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March 12, 2013 | Spring Football Central | Football Notebook | Roster | Twitter

Toughness & Fundamentals

Two simple words describe offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh's philosophy when it comes offensive line play - toughness and fundamentals. Isn't that exactly what you'd hope to hear from a veteran coach who has worked in the trenches and has been a part of 12 bowl appearances?

"My mentality is about toughness," said Bedenbaugh, whose resume includes stints at West Virginia and Texas Tech. "I'm big on fundamentals. I'm big on technique, but if you're a tough person, tough-minded, physically tough then you can overcome some of those things. You're not always going to be as perfect as you want to be, but you've got to get as close to it in your technique and your fundamentals but I think your toughness overrides that a lot of the time."

Junior Daryl Williams has bought into Bedenbaugh's approach and gives his new coach a ringing endorsement, even though there was a bit of a feeling out process.

"He's just hardcore and serious," Williams said of Bedenbaugh. "When we first met him we didn't know when he was cracking jokes or not, but now that we've been around him we can tell when he's joking and when he's serious.

"That's what it's all about to be an offensive lineman, toughness and fundamentals. He's a very good coach and he knows what it's all about, getting after it in the trenches. We've got to get more physical and faster and to finish. We're always two or three games from the (national) championship. Coach Stoops has really emphasized finishing and going with the perfect record."

Williams was tabbed as an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection by the league's coaches in 2012. After starting the first 10 games of the 2012 campaign at right tackle, he was sidelined by a knee injury for the final three games of the season. Williams certainly looks and sounds like a player ready to climb back into a starting role for the Sooners in 2013.

"Spring football is always fun," he continued "Everybody is juiced up all the time, and today was the first day of pads so it was good. It feels great to be back out there with my teammates. I feel like I'm back to my old self. I've got my legs back under me and I feel good."

Tyler's Return

Tyler Evans' 2012 campaign ended prematurely on the first day of fall practice when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee.

After redshirting and rehabbing last season, Evans is back on the practice field this spring with head coach Bob Stoops confirming that Evans can participate in drills "as tolerated."

After spending a significant stretch on crutches last fall, Evans is enthusiastic about getting back to work, and is proceeding with cautious optimism this spring.

"I was out the entire season last year, so I'm just getting back in the rhythm of things," Evans indicated. "It's a whole different deal. I just need to keep making strides so I'm ready to go when the season begins."

Sooner fans will recall that Evans earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from AP and the coaches in 2011 after starting 13 games at right guard. The Strafford, Mo., native has registered 27 career starts at that position for the Sooners.

Nila Kasitati, who suffered a torn ACL at Texas Tech on Oct. 6 hasn't been cleared to return to drills yet, but has been spotted on the practice field taking "mental reps." While no one anticipates these two offensive linemen to display the amazing recuperative skills of Adrian Peterson their return to the lineup will no doubt give Bedenbaugh's group a lift.

Are You Experienced?

The Sooners return seven players on the offensive line who have started at least one start, the highest tally of any position group on the roster. In total, those seven players own a combined 112 starts, headlined by 2012 Wuerffel Trophy finalist and First Team All-Big 12 performer Gabe Ikard, who has opened a total of 37 games at both center and guard.

Tyler Evans (27), Adam Shead (18) and Bronson Irwin (13) own a combined 58 starts at guard for OU. Daryl Williams opened 10 games at right tackle last year, while junior Tyrus Thompson started five contests in 2012, opening two games at left tackle and the final three games of the year at right tackle.

Throw in one start last year at center for Ty Darlington, who subbed for an injured Ikard against Baylor, and you have an experienced and versatile blocking unit. Although OU will have to replace left tackle Lane Johnson, who is projected as a first-round pick in the 2013, co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel couldn't envision a much better protection scenario for a group of OU quarterbacks who own zero combined starts.

"I think at the quarterback position you're only as good as the guys around you," Heupel explained. "If you want to be successful, you want to have 10 other guys playing at a high level. Certainly, those five guys up front have some experience; and we're going to find out how the guys grow and continue to come on. We need better up front. They need to play with more urgency. They need to be tougher and more physical. They need to be better fundamentally. If they do that, they have a chance to really catapult us offensively and allow us to be as efficient as we want to be."

