Tulsa World: Mixed results for Sooners

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Mixed results for Sooners
Offense and defense find areas to improve at OU's scrimmage.

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 8/10/2008 2:18 AM
Last Modified: 8/10/2008 3:06 AM

Offense and defense find areas to improve at OU's scrimmage.

NORMAN — With so many returning leaders, Oklahoma's offense should be one of college football's most prolific during the 2008 season.

And yet, OU linebacker Keenan Clayton wasn't all too happy about Saturday's scrimmage at Memorial Stadium.

The Sooner offense, behind quarterback Sam Bradford, five returning starters on the line, two tight ends, three receivers and one running back who starred on a record-setting unit last season, got going early with a pair of back-to-back 11-play drives that culminated in field goals. The offense also broke free with a long Bradford-to-Juaquin Iglesias touchdown pass.

"You want to take pride and have a stop every time, but you also have to give them credit," Clayton said. "They make plays. They move us at times. But we have to make sure we get lined up right and execute."

That, though, was all the points the OU offense could muster against the defense.

"Today," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, "our defensive front seven got the best of us."

The scrimmage, roughly 100 plays and OU's first of the preseason (practice began only Monday), was closed to the public and the media. Afterward, head coach Bob Stoops said the scrimmage went "like about most all of 'em. Some good, some bad. Little bit of everything."

Among "everything" were two interceptions thrown by Bradford, one by cornerback Lendy Holmes and one by Clayton. Backup middle linebacker Lamont Robinson also had a pick.

"It was pretty typical, 1s and 2s going back and forth," said center Jon Cooper. "Just kind of working on some new stuff, get a couple live situations going."

It wasn't all clean, however. Much like 2007, penalties particularly in the Fiesta Bowl, where the Sooners committed 13 were problematic on Saturday.

"That's one thing that crippled us last season, and some of the same things were going on today. We need to improve on that," said defensive tackle Cory Bennett. "We had a couple penalties, just minor things that mean a lot, that could win or lose a game. That's what we need to work on."

Cooper, Bradford and Wilson all said OU's movement toward a no-huddle offense remains a work in progress.

"We tried to work some things with huddling and not," Wilson said. "Bottom line, it's just quicker calls, guys getting back in the huddle, guys getting back if we're not huddling."

Said Cooper, "We're just kind of using it here and there. We haven't really used it a whole bunch. We're just kind of feeling it out. Not really much to talk about. Just kind of an experimental thing."

The offense was without running back DeMarco Murray, a projected starter, because of an ankle sprain, but Wilson said he expected Murray to return to practice as early as Sunday. With Murray out, freshmen Justin Johnson and Jermie Calhoun played extensively.

Wilson singled out Iglesias, tight end Jermaine Gresham and slot receiver Ryan Broyles, who drew rave reviews last year before a preseason arrest led to a season-long suspension, and did so again in the spring before a broken collarbone.

"Every day you come in and he's got some highlight you rewind about four times and say, 'Did he just do that?' " Bradford said of his new receiving target. "I mean, he's got some unreal moves. He's real quick and real shifty and is going to be a great player for us."

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said the defense also forced three fumbles and said he was again impressed by transfer Mike Balogun.

"He's pretty good," Venables said.

OK, so it was a stalemate, leaving both sides wanting more.

"It wasn't our best effort on offense," Bradford said.

Said Clayton, "They had two 11-play drives back to back. We can never be pleased about what happened or how everything went. We had a few good plays here and there, but our defense should not be on the field for two 11-play drives, especially two in a row."

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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Turk 182, (8/11/2008 9:18:53 AM)

"Among "everything" were two interceptions thrown by Bradford, one by cornerback Lendy Holmes and one by Clayton. Backup middle linebacker Lamont Robinson also had a pick."
I guess I dont understand.

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