Westbrook may not play again.....

[CTOkie]

due to the cheap shot hit on him....that went undetected by the zebras.
My guess at this time is that he is no better than 50-50 for the Sugar Bowl.
I believe OU can win without him (especially if the Sugar Bowl foe is Auburn), even though that has not been the case so far this season.
That may have changed yesterday as OU dominated OSU in the second half with its running game and a few timely pass completions. Stoops said the Bedenbaugh made some changes on the o-line in the second half to open the flood gates for Perine and Mixon.
When Westbrook was at half strength against Houston and Ohio State, OU lost. When he was healthy, his presence rescued OU in the TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia games and put him into the Heisman discussions.
Clearly OU has great offensive players in Mayfield, Perine, Mixon, Flowers and Andrews, but without Westbrook, I do not believe OU is 10-2 right now.
I like seeing Mead, Jones and Lewis step up and if Smallwood continues to develop (and starts hanging on to passes consistently), OU should be okay in the bowl game and beyond. I think the sky's the limit with Mead and Smallwood. A.D. Miller and Dahu Green have potential, but they have shown so far to be "project" players.

 

[PryorFan]

Do you have a source for your comment on Westbrook? Hope it's not true for his future. Most in the stadium thought it was a cheap shot (and targeting) but the refs didn't see it that way.

 

[CTOkie]

Of course I do.
Associated Press write-up in this morning's Hartford Courant (written by Cliff Brunt).
Brunt wrote that " Westbrook has concussion-like symptoms and it's uncertain if he will be able to play in the Sooners' bowl game in January".....and added that "Bob Stoops would not say how severe the injury was".

 

[BillyRay]

CT do you really think that was a cheap shot on Westbrook? Looked like a pretty clean hit to me on Westbrook coming across the middle.

 

[CTOkie]

Hard to say if it was targeting or not, but the defender clearly had an intent to injure Westbrook.

 

[runningback43]

I think it was a clean hit. Just unfortunate that Dede got hurt.

 

[Oklabama]

Hard to say if it was targeting or not, but the defender clearly had an intent to injure Westbrook.

Again, the knock the shit out of the guy with the ball theory rather than tackling the player, wrapping up method that was once the standard taught. If the OSU DB had "tackled" Dede I think there would have been less chance of injury.

 

[BillyRay]

Again, the knock the shit out of the guy with the ball theory rather than tackling the player, wrapping up method that was once the standard taught. If the OSU DB had "tackled" Dede I think there would have been less chance of injury.

Why wrap up when you can hit the WR and knock the ball loose?? It would be no different if an OU DB nailed an opponents WR and knocked the ball loose and preventing a completion.

 

[BillyRay]

Hard to say if it was targeting or not, but the defender clearly had an intent to injure Westbrook.

No way of telling if he intended to injure Westbrook. Looks more like he intended to knock the ball loose as Dede was trying to haul a pass in more than anything to me. Just sucks that Westbrook got hurt.

 

[Oklabama]

Why wrap up when you can hit the WR and knock the ball loose?? It would be no different if an OU DB nailed an opponents WR and knocked the ball loose and preventing a completion.

Just a different way of looking at it, Billy. Today defensive backs rarely "tackle". They "hit" the player whether they are receiving the ball or running with ball and consequently they are more apt injuring themselves and/or the other guy.......and it results in too many misses. You have as much of a chance knocking the ball loose if you tackle properly. IM0.

 

[BillyRay]

Just a different way of looking at it, Billy. Today defensive backs rarely "tackle". They "hit" the player whether they are receiving the ball or running with ball and consequently they are more apt injuring themselves and/or the other guy.......and it results in too many misses. You have as much of a chance knocking the ball loose if you tackle properly. IM0.

I'm as big a proponent of players needing to tackle properly than anyone. But the situation Dede put that DB in wasn't a time to wrap up and tackle. Dede was right in front of him coming down with a pass so why not hit him and knock it loose?? Trying to go low and wrap up means Dede prolly comes down with that ball. The OSU DB did the right thing. Though I can certainly see where it can be looked at as a dirty hit, but that's the risk you always run with WRs coming across the middle like that.

