Sooners Set Sights on Baylor

November 6th Press Conference
   Coach Stoops Weekly Press Conference
   Junior Cornerback Reggie Smith on the Defense
   Junior Guard Duke Robinson on the Play of the O-Line
   R-Freshman Defensive End Jeremy Beal on His Progress

Sooner Gameday Central: Oklahoma vs. Baylor
Comprehensive coverage of Saturday's game against Baylor at Owen Field.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Head coach Bob Stoops reviewed the win against Texas A&M and previewed Saturday's match-up with Baylor during his weekly press conference Tuesday. The fourth-ranked Sooners welcome the Bears to Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised nationally by FSN.

View Coach Stoops' weekly press conference in its entirety, along with interviews interviews with juniors Reggie Smith and Duke Robinson, and redshirt freshman Jeremy Beal. Complete transcriptions of all interviews are available below, courtesy OU Athletics Media Relations.

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HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS

Opening Comments:
"Last week against Texas A&M, I thought it was a very sound game for us overall. Our whole coaching staff was very pleased. The balance we had on offense was excellent, being able to run and pass the ball effectively. I thought the offensive line did an excellent job protecting the quarterback. Sam Bradford was not sacked on the day and was 21-30 and just shy of 300 yards with five touchdowns. That is really sharp. I think through the entire day, we had only one play that went for negative yards. Anytime you are doing that you are doing well offensively.

"Defensively, I thought against the run, which is their bread and butter, that we were excellent against their run game. I thought we did an excellent job covering the pass as well because they love to get a lot of play action pass off of the run game. We did an excellent job of forcing throwaways and some scrambles where he had to eat the ball and run with it. I felt we did a very solid job of limiting big plays on the day. We were just sharp in the way we defended the run. Good, solid win for us.

"It puts us in position with another game versus Baylor here at home. There are similar philosophies playing Baylor. They are a team that will spread you out and throw the ball a lot. We have had some experience defending that throughout the year and are familiar with it. We will have to be very disciplined defensively and tackle well in space. We will have to try and crowd the receivers and pressure the quarterback.

"Offensively, we will have to maintain our balance. They are a 4-3 team that will play your traditional zone coverages and then will try and blitz you at times as well. We have to keep our balance and continue to protect the football like we have in the past. We are excited to have the opportunity at home, at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night."

On who has been playing well recently:
"Last week, D.J. Wolfe had another exceptional game in leading the team with tackles and had a big fumble recovery. Offensively, Jermaine Gresham, Sam Bradford, Manual Johnson and Malcolm Kelly all had big games, along with all of our running backs. On the offensive line, Brandon Walker has been great all year, there is no question he has been really solid. Duke Robinson had another really good game here this week. Our tackles were solid. Phil (Loadholt) graded out really well. Trent (Williams) and (Brandon) Braxton have switched out and they have been playing solid. Those guys have all been consistent and very good."

On how unique it is to have three tight ends that can block and catch the ball so well:
"I think it is very unique, and really became a big staple for us a year ago. It gives you a lot of options in both running the ball and throwing it because they can do both really well. They are good strong blockers and can get multiple sets with them. You can also release them and they have the ability with the way they run to get deep. It gives you a lot of versatility."

On if Jermaine Gresham is one of the best tight ends he has coached:
"I've been around nothing like him. The power and the strength he has is amazing. The speed he has is amazing. We can run our conditioning drills over and over and the guy never gets tired. There is a lot to him for sure, he has great hands."

On Curtis Lofton becoming another successful middle linebacker at Oklahoma:
"Production and consistency-wise, everything he has done so far this season has probably surpassed any of our previous guys. The way he plays and tackles, as well as the big plays he has made. Last week was the fourth or fifth game in a row where he creates a turnover, and early in the game he is the one that strips the ball that D.J. Wolfe comes up with. He has had 16 to 18 tackles in games and his production has been exceptional. It is not surprising to us."

On if Auston English has returned to practice after suffering an injury against Texas A&M:
"He hasn't yet. Talking to him yesterday he said, `Coach, you can't believe how much better I feel from Sunday to Monday.' I believe the biggest factor is the bruise from being hit. It is good to hear it has healed significantly in one day. We are optimistic, but I am not going to give a time-table. Again, we are optimistic it won't be too long."

On if he is pleased with the play of the corners:
"They have been great how many times their quarterback had to look and scramble out and move around and ends up throwing it away. Those guys were really solid and covered really well. Sometimes, safeties get more opportunities because balls are being thrown down the middle of the field and balls are getting tipped to them."

