Sam Bradford: To leave or not to leave
Back in January, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford had a win-win decision to make.
Enter the NFL Draft and make millions of dollars as a probable high first round pick.
Or return to Norman, where he’d be leading the Sooners on their quest for a return trip to the national championship.
Nine months later, Bradford has another decision to make. Only this one is hardly a win-win.
Enter the draft, as expected, amidst questions about his durability and health.
Or return to OU for what will be a rebuilding season.
Sunday, Bradford underwent an MRI, which showed he re-aggravated his throwing shoulder after being sacked during the first quarter against Texas. Bradford will consult with doctors and his family about whether he’ll need surgery to correct the persistent Grade 3 AC joint sprain that has ruined his junior season.
Said Bradford, “I’m sure my family and our doctors, once they know more, we’ll talk and (surgery) is an option. We’ll see.”
After that, Bradford will have to decide if entering the draft is best for him. If he does declare, it will be curious to see how NFL teams view him.
Just a day after Bradford went down, analysts began speculating.
ESPN draft guru Todd McShay suggested on in a radio interview that Bradford’s stock could fall to the middle of the first round, which could cost him between $10-20 million.
But appearing on CBS’s NFL Today, former NFL general manager Charley Casserly declared he didn’t believe the injury would affect Bradford’s stock at all.
“He was going to be a top-five pick last year,” Casserly said. “I don’t know why it would be in any different this year.”
If he feels dubious about his draft status, Bradford has the option of coming back to school for his final season of eligibility.
But if you thought playing behind this year’s line was hazardous to his health, wait until next season. With by far OU’s best three linemen — Trent Williams, Brian Simmons and Brody Eldridge — all graduating, the offensive line is probably in store for a further regression.
If Bradford comes back and is seriously hurt again, his draft stock will plummet lower and he will begin to solidify a reputation that will be tough to shake: being brittle.
So while his teammates attempt to press on without him, Bradford is left with a decision to make.
Stay or go.
And unlike the one he had in January, this one is far from ideal.
-JT
Texas 16, OU 13: Postgame thoughts
Despite a valiant effort from its defense, OU dropped to 3-3 following a tough 16-13 loss to Texas. The big storyline, though, was Sam Bradford re-injuring his throwing shoulder. Barring something unforeseen, it appears Bradford has played his final game in a Sooner uniform. It will be interesting to see how this shoulder affects his NFL Draft status. Clearly, surgery is something the Bradfords will strongly consider now, since the perception of this injury is that it’s chronic. Unfortunate situation.
On to the game:
* The defense was really spectacular. It was a defensive TD away from being one of the all-time great performances. Keenan Clayton nearly picked off a couple pick sixes. Brian Jackson had an INT, but couldn’t shake Colt McCoy at the end. Still, if this defense plays this well from here out, no matter how troubled the offense is with injuries, the Sooners have a chance to win out. Truly gutty outing by the defense.
* Jeremy Beal and GK McCoy turned in All-American performances. Neither could be blocked by a veteran, usually solid Texas offensive line. Both guys will be playing Sundays sometime soon.
* CB Demontre Hurst, OU’s final addition to the 2009 recruiting class, could turn out to be the best of this class, too. He had a big 15-yard sack on McCoy filling in for Jackson. Great speed and has a feel for the game that can’t be taught. Future star.
* Six games in, the offense is still looking for an identity. That’s what mass injuries will do. Sooners really missed OG Brian Simmons today. To compensate, they had to move TE Brody Eldridge to guard. That kind of mixing and matching upsets continuity. But OU doesn’t enough much faith in its other guards.
* Off. coordinator Kevin Wilson implied after the game that he didn’t think Simmons’ knee injury is season-ending, but expects him to be out at least the next couple weeks. That means Eldridge probably stays inside. Walk-on Trent Ratterree played admirably in Eldridge’s place at tight end. But he doesn’t posses the ability to block the way Eldridge can in the run game on those off-tackle plays that have worked so effectively the last three years.
* Give it up to RB DeMarco Murray. He runs as hard as he can on every play. It’s strange, but in a lot of ways Murray has become OU’s power back, and Chris Brown’s its breakaway guy. My times have changed since 2007.
* I don’t think the WRs played poorly, but let’s face it, they are what they are. Average playmakers. Broyles’ shoulder blade fracture seemed to hamper his overall effectiveness, but he made a huge play to give OU some life with a tackle break followed by the touchdown scamper. The Sooners don’t have anyone else who can make that type of play.
