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8/24/2010, 02:03 PM
College football countdown: No. 10 Oklahoma
Matt Hayes
Sporting NewsSporting News
Last year: 8-5.
2010 projected record: 10-2 (overall), 6-2 (Big 12)
Why we know we're right: Landry Jones will be a different quarterback this fall. He wasn't really ready to play last season after being thrown into a tough situation because of an injury to All-American Sam Bradford. The playbook was shrunk and Jones—at times—played like a typical freshman: poor throws, poor decisions and inconsistency (six touchdown passes one game, five interceptions in another). But he made big strides in spring practice, and has played near flawlessly in fall camp. OU coach Bob Stoops has been raving about Jones, saying he's a "completely different" quarterback than this time last season. The offense has dynamic skill players in TB DeMarco Murray and WR Ryan Broyles, and the line will be strong. Translation: another point-a-minute-offense.
Why we might be wrong: There's too much to replace on defense. Replacing stars on defense hasn't been a problem in years past, but there are too many unknowns this fall. The secondary includes converted safety Jonathan Nelson (or career reserve Jamell Fleming) at one corner, and undersized Demontre Hurst at the other. That's an issue in a league that throws the ball as often as teams do in the Big 12. The secondary will get help from what could eventually be the best defensive line in the Big 12, including All-American candidate DE Jeremy Beal and sophomore DT Jamarkus McFarland—who the staff believes could have a similar impact as former OU greats Tommie Harris and Gerald McCoy.
Our confidence level in this pick: Iffy. The Sooners could have beaten Texas last season, even with Jones' shaky performance. If the OU defense finds an identity early and creates turnovers like previous seasons, the Sooners could easily end their two-game losing streak in the series and win the Big 12.
Judgment day: Oct. 2 vs. Texas. Doesn't it always come down to this? As well as Texas QB Garrett Gilbert played in the second half of the BCS National Championship game last year, he hasn't played in the Red River Rivalry—a game that means much more because it can lead to the big prize. Jones, on the other hand, has last year's game to fall back on. All things being equal (and they may be), that's a significant advantage for Oklahoma.
Coach's job security: Strong. It's laughable that Stoops gets grief for recent big-game failures. The Sooners have dominated the second-best conference in the nation for much of the last decade, and continue to recruit among the top 10. Without the loss of Bradford last season, OU would've played in another big game to end the season—probably the national title game.
Grading the positions: QB (B+), RB (A-), WR/TE (B+), OL (B), DL (A-), LB (B+), DB (C+), ST (B)
Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2010-08/oklahoma-no-10/story/college-football-countdown-no-10-oklahoma#subnav#ixzz0xYGXtXJN
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Matt Hayes
Sporting NewsSporting News
Last year: 8-5.
2010 projected record: 10-2 (overall), 6-2 (Big 12)
Why we know we're right: Landry Jones will be a different quarterback this fall. He wasn't really ready to play last season after being thrown into a tough situation because of an injury to All-American Sam Bradford. The playbook was shrunk and Jones—at times—played like a typical freshman: poor throws, poor decisions and inconsistency (six touchdown passes one game, five interceptions in another). But he made big strides in spring practice, and has played near flawlessly in fall camp. OU coach Bob Stoops has been raving about Jones, saying he's a "completely different" quarterback than this time last season. The offense has dynamic skill players in TB DeMarco Murray and WR Ryan Broyles, and the line will be strong. Translation: another point-a-minute-offense.
Why we might be wrong: There's too much to replace on defense. Replacing stars on defense hasn't been a problem in years past, but there are too many unknowns this fall. The secondary includes converted safety Jonathan Nelson (or career reserve Jamell Fleming) at one corner, and undersized Demontre Hurst at the other. That's an issue in a league that throws the ball as often as teams do in the Big 12. The secondary will get help from what could eventually be the best defensive line in the Big 12, including All-American candidate DE Jeremy Beal and sophomore DT Jamarkus McFarland—who the staff believes could have a similar impact as former OU greats Tommie Harris and Gerald McCoy.
Our confidence level in this pick: Iffy. The Sooners could have beaten Texas last season, even with Jones' shaky performance. If the OU defense finds an identity early and creates turnovers like previous seasons, the Sooners could easily end their two-game losing streak in the series and win the Big 12.
Judgment day: Oct. 2 vs. Texas. Doesn't it always come down to this? As well as Texas QB Garrett Gilbert played in the second half of the BCS National Championship game last year, he hasn't played in the Red River Rivalry—a game that means much more because it can lead to the big prize. Jones, on the other hand, has last year's game to fall back on. All things being equal (and they may be), that's a significant advantage for Oklahoma.
Coach's job security: Strong. It's laughable that Stoops gets grief for recent big-game failures. The Sooners have dominated the second-best conference in the nation for much of the last decade, and continue to recruit among the top 10. Without the loss of Bradford last season, OU would've played in another big game to end the season—probably the national title game.
Grading the positions: QB (B+), RB (A-), WR/TE (B+), OL (B), DL (A-), LB (B+), DB (C+), ST (B)
Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2010-08/oklahoma-no-10/story/college-football-countdown-no-10-oklahoma#subnav#ixzz0xYGXtXJN
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