NORMAN — Spring football practice arrives at OU next week, and you would think there would be little quarterback drama.
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Sorry, hotshots Kid Nichol and Landry Jones, but Sudden Sam Bradford is entrenched, as anyone should be after throwing 36 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions in a Big 12 championship year.
But this spring offers plenty of quarterback intrigue for the trained football eye. Not on who gets the job, but on how well the job is done.
Bradford in 2007 was a superb freshman quarterback. That does not mean he was a superb quarterback period. Sudden Sam's gaudy numbers hide the truth that he was a functional quarterback, a system quarterback, last season. A good system quarterback. Dang good.
But not a playmaker. Not a quarterback who can rise above the breakdown of a play.
Missouri's Chase Daniel could and did. Kansas' Todd Reesing, too, much of the season. OSU's Zac Robinson. Texas' Colt McCoy. Either with their arm or their legs or both, all were quarterbacks who excelled outside the script, quarterbacks who could, if chaos arrived, improvise to great acclaim.
Bradford, not so much.
OU coaches put Bradford in position to succeed famously, and he complied most Saturdays. But the schemes and the opponents don't always cooperate. Recall Colorado, Iowa State, West Virginia.
Bob Stoops' staff doesn't mask it in terminology like "functional” and "playmaker,” but that's what they mean when they talk about Bradford's progression as a quarterback. Last autumn, when groundswell started to clear room for another statue in Heisman Park, coaches praised Bradford mightily but cautiously. Bradford in '07 was not the finished product.
Bradford is amazingly accurate; 69.5 completion percentage as a freshman. You can't get much better than that. No quarterback ever has.
But Bradford can improve. Can get better. Can become a quarterback who can make something out of nothing.
"He's already an accomplished quarterback,” Stoops said. But "the guy is so young. He's going to be incredibly special.”
Bradford will not suddenly sport quick wheels. Not going to become an artful dodger in the swarm of a pass rush. Bradford's playmaking will have to come from his head and his arm and his sure-to-improve instincts.
If you're looking for examples, how about Josh Heupel? Bradford's position coach quarterbacked OU to the 2000 national title with a flair for making the right play. Stepping up to avoid the rush, rolling out to buy some time, finding an ad-libbing receiver after the play breaks down.
That kind of play largely was missing from Bradford's arsenal, as it is from virtually all first-year quarterbacks. But those traits, which Bradford most certainly could develop, would elevate him in the pantheon of quarterbacks.
Such a jump also would lift the Sooners overall. Truth is, the biggest jump for OU from 2008, when Stoops will field a more experienced team than his 2007 Big 12 champs, could come at quarterback.
Here's an example of the advantage elite quarterbacking can provide. We all raved about West Virginia's blitz in the Fiesta Bowl, and it indeed was ferocious. But OU's blitz wasn't bad, either. OU blitzers got to the pocket and quick.
But one big difference. When the Sooners converged on West Virginia's Pat White, the shifty and speedy quarterback danced immediately to daylight and made OU pay by scrambling for huge yardage chunks. When the Mountaineers converged on Bradford, it was a sack or an interception or, at best, a throwaway.
Bradford looked addled early in the Fiesta Bowl. But he also grew more comfortable.
"Sam settled in, started making some plays,” Stoops said.
Bradford never will run away from a blitz the way White left the Sooners in his dust. But Bradford can make future foes pay just as much, with quick reads and timely throws into the empty spots on the defense.
Bradford already is an efficient quarterback. When he becomes a playmaking quarterback, which he should in time, the Sooners will have a true difference-maker leading their huddle.
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I don't think you could of asked more from a freshman quarterback. Of everything I saw in 07, Bradford was top of the list. He is only going to get better and better. Trammel, just when I thought you couldn't write a more Jenny type article, you go and make me proud. Matt has it right on the defense, d-backs with deer in the headlight-type stares. Man up the coverage and HIT SOMEBODY! (btw, let's just forfeit the rest of sports and start the season in April)
I sincerely hope some of you knuckleheads don't bore yourselves, and the people around you, to death with such moronic comments as: "fire Wilson & Venables"? Such morons are worse than aggies! I know it comes as a shock to some of you, but Stoops and his staff really do know more about football and OU's players than do sports writers and fans. Barry's article is fine, definitely a cut above the average local OU football article. Does Sam have some growing up and maturing to do? I certainly hope so, considering he has three years of eligiblity left. Was he the blame for our losses? Of course not! As for the playcalling, it always seems wrong in hindsight after defeat. I would say anybody that does not see Wilson's playcalling is superior to Chuck Long's is delusional. As for those calling for Venables' hide, the last time I checked, Mike Stoops is still not available to return to Norman. While we might miss Mike, you'll have to do more than rant to convince me that we can definitely do better than Venables. Short of Mike Stoops becoming available, who exactly do you expect to replace Venables with? We have to do better, at times, on defense, but who is more likely to get it done than Venables? Why don't some of you admit that you're fairweather fans? You're 100 percent behind Stoops & his staff when they win, and you think his coordinators, or perhaps even him, are idiots when they lose. I'd just like you to consider one other possibility: Maybe the idiots are a little closer to the keyboards that these posts come from.
