Bradford makes big strides in OU scrimmage
Bradford makes big strides in OU scrimmage

NORMAN — After the offense scored on his first series, Sam Bradford didn't resemble a player who could lead the Sooners to a Big 12 title.

Then he did.

And did, and did and did.

Bradford recovered from a lackadaisical beginning to provide the best scrimmage so far this fall by a quarterback, completing 12 of 17 passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns in front of 5,000 rain-soaked fans Saturday at Owen Field.

After the scrimmage, coaches wouldn't say if they'd stop sharing snaps evenly among redshirt freshman Bradford, freshman Keith Nichol and junior Joey Halzle.

"We're still deciding,” coach Bob Stoops said. "They've all made great progress.”

But the offense moved the ball more efficiently with Bradford at quarterback than the other two.

Nichol connected on just of five of 16 throws for 82 yards, but played better than his stats indicated.

He provided the highlight of the night, finding a streaking Manuel Johnson down the seam with a flawless pass for a 53-yard touchdown.

Nichol also is the only quarterback to not commit a turnover in either of OU's open scrimmages.

"Keith made some plays,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "He's making some progress.”

Halzle, meanwhile, struggled with a wet ball, completing just eigfht of 23 passes for 47 yards and an interception, which linebacker Lewis Baker returned 10 yards for a touchdown.

Wilson remained vague about whether Halzle would continue to work evenly with the other two quarterbacks next week.

But Wilson did suggest that coaches will trim the quarterback derby to two when they feel there's been separation.

"They've all battled and competed, that's kept (the competition) close,” Wilson said. "I don't know if we're going to play one, two, but they're all getting better.”

The offense — which performed better overall than in the first scrimmage — showed it possesses more playmakers than just running back Allen Patrick, who sat out with a right ankle sprain, and receiver Malcolm Kelly.

Receiver Adron Tennell caught two touchdown passes from Bradford near the end of the scrimmage.

On the first score, he hauled in a reception over two defenders near the sideline, then made both miss as he dashed in for a 34-yard touchdown.

A few plays later, Tennell caught a 17-yard pass in the corner of the end zone.

"Those were nice plays on the ball by (Tennell),” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

"I don't think the defense played as good and clean as a week ago.”

Running back DeMarco Murray rebounded early from a poor performance in last Saturday's scrimmage, breaking through the secondary for a 60-yard rush on the opening possession.

He finished the drive by taking a 7-yard swing pass from Bradford into the end zone.

"The quarterbacks, I don't know what they're going to do (with them),” said Murray, who finished with 105 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. "I feel comfortable with all of them.

"I thought the offense did a pretty good job out there.”

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