Sooners Recap Bedlam, Preview TCU

Jump to Coach Stoops' Quotes | Landry Jones | Casey Walker | Justin Brown

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Head Coach Bob Stoops

Senior Quarterback Landry Jones

Senior Defensive Tackle Casey Walker

Senior Wide Receiver Justin Brown

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NORMAN, Okla. -- Head coach Bob Stoops, QB Landry Jones, DT Casey Walker and WR Justin Brown met with the media Monday in OU's weekly press conference from Norman.

Oklahoma (9-2 overall, 7-1 Big 12) travels down I-35 to play TCU in Fort Worth in the Horned Frogs' inaugural season in the Big 12. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

For complete coverage throughout the week, details on attending the game and broadcast options for following the Sooners from around the world, visit Sooner Gameday Central.

Coach Stoops

Opening comments:
"Welcome everyone. Recapping the exciting game here this past weekend against Oklahoma State, again I was just very proud of our players to respond in the fourth quarter and at the end of the game to make some key plays when they had to to win the football game. It was a hard-fought, well-played game.

"Guys with exceptional games I think, Landry Jones, to come from behind and win in the fourth quarter there once again and to set records like he did-Big 12 records, school records-was just excellent throwing the football, managing the game. I thought the guys around him did really well. The offensive line, to throw it 71 times and only have one sack on the day, was great. They protected him well where he was able to step up in the pocket and make plays.

"Three receivers over 100 yards, Justin Brown with 15 catches, had some really big third-down pickups and really played tough; Jalen Saunders and Kenny Stills with a lot of plays, also. Sterling Shepard did well in there. All of them just really contributed in a real positive way. And then to cap it off with some key runs to win the football game-Brennan Clay made a great run at the end of the game and Trey Millard before him, who picked up six or seven yards.

"Defensively, we did have our stops. I think we had five three-and-outs, forced five punts and got a turnover. But still had too many missed tackles, still in a coverage situation where we're lined up right over the top of a guy and don't cover him. We've just got to play better in some areas, and we've got to keep looking for different ways as coaches to help them in what we're asking them to do, which we'll continue to try and do.

"I thought the kicking game again was a big factor. Obviously the big return by Jalen Saunders' 81-yard punt return; he made some people miss early and guys blocked for him really well down the sideline. We had some big kickoff returns in that we got the ball out around midfield. Rashod Favors of all people catches a quick squib and Roy Finch had another good return, so field position off of those was a positive. Our cover units were good, too.
Turnovers were an issue. When you lose the turnover battle it makes it tougher, but fortunately we were able to overcome it.

"That gets us to this week versus TCU; going down there, as is the case in this league, another very good football team. A lot of excellent football players running around. Devonte Fields, a defensive end, has had a great year. Jason Verrett, their corner, I think has five or six picks and is a really good player. Their quarterback is a guy who I think has come in and done a really good job. It'll be another difficult preparation on both sides of the ball and kicking. They do everything really well, so it's another challenge going down to play at their place Saturday for the last game."

On playing Blake Bell on the final play of regulation:
"I'd already told the official that once he got the first down I wanted to call timeout immediately, so running the ball, I knew it wouldn't take 10 seconds and we'd have another play. Depending on how close he was, we'd either run him again or throw it."

On Blake Bell performing in the clutch this season:
"Sure, but it was the case all last season, too. We've got great confidence in the [Belldozer] package."

On if tackling is the biggest issue on defense:
"On some cases, give their skill players credit and they made us miss them and in some instances I believe we can do it better-we need to do it better. Some of it is spacing issues, too, and what they're doing makes it tougher. We'll keep trying to find ways to combat it and be in better position."

On seeing TCU's run-based offense after so many pass-based offenses:
"In some cases, formation-wise, they're similar. Play-wise they're a little bit different in some of the plays out of those formations. They've been good about running the football. It's something they like to do, for sure."

On who graded the highest of the OU offensive linemen:
"Both tackles were excellent. They have the biggest stress. I thought Lane [Johnson] and Tyrus [Thompson], with Lane moving back over to left [tackle] and Tyrus from left back over to right [tackle] they did a great job. Gabe Ikard inside was really good."

On rallying after losing a starting QB:
"I think as much as anything everybody just tries to play to the quarterback's strengths. What does he do well, what does he like, so I'm sure play calling, that's a factor. The design of the offense has a lot to do with what you're asking him to do and making sure he's comfortable and they've done that really well. Every year it's that way in how you play to your quarterback's strengths."

