2009 Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

Head Coach: Bob Stoops (11th Season)
2008 Record: 12-2 (Big XII Champions; lost to Florida in BCS National Championship)

2009 Schedule

* = Key Game that could go either way

9-5 vs. BYU @ New Dallas Cowboys Stadium (W)*
9-12 Idaho State (W)
9-19 Tulsa (W)
10-3 @ Miami (L)*
10-10 Baylor (W)
10-17 vs. Texas @ Dallas (W)*
10-24 @ Kansas (W)
10-31 Kansas State (W)
11-7 @ Nebraska (W)
11-14 Texas A&M (W)
11-21 @ Texas Tech (W)
11-28 Oklahoma State (W)*

Projected Record: 11-1

OFFENSE (5 returning starters)

Backfield (Strength)

Did you know Oklahoma’s last year was kind of good? The ’08 Sooners set the record for most points scored in a single season last year with 716 points. The gunslinger who led the point-happy offense in Norman was Heisman Winner Sam Bradford. Bradford of course chose to come back for his junior year with the Sooners to get that coveted National Title back to Oklahoma. The Sooners haven’t had a title since 2000 when Josh Heupel was behind center.

Bradford is taking a gamble not going for the NFL dollars, but it’s a refreshing approach. I enjoy seeing players value playing College Football, the greatest sport in the land. It will be tough for Bradford to replicate the success he had in 2008. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Oklahoma native regressed somewhat this season. But still expect some big-time results. The points might not come as often as last season, but the offense with Bradford still has the ability to go off at any time.

Behind Bradford, is red-shirt freshman, Landry Jones, who was a 4-star recruit out of New Mexico. Jones is going to see clean up duty in blowouts for the Sooners. The coaches are very high on Jones, his quarterback style is very similar to that of Bradford. He will be the main man under center for the Sooners in 2010.

At Running Back, the Sooners are excited to have a healthy DeMarco Murray who was of course for the National Championship Game against Florida. Murray had 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns last season in his sophomore campaign. If Murray gets back to his healthy form, the Sooners will have a deadly 1-2 punch with 1,220 yard rusher Chris Brown back for his senior season. Also watch for Mossis Madu who was one of the highlights for the Sooners during their Spring Game, he has a bright future but time is running out with him being a junior.

Receivers (Concern)

Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson are off to the NFL, so that leaves some question marks as to who is going to be Bradford’s top targets in ’09.

Look for Adron “Pooh” Tennell to be one of Bradford’s top targets. Tennell a senior only has 208 yards receiving in his three years with the Sooners, but a strong spring has made him one of the main guys in Co-Offensive Coordinator and WR Coach, Jay Norvell’s unit. Tennell is the only senior on OU’s WR depth chart coming out of spring.

Brandon Caleb is a junior who hasn’t seen much time, will be a starter come fall. But one player that could be the biggest surprise of all is sophomore Ryan Broyles who is the most athletic receiver out of the group. Broyles is only 5-11 175 but he’s lightning fast and a game changer who can break things open.

At Tight End, All-American Jermaine Gresham returns for his Senior season to give Bradford a target he is very familiar with. Gresham is one of the best Tight Ends if not the best TE in all of College Football coming into 2009.

Behind Gresham is Brody Eldridge an experienced senior who knows the offense. Eldridge could give the offense an opportunity to run two TE sets, if the WR unit doesn’t develop the way coaches would expect.

Offensive Line

The Sooners are looking to replace four offensive lineman from last season. The lone returning starter is senior Trent Williams who is moving from Right Tackle to Left Tackle, so Bradford’s blindside is protected by an experienced vet. Along with Williams on the left side of the line will be Brian Simmons at guard who has starting experience with the Sooners, having started in two games in his career. Brian Lepak a transfer from Colorado State could see time as well at left guard.

On the right side of the line, there’s a toss-up between junior Cory Brandon and LSU transfer Jarvis Jones for the Right Tackle spot. Don’t be surprised if Jones emerges come fall camp. At guard, sophomore Stephen Good will be the man, he emerged from a group of young inexperienced players at that position.

