The Football Brainiacs

***Lincoln Riley isn’t buying into the one year and gone theory surrounding Kyler Murray.

“I have to think how I want to handle that. We will see if it’s his final year. That hasn’t been determined yet. I’m not worried about it if it is or if it isn’t. That’s going to have no impact on this year. Like. I’ve said the whole time, I’ve stayed out of the negotiations stuff with the (Oakland) A’s. That’s not my business. It’s his business. My hope through this whole thing is that Kyler is able to do what he wants to do. And if he wants to go play baseball after this year, then we’ll wish him well and be happy for him. But the ball is going to be in his court, which is where it should be.

 

***No timetable on the Sooners naming a starting quarterback.

“I don’t have one, really. Just kind of see how it goes. Obviously, if both guys re playing at a similar level and you get closer to the first game, you do start getting up against the wall a little bit. You have to make a decision. There have been times where that has been the case, where you felt like you could go as late as you could. Give them reps and continue to evaluate them. We’ve had times where it’s clarified really early and we’ve made the decision much earlier than that. I didn’t put a timeline on it. We’ll see how they play and where they’re at and base the decision off that.

We have to have (the decision) in time to get ready for the first game. Other than that, whatever that room does and whatever is best for this team, that’s what we will do.

 

***Riley was asked what he looks for on the first day of practice.

“You retain some of the schemes. There is always rust on techniques and stuff that you’re not able to do during the summer. But We’re at a good starting point. There is so much to go. We’ll get in and see the film and there will be a million corrections. The enthusiasm and mentality was good and I didn’t think our young guys were too hesitant. I think that was two of the biggest keys on the first day.”

 

***Riley explained how he is more comfortable on to start his second season as head coach

“I feel a little more settled. It’s not moving quite as fast for me. I remember I was the one who had to blow them up and break them down and all that stuff. It feels more normal now.

 

***Riley talked about what he is looking for from his quarterbacks to start camp

“Probably not trying to do too much. Those guys have been around here. They know what we’re doing, they’ve still got to get a lot better at it. Probably just playing within themselves. And then just the way they carry themselves. When they make a mistake, you just can’t sit there and think one mistake is going to kill me. You have to be able to play through the ups and downs, just like they will have to during the season. So, it’s definitely a marathon, not a sprint.

 

***Even though freshman quarterback Tanner Mordecai isn’t necessarily competing for the starting job, there is still a lot of attention being paid to him. According to Riley, these early days are just about learning the system.

“(Learning) langue, communication. Physical skills are good, but there is a ton to go mentally, like all young quarterbacks. But he’s doing well with it. He’s going to be fine. He has a good mind for it. The more reps he gets, the better he gets.

 

***Caleb Kelly and Jordan Parker getting used to new roles

“(Kelly looked good. He looked comfortable in there despite missing all the time I the spring. That position is a little tougher to evaluate, like a lot of these, until you get the pads on. But he is comfortable with our calls, knows what we want defensively. I thought Caleb looked comfortable, as well as Jordan Parker. Getting him back to safety is going to be a positive move for us as well.

 

***Priority for Sooners is replacing Demetri Flowers

“That’s a big spot for us. A big spot for our team. He brought a lot to this team. Not just offensively, but what he did on special teams as well. It’s going to be fun to watch. Another one that is tough to evaluate without pads. But I really liked what Carson Meir did during the spring. I think he is really going to put up a good fight for it, for sure. Jerami Hall continues to get better. A young, talented guy that is nipping at (Meier) heels We also have Colby Tillman over there, a walk on kid that we brought here from in-state.

 

***Battle for the starting center spot could depend on who works best with who will be the starting QB

“That is a factor as well. I think it will kind of depend on how that battle goes to. Do they have some influence on each other? Yes. Although, both of our quarterbacks have to be able to play with both of our centers.”

 

***Oklahoma President James Gallogly made an appearance at the Sooners annual ChampU BBQ

“It was an idea that we had to use the president. He is an important figure, obviously, for our university. Anytime we can get him around our guys, the players love it. Our guys have really gotten a chance to get to know him and they have appreciated that. He was a lot of fun, he was a great sport.

 

***What does it mean that Cody Ford is now weighing under 330 pounds

“Watching him in drills you can really tell he is moving well. I am definitely excited to see that.