More on OU's OL since they seem to be everyone's pick to win the MNC plus I'm sure I'm stirring the pot of one Sooner fan on another board.
I was right about their line and them being overrated to start the year last year and I say that was right on the mark as the season unfolded. OU is overrated again coming into this year. I can’t believe they are being picked by everyone to win the title. Once again a team winning their bowl game gets overrated the following year.
OU finished the year barely beating Baylor in OT, barley beating Nebraska by a TD, barley beating Aggie by 6, losing to Tech, whipping Okie St., and barley beating Oregon by 3. The season could’ve been a lot worse.
So going into this year they lose the Big 12's best fullback and if I’m not mistaken a three year starter in J.D. Runnels. They lost their blocking TE moses who I think has also been a three year starter. For a team that runs the ball 60% of the time losing both these players hurt.
The OL loses its two best blockers, three starters, and four overall in Davin Joseph, Kelvin Chiasson, Chis Bush, and Chris Chester. These four combined for 41 starts and the line wasn’t even good last year.
The problem won’t ever get better untill Stoops changes his attitude toward the fat boys on the OL. Kevin Wilson, Bob Stoops, and especially the S&C coach Schmidt are extreme hardasses and its starting to bite them in the butt. Former TE Trent Smith was qouted last year saying playing for Stoops is not worth it unless your winning because of how hard they are on the kids. The biggest fallout is of course happening on the OL because those are how do you say “fattest” guys on the team. The workouts are to hard for the big boys and they are dropping like flies.
Look at Stoops’ OL recruiting since 2002.
OU 2002 signing day:
Abner Estrada (left after one season)
Davin Joseph (4-year player—gone to the NFL)
Jeff Lebby (never played a down--injury)
Chris Messner (probably starter in 2006)
Steve Taylor (left without playing)
OU 2003 signing day:
Brandon Keith (qone)
Akim Millington (gone)
Antonn Reid (gone)
Brian Zimpel (gone)
OU 2004 signing day:
Brandon Braxton (didn't qualify)
Randy McAdams (gone)
J.D. Quinn (RS-SO in 2006)
Cameron Schacht (quit, then returned. RS-SO in 2006)
OU 2005 signing day:
Ben Barresi (redshirted)
Brandon Braxton (again--played as true freshman)
Jon Cooper (played as true freshman and broke his ankle)
Brandon Keith (quit)
Duke Robinson (played as true freshman)
Jesse White (redshirted, shrunk from 6'4 as a recruit to 6'0 in real world, probably medical retiring shortly)
Brian Simmons, once a 4-star DT, has been shifted to OL.
OU 2006 signing day:
Curtis Bailey (fr from Dallas)
Chase Beeler (fr from Jenks)
Cory Brandon (fr)
Sherrone Moore (juco player)
Chad Roark (graduated early, did spring, quit team)
Brandon Walker (juco player)
Trent Williams (fr)
OU so far in 2007 doesn’t have any commitments.
So of the 13 OL signed from 2002-2004, 4 remain on the roster.
Of the 6 signed in 2005, one quit already and one should be quitting shortly.
Of the 7 signed in 2006, one quit already.
Truly amazing. Now take that into contrast of the Longhorns.
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Texas 2002 OL signees:
Justin Blalock (5th-year senior in 2006, 3 year starter)
Lyle Sendlein (5th-year senior in 2006, two year starter)
Kasey Studdard (5th-year senior in 2006, two year starter)
Neale Tweedie (5th-year senior in 2006--TE now)
Brett Valdez (5th-year senior in 2006)
Texas 2003 OL signees:
Dallas Griffin (4th-year junior in 2006)
Kyle Thornton (4th-year junior in 2006)
Texas 2004 OL signees:
Cedric Dockery (3rd-year sophomore in 2006, will start this year)
Greg Dolan (3rd-year sophomore in 2006)
Tony Hills (3rd-year junior in 2006--signed as a TE, but the injury and his frame made him an OT immediately--didn't officially redshirt but he sat out a semester so he got a redshirt season, will start this year)
Texas 2005 OL signees:
Chris Hall (RS-FR in 2006)
Charlie Tanner (RS-FR in 2006)
Adam Ulatoski (RS-FR in 2006--actually redshirted two years but didn't enter school until Spring 2005 so he still has 4 years)
Texas 2006 OL signees:
Buck Burnett (early-entry FR in Spring 2006, will redshirt)
Steve Moore (FR in 2006, will redshirt)
Roy Watts (FR in 2006, will redshirt)
J'Marcus Webb (FR in 2006, will redshirt)
Texas for 2007 has already signed the top 6 OL in the state of Texas. An amazing OL class the best Mack has ever put together. Allen may be the #1 tackle in the country. This will hurt OU even more since they have a need to grab some top notch OL.
To sum up--Texas haven't lost a single OL signed since the 7-man signing class of 2001 (Roman Reeves left in 2002 and Terrance Young retired in 2005). Notice every single OL recruit has been able to redshirt as well.
Look at the starting OL for OU this year.
Jon Cooper will be the starting C. He started two games last year as a true frosh but broke his ankle vs Texas Tech and didn’t participate in spring drills.
Protecting Bomar’s blindside will be LT Chris Messner. He started 8 games last year at RT and now moves over to the leftside. He’s 280 pounds and a great pass protector but not as strong a run blocker.
At right tackle will more then likely be Branndon Braxton. Who had 3 starts last year as a true frosh. He will be pressed by incoming JUCO star Brandon Walker.
At one guard spot will be Duke Robinson who was too huge last year as a true frosh backup at 360 pounds. He is at 330 now. Never started a game.
The other guard spot will go to J.D Quinn who started four games as a redshirt freshmen last year. He like Cooper didn’t participate in spring practice due to injury.
The problem with the Sooners is none of these players are being able to redshirt because of the attrition issues at the OL. Any college coach will tell you redshirting at OL is more important then any other position on the field except for QB maybe. It gives you a year to grow, learn the offense, and the complicated blitz pickups.
So you think the OL will be fine with four sophmore starters? An OL with a total of 17 starts? An OL that had two of its starters out of spring ball needing those all important snaps together? Plus losing one of the better blocking FBs in the country in Runnels?
Last year OU gave up only 21 sacks but that’s still a lot considering Bomar’s mobility. Also Bomar took some of the biggest hits I’ve ever seen at the QB position. Kid has some guts. After the Texas game he said he felt like he was in a street fight because he was so banged up. The rushing attack avg 4.0 yards per carry. That’s pathetic.
I don’t care if you have Jim Brown at RB your not gonna have a great offense if the boys up front aren’t good.