2010 NCAA Football Preview: Oklahoma
In 11 seasons head coach Bob Stoops has led the Oklahoma Sooners like few have led college teams. Of his 11 seasons, he has taken the team to a bowl game in every season, winning five of them. Six times in his reign the team has won the Big XII, and he’s had two Heisman trophy winners.
Nine times the Sooners have finished the season in the top 25, seven of them in the top 10. Twice he has played for a national championship, winning one in just his second year (in 2000).
Last season the team went through a rather tough season. It started off with lots of promise when Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford returned to lead the team in its quest for a national title. However, he would be lost for the season due to injury in the first game; in total, the Sooners would have to deal with 15 injuries over the course of the season. Let the rebuilding process begin.
Even with all the troubles that the team had to deal with it still managed to finish the season with more wins than losses; including the Sun Bowl, the team went 8-5 on the season, putting them out of the top 25. With many players returning on offence—and with experience—the 2010 version of the Sooners look to take the team back to the top 25.
Offence
With the injury to Bradford the Oklahoma offence went from being really good in 2009 to average with freshman Landry Jones at the helm. To be thrust into the limelight like he was forced Jones to grow up faster than Stoops probably wanted him to. Although things did not go as well as the team would have wanted at times, Jones at least got some experience that will undoubtedly pay off this season. If he is able to improve off of his 2009 performance where he completed 58% of his passes for almost 3200 yards and 26 touchdowns the Sooner offence will be in good shape.
What will definitely help will be what Jones has returning with him. Back are four of five offensive linemen; of those he will only lose one next year (senior offensive tackle Cory Brandon). Running back DeMarco Murray returns for his senior season after being named an all-conference player in 2009; as a dual threat back he carried the ball 171 times for 705 yards and eight touchdowns and had 41 receptions for another 522..
The group did lose two top players in Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham to the NFL, but with the players they have returning the team looks to be better than ever in 2010.
Defence
Where the Sooners will hurt will be on the defensive side of the ball. Gone will be players like Gerald McCoy and Dominique Franks to the NFL; in total the unit will have to replace six starters. The good thing about being a national contender for many years is that you tend to attract some top notch talent with every recruiting class.
Gerald McCoy may be gone, but two seniors return to the line including all conference defensive end Jeremy Beal and tackle Adrian Taylor. Early indicators have Frank Alexander stepping in at the other end and Jamarkus McFarland possibly getting time at tackle.
Travis Lewis is the only returning starter at linebacker (weak side). Last season as an all-conference player he made 99 tackles with one sack and one interception. That was actually a step down for him after getting 135 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions a year earlier.
In the secondary another all-conference player returns, free safety Quinton Carter. Carter will be joined by another returning starter in Sam Proctor. Looking to replace the departed cornerbacks will be Jamell Fleming and Demontre Hurst.
The Sooners should improve from being okay in 2009 back to very good offensively; if the defence is able to step up to the plate with all the new starters in place then the Sooners may be a dark horse contender for a national title.
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