* Special teams was exposed. Tress Way didn’t punt it well, Jimmy Stevens missed a crucial field goal and Dom Franks looked lost at times on punt returns. The fumble by him and Mossis Madu on back-to-back possessions was a killer for the Sooner defense, who played with its back against the wall from that point on.
* People who were clamoring for more passing at Miami saw why Wilson called it safe then. Landry Jones attempted 43 passes against Texas, but OU’s offense was just as ineffective. And the two late picks took OU out of the game. Jones will get better. But remember, he’s still a freshman, and playing behind a patchwork offensive line.
-JT
Broyles, Carter to both return
Slot receiver Ryan Broyles and safety Quinton Carter will both return to the starting lineup Saturday against Texas.
Broyles is coming back from a shoulder blade fracture he suffered at Miami that caused him to miss last weekend’s game against Baylor.
Carter suffered a minor knee injury against Baylor, which knocked him out of the game in the second half.
Both, however, have been able to practice this week.
-JT
OU-Texas: Breaking down the matchups
Quarterbacks
Take a look at these Red River stats.
In two games against Texas, Sam Bradford has completed 49 of 71 passes (69 percent) for 631 yards, with eight TDs and two interceptions.
In three games against OU, Colt McCoy has a 2-1 record. He’s completed 58 of 79 passes (73.4 percent) for 709 yards, with five touchdowns and one interception.
Bradford and McCoy bring their best to Dallas. I would expect the same Sat.
Edge: Even
Running backs
OU’s DeMarco Murray is beginning to hit his stride and was the difference maker in the ’07 Shootout. Chris Brown has proven to be just as good.
Texas is running a five-pronged RB rotation with mixed results.
Edge: OU
Wide receivers
Getting Ryan Broyles back is a big boost for the Sooners. But how effective will he be? Brandon Caleb has disappeared in big games. Neither Cam Kenney nor Dejuan Miller has been able to pull away from the other for playing time.
Texas’ Jordan Shipley is the best WR in the Big 12. Those around him have been consistently good, too.
Edge: Texas
Tight ends
Brody Eldridge is a limited threat in the pass game, but he’s a bear of a blocker on OU’s bread-and-butter off-tackle runs. James Hanna and Trent Ratterree are improving.
Does Texas have a tight end left on the roster?
Edge: OU
Offensive line
T Trent Williams is a star, but the rest of his cast has been up and down. With G Brian Simmons out, this unit has even more questions.
The Longhorns have their best line in years. C Chris Hall and T Adam Ulatoski are all-conference-caliber players.
Edge: Texas
Defensive line
OU end Jeremy Beal and tackle GK McCoy are two of college football’s best linemen. T Adrian Taylor and E Auston English aren’t too shabby, either.
Led by Sergio Kindle, the Longhorns are stout up front, too. But not quite as stout.
Edge: OU
Linebackers
OU’s Ryan Reynolds, Travis Lewis and Keenan Clayton are seasoned and solid.
Roddrick Muckelroy is leading a surprisingly good Texas LB crew still developing.
Edge: OU
Defensive backs
The Sooners have the better corners in Dom Franks and Brian Jackson.
The Longhorns have the better safeties in Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon. But Texas played Tech and still only allowing 186 yards passing a game.
Edge: Texas
Special teams
OU is much improved with Jimmy Stevens at kicker, Tress Way at punter and on covering kicks.
But Shipley is a star on returns, and the rest of the kicking game is solid.
Edge: Texas
Prediction: Texas 27, OU 24.
Sooners learn a lot about themselves in their best performance of the season. But Texas is a better all-around team right now and will hold for the win.
-JT
Download the OU-Texas Pregame Package
Click the image to download your quick look at this weekend’s OU football game from The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com — in printable and portable form. (Please note that it is a PDF document.) Print it out and take it with you to Dallas.
Chat: David Ubben (10.12)
Recruiting watch: Sooners land verbal
A day after beating Baylor 33-7, Oklahoma picked up a verbal commitment Sunday in offensive tackle Daryl Williams.
The 6-foot-5, 269-pound Williams, out of Corinth (Texas) Lake Dallas High School, chose the Sooners over Missouri.
