CLAY HENRY: Looking at Cowboys with former coach Pat Jones

There is not a better-trusted source than Pat Jones for a scouting report on the
Arkansas-Oklahoma State football matchup Saturday.

The Little Rock native and Arkansas graduate has coached on both sides of the
matchup. If you cut him open, you’ll find his blood contains both mascots. Hard to
believe, but he’s a Razorback and a Cowboy.

Pat Jones would be at home just as much at an Arkansas practice as OSU. He’s
unlikely to attend the game Saturday. He said it’s because he would rather avoid
crowds, but it may be that he just doesn’t know how to react to those two teams
battling in a big game.

Jones was often in Rogers as an OSU coach. His mom retired to Rogers. As an SMU
assistant he would visit her in Little Rock, but generally ended up at my dad’s condo
for long talks by the pool. I got to sit in for those talks. They were rich on the history
of Arkansas football. They might be talking about Wilson Matthews or Clyde Scott in
great detail.

Jones now lives in south Tulsa County, in Bixby. He is a regular on Tulsa radio and
does a show that includes bits and pieces on Razorback Nation. He covered the
passing of Arkansas great Billy Moore this week, one of his heroes growing up in
Little Rock. Moore played at Little Rock Central and just a couple of years later Jones
was on some of the first great Little Rock Hall teams.

I was close to Jones starting in 1978 after joining the Tulsa World sports staff just
after he became defensive coordinator for Jimmy Johnson at Oklahoma State. When
Johnson left for Miami in 1984, Jones took over as OSU head coach. His 10 years
were mixed with great glory, then despair when NCAA probation stripped them of
scholarships. He coached Barry Sanders, the greatest running back I ever saw.

I can recall vividly Jones finding me at a post-game party at Johnson’s house after an
OSU victory. Would I like to go out in the drive way and turn on an AM radio to listen
to Arkansas vs. Tulsa? The party raged on as we listened to the Hogs. The point is
that Jones always has an ear on what is happening in the Natural State.
Our relationship grew tight during his days as head coach. He was close to my dad
and I understood why. Candid and sharp-witted, Jones has always been a terrific
interview.

I sat in his office for dozens of one-on-one interviews, including one when our baby
sitter was sick and Jones insisted my pre-school daughters make the trip from Tulsa.
His assistant had coloring books waiting for them.

Jones was on the Arkansas staff, coaching the defensive line with Johnson, when the
Hogs lost to Oklahoma State on their last trip to Stillwater. That was in 1975 when

OSU featured runner Terry Miller and a pair of Arkansans at defensive tackle, James
“Duck” White and Phillip Dokes.

OSU won, 20-13. Arkansas had turned to Scott Bull at quarterback that week
because of injuries to Mike Kirkland and Mark Miller. Bull and a bevy of great UA
backs botched the option mesh in Bo Rein’s veer to such a degree that the ball was
often on the ground. They fixed that in practice the next week and roared to the
Southwest Conference championship and a victory over Georgia in the Cotton Bowl.

But what about this week’s matchup? Asked for his vibes, Jones and I talked for 45
minutes Monday. He’d seen the Arkansas romp over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but not a
practice as in many past years.

“I’ve been to see OSU twice,” he said. “I went to the spring game and to a practice
two weeks ago.

“I think (OSU) is pretty good. But it’s hard to tell at times how good. I’ll tell you the
guys not to overlook are three or four wide receivers. They popped up pretty good
last week against South Dakota State.”

Jones was talking about OSU’s starting wideouts: Brennan Pressley, Rashod Owens
and De’Zhaun Stribling. He likes backup Gavin Freeman, too.

“Pressley is a bubble screen guy, a return man,” Jones said. “Stribling was going to
have a big year last year, but broke his wrist early. Owens is really good. Freeman is
an OU transfer and a really good depth man.”

Of course, the Cowboys rely heavily on running back Ollie Gordon, a 225-pounder
who plays in a rage. He’s a fierce off-tackle blaster with potential to take it to the
house.

“Gordon is good,” Jones said. “Now, he’s not a (Darren) McFadden, but he’s got a
little bit of juice. He can catch it. I might put him in that Cedric Cobbs/James Rouse
family, probably a high third rounder.

“Gordon seems to be a worker and you gotta tackle him. He’s 6-2 and built pretty
well.”

Jones has much respect for OSU quarterback Alan Bowman, a sixth year man.
“He’s got arm talent and he can run,” he said. “He’s not heavy footed.”

That brings us to the Arkansas edge, according to Jones. He really likes Taylen
Green, the first-year Arkansas quarterback.

“He’s a darn good looking kid,” Jones said. “He is a good looking athlete who looks
like he can really hurt you. He’s 6-6 and can run, but don’t be fooled by those long
strides. He can stop and change directions, maybe better than Matt Jones. We saw
that (against UAPB).

“They look to have some good backs, but it’s the quarterback who can hurt you.”
There was conversation about what offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will do in
big games with Green. Could there be some QB misdirection sort of like Petrino ran
with Lamar Jackson at Louisville? There would be no need to show that against
UAPB.

“Exactly,” Jones said. “That’s my thoughts on what they might do. It would be tough
(to stop).”

There was discussion about the OSU defense and questions from Jones about how
well the Hogs have upgraded on that side of the ball. He’s a defensive guru.

“OSU is sometimes shaky on defense, but they’ve gotten a little thicker in the
defensive line,” he said. “The linebackers have some ability. They like to run a 3-5-3.
They list Collin Oliver as a linebacker, but they put him on the front.

“Their tackle leader is Nick Martin (6-0, 220 from Texarkana). He’s made about a
zillion.”

At 6-2, 240, Oliver is a pass rush specialist and will have to be accounted for in the
UA blocking schemes, on either side.

What about the overall matchup?

“It’s a big ball game,” Jones said. “OSU has a great chance to win the Big 12 with
Oklahoma and Texas gone. Maybe their chief rival is Utah.

“The way I see it, OSU has the speed and quickness a little better than Arkansas. But
Arkansas is bigger and stronger.”

There was no attempt at picking a winner. Pat Jones has too many friends on both
sides.

“I don’t think I’ll go,” he said. “They are honoring Leslie O’Neal (from LR Hall) with a
function Friday night. He’s going in their Ring of Honor with Barry Sanders,
Thurman Thomas, Terry Miller and Bob Fenimore. I’ll go fot that, but not the game. I
just don’t like to be around that many people any more.”

O’Neal was recruited by Jones. He delighted in the way the scorpion from his old
high school tormented Big Eight offenses. At 6-4 and 220, he played about six inches
off the ground and was past you in a blink of the eye.

There are no defenders like him on either side Saturday or that might give Jones a
real reason to make a pick.

As it is, he will just sit back and watch.