Stoops: Oklahoma Plans Balanced Attack In 2005

By Mike Medina  |   Wednesday, July 20, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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HOUSTON - Adrian Peterson is back to lead Oklahoma, but gone is Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jason White.

More of the offensive load will fall on the sophomore as the Sooners develop a new starting quarterback. But coach Bob Stoops insists that his team will continue to employ a balanced attack.

"We're not going to sit here and put more pressure on Adrian," Stoops said on Wednesday at day two of the Big 12's media days. "The most success we've had is because of the balance we have been able to have. We are going to do our best to have the kind of balance we've had."

He said regardless of the quarterback situation, he will not run Peterson "40 times a game." However, he does want to get the Heisman runner-up more involved in the passing game.

Peterson ran for a freshman-record 1,925 yards in 2004, but had only five receptions for 12 yards.

He was the first freshman Associated Press All-American since North Carolina cornerback Dre' Bly in 1996.

After finishing second in Heisman voting as a freshman, Peterson is undoubtedly a front-runner for the award this season. But also returning is Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2005 Heisman winner.

Stoops is evasive about who he thinks is the top player, saying that he thought Peterson and Leinart were each the best.

Stoops didn't bring Peterson to the media day. The coach told reporters he has always brought seniors to the event and that he wanted Peterson to relax and "not have to deal with you guys."

As noncommittal as Stoops is about who he thinks is the nation's top player, he's even more so about who'll be his quarterback this season.

Last year's backup, 6-foot-7 Tommy Grady is in the hunt, as is 2003 backup Paul Thompson who redshirted last season. Freshman Rhett Bomar, the nation's top-rated quarterback recruit in 2003, will also compete.

"I think it gives you a little extra fire, a little extra excitement when you don't know," Stoops said. "The bottom line is we haven't had enough opportunity for any one of them to earn it. We have never appointed anybody in that position or any others."

"For these players to respect whoever is behind center, they need more time to earn their way on the field."

Stoops would say that any of the choices will definitely be more mobile than injury-plagued White.

"They're all athletic and they'd all beat Jason White (in a race) by 20 yards," Stoops said. "Can they win as much as him or throw as many touchdown passes? We'll see."

Senior wide receiver Travis Wilson said he'll be comfortable with whoever is chosen, but that he is curious to see who it will be.

"I'm looking forward to finding out the starting quarterback just like all of you are," he said.

Stoops downplayed any hangover that might remain following last season's 55-19 blowout loss to USC in the national title game.

"I don't buy in to a whole lot of that," he said. "We're not sitting around talking about that. Each year is different. We've got a different team. I don't think it much matters to us. We've got to go back and fight our way through."
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