|
RB
Allen Patrick |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Bob Stoops
86-19,
8 years |
2006
Record: 11-3 |
|
UAB |
WON
24-17 |
WASHINGTON |
WON
37-20 |
at
Oregon |
LOST
33-34 |
MIDDLE
TENNESSEE |
WON
59-0 |
vs.
Texas |
LOST
10-28 |
IOWA
STATE |
WON
34-9 |
COLORADO |
WON
24-3 |
at
Missouri |
WON
26-10 |
at
Texas A&M |
WON
17-16 |
TEXAS
TECH |
WON
34-24 |
at
Baylor |
WON
36-10 |
at
Oklahoma State |
WON
27-21 |
BIG
12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME |
vs.
Nebraska |
WON
21-7 |
FIESTA
BOWL |
Boise
State |
LOST
42-43 (OT) |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-11, Coaches-11, BCS-10
|
2007
Outlook |
Head
coach Bob Stoops only has to patch
up a few areas needing attention in
order to again field one of the best
teams in I-A. With a new QB and new
backs redefining the Sooner’s
look and feel offensively, last year’s
two disappointing losses – with
the one against Boise still smarting
– can quickly become afterthoughts.
Stoops & Co. will do their usual
great job of making the most of what
is instead being hung up on what coulda-woulda-shoulda
been. Four main areas need focus:
fine tuning the next great Sooner
hurler, providing reps for all the
great backs, finding defensive ends
after the mass exodus there, and shuffling
the linebackers for the best group
fit and result. The running game will
be fine, as will the LB corps. But
the prospects at DE and QB won’t
be known until the Sooners’
wagon hits the ground rolling in September.
Stellar DBs, a complete return of
all major receiving targets and a
young, developed OL will make Oklahoma
seem unbeatable at moments, but looking
great against pedestrian foes isn’t
what will secure OU’s highest
spot in the polls. An early visit
by a reborn Hurricane squad is sure
to show any marginal/weak areas, and
those need to be smoothed out before
the watershed game against Texas in
the first week of October…a
game the Sooners haven’t won
since 2004. The winner will again
have an inside track in the BCS race,
but the Big 12 is gaining parity to
assure, like last year, that neither
of these two South division powerhouses
is a shoe-in for the league crown.
Visits by Mizzu, A&M and their
in-state nemesis may favor OU, but
none is a gimme. Stoops has done more
in years where he has had less to
work with, so a national championship
isn’t out of the realm of possibilities
given the QB(s) can keep up…and
the ‘sooner’ they do the
better, eh?
Projected
2007 record: 10-2
|
|
OKLAHOMA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 5 |
OL
- 4.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Joey Halzle, 1-2-0, 15 yds., 0 TD
Rushing: Allen Patrick, 169
att., 761 yds., 4 TD
Receiving: Malcolm Kelly, 62
rec., 993 yds., 10 TD
Scoring: Garrett Hartley, 19-20
FG, 49-50 PAT, 106 pts.
Punting: Michael Cohen, 51
punts, 41.0 avg.
Kicking: Garrett Hartley, 19-20
FG, 49-50 PAT, 106 pts.
Tackles: Nic Harris, 68 tot.,
40 solo
Sacks: Steven Coleman, 3 sacks
Interceptions: Nic Harris,
4 for 11 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Juaquin Iglesias,
14 ret., 25.9 avg., 1 TD
Punt Returns: Reggie Smith,
37 ret., 7.8 avg., 1 TD
|
|
|
DT
Steven Coleman |
|
|
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Paul Thompson-QB, Chris Messner-OT,
Adrian Peterson-RB (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Larry
Birdine-DE, C.J. Ah You-DE, Calvin Thibodeaux-DE,
Zach Latimer-MLB, Rufus Alexander-WLB,
Jason Carter-SS |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
Coach
Bob Stoops could put the names of his running
backs on a wall and throw a dart to find
a candidate capable of replacing Adrian
Peterson…but finding their next signal
caller is going to take a lot more time
and work, and that search will go farthest
in defining the 2007 Sooners. Spring ball
elicited no clear leader amongst the three
candidates - junior Joey Halzle is a JUCO-transfer
who was second-team last year, so he knows
the ropes best; 6’5 RS freshman Sam
Bradford is the in-state favorite with an
arm from hell and feet as good as Halzle’s;
incoming freshman Keith Nicol enrolled early
to make big strides in spring ball and has
(so far) shown the best composure of the
three. There is no telling who will get
the nod, but Halzle has the inside track
due to extensive collegiate experience.
As stated, the running game will provide
plenty of backs who will open up the downfield
possibilities. Senior Allen Patrick filled
in admirably for Peterson, and Chris Brown’s
contributions as a freshman show he is ready
and able when the call comes. But the biggest
surprise looks like Las Vegas-native DeMarco
Murray, this year’s newbie who tore
it up in spring scrimmages. Rotations will
again work if employed. There will be plenty
of open targets downfield since OU sees
its top four snarlers back. 6’4 All-Big
12 receiver Malcolm Kelly will garner double-teams
as he goes deep, allowing fellow juniors
Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias to balance
the stat line. The No.4 guy was TE Joe Jon
Finley, a huge target who can be sent into
pattern since he is backed by pure blocker
Brody Eldridge – both are all-conference.
