NORMAN — Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones started 10 games last season and played in all 13, but what he’s gone through the last couple months is all new.
Sure, he picked up game experience last season. But there’s a difference between being the starter and being the backup who was thrust into a starting role.
The difference is vast.
“Now, I have the starting job. I have more confidence, and I’m actually becoming a leader and actually saying this is my team and my offense,” Jones said Friday morning at OU’s Media Day.
Every quarterback says those words, but only the good ones believe what they’re saying.
Being a quarterback has always been about so much more than making the right throws. It’s about leading a team and making those around him believe they will win because he won’t let them lose.
It’s hard job, but Jones wants it. Teammates say they’ve seen him grow into since last season ended.
“He’s definitely a leader, a quarterback should be the leader and he’s the type of guy who’s a playmaker and wants to be the best. A quarterback who stays there hours after we’re done as a team,” wide receiver Ryan Broyles said. “Some quarterbacks prepare to be the best and I feel like Landry shows that.”
Jones did all the little things right since last season ended. He added 10 pounds of muscle and entered training camp at 225 pounds. The sophomore worked on getting faster and quicker in the offseason.
But above all else Jones has spent the last seven months trying to prove to his teammates he’s the one that can return Oklahoma to a championship level.
It takes a level of trust to do that. Jones may not have had it last season, but he does now.
“Being the quarterback at the University of Oklahoma is a pretty big deal As the year progressed, he slowly but surely realized, ‘Hey, I’m the guy. I don’t have to worry about battling anymore,’” running back DeMarco Murray said. “He was a little quiet last year, but this year he’s far from that. He’s chewing people out left to right. That’s what we need him to do.”
Jones admits becoming that “in-your-face” person is the toughest part. He’s quiet and reserved by nature. But the desire was evident.
“You can tell looking in someone’s eyes whether they’re really anxious to play, or they’re just trying to show you they are,” he said. “When Sam was injured in the BYU game, (Jones) genuinely could not wait to play, and he said he was excited about it and was confident about it. And then as the year went, on even with some rough spots, he never got down on himself; never chanced his demeanor and excepted the fact that ‘I’ve got to go through some growing pains.’”
Jones wasn’t alone. He was far from the only inconsistent part of OU’s offense. Receivers had more drops than a bad cell phone service. The offensive line, which was riddled with injuries, couldn’t open holes for running backs or build a decent pocket against quality teams.
Despite those problems, Jones threw for 3,198 yards and 26 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. He showed there was plenty on talent to mold.
But no one connected with OU is talking about passing yards or touchdown passes as a way to gauge Jones this season. The most impressive part of the Sooners’ six Big 12 Conference titles since 2000 is five different quarterbacks have led the way.
Jones’ performance will be looked at the same has Josh Heupel, Nate Hybl, Jason White, Paul Thompson and Bradford.
“We don’t talk much about stats in our room. We talk about wins and losses,” Jones said.
It’s all that really matters.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