I could not agree more with this article. How many Vince Youngs are out there?? The best paralells to Bradford that come quickly are Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Tom Brady etc. How many times has anyone seen them scrambling for 20 yards on 3rd and 19? They were drop back QB's who just found a way to win with their arm and game savvy. Bradford won with good coaching and raw talent. Will he be pushed? Absolutely, but he is mature beyond his age and has a great chance for a long career in football because he won't take the shots while trying to make plays with his feet outside the pocket. He was a freshman for God's sake! He made freshman mistakes but not nearly as many as others in the same position around the country.He's heady for sure but with a humility we rarely see today. That tells me his feet are on the ground and doesn't feel like he has to carry the team. Maybe he'll also have more players around him this year that don't "take plays off" or entire games off pouting over whatever. Just my thoughts here, certainly not gospel. If we have anything to worry about, its our defense or lack thereof in games we lost. After all is said, we had a great season considering that we started a frosh @ QB and starters not playing because of injury. Great job Bob Stoops!!
Ricky, that is easy enough until you get into zone blitzing and playing teams that love to flood out zones, like Tech. For instance, against Tech we gave up a TD because they ran a receiver up the middle of the field, drawing the safety, then snuck another receiver up the sideline. Now, the safety should recognize that, but you run into a lot of "if this-then that" scenarios with zone defense that can leave your head spinning. Man defense is simple, play your man, but it also has weaknesses. The point is, zone defense is simple, in theory. In live game action against multiple sets it is not so simple. What it does is water down your preparation with a bunch of "if he does this then you do that" garbage. These guys dont want to give up big plays, but for some reason they keep busting coverages. They are thinking to much, which keeps them from playing fast and aggressive.
Oh and like the other dude said "the want to win!!!!"
No more phoning it in on DFENCE!! No more phoning it in period!!! OU has enough great players it should be "you phone you go home" just like ET.
DFENCE!!!! DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!DFENCE!!!!
Did I make it clear?!?!?!?!?!?!
The best part of this article is that Tramel considers himself a trained football eye. What is a system quarterback? I guess Justin Fuente was awesome, but Dick Winder simply implemented a poor system back in the 90s. Bradford did everything that was asked of him and more. He is a great quarterback, period. After the Tech game this year, Tramel was seriously questioning Wilson's game plan. Guess the "system" let us down that day.
Good to see that there're a few people in here that are frustrated with the defense..I believe that the Sooner's offense could show a bit more imagination, but the defense is really what lags. I have never seen a talent-poor Sooners team. Therefor, tell me how they don't match up to the offensive sets that go against them. Sure, if the zone creates mismatches, then the only mismatches I've witnessed are the ones WV threw at the Sooners. I'm not sure if Venables could get any more into the game than he has already (Short of donning a helmet!) I continually look back with pride at the awesome defenses in the past & how it wasn't that they were better in the news before a game, but rather how they outplayed & outhit anything on that field. Give me that heart & desire again, anytime, and leave the press out of it..
Boomer Sooner
I think you are right on Berry. I was thinking the same last year. But I believe he can get better from competeing with our other good candidates. All of our QB's have improved except one and he could have if had had a more level head.
Scott, I.T. ....this is exactly what i have been saying all last year...fire venebles and wilson....bring someone in who knows how to use the talent that OU has....venebles and his stupid zone....wilson and his run,run, pass....makes me sick...every team knows exactly what's gonna be the next play......Stoops has to get some balls and fire them both......AMEN.
I don't get this article..? Needs to make plays? System QB? Are you kidding? Bradford completed passes from the spread, I-formation, play-action, etc. If OU's offense has a "system QB" so does New England.
