Patrick-Murray partnership could be special
Published: 6/12/2007 9:03 AM
Last Modified: 6/12/2007 9:03 AM
The show that freshman running back DeMarco Murray put on last spring overshadowed anything Oklahoma's three quarterbacks did. Murray's biggest trick, though, was making Allen Patrick disappear, at least in the minds of Sooner fans ready to proclaim Murray Heisman-ready.
Some feat, considering Patrick, coming off a 761-yard junior season in place of oft-injured Adrian Peterson, remains OU's first-string tailback.
It won't happen quite like that, of course. Murray's sizzling spring won't translate into a 2,000-yard fall. And Patrick won't be banished to the sideline, never to be heard from again.
Reality lies somewhere in between, with the Sooners taking advantage of Murray's open-field gifts in tandem with Patrick's north-south power. Backfield partnerships have become a Stoops staple -- from Quentin Griffin-Renaldo Works-Kejuan Jones to Peterson-Patrick -- but never has there been a fastball/change-up combo like this.
Patrick holds the key to making it work. He could get twice as many carries as Murray, but the freshman will get twice as many highlights. It's the curse of being the straight man, literally in this case, and Patrick must accept that like the senior he is.
He should, considering how complimentary he was of Murray last spring, and considering how well he handled the frenzy surrounding Peterson's return to health last year, even as he hammered away in Peterson's absence.
Patrick will have his own moments next season, make no mistake. The Sooners are breaking in a new quarterback, and will feed their backs as many carries as they can digest. That bodes well for Murray, too.
Should be fascinating to see how far, together, the two of them can run.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
