Bob held his Pre Spring Practice Press Conference today
Some news and notes (TaW staff editorial comments are in paraphrases):
- Great winter workout by team (Contrary to popular opinion, Bob doesn't always say that.)
- Ben Habern and Jarvis Jones back after Spring Break. (This is huge news for OL development. Both players were presumed to be out until Summer)
- Gabe Ikard and Eric Mensik are going to be getting a lot of reps at OL. Ikard at guard and center. Mensik at OT. (Their absence leaves a huge opportunity for JUCO transfer Lane Johnson and James Hanna. Johnson is a big TE target with speed and Hanna has a chance to take over the position. Both players need to impress the coaches before Haywood and Millard arrive)
- Bob feels that the WRs play in the Stanford game was a huge positive heading into the offseason. (Bob means the rotation of Reynolds, Broyles, and Miller)
- Bob really thinks that Gabe Ikard will be a contributor next season. Either interior OL or at blocking TE. (might allow Mensik to stay at OT and still provide a power running game from a two TE look)
- OL, unlike last winter, was a very strong group in conditioning and working out. Corey Brandon becoming more of a leader.
- DT Justin Chaisson at 275 already. Will add more good weight down the road. (Chaisson's frame can easily hold 285-290 with great mobility. He was 285 at Under Armour game last year and dominated)
- Stephenson was the 2nd most talented OL on the roster last year, behind Trent Williams. (His loss due to academics was huge.)
1. Justin Chaisson is going to be moved to DT for spring. Chaisson who was already 260 will look to get to around 275 for spring, and has a frame that could easily carry 285 to 290. Chaisson ability to get on the field at DT is far quicker than at DE. Chaisson would bring the kind of explosive speed (consistently timed at 4.7 at around 270) to OU's 3-technique DT position that the OU defense needs. Stacey McGee is really the only other 3 technique DT right now, so Chaisson could get considerable reps this spring. Moving Chaisson to DT also provides more depth at the 3 technique this spring until Eric Humphrey arrives in August. To recap, here are the current OU DTs and their best positions (I'm mixing some terminology here so please bear with me) Adrian Taylor- 1 gap/3 technique (he's played both) Jamarkus McFarland - 1 gap/3 technique Casey Walker - 1 gap Justin Chaisson - 3 technique Damon Williams- 1 gap Daniel Noble - 1 gap Eric Humphrey- 3 technique Torrea Peterson - 1 gap/3 technique ( I keep calling him an Adrian Taylor clone)
1. Year of the Running Back: OU just signed perhaps the best RB class in the country in Roy Finch and Brennan Clay, so RB wasn't exactly a huge need for the Sooners in recruiting. However, this year's RB class especially in Texas is just absurd. There are at least 2 RBs in Texas who last year would have been the number one RB in Texas last year., and several more who would have been right behind Seastrunk. And OU can only really take one of these guys at RB. Can UT take two? It’s a interesting combination of OU/UT having limited ships, and elite prospects. Also, there's a good chance like elite QBs that a school is only going to get one of them. Here are the five best in Texas.
OU held their first junior day for Texas and out of state prospects, and while OU didn't get 13 verbals the weekend led to several new commitments for OU.
Top 20 Players who could have breakthrough seasons in the Big 12. In the way of some context, generally a player who is a Sophomore/Junior who could contend for All Big 12 honors or more
QB- (Clearly the bar for being a breakthrough QB is tougher than at other positions. Garrett Gilbert was close to this list, but with only one start who knows what UT has at QB)
Blaine Gabbert 6-5, 230, MU – Gabbert had very productive first year as a starter with over 3500 yards passing but the TD total was low (24) and INT number was kind of high (9). In addition the Missouri spread requires a high completion percentage than 59%. Gabbert will miss his key WR, Danario Alexander, but there are enough other options returning for Gabbertto be successful. If Missouri wants to win the Big 12 North, they need Gabbert to take that next step.
Landry Jones 6-4, 220, OU – Landry’s first year as a starter had highs (ATM/KU/Bowl game) and deep lows (NU, Texas Tech). Clearly, an inconsistent WR core, no TE game, no running game didn’t help Landry’s adjustment to being the starter. Landry’s got to cut down on the turnovers and improve his accuracy and timing (late on throws). The Stanford game showed a different Landry and vastly improved WR core. If Landry continues to improve in his fundamentals (and QBs so far do nothing but improve under Heupel to date) and OU surrounds him with better weapons , Landry could be the difference in OU regaining control in the Big 12 South.
