GDC
4/4/2006, 07:49 AM
Chaney's challenge
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
4/4/2006
BTW product shines in Monday practice, but has work ahead of him.
NORMAN -- The towering pass dropped straight down into the end zone at Oklahoma's practice field last week.
Starting cornerbacks D.J. Wolfe and Reggie Smith waited for it while bracketing reserve wide receiver Quentin Chaney.
Only, there wasn't much they could do when the 6-foot-5 spring-legged Chaney decided to go up and claim one of the highlight-reel catches of OU's spring.
"When it's coming your way, it's you and the ball. You can't worry about where the DB is," Chaney said. "You can worry about all that after you make the catch."
Welcome to the continued education of the former Booker T. Washington standout.
"Quentin Chaney, definitely, each day has been making more plays," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "It's been pleasing. We need him to step up like that."
Chaney has been a Sooner for two years.
He redshirted the first, then caught two passes for 26 yards the second.
The entire time, he has teased coaches with natural gifts some of his fellow wideouts simply do not possess.
"He's got a wealth of talent," said
Kevin Sumlin, who moved to wide receivers coach when Darrell Wyatt joined the Minnesota Vikings staff last Januarly.
"He's a big, strong guy that can change direction, with good hands. He can jump and make plays," Sumlin said.
"But he has to come on and play the way he's capable of playing."
In that regard, Sumlin picks up where Wyatt left off.
"I had a rough season last year," Chaney said.
It started with a dropped would-be touchdown pass at UCLA in game three, then tailed off from there as Chaney vanished from the depth chart. He wasn't strong enough to squeeze Rhett Bomar's pass in Pasadena, nor strong enough to easily shake it off.
"We need him to be physically and mentally tougher," Sumlin said.
Chaney hears the message, he just has to apply it.
"I'm trying to stay on my blocks more, and be more physical in my routes," he said. "When the DB is on you, I've got to get him off. I wasn't consistent with that (last season)."
It is a work in progress. While Chaney did make that leaping, contested grab in practice, he also made just one catch for six yards in OU's two spring scrimmages combined, while being bothered by a sore ankle.
The most encouraging sign, perhaps, is that Chaney recognizes there is progress to be made, and that he plans on making it.
"Last year wasn't what I had hoped, but I'm really looking forward to this one," he said. "I've kind of left that one behind and I'm going after a fresh, new start."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guerin Emig 581-8355
[email protected].
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
4/4/2006
BTW product shines in Monday practice, but has work ahead of him.
NORMAN -- The towering pass dropped straight down into the end zone at Oklahoma's practice field last week.
Starting cornerbacks D.J. Wolfe and Reggie Smith waited for it while bracketing reserve wide receiver Quentin Chaney.
Only, there wasn't much they could do when the 6-foot-5 spring-legged Chaney decided to go up and claim one of the highlight-reel catches of OU's spring.
"When it's coming your way, it's you and the ball. You can't worry about where the DB is," Chaney said. "You can worry about all that after you make the catch."
Welcome to the continued education of the former Booker T. Washington standout.
"Quentin Chaney, definitely, each day has been making more plays," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "It's been pleasing. We need him to step up like that."
Chaney has been a Sooner for two years.
He redshirted the first, then caught two passes for 26 yards the second.
The entire time, he has teased coaches with natural gifts some of his fellow wideouts simply do not possess.
"He's got a wealth of talent," said
Kevin Sumlin, who moved to wide receivers coach when Darrell Wyatt joined the Minnesota Vikings staff last Januarly.
"He's a big, strong guy that can change direction, with good hands. He can jump and make plays," Sumlin said.
"But he has to come on and play the way he's capable of playing."
In that regard, Sumlin picks up where Wyatt left off.
"I had a rough season last year," Chaney said.
It started with a dropped would-be touchdown pass at UCLA in game three, then tailed off from there as Chaney vanished from the depth chart. He wasn't strong enough to squeeze Rhett Bomar's pass in Pasadena, nor strong enough to easily shake it off.
"We need him to be physically and mentally tougher," Sumlin said.
Chaney hears the message, he just has to apply it.
"I'm trying to stay on my blocks more, and be more physical in my routes," he said. "When the DB is on you, I've got to get him off. I wasn't consistent with that (last season)."
It is a work in progress. While Chaney did make that leaping, contested grab in practice, he also made just one catch for six yards in OU's two spring scrimmages combined, while being bothered by a sore ankle.
The most encouraging sign, perhaps, is that Chaney recognizes there is progress to be made, and that he plans on making it.
"Last year wasn't what I had hoped, but I'm really looking forward to this one," he said. "I've kind of left that one behind and I'm going after a fresh, new start."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guerin Emig 581-8355
[email protected].