Tulsa World: Oklahoma eyes QBs to back up Bradford

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Oklahoma eyes QBs to back up Bradford
Saturday was launching pad for those vying to back up Heisman winner.

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 4/13/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 4/13/2009 3:45 AM

NORMAN — What did Oklahoma football fans learn on Saturday about their team's future beyond Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford?

Hard to say.

OU coaches know Bradford can play, so they asked of him just three series in the annual Red/White Game. Getting Bradford quality time with receivers like Adron Tennell and Jameel Owens and Brandon Caleb and Dejuan Miller, coaches said, wasn't nearly as important as getting snaps for backup quarterbacks Landry Jones and Drew Allen.

"I'm sure (Bradford) always needs work," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, "but this is the first time in front of the crowd for the two young guys."

Wilson will almost always defer to quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel when it comes to who's taking snaps in a scrimmage. There's a reason for that.

"Josh does a great job coaching those guys," Wilson said.

Said Heupel, "Sam might have gotten a couple fewer reps today than he typically does, but he's gotten the bulk of the reps during our practices. Today, I just wanted to get a look at some of those young guys."

Neither Jones nor Allen looked consistently good. Jones, now with more than a full year in the system, made a handful of plays becoming of Bradford's heir. But he also made some bad mistakes. Allen, less than four months out of high school, is still on the launching pad.

One idea for this spring was that Bradford needed to develop a strong on-field rapport with the new posse of receivers. Tennell will be a senior, but he's played only minimally in his career. Same with Caleb, a junior in '09. Owens and Miller have but a season under their belts.

But building that rapport now obviously isn't a priority — particularly considering that junior college transfer Cameron Kenney is expected to be a key player in the passing game, and he doesn't arrive until August.

"As far as game setting, timing, I mean, if anybody's going to be out here the most and throwing it, it's going to be Sam," Wilson said.

"They're going to throw thousands and thousands of out cuts and in breaks and deep balls between now and game time."

Jones and Allen will make strides in the summer with voluntary passing drills twice a day. Then, come August training camp, they'll get to compete head-to-head for the honor of being Bradford's backup. Jones is clearly ahead of Allen now, but coaches said twice last week that Allen's first-year acumen is ahead of where both Jones and Bradford were as rookies.

Then again, five-star recruit Blake Bell, who verbally committed to the Sooners last week and attended Saturday's scrimmage, might one day be the future of Oklahoma quarterbacks. It's little more than a guessing game today to identify the player fans one day will regard as the guy who followed Bradford.

Just ask Brent Rawls, Tommy Grady, Rhett Bomar or Keith Nichol.

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

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