Stoops and OU Players on Texas Tech

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.

Oklahoma travels to Lubbock to play Texas Tech at SBC Jones Stadium on Saturday.

The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Net. Please consult Sooner Gameday Central for complete broadcast options, information for fans attending the game and team comparisons.

OU HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
On the offense's performance against Texas A&M:
“I'm pleased with another good win in our conference. I loved the way we played early and built up a solid lead. We played great offensively into the wind, and we put together several really good drives.

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"I thought that Rhett (Bomar) was very sharp. Early in the game, in his first 11 or 12 passes, he was great. We were very solid in running the ball.

"One of the guys on offense who we recognized as (a) player of the game was Adrian Peterson who played excellent and had some really good runs. We also recognized J.D. Runnels, who again had an excellent game and made some great catches for us on third downs. Juaquin Iglesias was also recognized.”

On the defense's performance against Texas A&M:
“Defensively, I thought we were playing well early on. I thought our pass coverage was very good. We really limited them on passing the football. One of our players of the game was Chijioke Onyenegecha, who covered a really good receiver for most of the game. D.J. Wolfe was also very good. Calvin Thibodeaux had three sacks, so he had a great game. And C.J. Ah You also did well.”

“We didn't do a very good job later on in the game for a number of reasons. Our biggest problem during the game was the option. Some of it was missed tackles, and we weren't in position to make plays. Other times, we didn't read it out very well and didn't have someone in the right position.”

On turnovers against Texas A&M:
“The turnovers were a problem. We had two unforced turnovers where we had a handoff that was misplaced and then a snap that wasn't handled very well. Those were costly, and they can't happen.”

On special teams against Texas A&M:
“I thought our special teams were great. Cody Freeby, who was one of our players of the game, did a really good job punting the ball. Reggie Smith and Allen Patrick were also great.”

On Texas Tech:
“This is another really big game for us. (Tech) has played very well. They're 8-2, and Mike (Leach) has led them through an excellent season.

"Oklahoma State played them in a great way last week and was able to beat them. We recognize that when we go down there, we have to play very sharp.

"On offense, we need to have some balance. On defense, we need to be great at tackling. I think one of the better players in the league is their running back, Taurean Henderson. And we all know that (Cody) Hodges, their quarterback, is also a major factor. We have to be very disciplined on our positions on the ball and in our routes.

"Also, we have to defend the run game and watch the way we blitz. We have to be very precise in our timing.”

On defensive lineman Dusty Dvoracek's status:
“It's another one of those situations in which we have to see how he does through the week. He has a sprain, so we need to see what he can tolerate. It'll just go from day to day to see how much more weight and pressure he can put on it.”

On Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder's retirement:
“I'm really happy for Coach Snyder and pleased for him. I think back and have great respect for all he's done. I feel fortunate of him for a number of reasons. He gave me my first opportunity as a full-time coach. I'm fortunate that I was there for those first seven years. It was such a growing period, and I learned a lot from him. I know I'm a better coach for having that time to help develop that program and be involved with it every day.”

On fullback J.D. Runnels' leadership:
“He's a fantastic leader. He's a model student-athlete. He's very involved in community service, and he's a really strong student. You can always rely on him, and he's a leader whether it's on the field, in the weight room or in the locker room. He's everything you want. He's just a class individual, and he just happens to be a very talented football player.”

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SENIOR FB J.D. RUNNELS
On Texas Tech's fans:
“They are a vicious crowd and we hear it, but it's part of the game and we try to put it past us. Anything that is not on the turf isn't going to help us so we realize they (the fans) are part of the game, but they are 20 feet away and they are not a factor.”

On Tech's offense:
“We (the offense) have to worry about the Tech defense, not the Tech offense. It's not that we don't recognize that their offense is high-powered; it's not that we don't respect their offense, it's nothing about that. It's just that our offense isn't going to go against their offense so we are focusing solely on their defense. Right now they are playing pretty well. Hopefully we will be able to put some points on the board and we are really confident in our offense.”

On bowl games:
“We talk amongst ourselves about it and a lot of guys say which ones would be cool to go to and which ones wouldn't but we realize the only control we have is by winning the next couple of games. It's not something we sit around and say we'd love to go here or we'd love to go there, it's the ordeal of this week and let's finish out. We know good things will happen for us and hopefully after January 1st.”

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SENIOR OL CHRIS CHESTER
On his senior year injuries:
“It all happens for a reason so I just have good faith that it will work out for the best. I should get my cast off my hand in the next couple of weeks, but I don't know when it is all going to heal up.”

On right guard:
“Right guard is pretty good. The way Coach Wilson and our line works, if you know center, you know guard and if you know guard, you know tackle so it all carries over pretty well from one position to another.”

On Tech's stadium and fans:
“To me it seems like their fans are right on top of you, over your head. It kind of reminds me of Oklahoma State where they are right there yelling at you. They have a really good crowd and really good fans that get excited for their team but they can get pretty rowdy too.”

On the offensive line:
“We are coming together pretty well, everyone is learning and getting into the groove of the game. We can still grow, but we have definitely improved from the beginning of the year.”

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SOPHOMORE DB MARCUS WALKER
On losing the big leads:
“I think sometime during the game we lose our focus and our intensity. A lack of focus in college football can be detrimental. It's not because we're young, it's not because we're disadvantaged -- we just lose focus.”

On playing against Tech's offense:
“Basically we're just going to try to hold them and try to defend them the best way we can. Discipline is a key thing in playing an offense like Tech's. They do a lot of things and if one person misses their job, it could lead to a big play.”

On bowls games:
“We aren't really worried about the bowls. We worry about the game we have to play this weekend. We want to go out each week and play our hearts out like it is our last game. In the end, we'll go to whatever bowl game we can as long as we continue to focus on the game of the week and not the bowl game.”

On his health:
“It's coming around. I'm healthy enough to where I can play and play well. I started playing again last weekend and I felt pretty good so I'm coming around.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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