On if he is satisfied with the team continuing to improve:
"We looked solid the other day. After the week off, we did make improvement. The biggest factor was taking care of the football. Another thing, with the week off, I saw our guys really anxious to play again. Hopefully, we will continue to play that way."

On setting the team's focus solely on Baylor:
"Our guys are very aware we have to go out and play. We are focusing on us, as a team, and playing as well as we can play and what are the areas of emphasis and where we can play better this week. That is what you try to do in practice and that is the attitude we are trying to take."

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JUNIOR CB REGGIE SMITH

On the Baylor game:
"It is going to be a problem for us in the secondary. We have to make sure we have our job done, because they are going to be throwing it every down. So we have to make sure as a secondary we are sound and know what we are doing so we can help the defense as a whole."

On staying focused:
"We can't overlook anyone. Every game is the most important game now. We have to make sure we win out, we can't lose any more games. We know we can't mess up anymore. We have to win every single game so we can have a chance to win the south and then go on to the Big 12 Championship and then whatever else happens. So every game is the most important."

On the spread offense becoming more common:
"It isn't that uncommon anymore. We have already faced it two times. North Texas ran it a lot and then Missouri, so we kind of know what we are looking for and know some of the routes that are going to be coming at us."

On the similarities of Baylor and Texas Tech:
"It is very similar. I think they said Baylor kind of got their offense based off of Texas Tech, so it is a good two week span here where we are going to be going over the same things."

On the cornerbacks:
"For a lot of us it is our third, fourth years playing together and playing in the secondary. We just know that we can't let anyone behind us. We aren't making those sophomore and freshman mistakes anymore. We are staying over the top and making more plays."

On if there are added responsibilities for the defensive backs against the spread:
"You just have to be sound. You could say there is more responsibility, but it is basically the same things, same techniques. We just have to make sure we are sound."

On the improvement of the defense:
"I think we are just getting comfortable with each other. This is like the 11th week now or so. After a while we get comfortable with each other and start cutting loose."

On whether he keeps track of the standings:
"I just watch ESPNU sometimes and just watch what is going on in college football in general. When that stuff pops up you can take a look at it, but there isn't much you can do about it. I don't understand it all, but you can't do anything about it. All we have to do is keep winning and let the chips fall where they fall. If we keep winning that's our part. That is all we can do."

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JUNIOR OG DUKE ROBINSON

On OU's tight end trio:
"It's great. They give us the opportunity to fake one pass or play action. They're real big, physical tight ends that can block as well as they can catch, so it's a great feeling."

On the catch he made Saturday night:
"I saw the view and everything. First thing I looked to my right and to my left, then to my right again and saw these two guys. I was like I really want to take these guys out. I mean it would have been great to get a first down or run it for 25 yards or something like that, but I wanted to run somebody over. My O-line guys said that they (the receivers) were running behind me telling me where to go but I was zoned out. I could have taken it to the house if I wanted to. I'm just going to stick with blocking, but if it happens again, it happens."

On being in the spotlight:
"When I was in high school I used to do the same thing I'm doing here. I block hard, I pancake people and my uncle used to tell me that when I get to college, they'll start to announce the offensive linemen but they'll never say anything about them. But it's a great feeling to get noticed and show that our offensive line is doing great things."

On Coach Stoops saying this is the best the offensive line has played all year:
"As far as the last game, yes I do think that. As an offensive line I think that we can take it to a whole new level and take that reach as we get down to these last couple of games. We just try to get out there and be physical and play hard every chance we get.

"We've been playing decent, but this last game I believe that we played almost to our potential. I think we can step it up to another level. Whatever it takes to get the job done we're going to step it up."

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R-FRESHMAN DE JEREMY BEAL

On the differences of switching from linebacker to defensive end:
"They are two different positions. I just need to work on getting the technique down now. Staying low and getting my hands down lower, things like that."

On playing a little defensive end in high school:
"I played some my sophomore year and half of my senior year. In high school though, it's different. You can play without technique. Here it's all technique."

On if he is able to react without thinking yet:
"I still have to think some. I am still trying to get the position down. I'm working on being able to react without thinking at all. That will make me faster out there on the field."

On taking the opportunity to play:
"It is a great opportunity. It's unfortunate that Auston and even John are out, but other players like me, Alan (Davis) and even Pryce (Mason) have to step up and take advantage of the opportunity. It's good to have it and now we have to make to most of it."

On getting on the field and getting in the flow:
"Once you get on the field, it is totally different in practice. Getting in the flow will be a great thing and will help me out a lot."

On facing a spread team and his responsibilities on the field:
"Basically, my responsibility is to get pressure on the quarterback. That is the job for all of our defensive ends. Playing the run game also falls into that category. So I need to get pressure on the quarterback and stop the run when it comes my way."

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