Thompson Gets Mixed Reviews in First Scrimmage

With Adrian Peterson carrying the ball only once and Malcolm Kelly not being at the scrimmage, senior quarterback Paul Thompson left the field under mixed reviews. He and his coaches thought the performance was solid but not spectacular and some fans and pundits left thinking the Sooners might really be in trouble.

Thompson struggled early starting out 4-13 passing but connected on 11 of his final 13 attempts to finish 15 of 26 with two touchdowns and one interception. Both of his touchdowns came from within the Red Zone.

Here are my thoughts. If you were to tell me that a converted wide receiver would complete more than 50% of his passes and two touchdowns against OU’s defense in his first scrimmage, I would take it every time.

The same people that want to criticize Thompson for his incompletions based on his previous quarterbacking history are the same one’s who spelled gloom and doom for the Sooners when Thompson was named quarterback. I don’t know, I can’t figure them out either!

What I do know is that Thompson needs to continue to improve. He knows it and so does coach Stoops. In regards to his newly appointed quarterback here is what he had to say, “He still has some brushing up to do, but he really got in a rhythm as we went along.”

Not a strong praise but far from a condemning remark as well. That’s pretty much the way I expected it to go just 10 days after Thompson was converted back to quarterback from receiver. I’m not going to sing his praises but I not going to throw in the towel on the season either. There are two more scrimmages left, three if you count UAB, let’s see how much he improves.

Scrimmage One Stats

PASSING
Thompson: 15-26-133; 2 TD, 1 INT
Halzle: 11-25-111; 2 INT

RUSHING
Mossis Madu: 12-33, 1 TD
Allen Patrick: 6-23
Jacob Gutierrez: 1-11
Chris Brown: 6-10
Adrian Peterson: 1-1

RECEIVING
Tennell: 4-37
Brown: 3-47
Finley: 3-27
Chaney: 2-27
Strong: 2-22
Zaslaw: 2-15
Clapp: 2-6, TD (1)
Madu: 1-19
I. Pleasant: 1-11, TD (11)
Iglesias: 1-9
Caleb: 1-7
Whitson: 1-6
Patric: 1-5
Gresham: 1-4
M. Johnson: 1-2

Tackles
Demarrio Pleasant – 7
Darien Williams – 6
Lewis Baker – 6
Curtis Lofton - 5
Quinton Carter – 4
Marcus Walker – 4
Lendy Holmes – 4
Dominque Franks – 4
Brian Jackson – 3
Jason Carter – 3
Zach Latimer – 3
Rufus Alexander – 2
Larry Birdine – 2
Tim Johnson – 2
Nic Harris – 1
D.J. Wolfe – 1
Lamont Robinson – 1
Thomas Taggart – 1
Brock Hesse – 1
Adrian Taylor – 1
Cordero Moore – 1
Alonzo Dotson – 1
Alan Davis – 1
DeMarcus Granger – 1
Cory Bennett – 1
John Williams – 1
Sacks
Cordero Moore - 1
Interceptions
Lendy Holmes – 2
Alonzo Dotson – 1

Pass Breakups
D.J. Wolfe – 2
Marcus Walker – 1
Field Goals
Garrett Hartley – 10-for-12 (made first nine)
(Made: 27, 27, 27, 32, 32, 40, 40, 45, 50, 52)
(Missed: 47, 49)

PATs
Garrett Hartley – 4-for-4

PUNTING
Mike Knall 6-48.0
Michael Cohen 6-42.5
Garrett Hartley 6-41.7