Coach Stoops met with the media for the first time in several weeks and as you can tell by his little sarcastic quip in the open there that he didn't exactly miss them. Oh Bob, you cantankerous curmudgeon, you.
Stoops was his typical self, very reluctant to give up any significant details but at this point we pretty much take whatever we can get.
Here is a quick recap of some of the topics Coach Stoops addressed Tuesday.
Stoops initially opened talking about a guy who could be one of the most talked about players in the Big 12 this year and that's WR Trey Metoyer. For the most part, he's just drawing attention locally (though plenty of it) but expect that to change once they start playing games that count.
Stoops was asked (by our boy Jake Trotter I believe) if Metoyer could make the same type of impact as a freshman that Kenny Stills did a couple years ago. Stoops answered with an emphatic "absolutely." Said Metoyer has the size, speed, work ethic to do all the same things Stills did as a freshman.
The big take away from this, or at least the story that most of the guys who cover OU are trying to make it, is Stoops' reaction to the question of Landry Jones going out to work with QB guru George Whitfield. The reason it's a story is because Stoops revealed that he did not know Landry was planning on doing it and didn't find out about it until after the fact. To be fair to the media guys, when you get to that point on the video above, Stoops does seem to get pretty defensive about it. He's very quick to bring up their track record of developing quarterbacks and putting their record of success up against anybody. Personally, I don't really think it's that big of a deal. It's not like Stoops doesn't come across as defensive in most of his responses to practically any question, so not much to see here in my opinion.
Asked about the guys behind Landry Jones, Stoops was pretty noncommittal. Obviously the question is asked with respect primarily to Blake Bell (sorry Drew), his development, and to see if Stoops would slip up giving some type of clue that he could be called the backup now. Silly reporters, this is not Stoops' first rodeo. "You shall get nothing and like it! Peons."
You may or may not remember the stories that were out there in the beginning of spring practices about Blake Bell playing some tight end. The Sooners are short bodies there and Bell was filling in there some to help out, but Stoops says that is no longer happening. Anybody else hoping to see Bell lined up at TE, say in a goal line package maybe, at some point this season?
Stoops says that Lane Johnson moving from right to left tackle has not been an issue (cough, yeah right, cough). Says it is really just about experience and that Johnson "is pretty ambidextrous" and that it has been pretty easy for him. (I'm still going to have to see this in a game to believe it.)
Stoops is optimistic that this year's offensive line can be more physical. Says it's just about more experience playing together, more time in the weight room, and having that attitude that you want to be physical.
Asked about the secondary, Stoops had this to say.
Lamar Harris continues to do a good job. He and Joe Powell continue to get the most action in there. They're doing well with it. Julian Wilson has looked good. The safeties, overall, have done a really good job. There's always an opportunity to possibly put Aaron Colvin there (at corner) as well. But he's not going right now. Kass Everett has done a really good job in the short time he's been here, he shows promise. Gabe Lynn has been playing safety and nickel and been doing really well with it.
Fan favorite, Trey Millard has apparently been dubbed 'Slash' by Coach Stoops for all the different ways they have been using him so far. Stoops said he has been playing fullback, H-back, tight end, and tailback. I know what you're all thinking, "That's all well and good coach, but does that mean he'll actually get to touch the ball more this year?" Right? Time will tell, but if they move him around within the offense as opposed to taking him off the field it can only help his chances of getting more touches.
Not Coach Stoops, but WR coach Jay Norvell met with the first time since his Twitter "incident" awhile back and was asked about the situation.
"I'm not really allowed to talk about it," Norvell said. "It's the way of the world. (Twitter) is not going away. We try to use it the best we can and use it to our advantage. But more than that I'm not really allowed to talk about."