Lincoln Riley, as you've probably already heard is not doing his coaches show tonight because he's still not feeling well. I did ask OU if they could confirm if Riley attended practice today and Mike Houck told me he was at practice today. It appeared Lincoln was at the office as we left post practice.
SCOOPHD: Mike Stoops Post Practice
- Mike Stoops would not comment on the status of Kenneth Mann tonight. I can tell you that isn't a positive development. Mike almost always says if a guy has returned to practice and is expected to play when he is. He rarely refuses to comment on injuries and when he does, that usually means he won't be ready.
- With everything that's gone on this week, I doubt Lincoln will be available to the beat pool tomorrow night. I would say at this time I expect Ben Powers to be back in the starting lineup and that Mann is questionable at this time.
- Mike Stoops was asked if Tre Brown will be more involved in the defense this week against Texas.
"Tre will always be involved. We have three corners that we play a consistent amount with all three of those guys. He’s certainly going to be in the rotation."
- Mike Stoops on Ronnie Perkins
"Ronnie had an excellent game. You see his athleticism, his ability to make plays on his feet. Again, I think he’s just scratching the surface where he’s going as a player. He has the ability to make those plays that wow you because he is so athletic on his feet."
- I asked Mike Stoops about his thoughts on the tackling and to talk about the work they've been putting in during practice to tackle better moving forward.
"We’ve worked it. It’s been a big emphasis. We’re going to have to be physical in our tackles and start wrapping people up. I thought we had good position on the football in the majority of those plays on Saturday. We have to understand our leverage better and where our help is so all those things factor in it. Just being able to make the plays. I think we’re getting more and more guys where they need to be and that’s a positive. That’s where it starts. Now we just have to finish plays."
- Talked to Curtis Bolton which is always a pleasure. He admitted the Army game took quite a toll on him physically and he had to battle through the Baylor game pretty banged up. Caleb Kelly playing sounds like it was almost a necessary because he was just worn down.
He did sound like a guy who is starting to bounce back a lot better for Texas this week.
Here is Mike Stoops talking on Caleb Kelly and everything that's been happening with his development.
"I think it’s been hard for a guy that’s played as much as he has and has been a focal point of our defense. But again I think he understands his long-term ability and where he wants to be with that ability. To get in and have success, I thought he played well, very controlled. I think it gave him a lot of confidence. Again, we just kind of weigh our options and work with him. He works like he’s going to play every game and we just take it as the game comes. If those are the cards that are dealt, then he’s more onboard with whatever he needs to do for us and himself this year or next year. He’s been a great team guy and Buzzy has played well. The toll of the season, you can see how much it weighs on each individual. We’ll continue to weigh our options."
- Bolton was asked about scout team standouts. He said most of the guys on offense were already playing but he had praise for Marquise Hayes on the offensive line.
SCOOPHD: Mike Stoops Post Practice
- Mike Stoops would not comment on the status of Kenneth Mann tonight. I can tell you that isn't a positive development. Mike almost always says if a guy has returned to practice and is expected to play when he is. He rarely refuses to comment on injuries and when he does, that usually means he won't be ready.
- With everything that's gone on this week, I doubt Lincoln will be available to the beat pool tomorrow night. I would say at this time I expect Ben Powers to be back in the starting lineup and that Mann is questionable at this time.
- Mike Stoops was asked if Tre Brown will be more involved in the defense this week against Texas.
"Tre will always be involved. We have three corners that we play a consistent amount with all three of those guys. He’s certainly going to be in the rotation."
- Mike Stoops on Ronnie Perkins
"Ronnie had an excellent game. You see his athleticism, his ability to make plays on his feet. Again, I think he’s just scratching the surface where he’s going as a player. He has the ability to make those plays that wow you because he is so athletic on his feet."
- I asked Mike Stoops about his thoughts on the tackling and to talk about the work they've been putting in during practice to tackle better moving forward.
"We’ve worked it. It’s been a big emphasis. We’re going to have to be physical in our tackles and start wrapping people up. I thought we had good position on the football in the majority of those plays on Saturday. We have to understand our leverage better and where our help is so all those things factor in it. Just being able to make the plays. I think we’re getting more and more guys where they need to be and that’s a positive. That’s where it starts. Now we just have to finish plays."
- Talked to Curtis Bolton which is always a pleasure. He admitted the Army game took quite a toll on him physically and he had to battle through the Baylor game pretty banged up. Caleb Kelly playing sounds like it was almost a necessary because he was just worn down.
He did sound like a guy who is starting to bounce back a lot better for Texas this week.
Here is Mike Stoops talking on Caleb Kelly and everything that's been happening with his development.
"I think it’s been hard for a guy that’s played as much as he has and has been a focal point of our defense. But again I think he understands his long-term ability and where he wants to be with that ability. To get in and have success, I thought he played well, very controlled. I think it gave him a lot of confidence. Again, we just kind of weigh our options and work with him. He works like he’s going to play every game and we just take it as the game comes. If those are the cards that are dealt, then he’s more onboard with whatever he needs to do for us and himself this year or next year. He’s been a great team guy and Buzzy has played well. The toll of the season, you can see how much it weighs on each individual. We’ll continue to weigh our options."
- Bolton was asked about scout team standouts. He said most of the guys on offense were already playing but he had praise for Marquise Hayes on the offensive line.
