OU football notebook: Ronnell Lewis setting the tone

Freshman linebacker Ronnell Lewis has helped turn OU’s kickoff return team from a weakness into a strength.

A big strength.

On last weekend’s second kickoff, Lewis popped star Kansas wideout Dezmon Briscoe right in the chest. Briscoe, having the breath knocked out of him, had to leave the game for a couple plays.

For his efforts, Lewis was OU’s special teams player of the game.

"He can really bring it on coverage,” coach Bob Stoops said. "He’s got a lot of power and punch to him. He’s really starting to figure things out. He has a chance to be a really good player.”

Among the plays that offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson tried with Landry Jones back at quarterback last weekend was the zone read. A zone read is when the quarterback has the choice of either handing off to a running back or keeping the ball himself, depending on what the opposing team’s defensive end does.

On OU’s fourth play from scrimmage, Jones kept the ball on a zone read and caught the entire Kansas defense off-guard. He rushed for 15 yards to the KU 11, setting up a Sooner touchdown.

"Yeah, it was pretty fun running the quarterback game,” Jones said. "After watching the tape, I could have scored, but you always see different stuff after you watch the tape. Hopefully the next time I will get into the end zone.”

Wilson called the zone read later in the game, with opposite results. Jones kept the ball, but this time made the wrong read and was smashed behind the line of scrimmage for a loss.

Before watching film over the weekend, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy didn’t know anything about Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas.

But McCoy came away "very impressed” with Thomas, who leads the Big 12 in rushing, and the Wildcats’ rushing attack.

"You didn’t expect that from K-State, because they had (quarterback) Josh Freeman last year,” McCoy said. "That running back they have is really good.”

For the third straight week, the Sooner defense faces a receiver who lit them up last season.

So far, OU has exacted its revenge. The Sooners have shut down Texas’ Jordan Shipley (4 catches, 22 yards) and Briscoe (7 catches, 60 yards) the last two weeks.

Up next is K-State wideout Brandon Banks, who torched OU for 145 yards receiving and a touchdown last season. Stoops noted his defense will have to maintain its level of play to contain Banks, too.

"He’s a very explosive, fast and excellent player,” Stoops said. "He has that quickness and speed to make those big plays. Whether you’re covering him on offensive plays or covering him on returns you have to be really great at tackling and getting into positions to make plays and working together with whoever you’re working with.”

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