Oklahoma’s offense scored points at a record pace in 2008 and with most of those components back for another run in 2009 their first obstacle is a BYU defense that is senior led along the line and linebacking corps but very shaky in the secondary. As with the Cougar offense against the Sooner defense this will come down to a battle of the trenches and whoever controls the line of scrimmage will have the upper hand.
BYU Secondary vs. Sam Bradford/WR’s/TE’s
| FS Scott Johnson 5-11/188 | SS Andrew Rich 6-4/222 | |||
| CB Brandon Bradley 6-0/200 | CB Robbie Buckner 5-10/175 | |||
| WR Adron Tennell 6-4/199 | SL Ryan Broyles 5-11/178 | TE Trent Ratterree 6-3/225 | WR Brandon Caleb 6-1/187 | |
| QB Sam Bradford 6-4/223 |
Oklahoma’s passing attack took a huge hit on Thursday with the news that All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham had suffered cartilage damage to his right knee. This doesn’t mean that the Sooners are void of other talent though because Ryan Broyles proved last season that he’s a game breaker and Adron Tennell possibly had the best camp out of all of
The Sooners may have lost one of their key components in their passing attack due to injury but at least it was only one injury. BYU had to turn their training table into a triage unit for their defensive secondary and although we’ve got starters listed it doesn’t appear that the starting positions are settled yet.
Advantage: OU
BYU Linebackers vs. OU Running Backs
| OLB Jordan Pendleton 6-2/228 | MLB Matt Bauman 6-1/229 | MLB Terrance Hooks 6-1/227 | OLB Coleby Clawson 6-3/265 |
| QB | |||
| RB Chris Brown 5-10/200 | FB Matt Clapp 6-2/246 | ||
| RB DeMarco Murray 6-1/214 |
Don’t let just one returning starter at linebacker fool you. Three of BYU’s four linebackers are seniors and they all have game experience. That experience will have to pay off and the Cougar linebackers will have to be sure tacklers in order to keep BYU in the game. It will be on the shoulders of these linebackers to stuff the run, pressure
Fullback Matt Clapp has never been shy of contact and is one of the best in the country at clearing a hole for whichever running back is in the game.
Advantage: OU
BYU Defensive Line vs. OU Offensive Line
| DE Jan Jorgenson 6-3/259 | NG Russell Tialavea 6-3/266 | DE Brett Denney 6-4/260 | ||
| LT Trent Williams 6-5/318 | LG Brian Simmons 6-4/318 | C Brody Eldridge 6-5/265 | RG Jarvis Jones 6-7/297 | RT Cory Brandon 6-7/310 |
Running a 3-4 defensive scheme could put the defensive line at a disadvantage as they are outnumbered but apparently the Cougars are good at it. It’s from this scheme that Jan Jorgenson has become the Mountain West Conference’s all-time sack leader. They’ve become masters of stunts that put their defensive ends in position to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
The key for
Advantage: Even
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