Oklahoma Sooners
Preview 2009
By
Pete Fiutak
Interested in blogging about OU football? Let
us know
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2009 CFN Oklahoma Preview |
2009 Oklahoma
Offense
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2009 Oklahoma
Defense |
2009 Oklahoma Depth
Chart
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2008 OU Preview |
2007 OU Preview |
2006 OU
Preview
Head coach: Bob Stoops
10th year: 98-21
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 23, Def. 20, ST 3
Lettermen Lost: 16 |
Ten
Best Sooner Players
1. QB Sam Bradford, Jr.
2. DT Gerald
McCoy, Jr.
3. TE Jermaine Gresham, Sr.
4. OT Trent
Williams, Sr.
5. LB Ryan Reynolds, Sr.
6. CB Dominique
Franks, Jr.
7. LB Travis
Lewis, Soph.
8. RB DeMarco Murray, Jr.
9. DE Jeremy Beal,
Jr.
10. RB Chris Brown, Sr. |
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2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction:
11-1
2009 Record: 0-0
9/5 BYU (in
Arlington)
9/12 Idaho State
9/19 Tulsa
9/26 OPEN DATE
10/3 at Miami
10/10 Baylor
10/17 Texas (in Dallas)
10/24 at Kansas
10/31 Kansas State
11/7 at Nebraska
11/14 Texas A&M
11/21 at Texas Tech
11/28 Oklahoma State |
|
2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 10-2
2008 Record: 12-2
8/30
UT Chattanooga W 57-2
9/6 Cincinnati W
52-26
9/13 at Washington W
55-14
9/20 OPEN DATE
9/27 TCU W 35-10
10/4 at Baylor W 49-14
10/11 Texas (Dallas) L
45-35
10/18 Kansas W 45-31
10/25 at Kansas State W 58-35
11/1 Nebraska W 62-28
11/8 at Texas A&M W
66-28
11/15 OPEN DATE
11/22 Texas Tech W
65-21
11/29 at Oklahoma St W 61-41
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
12/6
Missouri W 62-21
BCS Championship
1/8 Florida L 24-14 |
Don't get lazy when it comes
to analyzing what the 2009 Oklahoma Sooners can become. Don't just
assume that the program is going to take a step back after yet another
tough end of the season loss. Don't just assume Texas should be No. 2 in
the nation to start the year because it was able to win last year's Red
River Rivalry.
And don't assume that Florida is the slam-dunk, no
questions asked, No. 1 team going into the season.
Oklahoma
doesn't go away no matter what kind of hits it takes, and it's going to
come back roaring this year after suffering yet another rough loss.
Despite losing five straight BCS games (and five bowl games in six
years) including three national championship games, a stunner to Boise
State, and to a West Virginia team undergoing a coaching change, the
program keeps coming back to try to push the rock up the mountain, and
it keeps on improving.
After so many big losses, it's going to
be easy to assume the Sooners are overrated and overranked. Why should
they keep getting chances in the national championship if they're just
going to keep biffing them? But it's not fair to rip on last year's team
for losing to a Florida team that deserves consideration among the best
of all-time, and it's not okay to lump that loss in with the fiascos of
seasons past. That was a war that could've gone either way, and OU
happened to come out on the short end of the stick. So while most
programs would need time to rebuild and reload, there will be plenty of
disappointment for those fans ready to seen the OU reign as a superpower
end.
This year's team isn't without its flaws. The machine will
go kaput if Heisman-winning QB Sam Bradford gets hurt, the offensive
line has to replace four starters, and the depth at receiver and in the
secondary is a bit lacking. Pish.
Bradford is a special player
who's quarterbacking the Sooners this year instead of the New York Jets
(and missing out on getting $28 million in the bank). The 1-2 rushing
punch of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown is good enough to potentially be
the best in America. The defensive line is loaded with too many pass
rushers to get on the field at the same time, and boasts a phenomenal
tackle rotation. There's a tremendous starting trio at linebacker,
Jermaine Gresham is the nation's best tight end, and the secondary is
good enough to not be a weakness. But of course, all the attention will
be on the record-setting offense.
The Sooners averaged over 51
points per game and hunt up 60+ points on bowl teams like Nebraska,
Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri. The O actually moved the ball
on Florida and Texas, but lost in tremendous battles. This year's
offense could be almost as potent, while the defense should be far
better.
So now the question will be whether or not OU has the
makeup to get back over the hump and get Bob Stoops his second national
title. Considering this might be Stoops' best team yet, get ready for
yet another run to the BCS.
What to look for on
offense: The offensive line. Last year's front five was the
best in America, and this year it has to replace tackle Phil Loadholt,
guards Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker, and center Jon Cooper. Tackle
Trent Williams might have been the best of the bunch, and while he's
back and will move over from right tackle to the left, there are some
major question marks after a rocky offseason. Brian Simmons has the
potential to be a strong left guard, and there are good, big options at
the other three spots, but it's asking a lot to keep Bradford upright
like last year's line did. OU allowed just 13 sacks last season and
paved the way for 2,779 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns. This year's
front five might not be as good, but it can't be a liability in the
up-tempo, no-huddle attack.
