NORMAN — A team can never have too many good running backs. But a team can have too few chances to get the ball to all its good running backs.
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That — aside from choosing a starting quarterback — will be the hardest part of Kevin Wilson's job as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator this season.
"It's going to be hard to divide all the snaps,” said redshirt freshman Mossis Madu, who along with senior Jacob Gutierrez will likely be on the low end of the handoff count.
"(Running backs coach Cale) Gundy has told me he knows I'm going to play, and every time I get the ball I make something happen. So he's told me not to worry, he's going to get me in the game.”
Just how much Madu — or any of the tailbacks — will play is hard to predict. With senior Allen Patrick returning, along with sophomore Chris Brown, even spring star DeMarco Murray will be limited in his touches.
"It's fun, though,” said Murray, who head coach Bob Stoops called the team's best big-play threat. "We all have similar talents, and we all have different talents. We're all working hard, day-in and day-out, rooting for each other.”
Patrick sees the varying talents and styles of the running backs as an additional weapon.
"You're never gonna be able to take the same angles at any of us,” Patrick said. "With each guy, the role changes on the defense. It will just switch it up throughout the whole game.”
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I believe the hype about Murray. Have you seen his YouTube video from high school? It is unreal. I have Murray in my college fantasy league because of that video.
With so much depth at RB and TE, I hope the offensive staff will utilize this to their advantage with unique formations and substitutions in order to get mismatches with the defense. I think of the flanker play in the Fiesta Bowl or the play USC ran continually where Reggie Bush ran the wheel route. With some creatie thinking, we can certainly create headaches for the defenses facing us and, if nothing else, keep them honest so they cannot key on one area.
I was naturally upset with the NCAA ruling that recently came down, but am confident that the team this year will make that all fade away as the win count climbs. I just hope the quarterback situation is resolved and we have a strong offense. I graduated in 1975 and got spoiled with the way we dominated the field. Go Sooners.
Its hard to remember when OU had so much talent at more than one position all at the same time. I would like to see all of these guys getting playing time.
"You're never gonna be able to take the same angles at any of us,” Patrick said. "With each guy, the role changes on the defense. It will just switch it up throughout the whole game.”
Sooners' QB possibility: Go with 2 Stoops admits it... 08/04/2007 NORMAN — Bob Stoops platooned quarterbacks. Once. On Sept. 3, 2005, Paul Thompson and Rhett Bomar shared duties. Tall Paul took 56 snaps, Master Bomar 11...
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. 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.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
That's what I like to hear.