Bell outshines qb competitors in Sooner scrimmage

[Mazeppa]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bell-outshines-qb-competitors-sooners-001233205--ncaaf.html

[Mazeppa]

http://stormininnorman.com/2013/04/13/oklahoma-football-spring-game-quarterback-competition/

[cleller]

The Yahoo story gives Thompson 151 yards passing, and Knight 86. The StorminInNorman story gives the reverse. I'm pretty sure Knight had the 151 and Thompson 86.

[NormanPride]

The one reason Knight isn't the frontrunner is that he isn't consistent. He played fabulously, but fumbled the snap on the goal line.

Give him the summer, and this may be a fiercer battle for the starter job.

[cleller]

Surprised more folks aren't climbing all over this stuff. First and last look at the team for quite awhile, we might as well take advantage of it.

All three looked pretty good by the end, no great worries, anyway. Bell looks ready to get started, which was expected. Knight looks good, but needs polishing. Still, thought Knight looked like he had lots of potential as a guy that can keep a play alive, a decent arm, and some touch on the ball.

Initially, I was disappointed in Thompson. His first throws were slow and floated, a couple off target. After being reminded how long it has been since he's actually played (2009!)--added with how much better he looked at the end, I think Josh can get him squared away with time. An interesting thought might be to develop him as a hybrid guy you can bring in and hand off to, throw to, and option pass with. Could create some problems for the other D.

[Ruf/Nek7]

Bell just looks more natural. He is the man in my opinion. Thompson is the #2 and will push Bell but will not take the job IMO

[rock on sooner]

Surprised more folks aren't climbing all over this stuff. First and last look at the team for quite awhile, we might as well take advantage of it.

All three looked pretty good by the end, no great worries, anyway. Bell looks ready to get started, which was expected. Knight looks good, but needs polishing. Still, thought Knight looked like he had lots of potential as a guy that can keep a play alive, a decent arm, and some touch on the ball.

Initially, I was disappointed in Thompson. His first throws were slow and floated, a couple off target. After being reminded how long it has been since he's actually played (2009!)--added with how much better he looked at the end, I think Josh can get him squared away with time. An interesting thought might be to develop him as a hybrid guy you can bring in and hand off to, throw to, and option pass with. Could create some problems for the other D.

I posted much the same idea in another thread...Thompson has wide receiver option
pass written all over him...reverses, double reverses...etc..

[cleller]

I posted much the same idea in another thread...Thompson has wide receiver option
pass written all over him...reverses, double reverses...etc..

Will be interesting to see. If he's got talent, he needs to get on the field. These multipurpose guys have torn it up lately, and we've been victimized as much as anyone.

[SoonerMom2]

Bell just looks more natural. He is the man in my opinion. Thompson is the #2 and will push Bell but will not take the job IMO I had the same take on Blake Bell - he was much more comfortable and relaxed - seemed to have a better grasp of what was needed. I thought Thompson was too quick to scramble. I thought Trevor was hopped, excited and nervous. When he settled down he looked much better and has quite the arm. My prediction - two years for Bell; then Trevor. Wouldn't be shocked to see Thompson and Bell on the field at the same time though. You cannot beat the size ob Bell to look over the opposing defense IMHO.

Also noticed that you saw Bell and Knight together all the time with Thompson most of the time at the other end of the line until he joined them when it was time to go into play. Bell congratulated both quarterbacks but noticed most of the time it was Trevor congratulating Bell with Thompson down the line. When the final drive started Bell was sent back in out of rotation.

[Widescreen]

Bell looked off the safety several times which was good to see. Had a couple of big plays off of it.

[Ruf/Nek7]

We really cannot forget just how well Bell can run too. Is he as fast and elusive as KT and Knight? Absolutely not but he is big and physical and still has some good speed for his size. The play I most liked was the redzone scramble td pass bell threw to Neal I believe. It will be nice to see a QB move from the pocket and not have to cover my eyes in shear anxiety. I will throw this comparison out there...I think Bell is like a Ben Roethlisberger. Big and physical and has the ability to really prolong a play. A big ben minus the desire to rape young women.

[thecrimsoncrusader]

Bell may not be elusive as Thompson or Knight, but he's as elusive as one can be at 6'6" and 250lbs. from the QB position and he has a running quality that Thompson and Knight will never have and that is power. And it will be even easier for him to run this upcoming season since teams won't know when he is going to run and when he is going to pass on the vast majority of occasions. It was relatively safe to say he was always going to run out of the Belldozer formation and the opposition knew that. That won't be the case this season with that just being one formation of many with Blake Bell as the QB.

[badger]

It was Belldozer's job to lose in the first place, so it shouldn't shock or disappoint the other guys that Blake remains the frontrunner.

