Sooner fans can relax

By John Helsley

Published: September 4, 2006

Oklahoma’s opening impression on this 2006 season - underwhelming.

Nationally, OU 24, Alabama-Birmingham 17, surely raised more suspicions than expectations about the Sooners.

Locally, for fans, Saturday night’s tight fit probably felt too much like TCU for much too long.

Realistically? Relax, all you out there.

Yes, the Sooners face issues. There’s room to improve, a necessity to improve, lest another round of 8-4 is acceptable.

But there are reasons why and how OU can get from Point C to Grade A.

Look, for all the anxiety hanging in the damp Norman air Saturday night, this wasn’t at all like TCU.

Those Sooners struggled to do anything good on offense against the Horned Frogs, with the passing poor and the blocking for Adrian Peterson even poorer.

These Sooners were on the move, piling up a respectable 370 yards of offense. Four turnovers and a dropped touchdown pass prevented a more polished, punctuating victory.

“We’re not far off,” Bob Stoops said.

There’s evidence to support that.

Paul Thompson proved to be a far more qualified quarterback against the Blazers than in his ’05 debut. Thompson missed some throws, typically utilizing strong-arm tactics when some amount of touch would have been prudent. That’s correctable.

Still, Thompson threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns and had another scoring toss dropped. He also had two interceptions but deserved the blame for only one. His game management was solid.

The line showed a physical side and some toughness, with all five starters going the distance. OU’s still-developing crew up front created enough cracks for Peterson to run for 139 yards.

Saturday night also offered some insight into developing weapons. Joe Jon Finley led the Sooners’ receivers with four catches and 79 yards. Wideout Fred Strong, who put on a late preseason push, showed he’s a viable threat even as a fourth or fifth option through the air.

Then there’s Peterson the receiver. After pleading for a few passes the last few months, he showed why and what he can do, turning a dump pass into a 69-yard touchdown.

Add in the game-changing influence of Reggie Smith, not yet a factor on offense, but clearly a difference maker at cornerback and in the return game, and the Sooners can strike in a variety of ways.

So there are reasons for optimism.

“Offensively, if we take care of the football, it makes all the difference in the world,” Stoops said. “But I liked what I saw between the turnovers.”

Now, one unexpected concern - the defense.

Counted on to be the reliable strength of this squad, the defense sprung leaks against UAB. Shoddy tackling and instances of shaky coverage were the main culprits.

“That’s one area I believe we can get corrected,” Stoops said. “And we will.”

They better. That was a backup quarterback leading the Blazers’ charge.

There’s also some sense of urgency for the offense to take the step from promising to productive.

Washington is next, but a testy trip to Oregon lies 12 days away.

That’s when perception and reality merge, for better or worse.