Because it's never too early

Bumped from the FanPosts Section

The season just ended (at least for us) and the thought of nearly eight months without OU football (save spring practice) is a very depressing thought.  For the first time in four years, we don't have to stew over losing our last game and that is a very welcome feeling.  So, how about we take a very early look at next year shall we.

First off the schedule.  Non-con dates have not been set but we do know who the opponents will be.  Air Force, Florida State, Utah State all in Norman, and a road game at Cincy.  Air Force was very impressive in dismantling Houston this bowl season and has a very unique offense that can be difficult to defend.  However, given that the game is in Norman you have to like our chances of winning without much trouble.  Next up Florida State who will be breaking in a new head coach (sort of) and is in the process of putting together a very impressive recruiting class.  I think this game is beginning to look tougher and tougher and could provide a real challenge for what will be a young and hungry Sooner squad looking to make an early season statement.  Utah State, enough said.  Personally, I'd prefer not to see teams like this ever on OU's schedule.  I get that every team has games like these (hell Texas usually has four of them) so it doesn't really "hurt" OU, but it certainly doesn't help either.  The lone road game is a tough one to predict at this point.  Cincinnati met their inevitable fate while being forced to play the role of the sacrificial lamb in the Chosen One's final game.  They'll have a new coach and replacing a decent portion of their team who just finished 12-1.  Here's to hoping that OU is able to prevent this game from being the season opener and schedule this for game #3 or #4 to get our guys some experience before having to go on the road for a tough game like this one figures to be.

According to the schedule I'm looking at, we open the conference season with the start of a new RRSO winning streak.  Texas fan is so delirious about being in the MNC game that they're under the impression they're not dropping off any next year after losing four of their top five players (if not all five).  Which will only make Oct. 2 that much sweeter.  The following week is an improving Iowa St. team that will be traveling to Norman.  Were this game in Ames, I'd be a little more worried but I think home field is enough to get us though (but kudos to Coach Rhoads on a good season and bowl win).  Next week is a road trip to Columbia to face a Missouri team that will at worst be picked 2nd in the North.  We've definitely owned Missouri in recent years, but this game is arguably the second toughest game on our schedule next year.  Colorado at home the next week should be pretty easy as it will very likely take place during the farewell Dan Hawkins tour.  At College Station the next week is almost always a tough place for OU to win and next year will probably be no exception.  The Aggies have a stout offense and if they are able to construct something resembling a defense during the off season they could actually be a team to be reckoned with.  Texas Tech is a program on the verge of complete chaos and playing an OU team with a serious axe to grind after getting embarrassed in Lubbock this year is a recipe for a repeat of 2008's 65-21 performance.  The every other year trip to Waco has gotten progressively tougher and that doesn't appear to be changing heading into next year with the uber athletic Robert Griffin expected to be back from ACL surgery.  OU's favorite whipping boy of a program Ok. State will likely be dealing with a harsh dose of reality and right back in the cellar where we all expect them to be and where they're the most comfortable, away from all those scary things called mediocre expectations.

So it's way too early to make any realistic predictions on the 2010 record for OU, but the schedule lays out pretty nicely for a return to Big XII championship contention.  Challenging non-con (which is rare in potential contenders and should be rewarded heavily when/if OU makes it through clean), one maybe two difficult road games, and Dallas against a Texas team expected by us realists to be down (relatively speaking).  I like how things are shaping up sitting here eight months out.  How about you?

Now onto the roster.  

QB - I don't think it's unfair to say most OU fans had their share of doubts about Landry Jones's ability to be the starting QB heading into next year.  He had his struggles all year outside of Norman , but the kid was a first year starter and playing up to the standard Sam set in his two years as a starter was going to be nearly impossible for whoever took over.  He definitely showed the ability to be "the guy" for 2010 in the win over Stanford, however he also showed what he needs to spend a majority of the off season working on.  His pick that set up Stanford's first TD was awful and displayed the frustration I and may others have expressed about his penchant for locking onto one receiver and not going through his progressions.  He was probably confused because the absolutely wide open receiver he had in front of him was James Hanna and given the fact that Kevin Wilson completely eliminated the TE from our offense once Gresham went down, Landry must not have known he was allowed to pass to the TE.  All kidding aside, the job is almost assured to be Landry's to lose given the failed attempt to get Cameron Newton on campus, Blake Bell not enrolling early, and the supposed lack of ability of Drew Allen.  Those "experts" close to the program (know it alls like Eschbach and Traber) have expressed inside info only they are privy to that Allen doesn't have what it takes to start at this level.  Well, far be it from me to question someone like Jim Traber but I'll reserve judgment to someone like Josh Heupel to make that decision but thanks anyway fellas!