The depth at receiver and tight end is extraordinary
due to banner recruiting classes loaded
with them. The line’s starting five
look solid with tackle Brandon Braxton back
from the broken leg that allowed Trent Williams
to start as a freshman. Their all-conference
junior guards guarantee running success
inside. But little developed depth past
these five could spell trouble if an injury
rash hits. Still, this line is stocked with
prime Oklahoma beef that can take command
in the trenches due to all of them being
300+lbs. and having superior footwork. Ex-Sooner
and QB coach Josh Heupel will again prove
invaluable, assuring that whoever is chosen
can manage this much talent so as to give
OU a chance to win their half of the conference.
|
|
WR
Malcolm Kelly
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Sam
Bradford-Fr (6-5, 197) |
Joey
Halzle-Jr (6-3, 198)
Keith Nichol-Fr (6-2, 180) |
FB |
Brody
Eldridge-So (6-5, 258) |
Matt
Clapp-Jr (6-2, 244) |
RB |
Allen
Patrick-Sr (6-0, 191) |
DeMarco
Murray-Fr (6-0, 191)
Chris Brown-So (5-10, 190) |
WR |
Malcolm
Kelly-Jr (6-4, 217) |
Adron
Tennell-So (6-4, 184) |
WR |
Manuel
Johnson-Jr (5-11, 177) |
Fred
Strong-Jr (6-1, 197) |
WR |
Juaquin
Iglesias-Jr (6-1, 201) |
.. |
TE |
Joe
Jon Finley-Sr (6-6, 260) |
Jermaine
Gresham-So (6-6, 250) |
OT |
Phil
Loadholt-Jr (6-8, 350) |
Noah
Hughey-So (6-3, 270) |
OG |
George
Robinson-Jr |
Sherrone
Moore-Sr (6-3, 297) |
C |
Jon
Cooper-Jr (6-2, 285) |
Chase
Beeler-So (6-3, 276) |
OG |
Brandon
Walker-Jr (6-3, 306) |
Brian
Simmons-So (6-4, 293) |
OT |
Branndon
Braxton-Jr (6-6, 312) |
Trent
Williams-So (6-5, 321) |
K |
Garrett
Hartley-Sr (5-9, 198) |
.. |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
The
first big project on defense is for DL fixture/coach
Jackie Shipp to find candidates at end to
fill the coffers there that were nearly
vacated. Senior Alonzo Dotson is a good
start with his extensive experience as a
reserve, and then guys like Beal, Johnson,
Macon, as well as this year’s No.8
weakside prospect (Rivals) in Baton Rouge’s
quickster Frank Alexander bring huge potential
for what can be again. Inside, all-Big 12
senior Steven Coleman and Cory Bennett already
have two worthy backups, so finding room
for RS frosh Gerald McCoy, last year’s
top tackle recruit, will be a good problem
to have with the ends needing help initially.
The second big project is to rebuild the
linebacking corps after losing top tacklers
(and TFLs) Alexander and Latimer. Former-Parade
All-American Curtis Lofton and UCLA-transfer
Demarrio Pleasant both saw significant time
on the strongside, but they and weakside
beast Lewis Baker will have to hold off
JUCO-transfer Mike Reed, this year’s
top inside linebacker prospect who ripped
through blockers in spring. Lofton likely
will move to the middle. Depth behind these
four is still developing, but this still
has the chance at being a strong corps who
can play at the level of last year’s
group. As you can see, the secondary goes
all-conference across the board, with even
junior nickel back Nic Harris getting the
same superlative since he led the team in
INTs and was third in tackles. Corner Lendy
Holmes uses his 6’1 frame to shutdown
any size receiver on the outside while securing
the corner on runs. William and Smith form
possibly the best safety pair in the land,
and depth already means new prospects are
stacked and waiting here, too. This can
again be a top 20 defense in most categories
since schools like this reload instead of
rebuild. But there cannot be more aberrations
like we saw against Oregon and Boise if
OU wants to have a shot at reclaiming the
Big 12 title.
|
|
DB
Nic Harris
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
John
Williams-Sr (6-5, 249) |
Auston
English-So (6-3, 257) |
DT |
Steven
Coleman-Sr |
Carl
Pendleton-Sr |
DT |
Cory
Bennett-Jr |
DeMarcus
Granger-So |
DE |
Alonzo
Dotson-Sr (6-3, 252) |
Jeremy
Beal-Fr (6-4, 254) |
SLB |
Demarrio
Pleasant-Sr (6-2, 231) |
Curtis
Lofton-Jr (6-0, 235) |
MLB |
Ryan
Reynolds-So (6-1, 237) |
Mike
Reed-Jr (6-1, 250) |
WLB |
Lewis
Baker-Sr (6-2, 210) |
.. |
CB |
Marcus
Walker-Sr (5-11, 192) |
Dominique
Franks-Fr (5-11, 183) |
CB |
Reggie
Smith-Jr (6-1, 197) |
Lendy
Holmes-Jr (6-1, 196) |
SS |
D.J.
Wolfe-Sr (6-0, 196) |
Keenan
Clayton-So (6-1, 210) |
FS |
Darien
Williams-Sr (6-0, 197) |
Nic
Harris-Jr (6-3, 226) |
P |
Michael
Cohen-Sr (6-0, 205) |
Mike
Knall-Jr (5-9, 178) |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Garrett
Hartley only missed one try in ’06…unfortunately,
it was in the Oregon travesty and it could have
been sweet justice. Back for his senior year,
Garrett is sure to dot the Groza watch list. Punter
Mike Cohen affords OU a top 30 ranking for net
results. Return men Jauquin Iglesias and Reggie
Smith (kicks and punts, respectively) are dangerous
anywhere on the field, though Smith has to get
what he can, when he can…instead of always
looking for the big one and often sacrificing
yards in the process.
|
|
|