NORMAN — Following Oklahoma's Red-White spring game Saturday, quarterback Sam Bradford was the only offensive player requested by the media for postgame interviews.
Advertisement
Instead, everyone wanted to talk to the defensive players, who collectively and emphatically had just put the exclamation point on their spring supremacy, intercepting six passes and running three back for touchdowns.
The offense, meanwhile, managed to reach the end zone just once until the game's final four minutes.
In fact, in two scrimmages consisting of 173 plays leading up to the Red-White game, the offense had scored just twice.
Cause for concern?
No way.
This offense had reasons for stumbling in the spring.
And reasons why it shouldn't in the fall.
At some point during the summer, OU will benefit greatly from the return of its best offensive player: running back DeMarco Murray, who brings the home run swing to an offense otherwise comprised of single and double hitters.
OU also was without four other key contributors this spring in wide receivers Ryan Broyles and Adron Tennell, running back Chris Brown and guard Duke Robinson.
Insert Murray, Brown and Robinson into Saturday's lineup, and the impact of 30-mile-per-hour gusts lessens considerably.
No need to pass; just hand-off the ball on down the field.
But personnel losses were only half the issue.
The other hurdle was learning a new scheme — the no-huddle offense, which slowed the Sooner attack at times, even though the objective is to speed it up.
Missed assignments, wrong alignments and careless mistakes kept the Sooner offense from exploding, or at least finding a rhythm.
The learning curve for perfecting the no-huddle is high, though the final four minutes of the Red-White game showed what it's capable of producing — quick scoring strikes.
The Sooners scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes, providing a foundation on which to build this summer.
"To me, we haven't done it enough that we understand the sense of urgency of getting lined up,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "And you still have to execute. You still have to block and take care of the ball. We had a bunch of blunders with some errant throws and tipped balls.”
In time, once Bradford and the others feel more confident and natural in the scheme, the no-huddle will be a huge plus for this offense, loaded with versatile players like Jermaine Gresham who can create matchup problems all over the field.
This spring was just a means to an end.
And in the end, this offense will be far better than the one that lined up in the Red-White game.
"This was a really good learning deal if we're going to be a no-huddle team,” Wilson said. "And I thought we got a little feel there at the end. It started to get a little cleaner.”
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Thank goodness for the internet..allowing me to follow my beloved sooners(class of '58) here in Alabama. I'm intrigued with the addition of the "no huddle" offense..cutting down, possibly, the predictability of play calling. I'm digressing a bit, but wanted to mention to all the "Sooners", that 'Bama fans(my husband is a graduate) especially when they see the OU ALUMNI tag on my vehicle,still talk about what great fans there were in OK when they went out to the OU vs BAMA game and why don't they schedule more games between the two teams?? BOOMER SOONER AND ROLL TIDE!
Fourth of July Page
Share your July 4th photos with NewsOK and view other stories and videos.
More Info
Quentin Chaney runs after a catch during Saturday's Red-White game. The Sooners were missing several offensive weapons. By steve sisney, the oklahoman
Related to this story
Articles
Projected 2008 preseason depth chart 04/14/2008 LT 79 Phil Loadholt 6-8 351 Sr. 70 Cory Brandon 6-7 308 So. LG 72 Duke Robinson 6-5 346 Sr. 59 Donald Stephenson...
Notebook: Stoops will kick off blood drive;... 04/14/2008 Sooners' final practice on Tuesday Despite playing the Red-White spring game Saturday, the Sooners are not done with spring drills quite yet. OU will...
Delicate experiment New addition could help offense... 04/14/2008 NORMAN — Some innocent soul from the press box crowd asked Kevin Wilson about Sam Bradford's huddle presence Saturday. You remember huddle presence, the...
5
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).