OU's Brody Eldridge, Auston English out for season
BY JAKE TROTTER, Staff Writer, jtrotter@opubco.com
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Published: November 10, 2009
NORMAN — The injury bug just keeps biting the Oklahoma Sooners.
Monday, coach Bob Stoops confirmed that both senior guard Brody Eldridge and senior defensive end Auston English will miss the rest of the football season with injuries they suffered Saturday at Nebraska. Eldridge suffered an AC sprain to his shoulder, similar to the injury that eventually knocked quarterback Sam Bradford out for the year. Eldridge tried to come back and play with the injury in the third quarter but only lasted a series. English ruptured a tendon in his ankle during the first quarter, forcing him to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines. Stoops said English is expected to undergo surgery to repair the tendon Tuesday morning. Eldridge and English are the eighth and ninth OU starters to be injured this year, and the third and fourth to suffer season-ending injuries, joining Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham. "That’s the way it goes,” Stoops said. "The guys behind them hopefully can play and step up, and that’s what needs to happen.” Eldridge’s injury is devastating for an offensive line searching for solidity. The former tight end, who became the first Sooner in modern history to start three different positions, was moved to center during the preseason to fill in for projected starter Ben Habern, who was dealing with an inflamed back. Eldridge started the season opener at center and graded out higher than any of the other linemen. After playing tight end for the next month, Eldridge was moved to the line again, this time to guard to replace injured starter Brian Simmons. Despite never playing guard before in his life, Eldridge continued to be one of OU’s best linemen. In his place, the Sooners will probably slide backup right tackle Jarvis Jones to right guard, and move right guard Stephen Good to the left side. "Losing Brody is tough,” said left tackle Trent Williams. English, meanwhile, hasn’t finished a season healthy since generating consideration for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year midway through his sophomore season three years ago. He missed the final three regular-season games in 2007 with a hairline fracture in his foot, and the final three regular-season games in 2008 with a sprained knee. English, who is second on the team with four sacks, will end up missing the final three games of this regular season, too. Sophomore Frank Alexander will start for English at end, while redshirt freshmen R.J. Washington and David King will share time as backups. Text "SOONER” to 65360 for your chance to winautographed OUmemorabilia. OU news text updates from NewsOK sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts.
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Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football, Injuries and Traumas, Sports Injuries
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Especially for Brody. I had heard he was going to get a shot at FG kicker and maybe even QB.
Limbs are designed for a particular range of motion. When pushed beyond that, injuries occur.
Certainly strength and conditioning can help to prevent some types of injuries like muscle strains and pulls.
Tears and ruptures are different though. Caused by exceeding range of motion. Ligament strength can not be improved by weight training, it just is what it is. Just bad luck.
Remember the ole cliche "S*&t Happens". Us Sooner fans can change it to "2009 Happens!" Injuries, close losses, weak offensive line, horrible kicking, questionable coaching. A close to great defense and we don't fumble much are positives. Just one of those years. Boomer Sooner!
Yes. A reasonable question. But the answer is the athletes are so big and strong and fast that the collisions have more impact. On the other hand, the connective tissues have not gotten as strong as the muscles and bones. And for whatever reason, injuries come in cycles. This is not a new thing. I know this response is not as satisfying as a neat blame somebody answer. But, it is reasonable.
Are the OU strength and conditioning coaches doing their jobs??
"Bad Luck" is probably not the reason behind so many injuries. Chance/Luck favors the prepared.