|
EARLY
BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008 |
|
|
OKLAHOMA
SOONERS |
|
OFFENSE
- 5 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Juaquin Iglesias-WR, Manuel Johnson-WR,
Quentin Chaney-WR, Phil Loadholt-OT,
Duke Robinson-OG, Jon Cooper-C,
Brandon Walker-OG |
DEFENSE:
Nic
Harris-SS, Lendy Holmes-FS, Mike
Knall-P |
|
|
|
Offensive
Backfield / Defensive
Line |
QB
Sam Bradford has
led the NCAA in
passing efficiency
the last two seasons;
the ball carriers
go three-deep. At
least three of the
defensive linemen
will garner preseason
All-American consideration. |
|
|
Offensive
Line / Secondary |
The
Sooner’s legendary
bunch up front will
need retooling as
four of their seniors
likely land on NFL
rosters. The nation's
99th ranked pass
defense still has
room for major improvement,
but to do so with
two new starting
safeties will be
a challenge. |
|
|
|
QB
Sam Bradford |
|
DT
Gerald McCoy |
|
|
|
|
*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2009 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Sam
Bradford-Jr |
.. |
FB |
Brody
Eldridge-Sr (FB/TE) |
Matt
Clapp-Sr |
RB |
DeMarco
Murray-Jr |
Chris
Brown-Sr / Mossis Madu-Jr |
WR |
Brandon
Caleb-Jr |
.. |
WR |
.. |
.. |
WR |
Ryan
Broyles-So |
.. |
TE |
Jermaine
Gresham-Sr |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Brian
Simmons-Sr |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
.. |
.. |
OT |
Trent
Williams-Sr |
.. |
K |
Jimmy
Stevens-So |
.. |
|
|
OKLAHOMA
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Auston
English-Sr |
Frank
Alexander-So |
DT |
Gerald
McCoy-Jr |
.. |
DT |
Adrian
Taylor-Jr |
DeMarcus
Granger-Sr |
DE |
Jeremy
Beal-Jr |
.. |
SLB |
Keenan
Clayton-Sr |
.. |
MLB |
Ryan
Reynolds-Sr |
Austin
Box-So / Mike Balogun-Sr |
WLB |
Travis
Lewis-So |
.. |
CB |
Dominque
Franks-Jr |
.. |
CB |
Brian
Jackson-Sr |
Jamell
Fleming-So |
SS |
Quinton
Carter-Sr |
.. |
FS |
.. |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
|
|
QUICK
ANALYSIS |
12/9/08
The losses are heavy on the
offensive side, in particular
up front. An argument can be
made that the legendary 2008
bunch will go down as the best
set ever to put on the Crimson
& Cream in Norman. Tackle
Trent Williams is the only mainstay.
Luckily, the opposite is true
in the OU backfield. Redshirt
junior Sam Bradford has led
the nation in passing efficiency
the past two seasons. His protection
may not be quite as strong,
so his feet will finally have
to play more of a factor. How
this will affect his decision-making
and accuracy remains to be seen.
But no doubt, the backs lining
up behind him represent the
deepest set of options anywhere
across the land. Murray, Brown,
Madu, Eldridge and Clapp...any
one of these individuals could
start for just about any program.
The physically gifted Jermaine
Gresham has the ability to change
a game from his tight end position.
This 6-6, 261-pound specimen
is already NFL-worthy however;
should he bolt, sophomore Ryan
Broles would be the only receiver
with noteworthy starting experience.
Defensively the Sooners had
issues keeping opponents from
putting up points in ‘08.
Injuries at LB wreaked havoc
at different points of the past
season. The good news is that
this entire defense, outside
of finding two new safeties,
will remain intact. Too much
talent exists on this side of
the ball to keep the Sooners
from being a much-improved unit.
Still, the statistical argument
that Big 12 defenses have been
on the lighter side in ’08
holds plenty of water. Ergo,
four different players being
rewarded with All-Conference
post-season honors doesn’t
convince us of much. The defensive
line has a boatload of highly-touted
prospects. English, McCoy and
Beal are each capable of playing
at the next level. Much like
at Texas, however, the pass
coverage has been lacking (99th
nationally). Coach Bob Stoops
will continue to put the Sooners
in every preseason national
championship discussion, and
2009 will have more of the same.
There is just way too much talent
to keep this bunch under the
radar. Rebuilding a star-studded
offensive line and getting better
play out of the secondary will
be the main focus.
|
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
2009 SCHEDULE
Sep.
5 Brigham Young @Arlington,
TX
Sep. 12 at Miami FL
Oct. 10 Baylor
Oct. 17 vs. Texas @Dallas,
TX
Oct. 24 at Kansas
Oct. 31 Kansas State
Nov. 7 at Nebraska
Nov. 14 Texas A&M
Nov. 21 at Texas Tech
Nov. 28 Oklahoma State
TBA Tulsa
TBA 1 non-conference opponent
|
|
|
|