Tyler Hansen 6-2, 205, CU – It’s really simple, Hawkins job is in Hansen’s hands. Hansen once he took over from the younger Hawkins provided a higher level of play at QB. Hansen provides more mobility and a hint of QB run game. Hansen needs a consistent running game from Rod Stewart and another WR to complement Scotty McKnight (Michigan transfer Toney Clemons could be that WR).
Going into spring based largely on last's year performance, here's a working list of the top 20 players in the Big 12. There's only one OL right now, the Big 12 overall was pretty gutted in terms of elite OL players. QB and WR similarly have lost a host of established playmakers.
1. Ryan Broyles (WR OU) 5-10, 180 - The only returning 1st or 2nd All Big WR. Led OU with over 1200 yards receiving and over 1700 all purpose yards. Ranked 11th in receiving yardage in the nation and 3rd in the nation as a punt returner.
2. Von Miller (OLB ATM) 6-3, 220 - NCAA Sack Leader last year with 17 sacks. 1st Team All Big 12. Without Miller, I'm not sure you could even call what ATM fielded last year a defense. An amazing sack number considering his lack of help
Proven Playmakers: QB Blaine Gabbert, RB Derrick Washington, WR Jerrell Jackson, DE Aldon Smith
Not Nebraska? No. Missouri had a very uneven first year rebuilding after losing a team that put Missouri back in the national spotlight. The injury to Blaine Gabbert during the Nebraska probably cost MU that game, and really derailed their season. Their bowl game performance was definitely a step backwards, but of all the teams in the North MU returns the best collection of skill players at RB/WR, potentially the best QB, and best returning OL talent. DE Aldon Smith figures to the defensive star after a great first year in 11.5 sacks. Will Ebner at LB will be expected to raise his game with the loss of Sean Witherspoon. Add in that Missouri adds the best recruited skill position talent in the division (Marcus Lucas could be an impact WR). Still Missouri being number one is more about what the other teams have lost and (total lack of faith in the skill/talent level NU has at QB)
With the reported dance between UT and Big Ten being publicized and CU a potential player in any Pac 10 expansion (rumblings of Missouri and Nebraska to the Big Ten as well), it would seem that the Big 12 is vulnerable to the various conference expansion goals of the Big Ten or Pac Ten.
Why is the Big 12 vulnerable? The outright incompetence of the conference office in negotiating the conference's TV package for starters. Not being aggressive in looking for expansion opportunities ahead of time. Seriously, an offer to Utah or BYU and TCU should have been made yesterday. You could easily add those two teams for a 14 team conference with some realignment. The obvious move is to split up OU and UT. They are the powers of the conference, and show zero signs of losing that status. Play 6 games in your division, 1 permanent game from the other division and then rotate the rest of the teams. Big 12 conference would be strengthened by the addition of the new teams.
Now, there's a lot of doubt that any change will occur. However, just like the start of WW1 basically occurred due to a fringe regional issue in the Balkans, one domino falls, the next domino falls and all of a sudden you have folks looking for seats on a lifeboat and others looking to make sure they don't get lost in the shuffle and miss out on a payday. If the recent acquisition of teams by the ACC several seasons ago has taught us anything it's that it is better to be in acquisition mode than in reacting mode.
So let's presume a massive conference swap meet is about to occur. How could it shake out.
1. Big Ten/Eleven goes to the Big 16 - for Football and Basketball
3. The SEC becomes a 16 team conference adding OU, ATM, FSU, Clemson. OU and ATM added to the West, FSU and Clemson added to the East.
4. The ACC/Big East merge for football with the following 16 (6 teams needed due to defection of Clemson/FSU); Add WVU, Cincinnati, Rutgers to the Coastal, add Pittsburgh, Connecticut, USF to the Atlantic.
5. The remaining teams from the Big 12, Big East, probably would find themselves added to a much improved 16 team Conference USA strengthened by the addition of Louisville, OSU, Baylor, Texas Tech, and ISU
The 4 new 16 team super-conferences legitimately would be in a position to divide up the BCS Bowls and create a plus one system. Conference champions meet in the Semis, Championship two weeks later in a massive TV event. You'd be hard pressed to suggest that out of those 64 teams you don't have the real elite of college football, the winner of one of those conferences who is then able to beat 2 additional conferences champions was not the best team in college football.
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