positioning on the ball, we had guys very physical up front. The secondary really covered well and came up with some turnovers that were key."

Oct. 18 Photo Gallery | Sooner Gameday Central | Game Notes

"There were several guys who played really well and stood out for us. Rufus Alexander had a great number of tackles and had that interception down on the goal line. Clint Ingram was kind of like a ball magnet and always had his hands up on the football.

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"Then there was D.J. Wolfe with the early touchdown interception, and he was really good the entire night. Dusty Dvoracek had an excellent day. C.J. Ah You and Calvin Thibodeaux really played well up front as well."

On the offense against Kansas:
"Offensively, we started off slow. That was very obvious. We had very good field position a number of times. We had some opportunities for points. With some of our execution offensively and then the missed field goal, it made it more difficult. We had an opportunity to get some lead there, and we missed some field goals that we were capable of making. So that kind of magnified some of our offensive problems.

"We settled down in the second half and really moved the football. Passing, running and just our overall execution was much better, and things loosened up once we started completing some throws. We started protecting the quarterback, and things started to open up.

"It was good to see guys like Malcolm Kelly make some big plays that they are capable of. Rhett (Bomar) threw some really nice balls as you watch through the entire second half. We're making improvements there.

"I thought some guys on our offensive line played well. Brett Rayl stepped in and really did an excellent job on the offensive line. Also, Kelvin Chaisson played well up there. We had some young guys, like Jon Cooper, who were in there a good number of snaps and who really fought hard and played really well.

"Kejuan Jones and Donta Hickson together were really good. I think the two of them combined for about 110 yards rushing. The defensive front for KU hadn't allowed that for many people, so it was good to see those guys come in and be solid."

On Baylor:
"It's good to be back home again and play here at our home stadium. At 4-2, everyone realizes how greatly improved they are. They are a very good football team when you watch them. Offensively and defensively, all of their schemes are very sound and disciplined.

"I have thought for a number of years that Coach Morriss and his staff have done an excellent job in that they really make you work, and they're very structured in everything they do. They have an excellent receiving corps that is making a bunch of plays. They have a solid running back in (Paul) Mosley and quarterback in (Shawn) Bell.

"Defensively, they have always been very good. They make you work for everything you get, and they have a good run-pass. As you look at their scores through the year, they've held people down. They have a great punter in (Daniel) Sepulveda. He continues to be awfully good.

"Again, we're working hard this week to build and establish some consistency. We realize we need to improve to be able to go out and win again this week, so that's what we're going to try to do."

On whether Adrian Peterson will play against Baylor:
"We'll see how the week goes. We're a little frustrated, as is he, over what the right answer is. We'll probably determine that on Thursday. We'll try to get him some light work today and tomorrow and just see.

"It's been frustrating because we're trying to decide whether we want to sit him, allow him to heal and try to get what we can by the end of the year, or do we keep trying to push through? I'm not sure if anyone has the perfect answer for that. Our doctors and trainers are working with him and us to see what they feel is best."

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OU FRESHMAN WR MALCOLM KELLY
On the extra work of wide receivers:
"After we get done catching all those balls in practice, we go over to the jug machine, catch balls over there, then we run routes with Coach Wyatt. It's an ongoing process, he wants us to be the great receiver we have the capability of being, and that is what he pushes us to do."

On the phone calls he received after the KU game:
"A lot of people called me and told me it was about time I started doing my thing. They told me to keep my head on straight and keep doing what I know I can do and it will all start coming together for me."

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OU JUNIOR LB RUFUS ALEXANDER
On the defense:
"The defense has the most experience right now. The coaches expect us not to let anyone score and give our offense a chance to put some points up on the board so we come out with a win. We have always had that pressure of not letting another team score. We, as the defense, have high expectations; we don't want to let anyone score. That is our goal in every game we go into."

On Baylor:
"They are a talented team. They have a strong defense, strong offense, good quarterback and a strong runner. They are going to come up here and compete. They went to Iowa State and they won a good game out there. They played a good game against Nebraska. Baylor is going to come in here expecting to win and it will be a good game."

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