Thoughts – next year’s offense

[Toronto Sooner]

Thoughts on potential key starters on offense next year (assuming we lose some of our key underclass stars to the NFL):

Quarterback - Landry Jones

Running backs – Murray, Brown, Madu

Fullback - Matt Clapp

Tight end - combo, Brody Eldridge (blocking - I can see the coaches giving him more pass attempts to increase his pro potential) and James Hanna (pass catching specialist)

Primary receivers - Ryan Broyles, Brandon Caleb, Jameel Owens

Key backup receivers - Dejuan Miller (could eventually be a monster), Adron Tennell, plus if we happen to get the #1 overall recruit in the country (Rueben Randle)

O-line 1 – Trent Williams (wealth of starting experience)
O-line 2 – Brian Simmons (wealth of backup experience)
O-line 3 – Cory Brandon (wealth of backup experience)
O-line 4 – Jarvis Jones (1 yr of backup experience at LSU)
O-line, Centre – Jason Hannan (#1 Centre in the country ’07 – Rivals) or Ben Hebern (#2 Centre in the country ’08 – ESPN)

Key O-line backups – Stephen Good (5 star recruit), Jeff Vinson (1 yr junior college experience), Alex Williams

[Harry Beanbag]

I think next year's offense will score fewer than 700 points.

[My Opinion Matters]

I think next year's offense will score fewer than 700 points.

That's garbage! [hairGel]

[A-M]

So you think Sam is leaving?

[adoniijahsooner]

I think years offense will be good enough to win the big 12 with or without Sammy, because the defense will be the strength of the team next year.

[TXBOOMER]

I heard Trent Williams is leaving on the animal.

[SoonerSon]

I think next year's offense will score fewer than 700 points.

I think you're right there. This year's offense is def something special and most likely will not be topped by us...or anyone else, anytime soon. Even more reason why OUr boys need to bring home the crystal on Jan 8th. As we all know, it takes a lot of hard work, and a little luck, for the cards to line up for a CC and a NC.

If we do lose Sammy (I think he may stick around)...winning #8, combined with a 'whorn blowout next season, will make a sub-700 pt season a little more tolerable. :D

[Toronto Sooner]

The Detroit Lions (with the 1st overall pick in the draft) will likely need to rebuild their team around a quarterback. Sam Bradford and M. Stafford (from Georgia) appears to be the 2 top draft eligible quarterbacks. The perception appears to be that Sam is well developed, as he can make all of the throws, he can fit the ball into tight spaces (which is critical for NFL scouts), he processes info quickly, he has ideal NFL height and he has sufficient NFL arm strength. His primary need is for his body to fill out. The perception is that Stafford has most of the same attributes as Bradford. However, the difference is that Stafford doesn't have the numbers and he hasn't shown that he can deliver on a consistent basis as yet. The excuse is that Stafford didn't have the talent around him to highlight his skills on a consistent basis. The scouts seem to believe that he has the make up to put up the numbers, but at this point it is unproven. That is potentially why Sam might be slightly ahead for draft eligible quarterbacks - it is subjective though, it could go either way.

As a result of all this, there seems to be at least a general feeling that the possibility exist that Sam could go #1 overall in the draft. Of course, this thought may become more prominent if Sam does well in the Championship game. On the flipside, Sam's stock could drop slightly if he has a poor game.

I am of the belief that, if Sam receives strong feedback (after the final game) that the scouts are firmly viewing him as the #1 pick in the draft, Sam will enter the draft. However, it is completely impossible to know at this point which directly Sam is truly leaning.

[Big John]

The Detroit Lions (with the 1st overall pick in the draft) will likely need to rebuild their team around a quarterback.

I am of the belief that, if Sam receives strong feedback (after the final game) that the scouts are firmly viewing him as the #1 pick in the draft, Sam will enter the draft.

The question is, would Sam actually want to play for the Lions? I personally wouldn't.

