Stoops and Players on Washington

NORMAN, Okla. -- Head coach Bob Stoops, senior quarterback Paul Thompson and select OU players met with the media at the weekly press conference Tuesday.

The Sooners opened the 2006 season with a 24-17 win against UAB at Owen Field on Sept. 2. Oklahoma hosts the Washington Huskies of the Pac-10 on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Visit Sooner Gameday Central for complete coverage of the game. ABC has the regional telecast. Radio is available on Sooner Network affiliates, Sirius Satellite and via the internet at Yahoo.

The O-Zone will webcast pre- and post-game events live to its members. Live stats are available during the game at SoonerSports.com.

2006 Sooner Gameday Central - OU vs. Washington

HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
Opening statement:
“It was good to open up with a win here at home. It was good to play well in a lot of areas and it was good to see the areas that we need to improve in and work hard this week to make those improvements. Hopefully we learned a lot from this last week's game and we play better this week.”

On Paul Thompson:
“He was 6-for-8 in his first outing. The way he began the game was really good and he'll only get better. Some of the throws that were off just a little bit -- he can make those throws. He'll get better the more experience he gets out there.”

“It was very satisfying (to see him play well). I guess for me I can't say that it was unexpected. I am not a guy that sits here and says things that I don't believe, and I believe he will play well and continue to get better as we go through the year and the more comfortable he becomes. That should only get better and better as he plays, as well as having better receivers.

"I thought the other night the receivers could have helped him more. We had a drop in the end zone that was right in somebody's chest. A couple other plays, if they run a correct route and come back to the football, he is in a better position. Those guys need to play better. I was pleased for him and I am sure that each week he will become more and more relaxed and confident with what he is doing. He is a good football player.”

On the offensive performance:
“Offensively, I was pleased overall with our execution. Paul Thompson, first time out this year, I thought did a really nice job. I was very pleased with his decisions. He had two interceptions, but there was one overthrow and it was really the only poorly thrown ball. The other he was trying to squeeze in while getting rushed.

"His decisions of where he went with the ball were really good. His checks and management at the line of scrimmage and his presence in the huddle were great. Overall, it was just a clean line of scrimmage.

“I thought our offensive line for the most part was pretty decent. Several guys up there, Chris Messner and Brandon Braxton, really played well. Matt Clapp played very well at fullback and the tight ends did a really nice job. Joe Jon Finley was the offensive player of the game. Adrian Peterson was just sensational with his big plays and toughness in running.”

On the defensive performance:
“Defense was the area I was most disappointed in. I'm disappointed in taking care of some basic fundamental plays -- basic zone read, quarterback keep that everyone runs for the last two or three years. Nothing scientific about it. We weren't very disciplined in handling it. We'll work that hard. We can overcome that.

“Tackling was poor and that is something we've got to continue to work on. Hopefully the more we play, the better we'll be at it. There are just some fundamental discipline areas that I think we can be better at and tackling is one in particular.

On the special teams' performance:
“Our kicking game was very good. Garrett Hartley was very good. Punters averaged 40 yards but I think that's going to pick up the more comfortable Michael Cohen gets back there.

“The return game was really exciting. Juaquin Iglesias had over 30 yards of kickoff returns and Reggie Smith's punt returns were exciting. He was close to breaking some and I think that part of our game will continue to improve as well.

On the defensive secondary:
Overall they were decent. I was displeased with a couple of plays, one bust in our coverage. They need to communicate better. You can't have one bust. I still think overall we can tackle better, but not just the secondary. I think overall as a defensive team we need to tackle better, but they (secondary) are a part of it.

On Washington:
“I'm looking forward to playing a very good and exciting Washington team this week -- a team with a great tradition and history. We talked to our players about the 1985 game when they beat us in the Orange Bowl. They were national champions in 1991. They are a prideful, strong program with a strong tradition. It's Tyrone Willingham's second year and they are reviving that.

"They have an excellent quarterback who is a very exciting athlete. He's one of the best you'll see as far as his ability to pass and his ability to run. They are a good, solid team on both sides of the ball. We recognize that this is another big challenge and we need to have ourselves ready to play a really good game here at home this Saturday.”

On Washington's offense:
Offensively, they give you a little bit of both, kind of like we do. They will spread it out and give you some shotgun, basic shotgun plays and passes that you see from a lot of people. Then they will get in the I-formation. They had two running backs last week, James and Rankin, that really had a good game running the football out of the I-formation. So they give you some of each. They also run some play action and throw the ball off of it as well.

On Washington's defense:
Mostly zone coverages. Like a lot of people they try to mix it up, but have a standard 4-3 defense that is structurally sound and they are good at what they do.

On the Sooners' tough schedule:
“That's been our philosophy. Joe Castiglione has been great about conferring with me about the schedule. We've done this in the past too. We had Oregon, UCLA and Alabama in different years and we have played a challenging schedule. If you're going to be one of those top teams or top-tier teams that continually fight for a championship you ought to be willing to go out and play different people.

"We know it's exciting for our players and it's challenging for us as coaches. I know the fan interest is there and the TV audience is there. If you're good enough, you win them. We challenged ourselves with another demanding schedule. It challenges us and makes us have to be ready early. It's been good for us and through the years we've been fairly successful at handling it.”

On the return game and the athletes it takes for it to be successful:
I think what you are doing is recruiting good athletes. They are explosive in whatever they are playing like receiver, DB. Antonio Perkins had that kind of pop or acceleration burst, as Reggie (Smith) does. Those are the kinds of guys that can make something happen. They can make a guy miss or pop through a small crease that some other guys can't get through and make something happen.

