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September 6, 2012

Lack of depth puts heavy load on McFarland, King

CNHI

After Monday’s practice, Oklahoma defensive tackle David King was heading straight for the cold tub. He was two days removed from playing just about every defensive snap in the season opener against UTEP. His body was informing him that that kind of extended duty comes at a price.

“I’ll be fine by Wednesday,” he said.

King will be joined in that tub of ice-cold water by fellow defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland. He was out there for nearly every play against UTEP, too.

It was a scenario the Sooners (1-0) don’t want to play out all season, but one they face as the status of senior defensive tackles Casey Walker and Stacy McGee remain in limbo. OU coach Bob Stoops said on Monday that neither will play when OU’s hosts Florida A&M (0-1) in the home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Owen Field.

Walker is still dealing with a “non-football related issue.” McGee is serving an athletic department mandated suspension. Without them on the field, OU’s defensive tackle depth has taken a serious hit. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said he didn’t know exactly how many plays King and McFarland played against the Miners, but he did know that their backups — redshirt freshman Jordan Phillips and Marquis Anderson — each played three snaps.

“I didn’t think we were gassed, so we stuck with the first line probably more than we would have liked,” he said. “You hope you grow as the season goes on and you hope young players progress and gain confidence and trust in what you’re doing.”

This is a critical week for that growth. The Rattlers are an FCS team that qualify as the rent-a-win on the Sooners’ schedule. This is the week and the game the Sooner bench needs to play a big role. If things go as planned, it will likely be their only opportunity get some serious game experience.

Perhaps, King and McFarland will be durable enough to handle playing virtually every down. It’s happened before. Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor did it in 2009.

King and McFarland had good games against the Miners. McFarland had a sack along with five tackles. King had three tackles and a team-leading two quarterback hurries.

They both knew well ahead of the UTEP game they would both be pushed into extended duty.

“Me and David mentally got ourselves ready. We took more reps during the week to get ourselves ready and went out there and played,” he said. “Luckily, there wasn’t too much tempo to it.”

That was a saving grace of facing the Miners with a thin defensive line. UTEP didn’t run the no-huddle, hurry-up style of offense that’s become the norm in the Big 12 Conference.

King and McFarland both played well over 50 snaps on Saturday. Without some help off the bench it could be into the 80s against teams like West Virginia or Oklahoma State.

The Sooners hope it won’t become a necessity. The door is certainly open on Walker and McGee playing this season, but all four are seniors. The Sooners must develop some young defensive tackles.

“We know they have to be ready to play. It’s important,” McFarland said. “As older guys, we have to try to teach them and things like that. They have amazing talent and all the tools to be great players. It’s just a learning process. The more reps they get the better they’ll be.”

Until then, King and McFarland will drink plenty of water and have their post-practice spots reserved in the ice tub.

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