After a near miss in 2010 featuring a brief one week #1 ranking and an injury-riddled 2009 when All-Americans Jermaine Gresham and Heisman Trophy Winner Sam Bradford succumbed to season-ending injuries the first week of the season, the Sooners are poised to return to the BCS National Championship Game for the first time since 2008.
The reasons? The Sooners are simply loaded with experienced talent at key positions, who are playing at the most tradition-rich, storied-football program in NCAA history and are coached by arguably the most talented coach in college football in Bob Stoops. Put it all together and what do you get: Championships.
The Oklahoma Sooners have won 7 of 12 Big 12 Championships in Bob Stoops career. More than any other school. Stoops overall record at OU is 129-31 for a winning percentage of .806%. He has single-handedly resurrected a winning tradition at the winningest program in modern NCAA football his first 12 seasons. Stoops-coached teams have played in the BCS National Championship Game 4 times, including a win in 2000, and the Sooners are poised to climb back up the BCS mountain in 2011.
The Sooners return 29 game-experienced or starters in the 2-deep depth chart including pre-season Heisman Trophy Award candidates Landry Jones at quarterback and Ryan Broyles at wide receiver. Jones has already thrown for over 7,900 yards in his first two seasons and led the Sooners to a 12-2 record in his first full season as starter in 2010 throwing for 4,718 yards, 38 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. All-America Broyles is set to shatter all OU receiving records and a few national ones by returning for his senior season. He and Jones are comforted by the fact all five offensive lineman starters return including pre-season Lombardi Trophy candidates guard Stephen Good and junior Ben Habern at center. Collectively the Sooners o-lineman return 50 game-starts in 2011 meaning: The Sooners should be able to score at will in their hurry-up, high-octane offense regardless of the anticipated running back by committee approach of the law firm of Clay/Finch/Miller/Williams, etc.
On defense, the Sooners will simply be stifling. Led by pre-season Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Travis Lewis, the Oklahoma defense will be as stout as anytime in recent memory. The strength of this Sooner defense will be defensive end where all four projected starters have big-game experience. Frank Alexander and David King will anchor one side of the ball while special team sensation Ronnell "Hammer" Lewis, who will move from linebacker, and R.J. Washington will anchor the other side. Joining Lewis at linebacker will be sophomore sensation Tom Wort, who started
9 games in 2010, and sophomore Corey Nelson who had the entire Sooner Nation raving after an outstanding spring practice. Junior Jamarkus McFarland makes his long-awaited starting appearance on the defensive line. He will be joined by 300-pounders Casey Walker and Stacey McGee anchoring a solid 3-man rotation. Returning starters Jamell Fleming and Demontre Hurst are back anchoring the corners and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Tony Jefferson returns in the secondary, as well. Sophomore Aaron Colvin will be projected to start at strong safety and will be joined by Javon Harris and Sam Proctor at free safety.
Add in highly-touted redshirt freshmen newcomers Torrea Peterson and Geneo Grissom on the defensive line and true freshman Brandon Williams at running back and all the pieces are in place for offensive and defensive greatness.
And special teams will be very special. Kicker Jimmy Stevens and punter Tress Way return to give the Sooners a 1-2 punch in the kicking game that will be among the best in the country. Ronnell "Hammer" Lewis is back to ensure kickoff coverage collisions make the introductory highlight video and continue Coach Stoops long-standing tradition of playing his defensive starters on special teams. And is there a better punt returner in the country who strikes fear in opposing teams than Ryan Broyles?
So add it all up and who is this years' pre-season favorite to end the S.E.C.'s five year run and win the eighth National Championship in school history? The 2011 Oklahoma Sooners. Stay tuned for the latest updates and opinions including pre-game and post-game thoughts throughout the run to the Road to New Orleans! Boomer!
No comments:
Post a Comment