Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops has won five Big 12
championships with five different quarterbacks over the last eight
seasons. He has a great chance to win his sixth conference championship
in 2008. Sam Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency and smashed
the NCAA freshman record for touchdown passes. The 6-5 sophomore leads
a team that was motivated during the spring and offseason by its Fiesta
Bowl flameout against West Virginia. The returning talent and a
favorable schedule point to another BCS run. Oklahoma should be 5-0
when it messes with Texas on Oct. 11.
Oklahoma averaged 6.4 yards per
play in 2007 and returns 10 players who started at least six games.
Even though the Sooners are replacing two linebackers, both cornerbacks
and a safety, there's no sense of urgency in Norman. That tells you how
good the front four must be. "With all defenses, it starts up front,"
sophomore DE Jeremy Beal said to The Oklahoman.
"We open up holes for
the linebackers or pass rush for the secondary. Defensive lines carry
the defense." If middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds can stay healthy and
the secondary performs as well as it did in the spring game -- six
interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns -- Big 12
offensive coordinators should stock up on Tums. This strong unit
returns pretty much intact.
Garrett Hartley made 47 of 58 career field
goals. Redshirt freshman Jimmy Stevens will try to hold off true
freshman Tress Way for the job this fall. Punter Mike Knall took over
the starting role last November. The Sooners led the nation in kickoff
returns last season. Following his record-setting freshman season, QB
Sam Bradford had an up-and-down spring adjusting to the no-huddle
offense.
He completed 21 of 36 passes for 262 yards in the first two
scrimmages, but was picked off three times in windy conditions in the
Red-White spring game on April 12. OU was unlucky with injuries as 13
players missed all or part of the spring and 10 sat out of the final
scrimmage.
Get your Oklahoma Sooner merchandise now. Their team was good last year and the same is expected for this upcoming season.
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