For the last three seasons, Oklahoma’s tight end play has gone relatively unnoticed. It’s been that long since Trent Smith caught 46 passes in 2002. Since, the tight ends’ role in the passing game has been a bit part.
Sure they blocked, but receptions were few and far between.
But OU’s 24-17 victory over Alabama-Birmingham signaled the days of obscurity may be over for the group.
Joe Jon Finley, a tight end, was OU’s leading receiver with four catches for 79 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown grab. Freshman Jermaine Gresham also added a 14-yard catch.
“One of the reasons why we are going to the two tight ends right now is because they are pretty good,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. “They are playing better than any tight ends that we have had around here in a while, and they are some of our best players right now. They give us good matchups.”
That was evident in the Sooners’ first scoring drive. Quarterback Paul Thompson hit Finley twice for two big gains, including the touchdown.
It was a simple matter of taking what the defense was giving. Every defense OU is going to play will load up to stop Adrian Peterson. Every step he takes catches the wandering eyes of linebackers and safeties.
Those are the same defenders who are supposed to be paying attention to tight ends.
Wilson noticed it early against UAB.
He intended to use a script for the first couple of series, but once he saw the attention Peterson was receiving, he decided to ad-lib.
“We lined up in that formation and we saw the coverage and what they were giving us on that play,” Finley said. “We ran it twice in a row. It was pretty much the same play. They did the same thing both times and luckily it opened up for a touchdown that second time for us.”
Things should continue to open up for Finley, a junior.
When he arrived at OU in 2003, he was as a skinny quarterback from Arlington, Texas. Through the years, he’s added size to his lanky 6-foot-6 frame. He currently weighs 255 pounds, 15 more than he weighed last season when he caught 13 passes with two going for touchdowns.
“He’s real physical and he’s definitely one of the hardest workers we’ve had in the offseason,” Thompson said. “I’ve gotten to know what type of athleticism he has. He showed it in that game and he’s played in many other games here as well and he’s made big plays. He’s definitely a player I like to go to — a big target with great hands — and he’ll be able to make some plays for us.”
And blocks.
The crackback he landed on UAB linebacker Orlandus King on Peterson’s 69-yard third-quarter touchdown reception was a highlight around the country.
Wilson said it was one of 19 times Finley put a defender on the ground.
“He showed what he is capable of and he has seen the great players that we have had do it week after week,” Wilson said. “He shows that he has a chance to be an upper-level player, but he could have a flash in the pan one game deal. But he practiced very hard and in a positive way to back it up in back to back-to-back great games, which is what great players do.”
It’s been three seasons since an OU tight end stood up and caught anyone’s attention. Finley did in the season opener and could do more at 2:30 p.m. Saturday when OU (1-0) faces Washington at Owen Field.
He thinks his performance against UAB was just a prelude of what’s coming.
“I am real excited about what happened in game and what can happen for the tight ends this season,” Finley said.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Related Photos
-
KEVIN ELLIS
Discussion
Big impact
The tight end is back in the OU offense
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners did not show up to play
Texas had something to play for. So there’s that. If the Longhorns are to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, this was just the kind of game they absolutely had to win....
-
With W.V. set free by Big East, Big 12 schedule’s out and it’s backloaded for Sooners
With West Virginia finally receiving its release from the Big East Conference on Tuesday, the Big 12 Conference was finally able to release its conference football schedule for the 2012 season....
-
Red River rut
The rut Oklahoma has been trying to escape for the last two weeks continued to grow deeper with a 69-58 loss to Texas Tuesday night at Lloyd Noble Center....
-
OU gearing up for Texas’ Brown
If Oklahoma guard Steven Pledger had his way, tonight’s meeting with Texas will come down to two players: himself and Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown....
-
Sooners will have a dramatically new look up and down the order, on the mound
The clubhouse at L. Dale Mitchell Park hasn’t changed over the last year. Just about everything else has since the 2011 baseball season ended. The locker stalls have 20 new nameplates. The coaches’ locker room has two new ones as well. ...
-
Despite hard fight, UConn wins big
By its own standards, the Connecticut team that took the floor Monday night at Lloyd Noble Center was not in the same class as its previous incarnations. But a down year for the seven-time national champions is still better than just ...
-
Believe it or not, OU women are progressing
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma appeared plenty willing to embarrass Oklahoma for a third time in seven games....
-
OU reeling from stunning loss to Texas Tech
As Oklahoma’s players headed toward the exit at United Spirit Arena on Saturday night, most had dazed looks on their faces. The 65-47 loss to Texas Tech was something they didn’t see coming....
-
Husky challenge
No time might seem like a good time to face Connecticut. The Huskies are always terrific and this season will enter Lloyd Noble Center likely ranked No. 2 following Notre Dame’s Sunday loss to West Virginia....
-
Sooners put finishing touches on perfect opener
Oklahoma capped off a perfect opening weekend of softball on Sunday with an 11-1 victory over Kent State. The Sooners were led by another strong outing from pitcher Keilani Rickets and an offensive explosion by Allee Allen....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners did not show up to play
