OU Coaches & Players on UCLA Game

NORMAN, Okla. -- OU 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 travel to Los Angeles for the first road game of the season against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

The game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. CT) and will be televised regionally by ABC.

Please consult Sooner Gameday Central for complete broadcast information.

HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
On the team's performance against Tulsa:
"What we wanted to do, as far as establishing a run game, being physical up front and running the football, that part of the game was positive. From there, we still need to continue to develop our passing game and be more successful in what we're doing there.

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"There isn't one area to blame. I think it's every area. At different times, each area has broken down and not been able to execute the way we needed to. As coaches, we have to keep looking at what we're asking them to do. All of us together are still working through that, and that needs to continue to improve."

On the defense's performance against Tulsa:
"Defensively, I thought that there were parts of the game where we really did play well. We started off playing pretty well in our first several series. We gave the offense the ball in good field position a number of times. But we've got to be better in third down areas where we gave up some plays. Some were due to their credit because they made extra plays, but some were due to our breakdowns as well."

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On the special teams' performance against Tulsa:
"I thought the kicking game was solid throughout the day. Cody Freeby and his punts were excellent. He was the special teams player of the week and averaged 50 yards on five kicks. He changed the field position a number of times, which was big. Garrett Hartley was also very good with all his kicks. That part of the day was also very positive."

On safeties:
"Reggie (Smith) continues to make great improvements. We're going to continue giving him more and more snaps as we go. Darien (Williams) had some cramps, so we had to replace him for a little while. Jason Carter came in and did some decent things, too."

On whether Coach Kevin Wilson found the right combination of offensive linemen:
"I believe Coach Wilson did. They have excellent size, and they're still learning and improving as they go. But they played with some attitude and toughness that were needed, and I believe we'll build on that."

On UCLA:
"UCLA is a team that has put up a bunch of points in their first two games. They have a lot of talent and ability. When you look at their roster across the board, you see Maurice Drew who is an excellent running back, a fifth-year quarterback who is throwing the ball well and Marcedes Lewis and a number of excellent receivers who they spread the ball around to. Again, they are a very talented team, defensively as well. They are structurally similar to what we do defensively. They have a lot of good people running around on defense and on their special teams. They have the No. 1 return man in the nation right now. They are a very solid team, so we need to make some improvements as we go through the week. But we look forward to going out there and competing against UCLA."

On the team's confidence:
"It's building. I can't say that we're just sky high, but our guys also know that we're doing the right things. And as long as we continue working hard, there's no reason we can't continue to make improvements as we go through the year. We need to make something of this week."

On whether he'll play Paul Thompson if the offense continues to struggle:
"It depends on the reasons for the struggle. We're still going to continue to develop Paul and have him ready. In the end, that can't be determined without knowing the issues."

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SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN CHRIS CHESTER
On the Tulsa game:
"I thought we played really hard and I liked the attitude we brought to the game. I feel very confident about that."

On the offensive line:
"The way Coach Wilson prepares you, if you know one position then you probably know the other in our preparation. We are beginning to gel; we're beginning to have a better grasp of what we need to do and not just knowing what to do, but how to do it."

On the bad publicity towards the offensive line:
"We take this all in stride as a team because we know that if there is one thing wrong with the offense then we all play a part in it. We know that we all have our part to play in order for everything to work."

On the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl:
"I think this is a big game because first of all, we're going to the Rose Bowl which has a great tradition and a real exciting atmosphere to play in. It's one of the staples in college football. It's a big game in that respect but I also think it's a big game for us because we have a lot of positive momentum coming from last week's game and we are making a lot of huge strides. We're also excited for it and ready to step up to the plate and take the challenge."

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SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE BACK DARIEN WILLIAMS
On giving up so many third-down conversions:
"You can't be too frustrated because I am part of the defense and our job is to get off the field and get the ball in the offense's hands."

On his biggest concern:
"It's not one aspect that concerns me the most. What concerns me the most is us doing our job, that's where we need to be. If we do that then I think we will be great."

On the UCLA game:
"I feel like every game is a big game but yes, this is a big game because we are going into their house. These are the games you play for and the ones you look forward to. These teams are going to compete, they have averaged more than 50 points and these are the kinds of games that a defensive player like myself likes to go in and play and dominate."

On the environment in the Rose Bowl:
"I am very much looking forward to the hostile environment. It is a challenge and we are here to compete and we have to go out there and compete with UCLA because it is their house. I feel that is something that all 11 of us and the whole defense is looking forward to doing."

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SENIOR RUNNING BACK KEJUAN JONES
On UCLA's defense:
"UCLA has a great defense. They are led by their two great linebackers who have been there for a while and they have a great defensive line so they are going to be ready to play. It is going to be a big game for us, knowing that we have been struggling so far this year. We have a chance to get our name back out there and hopefully we'll come out with a big win.

On being the underdog:
"Being the underdog is helping a little this year because people know we aren't going to come out and blow teams out every game. We know that we have to play four quarters, so it kind of feels good to be the underdog and for people to not think we are going to do anything this year. To be able to come out and sneak up on teams now is going to be pretty exciting."

On the quarterback situation:
"We know it is going to take time because he (Rhett Bomar) is a freshman and it's a big step going from high school to college and being a starting quarterback. We are going to be behind him and Paul (Thompson) as the season goes along."

On the run game:
"Basically we are trying to find our identity and with the loss to TCU, we didn't have anything. To be able to establish something against Tulsa and just be a running game was something to build on. Going into this upcoming game against UCLA, we know we have to have a passing game also. We are trying to establish our run game and then whatever happens after that is just going to happen. Whatever is working for us in the game is what we are going to continue to do."

On the offensive line:
"The offensive line is still learning but they are working hard and that is the key. They know they have a group of guys, skill wise, that are going to go out there and make the plays. As skilled people we have to keep encouraging them. We know they are young with their experience but they are real talented and are going to come along."

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