Depth charts carry a lot of weight in football. But in the case of Oklahoma’s running backs, it’s different.
Adrian Peterson, simply put, is the biggest cog of the Sooner offense. He is the straw that stirs the drink.
“If he’s healthy and feeling great, we’ll feed it to him,” OU coach Bob Stoops said.
Peterson has shown he’s one of the best workhorses in college football. In 2004, his freshman season, he set an NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
Last season, he added 1,108 yards to his career rushing total despite an ankle injury that caused him to miss all or parts of four games.
His workload won’t decrease in 2006.
“Let’s face it, he needs to get the ball a certain number each game,” Stoops said. “But I don’t say he has to have a certain number game to game, but I think it’s fair that he’ll get somewhere to 30-35 a game maybe.”
That’s fine with Peterson.
In July, he stunned a room full of reporters when he said his goal for 2006 was to rush for 2,200 yards.
That’s a huge number, considering the Sooners have never had a back cross the 2,000-yard plateau in their rich history.
“I set my goals high, because I always have,” Peterson said. “That’s how I am.”
Fact is, OU needs Peterson at that high level if it expects to compete for a Big 12 championship. His blend of power and speed torments defenses.
He can power through tackles and out-run defensive backs. He can score on an 80-yard run and methodically wear a defense down in the fourth quarter.
Peterson’s made those things look routine during his two Sooner seasons, but believes he’s added more to his repertoire for his junior season.
The passing game is the final frontier for Peterson’s offensive exploits. He’s caught 14 passes in his two seasons. OU would like to use him more in that capacity.
“He does catch the ball well, that’s always been there,” Stoops said. “Not just third downs, on first downs, if we take a shot downfield and it isn’t there, he’s a good guy to dump it to and you’re likely to get 10-15 on a 2-yard throw.”
But there’s always the question of how much is too much. OU’s offense can’t begin and end in Peterson’s hands.
OU will also use juniors Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez at the running back spot.
Patrick, who rushed for 136 yards and scored two touchdowns last season, is a classic tailback in Peterson’s model. He doesn’t possess Peterson’s size or speed, but he can break tackles, catch the ball and has good speed.
“I’m excited about who I have,” running backs coach Cale Gundy said. “Allen Patrick, has some exciting ability. He has quickness, he has hands and he’s a playmaker.”
Gutierrez, who is coming off a knee injury suffered in last year’s Holiday Bowl, brings an entirely different dynamic to the table. He’s small, but extremely elusive and a good receiver.
He showed it against Baylor last season when he rushed for 180 yards while Peterson was out due to an injury.
“Jacob is trying to come off that knee,” Gundy said. “Is he 100 percent? Maybe not speed wise on the field, but mentally he’s there.”
But barring injury, it’s going to be Peterson’s show at running back. He’s already on every short list for the Heisman Trophy and this could be his last season before heading off for the riches of the NFL.
He’s ready for whatever is handed or thrown his way.
“I’ve gone out there and conditioned myself to be able to carry the load,” Peterson said. “It doesn’t matter how many snaps I play. I’m ready for it.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
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