On calling two run plays to start the overtime:
"We did feel there was some opportunity to run it, that's why Josh [Heupel] started with it. Trey [Millard] made a heck of a run to get [seven] yards. We went back to it and Brennan [Clay] makes a heck of a run. Guys did a good job of blocking there, too, and getting bodies on bodies and let him sift through the safeties.

On if this is the best wide receiving corps he's had:
"It's kind of hard to compare. It is one of the best. You know me, I never say anything is the best. When you look back on some of the guys Jason White was running around with - Mark Clayton, Mark Bradley and Brandon Jones - those are guys who had significant NFL careers. But these guys are great players. These receivers we've got have been awesome; they've been consistent with route running, catching. They've just been a really great group, unselfish, working together. Even the young guys have come in and done a really good job.

On getting transfers Justin Brown and Jalen Saunders:
"Coach [Jay] Norvell researched it. I intentionally asked him to look into it to see if there was anyone there who we thought could come in and make a difference. Sure enough, soon as you look at Justin you knew there was a guy who has been great for three years in a competitive, tough league, played well and that he would definitely make a huge impact. After watching Jalen, I felt the same way."

On bouncing back after two close games:
"In the end it's nothing to bounce back from. Everything is in front of us; we've got a big game with championship implications and all of that in front of you. If anything I would think it would give you some momentum."

On if this is a Big 12 Championship opportunity despite a tie in the standings:
"Why wouldn't it be? It is. Who knows what'll happen in [Kansas State's] game and who knows what'll happen in ours. So in the end, that's where it's at right now. Whatever the conference's rules are, that's what you go by."

On if there was relief after the game that Landry Jones kept playing after going down late in the game:
"No, there wasn't because you just don't think in hindsight or you don't go back and have those feelings. He got up, shook it off and came back and played great like he has all year. So no, I don't think 'what if?'"

On Brennan Clay:
"Brennan's been great. Always prepared, works hard, very intelligent player so he can go in in any situation and any circumstance and he's always ready to make a play. He's made some huge ones here through the back half of the season."

On if Big 12 offenses are that good or if defense are not:
"It's up to you to say. Everybody's got their opinion. I think it's a little of both. It's always that way."

On if OU played better defense early in the year or better offenses later in the year:
"Little of both."

On the team's maturity away from home and in close games:
"It's shown up there and it's shown up here at home in tough games, too. They've continued to work and have a great attitude about what they're doing and have confidence in how they're playing and keep playing ball and find a way to win."

On ending the season on the road this year as opposed to last year:
"I think this team is better equipped and has been all year in many ways; maturity, discipline, workout and everything."

On not having a conference championship game:
"It's tough. It's difficult and challenging with all the excellent teams and I think this is what, the 11th of the last 13 years we've been in the last weekend with championship implications, so it's always tough; it's hard to do. This game will be equally tough to go down and give ourselves an opportunity to win. I don't know that some of those years when you're undefeated and the team you're playing has three losses in the league that that sets up real well. In some cases it wasn't quite the right way, either. This is what we've got. Still it's hard when you have to play everybody."

On Gary Patterson:
"Gary has done a great job for a long time. They've been a good football team; it was just three years ago he won the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin over there. So Gary is an excellent coach. His guys you can see play with excellent technique, discipline, all of that. So he's been building that program for a quite a while and done it in a great way."

On keeping guys fresh:
"It is challenging; we are still a little bit banged up and fighting through it. You just have to do the best you can to manage it this week and get them to the game and give ourselves an opportunity."

On the injury situation:
"I believe it will be the same as going in to last week."

On David King's injury:
"I'm not sure about David. His ankle was banged up a week ago and he just got really banging up this past week. So we'll see."

On Frank Shannon's injury:
"We'll see how the week goes, but I think he has a decent chance as long as nothing comes up this week."

On the idea of champions:
"Well I brought that up in our Big 12 meetings. But again they haven't changed anything. You play the hand you have."

On the concept of championships:
"The rules are what they are. I don't make them."

On why OU played Kansas State early:
"I'm trying to think back on how that all happened. It didn't work that way."

On how the conference has played out:
"I'm not all that surprised because having to play everybody I'm realizing the talent that is spread across the board with everybody and the excellent coaching throughout the league. It's difficult every week, which is obvious for everybody."

On if the mindset of the OU fans has changed:
"I'm not really sure. Maybe it has, maybe it hasn't. Fans are what they are. Everybody has a differing opinion."

On the geography of the schedule:
"I do think it's positive that way for fans, for players' families. I always think that of the families first and fans. Regionally, I think it's good for everybody. I do think it's positive in a lot of ways."

