Oklahoma Sooners
Head Coach: Bob Stoops
2011 Record: 10-3 overall, 6-3 Big 12
2011 Bowl Result: Beat Iowa 31-14 in the Insight Bowl
Odds to win Big 12 Championship: 1/1
Odds to Win BCS Championship Game: 10/1
Over/ Under regular season wins: Over 10 -130 / Under even
All odds courtesy of Bovada

Last season, Oklahoma was the preseason #1 team in the country. They won their first 6 games under long time coach Bob Stoops. However, they had some injuries to key players like their leading receiver and rusher, and on defense. The Sooners ended up going 3-3 down the stretch with losses to Texas Tech, Baylor, and Oklahoma St. The loss to the rival Cowboys was especially embarrassing because the Sooners were crushed 44-10 and it gave the Big 12 title to OSU. Oklahoma had to settle for a berth in the Insight Bowl against Iowa. Oklahoma won easily 31-14. The game wasn’t really that memorable except for the fact it was the first time Stoops coached against his alma mater.

Although a 10-3 season would be considered a success for most schools, it was considered a bitter disappointment to most Sooner fans. The Sooners are only successful if they at least win a conference title and preferably a national title. The Sooners haven’t won the national title since 2000 though.

This year the Sooners are a again a pre-season top 5 team and favored to win the Big 12. Their main competition will be Texas, and conference newcomers West Virginia and TCU.

Offense

Oklahoma had one of the top offenses in the country last year under co-coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell. The Sooners had the #5 passing attack in the nation averaging almost 350 yards a game. The rushing attack averaged 160 yards per game, and the Sooners were #10 in scoring with 39.5 points a game.

The Sooner offense was given a boost in 2012 when quarterback Landry Jones decided to return for his senior season. He would have been a first round draft pick in the NFL had he decided to leave. Jones completed 63.2% of his passes for 4,463 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was sacked 10 times and had 2 rushing touchdowns. Jones struggled late in the season when his favorite target receiver Ryan Broyles was out with a torn ACL, throwing only 1 touchdown and 6 interceptions. Jones owns 13 Sooner passing records, but that is because he has basically been the starter for all 3 years at Oklahoma. Blake Bell was just named the back-up quarterback this week. Bell only threw 4 passes last year. (He completed one and threw an interception.) Bell was way more dangerous with his legs. Nicknamed the Belldozer, Bell rushed for 171 yards on 44 carries. He had 13 rushing touchdowns last year, including a 28 yard run. Drew Allen could also see some snaps after throwing for 71 yards last year.

Running back Dominique Whaley came out of nowhere to become the leading rusher. The transfer from tiny Langston University had 113 carries for 627 yards, and 9 touchdowns, and also caught 15 passes for 153 yards. However, he was sidelined by a broken leg in the Kansas St game. He is healthy and will be the feature back again. Junior Roy Finch had 111 carries, 605 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He also had 34 receptions for 296 yards. Junior Brennan Clay had 75 carries, 274 yards, and a touchdown, and also caught 18 passes. Fullback Trey Millard had 24 carries for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns, and also had 13 catches, 127 yards, and a touchdown. JUCO transfer Damien Williams and freshman Alex Ross will also get some carries.

The receiving corps had an eventful off-season to say the least. First in February’s recruiting class, Oklahoma signed a whopping 10 wide receivers  and tight ends. In may Stoops announces he is suspending 3 receivers Jaz Reynolds, Trey Franks, and Kameel Jackson indefinitely for violating team rules. Jackson is later dismissed from the team, but Reynolds and Franks were reinstated for practice but not for games. Finally, Justin Brown transferred from Penn St to Oklahoma and will be eligible immediately.

