Once upon a preseason, the wishful-thinking question went out among Sooner fans: Could Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford perhaps be the next Colt McCoy?
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Five games into the season, the answer returns with a resounding yes!
The McCoy of 2006. The McCoy who tied an NCAA freshman record with 29 touchdown passes and led Texas to 10 wins amid questions of how he might respond in following the masterful Vince Young.
Yes, so far.
Sooner fans, however, may hope the comparisons halt there. While it's early, McCoy seems to have slipped into a sophomore slump.
Could the dreaded curse strike Bradford in 2008?
Sure, although more than likely not. While McCoy was asked to elevate his game in a year when the Longhorns are reloading in some areas, the 2008 Sooners could prove more powerful than the current version.
Coaches frequently tell of how players make a leap in performance from Year 1 to Year 2. Bradford would only figure to be more comfortable, more confident and more polished as a sophomore with a year of play in his pocket and much of his surrounding cast intact.
And he's pretty salty now.
"He's throwing the ball well, his progressions are great, he's been great at the line of scrimmage and in the huddle,” said OU coach Bob Stoops. "And he's just getting more and more confident and sure of himself in what he's doing, allowing the players around him to make plays.
"He's just directing the offense like we hoped he would.”
Like Colt McCoy did for Texas a year ago.
"His composure for a young guy, his accuracy,” Texas coach Mack Brown said in assessing Bradford's talents. "He's so big and strong, he can see.”
As good as the Sooners are this season, they figure to be better a year from now. Bradford will be flanked by a slew of weapons, and the offensive line could be among the best in the country.
Still, there are factors that could lead to a dropoff in production for Bradford.
Speculation runs strong that junior wide receiver Malcolm Kelly will skip to the NFL. Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson, the team's best offensive linemen, could follow.
Running back Allen Patrick and tight end Joe Jon Finley are senior starters who will be missed.
Graduation and other defections certainly have played a factor in McCoy's slip, or slump, whatever it may be.
The Sooners also face an early non-conference road test at Washington.
So potential pitfalls do exist. So does potential greatness.
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OU's offense is too easy to read. I would happy if we can beat the horns which i very much doubt it.
All of you complaining about the program and Stoops will be just fine come December when we are 11-1 and in the BCS hunt once again. Thank god we got our eye-opener loss out of the way early...9 teams ahead of us probably still got their's coming. If anyone has issues right now, it's UT. Poor o-line and a Vince Young type offense with a non-vince young qb. Give the 10 and make a few bucks this weekend!
Here is the bottom line. If OU is unable to rush coma boy and if the bonghorn receivers are running wide open were in trouble. Look, the Austin police cant arrest every player on the roster before saturday so OU better rush coma boy and stop busting coverages. Even those stoner Horns will make plays. Austin is more of an opium den then the Turkish quarter in Bombay. If we cant whip these foggers it will be a long season. OU 27 Hashish Horns 17....Bookem'Horns!!
If there is anybody here bad mouthing the coaches, their probly not SOONER fans. Nic Harris will go to the draft also, along with the others who was mentioned. That would be huge loss for OU if he did.
Stop. Everyone stop. Bob is a fine coach. He doesn't need his brother. How's Arizona looking anyway? Everyone seems to forget that this is still a young team. Young teams struggle from time to time, especially one leading the country in scoring and maybe beleiving their own press. No coach can prepare for a mental letdown like what happened in Colorado. Look at the top 25, it happened all over the country. We are still in good shape, the top 10 is littered with teams like BC, Kentucky, South Florida, that really don't belong. It is just a matter of time before they lose. LSU and Florida play each other, unless Florida barely beats them, one will drop out of the top 10. If we can right this ship, beat Texas, win the rest of our games. And then, win the Big 12 over a seemingly better Big 12 north, we can still have an impact on the national title race. This last weekend, the shake up is being compared to 2003. What followed that shakeup in 2003 was 3 one loss teams competing for the national title. All is not lost. Don't forget that. This year is not over, we can still win this thing.
One problem facing colleges is that these guys start thinking about the NFL. Loadholt has played 5 games and is NFL bound? Is his purpose to help OU get in synch or prepare for the "combine"?This is why the top recruits dont always equate to titles. It is a college game not a pro football prep period. It is best to get guys who primarily will be dedicated to maxing out their talent for the team and deal with the pros later. As soon as these guys make up their mind to go pro youve lost them. Why puke your guts for Stoops when your dreaming of the high life of the NFL? The big money of pro sports hurts college athletics. The great majority of Division I recruits will not make it in pro football so it is not wise to cast your lots with the pros except for the very elite like Adrian Peterson. I have watched Loadholt with a critical eye. My advice: worry about the NFL in about 18 months.
Doesn't surprise me that the first two posts came from morons. What the heck has Texas done this year to make you think they are going to stomp OU? They got their butts handed to them at home and struggled big time in three of their four wins. Stoops is a great coach. Just look at his record. Both of you need to buy a clue and get a life.
What has Bob done lately in big games??? Last saturday wasnt even a big game and he got out-coached. At some point you would think your head coach would realize that your best player hadnt had a ball thrown his way, and that the play calling was vanilla. Learn from the Boises/Tulsas offense. You cant be predicatable anymore and that is what OU has become.
Face it...the Stopps mojo is gone.OU will lose big to Taxass...I take no joy in saying this but,it looks like our Sooners were overated once again....We played a bunch of cupcakes the first 4 games and then we play a real team and,get our butts kicked...Mike Stoops,PLEASE COME BACK!!!!
mike, edmond - Oct 3, 2007 3:28 AM
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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.
mike, edmond - Oct 3, 2007 3:28 AM
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