Cooks adjusting without Sunderland
Oklahoma defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks felt comfortable with his safety corps after the spring, but
Will Sunderland’s legal problems, and his subsequent suspension, sent Cooks scrambling a bit.
“Football’s a fluid situation,” Cooks said Wednesday at OU’s preseason golf event at Jimmie Austin Golf Club. “You always have an anticipation of the guys that you think are going to be there but that can change in a matter of 30 minutes to an hour. We’ve got enough depth; we’ve got enough young guys that have played for us that it’s just a matter of putting the guys in the right position to make plays.”
Cooks mentioned Will
Johnson and Kahlil Haughton as key pieces at safety alongside veteran Steven Parker.
“We’ve got some pieces in place, but who’s going to step up and really want to own that spot?” Cooks said.
He also mentioned freshman Robert Barnes, who suffered a broken leg early last season playing for Southlake (Texas) Carroll, as a possibility to find playing time as well.
“He’s my darkhorse,” Cooks said. “I’ve seen him moving around this summer. … You would never know that he was coming off an injury that he came off of. So he moves exceptionally well for his size.”
Thibodeaux, McNeill working well together
A year ago, Calvin Thibodeaux coached the entire defensive line.
But with the Sooners moving to more of a four-man front and Lincoln Riley’s ascension to head coach while retaining quarterback coaching duties, the Sooners added Ruffin McNeill to coach the defensive tackles while Thibodeaux takes the defensive ends.
“All that experience and wealth of knowledge that it brings, it really does make our side of the ball better,” Thibodeaux said. “I really believe that already.”
But unlike when the Sooners split defensive backs coaching duties initially with Mike Stoops’ return a few years ago, OU’s defensive linemen will apparently remain in the same meeting room.
“I really think we’re gonna benefit each other,” Thibodeaux said. “They say it takes two to make a thing go right. To have two sets of eyes up front is really a blessing. When I was here (playing), we had Coach (Jackie) Shipp and Coach (Bobby Jack) Wright. When I was at Tulsa, we did it that way. I had the inside guys and another guy had the outside guys. I’m used to this format, so I’m pretty comfortable with it.”
Humphrey strong, but can he crack the lineup?
Another freshman, offensive lineman Creed Humphrey of Shawnee, has drawn praise from teammates and coaches.
But it might be a tall task for Humphrey to avoid a redshirt season with the Sooners returning eight offensive linemen with starting experience from last season, including centers Erik Wren and Jonathan Alvarez. Alex Dalton also was brought in as a center, though he started a game at guard last season.
“I haven’t made any decisions on that,” offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said. “We’ve got two seniors in front of him that are pretty good players. Alex Dalton is a pretty good player. If we didn’t have those guys, would I feel good about Creed playing? Right now, if he’s improved from the spring, yes I would. But we’ll see.
“He wants to play. He’s got some things that you can’t coach.”
Simmons excited about WR competition
Each of the last two springs, outside wide receiver coach Dennis Simmons has come into fall camp with the question of who would be his top receiver paramount.
Last year, it turned out that Dede Westbrook was not only an adequate fillin after Sterling Shepard’s departure to the NFL but Westbrook wound up being the top deep threat in college football and won the Biletnikoff Award as the top overall receiver in the game.
Now, with Westbrook gone, the role as top receiver is once again open. Simmons said Wednesday he thought the openness the last two seasons helped his group.
“Now, every kid is walking in there understanding that I have a legitimate chance to compete,” Simmons said. “I continue to lean toward that aspect rather than relying on that one guy. I think guys like LeBron (James) are great players but it takes a community and it takes a team to win championships.”