NORMAN — Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops took just about all the blame after the Sooners gave up a school record 778 yards in their 50-49 victory over West Virginia.
On Monday, the mea culpa continued.
“It was criminal a lot of positions we put those guys in,” he said after Monday’s practice. “That’s our fault. It just wasn’t coached right. To their credit, he (West Virginia’s Tavon Austin) was fantastic. We couldn’t catch him and gave him too much space.”
Stoops spoke in general terms about the things that had to be fixed scheme wise. One thing he indicated is the seven-defensive back package OU frequently used against Baylor and West Virginia likely won’t be an option against Oklahoma State on Saturday. OSU running back Joseph Randle is too good for it to be an option.
However, Stoops believes the Cowboys are very similar to the Mountaineers in scheme, and that should help in their preparation.
As far as the West Virginia game goes, OU’s defense watched video Monday, but that was it.
Stoops still hasn’t looked at the stats. They weren’t necessary. The Sooners have team goals for every game based on opponent statistics.
“We didn’t reach any of them,” he said.
The whiffs: OU coach Bob Stoops said the Sooners had 20 missed tackles in the West Virginia game. Just about all them were whiffs trying to bring West Virginia’s Austin down.
“We haven’t had that in a long, long time,” Stoops said. But, again, the interesting part, I don’t want to sit here and not give Tavon Austin (credit) — obviously, he’ll get his credit, and he should — (but) the other guys run it 20 times for 62 yards. He ran it 21 for whatever (344). They didn’t run different plays with those other guys. So this guy can make some things happen and he hadn’t been in the backfield.”
Player of the week: The Big 12 named Sooner quarterback Landry Jones Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Jones threw for a school-record 554 yards against West Virginia in the Sooners’ 50-49 victory, breaking his own record of 505 set against Kansas State last season. Jones also tied his school-record single-game touchdown passes mark of six, originally set against Tulsa in 2009.
Jones has 15,624 career passing yards and needs 170 to overtake Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell (15,793) as the Big 12’s career leader in passing yards.
He is fifth in NCAA history and second in Big 12 history in career total offense with 15,262 yards. He needs 350 yards to bypass Harrell (15,611) for the all-time Big 12 lead in that category. He also owns 117 passing touchdowns, sixth all-time in NCAA history and second in Big 12 history.
Williams out: Bob Stoops said right tackle Darryl Williams will miss the rest of the regular season with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
“Hopefully he’ll be back for whatever bowl game there may be,” Stoops said.
Williams’ injury means sophomore Tyrus Thompson will make his third career start when the Sooners meet Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Bedlam on ESPN: The Big 12 announced Sunday that ESPN (Cox 29) will air the Bedlam game.
John ShinnFollow me @john_shinnjshinn@normantranscript.com
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