Published: October 06, 2008 12:06 am            

Granger coming back?

OU football notepad

Oklahoma remains hopeful it will get defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger and defensive end Frank Alexander back for the Texas game. Granger has missed the last two games with a foot injury and Alexander has been out since the first week of the season while recovering from a stab wound to his right arm.

“We’ll see,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “There’s a chance of that. I don’t know if I’m optimistic or skeptical or what, but there is a chance of it. We’ll just see as we go through the week.”

Perfect day

Middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds made a season high 14 tackles against Baylor, including two for losses. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said it was about as good a game as one of his linebackers has ever played.

“He graded out at 100 percent. I don’t know that I’ve ever had that before,” he said of Reynold’s performance. “I tried to be very nit-picky and he graded out at 100 percent. He does a lot out there. I thought after the game that he played very well and it only confirmed watching the video.”

Reynolds currently leads the Sooners with 41 tackles through the first five games.

Can’t wait to see it

OU fans will get their first in-person look at the refurbished and expanded Cotton Bowl Saturday. The seating capacity has been upgraded to 92,000 with a full deck surrounding the stadium. The expansion will allow an additional 12,000 fans into the game from last season.

Stoops is also anxious to see the expanded venue.

“It can only improve it and I’m sure it will,” he said. “I’m anxious to see it, I haven’t even paid attention to any schemes or designs of it, so it will be all new to me. I’m sure it will be exciting and I’m sure it will make it a little louder. It will just add to the already great atmosphere.”

Improvement needed

Running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown are both averaging over 4.7 yards per carry and have combined for 11 touchdowns. But offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson doesn’t believe either has played at peak form through the first five games.

“We need to get them practicing a little better. They haven't been the best,” he said. “I think both Chris and he (Murray), coming off knee injuries, sometimes it’s been a little hard for them to maybe have the velocity in practice that you want them to have, so hopefully as they play through the season, we'll see if their performances increase.”

The Texas game would be a good week to do it. Murray rushed for 128 yards and had a 65-yard touchdown run in last season’s game.

        

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