| 22 January 2010
OU 2010 Super Early Preview- Offensive Line
With OU's massive problems here last year, I figured that an OL preview needed to be it's own article. OU has lost their two best OL players in Trent Williams and Brian Simmons, but returns a host of players who started or played in several games last year. Since there are not many flex players in the OL, I'm going to focus my preview by position.
Offensive Tackle:
With Trent Williams departed, OU needs both new LT and RT. The early lead should probably go to the Sun Bowl starters Eric Mensik at RT and Corey Brandon at LT. There's apparently some discussion about moving Mensik full time to OL. I don't understand why there is any debate. Mensik who is around 265 right now, should be told to put on 20 to 25 good pounds as soon as possible. Brandon at best had an uneven 2009 (at worst earned the nickname Six Flags over Dallas), but seemed to play his best at LT rather than RT. Best guess has Mensik and Brandon taking over the tackle spots and provide some stability there. A Mensik/Brandon combo at tackle probably will pass block well, but very likely will struggle in run blocking if the Sun Bowl is any indication (although Mensik with a full offseason and spring at OL could certainly improve in run blocking). Jarvis Jones has all the potential in the world, and at times looked very good at RT. Shaking off the rust of his redshirt year obviously took awhile. Jones has a broken heel and maybe back for Spring. Jones needs to add some strength and weight to his frame, but is a more physical prospect than Brandon. A huge wildcard at tackle is Donald Stephenson. Stephenson at 6-5, 295 range has the athleticism and talent that made Merv Johnson compare him to Jammal Brown. Stephenson if he had not been suspended last year probably would have gotten on the field at OT at some point. The only other OT on the roster right now is Josh Aladenoye. Josh redshirted last year and while showing some potential clearly needed to drop some bad weight from this 6-5, 350 frame. What he can bring to the position is really unknown, but OU certainly has had freshman OL star for them in the past. OU's freshman recruit OTs are Darryl Williams and Tyrus Thompson. Both have big time potential to be elite OTs. However, Williams needs to add some weight to his frame (he's around 270) and Thompson needs more experience playing OL (but he's in good condition at 6-6, 305). If OU can find some tackles to allow those guys to develop that would really be the best approach. Obviously, a JUCO OL was a recruiting priority and OU struck out with Rozell Gayden who signed with Auburn and is still waiting on John Cullen. Cullen is an August recruit so if he signs with OU it will be interesting to see what he brings to the position.
Projected Depth Chart:
- LT: 1)Corey Brandon 6-7, 305 Sr 2) Jarvis Jones 6-6, 295 Jr 3)Donald Stephenson 6-5, 295 Jr
- RT: 1) Eric Mensik 6-6, 265 Sr 2)Jarvis Jones 6-6 295 Jr 3)Josh Aladenoye 6-5, 350 Fr
- Redshirting: Darryl Williams 6-5, 270 Fr Tyrus Thompson 6-6, 305 Fr
Offensive Guard:
Unfortunately, Guard was almost as bad a revolving door as tackle, maybe even worse. Brian Simmons was lost for basically all of Big 12 play and other than Stephen Good OU never really found a consistent second guard. Good had a horrible start to August camp getting sick and losing about 20 pounds, then he basically played the rest of the year after getting over the illness with one nagging injury after another. But he stayed in the starting lineup and other than getting abused by Suh (who abused everyone) held up fine. A healthier Stephen Good will go a long way to stabilizing the Sooners interior OL and helping the Sooner run game. At the other OG spot? Well Simmons is gone. Eldridge is gone. The most likely candidate should be Tavaris Jefferies, but after starting a couple of games he managed to find his way into Bob's doghouse. If he can extricate himself and have a good spring, Jefferies at 6-4, 300 could provide a very solid combo with Good at guard. It's Jefferies Senior year so this is his shot. Competing with Jefferies and Good should be Tyler Evans. Evans actually started at guard for the BYU game then got hurt and then was a backup OG (he did play in the Sun Bowl). Evans at 6-5,310 has massive potential at offensive guard. If Jefferies re doghouses himself, look for Evans to get the first shot at OG. Now while I expect the freshman OTs to redshirt, the situation is very different at guard. First, Bronson Irwin enrolled early and will get a chance to go through winter conditioning and spring football. With OU's limited depth at OL, Irwin is going to get lots of reps. He's already got great size at 6-5, 310 and in the recent all star game was showing a dominant run blocking game. At worst, I think Bronson doesn't redshirt and is a factor in the 2 deep. I'll talk more about Austin Woods at the Center position review, but he could be a factor OG as well. Second, Adam Snead arrives in the fall and has both the size 6-4, 300 and technique (coached by former Sooner OL Louis Oubre) to see the field early at OG. I think OU will try and redshirt Snead but again he may force the issue and get onto the field. Finally, Donald Stephenson is probably the one OT that could swing inside if needed.