[Big John]

Thoughts on potential key starters on offense next year (assuming we lose some of our key underclass stars to the NFL):
O-line 1 – Trent Williams (wealth of starting experience)
O-line 2 – Brian Simmons (wealth of backup experience)
O-line 3 – Cory Brandon (wealth of backup experience)
O-line 4 – Jarvis Jones (1 yr of backup experience at LSU)
O-line, Centre – Jason Hannan (#1 Centre in the country ’07 – Rivals) or Ben Hebern (#2 Centre in the country ’08 – ESPN)

Key O-line backups – Stephen Good (5 star recruit), Jeff Vinson (1 yr junior college experience), Alex Williams

I think the O-line will look more like this:

LT- Trent Williams
LG- Stephen Good
C- Jason Hannan
RG- Brian Simmons
RT- Cory Brandon

I think Good is just too freakin good to keep off the feild. If Williams stays then Jarvis Jones will rotate in like Simmons has done the last couple of seasons, but if Williams leaves early then:

LT- Jarvis Jones
LG- Stephen Good
C-Jason Hannan
RG- Brian Simmons
RT- Cory Brandon

Either way, it looks pretty good.

[King Crimson]

i'd hate to see Sam go to the Lions. Detroit, in addition to the obvious, has not been good to Sooner Heismans.

[SoonerBoognish]

The question is, would Sam actually want to play for the Lions? I personally wouldn't.

I'd love it, since i'd be getting payed an absurd amount of money. Then they'd realize I can't play football to save my life. After that, I imagine myself running down the street with a money bag in each hand with bills coming out every other step or so, while they wonder why they ever agreed to give me money.

[Boomer38Sooner]

Primary receivers - Ryan Broyles, Brandon Caleb, Jameel Owens

Key backup receivers - Dejuan Miller (could eventually be a monster), Adron Tennell, plus if we happen to get the #1 overall recruit in the country (Rueben Randle)



Why do you say that Tennell is going to be a backup? I think he has more potential than Caleb

[DMAFB_Sooner08]

The question is, would Sam actually want to play for the Lions? I personally wouldn't.

So is he suppose to stay another year and hope his stock falls, so he can go to a better team later in the draft? I mean he could make a big scene like Elway did back in '83 or Eli more recently, but don't see Sam doin that at all. Could you imagine him throwing to Megatron though, that dude is a beast!

[SoonerBoognish]

Looking at how terrible the Lions are, i almost wouldn't blame anyone for saying they don't want to play for them. Potentially going 0-16 for the first time ever earns you that rep, and a lot of other bad seasons to go with it. I don't really like when someone gives a specific team they insist on playing for, but damn the Lions are bad.

[oupride]

Going to the Lions is enuf to make Sam stay, btw I think you forgot J. Calhoun in your backfield.

[StormySooner-IN]

i'd hate to see Sam go to the Lions. Detroit, in addition to the obvious, has not been good to Sooner Heismans.
I'd hate to see anyone go to the Lions, ever.


just shut the franchise down already, geez...

[BoulderSooner79]

i'd hate to see Sam go to the Lions. Detroit, in addition to the obvious, has not been good to Sooner Heismans.

You said it, King. Watching Steve Owens and Billy Sims have injury shortened years with the Lions was painful (okay, I'm not quite old enough to remember much of Owens). And even though he was a Poke, Barry Sanders is my all time favorite NFL back to watch. How many playoff games did Barry get to play with Detroit - one ? And they refused to trade him and he just disappeared, grrr.

I wouldn't blame Sam or any other player to pull an Elway/Manning and refuse to play for Detroit. It worked out well for both of those guys. Sam could always say he would join the pro golf tour instead and battle Tiger for the real money ;) Or he could stay at OU another year and make all of us very happy.

[Toronto Sooner]

Caleb has looked very impressive in the limited time he has played - he came across as fitting well within this offense. Tennell hasn't impressed me as yet.

It would be nice to see Calhoun get significant playing time next year, but that might be a challenge. Murray's injury likely means he will be at OU next year. Unless Murray or Brown enters the draft this year, Calhoun might not be one of the 3 featured backs (Murray, Brown, Madu) in 2009, unless they play Madu heavily at the slot receiver position.

[Scott D]

god you people deserve a facepalm emoticon in this thread.