Alex Ross Notes
Posted on: December 5, 2013
We’ve had some readers ask us to talk a little about where things stand with Alex Ross. A lot of folks have been surprised that he didn’t get more playing time so I will address what I’ve heard about that. Also, I had a chance to see Alex extensively in practice and throughout fall camp. I’ll offer some thoughts on that as well.
I know there we’re a lot of rumors indicating Alex may transfer. Everything credible that we’ve heard indicates that the rumor is absolutely not true. Everything I’ve heard leads me to believe that the lack of playing time was just a simple case of a young man still developing as a teammate and as a person. Playing football isn’t just about being physically ready, it’s also about being emotionally disciplined and mature. By all accounts Alex is a great young man and has a bright future but like a lot of us just needs a little time to gain the coaches trust. Alex threw a punch in a game earlier this season and though he was not thrown out of the game he was benched by Coach Stoops. Coach Gundy has always been known to run a tight ship and he demands that his players who may breach protocol earn their way back into the lineup by going through a process. This is why Coach Stoops has been so successful over the years. They are developing athletes and young men. Based on a recent conversation with someone close to the situation it sounds as though Alex is still going through the process that Oklahoma’s coaches demand. And we are hopeful that Sooner fans will get to see Alex on the field next year.
Here are a few notes on what I’ve seen from Alex:
– Sooner fans should have no doubt that Alex has the talent. Bob Stoops was very high on Alex Ross going into the season. Alex was even named the top performer in the August scrimmage.
– He gained 13 to 15 lbs of muscle
– Ross is excellent in a zone blocking scheme. With one cut he can be at full speed. And now that he is almost 220 lbs he reminds me a lot of Arian Foster.
– The offense coaches obviously noticed Alex’s physical talent in the scheme and during the fall they would tight up the OL splits to allow an easier transition to the second level
-What I like a lot about Ross is his acceleration. He hits the hole going full speed and looks to be a guy that can grind it out for 5 yards a pop with deceptive home run ability
19 Comments
Ace
Thanks for the report. I’ve heard Alex has a difficult time remaining on the practice field due to various injury issues. Any truth there?
Not Ace but he and I talked about it last night and he didn’t mention anything on that front.
Super K
That is good news. I knew that he had some injury issues in H.S.
Nothing to the injury thing at all. It’s all about needing to grow up a bit and be a great team player, which he’s becoming.
Whew ,thanks, neede to get away from Nick.lol.
No question!
Since none of them will venture over here to a non-“you-dare-mention-the-SEC-without-consulting-us” thread, let me just say… wow. I thought that Arkansas fans were the most delusional, classless fans in football… I stand corrected!
I’m sorry you feel that way JSam. This is a site we run as a hobby for OU fans and when we get information from credible sources that we feel our readers want to hear we run it. Nothing more nothing less. Just as our site is free for anyone to stay, you are also free to not visit our site. And to be honest if you’re not an OU fan then most of the content on our site isn’t relevant.
K, I think JSam was referring to all the Auburn, Alabama and even Texas people that came in to argue and insult one another while blasting this site for “poor journalism”.
I took all that with a grain of salt, but I did start getting aggravated when they started taking pot shots at you all for simply reporting what you heard. I also didn’t like the insults much, since this site is great as a very informative, yet low-key place for great information and friendly discussion.
I got you Billy and I appreciate that. What’s funny is people actually believe we wanted this publicity. We want our site to be for Oklahoma fans and we want it to be a civil place for people to talk about the team. We don’t even have the capacity to moderate the comments in that Nick Saban post. Actually considered deleting it so people would leave but we don’t want people to think we’re retracting what we said.
Well, it was disappointing to see so many people behave so negatively towards one another and towards you. Don’t really know you, but figure you to be good folks with no agenda other than to talk OU football and football related topics. So, I have a tendency to start getting mad when people automatically assume something about another person just because their emotions get the better of them.
But people are going to believe what they want, so whether you deleted the post or not, that won’t change positive or negative perception around your story either way. I think most of the people who have been following your site and participating on it understand you guys are straight shooters, so if someone else wants to think otherwise, well, then let ’em.
Agree with all this. Again – that was the aim of my original reply, it just didn’t come out that way. I read all your stuff as “this is what we have heard from people we trust” with the occasional “take it to the bank.” I’m a fan. Keep up the good work.
No, no – Billy was right! That was not a shot at this site in the least! I have thoroughly appreciated this site and it is practically my only stop for OU info BECAUSE of the way you guys do things! I was referring to the Bama/Auburn thread hi-jackers that totally took over the whole thing on a site that, prior to mentioning Bama, they could have cared less about. THEY were the ones I was taking a shot at – not the Brainiacs. They turned the comments on the Saban thing into what I don’t like about every other site out there. You guys do a great job. My apologies for not being more clear in my first post. Sarcasm does not translate from my head to the page very well…
I totally misunderstood you JS. My fault bud 🙂
I really think this kid is going to be trouble for would be tacklers next season. The fact any underclassman sniffed the field this season was actually kind of surprising with the experience that returned this year.
Ahhhh…..Back to normal it feels. While entertaining, the comments regarding the Nick Saban report were nearly as chaotic as Black Friday….Never seen so many people come out of the wood work ready to rumble……
I hear that. So much negativity out there.
Ross can come back from this and break out
We had a three back rotation this year full of good senior backs. Not sure I ever understood the reasons behind fans calling for him to get playing time this year. Seems like he and Ford should have redshirted and they’ll both get plenty of playing time next season because everybody in front of them will be gone. Ross will get his playing time.
Thanks Ace. I know some folks pretty close to Alex too and they laugh at the transfer stuff. Alex is a CONFIDENT young man and sometimes maturity is about humbling one’s self. I think that Alex is doing a GREAT job at that since the incident. He knows full well WHY he hasn’t earned more PT and he’s working on everything. He has the support of mom and sis who moved to Norman to help him as needed.
It’s never been a doubt of his abilities. He’s as good as anyone we have or maybe even better and that includes Ford. I’d rather have a mature 2 years of Alex than some of the others we are recruiting. Thanks for your update.
Ross is going to surprise only those people who haven’t seen him play. He’s got an edge to him and that’s why he got benched. He’ll mature and the ability will remain unchanged. He’s a baller for sure. He can juke people, run over them and can certainly run away from them. Sure wish OU could spring him with Ford in the mix as well today:-)