Williams is rated the No. 45 overall prospect from the state of Texas and OU’s fifth verbal commitment on the offensive line for the class of 2010.
-JT
Oklahoma 33, Baylor 7
So much for a bum shoulder.
Sam Bradford erased all anxiety that his throwing shoulder would be a lingering problem this year with a remarkable comeback game, leading OU to a 33-7 victory over Baylor.
Bradford completed 27 of 49 for 389 and 1 TD in a performance that was better than his numbers.
Said Bradford. “It’s extremely gratifying just to get back out on the field. Just to be out there with the guys that I have put in so much work with in the offseason and just the simple things like handoffs. Everything out there, it’s just exciting to be back.”
With Bradford back, the offense had a better than it did with Landry Jones, which is nothing against Jones, who played admirably in place of Bradford over the last few weeks.
But there’s a big difference between a good college QB and a No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. That difference was evident Saturday. Most of Bradford’s throws were on the money, and that’s following a 5-week layoff. Imagine how precise he’ll be when he’s not rusty.
I believe Bradford’s NFL Draft stock will be higher than ever if he continues to play the way he did Saturday.
Other postgame notes and observations:
* The wide receivers had their ups and downs. They made many plays. Brandon Caleb had a terrific reverse-of-the-field, 49-yard reception. Dejuan Miller, with his first major playing time, had a couple of big plays.
But 10 drops is way too many. And that will get OU beat next week against Texas.
* True freshman Jaz Reynolds showed that he has the upside as a playmaker, but of all the receivers, he looked most out of sync with Bradford and couldn’t come through with a couple receptions that hit his hands.
* Cameron Kenney, after making a couple nice grabs early on, was benched for 2 quarters after a couple a drops. But the Sooners will need him, and need him to play well, against Texas.
* Maybe Adron Tennell’s TD grap will help with his confidence and he can come back and augment the WR corps this season. Tennell had two catches for 29 yards in his best game of the year.
* DeMarco Murray had his strongest game of the year. He made the most of 27 touches, rushing for 113 yards and receiving for 36. The more he touches the ball, the worse for opposing defenses. As long as he stays healthy.
* FB Matt Clapp was wearing a cast on his left hand and I think it may have impeded him during a TD drop early on in the game. Not sure what Clapp’s issue is, but it’s probably similar to what TE Brody Eldridge has, a broken finger.
* Guard Brian Simmons left the game with an injured knee. His injury appears to be more serious than that of Quinton Carter, who was walking around on the sidelines after coming out and should be OK for Texas. Coach Bob Stoops said it was too soon to tell with Simmons, but I would be surprised if he played next weekend. With Simmons out, sophomore Stephen Good or freshman Tyler Evans, dealing with a gimpy ankle, will get the starting not.
Jon Nelson came in for Carter and played well at safety. Wouldn’t be surprised if that earned him more playing time.
* DE Jeremy Beal continues to dominate. He had 1.5 tackles for loss and 1/2 a sack, giving him 6 1/2 sacks already on the season. Beal is OU’s second best defender right now behind DT Gerald McCoy.
* Baylor really went after CB Brian Jackson, preferring to throw his way as opposed to Dom Franks. I would expect Texas to do the same. Jackson held up well against Baylor, ending the game with a pick. He’ll need to keep it up.
* Sooner D was great on third downs. Baylor converted just 3 of 16.
* Sooner D was great on rush defense, allowing only 6 yards. Without Robert Griffin, Baylor isn’t nearly the same rushing threat, but what OU has done on rush defense outside of the Miami game has been remarkable. You can’t take out the Miami game, though.
* Franks is giving OU something it hasn’t had in 5 years: a big-time threat on returns. Franks nearly had a game-winning punt return at Miami. He followed that up with another strong outing, producing a 51-yard return against Baylor.
* Jimmy Stevens quietly is having a nice season. He tied a school record by going 4 of 4 on field goals. Granted, his longest attempt was 35 yards. But all he can do is convert his opportunities and he did that. Stevens now 9 of 10 on FGs on the year.
-JT
OU vs. Baylor Live Game Chat
Here’s a recap of the conversation during Saturday’s OU vs. Baylor game
Sam Bradford starting
Oklahoma Heisman quarterback Sam Bradford will be back in the starting lineup when the Sooners play Baylor Saturday.
Bradford is coming off a third-degree shoulder separation.
We’ll have more in a bit.
-JT
