Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

September 4, 2012

Sooners DL still in flux after opener

JOHN SHINN CNHI News Services

NORMAN — After Monday’s practice, Oklahoma defensive tackle David King was heading straight for the cold tub. He was two days removed from playing just about every defensive snap in the season opener against UTEP. His body was informing him that kind of extended duty comes at price.



“I’ll be fine by Wednesday,” he said.



King will be joined in that tub of ice-cold water by fellow defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland. He was out there for nearly every play against UTEP, too.



It was a scenario the Sooners (1-0) don’t want to play out all season, but one they face as the status of senior defensive tackles Casey Walker and Stacy McGee remain in limbo. OU coach Bob Stoops said on Monday that neither will play when OU’s hosts Florida A&M (0-1) in the home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Owen Field.



Walker is still dealing with a “non-football related issue.” McGee is serving an athletic department mandated suspension. Without them on the field, OU’s defensive tackle depth has taken a serious hit. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said didn’t know exactly how many plays King and McFarland played against the Miners, but he did know that their backups — redshirt freshman Jordan Phillips and Marquis Anderson — each played three snaps.



“I didn’t think we were gassed, so we stuck with the first line probably more than we would have like,” he said. “You hope you grow as the season goes on and you hope young players progress and gain confidence and trust in what you’re doing.”



This is a critical week for that growth. The Rattlers are an FCS team that qualify as the rent-a-win on the Sooners’ schedule. This is the week and the game the Sooner bench needs to play a big role. If things go as planned, it will likely be their only opportunity get some serious game experience.



Perhaps, King and McFarland will be durable enough to handle playing virtually every down. It’s happened before. Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor did it in 2009.



King and McFarland had good games against the Miners. McFarland had a sack along with five tackles. King had three tackles and a team-leading two quarterback hurries.



They both knew well ahead of the UTEP game they would both be pushed into extended duty.



“Me and David mentally got ourselves ready. We took more reps during the week to get ourselves ready and went out there and played,” he said. “Luckily, there wasn’t too much tempo to it.”



That was a saving grace of facing the Miners with a thin defensive line. UTEP didn’t run the no-huddle, hurry-up style of offense that’s become the norm in the Big 12 Conference.



King and McFarland both played well over 50 snaps on Saturday. Without some help off the bench it could be into the 80s against teams like West Virginia or Oklahoma State.



The Sooners hope it won’t become a necessity. The door is certainly open on Walker and McGee playing this season, but all four are seniors. The Sooners must develop some young defensive tackles.



“We know they have to be ready to play. It’s important,” McFarland said. “As older guys, we have to try to teach them and things like that. They have amazing talent and all the tools to be great players. It’s just a learning process. The more reps they get the better they’ll be.”



Until then, King and McFarland will drink plenty of water and have their post-practice spots reserved in the ice tub.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • DSC_9471web.jpg Howe, Whatley shine at OU Showcase

    Claremore High School seniors Bryce Howe and Matt Whatley caught the eyes of several NCAA Division I and JUCO scouts Friday in Norman.
    Howe and Whatley, as well as Claremore’s Cole Weiesnbach and Cameron Smith, competed with the Bearcats — a competitive baseball team coached by Jenks’ Jeff Owens — at the University of Oklahoma Showcase.

    June 15, 2013 2 Photos

  • DSC_0119web.jpg ‘Staying close to home’

    Home is where the heart is.
    Claremore graduate Isaac Hollihan loves playing baseball and takes his academics pretty serious.
    For the next four years, Hollihan will continue his baseball career a short distance from his Claremore residence at Rogers State University.

    June 13, 2013 2 Photos

  • ORU announces soccer coaching changes

    With the recent resignation of longtime ORU men’s soccer coach Steve Hayes, the ORU athletics department has named Ryan Bush as the new head coach for the men’s soccer team, while Roger Bush will take over as the head coach for the women’s soccer team.

    June 17, 2013

  • ORU men's basketball to compete in Cancun Challenge

    Tournament officials announced the pairings for the 2013 Men’s Cancun Challenge, played at the Aventura Palace resort near Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

    June 17, 2013

  • Turang signs pro softball contract with Akron Racers

    Brianna Turang became the third member of Oklahoma’s senior class to join the National Pro Fastpitch ranks this week as she agreed to terms with the Akron Racers, it was announced Tuesday.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU's Ricketts wins Honda Sports Award

    Keilani Ricketts added to her already stellar resume on Thursday by winning the Honda Sports Award for softball for the second year in a row and becoming a finalist for the 2013 Honda Cup, the Collegiate Women Sports Awards announced.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU releases 2013 women's soccer schedule

    Head coach Matt Potter and University of Oklahoma Vice President/Athletics Director Joe Castiglione announced the 2013 soccer schedule on Thursday.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU men's basketball schedules European Tour

    The University of Oklahoma men's basketball team will travel to Europe this summer as part of a 10-day trip in which it will play games against international competition in preparation for the 2013-14 season.

    June 17, 2013

  • OSU releases 2013 women's soccer schedule

    Oklahoma State released its 2013 women's soccer schedule today, a scheduled highlighted by matches against nine opponents that made the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship last season, including two who played in the College Cup.

    June 17, 2013

  • Tony Allen to host Basketball Skills Academy in Stillwater

    Former Cowboy and current Memphis Grizzly Tony Allen will be hosting the Grit & Grind Basketball Skills Academy, July 29-31, inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. It is one of three camps the NBA player will be hosting this summer.

    June 17, 2013