legelegel
08-05-2007, 03:07 AM
OSU awaits a breakout year for Reid (http://newsok.com/article/3098909)
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer, The Oklahoman
STILLWATER — Last year's Kansas game was a microcosm of Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid's sophomore season.
Shut out the first half, Reid and the Cowboys rolled up 42 second-half points. Reid accounted for all six touchdowns.
If Reid can have more halves like that one and fewer games like a meltdown against Texas he could have a breakout season, the type of season some projected when he was compared to former Texas star Vince Young.
"If Bobby grows at the rate he grew last year, he could have an unbelievable season,” said OSU offensive coordinator Larry Fedora. "To be honest I don't think he's received near the credit he deserves for the job he did last year.”
Reid was inconsistent but compiled the second highest total offensive season in school history, throwing for 2,266 yards and rushing for 500.
Coach Mike Gundy said Reid sometimes is graded on a different curve than most quarterbacks because he was rated as one of the top quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school.
"When you're so highly recruited people think you should be a star right away,” Gundy said. "Bobby has all the talent in the world. But Vince Young wasn't a star his first two years. What was Bobby's stats compared to Vince Young's stats his sophomore year?”
Good question.
The answer: Similar. Very similar.
Young's total offense as a sophomore was a hair higher. Reid threw for 423 more yards than Young did as a sophomore, but Young ran for 579 more yards. Reid accounted for more touchdowns (29 vs. 26).
Neither Gundy nor Fedora is predicting Reid will have a Young-like, Heisman Trophy candidate junior season. But they both agree if Reid runs more this season, he's surrounded by enough talent to have a viable shot at Josh Fields' single-season record of 3,073 total yards.
"People don't realize how much more difficult it is to play quarterback nowadays,” Fedora said. "The learning curve at this level is tremendous. Fifteen years ago people ran two defenses. Today, the game is a lot more complicated.”
Reid laid an egg in a lopsided loss at Texas near his home in Houston. He experienced brief slumps within other games.
But there were occasions Reid took over a game. Reid had a huge second half in a win over Nebraska; threw for 411 yards and accounted for all six TDs against Kansas and directed a game-winning drive in the bowl win over Alabama.
Reid struggled much of his redshirt freshmen season when he was hampered by injuries. Last season he took another step forward. This year coaches expect him to make even more progress.
"It's like second nature to me now,” Reid said. "I see things before they happen. I know where to go with the ball in certain situations. It's a lot easier for me now.”
Gundy said daily seven-on-seven drills are a good example. Earlier in his career Gundy said Reid was 50 percent, then 60 percent to where now Reid completes 85 to 90 percent.
"That's maturity and experience,” Gundy said. "Bobby has done very well. Bobby is a great leader for us. Other than the first half of the bowl game and the Texas game Bobby played pretty well last year. He's been in the system long enough we expect Bobby to play better.”
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer, The Oklahoman
STILLWATER — Last year's Kansas game was a microcosm of Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid's sophomore season.
Shut out the first half, Reid and the Cowboys rolled up 42 second-half points. Reid accounted for all six touchdowns.
If Reid can have more halves like that one and fewer games like a meltdown against Texas he could have a breakout season, the type of season some projected when he was compared to former Texas star Vince Young.
"If Bobby grows at the rate he grew last year, he could have an unbelievable season,” said OSU offensive coordinator Larry Fedora. "To be honest I don't think he's received near the credit he deserves for the job he did last year.”
Reid was inconsistent but compiled the second highest total offensive season in school history, throwing for 2,266 yards and rushing for 500.
Coach Mike Gundy said Reid sometimes is graded on a different curve than most quarterbacks because he was rated as one of the top quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school.
"When you're so highly recruited people think you should be a star right away,” Gundy said. "Bobby has all the talent in the world. But Vince Young wasn't a star his first two years. What was Bobby's stats compared to Vince Young's stats his sophomore year?”
Good question.
The answer: Similar. Very similar.
Young's total offense as a sophomore was a hair higher. Reid threw for 423 more yards than Young did as a sophomore, but Young ran for 579 more yards. Reid accounted for more touchdowns (29 vs. 26).
Neither Gundy nor Fedora is predicting Reid will have a Young-like, Heisman Trophy candidate junior season. But they both agree if Reid runs more this season, he's surrounded by enough talent to have a viable shot at Josh Fields' single-season record of 3,073 total yards.
"People don't realize how much more difficult it is to play quarterback nowadays,” Fedora said. "The learning curve at this level is tremendous. Fifteen years ago people ran two defenses. Today, the game is a lot more complicated.”
Reid laid an egg in a lopsided loss at Texas near his home in Houston. He experienced brief slumps within other games.
But there were occasions Reid took over a game. Reid had a huge second half in a win over Nebraska; threw for 411 yards and accounted for all six TDs against Kansas and directed a game-winning drive in the bowl win over Alabama.
Reid struggled much of his redshirt freshmen season when he was hampered by injuries. Last season he took another step forward. This year coaches expect him to make even more progress.
"It's like second nature to me now,” Reid said. "I see things before they happen. I know where to go with the ball in certain situations. It's a lot easier for me now.”
Gundy said daily seven-on-seven drills are a good example. Earlier in his career Gundy said Reid was 50 percent, then 60 percent to where now Reid completes 85 to 90 percent.
"That's maturity and experience,” Gundy said. "Bobby has done very well. Bobby is a great leader for us. Other than the first half of the bowl game and the Texas game Bobby played pretty well last year. He's been in the system long enough we expect Bobby to play better.”