This team was unbelievably blessed in 2007 with two redshirt freshman that may be the key to their next national championship title. Sam Bradford and Demarco Murray. The offensive line couldn't look any better. Five senior starters return to a line that gave up just 14 sacks in 2007 (5th in the nation). While their offense ranked 17th nationally, they were only 7th in the Big 12. This conference is all about offense, especially passing, so the Sooners are going to have to step it up in 2008. With Bradford and Murray having more experience combined with the team's leading pass catcher from '07 in Juaquin Iglesias (led team with 68 catches) and tight end Jermaine's Gresham's 11 TDs from last year, the only thing this offense needs to worry about is staying healthy...and turnovers (according to Stoops). Stoops claimed that turnovers and penalties were a "major hit" on them last year and that both need to be reduced for them to be successful this year. The turnovers may have come at inopportune times, but they most certainly were not a significant problem. OU tied for 23rd in the nation for turnovers lost...it's not really that bad. But, Stoops is right when it comes to penalties-- they were at the bottom half when it came to getting in trouble and being punished for it. And maybe Stoops should also pay attention to what this team does on 4th down. Not only do they not stop teams on the desperation down, they don't push themselves to do anything about the impending loss of possession. It doesn't matter what you do on the first 3 downs if you don't finish it-- and speaking to that--in the inexplicable loss to Colorado, the defense gave up the last 20 points of the game to Colorado and knocked Oklahoma out of the top 5.
As for the defense-- another solid line. The rush defense was excellent all year, even against A&M and Texas, until they faced West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. In that debacle of a game for the Sooners, their rush defense went from allowing 92 yards per game to 110 to finish the year. That's a difference between finishing 6th in the country (1st in the Big 12) and being 17th in the country (3rd in the Big 12). Not only did they end on a bad note, but this unit loses 5 starters, including their 4 leading tacklers (three from the secondary and what was their best linebacker in Curtis Lofton). They gave up some big passing games last year and the Texas Tech game killed them (420 yards passing).
Perhaps the no-huddle offense will catch the Sooners up to the Big 12 offense statistically speaking. But even if they don't, they seem to find ways to score just fine without moving the ball too much. (5th in nation and 2nd in Big 12 behind Kansas in Scoring offense).
Last year what happened to this team?
This team is by no means perfect and those who believe in a sophomore slump best stay away. I, however, believe they can win a national championship this year. And it might just be fitting for Ohio State and OU to play each other for that $30,000 crystal football given that these two teams combined have played in and lost four of the last five national title games. Unfortunately, that wouldn't break the streak for one of the coaches as that game would hand either Jim Tressel or Stoops their third loss in three tries.
As for the defense-- another solid line. The rush defense was excellent all year, even against A&M and Texas, until they faced West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. In that debacle of a game for the Sooners, their rush defense went from allowing 92 yards per game to 110 to finish the year. That's a difference between finishing 6th in the country (1st in the Big 12) and being 17th in the country (3rd in the Big 12). Not only did they end on a bad note, but this unit loses 5 starters, including their 4 leading tacklers (three from the secondary and what was their best linebacker in Curtis Lofton). They gave up some big passing games last year and the Texas Tech game killed them (420 yards passing).
Perhaps the no-huddle offense will catch the Sooners up to the Big 12 offense statistically speaking. But even if they don't, they seem to find ways to score just fine without moving the ball too much. (5th in nation and 2nd in Big 12 behind Kansas in Scoring offense).
Last year what happened to this team?
This team is by no means perfect and those who believe in a sophomore slump best stay away. I, however, believe they can win a national championship this year. And it might just be fitting for Ohio State and OU to play each other for that $30,000 crystal football given that these two teams combined have played in and lost four of the last five national title games. Unfortunately, that wouldn't break the streak for one of the coaches as that game would hand either Jim Tressel or Stoops their third loss in three tries.
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