Then at center, Ben Habern a redshirt freshman will be snapping the ball off to Bradford. Habern was one of the most highly recruited centers in the class of 2008.

DEFENSE (9 returning starters)

Defensive Line (Strength)

Oklahoma runs a 4-3 defense, and the strength of this defense going into 2009 is by far their four defensive lineman, led by Gerald McCoy at Defensive Tackle; who had he left after his sophomore campaign last year he could have been a Top 10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The Sooners are very thrilled to have him back.

Along with McCoy in the middle of that line is junior Adrian Taylor, who really came into his own last season.

On the edges, Auston English returns who was a pre-season pick last season to be the Big XII Defensive Player of the Year. And Jeremy Beal a junior who led the team last season with 10 sacks. Behind Beal and English is Frank Alexander a sophomore who emerged last season to be one of the teams best pass rushers.

Linebackers (Strength)

This linebacking group is seasoned and experienced, yet its led by a sophomore? Travis Lewis returns after setting a freshman Oklahoma record for tackles with 70, breaking the record held by “The Boz” (Brian Bosworth).

Ryan Reynolds returns after suffering a devastating ACL injury last season prior to the Red River Showdown game against Texas. He is one of the leaders on this year’s team. Keenan Clayton a senior rounds out the three starting linebackers. Austin Box is another player who stepped in for Reynolds last season that has great talent, he’s essentially the 4th starter at LB.

Secondary (Concern)

When I say secondary is a concern for the Sooners, I’m mainly pointing at the Safeties. Oklahoma’s starters out of spring ball are Qutinton Carter and Sam Proctor. Two solid players but many questions surround them. Don’t be stunned if some newcomers from the class of 2009 see significant reps at the Safety spot this season. Marcus Trice and Demontre Hurst are two top-flight recruits from the state of Texas that enroll in fall and could make waves on the Sooners Safety depth chart. If Trice and Hurst make waves early on, the Safety spot could go from concern to a strength very quickly in the season.

At Cornerback, it’s a much better outlook. The Sooners return senior Brian Jackson and junior Dominique Franks. Franks had a team high four interceptions last season, while Jackson had two. Both players have the talent to shut down opposing receivers, and make plays on the ball.

SPECIAL TEAMS (Concern)

Kicking was very inconsistent with Oklahoma last season, it was somewhat hidden because the offense didn’t need the specialists very often because they always scored. This year however it will be more vital to have a consistent kicking game.

At Punter, redshirt freshman Tress Way looks to be the man for the job. Way had a impressive Spring Game kicking punts deep with great hang time, and accuracy. He will be the top punter going into Fall Camp. The wild card is 2009 recruit Cameron Kenney who signed with the Sooners as a Wide Receiver but played Punter as well in high school. He could compete for the punting and kicking duties to get on the field immediately.

At kicker, Jimmy Stevens a former #1 Kicker recruit went 8-of-12 last season on Field Goals in his freshman campaign. It was solid, but it seemed to be inconsistent; especially in the National Championship Game when Stevens missed a Field Goal. He is the starter for 2009, but if someone else emerges, Stoops and company are willing to take a look.

Final Thought

Oklahoma had all their big stars stay at school for one more chance at a National Title. They have a great shot at getting to Pasadena for a chance at that title. The Sooners return 21 players from last season that have starting experience.

The schedule is one of the tougher schedules you will find in all of College Football this season. Games against BYU, Tulsa, and Miami are some tough games. All of those teams will probably be 8+ win teams this year. Then the very tough Big XII South continues to stay strong.

Oklahoma has question marks, but if they can sure them up early enough in the season, there’s no reason that we don’t see the Sooners in another BCS game. But the Sooners, need to show everyone that they can win bowl games. This year’s Senior class is endanger of going away from Norman without bowl victory, being the only Sooner class to accomplish such a dubious feet.

Oklahoma Blogs to check out

Crimson and Cream Machine
Oklahoma Sooners Football Blog