RB - The risk of doing something like this so early (as we'll see in a couple other positions as well) is not everyone has made their decision on whether or not they're coming back.  DeMarco Murray falls into that category as he has already said he will definitely be coming back only to follow up a week later by saying he's not sure if he's coming back.  Personally, I'm torn on how I feel about his decision.  There's no questioning his talent and ability when healthy, but if he comes back it will be another year that prevents OU from getting some of the younger guys significant snaps.  Jermie Calhoun and Jonathan Miller showed flashes in mop up duty this year.  Calhoun was a big time recruit, but had some issues holding onto the ball this year and Miller will be coming off knee surgery.  OU is also bringing in two highly touted freshman (Brennan Clay and Roy Finch) that project to be dual threat backs with skills similar to Murray in his first couple years.  If Murray comes back, Clay and/or Finch will very likely redshirt leaving OU with a rotation of Murray, Calhoun, and Miller.  The Sooners will be replacing Matt Clapp, most likely with Brandon Crow so don't expect to see a lot of the FB next year.  That is of course except for Kevin Wilson's favorite goal line play of the pass to the fullback in the flap that they drop 99% of the time.

WR - This is a position that I think all OU fans were very worried about heading into 2010.  Some of those fears have been eased (a little bit) with the emergence of Dejuan Miller and Jaz Reynolds over the last half of the season.  Miller is a physical specimen and a player I have been wanting the coaches to get on the field since his arrival  on campus.  Once he earned his chance, he become more and more reliable and is a perfect compliment to all world WR Ryan Broyles.  Broyles has his maturity issues at times, but you simply cannot question his talent and is shaping up to be one of if not the best WR to ever play at OU.  Jaz Reynolds saw more and more time as his freshman year progressed and appears to be heading into 2010 as the clear cut #3 WR.  After that, the rest is a collection of guys that certainly have ability but have struggled to be consistent.  Cam Kenney was a JUCO recruit who had flashes this past year, but will be remembered mainly for all his drops namely a huge one against Texas that hit him right in the face.  Brandon Caleb has been a guy that just cannot stay healthy, but when on the field this year did play pretty well.  Not something I heard a lot of people address, but by far and away the best blocker of the WRs. The experiment with Mossis Madu has to be deemed an utter failure.  He showed so much promise at RB the year before then they move him to WR and it seemed like all year they refused to use him on anything but kickoffs (which needs to stop by the way).  There are rumors that he is being moved back to RB next year which if true really only makes the logjam at RB worse.  However, he's been the ultimate team player and he's going to be a senior so where he needs to play to get on the field next year as much as possible I'm all for it.  The Sooners have only two incoming recruits officially listed as WRs, but there are several recruits labeled as "athletes" who could wind up at WR eventually.  How OU wasn't able to land any of the perceived "big time" WR recruits has to be somewhat of a disappointment.  That said, OU was able to land Kenny Stills who is a four star receiver out of CA (how about OU pulling some studs out of CA this year!) and has a very good chance to come in and contribute early.  

TE - Contrary to popular belief and Kevin Wilson, there are actually some TEs on the roster.  James Hanna is a guy who is supposed to have all kinds of ability but has yet to put it all together for whatever reason.  Trent Ratterree is a walk on who has unexpectedly risen to the top of the depth chart, which should tell you all you need to know about our depth behind Gresham this year.  Eric Mensik who played RT in OU's final two games is reportedly being moved back to TE this offseason.  Gabe Ikard redshirted this past year and was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school.  Back when Wilson actually used the TE in our offense and how he used them, I would think Ikard and the two incoming freshman (Austin Haywood & Trey Millard) are all likely vie for playing time.

OL - A year after having to replace four of their five starters, OU now has to replace their two most reliable starters on the o-line this year as well.  The o-line for 2010 projects to be Cory Brandon, Stephen Good, Ben Habern, Tyler Evans, and Jarvis Jones.  By all accounts Donald Stehpenson has the most talent of all the linemen on campus, but cannot get his stuff together to even get a chance to prove it.  Before he arrived on campus and being suspended this last year, he seems to be wasting his considerable talent.  OU has several other backups and a class coming in that could all contend for playing time immediately.  Given the performance of the line this year, every position should be up for grabs throughout the spring and summer practices.  The pass protection was not a major problem this year, but if we cannot figure out a combination of guys that can run block, as well as pass block, then we could face the same struggles again next year and none of us want that.

