Sooners Look Forward to Matchup with Canes


	Senior DE Auston English

Coach Bob Stoops Press Conference

Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson

Junior Wide Receiver Brandon Caleb

Junior Defensive Back Quinton Carter

Senior Defensive End Auston English

NORMAN, Okla. -- Head coach Bob Stoops and Oklahoma players met with the media Tuesday to preview this weekend's matchup with the Miami Hurricanes. Click the links above to view video. Quotes from OU's coaches and players are available below.

No. 8 Oklahoma faces off against No. 17 Miami Saturday night at Land Shark Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. (CT) with a split national telecast on ABC.

For complete coverage throughout the week, visit Sooner Gameday Central.

Head Coach Bob Stoops

Opening statement:
"It's an exciting week as our team and Miami get together here this weekend, it's just exciting with the tradition and histories of the programs. We recognize that going down to Miami is a big challenge. They are a team, I know they didn't play as well in the Virginia Tech game, but we look at the entire body of work of what they have done this year. They have been very impressive, they have a very difficult schedule and they have handled it really well, especially with great wins in their first two games.

"We have to be at our best going down there this week to meet that challenge. I think Randy Shannon and his staff continues to build that program, they are doing a great job. When I watch them I see really explosive and talented players across all phases of the game. We have to meet that challenge with hopefully explosive plays and players on our side."

On practice following the bye week:
"Having the weekend off, I think was a positive. I just noticed a lot more excitement and spring in their step yesterday at practice, they were just a little more rested. They realize the challenge ahead of them here this week and they had a really strong practice yesterday."

On Sam Bradford's status:
"I'd love to give you an answer so I don't have to answer it the entire week, but it's too early to give the answer because it's too early in the week and I'm not able to give the answer yet. Until we see what Sam's capable of throughout the week, is he able to make all of the throws, is he able to do it without too much soreness, how does he react the next day. All of those things need to be determined and won't be determined until we get later in the week, probably sometime Thursday or Friday and maybe Saturday.

"I will say that, to this point, everything he has done last week and this week as we have progressed, he has handled well. He has not had any setbacks. That's positive in that everything that he has been going through and that he has done he has handled in a positive way and has made daily progress. That part is encouraging and positive. but again it's too early to determine his status for Saturday.

"The other part of that is that we are still very confident and excited about what Landry Jones has been able to do to this point in the year, in particularly the last two games. He just continues to be more and more comfortable and has executed and handled himself incredibly well. So that gives us a good feeling regardless of Sam's situation. We still feel like we are in good hands in the quarterback position."

On Miami's offense:
"They run the football very well, they have excellent backs and physical players up front. But then they do an excellent job throwing it. Everybody has been talking about Jacory Harris, and rightfully so, I think he has done a great job and is a great player.

"It's exciting, it's a major challenge. To go up against a team that in the first couple of games was very explosive and productive. I think it's fair to say that their situation and the circumstances in the Virginia Tech game were difficult to handle. They played in a monsoon, basically, and that changes things. So it's going to be a challenge."

On the improvements on the offensive line:
"I think it needs to continue to improve and work for improvement. We need to be more disciplined in our assignments. It's been positive in the last couple of games but I still think it can be better. So am I pleased? No. I'm pleased that it is better than that first game but we still have to keep pushing for more."

On pressuring Jacory Harris:
"It's always a key. If you want to ask me that question from now to the end of the year, I'm going to say the same thing every week. It's always important to pressure the quarterback, it's the number one thing you need to do, whether you're in your four-man rush or whether you're blitzing. That's something that we always want to do, that all defenses want to do."

On Quinton Carter:
"Quinton is very physical, a great hitter and covers well. He's a strong player and we are excited he's out there. We have missed him the last couple of years because of injuries."

On the advantages of top-10 teams losing:
"I don't have time to think about anybody else. I'm just trying to focus on trying to get our team better, working for improvement, playing smarter and more disciplined. I just focus on that and working on what we are able to control."

On watching the Iowa at Penn State game:
"I rooted for the Hawkeyes absolutely. My wife walked around the house all day and made a proclamation early in the day to my children that she was going to yell 'Go Hawks' at least ten times until the game. She did and we sat down as a family and rooted our alma mater on, it was fun. Good win for them."

On Brian Jackson and Dominique Franks:
"They have been very consistent and very good, they do get unnoticed and they are playing well. There are two big things with them. One is that I think they are very observant and smart. They recognize plays as they develop really well and they understand schemes. They don't bust, it's very rare. The other thing is that they are very talented. They are guys that can run and they have good ball skills."

On Miami's speed:
"We have been a lot of things, but usually slow hasn't been one of the adjectives to describe us. We have as much team speed as about anybody and I feel like they do too."

On Jacory Harris:
"I have been watching a bunch of his interviews and it shows what a great leader he is. Just watching him, he's talented. He throws an excellent ball, he's got good footwork in the pocket, he has patience and he will stand there and throw it when he knows the rush is coming. He is a good player."

Junior WR Brandon Caleb

On OU's progress through the season:
" I think we've been doing a good job. We're just trying to be consistent every weekend and cut down the penalties. We just want to be better than the week before. That's our goal every week; to just try to get better and just make sure we're in a position to win."

On Miami:
"They're a very athletic team. Their safeties come down a lot and they run a lot, so they come to the ball a lot. So we're basically just going to have to look at their film and then decide, like any team, to be ready to come the game."

On Miami's game vs. Virginia Tech:
"I didn't get to watch the game but I know that they're a very fast team. We're going to be expecting them coming down for the ball and their safeties are real active, the corners are real active, we know what we're getting into."

On national championship implications:
"Whatever they've been saying on ESPN News, I just kind of stay away from that. It would be a big win if we went down there to Miami and won at their field, but it's going to be a great challenge for us this weekend."

Junior DB Quinton Carter

On Miami's previous teams from the 80's and 90's:
"I watched them on some tapes yesterday but I got a real quick update on it. I see that in the consecutive years we took a lot of losses from Miami."

On national championship implications:
"We haven't talked about it. We're just looking to win every game we play from now until the end and to get better each week."

On if the defense is improving:
"I feel like we're making strides each week, trusting each other more and holding another more accountable. We're pushing each other more, kind of just forming more of a brotherhood together so it's there's more trust to play hard and together."

On OU's defense:
"We want to be a physical defense but as being compared to defenses from in the past, I guess we have to wait until we get end of the season and see what our final legacy is going to be."

Senior DE Auston English

On playing Miami:
"From what we've seen in the first two games, they're highly explosive, probably the most skilled team we've seen to date. We're just excited to go down and get after it."

On playing a big opponent like Miami:
"We want to take that next step against a good opponent. They were the hottest team up until last week, but the weather obviously put a damper on that. They have great skill and execute well. It's going to take all four quarters to beat them."

On Miami Quarterback Jacory Harris:
"He's a fast guy. He's done really well as far as standing up in the pocket and delivering the ball. A lot of people think he just runs around and makes plays, but he's actually pretty good at just hanging in there, being patient and getting the ball where he needs to put it."

On Oklahoma's defensive line:
"Our goal every week as a defensive line is to be disruptive, get in the backfield, and make quarterbacks feel uncomfortable. Those goals won't change this week. We need to continue to build on what we've started this year and hopefully do the same thing this week."

On Miami's offensive line:
"They're really good up front. They're athletic big guys. Both of their tackles are around 6-7. They do a good job of protecting. I think he (Harris) has only been sacked once in the first few games. They're really athletic and really good up front. It's going to be a battle."

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