On Tyrone Willingham and the rebuilding job he is doing at Washington:
I have always had great respect for Coach Willingham, just watching his career. I don't know him personally all that well. I have met him a few times. I have respected the job he has done everywhere he has been. I recognize Washington's tradition and history and I am sure with his (Willingham's) knowledge and ability, he will continue to improve them.

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SENIOR QB PAUL THOMPSON
On going into the first game and how he felt afterwards:
“For the most part I felt comfortable. There were some passes that were a little high in the red zone -- there was one interception there. Overall I felt pretty comfortable being the first game of the year and felt the offense was moving the ball well.

“We wanted to start the game off quick and not be behind on the scoreboard, and getting the game started with more points quicker definitely helped with confidence and helps move us into the game next week.

“There were some early jitters from guys who hadn't played a whole lot, but overall there were only a few mistakes as far as routes go.

“As a team we're 1-0 and we're definitely focused on Washington now. But, anytime you can get a win in the season opener, it definitely helps with confidence for everybody and makes everybody feel more relaxed and confident in the game plans that the coaches have set for us.”

On worries from media and fans:
“It seemed like everybody outside of this organization was freaking out, but once I got out there it was good to get everybody to calm down and relax and we can just move from there. I didn't have much pressure on myself going into the game. What everyone else thinks doesn't add any pressure on me, I only add pressure on myself.

“I can see that people outside of this organization are concerned, but a win is a win. It was the first game of the year. I feel real confident and the team feels real confident coming out of this game and it's something to build on.

"There were some mistakes, but at the same time there were some real effective plays which is something we can build on. From the outside looking in, everyone outside the organization might be worried about us, but we feel real comfortable about what we can do right now and comfortable with this organization.”

On Fred Strong being a target:
“He was the open guy and I found him early and he was able to move the ball for us. It was just his position he had, he was the open guy. He made some great plays.”

On Joe John Finley:
“He's real physical and he's definitely one of the hardest workers we've had in the offseason. I've gotten to know what type of athleticism he has. He showed it in that game and he's played in many other games here as well and he's made big plays. He's definitely a player I like to go to -- a big target with great hands -- and he'll be able to make some plays for us.”

On the offense:
“The offense felt real good. They definitely did a good job up front all night and that's another area where people might have had questions, but they pulled through and the effort we had was outstanding.”

On Washington's defense:
“They have some young guys out at the corners, and more experienced ones up front. From what I've seen they run similar to what we run as far as defense goes, which is easier for me. I'm still getting more into it and have been watching film since Sunday until now and it's similar to what we run compared to UAB.

On what he needs to improve on personally:
“I'd just say getting through my reads quicker. I felt I did well on that. But with different defenses you have to go to different places quicker. You have to be able to think quickly and know where you're going with the ball and improve on getting the ball to the receivers to be able to make plays.”

On support from the fans and Jason White:
“I haven't heard from him [Jason White], but he knows how it is with all the people calling. He'll usually call a couple of days or even a week after all the phone calls have died down. I got calls from my family and friends, and strangers were calling and just saying we support you and the team and we're looking forward to big things this year.”

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JUNIOR LB LEWIS BAKER
On the defensive performance against UAB:
“The coaches stress tackling a lot to us before the games. They stress to us (the importance) of being in the right place at the right time because that can cause missed tackles. Obviously, we had a lot of missed tackles. I think they gained about 130 yards off missed tackles. It was about fundamentals and effort.

"The coaches said our effort was there but when we watched film, we could see sometimes it wasn't. We know we can be great. We put it on ourselves. We missed all those tackles and we know we can be a great defense but we have yet to prove it.”

On moving to linebacker:
“I think they moved me back for depth reasons and I'm fine with it. As long as I get out there, I'm trying to play anywhere I can. Special teams is my major role right now and I take it seriously. Moving back to linebacker adds depth to the team and I just want to win.”

On the importance of special teams:
“The coaches have put a lot of emphasis on special teams. The guys this year are really taking it to heart. Obviously, Saturday, we set up Reggie (Smith) in a lot of good positions for the offense as far as our return, kicking and punting units.”

On Washington:
“They have a really fast quarterback and I assume they will do the same thing (as UAB). But we'll be more prepared. We'll have a pretty good game plan this week. They have a really talented quarterback with a big arm. We'll have a fast guy on our hands.”

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SENIOR LB ZACH LATIMER
On what it's like playing against Washington's quarterback:
“It's something that you have to prepare for. When they run the option you have to do your job. Whenever everybody gaps out, everybody else has to do their job and it should all come together.

“I'm watching him on film. He's a very big, fast, physical quarterback and we're just going to have to contain him and not let him get out into the open field.”

On OU's defense:
“It was a big disappointment, especially on the 80-yard drive, but when we go back and look at it on film there's things that we look at and can correct. Mainly it was the tackling, so hopefully we can get that corrected and we'll be just fine.”

Washington's offense:
“It's really a triple threat that we're going to have to worry about. The quarterback needs to give the ball to the running back, and offensively they're not coming down if you try to just throw a shoulder at one of them. You have to wrap up under their feet to try and bring them down. It's not just the quarterback himself, it's his arms, his legs, and the running back all together.”

On practice theme:
“We have to get to the ball, wrap up and take the right angle. We need to get them on the ground. The theme is we're going to have to hold on to them.”

On the linebackers' performance:
“It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't the worst we've done. I think we did enough to win and it really wasn't great but it was something to improve on.”

On Thompson's performance:
“I think Paul went out there and played well. He stepped up to the challenge and our offense did the same, I would say. I knew he could do it all along.”

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