The 2011 campaign started promising for the Oklahoma Sooners. The team was ranked #1 at the outset of the
season and appeared to be heading for another remarkable run until reality set
in. And that reality was the Big 12 was
going to be more competitive than it had been in years.
Unbeknownst to Sooner fans, the conference would have three teams
ranked in the top 25 by years end with each one having a legitimate chance to
win the conference. Oklahoma started out
strong through the first three games, retaining the nation’s top spot but fell
to number three due to stronger schedules at other schools. The Sooners had chances to move up in the
standings but losses to Texas Tech at home, Baylor in Waco and interstate rival
Oklahoma State in Stillwater epitomized what has been wrong with Oklahoma for a
number of years—the offense is Oklahoma’s best defense.
Since the departure of Mike Stoops, the team’s defense has
been shoddy at best. The offense can
score but the defense seems to have adopted a break but don’t bend mentality
that has cost the team in big games for the last 10 years. The defense has to get significantly better if
they want to have a chance to compete not for a national title, but just to be
the best school in the Big 12. With the
addition of West Virginia and TCU, the competition is going to get a lot more daunting.
OFFENSE
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| How hot can OU get this year? |
Quarterback Landry Jones was once again a Heisman hopeful
until his team suffered devastating losses midseason coupled with the fact that
he was overshadowed in his own conference by phenom and future first round pick
Robert Griffin III. Although he wasn’t
totally at fault, he lost games that mattered and made untimely mistakes. He couldn’t get his offense going in the
season finale against State and the team scored only 10 points in the game.
Jones completed 63 percent of his passes (355/562), amassed
4463 yards with 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. But if jones wants to reach the promised land
this year, he is going to have to find some consistency with a few new faces.
His go to receiver Ryan Broyles (83-1157-10) has since departed
for the NFL. Jones got a taste of what
life would be like without Broyles after he tore his ACL in the win over
A&M last November. Jones struggled
to find a suitable passing partner contributing to losses in two of the final
three games of the season.
Kenny Stills (61-841-8) is the one returning receiver with
whom Jones has developed something of a relationship. Jaz Reynolds (41-715-5) was looking to be the
second or third option in the pass-happy offense but undisclosed violations of
team rules in May will cost him and Trey Franks “multiple games” according to Coach
Bob Stoops. Penn State transfer Justin
Brown could be a welcome addition to the offense provided he can get on the
same page with Jones and do it quickly. The
6-3, 214 junior had 35 receptions, 517 yards and 2 TDs with the Nittany Lions
last year. He is looking for a place to
showcase his skills and with the lack of depth, not to mention maturity within
the receiving corps; he may have just landed in the perfect place. If he is even halfway decent, he will get the
ball plenty.
The offensive line could use some work and veteran
leadership. The team looked great when
it played lesser talent and vulnerable when it actually had to grind games
out. The front line will be without
starting center Ben Habern due to lingering injures as well as back-up lineman
Dylan Dismuke. Both have declined to
return to the team. Transfers meant to
shore up the line, Courtney Gardner and Will Latu, were unable to make it into
school leaving Jones protection questionable at best.
The need to improve the running game is a must in order to
take heat off of Jones and the passing game, but it all starts with the line. OU must do better than 50th in rushing
this season to compete in a conference that has six teams ranked in the top 25.
The Sooners hope to fortify their offense with the additions
of top prep wide-out Trey Metoyer, and highly ranked receivers Derron Neal
(#62) and Sterling Shepard (#131). More
than likely Stoops would like to keep these kids on the shelf but with the need
to win now and the lack of depth in the receiving corps, they may find
themselves on the field sooner rather than later.
DEFENSE
This unit has been the weakest part of this team for nearly
a decade. Since the departure of Mike
Stoops, there has been a slow roll toward mediocrity and the team has yet to
get out of the funk. In the three losses
in 2011, the defense gave up 130 points while the offense was only able to muster
86 points. That is a 44 point
differential that cannot be duplicated or tolerated this season.
The key to the defensive reemergence is how well the
coaching staff finds replacements for the team’s key contributors from 2011 to
help the nine returning starters from last year’s unit. Gone are LB Travis Lewis, DEs Frank Alexander
and Ronnell Lewis. Of the nine
committees in this year’s recruiting class (top #250), only one Eric Striker
(#243) was a defensive player which seems to point to the Sooners looking to
build from within. If the same coaching
staff was in place, it would give one reason to worry but DC Stoops should be
able to give this unit a jolt and make them formidable once more.
The Sooners should make great strides in total defense
(#55/376 ypg), scoring defense (#31/22 ppg), passing defense (#79/241 ypg) and
rushing defense (#43/134 ypg). It’s not
about the players, it’s about the system and the coaching and Stoops will be
coaching for a chance to get another head coaching job and will not let this
unit falter. Look for the Sooners
defense to lead the way in 2012.
COACHING
Bob Stoops is one of the top 5 coaches in the country. Since the Sooners National Championship in
2000, the university is a lock every in preseason poll to have a chance at dethroning
the SEC as the keepers of the BCS Championship.
For all the accolades and the bridesmaid finishes in years past (2003,
2004 and 2008) this is the year the Sooners can take it over the top.
The one constant criticism of Stoops has been his penchant
for taking chances at inopportune times.
A pass on the 1 yard-line here or a fake punt in your own territory
there are the kinds of decisions that have driven fans crazy. With the re-addition of brother Stoops, some
of the pressure should be taken off the head coach and perhaps some of the
foolish decisions that cost them games can be minimized or eliminated.
OUTLOOK
The 2011 season had every Sooner fan packing for the short
drive to New Orleans for the National Championship. What no one foresaw was a team that would
lose its most dependable receiving threat, two losses to teams the Sooners
normally beat blindfolded and a complete give up at season’s end to a
determined Oklahoma State squad. It was bad all around and to add insult to
injury, the Sooners had to watch Oklahoma State, Kansas and Baylor play in
better bowls while the trudged around in the Insight Bowl.
Oklahoma finished ranked 15th in the nation; one
spot above Kansas State but behind Baylor (#12) and Oklahoma State (#3). The Sooners look to avoid repeating the same
outcome as last year and should welcome a #4 preseason ranking to ease some of
the pressure and ensure they retain their focus. However the road won’t be easy.
Some saw the loss of Texas A&M as a significant blow to
the conference as it was seen as a precursor for the disbanding of the Big
12. But a few shrewd moves by the interim
commissioner saw the addition of West Virginia and TCU. Both teams will add significant luster to the
conference and make for some interesting contests.
Of the 10 teams in the conference, six teams (W. Virginia
#11, Texas #15, TCU #17, Oklahoma St. #19, Kansas State #21) are ranked. In addition to their conference foes, Oklahoma
will also play #24 Notre Dame in Norman who by that time may be moved up in the
rankings. If OU can run the table it
will be nearly impossible to deny them another national title chance at season’s
end.
But if they stumble out of the gate, it’s going to be
another long season.
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