OU has no shortage of talent at running back
Deciding who gets the ball is nice problem to have
OU has no shortage of talent at running back

Published: April 2, 2007

One media member, during the post-scrimmage scrum Saturday, joked to Bob Stoops about a crack he'd overheard from an old coach, presumably Barry Switzer.

The thought: The Sooners, based on their stable of backs, might just benefit from a return to the wishbone.

Stoops joked back, "Might consider that.”

Consider this, the Sooners are that good at running back.

And that's without Adrian Peterson, who could still be running roughshod about Memorial Stadium.

Oklahoma faces pressing issues this spring.

None involves sweating over who will replace Peterson.

Now, making sure each in the stable is utilized to the fullest could get a bit dicey. Hey, Cale Gundy, nice problem to have.

The best realization for Gundy and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is that they have a man for all moments in a cast that carries five deep.

•Allen Patrick: He's the primary reason Peterson's early exit to the NFL didn't create panic in offices of the Switzer Center. Patrick is tough and reliable and a proven producer, rushing for 761 yards a year ago, and all but 73 in six of the final eight games after Peterson was hurt. He may be the best combination of speed and power.

•Chris Brown: Another known commodity — 327 yards during a three-game stretch when Patrick was hobbled — Brown isn't the flashiest of the five, yet he may be the best down after down as a hammer between the tackles.

•DeMarco Murray: The star of the spring so far, Murray offers speed and elusiveness and receiving skills and, did we mention speed? All those talents were hidden last fall, when Murray was slowed by a lingering turf toe injury. Now he's busting loose. "A special player,” Stoops said Saturday, when Murray pushed his two-scrimmage rushing total to 224 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries.

•Mossis Madu: In the mold of Murray, although not quite as fast, Madu is shifty and quick and can catch the ball with ease.

•Jacob Gutierrez: Falling behind a bit, Gutierrez remains a fine option as a runner or receiver. And at 5-foot-6, he could be a darting hidden weapon running behind mountainous Duke Robinson and Phil Loadholt.

Find a wishbone fullback (Brown), an optioneer for behind center and designate halfbacks left and right and a large corner of the Sooner faithful would celebrate the glorious return of ground-gobbling days gone by.

Of course, to borrow a chortled line from Howard Schnellenberger, they didn't bring Bob Stoops here to run the wishbone.

Still, the Sooners will continue to run. And run it well.