As the leader of the offensive front, Ikard certainly doesn't back away from the challenge of improving as a blocking unit.

"Experience is key on the offensive line," he said. "Having that cohesion with the guy next to you, knowing the reads, the adjustments, that's so important for our entire group. If we have to help carry the load up front with our experience, that's fine with us. We've got some talented skill guys who are going to continue to grow, and we're going to do our part to grow right along with them."

Tuesday Notebook

The Sooners took to the outdoor practice fields adjacent to the Switzer Center for Tuesday's practice with temperatures in the high 50s. It was the initial practice session of the spring conducted outdoors ... Following practice, head coach Bob Stoops and the squad congregated in Heisman Park to film an Oklahoma version of the Harlem Shake. Special guests included Heisman winners Steve Owens and Billy Sims, former head coach Barry Switzer and OU All-American Brian Bosworth ... Oklahoma Pro Day is Wednesday and numerous participants were at practice on Tuesday, including Landry Jones, Kenny Stills and Tony Jefferson ... The Sooners are slated to return to the practice field again on Thursday for the club's final practice before spring break.

TUESDAY'S PRACTICE
The Sooners practiced outdoors Tuesday for the first time in 2013. Check out our coverage:

Photo Gallery (73 photos)
Video

Mic'd Up: Coach Bedenbaugh
Video

Spring Practice Report No. 3
Post-Practice Quotes

SOONER HARLEM SHAKE
How many of these videos have Heisman winners, The Boz riding a motorcycle and Coach Switzer in a fur coat? Following Tuesday's practice, the Sooners had a little fun:

Video

OU Football Harlem Shake

INSTAGRAM P.O.T.D.
Kenny Stills was one of several former Sooners at practice on Tuesday and the NFL prospect continued to give guidance to OU's younger wideouts. That's our spring Instagram Photo of the Day. Check us out at @ou_football:

A LOOK AT THE LINE
RS Senior Gabe Ikard | Bio
2012 Wuerffel Trophy finalist
2012 All-Big 12 First Team by AP and coaches
2012 Capital One Academic All-America First Team
Started at center in 12 games he played and also saw time at left guard in 2012
Has started 19 games at center (7 in 2011, 12 in 2012) and 20 games at left guard (14 in 2010, 6 in 2011)

Senior Bronson Irwin | Bio
Started all 13 games at right guard in 2012
2012 Academic All-Big 12 selection
Has seen action in 34 career games, including all 13 the past two years

RS-Junior Adam Shead | Bio
Started at left guard in all 13 games in 2012
Has played in 22 career games with 18 starts

RS-Junior Daryl Williams | Bio
2012 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Started the first 10 games of 2012 at right tackle before being sidelined for the season's final three games
Has also worked at right guard

RS-Jr. Tyrus Thompson | Bio
Played in all 13 games with five starts in 2012
Started at left tackle vs. ISU (11/3/12) and Baylor (11/10/12)
Started at right tackle vs. OSU (11/24/12), TCU (12/1/12) and Texas A&M (1/4/13)
Has played in 18 career games

RS-So. Derek Farniok | Bio
Played in 10 games in 2012 on special teams and offensive line as a redshirt freshman

So. Ty Darlington | Bio
Played in nine games in 2012 as a true freshman
Made his first career start in place of an injured Gabe Ikard at center vs. Baylor (11/10/12)

Senior Austin Woods | Bio
Backup left guard and starting deep snapper played in all 13 games in 2012
Two-time Academic All-Big 12
Finished chemotherapy on 10/1/12 after being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma...was told his cancer was in remission on 11/1/12

SOCIAL MEDIA
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Players Mentioned

Ty Darlington

Tyler Evans

Derek Farniok

Gabe Ikard

Bronson Irwin

Nila Kasitati

Adam Shead

Tyrus Thompson

Daryl Williams

Austin Woods

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics