Landry Jones Ready to Step Out of Bradford's Shadow

Jones has now fully embraced his role as team leader.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:55 am

By: News On 6

Landry Jones Ready to Step Out of Bradford's Shadow

Originally Published: Aug 31, 2010 6:32 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – As the days tick down to the Oklahoma Sooners’ first game of the season, much of the nation’s attention will be on full-time starting quarterback Landry Jones.

Jones took over for eventual No. 1 NFL Draft pick Sam Bradford last year, but Jones has said several times that it took him weeks to feel comfortable in the starting lineup. He also did not have a rapport with his supporting cast and was not the offense’s true leader. That has since changed.

“Working with the guys for an entire year going through the summer and fall camp with them, I kind of stepped into that role more and more.”

With a full offseason to grow into his role, Jones has become the vocal leader of the offense. His teammates named him a captain, and coaches have noted a new confidence and command he displays in the huddle.

“Now that we actually have a game, I feel like I’ve become more of a leader on this team,” Jones said. “So that’s just more work to do in that area. I feel like it’s come easier.”

Jones finished last season with 3,198 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, but also threw 14 interceptions. This summer, he focused on making good reads and not taking unnecessary chances.

“I think last year I didn’t do a good enough job of taking care of the ball, and that’s been a real emphasis with us during the spring and fall camp,” Jones said. “That’s one of the things we really emphasized, and I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better at that.”

Jones added that he has sensed a greater sense of urgency and a hunger for success this season that was absent last year. He said the entire team has bonded and is focused on getting the Sooners back to prominence.

“[Last season] we had a sense of entitlement going into games on Saturdays; just because we were OU we were going to win games. We kind of lost where we came from,” Jones said. “We actually have to work for stuff and we have to prepare like champions if we’re going to be called champions.”

Jones acknowledged that people will naturally draw comparisons between himself and Bradford. However, he also said he cannot be successful if he spends his time trying to be what Bradford was.

“My goal is not to be Sam Bradford,” Jones said. “Yes, he is a great player. And does he do some stuff really good? Yes, absolutely. But that’s not who I’m trying to be right now. I’m trying to be Landry Jones, the best player that I can be. So I’m really just trying to work on myself and improve on the areas I need to improve.”

Other Notes
- Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said true freshman Brennan Clay will see time both as a running back and slot receiver.

- Wilson and head coach Bob Stoops both stressed that the depth chart at receiver is not final. Wilson said the Sooners have an odd combination of young players who don’t have enough experience (like Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds) and older players who don’t perform consistently enough (like Cameron Kenney and Dejuan Miller).

- Stoops and Wilson also both said they like the depth OU currently has on the offensive line. Both have been impressed with true freshman and Mustang product Bronson Irwin, who Wilson said will get some playing time right away.

- Irwin will not be the only true freshman to see the field immediately. Wilson estimated as many as nine freshmen could receive significant playing time throughout the year on offense: Clay and fellow running back Roy Finch, receivers Stills, Joe Powell and Trey Franks, fullback Trey Millard, tight end Austin Haywood, and linemen Irwin and Austin Woods.