Oklahoma counting on Thompson to be playmaker, not babysitter
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By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - When Paul Thompson had only one practice under his belt since a sudden return to quarterback, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson issued a public reminder that the quarterback is the first player that can lose a football game for a team.
After two games, it's clear that No. 15 Oklahoma isn't counting on Thompson just to baby-sit the offense and prevent defeat. The Sooners think Thompson can be a difference-maker.
``He's gonna be,'' coach Bob Stoops said. ``I just believe that Paul has a lot of ability. The more comfortable and the more snaps he gets back there, the better and better he's gonna get.''
Thompson got a second chance at quarterback last month after starter Rhett Bomar was dismissed for breaking NCAA rules.
Thompson's first start had been a rocky one. He threw for only 109 yards, and his three turnovers contributed to a 17-10 loss to TCU in the season opener a year ago. He was replaced by Bomar in Week 2 and subsequently moved to receiver.
This time around, Thompson helped Oklahoma to a win in its opener and he looked even better in Week 2. He completed 21 of 33 passes Saturday for 272 yards and two touchdowns in Oklahoma's 37-20 win against Washington. In the second half, he was 9-for-11 for 170 yards.
``I think he's going to be better than he was (Saturday),'' Wilson said. ``I don't think we've said, `Wow! Better than we thought.' It looks like he's doing good and gaining, and we think he's going to keep getting better.''
Thompson earned praise in fall camp for how he could manage a game and command a huddle, and those compliments haven't stopped. But now he's finally getting kudos for his throwing ability.
About the only complaint is that Thompson has a tendency to throw high when he misses, something he attributes to mechanics.
``He's going to the right places, he's not forcing throws,'' Wilson said. ``Every once in a while, like everyone, he's a little bit off target but that's most quarterbacks, most places, all levels of football.''
Thompson owned up to the mistakes he did make Saturday, most notably an interception on a play where he was hit as he threw and fumbled in the end zone. Thompson said he could have avoided the fumble, which gave Washington the ball at the Oklahoma 4, and completed a post pattern pass to Juaquin Iglesias if he had only stepped up in the pocket.
Stoops gave Thompson a pardon on that play.
``The turnover in the end zone, that's on us as coaches,'' Stoops said. ``We shouldn't have put him in that position.''
Thompson said the fumble was an unwanted side effect to how comfortable he's already feeling back at quarterback. If he had been nervous or anxious, he might not have been willing to stay in the pocket so long.
``Ask any of the guys. I'm just real relaxed. I like going into games relaxed,'' Thompson said. ``I like playing relaxed, rather than tight and freaking out.''
Next up for Thompson and the Sooners is a road trip to No. 18 Oregon, which beat Fresno State 31-24 on Saturday.
``In game two, we definitely made some good jumps from game one,'' Thompson said. ``We definitely need to make some big jumps from now 'til Week 3 when we play Oregon next week. As I said last week, there's things that we can build on, some miscues we had where we could've had more points on the board.''
But this time, the Sooners seem to be a little bit closer to where they want to be.
``It's a good win,'' Stoops said. ``It puts us the position to go to work. We know we can play better. It's frustrating. We know we're close, but there is so much more potential on this team and ability to play better, so it's frustrating when you don't. We'll keep working towards it.''
