Peterson Feels He Has Much to Improve

NORMAN, Okla. -- Adrian Peterson isn't all that impressed by the way his football career at Oklahoma has begun.

He's the first Sooners running back to rush for 100 yards in a game as a freshman. And through two games, he's already done it twice.

Peterson rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns Saturday in the No. 2 Sooners' 63-13 win against Houston, but the top-rated high-school recruit from Palestine (Texas) High School wasn't thrilled with his performance.

Instead, Peterson was talking about his need to be more patient, get better at pass blocking and stay focused and relaxed.

Adrian Peterson Bio

``I feel like I have a lot to improve on,'' Peterson said.

Peterson, who rushed for 2,960 yards and 32 touchdowns in his senior year of high school, said he's realizing that he can't just run over defenders like he did in high school. Instead, he's got to put on moves to make tacklers miss.

Peterson did just that on several occasions Saturday. On a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, he made two stutter steps before cutting left and into the end zone. He also outran several defenders on a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter before he was spotted out of bounds inside the 1. Replays showed Peterson kicked the pylon and did not step out of bounds.

Peterson eventually got the touchdown anyway on a 1-yard run.

``I'm getting more comfortable with it,'' Peterson said. ``I guess I'm getting there.''

Peterson and another highly regarded freshman, D.J. Wolfe, got most of the carries in the second half after Oklahoma built a 49-7 halftime lead. Wolfe finished with 63 yards on 13 carries.

``It's fun to see the young tailbacks get in there and make such a strong impact,'' coach Bob Stoops said. ``Adrian really just keeps coming along and D.J. has really done well. When he was in there, he made some nice runs and is strong as well. It was all positive.''

Stoops said starter Kejuan Jones was one of several Sooners nicked up in the game, but it was nothing significant. With the Sooners well ahead, Stoops decided not to risk making it worse.

``It just got to a point where they're small little minor injuries,'' Stoops said. ``Why get out there and make it different?''

Besides Peterson's performance, the Sooners also got another look at quarterback Jason White's improved mobility. When he wasn't calmly passing from the pocket, White was able to dodge defenders. Despite causing pressure on several occasions, Houston wasn't able to get a sack.

``Jason is very special, and that is a major understatement,'' Stoops said. ``He was exceptional again (Saturday). He showed everybody and his improved mobility and accuracy is just incredible.''

White completed 14 of 18 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns while playing the first half and only one drive in the second half. He made several throws on the run, including an impressive 34-yard toss to Mark Clayton as he scrambled away from pressure.

``It looked like the Jason White of old -- a guy who can make plays off the scramble,'' offensive coordinator Chuck Long said.

After an offseason to recover from a broken left foot and a minor surgery on his right knee, White has been playing without knee braces and has shown an ability to keep plays alive with his feet.

``As a young player, that was one of his strengths _ being able to scramble out of the pocket,'' Long said. ``Now, he has the dimension of sitting in the pocket and reading defenses and scrambling. That's a pretty good dimension to have.''

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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