Oklahoma receivers fast, talented and making big plays
By Aaron Francl
Oklahoma Daily
(U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. -- Before the 2003 season began, many around the Oklahoma program knew this season's offense would take on a different personality than previous Sooner squads.
After the first five games, it seems clear to anyone who has watched this Sooner team play that the identity of this year's offense is based around the young Sooner wide receivers.
"The wide receivers are playing very well right now," said OU offensive coordinator Chuck Long. "Going into training camp, we knew we had talented guys, but we also knew that we didn't have a lot of starts among them. But in a short amount of time, they've come so far along that we feel they are a veteran group already."
Key returning contributors Mark Clayton and Will Peoples can really be considered the crafty veterans of this group, even though both are only juniors.
"We've been in the system longer and know what to do," Peoples said. "And it is a lot easier for [wide receivers coach Darrell] Wyatt to trust us and the younger guys this year."
Juniors Brandon Jones and Mark Bradley have combined for 444 yards and four touchdowns between them. Both of these guys can stretch the field and make game-breaking plays, which is exactly what a coach hopes for from his wide receivers.
"We want to get the ball down the field," Long said.
Sophomores Travis Wilson and Jejuan Rankins are two major factors in this year's passing game. Wilson has 121 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Rankins has 181 yards receiving with three touchdowns. Many forget these two are only sophomores and this is their first real season to see any significant snaps.
In fact, they are even surprising some of their elders at how fast they are progressing.
"These guys are a lot better than most sophomores you will see," said Peoples.
OU has the luxury of rotating these six receivers into the game at any time, when most teams are happy to have two or three receiving threats.
"This is a group that really explodes off of the line of scrimmage," Long said. "If you were to turn on our tape, you would see them coming off of the ball really hard, and that's exactly what you want."
Long and the Sooner staff like what they've seen so far, especially after last Saturday's performance against Iowa State.
"Last game was indicative of what we want to do," said Long. "We had 12 different guys get their hands on the ball, and that is what we want."
The OU offense, led by Jason White and these receivers, will face its biggest test this week: The Texas Longhorns' top-rated pass defense in the nation.
© 2002 Oklahoma Daily via U-WIRE