On the punt return players:
"I'm purposeful in the guys I get. We did our work that Coach [Jay] Norvell did and we got a couple key guys that really made a difference."

On who will be punt return this week:
"We'll work on both. I think they both play so hard and so much. Justin [Brown] needs a break now, here and there. And Jalen [Saunders] is guy that in punt return is very comfortable with it. So we'll use them both."

On a defensive guy or freshman winning the Heisman:
"There's not to say that there aren't any other deserving guys. Collin Klein, in my eyes, comes to mind, of course. But you're asking me about a freshman and a defensive guy, I don't think there's any question that each should have the opportunity. We had that situation with Adrian [Peterson] being a freshman, he came so close to it.

"A player is a player. It shouldn't matter what age he is. And the other is a defensive guy. Being a long time defensive guy, and coming up in coaching, I've never understood it. I think [Manti] Te'o for Notre Dame is absolutely deserving. Usually they talk about the quarterback or running back on the best team in the country. Whoever has the best running back usually has a better chance of winning it than anyone.

"Well they're noted for their defense and he's quarterback of the defense and he has six or seven interceptions. He's been the guy all year. He's been their guy so I don't think there's any question that he's the guy who should have a great opportunity to win it."

On having to work around a certain defensive player:
"He definitely fits in that capacity. I'm always aware of where he's at and what kind of plays you are running against him. The only other guy I've been around is [Ndamukong] Suh, I thought was that way as well. In that you better be very careful what plays you're running around him."

On Manti Te'o being the best player OU has played:
"I would say yes, it's just hard to compare different positions to other guys. So I don't want to discredit anybody we've played against this year. But [Notre Dame's] defense and what they've done all year, position they're in and being the leader and making so many impact plays. By all means he should by the guy who wins it."

On if Manti Te'o is the most dominant since Ndamukong Suh:
"Probably. And I'm guessing he's in the middle, too, so it's hard to go one way or the other. If he was left or right you get a chance to try to avoid him a little bit. But when he's right there in the middle it makes it hard to."

On the team's success on the road:
"I think we have a strong group of leaders on this team. When we go on the road there is just extra focus and we just execute better. That comes with practicing better and taking what we practice into games."

QB Landry Jones

On beating Oklahoma State in overtime:
"It is extremely satisfying. After the game, in those moments when it's a tight ball game and you actually pull it out and win and your offense does a great job at the end of finishing it, there isn't a feeling like it. It is so satisfying to see guys who work so hard all year long and finally get a chance to get in there and make some plays like Brennan [Clay] did at the end. He made a big play and did a great job."

"We ran a couple plays that were successful early for us in the game and went back to them and got us a couple yards then Brennan rushed it in.

"It was fourth down so we let the clock run down until there was only a couple seconds left so we had a chance to score a touchdown, and we also had another timeout just in case Blake [Bell] picked up the first down but didn't score. That way we could call a quick timeout, regroup and get back on the sideline."

On WRs Justin Brown and Jalen Saunders coming in and learning a new system:
"I think there was some learning curve, but I think Justin has played almost more than anyone here and Jalen had played a lot to so they know what it takes to play in a game and what all that stuff is. I don't know if there was a huge, huge learning curve for them, there was some. But they did a great job of picking up the offense."

On coaches Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell developing the offense:
"You lose a game and people then think you can't coach, can't throw, can't block, you can't catch and do all this stuff on offense. We just went back to the drawing board and went back to work. All that stuff just paid off for us. I don't know if we drastically changed anything. We might have tweaked some stuff here or there on what we were doing. I think just the hard work and the determination that we put into this offense has really started to pay off for us."

On the pressure of a fourth down you must convert:
"You feel how important this play is in determining the game because it really is those couple plays. The fourth down to Kenny [Stills] and Blake's [Bell] touchdown run determined the game for us, for sure. It's just the pressure amounting on how important those plays are and the end result of the game."

"It's hard to describe the feeling on it. There is an excitement that goes into it. There is a lot of pressure and I think some weight that goes into just the heaviness of that feeling that this is an important play or this is an important drive. So whatever you get, whenever you are successful at it, it feels like everything is just lifted off your shoulders. It is really fun."

On learning from the games you lose:
"You learn a lot about yourself in those type of situations. You learn how to slow down and make it like it's any other drive and just make your reads and make all the right plays."

On the fans cheering for him on senior day:
"The fans here are great. I really appreciate all that they do for us and the energy that they bring to our field. It makes this place definitely have a bigger home field advantage and, on senior night, I was just so appreciative of what they have done and how they supported me that day."

