Maybe practice doesn’t make perfect. Maybe, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops appeared to imply, it can actually make a team worse at something.
Currently the Sooners rank 104th out of 119 bowl subdivision teams in kick return defense, allowing 24.87 yards per return.
“We’re working to get it more consistent,” Stoops said. “At times it’s been good, but at other times it can be a lot better.”
Only three of Matt Moreland’s 34 kickoffs have been touchbacks, which means 91 percent of his kicks are being returned. Last season, Garrett Hartley put the ball into the end zone for touchbacks on 29 of his 104 kickoff, meaning about 70 percent of his kicks were returned.
“The more opportunities they get, they’re going to find something that isn’t perfect,” Stoops added. “I don’t see a lot of people putting them out (of the end zone) on anyone. It’s not that easy.”
Injury update
Offensive tackle Trent Williams and tight end Jermaine Gresham both practiced Monday. They were limited in the TCU game due to injuries they suffered in the first half. Williams hurt his right ankle and Gresham injured his left shoulder.
Offensive tackle Branndon Braxton did not practice Monday due to a leg injury. Stoops said he expects Braxton to return to practice today.
It’s a quarterback’s conference
Bradford has a passing efficiency rating of 209.1. It puts him No. 3 in the country through the season’s first five weeks. What’s incredible is four of the top 5 and nine of the top 20 all play in the Big 12 Conference.
Texas’ Colt McCoy is No. 2 (209.7), Missouri’s Chase Daniel is No. 4 (193.4), Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson is No. 5 (192.4), Kansas State’s Josh Freeman is No. 8 (175.8) and Baylor’s Robert Griffin is No. 10 (171.3).
Kansas’ Todd Reesing is No. 18 (154.4) and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell is 20th at 153.6.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Why can't Sooners cover kicks
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