Desert Sapper's Blogistan

OU had its second spring scrimmage on Saturday, gearing up for the Red-White Game on ESPN this Saturday.  From the video on Soonersports, it sure did look like the defense is improving immensely.  The tackling was superb, although once again DeMarco 'Wunderkind' Murray lit it up rushing and receiving, scoring a TD and gaining some serious rushing yardage.  Murray looks like the real deal, and Stoops agreed with that assessment in his commentary after the game.  I wish Ryan Reynolds hadn't hurt his knee again.  He seemed to be progressing so well.  At least this time he'll be back for the summer and fall.  I wonder if it's a given that the WLB will have injury issues.  Ruuuufus had the same (or similar) problems in his Frosh (had to Redshirt) and RS Frosh seasons.  It wasn't until his Soph season that he could do anything, and then he really lit it up.  None of the QBs really stood out, although Nichol did hit Jermaine Gresham on a TD pass.  Gresham is going to be great this year.  He is a Keith Jackson level talent.

2007 OU Spring Football Central

NORMAN, Okla. -- Young players again were responsible for most of the offensive highlights when Oklahoma completed its second scrimmage of the spring Saturday at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
 
Three sophomores and a freshman accounted for the four touchdowns in the event. When it was over, OU head coach Bob Stoops, who was critical after his team’s first major scrimmage, was more positive about his team.
 
“It was better,” he said. “The intensity, the effort, the enthusiasm all were really good. We’ve got improvement to make in clearing up some mistakes but that’s why we practice.” 
   

 
Redshirt freshman running back DeMarco Murray again practiced well.
 
He rushed 16 times for 132 yards and one touchdown. He had one 65-yard burst and then scored on a seven-yard sweep. The versatile Murray also caught one pass for a 19-yard gain.
 
“DeMarco’s a special player,” Stoops said. “All spring he’s made plays and he made a lot of big plays today. He’s going to be a boost to us.”
 
The offense’s first touchdown came on a 40-yard backward throw from Sam Bradford to Brandon Caleb. Ruled a lateral, Caleb took the ball and ran down the sideline for the score. The play capped a three-play, 60-yard drive.
 
Murray then tallied his score before tight end Jermaine Gresham scored a touchdown on the 12th possession of the day. He hauled in a 15-yard throw from true freshman Keith Nichol.
 
The final touchdown came during red zone work when Chris Brown pounded in from five yards out.
 
All three quarterbacks vying for the job, Joey Halzle, Sam Bradford and Keith Nichol, saw considerable action.
 
Halzle hit on 7-of-15 passes for 76 yards with one interception. Bradford was 8-of-13 for 114 yards with two interceptions and Nichol was 4-of-8 for 96 yards with one interception and one touchdown.
 
“Sam has thrown really well all spring,” Stoops said when asked about the redshirt freshman. “All three of them have. They made some mistakes, but that’s the reason you can’t get enough snaps. They need all the work they can get to make those mistakes out here.”
 
The defense had a youthful flavor like its offensive counterpart.
 
Redshirt freshman cornerback Dominque Franks picked off two passes and another redshirt freshman, DT Gerald McCoy, had 1.5 sacks. 
 
Safety Nic Harris led the defense with eight tackles.
 
OU now gears up for the April 7 Red/White game. That contest begins at 1 p.m., and will be televised by ESPN.
 
Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 the day of the game. OU students will be admitted free with a current ID.
 
Scoring Plays
Caleb 40-yard run (Hartley kick)
Murray 2-yard run (Hartley kick)
Gresham 15-yard pass from Nichol (Hartley kick)
Brown 5-yard run (Hartley kick)
 
Rushing
Murray -- 16-132, 1 TD
Brown -- 13-72, 1 TD
Caleb – 1-40
Patrick -- 10-35
Madu -- 9-20
 
Passing
Halzle -- 7-15-1-76
Bradford -- 8-13-2-114
Nichol -- 4-8-1-96, 1 TD
 
Receiving
Iglesias -- 2-30
Murray -- 1-19
Brown -- 3-5
Madu -- 2-23
Chaney -- 2-26
Johnson -- 2-19
Gresham -- 3-73, 1 TD
Finley -- 1-26
Tennell -- 2-17
Caleb -- 1-48
 
Tackles
Harris -- 8
Wolfe -- 7, 1 INT
Lofton -- 7, 1 FR
Baker -- 7
Reed -- 6
McCoy -- 5 , 1 TFL  (-1), 1.5 sacks (-8)
Nelson -- 5, 1 TFL  (-1), 2 PBU
Robinson -- 5
D. Pleasant -- 5, 1 sack (-9)
Granger -- 4
Macon -- 4, 1 sack (-6)
Franks -- 3, 2 INT
Smith -- 3, 1 INT (9)
Bowers -- 3
Q. Carter -- 3
Dotson  -- 3, 1 PBU
M. Walker -- 2, 1 PBU
Crow -- 2 , 0.5 sack (-3)
Beal -- 2, 1 sack (-1)
Bennett -- 2
Williams -- 1, 1 PBU
Davis -- 1
Taylor -- 1
Taggart -- 1
Clayton -- 1
Jackson -- 1