Trevor Knight being named Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, when it was assumed Blake Bell would be handed the job, was just the first of the surprises for the Sooners.
There are other possible surprises although all of the indications that Oklahoma is willing to try some new things.
That would include a laundry list of possibilities.
For starters, most now assume, just like we assumed Bell would be the starter, that OU will use more of the read-option offense, popularized by Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel.
“We’ll feel comfortable on expanding on that,” said OU coach Bob Stoops on Monday,
That not only seems possible but probable. If you have that option to have more option, then it is a good idea to use it, if for no other reason to give defenses more to consider.
“Players around him have got to step up and make plays, too,” said Stoops.
Secondly, what happens to Blake Bell? You really don’t need the “Belldozer”, the short-yardage series of plays that were basically Bell taking the snap and leaning over the line to get a yard or two. Yes, it would be nice to have it available for occasional use but is Bell, a very highly recruited quarterback, really going to be happy getting 10 snaps this year? All of them power runs? Maybe. But, not likely.
But the Belldozer remains. “Yes,” said Stoops.
Will he leave? Probably not this year. School has already started. This year of eligibility is already burned. So, if you are Bell, and you want to play, then be the good trooper this year, do what is asked, and then move on next year to a small school where you would be a star and can showcase your abilities to the NFL.
“Blake was not far off,” said Stoops. “It has been a tight competition.”
If Knight’s ability to run gave him the edge on Bell, then will Bell eventually be demoted to third team? That would certainly appear possible. If OU’s offense shifts to more options to run, then Kendal Thompson, when he returns from injury, would apper to be a better option as the No. 2 quarterback.
Of course, all of this is speculation - the same speculation that had Bell as the probable starter.
Louisiana-Monroe comes to Norman on Saturday and has shown some signs of brilliance in recent seasons. Last year, Monroe beat Arkansas, played close at Auburn and lost a tight game to Baylor.
“We are very aware of what they did a year ago,” said Stoops. “They are a team that is proven.
“They are capable of beating about anyone they play.”
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