What to look for
on defense:
A dominant front seven. It's not an overstatement to suggest that OU has
six legitimate pro prospects to rotate around up front, while the linebacking trio of Ryan Reynolds in the middle, leading-tackler Travis
Lewis on the weakside, and Keenan Clayton on the strongside will make
its pitch to be among the best in college football. Last year, the line
was camped out in opposing backfields making 42 tacks and 106 tackles
for loss. Those numbers might not even be close to what this year's
group should come up with thanks to a devastating end rotation and
Gerald McCoy, Adrian Taylor, and DeMarcus Granger at tackle. No one's
going to run on this group.
This team will be much
better if… Sam Bradford doesn't throw two interceptions.
Bradford can't be blamed for the 2007 lost to Texas Tech, he got hurt,
and he wasn't bad in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl loss to West Virginia,
throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns with a pick. In the other
three losses (Colorado in 2007 and Texas and Florida last year),
Bradford threw two interceptions in each game. He also threw two picks
against Cincinnati for the only time the Sooners have won when Mr.
Heisman has thrown multiple picks in a game. While that might just seem
like a throwaway stat, with OU going 22-1 when Bradford throws fewer
than two picks and 1-3 (not counting the 2007 Texas Tech game) when he
throws multiple interceptions, it really is a big deal considering his
game is all about efficiency. When he's on and when the team is rolling,
Bradford doesn't make mistakes.
The Schedule:
For almost anyone else, the
non-conference schedule would be a nightmare facing BYU, Tulsa
and Miami in Miami before starting out Big 12 play against
Baylor. It'll all be a tune-up before the Texas showdown, and
things don't ease up with a trip Kansas the following week. OU
plays eight teams that went to bowl games last year and gets
only two of them in Norman, with a trip to Nebraska one of the
fun showdowns of the college football season to kick off an
interesting November. Playing Oklahoma State in Norman will help
the conference title hopes, but going on the road to Texas Tech
will be a firefight.
Best Offensive Player:
Junior QB
Sam Bradford. 86 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions, and 7,841 yards in
two years. This isn't a Hawaii quarterback lighting up the WAC, and this
isn't a Texas Tech quarterback putting up big numbers in an offense that
totally blows off the running game. Oklahoma's offense is balanced and
ultra-effective thanks to Bradford's quick-decision making, his
toughness, and his arm, and he's the one who makes it special. He has
had talent around him, but he has done his part to make the receivers
better. No, this isn't
Jason White or Josh Heupel putting up great numbers as a part of a great
offense; this is an elite talent who makes a great attack an all-timer.
Best Defensive Player:
Junior DT Gerald McCoy. Even by Oklahoma's high standards when
it comes to getting superstar recruits, the hype was off the charts for
McCoy. He has not only lived up to his potential, but he has exceeded it
with two phenomenal seasons as the star of the defensive front making 49
tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. Stats don't properly tell
the whole story for a true anchor who should dominate with all the
talent around him taking away some of the attention. Next year he'll be
a top ten overall draft pick.
Key player to a
successful season: Junior OT Cory Brandon. Trent Williams will
be a star at left tackle after spending last year dominating on the
right side. The interior of the line, even with three new starters, will
be fine with a good rotation and excellent size, but it'll be vital for
Brandon, or LSU transfer Jarvis Jones, to be consistent in pass
protection on the outside. Bradford is great at getting the ball out of
his hands in a hurry, but he struggles, like all quarterbacks, under
pressure. It's not a stretch to think the offense could put up 2008-like
numbers again if the right side of the line is a rock.
The season will be a
success if
...
OU wins the national title. The Sooners have won the Big 12 title three
years in a row and has won it six times since 2000. While winning the
conference championship is hardly anything to sneeze at, after so many
trips to the BCS and after so many recent shots at the national title,
the time is now for the program to get back over the hump. At the very
least, if this isn't going to be a BCS Championship game season, OU
needs to get to win a BCS game just to show once again that it can.
Key game:
Oct. 17 vs. Texas. The Sooners have a tremendous
slate of battles to deal with including dates with BYU, at Miami, at
Kansas, at Nebraska, at Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State. They all pale in
comparison to what it would mean to beat Texas in what should be college
football's game of the year. If it's half as entertaining as last year's
45-35 Longhorn win, it'll be another classic.
2008 Fun Stats:
- First quarter scoring: Oklahoma 225 - Opponents 30
- Sacks: Oklahoma 42 for 292 yards - Opponents 13 for 95 yards
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Touchdowns scored: Oklahoma 99 - Opponents 45
-
2009 CFN Oklahoma Preview |
2009 Oklahoma
Offense
-
2009 Oklahoma
Defense |
2009 Oklahoma Depth
Chart
-
2008 OU Preview |
2007 OU Preview |
2006 OU
Preview