On this being his last home game:
"I was taking it in. It is just a little different before. It's harder to do before games. I think looking back on it now I am more appreciative now than I was before the game just because you are about to go play a football game so your nerves are high and all those things before a football game. It's harder to take in before a football game. But as you look back you are more appreciative of it."

On celebrating after the game:
"I always relate it back to 2008 and the energy in the stadium so that was one of the cooler moments that I have had here. I haven't had a home game where the fans have stayed and we celebrated with them so it was really cool. I will definitely look back on that and that will be one of the things I will always remember."

On which win was more satisfying against Oklahoma State or Texas:
"Probably [Oklahoma State]. For me, there was just more weight to it than there was to the Texas one. Yeah, it was my last time to play Texas, but this was my last time to play OK State and it was my last home game. To win the way we did, this game was more satisfying than the win over Texas."

On challenges preparing for TCU:
"It's hard to come back and be focused and be all into a game whenever you have these emotion games. It is draining and exhausting to play in those games and it is hard to get back up for practice and it is hard to forget about that game and move on to the next opponent. I think we need to do a good job of remembering, yes, this game, but focus on our next opponent which is TCU who is a very capable team and very capable defense. They do a great job of playing together. They play extremely hard. It is going to be a big challenge for us and for us to execute in the way we want to on Saturday starts today in preparation."

"It's been tough. This last game we had 113 plays on offense so that's a lot of plays for an offense to run, and I know some of the big guys were tired after the game for sure; so was I. Yes, it is physically draining but that is one thing about college football. It's the next game and you have to get up and prepare and go."

On not having a Big 12 Championship game to play in:
"It is a little different. That is why every game is so important now in the regular season. Once you get into conference, every game is important. Typically to be the conference champion you have to not lose a game. Yes, in an ideal world we want a championship game to get another [chance at] redemption to be the Big 12 champions, but that's not the way it is. We have to play the hand we have been dealt and really just go after it and win this next game and see what happens."

On the improvement as a team since the loss to Kansas State:
"I think our confidence is higher just realizing what we can do as an offense."

On playing in a BCS bowl game:
"It would be huge for us. But to get to that BCS bowl game we have to win against TCU, so that is what we are focusing on this week for Saturday coming up."

On improving his draft stock after the last two games:
"I hope so. I hope they were watching. You think about it every once in a while, but for me that is not the reason why I came back. I came back to be a senior and go after the national championship, and now it is out of our hands, but to really be on this team and just be with my teammates."

On the team's success on the road:
"I think we have a strong group of leaders on this team. When we go on the road there is just extra focus and we just execute better. That comes with practicing better and taking what we practice into games."

DT Casey Walker

On the success of the team on the road:
"We've got a lot of seniors on the field. We've played in big stadiums like when we went to Florida State; that was one of the loudest stadiums I've ever been in. So just knowing you have to tune out everything that is around you and focus on what you are doing, I think we have done that and it shows."

On his emotions during Saturday's game:
"It's one of those games where you almost want to cry because it's senior night and it's Bedlam and you remember what happened last year and then you win in overtime. It's just a great feeling, especially at our house."

On putting the Oklahoma State game behind them to finish the season:
"It's one of those things where you want to live in the moment but at the same time you have to also know the season is not over yet. We're on the line easily for a Big 12 title and BCS bowl game and it's one of the goals that you set at the beginning of the year so you have to forget about it."

On returning to the Dallas area:
"TCU was one of my first offers out of high school so it'll be nice to go down there. There's been some rebuilding to the stadium since the last time I've seen it. It should be one of those fun ones. I've got family in Fort Worth so we'll get to see what's going on down there."

WR Justin Brown

On his relationship with WR Jalen Saunders:
"Yeah, Jalen Saunders and I are close. We're all close on the team and the receiving corps. Jalen is a good receiver and a good punt returner. He has next year so you guys are going to see a lot more of him."

On his emotions about the Oklahoma State game and the celebration on the field:
"It was unbelievable. I've never really had an experience like that. I've played in some close games but I'm definitely going to remember that game. The fans, even the support after the game, the fans played their part. I'm definitely going to remember that for a while."

On WR Trey Metoyer's development throughout the year:
"Trey is going to be good. Trey is going to be really good. He's got freakish talent; he's got great hands. The reason why I laugh is because after practice when we throw the ball he's always snatching the ball with one hand every time. He's got great hands, and he's a student of the game. He's going to be good here."

On the challenges of facing TCU's defense:
"They're a really good defense. They fly around and play really disciplined and fundamental defense. We're going to have to go out there and make sure we can execute."

Players Mentioned

Frank Shannon

Sterling Shepard

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