By Clay Horning
Coaches do this sort of thing from time to time, calling out their best player or just one they need to light a fire under, perhaps figuring it serves the greater good of all involved.
Because the coach wants to reach the player, the player wants to get better and the media’s always looking for a story. Kevin Wilson’s not above that sort of thing, thank goodness. Last spring, he made it oh, so clear he had yet to be impressed by Rhett Bomar.
But here’s the thing about the Sooner offensive coordinator. Though not above that sort of thing, it’s not entirely clear when he’s engaging in that sort of thing. Because, really, he’s just about that way all the time.
Blunt.
In your face.
Or better, blunt and in your face about how he was blunt and in the face of one of his players. Listen to him long enough and two thoughts come to mind.
One, there was a time he considered being one of those coachspeak coaches who only succeed in becoming insomnia’s next cure, before quickly deciding he had no time to decide what he didn’t want to say before he didn’t say it. Two, maybe it’s exactly the precision of his communication that had him looked upon as one of the best offensive minds in the college game before he ever ascended into the coordinator’s role at OU.
And if you were standing there Tuesday afternoon when he came strolling into the stadium club, you might have had a third.
Adrian Peterson has met his match.
“He really didn’t come close to playing a good game,” was only one of the things Wilson had to say about Peterson as everybody gathered round. “He made a couple good plays, but he missed some things.”
He missed one blitz that led to a sack and another that led to an interception.
No question Wilson enjoyed the little outlet pass Peterson turned into a 69-yard score, but you kind of get the feeling he knows Peterson will always provide the spectacular. Picking up a blitz or running hard to the hole even when it doesn’t look too promising are different matters entirely.
“He’s got the talent. He’s close, but it’s getting him to be more consistent and that’s what we’re striving for him to do.” Wilson said. “That’s the challenge when you’re a guy like Adrian, to push yourself to be that kind of a player. He’s a great talent, but there’s a difference between talent and truly being a productive, great, great player.
“He can be one, but he’s not that guy yet.”
Though he carried the title of run-game coordinator last season, Wilson was still just another layer in the Sooner bureaucracy. Bob Stoops was the head coach, Chuck Long ran the offense, Cale Gundy coached running backs. Despite the title, Wilson and Peterson were not having frequent heart-to-hearts.
“You just don’t want to cross your bounds,” Wilson said.
But now, Peterson’s third year as the golden child and Wilson’s first to run the offense, the success of each relies tremendously on the other.
Does Peterson see Wilson as something more than a grumpy middle-aged coach?
“I think so,” Wilson said. “My thing with him is, since he’s been here, ‘You’re awfully good, but how good do you want to be?’ … It’s not how much weight can he carry and jump on a deal, because there’s not 84,000 people watching him jump up with weights. They’re watching him play. That means if you see a blitz, you step in front and pick it up.”
After the Sooners knocked the Blazers off 24-17, Wilson sought Peterson out. He had just turned in 208 yards of total offense and the game’s biggest play. Wilson told him he could have been better. Peterson was ready with an answer.
“I know.”
Clay Horning366-3526cfhorning@normantranscript.com
