| 12 October 2010
With all due respect to the upcoming ISU game, at 5-0 it seems like as good a time as any to do a mid season review based on some items from the preseason outlook
1. How is the OL playing?
I'm not implying the OL is up to the gold standard of the 2008 OL, but it's been doing a solid job providing both passing blocking and run blocking. The Sooners have been leaving some points on the field, but it's not been the fault of the OL directly. OL Penalties are down, key drive killing penalties are way down from the OL. OU's averaging over 30 points a game, a total that would have been good enough to win all but one game last year. In particular, OU is doing a great job on 3rd and short and finishing drives in the red zone. OU is not settling for red zone fgs this year, a key reason behind the losses of 2009. Those data points are very much in support of an improved OL. OU has pretty good depth with 3 tackles, 4 guards, and two centers. There's still a lot of potential for improvement, but compared to last year it's night and day. In addition, OU has only burned one redshirt (Bronson Irwin) off their great OL class.
2. What's Landry's ceiling?
Last year Landry was about a 5-6. Landry got off to a rough start with the USU game, and then played his best game versus FSU by a wide margin. The biggest signs of improvement have been the games against Cincinnati and UT, road win and a win against an elite secondary (UT's front seven may be suspect, but their back 5 is top ten in college football). Landry showed signed signs of reading coverages, stepping up in the pocket, and testing defenses downfield. The improved play by Dejuan Miller and the progression of Kenny Stills has given Landry 3 WRs that he now trusts. Landry is never going to be Sam Bradford, but right now it's not hard to imagine him as a conference championship QB caliber player.
3. Impact of the Cali 3
Well the only real negative in this item was the injury to Brennan Clay which has stalled his development to a degree. Tony Jefferson looks like he will be a 4 year starter impact player for the Sooners on defense. He looks every bit the top 10 player in the nation he was ranked at one point early before his senior year. Kenny Stills is the second best WR on the team, and led OU in WR yardage versus Texas. If Ryan Broyles were to leave early, OU can relax knowing that they have their go to WR already on campus. UT is still searching for one guy, meanwhile OU has two.
4. Has a kicker been found? Not really, but it hasn't mattered as much. And key points have been added via the FG game. O'Hara looked solid early before getting hurt, and since that injury opportunity Stevens is kicking the best attempts of his OU career. Still OU's offense is leaving points on the field when they are in the opponents 25 to 35 yard area. OU is getting into 3rd and long situations and instead of nimbling for yardage for FGs, OU is trying to go for the full amount. Somewhere in Bob's, Kevin Wilson's, and Landry's mind they know that 47 yard FGs are just not going to be kicked to many meaningful percentage.
5. Does OU have a TE weapon again? It's nowhere near where OU was with Jermaine Gresham, but OU has red zone TDs from Millard, Hanna, and Ratteree. The situation is vastly improved over last year. Hanna has been banged up some, but looks close to putting it all together at TE. In fact, Hanna has been solid enough that we haven't seen much of Austin Haywood at all. Hopefully OU can redshirt Austin.
6. How badly does OU miss Gerald McCoy? It's hard to over estimate how much OU misses McCoy and a healthy Taylor (Taylor's been barely 70% for most of the season). Beal's sack totals are down, and he's constantly being held. OU's no longer getting the automatic one holding call due to Gerald McCoy. Is McCoy the difference in the 4th Qtr problems? Well his interior pass rush was huge weapon against teams trying to pass their way back into the game. It's not hard to imagine Gerald's pressure and sacks stalling some of those successful drives. The AFA game would have been 48-0 if McCoy and Taylor were manning the middle. Still, OU's been getting solid play from young DTs Stacey McGee (looking very McCoy like on some tackles for loss) and Daniel Noble. McFarland is struggling a bit to make an impact, and Adrian Taylor is gamely helping OU at 70%. Fortunately, Lewis is playing LB at a high level, and the newcomers in the back 7 are playing pretty well. Tom Wort just had his best game in a Sooner uniform against Texas by a wide margin. Jefferson is a star, Hurst as well (more on that). Fleming before getting hurt was playing CB at an elite level. In fact, save for Wort's missed tackles the biggest breakdowns have been with Quinton Carter (Cinci game, UT game) who despite some huge INTs is having an average year.
7. Is 2010 looking like 2006?
Well OU is 5-0, instead of 3-2 and now holds the critical tiebreaker over UT in the Big 12 South, so that is different. However, OU does appear to be on a collision course with Nebraska for the Big 12 Title and in theory could play Boise in a bowl game if they win that title. OU's key obstacles to that destiny are once again at Columbia (Missouri just like 2006 looking for that big win over UT/OU), and at College Station and Stillwater. So the second half of the season could look pretty similar.
Other thoughts
1. A truly great freshman class.
Daniel Noble/Trey Millard/Aaron Colvin/Corey Nelson/Trey Franks/Kenny Stills/Tony Jefferson/
That's just who has already made an impact with Clay and Finch possibly getting their chances in the second half.
Right now, the recruiting class has 4 starters (Millard/Jefferson/Stills/Colvin). Texas was supposed to have an awesome recruiting class but if you are a longhorn fan it has to worry you that of the five best true freshman in the Cotton Bowl
- Millard
- Jeffcoat
- Jefferson
- Stills
- Colvin
Only 1 is a Horn. (Mike Davis was hurt, so the Horns might have 2. OU fans will counter that our freshman RBs are just waiting to make an impact due to our great RB depth. Whereas the Horns have no RBs)
2. The second coming of Derrick Strait
Demontre Hurst. Hurst isn't the biggest Sooner DB, but neither was Derrick Strait. All I know is that Hurst is pretty much locking down his WR and playing a great CB position for OU. Hurt, Fleming, Javon Harris, and Aaron Colvin seem to be pieces for OU's secondary next year. Hurst like Corey Nelson was a signing day defection, and you have to be glad that the OU coaching staff did not give up recruiting this kid. What a steal, and what a loss for OSU.
3. OL development plan bearing fruit.
Currently OU is playing about 7 to 8 kids at OL. Now there has been some rumblings about OU playing five guys and focusing there. However, it appears to be working, and there's a sense of competition and depth on the OL that OU didn't have last year. Back in 2006/2007 OU played 7 OL guys (Branndon Braxton and Brandon Walker), so it's worked before. In addition, OU has been able to redshirt Austin Woods, Adam Shead, Darryl Williams, and Tyrus Thompson. So OU will go into spring with 7 experienced players in Jarvis Jones, Stephenson, Evans, Habern, Good, Ikard, Irwin, while developing the next wave of the OL. OU seems ready to break the cycle of having to start freshman at center every 4 years (Habern- sophomore, Ikard - redshirt fr, Woods - freshman). The only real issue is lack of depth behind Jones and Stephenson at OT. Josh Aladenoye right now is the only other non redshirting OT, so a JUCO OT could be a key piece in preparing for Jones/Stephenson departures.
4. OU has a very young, very talented football team.
I've already talked about the recruiting class, but when you start adding up the redshirt freshman and sophomores also making a huge contribution, it's easy to see that OU with a veteran QB returning is poised for a successful run. What's missing?
- Proven pass rushing outside threat (a healthy Frank Alexander would help here as would RJ Washington fulfilling his vast potential. However, it could be Ronnell Lewis after a year learning the position)
- Difference maker at DT (Noble, McFarland, McGee?)
There maybe players on the roster or on the way for those spots, but right now replacing Jeremy Beal and Adrian Taylor look like the biggest issues for future Sooner rosters.
