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by
Joel Welser
#8 Oklahoma
Sooners
Big 12
2006 Record: (11-3, 7-1)
Coach: Bob Stoops (86-19 at Oklahoma, 86-19
overall)
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense,
2 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: QB Paul Thompson, RB
Adrian Peterson, OL Chris Messner
Offensive Starters Returning: WR Malcolm
Kelly, WR Juaquin Iglesias, TE Brody Eldridge, TE Joe Jon Finley, OT George
Robinson, OL Jon Cooper, OL Brandon Walker, OL Trent Williams
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Larry Birdine, DE
C.J. Ah You, LB Zach Latimer, LB Rufus Alexander,
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Steven
Coleman, DT Cory Bennett, CB Marcus Walker, CB Lendy Holmes, S Nic Harris, S
Reggie Smith, S Darien Williams
Starting Specialists Lost: none
Starting Specialists Returning: K Garrett
Hartley, P Michael Cohen
The Sooners had a surprisingly good campaign in
2006, winning the conference title with a young team. And once the loss to Boise
State is forgotten, Oklahoma will aim for more than the just the Big XII title
in 2007. However, there are some major holes to fill with the absence of Adrian
Peterson and Paul Thompson on offense and the ends on defense.
Offense:
Junior Joey Halzle, redshirt freshman Sam Bradford
and true freshman Keith Nicol are battling to replace Thompson at quarterback.
The Sooners faced a similar situation last year and are used to having
inexperienced quarterbacks taking over. Halzle has the most experience with the
program and at the junior college level, Bradford is a great athlete and Nicol
is a big time running and passing threat who enrolled at OU early to join the
team in the spring.
The absence of Peterson has the Sooner faithful less
concerned. With his injury last year, the Sooners found plenty of depth
available with Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez. Star of the spring DeMarco
Murray and Mossis Madu both redshirted last season and are expected to be in the
mix. The running game will be helped by the return of four of the five offensive
linemen and, if it takes a while for the quarterback situation to sort itself
out, OU will be able to win plenty of games with the rushing attack.
Defense:
The main concern for the defense is on the ends.
C.J. Ah You, Larry Birdine and Calvin Thibodeaux will be greatly missed. Alonzo
Dotson, Auston English and John Williams are the favorites to take over. The
pure talent and pass rushing ability is there, but the lack of experience leaves
the defensive end position a big question heading into the fall. All is not lost
with the line though, as Steven Coleman, DeMarcus Granger and Cory Bennett
return to the defensive tackle spots.
The linebackers have a few questions as well with
the graduation of starters Rufus Alexander and Zach Latimer. Curtis Lofton and
Demarrio Pleasant have starting experience and the Sooners expect to find some
more quality starters among the athletic Lewis Baker, junior college transfer
Michael Reed and the now healthy Ryan Reynolds. The defensive backs will not
just be the strength of the Sooner defense, it will also be one of the best in
the country. Coach Stoops returns ten of the 11 DBs that saw action last year
and the unit will be a force if the line can generate a consistent pass rush.
The Bottom Line:
No matter who is the quarterback, he will have
plenty of options to throw to with the wide receiver duo of Malcolm Kelly,
Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson on the field. In the end, a lot will depend
on the quarterback situation and it may be in the best interest of the program
to pick a winner as soon as possible in order for them to get as many reps as
possible in practice. However, Coach Stoops is not opposed to waiting until
mid-August to make a decision. Kicker Garrett Hartley is as good as they get and
will be among the favorites to take home the Lou Groza Award.
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