The Woodward News

Sports

Related Photos

  • Freshman Taylor McNamara wound up redshirting with a shoulder injury this season, but is expected back at full strength in the fall. (Transcript Photo)

    Freshman Taylor McNamara
December 22, 2012

Shinn at 3 p.m.: Tight ends will be back

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Oklahoma fans noticed it early in the season. Now that the regular season is over, OU offensive coordinator Josh Heupel admitted the offseason changed things because of the absence of one position — tight end.

No tight end has caught a pass since September.

The position became an afterthought by the midway point in the season.

Only junior Brannon Green still technically plays the position. Sophomore Geneo Grissom was moved back to defensive end late in the year. Freshman Taylor McNamara wound up redshirting with a shoulder injury.

“It’s changed us a bunch,” Heupel said. “That was one of the intriguing things with (quarterback Landry Jones) making a decision to come back (for his senior year). He made a decision to come back knowing we weren’t  going to be the same offensively and in some ways it’s a brand new  offense. I think our kids got better as the year progressed, and we got better in it.”

Improving the position for next season will be critical.

OU coach Bob Stoops doesn’t expect the position to be on the back burner for long. McNamara should be healthy by next season. OU also redshirted freshman Sam Grant.

“It’s not uncommon for a true freshmen; (they) aren’t quite ready to go and then all of a sudden they make a big jump and then there they are,” he said. “Those kids are all great kids. They work their butt off. They  all got talent. They’ll be fine. I really believe that.”

Text Only
Sports
  • Thunder knocked out of playoffs by Memphis

    OKLAHOMA CITY — It was a night Oklahoma City needed his best. With its season on the line, Kevin Durant had to be superhuman.

    May 16, 2013

  • Sooner baseball stumbles against Cowboys

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Everything that goes up must come down. Oklahoma is in the middle of a free fall after Saturday’s 4-3 loss to Oklahoma State in the middle game of the Bedlam Series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

    May 12, 2013

  • Grizzlies take 2-1 lead beating Thunder 87-81

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies call it grit and grind, and it got them through another ugly game.

    Marc Gasol scored 20 points and hit two free throws with 1:03 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the Grizzlies held off Oklahoma City 87-81 Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in this Western Conference semifinal.

    May 12, 2013

  • Grizzlies drop Thunder 99-93, even series at 1-1

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies wouldn't let Kevin Durant come through in the clutch for the second straight time.

    May 8, 2013

  • Wilson sets 2A record in long jump

    State track meet results.

    May 6, 2013

  • Durant, Thunder edge Grizzlies 93-91 in Game 1

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Down by one in the final minute, the Oklahoma City's Derek Fisher turned a tough situation for the Thunder into the worst-case scenario for the Grizzlies.

    Fisher poked the ball away from Memphis' Mike Conley, springing three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant into the open court with a chance to put the Thunder on top.

    May 5, 2013

  • Thunder beat Rockets 103-94 to advance

    HOUSTON (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder were unhappy about coming back to Houston for Game 6. They left town in a much better mood.

    Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Kevin Martin added 25 to lead the Thunder to a 103-94 victory over the Rockets on Friday night, sending Oklahoma City to the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season.

    May 4, 2013

  • Durant, Thunder struggling to close out Rockets

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Without All-Star Russell Westbrook running the point, Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are struggling to close out the Houston Rockets.

    May 2, 2013

  • Rockets extend series with Game 4 win over Thunder

    HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets know the odds are stacked against them in their playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Still, they believe momentum is on their side.

    April 30, 2013

  • Local, area sports briefs, April 30

    Soccer, track, softball and baseball notes

    April 30, 2013