 

[OUgradJeff]

I'm as big a proponent of players needing to tackle properly than anyone. But the situation Dede put that DB in wasn't a time to wrap up and tackle. Dede was right in front of him coming down with a pass so why not hit him and knock it loose?? Trying to go low and wrap up means Dede prolly comes down with that ball. The OSU DB did the right thing. Though I can certainly see where it can be looked at as a dirty hit, but that's the risk you always run with WRs coming across the middle like that.

BillyRay is correct. It was a clean hit. A DBs first priority is to break up the pass. That's exactly what he did. It's just an unfortunate play that is occasionally inevitable in a violent sport.

 

[Oklabama]

I'm as big a proponent of players needing to tackle properly than anyone. But the situation Dede put that DB in wasn't a time to wrap up and tackle. Dede was right in front of him coming down with a pass so why not hit him and knock it loose?? Trying to go low and wrap up means Dede prolly comes down with that ball. The OSU DB did the right thing. Though I can certainly see where it can be looked at as a dirty hit, but that's the risk you always run with WRs coming across the middle like that.

I see your point. BTW, we were not taught to go low necessarily. In that case, the DB would run through the receiver wrapping up his arms. Same as hitting him sort of but without turning one shoulder into the guy while not using your arms. I'm too freaking old to even make any sense. LOL.

 

[veritas59]

I hate that he got hurt, but I didn't see anything illegal. That was the same kid of he that we high-fived over when delivered by Brandon Everage. Part of it is on our QB for throwing a high ball over the middle in traffic. It leaves the receiver vulnerable for those types of hits. Happens all the time. I believe the commentators observed that the real damage happened when his head hit the turf. I tend to agree...... but what the hell do I know?

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Clean hit, good call. Knocking the shit out of a player in an effort to seperate the ball and the player is Football 101. I actually hope that DeDe sits out. He's got a future ahead of him on Sundays. There's a high risk & low reward for him playing in the Sugar Bowl. Besides, the team (younger WRs, Baker, & O-Line) have 12 games of experience since the beginning of the year. They've improved immensely. With or w/o DeDe, I think OU can take Auburn

 

[OUgradJeff]

Of course I do.
Associated Press write-up in this morning's Hartford Courant (written by Cliff Brunt).
Brunt wrote that " Westbrook has concussion-like symptoms and it's uncertain if he will be able to play in the Sooners' bowl game in January".....and added that "Bob Stoops would not say how severe the injury was".

To be fair, those are not so much reports as they are one person saying they don't know anything and another person saying they won't say anything. I don't think it's worth getting worried about yet. Most guys come back from concussions within a week or two.

 

[WP76]

Regardless of what was called on the field, the hit was questionable. What pissed me of what the utter classlessness of OSU players dancing and celebrating on the sidelines when Westbrook was lying on the field motionless. Pure douchebaggery on the part of a team whose fans whine so much about the Sooners.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Regardless of what was called on the field, the hit was questionable. What pissed me of what the utter classlessness of OSU players dancing and celebrating on the sidelines when Westbrook was lying on the field motionless. Pure douchebaggery on the part of a team whose fans whine so much about the Sooners.

It was a big hit. Clearly effective. If the roles were reversed, there would have been Sooners jumping up & down as well. Not to celebrate an injury, but to celebrate a hard hit. Ballplayers live for this stuff.

 

[Medic007]

Regardless of what was called on the field, the hit was questionable. What pissed me of what the utter classlessness of OSU players dancing and celebrating on the sidelines when Westbrook was lying on the field motionless. Pure douchebaggery on the part of a team whose fans whine so much about the Sooners.

They celebrated the play initially, but if you were watching on TV, you missed the OSU DB kneeling down near Westbrook and bowing his head when he realized Westbrook was down. Once the rest of the OSU sideline realized, they acted appropriately and clapped when Westbrook got up.

The problematic impact was Westbrook's head hitting the turf. There is zero speculation about his status at this point. He'll be evaluated in the next few days and decisions will be made from there. If I were a betting guy, I'd put my money on him resuming practice and playing in the bowl game. But it is only 24 hours post possible injury...

 

[soonermade]

Why would he miss the Sugar Bowl, that's a month away. No way he misses that game.

 

[CTOkie]

Anytime a receiver goes up for a pass and is exposed, he is fair game. But I believe in this instance he was given a cheap shot, whether it's defined as targeting or not.

