Tulsa World: Bradford is sharp at scrimmage

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Bradford is sharp at scrimmage

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 8/17/2008 2:11 AM
Last Modified: 8/17/2008 3:03 AM

NORMAN — Sam Bradford, the quarterback Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops refers to as "The Big Easy," wasn't quite himself at last week's scrimmage.

"I sensed he had a little tension," said Kevin Wilson, OU's offensive coordinator. "He's very competitive in practice wanting to make every (pass). I remember Coach (Josh) Heupel and myself one day having the conversation with him, 'Don't carry the team. Take what's there. It's what you did last year. Trust what's going on.' "

From all accounts of Saturday morning's scrimmage players and coaches conducted media interviews after the closed 120-play session Bradford reverted back to the 3,121-yard, 36-touchdown form he showed as a record-breaking freshman last year.

As center Jon Cooper put it: "Sam is sharp most of the time, but he was Sam today, that's for sure. He made some good throws."

Everyone's favorite was the long one to wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.

"It was a straight go ball," Bradford said. "(Iglesias) ran down the sideline and got behind the defense. I put it out there. He kind of held off the defender and made a great play."

The throw wasn't bad, either.

"Juaquin couldn't have been covered any tighter," Stoops said. "He came up with a great play and Sam put it in an incredible spot."

It's the type of throw Bradford expects to make after an offseason spent adding a dozen pounds of muscle.

"I feel like my arm has gotten stronger since last year," he said. "I'm able to put a little more zip on the ball, a little more air under deep balls."

It's the type of play Bradford expects his offense to make, now that he has had another summer to synchronize with receivers like Iglesias, Manuel Johnson and Jermaine Gresham. Everyone seemed in lockstep in the days leading up to the scrimmage.

"Sam let a comeback throw go, and the (receiver) was 5 yards from breaking on it. It was against a blitz," Wilson said. "He let it go, and the guy came out (of the break) for about an 18-yard shot. That was a big-time throw, a big-time play."

That's what the Sooners got used to seeing from their quarterback, and their offense, a year ago. If it was missing somewhat at OU's first preseason scrimmage, it wasn't Saturday morning.

"I feel like I played good today," Bradford ho-hummed in "Big Easy" fashion. "I feel like I made a lot of good decisions, didn't make too many bad ones."

A couple prominent coaches didn't need to wait that long. They knew minutes after the scrimmage.

"Sam Bradford was incredible," Stoops said. "Just really impressed."

"He's been awesome," Wilson added. "I sense he's going to have a great year for us."

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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