 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Coaches like the quarterback contenders, and they love the rest of the team, including a first-string defense that returns nine starters and may have improved. "We felt a year ago we were a year away from being really good and really special," Stoops said. "Hopefully, that will be the case. This has the potential to be one of our best defenses." OFFENSIVE KEYS: Contrary to popular opinion, Oklahoma's offense wasn't a problem in 2002. Led by record-setting tailback Quentin Griffin, the Sooners finally found an effective running game, which took pressure off quarterback Nate Hybl.Though both are gone, along with three of the top four receivers, the Sooner offense should again be potent. That's because Oklahoma finally has an experienced, talented offensive line -- in fact, it should easily be the best in Stoops' five years as coach. Stoops named Jason White, the injury-prone senior, as the QB starter in July. Brent Rawls, a highly touted sophomore who was battling White for the starting job in the spring, plummeted to No. 4 on the depth chart. White's health and durability are still a concern, though, as he has suffered two ACL -- one to each knee, in 2001 and 2002. DEFENSIVE KEYS: A year ago, coaches felt the defense was a year away from being, as Stoops put it, "special." With nine starters back in the first unit, the designation could fit.Led by All-Americans Tommie Harris and Teddy Lehman, the unit is talented and deep. Add talented junior-college transfer Donte Nicholson to the mix at strong safety, and OU appears stout. Harris anchors a deep line that's finally healthy and shouldn't be hurt much by the early departure of end Jimmy Wilkerson. Ends Jonathan Jackson and Dan Cody should take up the slack. Lehman and Lance Mitchell might form the best one-two punch at linebacker in college football. And despite the loss of cornerback Andre Woolfolk, the Sooners could have a better secondary this season than in 2002. Free safety Brandon Everage, suspended in the offseason for a marijuana-related arrest, was reinstated into the Sooner lineup at the start of fall practice by Stoops. SPECIAL TEAMS: Trey DiCarlo stepped into a void last year as a freshman and set school records, hitting 16-of-22 field-goal attempts. He's back and has a stronger leg. Blake Ferguson was inconsistent while averaging 38.5 yards per punt; he'll be challenged by incoming freshman Cody Freeby.Returning punts isn't a problem. Antonio Perkins averaged 15.0 yards per return and took back three for touchdowns last season. FINAL ANALYSIS: In a switch, the Sooners missed out on the Fiesta Bowl last year because of defensive lapses. Led by a resurgent ground game, Oklahoma's offense was productive. And despite the departures of Griffin and Hybl, the offense should be potent again, thanks to a solid offensive line.For the most part, the Sooner defense lived up to expectations in 2002. But in two losses, opponents baffled the secondary with long passes. The Sooners are confident those were aberrations, but they've spent plenty of time studying film from losses to Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. The Sooner defense should be better than last season's, making OU a frontrunner for the national title. • Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
