OU: Spread the wealth

Adrian Peterson's collarbone injury didn't doom the Sooners' 2006 season as some suspected.

Didn't even slow it.

Oklahoma found able replacements in Allen Patrick and Chris Brown, who helped the Sooners go 7-0 and claim a Big 12 championship in Peterson's absence.

Surging toward 2007, the Sooners return Patrick and Brown and add spring sensation DeMarco Murray to the mix. Mossis Madu, like Murray a promising redshirt freshman, hopes to join in.

Crowded? Yes.

Complaints? No.

"Of course, you want to be out there,” Brown said. "But you've got to look at it the right way — the way that's gonna help us win. That's with everybody out there working together.”

Therein lies the catch. Except in rare instances, they can only play one at a time.

That's the challenge for OU's coaches, determining who best fits what situation during the course of a game.

"They all know the situation,” said Sooners running backs coach Cale Gundy. "And they knew coming in here that the best guy's gonna play.

"If there's a situation where one guy's better than another, he's gonna play.”

OU's backs offer a contrast in styles, allowing coaches varied means of attack.

Patrick is a blend of power and straightaway