Consistency counts

Thompson, then Bomar

By John Shinn

The race to replace Jason White is over, but the competition for Oklahoma quarterbacks Paul Thompson and Rhett Bomar might not be.

Thompson, a fourth-year junior, won the eight-month race Thursday when OU coach Bob Stoops announced he would be the starter for the Sooners’ season opener at 11 a.m. Saturday against TCU at Owen Field.

“I just felt overall that there was a little more consistency there to some degree with Paul,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “It was still very close when you look at them overall throughout all the scrimmages from spring to now. We expect that Rhett will continue to grow and improve, and that he has great ability to continue to compete for the quarterback position.”

Thompson is ahead because he has stayed away from making mistakes. In OU’s three open scrimmages, he did not throw an interception. Bomar, a redshirt freshman, made some spectacular plays, but also tossed five picks.

“He proved and showed us a lot of steadiness throughout the whole process,” Long said of Thompson. “He was very steady and consistent, and that is what you look for in a quarterback. Consistency first.”

That continued a trend the Sooner coaching staff has displayed since the Bob Stoops era began in 1999. Everybody wants a quarterback who will make great plays, but they need a quarterback that makes good decisions.

Despite the numbers Josh Heupel, Nate Hybl and Jason White put up over the last six seasons, OU has always tried to play into the hands of its defense. Field position is very important and it’s up to the quarterback to make sure any gained ground isn’t lost.

That’s why Thompson has been named the starter.

“It feels kind of good right now to be clear where I’m at,” Thompson said. “Everybody knows where I’m at, so I can move forward and start producing for this team.”

But he won’t be running the same offense White directed to record numbers. Not exactly.

The Sooners have added new wrinkles to their offense because of what Thompson and Bomar bring to the table.

White, Heupel and Hybl were not called upon to make plays with their feet.

Thompson and Bomar have the ability to do that and the Sooners are going to exploit their talents.

It’s not like they’re returning to an option offense, but there are some option plays in the playbook.

Long won’t go into specifics and one of the reasons OU closes its practices when school begins is because that’s when the Sooners start working on new wrinkles.

But he admitted Thompson’s and Bomar’s mobility will change the offense. And that’s part of what the Sooners have implemented behind closed doors.

“That’s what both of them bring to the table,” Long said. “They have some legs. We expect them, when things break down, to make some plays.”

Though not the starter, but both Long and Stoops plan to get Bomar playing time against TCU. Game performance will be under heavy scrutiny.

“Hopefully. I will get in there early before the game is out of hand, so I can get in there with the ones and show what I can do when I get my opportunity,” Bomar said. “I guess that’s the plan right now, but I don’t think there is a specific time frame or anything like that. Whenever I get my chances I am going to have to go out there and make plays.”

Whether Thompson or Bomar can do that with the game on the line remains unknown. Thompson hasn’t taken a snap since the 2003 season and that was mop-up duty. The first snap Bomar takes will be just that, his first.

Long and the rest of the Sooners are anxious to see what happens.

“You never know about a quarterback until you put him in hot water,” Long said. “That’s the way it is. The bottom line is production.”

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com