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Stoops talks about OU's 36-30 win
Inside the Red Room Saturday
By Spectator Staff
(2005-11-13)
NORMAN — Oklahoma scored 28 first-quarter points and rolled up over 500 yards of offense against Texas A&M on Saturday. Those are pretty impressive numbers for any offense, much less one led by a redshirt-freshman quarterback and a sophomore running back.
The most important number was good, too — a final score that read 36-30 in favor of the Sooners.
Despite picking up its fourth straight victory, OU had to be somewhat concerned with the fact it is yet to put together four good quarters in a game this season. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops spoke to the media about the details of his team’s triumph afterward in the Red Room of the Switzer Center. The following are excerpts from that postgame press conference:
Bob Stoops’ Opening Statement, talking about the game being an offensive showdown...
Pleased for our offense, but not so excited about it defensively. I’m sure it was entertaining to everybody. But it’s good to win, to be at six wins, another win in our league and our division, four in a row — all of that is positive. Hopefully, we can continue to build on it. Felt like we could have played better, obviously, in some areas. But still, to win is good. Maybe that’s a good sign, we’re back to where we win (and) we’re not satisfied with it and it’s not good enough. In a way, that’s a little bit good.
Question: Your offense started out very well in that first quarter. What were your impressions?
Stoops: We did come out and really play well offensively, really and defensively to start the game. Wish we could have continued it a little longer and kept it a little better. But we still were able to get off to a strong lead and do what we needed to do to win the football game.
Q: Seems like you guys are making it exciting, one way or the other, in these fourth quarters?
Stoops: Yeah, unfortunately. Texas A&M, too, I want to compliment. We knew coming in that offensively they have moved the football on everyone. When you look at the circumstances, they did a good job of taking care of the football. If you look at their yards and where they are at in our league in yards and points, moving the ball — they’ve been a good, strong offense. Although I do believe we are capable of playing better in some areas, they did an excellent job and have got good players to run their offense.
Q: A&M did a good job of balancing the run with the pass. Were you surprised by their effectiveness, especially on the option?
Stoops: Well, I feel we could have played that a lot better. We’ve seen that before, it’s never been an issue to that degree. There is no reason we can’t (do a better job with our assignments), make our reads and be in (better) position. Then again, at times we’re in position and fall, don’t tackle the guy. Again, I believe we can play that a lot better than we did (today).
Q: Is there anything about the last two games and why your offense has played better going against the wind than with it?
Stoops: I don’t know that today it was such a great advantage outside of the kicking game, because it was gusting so much that even if you had the wind and you’re throwing it, it’s going to blow it... A lot of times I felt it blowing in a strong way across from East to West, coming at me, several gusts regularly. So I don’t know that it was real helpful today.
Q: The big third-down pass to (Juaquin) Iglesias — not a gutsy call, but it shows you have tremendous belief in your freshmen...
Stoops: We were talking about what we were going to do and I said we need to pick up a first down here and we’re not going to be conservative and run a draw or screen. I said get your best pass (play) and let’s protect it and let’s throw it. I said throw the ball down field and fortunately Coach Long made a great call. He and Coach Wyatt were talking about what they felt would work best. Juaquin separated himself, ran a great route and Rhett stuck it right on his chest. And the protection was there. It was well execute and really iced the game.
Q: Talk about the performance of J.D. Runnels...
Stoops: He’s such a good player. I’ve been bragging on the guy now for three or four years now. He’s a tough, strong fullback — but he’s more than that — he’s a good athlete. He can play about any position on the field and he certainly made some exceptional plays out there today.
Q: What did you think about the way Allen Patrick played?
Stoops: Allen Patrick, as everyone is getting a chance to see, is really a strong and good athlete. He is another guy who can play multiple positions. He was an excellent running back in high school and that’s where we got (the idea). When we got thinned out by all of the injuries, we moved him there and it really fit him. He’s a real natural at it. It fit him and he’s tough. He’s a guy who likes contact and he’ll continue to improve for us.
Q: How did you feel about the way Rhett (Bomar) played today?
Stoops: He threw the ball well all day and it was gusting, I don’t care whether you had the wind or not. It was difficult down there. But (Rhett) throws such a good football, (the wind) doesn’t effect his so much. I thought he and Malcolm Kelly, Travis Wilson, Juaquin Iglesias late – really did a nice, all of them working together. When (Rhett) had protection, he was very solid and very good. He threw the one bad ball, but outside of that, he was very good.
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