By John Shinn
Two is better than one in just about any football scenario. Oklahoma hopes Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez can be near the ballpark that is Adrian Peterson.
Monday, the 20th-ranked Sooners conducted their first practice since Peterson broke his collarbone last Saturday against Iowa State. The process of moving on without their All-American running back is underway.
It’s a situation OU believes it can handle.
“We’ve been here for a while and we know our role on the team,” Gutierrez said. “We’ve been in the system long enough to know the plays and the assignments we have. Nothing is being sprung on us all at once.”
There’s no talk of condensing the playbook or creating a knew a offense from scratch. But some things will have to change.
For one, Peterson had 168 of OU’s 221 rushing attempts and 10 of the Sooners’ 11 rushing touchdowns. Patrick and Gutierrez have combined on just 20 carries, none of them finding the end zone.
Patrick knows that’s about to change. He’s already had a chat with offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson about what’s expected.
“He knows he has players who can get the job done,” Patrick said. “He’s already talked to me and he got his point across. We know what time it is.”
Wilson said Patrick will be the starter, but Gutierrez will get plenty of playing time.
“It will come down to how they perform on Saturday,” running backs coach Cale Gundy said. “Who has the hot hand and how we’re moving the ball offensively in what formations will be a factor.”
In terms of style, Patrick bears more of a resemblance to Peterson. He’s 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. When he’s played, he’s run effectively between the tackles.
The presumption has always been Patrick would take over the tailback role next season if Peterson entered the NFL draft.
“I think he has the ability to be great,” running backs coach Cale Gundy said. “You look at his yards per carry last year, he led the team. He’s an electric runner.”
Gutierrez has shown that kind of ability, too. He has a different style. He’s only 5-6, but his size and ability to make defenders miss has drawn comparisons to former OU standout Quentin Griffin.
But his health has been a question.
Gutierrez underwent knee surgery following last season’s Holiday Bowl. He missed spring drills and also missed a few preseason practices in August.
“It gets sore now and then with the pounding and everything, but I’ve recovered real good and I have been out there practicing and everything,” he said. “Once you get in a game situation, you don’t think about it. You make the cuts you need to make and the plays you need to make.”
The Sooners will find out when they face Colorado at 6 p.m. Saturday. But Sooner coach Bob Stoops isn’t concerned about Gutierrez’s health or his offense.
He’s seen what both running backs can do.
“We have a lot of confidence in those other running backs and we’ve built it throughout the year with how those other guys have played,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “Adrian would be the first to say he’s benefited from some good line schemes and run schemes.
“We don’t expect anything to change.”
