John Shinn
What’s a little competition among friends?
Apparently, it’s everything to Oklahoma’s linebackers.
Each Monday, strongside linebacker Clint Ingram, middle linebacker Zach Latimer and weakside linebacker Rufus Alexander add up the statistics from the previous game. Each is hoping to have one-upped the other two.
Tackles, turnovers, sacks.
You name it and the trio is keeping track.
Why all the interest in statistics?
“Competition will make you go a little bit harder,” Alexander said. “Beating your friends is always a good accomplishment.”
And the friendly competition is helping the Sooners come Saturday. Alexander is the team leader with 53 tackles and Latimer close behind with 46. Ingram has 28, fourth most on the team.
Those are numbers Alexander is quick to point out when reminded about Ingram’s team-leading three interceptions.
“He’s two up on me and I’m going to try to get him,” he said.
He’ll get his chance at 6 tonight when OU (3-3, 2-1 Big 12) faces Baylor (4-2, 1-2) at Owen Field.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables, also the position coach for the linebackers, doesn’t mind the competition one bit. He loves the idea that each is trying to out-do the other. And why not? All three are willing to do the hard work, on the practice field and in the film room, to get any kind of an edge.
“They’ve done a good job of knowing what’s coming in what situation, particularly with Zach and Clint,” he said. “Rufus has always had it. But the other two have learned how to be students in that regard and take a lot of pride in it.”
For Ingram and Alexander, the process began last season, starting the entire season at the strongside and weakside linebacker spots.
Both put up good numbers, but more than anything else, brought an infectious energy their teammates seem to feed off.
Latimer joined them this season in the middle this season and believes having the tandem on his flanks has helped immensely.
“Rufus and Clint are both out there calling out plays and formations as soon as they come up to the line of scrimmage,” he said. “They’re making it real simple for me and the transition to a starter a lot easier.”
They have made it easy enough to allow him to get involved in the big-play game they have going. He’s also forced a fumble and recovered another.
But last Saturday’s game against Kansas belonged to Ingram and Alexander
Ingram picked off a pass that led to a field goal that put OU up 10-0 early in the game. In the third quarter, Alexander added an interception on an exceptional indivudual play, ripping the ball away from a Kansas receiver at the goal line, to end the Jayhawks’ last scoring threat.
Of course, in the game of one-upsmanship, those types of playes are needed. Forcing turnovers carry a lot of weight in their little competition.
“When they lose the ball like that or a good play is made by the defense, it sucks the soul right out of other teams,” Ingram said.
Alexander, Latimer and Ingram live for that and are well aware of who’s doing the most to make it happen.
Venables doesn’t really care about the competition his linebackers have going. What he cares about is the way the threehave come together and have done everything to help one another out.
“They all understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “They feed off each other emotionally. They have a great cohesion and chemistry about them. There’s a great deal of trust. They help each other every single play. It’s been fun to watch.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
