Skinny - Oklahoma gets to try again this year after losing the National Championship game to Florida. Heisman winner Sam Bradford returns to school along with running backs Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray, so the there won't be any shortage of firepower on offense. Unless of course the line can't rebuild. Three Oklahoma offensive lineman made my All-Big 12 team last season and all three are gone. Second teamer Trent Williams is the lone returner for the Sooners, so the key to Oklahoma's season will be the play in the trenches.
Strength - Tight End
Most people would assume either quarterback or running back would be the strength of this team, but Jermaine Gresham plays like a man among boys from the tight end position. He had 66 receptions, 950 yards, and 14 TDs last year alone. Those are stellar numbers for a receiver let alone a position that has more blocking duties. He can also be nicknamed Mr. Clutch.
Here's three statlines from the season. (rec/yards/tds)
9/158/2
8/82
8/62/2
One might guess those are from some games against teams like Sam Houston State or Idaho State (no offense to those teams), but those games, respectively, are Oklahoma State, the Big 12 Championship game, and the National Championship game. So 25 out of his 66 catches, well more than 1/3, were in three of the biggest games of the season. One might think, I left the Texas game out because he faltered, but no he didn't. He had a solid day with 5/90/1. If there's a player that needs to touch the ball with the game on the line, it's Gresham.
Weakness - Offensive Line
This offense has the stars to become the greatest offense to ever play the game of college football, but it lacks the experience up front. Teams can adjust to new receivers or running backs if they have the talent, but experience is so important for offensive lineman. The ability to gel and know where your linemates are is crucial to a successful line. Trent Williams will be the leader and luckily for Bradford he will be blocking his blind side at left tackle. The left side of the line should be fine as Williams is joined by Brian Simmons, who started 2 games last year and played 421 snaps. Ben Habern, coming off a medical redshirt, is only a freshman but in his limited action he played solid. The inexperience comes from the right side and the projected starters according to SoonerSports.com are Stephen Good and Cory Brandon. If the line can come together, they may put up 75 points on a Big 12 opponent. The line will control how much the offense can succeed.
Key Game - 10/17/09 v. Texas (Dallas)
After all the controversy with the BCS last year, Texas is going to come into this game looking for revenge, even though this is always a tough game. This game may very well put a team in the driver's seat for a National Championship game birth. This game may come down to who plays better at QB, McCoy or Bradford.
Key Player - Ben Habern
The redshirt freshman center only weighs 275, which is on the small side. However, he was a bigtime player out of high school, being a consensus top 5 center prospect. He also showed his potential in his limited action before an ankle injury ended his season. Habern plays a critical position in center and he will be called upon to step up as a freshman and lead this inexperiened line. If he develops into a bigtime player, Oklahoma has a very real shot at a National Championship.
Impact Freshman - Javon Harris
Predicted Big 12 Finish - 1st (South)
Top 5 Players
1. Jermaine Gresham
2. Sam Bradford
3. Gerald McCoy
4. Trent Williams
5. Chris Brown
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