Compare his stats to Jason White 2004 season. Same offense with A.D. in the backfield. Nobody called Jason a system QB. Get real, his worse performance of the year was Fiesta first half, but protection was brutal. Defense is the key to OU making a title run. QB position and the offense as a whole is title ready.
If you play a zone defense, make the zone a matchup meaning you matchup on the first receiver in your area, then the secondary receiver is passed off to the linebacker or free safty, get it people. Now that's easy to teach all our defensive players have to do is count, one I got him, two your man. Matchup Zone.....
I dont know first hand, obviously, but I feel like maybe the defense is too complicated. All year coaches talked about busted coverages and defensive breakdowns. When you ask players to remember too much you take away from their ability to play instinctively. Take Miami for instance. Though they have fallen off recently, they always have talent and a good defense, and have probably put more defensive players in the NFL than anyone. They play mostly man coverage, which allows their players to use their superior talent. I like zone defense, but I think they need to get back to basics a little. Just my $.02, probably not worth that much.
Incredible..We had one of the best offenses in the country, and a pitiful defense and it's the QB's fault! Give me a break. Bradford played extremely well, but the defense was terrible. Since when do you blame the QB when the defense gives up 500+ yards? Bradford looked awesome against Texas a very good opponent and against Missouri both were in the top 10. Missouri was ranked #1 and due in large part to the play of Bradford, OU upset them to win the Big 12 Championship.
Too bad we lack defenders who are willing to just fly around and "blow up" an opponents offensive players. Where is that desire for dominance on the defensive side? The talent is there, but the "want to" is no where to be seen. Maybe Venerables need to yell at 'em louder, yeah, that'll do it. Oops sorry, according to the sports radio guru's it is off limits to criticize the defense. Okay then, Sam quit giving up 500+ yards and 35+ points..there that is better!
It's popular and easy to talk about the quarterback but the last two years the defense has been the real source of embarrassment for the Sooners. Please watch the 2000 national title game again. Solid tackling and sound defense are not very exciting to watch but they are what separates OU from greatness not the quarterback.
Sam who?! Bring on Landry Jones!! And while we're at it, fire Wilson and Venables and hire Josh and Torrance Marshall as coordinators! Us Sooners aren't satisfied with a good season and a conference championship, WE WANT IT ALL!! haha!
Scott, Indian Territory - Feb 25, 2008 at 10:34 am
WTF Tramel? Have you got your family members writing in trying to make it look like some people enjoy your aticles? Usually by now 10 people have called you a moron, idiot, and worthless.
Bradford is very good. But part of his success was due to OU's opponents being over-matched and OU having good receivers. When the competition level was raised his stats went down some and that tells me that OU beat up on the little guy, to a point. Also Bradford failed to get the ball to Kelly at all in the Colorado game and very little in another game. He needs to improve on that.
Very nice article Mr. Tramel, if you remember last fall you and I agreed that if Sam Bradford limites his interceptions to under 10, OU would win the Big XII,and they did.Now for 2008 if the defence addresses the secondary issues then last years 3 losses in my opinion will not be repeated. Sam Bradford just needs to be same old Sam.
Great article. Yes Stoops' boys have had trouble in the postseason. However you see that he always goes back to the drwing board and sees what could and will make the Sooners better. Sam Bradford will be an award-winning quaterback by the time he leaves OU. Oklahoma brought in a great group of players that will only add to what they have. Remember fans, OU does not rebuild they reload. Regardless of the past meaningless, non-championship contending, bowl games they have lost.
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No more phoning it in on DFENCE!! No more phoning it in period!!! OU has enough great players it should be "you phone you go home" just like ET.
Did I make it clear?!?!?!?!?!?!
Boomer Sooner
Compare his stats to Jason White 2004 season. Same offense with A.D. in the backfield. Nobody called Jason a system QB. Get real, his worse performance of the year was Fiesta first half, but protection was brutal. Defense is the key to OU making a title run. QB position and the offense as a whole is title ready.
Too bad we lack defenders who are willing to just fly around and "blow up" an opponents offensive players. Where is that desire for dominance on the defensive side? The talent is there, but the "want to" is no where to be seen. Maybe Venerables need to yell at 'em louder, yeah, that'll do it. Oops sorry, according to the sports radio guru's it is off limits to criticize the defense. Okay then, Sam quit giving up 500+ yards and 35+ points..there that is better!