Sooner DBs fired up to face Tech
Oklahoma at Texas Tech

By Scott Wright

Published: November 9, 2006

Nic Harris, too.

When you only get to play defense in passing situations, it's easy to get fired up to play Texas Tech. Against the Red Raiders, every down is a passing situation.

"I love it," said Harris, Oklahoma's fifth defensive back.

Oklahoma will often have five or six defensive backs on the field Saturday, which is much the same way it defended Missouri two weeks ago.

That was a special day for Baker. He was on the field for 32 snaps and had a team-high nine tackles, along with one pass break-up.

"I'll definitely be part of the package this week. Hopefully I'll make some plays," said Baker, who is a linebacker in a strong safety's body.

And at times he plays like both.

"I'm kind of a hybrid," he said. "I feel it fits me.

"It puts me in a lot of positions to make plays. I've just got to be ready to make a play when I'm out there. I get limited reps, so I've just got to be ready to go."

While the look of the defense will be similar to what it was at Missouri, the quarterback it faces is much different.

Missouri's Chase Daniel was often a threat to run the ball. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell isn't usually looking to take off, but he's a much better passer — especially in the last three weeks.

He responded to a 30-6 loss to Colorado on Oct. 14 with 1,370 yards in the next three games, including a near-upset of Texas.

He became the third Texas Tech quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in a two-game span with 1,002 yards against Texas and Baylor.

"You go back and look at his first games of the season compared to now, he's much more in command, making much better decisions, playing with a lot of confidence," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

"He's putting it in some tight places now against good people, which is indicative of his confidence level, particularly the last month."

Bob Stoops said — and Tech coach Mike Leach agreed — that the Red Raiders' recent success is as much a byproduct of the entire offense playing better as it is Harrell's individual improvement.

"I would say, overall, everybody's more consistent," Stoops said of the Tech offense. "It isn't just one guy. It's everybody together being more consistent. (Harrell) is playing really well, but the guys around him are playing really well, too."

Harris says there's one key to stopping Texas Tech's offense. And it must happen before Saturday night.

"It's more practice than it is game time," Harris said. "Practice, you're taking all the lumps, understanding the receivers' routes and learning what we've got to do.

"The game, that's the easy part."

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