Projected Depth Chart:
- RG: 1) Stephen Good 6-5, 300 Jr 2)Bronson Irwin 6-5, 310 Fr
- LG: 1) Tavaries Jefferies 6-4, 300 Sr 2)Tyler Evans 6-5, 310 Soph
- Redshirting: Adam Snead 6-4, 300 Fr
Offensive Center:
Somehow OU managed to win 8 games games despite starting 4 different players at Center (Eldridge, Habern, Lepak, and Trent Williams). Things never got settled at center for OU right from the start with the back injury to Ben Habern. Habern lost most of August camp and was never really healthy all year long. Add to the problems at this position for next year, Habern will probably miss spring ball with a broken fibula suffered against Texas Tech. So in spring expect walkon Brian Lepak to get the majority of the snaps. Lepak who is a senior did a good job in the Oklahoma State game and unfortunately suffered a knee sprain that kept him out of the Sun Bowl. Lepak should be fine for spring though. Already on campus is Austin Woods, the 6-5, 290 freshman center, will get to go through winter conditioning and spring ball and with Habern's injury he should get plenty of reps. I could see Woods in the fall getting work at OG to provide some depth and competition there as well once Habern returns. If healthy, this is Habern's position. He had his struggles playing as a freshman with a constant rotation of guards around him, while recovering on the fly with his back injury. Habern has all the physical skills to be the anchor the Sooners need, as well as the intangibles to be the leader that was really missing from the OL (Wilson/Patton should have moved Eldridge to OL permanently last spring for his leadership skills alone). Habern's health will go a long way to determining if the Sooners decide to redshirt Woods even with him enrolling early. OU's 3rd team center really shouldn't see that much playing time.
OC: 1)Ben Habern 6-3, 285 Soph 2)Brian Lepak 6-5, 285 Sr 3)Austin Woods 6-5, 290 Fr (Redshirt if possible)
Wrapup:
There's really complete uncertainty at OL heading into Spring. I'm only really confident about two positions on the OL;
OG: Stephen Good and if healthy OC: Ben Habern.
Everything else is going to be dependent upon spring ball and winter conditioning especially. There are 4 complete wildcards at OL.
1. Corey Brandon: Looked dominant in August, then completely fell apart until injuries forced him to play LT where he looked relatively good. Can he put it all together his senior year?
2. Jarvis Jones: Jones during his transfer year was the talk of the DL as being the most dominant OL guy on the scout squad. He had a good spring then like Brandon seemed to wilt under the pressure of starting. He has elite physical skills, but rust from his year off were evident. Can he rebound from his injury and take back a starting tackle spot? Jones two years ago was starting for an LSU title team.
3. Donald Stephenson: Freed from the academic doghouse, rumor has it he would have played a lot last year if not for that issue. Again, elite potential, but it's not been seen on the field to date. He could be an answer at OT or OG.
4. Tavaris Jefferies: In the doghouse last year, and even with the injuries to Eldridge and Simmons he couldn't find his way back into the starting lineup.
If OU is going to have any success at OL this year, I figure OU needs 2 of these 4 wildcards to pan out (they are called wildcards for a reason, all 4 could easily go bust) and desperately needs good health for Good and Habern. I think Mensik can provide OU with a solid Chris Messner like Senior year once he's dedicated to the OL position.