But, it was fun to see the other guys in action

[KantoSooner]

Interesting. The little group I sat with were of the opinon that Thompson was the most impressive and that it would end up Bell, then Thompson in the fall and that that was maybe unfair to Thompson.

[badger]

Interesting. The little group I sat with were of the opinon that Thompson was the most impressive and that it would end up Bell, then Thompson in the fall and that that was maybe unfair to Thompson.

I dig me some QBs with the last name Thompson (I met daddy Thompson a few Red/White games ago and he autographed a ball for a friend, and I had a class with Paul Thompson my senior year), but the goalline thing... oh the goalline thing. I don't remember if he was the QB when we were about to score or the QB when we gave up the safety, but both of those made Trevor and Kendall that clear No. 2 (or 3) behind Bell.

[KantoSooner]

I think both of those were Knight (who I also liked, but who didn't seem, to me, to be as good as Thompson or Bell).

[badger]

I was on the opposite side in section 10, so I might be mistaken. I also left mid-fourth quarter to get to the bookstore before the crowd :P

[PrideMom]

Offense is not OU's worry. Defense has been the problem for quite a while. We will not know about that until we play a true opponent. Still need punters.

[KantoSooner]

You're right there. the punting was exceptionally bad save the first one that was 50+ yards.

[FirstandGoal]

You're right there. the punting was exceptionally bad save the first one that was 50+ yards.


LOL! Don't forget that that one was with the wind.

I think I lost count of how many times I groaned out loud and winced whenever another punt went awry...

We are really going to miss Tress Way this year.

[goingoneight]

Is it just me or does Thompson's running style look like DeMarco Murray's? Especially the spin move and the way he changes directions on a dime. Guys were not able to square him up at all.

[Ruf/Nek7]

I would like to see us run wild cat offense (not the belldozer) that would have thompson and someone like finch and shepard or saunders constantly motioning as an option after snap. You have three running options and the ability to drop back and pass.

How about a triple option pass?

[Soonerwake]

I'm a little hesitant to gush about any of the QB's running. They were wearing the blue jerseys, so it's very difficult to get an idea of what runs would have worked, would they have been sacked a few more times, etc.. Plus, Bell's running style is alot more physical, so we didn't see any of that on Saturday.

[badger]

How about a triple option bypass?
That's how I read it initially :eek:

But seriously, anyone who is borderline on having one better get it in ASAP, because you will need to be full-strength to endure what we have coming to Norman in Week 2:

WEST VIRGINIA

...that looked better in my head. you really can't read the yellow text, can you?

[Mazeppa]

I'm a little hesitant to gush about any of the QB's running. They were wearing the blue jerseys, so it's very difficult to get an idea of what runs would have worked, would they have been sacked a few more times, etc.. Plus, Bell's running style is alot more physical, so we didn't see any of that on Saturday.

I seen more "mobility" from these quarterbacks in two hours on Owen field than I've seen in the last 4 years.

[StoopTroup]

I think Bell is going to have another great year getting us short yardage and scores at the goal line.

[Widescreen]

I'm a little hesitant to gush about any of the QB's running. They were wearing the blue jerseys, so it's very difficult to get an idea of what runs would have worked, would they have been sacked a few more times, etc.. Plus, Bell's running style is alot more physical, so we didn't see any of that on Saturday.

I get what you're saying but that blue jersey also worked against the QBs. There were a couple of times that Thompson would likely have had a long run had it not been for the rule saying the play was over as soon as the QB was touched. I liked what I saw from the QBs even if it wasn't a true representation due to the odd rules.

[Salt City Sooner]

I get what you're saying but that blue jersey also worked against the QBs. There were a couple of times that Thompson would likely have had a long run had it not been for the rule saying the play was over as soon as the QB was touched. I liked what I saw from the QBs even if it wasn't a true representation due to the odd rules.

x 2, not to mention the fact that Bell probably trucks a couple of those pats on the back as well if it'd been live.

[Soonerwake]

I agree with all of you. The blue jerseys work for and against the player wearing said jersey. And, I also agree that all of the QB's are more mobile than Landry. In fact, Saturday made me realize how immobile Landry really was. So, we will all be praising the feet of our new QB, whoever it is, while missing some of the throws Landry could make that these guys probably aren't ready for. Saying all that, it would be an incredible upset if anyone but Bell starts game 1.

Just a thought..

[Ruf/Nek7]

Truth is, running ability will not apply to winning the starting position. Unless, and only unless Heupel plans on running an offensive scheme that demands running ability. Based on observations of previous seasons as him as OC, whomever has the best passing ability will be the winner of the position and if you ask me who has shown the most in that aspect, it is Bell hands down.

I feel many here are jumping to this mobile quarterback thing because of Manziel. I just don't see OU incorporating it yet. It does seem as though this is a growing trend at all levels. RG3, Kaepernick, Scam Newton in the NFL and the obvious college guys.