Next OU QB is a mystery
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
12/12/2006
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Sooner coaches developing their young quarterbacks.
NORMAN -- The first clue as to the daunting transition facing Oklahoma's football team came during Fiesta Bowl practice last week, when freshman Sam Bradford replaced senior quarterback Paul Thompson and tried to call a play.
"I said, 'That doesn't sound good,' " OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. " 'Right now, this doesn't sound like this play's working. Say it again.'
"There's a way you talk that says, 'Hey, here's what we're doing.' There was a little uncertainty because the young guy was thinking too much."
It's a scene that lends itself to a greater uncertainty -- who's going to quarterback the Sooners once Thompson closes his career against Boise State New Year's night.
Will it be Bradford, a redshirt this fall? Or Joey Halzle, the sophomore who threw two passes as Thompson's backup this season? Or even Keith Nichol, the heralded Lowell, Mich., quarterback who plans to enroll at OU for next semester after changing his verbal commitment from Michigan State?
"You look at our quarterback situation, it's certainly wide open," position coach Josh Heupel said.
Just as certain, there is much work to be done before
the case closes.
Nichol isn't even on campus. The Sooners can't talk about him yet. And for all his high school All-America hype, he'll have enough of a task adjusting to college courses by next spring practice, let alone a college playbook.
Bradford is the one-time football-basketball-golf standout from Putnam City North.
"Sam is an extremely athletic guy, but he's raw as a quarterback," Heupel said. "Formations, protections, knowing what you're calling, breaking the huddle, getting under center and not having to think about what's going on, just reacting . . . That's the evolution of a young quarterback."
Halzle, who played a year in community college before transferring to OU before last spring semester, is a step ahead in that regard.
"I don't have to think about the play going to the line," he said. "I know where everybody's going to be. I've learned my protections and, really more than anything, I'm used to the speed of the defense, guys flying around.
"It's getting to where when you go behind center, you're not like, 'Whoa.' Everything doesn't look like a blur."
Bradford's vision isn't as clear. But then, he has something Halzle doesn't.
"Sam probably has a stronger arm, throws the ball with more velocity," Wilson said. "I think he's a little more athletic than people give him credit for. He's probably more athletic than Joey.
"Potentially, in time, Sam might be the better of the two physically, from an arm standpoint and from an athletic standpoint. But there are other intangibles that make you a good player. It's just not physical skills."
Which tilts the scale back toward Halzle.
"I think Joey is a little more aware or in sync or not thinking as much right now," Wilson said. "He's not as mentally overwhelmed."
Halzle would be in better shape had it not been for OU's quarterback crisis.
Rhett Bomar's sudden dismissal in August signaled Thompson's sudden move from wide receiver. Which, in turn, ensured Thompson would be taking just about every snap from the first day of preseason practice up until last week.
Only then did he step aside for a rest and allow Halzle and Bradford the spotlight.
"All the snaps help them," coach Bob Stoops said of his quarterbacks in waiting.
"They're coming along real well," Thompson said.
"They're working hard, just as we'd expect them to," said senior tackle Chris Messner.
As last week showed, they have a lot of work to do.
"In our inside (short-yardage) drill, I'm talking about, 'Look at the safeties. Read the coverage,' " Wilson said. " 'Just because we're running the ball doesn't mean it's not there. Get used to looking at it every time.'
"Those are the little things you take for granted that young guys mess up. They're simple things. They're things you're not even supposed to think about. When you're inexperienced, you've got to think about that. If not, you'll get up there, look at the ground and just hand the ball off.
"That's the learning curve. That's the rub of getting guys up to speed. It's time on task."
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Guerin Emig 581-8355
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2007 SOONER QB CANDIDATES
Joey Halzle
6-4, 200, junior
Appeared in two games as Paul Thompson's backup this season. Completed 1-of-2 passes for 15 yards against Middle Tennessee.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on Halzle: "I think he does have some anticipation and awareness and instincts, some savvy kind of stuff. I don't know how big, strong or physical an arm he has. He moves reasonably well."
Quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel on Halzle: "He had 15 spring practices, had a bunch of reps, then threw (7-on-7 drills) and that type of thing during the summer. And then he's a guy that got reps during the season as well. He's got a much higher comfort level than Sam (Bradford) does."
Sam Bradford
6-5, 200, redshirt freshman
Arrived summer 2006, then redshirted.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on Bradford: "He has some physical attributes. And Sam's an extremely bright guy. It's just time on task. When he gets the mental aspect up to speed, his physical attributes might get him past (Halzle). But will that happen? When that happens? It's kind of a timeline where you can't predict."
Quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel on Bradford: "He's a tremendous athlete. He needs to continue to improve on his fundamentals, the three-step drop, the five-step drop, getting his body in position, getting himself in the pocket so he's comfortable, reading the defense and delivering the ball. There's a lot of little things that allow you to be successful."
Keith Nichol
6-2, 195, senior, Lowell (Mich.) High School
Plans to enroll for the spring semester for spring practice. Rated by Rivals as the No. 5 prep dual-threat QB after accumulating 9,295 yards and 131 TDs in his career..