So this leaves a deep but very green receiving corps. Until Reynolds and Franks are eligible to play, Kenny Stills is the only receiver who actually caught a pass from Jones last year. Stills had 61 catches, 849 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Reynolds had 41 catches, 715 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Franks had 22 catches for 196 yards. Now for the newcomers. Freshman Trey Metoyer was originally part of the 2011 class, but wasn’t eligible because of academics. He dominated in the OU spring game, and could be the deep threat the Sooners so sorely missed after Broyles went down. Brown was the #2 receiver at Penn St, and will be a reliable target for Jones as well. Freshman Lacolton Bester will also get some targets. The tight ends will be JUCO transfer Brannon Greene and freshman Sam Grant.

The offensive line looked to be in good shape but off-season injuries to center Ben Habern and guard Tyler Evans cast some questions on the unit. They now have 2 returning starters with just 43 games experience. Guard Gabe Ikard was all-conference last year, but moves to center to replace Habern. Sophomores guard Adam Shead and tackle Daryl Williams will also get plenty of playing time.

Defense

Long time coordinator Brent Venables left to become the DC at Clemson. Stoops had already brought back his brother Mike to be the co-coordinator, after he was fired as the head coach at Arizona. The defense looked good against teams with average offenses, but struggled badly against the prolific offenses in the Big 12. The Sooners  gave up 41 points to Texas Tech, 45 to Baylor and 44 to Oklahoma St. It isn’t surprising that the Sooners lost all three games.

The Sooners must replace ends Ronnell Lewis and Frank Alexander, who combined for 32 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and they also knocked down 15 passes. Both are in the NFL now. David King, R.J. Washington, and redshirt freshmen Marquis Anderson and Nathan Hughes will be in the end rotation. The Tackles will be led by Stacey McGee, Jamarkus McFarland, Casey Walker, and Jordan Phillips. The line should be very deep and talented.

The linebackers must replace Travis Lewis. Juniors Tom Wort and Corey Nelson return. The two combined for 13 tackles for loss last year. Junior Joseph Ibiloye, redshirt freshman Frank Shannon, Jaden Bird and Aaron Franklin add depth to the unit. The Sooners alternate between a 4-3 and a 4-2-5 defense.

The secondary gave up 241 yards per game last year. It must improve in a league filled with potent passing offenses and some of the best quarterbacks in the country. Corner Demontre Hurst was second team all Big 12 last year. He had 55 tackles, 11 defended passes and a pick. Safety Tony Jefferson had 4 interceptions, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. Junior Aaron Colvin had 4.5 tackles for loss and broke up 6 passes last year. He moves back to cornerback last year after he played safety last year.

Special Teams

Sophomore kicker Michael Hunnicutt made 21 of 24 field goals last year, including a 53 yarder against Kansas St. Two of his misses came in the 3 point loss at home to Texas Tech.

Senior Tress Way is one of the best punters in the country. He averaged 42 yards per punt, and put 34 inside the 20. Still, the punt coverage needs to improve as they allowed 11.6 yards per return.

Kenny Stills returned punts after Broyles was injured, but Stills struggled averaging 4.8 yards per punt. Finch and Whaley returned kicks but neither was that spectacular. The Sooners have a lot of speed in the receivers and running backs, so they should be able to find a good returner.

Schedule

Oklahoma opens at UTEP, before home games against Florida A&M and Kansas St. Then comes a game at Texas Tech. Next up is the annual showdown against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma then hosts Kansas and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish haven’t played in Norman since 1962. OU then travels to Iowa St before hosting Baylor. The last three games are brutal with trips to new conference members West Virginia and TCU sandwiched around the Bedlam game against Oklahoma St in Norman.

Outlook

Oklahoma is loaded with talent at all positions, as they always are. An unfortunate trend has developed in recent years for the Sooners, where they lose focus against inferior opponents and end up losing a game they have no business doing so. See Texas Tech last year. The Sooners play 6 teams ranked in the top 25. If they can avoid the upset bug, the Sooners will have a chance to win the Big 12 title. However, the Sooners have bigger goals in mind, namely winning the BCS Championship. I think Oklahoma wins 11 games and the Big 12 title.

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