Last week at Kansas, Oklahoma cornerback Brian Jackson and Kansas receiver Dezmon Briscoe became very well acquainted. The two lined up across from each other frequently.
"It was all day," Jackson recalled.
It was the matchup Kansas wanted. Last year, the Briscoe terrorized the Sooners for 269 receiving yards. A lot came by beating Jackson on routes.
Last Saturday was a different story, however.
Jackson got in Briscoe's hip pads and stayed there, holding one of the Big 12's best receivers to seven catches for 60 yards. The performance came a week after Jackson was glued to Texas wideout Jordan Shipley and made him a non factor in the Red River Rivalry.
"Being matched up with the two receivers the last two weeks, being right on top of them, he's been incredible," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "He's really held them down. Neither of them had a big play and caught very few plays. Not that he was on them every single play, but he was on them the majority of the game. He knew that if we were going to have a good defensive day, he had to show up and play great, and he did."
Those are just the latest achievements for the Sooner defensive back. He failed to get an interception against the Jayhawks, ending a streak of four straight games with a pick.
On a defense full of stars living up to their potential, Jackson is having as good a season as anyone. And OU is reaping the benefits.
One of the biggest reasons the Sooners have been so dominant defensively is the play of Jackson and fellow cornerback Dominique Franks. The pair have consistently locked down wide receivers through the first seven games.
An opposing receiver hasn't had 100 receiving yards this season. Last season, five managed to do it.
Jackson is a big reason the numbers have dipped.
"Brian is a little bit different guy than he was last year," Sooner defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright said. "I think it's pretty apparent that he's a much better player. He's much more confident and he's playing really good right now."
Jackson showed he had talent in his first season as a starter. He had 72 tackles and two interceptions, but even he admits he didn't bring the same level of play every game.
Playing cornerback isn't about being spectacular, it's about being consistent. Mistakes are magnified at the spot. If a defensive tackle misses a tackle, it might turn into a 6-yard gain. When a cornerback has an error, it usually turns into six points.
Jackson proved he could cover receivers when he broke into the starting lineup. But it takes more than that to elevate him to a special player. Jackson's biggest improvement has been in the days leading up to Saturday.
He was reacting to what was coming at him last this season. This year, he's been anticipating. It takes hours of watching video to understand situations and tendencies of opposing teams. It also takes a full understanding of the pressure that comes with playing cornerback.
"He understands that if he's a position where if he screws up or takes a play off or gets his eyes in the wrong place, we could lose this game," OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "He's playing that way. I've been really proud of him for taking on a more mature approach to everything. It's paying off for us big time."
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
Sports
Cover corner
- Sports
-
-
Bulldogs are Tigers’ last chance at regular season win vs. elite team
No one can say that the Norman High boys haven’t proven that they can play with the top teams in the state. But what is true is that the Tigers can’t yet claim that they can beat those same teams they’ve gone toe-to-toe with this season....
-
Sooners open season with World Series aspirations
The Sooners haven’t even taken the field yet, but there is already talk of a national championship floating around the Oklahoma locker room. The Sooners will take the first step toward that goal when they open the season at 1:15 p.m. ...
-
Schedule easing up for Sooners
For some time, the Oklahoma women have been done no favors by their schedule. That may still be the case, but not for much longer....
-
Little Axe starts Dual State with No. 1 Perry
The Little Axe wrestling program is at Dual State for a fourth straight season, but the Indians face an uphill climb to make it out of the first round....
-
Sooners using roller-coaster season as motivation
Oklahoma’s women’s gymnastics team has been anything but consistent. After dominating its season opener, the Sooners fell to No. 7 Oregon State and No. 9 Nebraska before trouncing then-No. 2 Arkansas....
-
Red Wings, Leafs to play at Big House
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs will began 2013 by renewing their rivalry at one of North America’s most iconic stadiums....
-
Tennessee State hands No. 9 Murray State first loss
MURRAY, Ky. — Steve Prohm had never lost a game as a head coach. He doesn’t think much of what his first loss will do for his sleeping habits....
-
Sooners have to eliminate mistakes that are costing them wins
It was a typical practice for Oklahoma on Thursday. The long workout had a lot of energy and precision. It mirrored many it has had over the last three months....
-
Vanderbilt upsets Lady Vols
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb sprayed the student section with the ice water from her cup, then slapped high fives before finally heading off the court. A win over Tennessee is something to celebrate no matter how ...
-
All-star nod for Dirk
NEW YORK — Dirk Nowitzki’s streak survives, despite one of the worst seasons of his career....
- More Sports Headlines
-