 

[soonernacho]

He has nearly a month

due to the cheap shot hit on him....that went undetected by the zebras.
My guess at this time is that he is no better than 50-50 for the Sugar Bowl.
I believe OU can win without him (especially if the Sugar Bowl foe is Auburn), even though that has not been the case so far this season.
That may have changed yesterday as OU dominated OSU in the second half with its running game and a few timely pass completions. Stoops said the Bedenbaugh made some changes on the o-line in the second half to open the flood gates for Perine and Mixon.
When Westbrook was at half strength against Houston and Ohio State, OU lost. When he was healthy, his presence rescued OU in the TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia games and put him into the Heisman discussions.
Clearly OU has great offensive players in Mayfield, Perine, Mixon, Flowers and Andrews, but without Westbrook, I do not believe OU is 10-2 right now.
I like seeing Mead, Jones and Lewis step up and if Smallwood continues to develop (and starts hanging on to passes consistently), OU should be okay in the bowl game and beyond. I think the sky's the limit with Mead and Smallwood. A.D. Miller and Dahu Green have potential, but they have shown so far to be "project" players.

He has nearly a month to go through concussion protocol. I think odds are better than 50/50 just based on that. if game were next week much higher chance he misses game

 

[iasooner1]

He'll start & succeed in the Sugar Bowl; his last game as a Sooner and showcase for his 1st round selection in the draft

 

[CTOkie]

He'll start & succeed in the Sugar Bowl; his last game as a Sooner and showcase for his 1st round selection in the draft

You know that for sure at this time ?

 

[PryorFan]

Sitting in sec 31 with Westbrook coming at me, it looked like an excessive hit regardless whether it was targeting or not. That type of hit on a defenseless player should not be legal. Not once during the game did I see a Sooner DB make a hit like that.

 

[PtLavacaSooner]

Not once during the game did I see a Sooner DB make a hit like that.

LOLOL... It's been a while since Roy Williams played for the Sooners...

 

[BillyRay]

LOLOL... It's been a while since Roy Williams played for the Sooners...

Lol, ya if OU players ever get the chance to lay a hit like that, they will most certainly do it.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

LOLOL... It's been a while since Roy Williams played for the Sooners...

Agreed. We need a few slobber hitting players.

 

[Medic007]

You know that for sure at this time ?

He knows more than Cliff Brunt does...

 

[PtLavacaSooner]

You know that for sure at this time ?

Bob Stoops said Westbrook was fine. Held out for protocol but was laughing and being himself at halftime. He expects him to play in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[PtLavacaSooner]

Lol, ya if OU players ever get the chance to lay a hit like that, they will most certainly do it.

I'd hope, anyway.

 

[CTOkie]

Bob Stoops said Westbrook was fine. Held out for protocol but was laughing and being himself at halftime. He expects him to play in the Sugar Bowl.

That's what I want to know ! Thanks !

 

[Patriotgame]

it appeared, to me at least, that the OSU kid launched himself. I thought there were two different calls that available to officials

1) Targeting
2) Hitting a defenseless player

I would think #2 would apply...

 

[bcsoonerfan]

I don't believe the oSu had malicious intent but if we're going by the rules, it was illegal based simply on him lowering his head and hitting Dede with the crown of his helmet.

In a fair world, targeting would be called but the DB not ejected.

 

[iasooner1]

I believe the poke may have 'launched & targeted'; someone post the clip of the play as I'm not "skilled" to do so. No one ever said he lowered or led with his head...

 

[bcsoonerfan]

I believe the poke may have 'launched & targeted'; someone post the clip of the play as I'm not "skilled" to do so. No one ever said he lowered or led with his head...

I just mean he was looking at the ground and leading with his helmet.

 

[iasooner1]

All the commentators said "shoulder not head" but he may have launched said shoulder

 

[PtLavacaSooner]

The crown of the aggie helmet hits Westbrook in the jaw. The snap of his head is what boxers call the "knockout" punch, and for good reason.

This was targeting, by rule...

 

[humblesooner]

Wow. As I read the first few posts in this thread, I thought I must have been watching a different game than everyone else.
The crown of the DB's helmet CLEARLY hit Dede's head on the side (jaw area) of his helmet.
This was clearly a foul for targeting.
He led with the crown of his helmet (doesn't have to be the crown this year) and hit Dede in the helmet.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Even watching the vid, I sitl think it was a good hit, a bang bang play. The back of the helmet (not crown) makes contact but he never left the ground and he lead w/ his left shoulder pad.