Judges' corner: OU’s Elvis figures to collect a few more grass stains
Judges’ corner: OU

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Published: August 30, 2009

What’s in store for Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford? Can the offensive line hold up? The Oklahoman’s Idol judges answer these questions and more as they give their take on this OU football season:

John Rohde, Jenni Carlson and Berry Tramel Photo By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

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BERRY TRAMEL: Sam Bradford is a matinee idol in part because of his good looks. If he’s still got those good looks in December, I think the news will be very good for Oklahoma football. That means his offensive line has kept Bradford from getting cut up.

JOHN ROHDE: Elvis figures to collect a few more grass stains this season, but no quarterback in the country has a better multiple-choice game plan.

JENNI CARLSON: A few more grass stains? I’m still skeptical of this offensive line. Slingin’ Sam may need to be downright magical this season.

TRAMEL: I think John is on to something. This OU playbook has enough in it that even if Bradford is more rushed, he can simply get rid of the ball quicker. Maybe not as many home runs this year, but still not that many assaults from pass rushers.

ROHDE: OSU has the "Triplets” in Robinson, Bryant and Hunter, but OU has the "Sextuplets” in Bradford, Murray, Gresham, Brown, Madu and Broyles. The possibilities are scary.

CARLSON: The Sooners loved the shovel pass in 2000. Don’t be surprised to see a resurgence this year.

TRAMEL: The shovel is a perfect example. Of course, if Bradford is going to stage a Heisman repeat, he’ll have to do more than throw shovel passes. He might have to use his legs more to avoid those grass stains. Which would only enhance his stock with the pro scouts and with college voters.

ROHDE: If I’ve got Bradford on my team, he’s going to be passing, not shoveling. Shovel passes are cheapies. When you’ve got a Rolls Royce like Bradford, why be cheap? When Bradford has time, throw deep to Broyles or Gresham. When Bradford is pressed for time, find Madu or dump it off to one of the backs. Leave the shovel in the garage.

CARLSON: "When Bradford has time” is the key phrase here. Time might be the thing he has least this season. I’m all for this team stretching the field when it can, but when that option isn’t there, go short. It was good enough in 2000. Why not now?

TRAMEL: Bradford will be fine, either way. Give him time, he’ll go long. Rush him, he’ll go short. But bottom line, he’s got to win. Got to beat Texas. Got to win the national championship. Otherwise, he’s going to be thought of like our old pal Jason White, who had a glorious career but is remembered as much for losing the two national title games as he is for a great comeback story. Which is putting a lot on Bradford. Texas is a tossup. A national title game would be, at best, a tossup. Tossup times tossup equals 25 percent chance. At best.

CARLSON: Still, Bradford has had a charmed career. Few thought he could be more than a caretaker as a redshirt freshman; he broke all sorts of records. Few thought he could improve on his first season; he went out and won the Heisman. All he has done is go out and prove people wrong, and he has made it happen. I wouldn’t count Bradford out.