Murray continues to impress; no true leader at quarterback

By John Helsley

Published: April 8, 2007

NORMAN – Oklahoma's pressing quarterback question — Sam Bradford or Joey Halzle or Keith Nichol? — will carry on through the spring and summer and perhaps beyond.

The Sooners' annual Red-White spring game revealed no definitive leader in that competition, although Bradford produced better numbers and better moments for the second straight Saturday.

What did emerge, however, is another developing drama: DeMarco Murray or who else at running back?

Before a crowd of 20,020 at Memorial Stadium on a sunny, yet chilly afternoon, Murray continued his impressive spring, rushing just four times, but gaining 103 yards. And his early 18-yard touchdown run, featuring a pair of knee-buckling cuts against the grain, provided the offensive highlight of the day, won 53-30 by the offense in an elaborate scoring system devised by the coaches.

"I just saw grass,” said Murray, who glided into the end zone with little resistance. "The offensive line did a great job and I saw grass.

"I made a cut or two, it was good.”

Murray, who romped 68 yards for his long run Saturday, has been more than good this spring. He's been "special,” as described by everyone from Bob Stoops to defensive coordinator Brent Venables. And with uncertainty and inexperience a given at quarterback, a dose of special elsewhere will serve the Sooners well come next fall.

Saturday's numbers pushed Murray's rushing total in three major scrimmages to 327 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries. That's 11.3 yards a carry.

"He's a talented guy who really just has a knack for making plays,” Stoops said Saturday. "We're excited about him.”

OU coaches have been excited about all their backs, with good reason.

Allen Patrick and Chris Brown produced during the Sooners' drive to a Big 12 championship last season when Adrian Peterson went out for seven games with a broken collarbone. They're tried and tested capable.

Brown had a solid day, rushing 11 times for 67 yards. Patrick finished with 15 yards on nine carries, although penalties robbed him of two long runs. Patrick also hurt himself with a fumble on the day's second play, bumping him from the rotation over the next eight series.

Mossis Madu, a redshirt freshman like Murray, is also in the mix, although he missed the Red-White affair with an ankle sprain.

It's just that Murray keeps wowing — fans, teammates and coaches.

"He just decides on his moves at the last minute,” said defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, who's experienced first hand the frustration of tracking Murray. "You never know what he's going to do.”

Said cornerback Reggie Smith: "I saw his film when he was in high school, and I was like, ‘He can't be like that.' This whole spring he's been doing that.”

Murray's talents are such that Stoops predicted he'd be an All-American if the Sooners lined him up at cornerback.

"Obviously, we're not going to,” Stoops said with a chuckle.

But just what are the Sooners going to do with Murray?

Running backs coach Cale Gundy said there is no pecking order at running back. There's a place and a need for all four of the prime candidates. There's also a thought that none of the four are built to last a season as a 25-carry-a-game runner.

Murray himself doubted that he is.

But there's no doubting Murray will play, both at running back and in the slot as a receiver.

"He's going to play and he's going to play a bunch,” Gundy said. "It's obvious he's a guy who can make some plays.”

As for quarterback, things are not so obvious.

Bradford completed 9 of 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, firing a strike to Carter Whitson for a 23-yard scoring play and tossing no interceptions, a key in this competition.

Halzle went 7-for-18 passing for 162 yards and a score, but had an interception and several passes into coverage. Nichol was 3-for-7 for 25 yards passing in his limited spring role.

But it's a role that will expand in August, keeping this competition going, and a decision on a starter pending.

"I know everyone wants (a starter),” Stoops said. "But what people have to realize, too, is that position has to be earned. And to be accepted in the locker room, to be accepted in the huddle, where your guys have confidence in you. It only happens through snaps and earning it and showing you can do it. And getting whacked and getting up. And making a poor play and then coming back and making three good ones.

"And that just has to happen. And it takes time for that to develop.”