Big shoes to fill

John Shinn

Oklahoma rose to No. 20 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Sunday, but that still didn’t change the bad news it received Saturday.

Adrian Peterson’s broken collarbone will take at least six weeks to heal. If he plays again this season, it won’t be until a bowl game.

The status of that postseason game will be determined by how the Sooners (4-2, 1-1 Big 12) finish out the regular season.

Those next six games are where they are focued.

“This won’t be an excuse, just like our quarterback situation wasn’t to start the year,” OU coach Bob Stoops said.

With Peterson out, Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez will take over the tailback spot. Neither has played much of an offensive role this season. Patrick has 18 carries for 62 yards. Gutierrez has two for 17.

But it isn’t like they haven’t been in this position before.

They were among a quartet of running backs OU used last season when Peterson missed the better part of four games with an ankle injury. OU went 3-1 in those games with the only loss against Texas.

Patrick averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season. Gutierrez averaged 5.3 and rushed for 173 yards against Baylor.

Stoops believes the cast around them should make for a better transition, too.

“These guys have played and done well. I feel better,” he said. “Our offensive line is playing well, our receivers are playing well, the tight ends and the fullbacks are playing well.”

Quarterback Paul Thompson, who threw two touchdown passes in Saturday’s 34-9 victory over Iowa State, has already matched Rhett Bomar’s touchdown total from last season.

Clearly, Peterson isn’t the only reason the Sooners are averaging 32.8 points a game.

But Thompson admitted Peterson’s absence changes things.

“There might be more pressure towards me,” he said. “I will need to step up to the pressure and still be successful.”

Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who has caught six touchdown passes this season, was thinking the same thing after hearing the news Saturday.

“We’re going to have to hold up our end of the bargain,” he said.

The loss of Peterson also will create an opportunity for freshman running backs Mossis Madu, Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray.

None of the three have played this season, but at least one will be taken out of redshirt to become the No. 3 running back.

Stoops said Madu, who rushed for 1,513 yards for Norman High School last season, is the leader to assume that role.

“Mossis Madu has been awfully impressive to us from camp on,” he said.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson brought up another reason to force the youngsters into early duty. Patrick and Gutierrez have been workhorses on special teams. They play on virtually every unit. That might change with their added offensive duties.

Those decisions will be made this week as OU prepares to face Colorado (1-6, 1-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Owen Field.

But Wilson said Peterson’s absence won’t alter the offense. He’s always striven for a balance of run and pass. He sees no reason for that to change.

“I think there’s some talented players on this football team who would take offense that (Peterson is) the only player on this team,” Wilson said. “As great as he was, he has had a good supporting cast and I think it will be interesting to see how we respond.”

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com