DL - Gerald McCoy will be sorely missed and at least in this guy's opinion was the model Sooner over his four years on campus.  He showed up at countless OU events and supported nearly every other OU team, he was everything you could have asked for out of a student athlete.  Sorry, that just needed to be said.  Assuming Jeremy Beal chooses to come back, the Sooners are set at DE again heading into next year.  A combo of Beal and Frank Alexander would be a welcome sight to Sooner fans.  Justin Chaisson had his well documented (mainly on Longhorn sites) issues before arriving on campus, but thus far (knock on wood) has been the model citizen in his first year on campus.  And that's a good thing because he should be relied on next year as one of the primary backups at the DE position.  David King and R.J. Washington also figure to factor into the mix as well.  King played significant snaps in the bowl game against Stanford and Washington was a five star recruit who has had trouble earning playing time this year.  DT has been a position of great strength over the last several years and that could be in jeopardy heading into 2010.  Adrian Taylor's gruesome injury in the bowl game has his status in doubt as there has been timetable set for his return.  Jamarkus McFarland came to campus amid minor controversy having done the unthinkable by picking OU over UT.  His decision proved to be correct one as he saw valuable playing time during his true freshman year and projects to be one of the starting DT next year and the anchor on the line.  Cordero Moore and Stacey McGee expect the main players in the rotation for the backup spots assuming Taylor is able to recover and resume his starting role along side McFarland.  It sure would have been nice if the morons at the NCAA would have granted Granger another year.

LB - Some would argue that other than RB this is OU's deepest position heading into 2010 (I disagree as I'll explain below) and they might be right.  Just look at the guys coming back: Jayden Bird, played mainly on special teams.  Austin Box, started on occasion and projects to take Reynolds spot in the middle next year.  J.R. Bryant, JUCO transfer from two years ago who redshirted this year (played some DE two years ago as well).  Daniel Franklin, has played sparingly since arriving on campus but played well in limited action against Stanford.  Joseph Ibiloye, started to see the field much more often starting in the Texas game.  Given the fact that Stoops and Venables refuse to play less then three LBs at all time he projects to possibly play a similar role to Keenan Clayton from this year.  Ronnell Lewis, this kid is an absolute animal.  The hits he doled out on kickoff coverage against Stanford were two of the hardest hits I have ever seen.  If this kid isn't on the field in a starting position somewhere next year it is an absolute crime.  Travis Lewis, his performance speaks for itself as he's put together one of the most impressive first two years in OU LB history.  Tom Wort, tore his ACL in fall practice but was projected to see significant time this year before the injury.  Add into the mix incoming freshman Aaron Franklin and Justin McCay (who may wind up at WR) are top flight athletes who will add even more depth.  Personally, I think the starting LBs in 2010 should be Travis Lewis, Box or Wort in the middle, and I simply cannot justify not putting Ronnell Lewis on the field.

DB - This, to me, is OU's deepest position heading into 2010.  Especially since Stoops and Venables refuse to play more than two cornerbacks and two safeties at once (which I hope will change given the unbelievable depth we will have there next year).  OU had an outstanding secondary this past year and only lose Brian Jackson (a significant loss mind you).  Assuming Franks comes back, we only have to replace one starting CB which would obviously be preferable to replacing both.  It would appear, based on this year, that Demontre Hurst is the first option to replace Jackson.  Every safety who saw significant time returns next year so experience will not be an issue.  However, much like the LB position just look at all the DBs we have returning next year.  In addition to Franks and Hurst at CB and Sam Proctor, Quinton Carter, and Jon Nelson at safety there's also: Kevin Brent, who was a very highly regarded recruit a year ago.  Jamell Fleming, mainly special teams player.  Javon Harris and Lamar Harris, neither of whom have played I believe.  Desmond Jackson, mainly special teams player. Gabe Lynn, who redshirted this year after an injury during fall practice and was a big time recruit out of Jenks.   Marcus Trice, who was a stud on special teams this year.  We also have at least four incoming freshman in the secondary.

K/P - Tress Way had a great year at P position year, placekicker was another story.  The K position has to be the biggest weakness on this team.  Some would argue that it's not that really big of a deal, but w/ a more accurate kicker this year we likely have at least three more wins (most importantly a win over Texas).  Another thing that is probably overlooked but has been a thorn in my side for the past two years is our "kickoff specialist."  I simply refuse to believe that one of the other four kickers we have on campus cannot perform at least as well if not better than Matt Moreland.  His kickoffs are consistently terrible and give our opponents decent/good field position on a regular basis.  Sorry, but that's bugged me for too long.  Moving on, not sure what else they can do but the K position needs to be seriously addressed this off season.  Jimmy Stevens and Patrick O'Hara both struggled this year in crucial situations.  Bryce Easley was expected to challenge Stevens this year before getting sick in the fall and failing to make an impact.  Whatever they have to do to fix their kicking woes they need to do it and do it in a hurry.  I shouldn't have to fret about whether or not an extra point is going to actually go through the uprights or not.  Never mind having no faith about a field goal over 30 yards.

So there it is Sooner fans.  I'm sure I missed several things and could have analyzed some others more in depth, but hey that's what the comment section is for so please feel free.