SB Nation - Jimmy Stevens

Big Red Rivalry: Quarterbacks, Defenses And Game Changers

ccmachine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:50:46 -0000

More photos » by ALONZO ADAMS - AP

Landry Jones has been the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week following two of hid five starts. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

OU and Nebraska will hook it up Saturday night on the gridiron for the last time in the regular season until 2012. Unfortunately neither team is what we thought they'd be this season in the way of Big 12 division contenders. Oklahoma currently sits a game behind Texas in the South while the Huskers are behind Kansas State in the North. The way Texas is playing its most likely a cased closed scenario for the Sooners while Nebraska still has some options in the North seeing as how that division only has one team with a winning record in conference.

For both teams the problems deal directly with the offensive units. Oklahoma lost a Heisman quarterback and the best tight end in the country, not to mention the deficiencies along the offensive line, while Nebraska just failed to reload properly. The two teams are #6 and #7 in the conference in scoring but even with stout defenses that hasn't been enough to meet fans expectations.

Quarterback Woes

Both teams are on their second quarterbacks of the season but for different reasons. Landry Jones was thrown into the fire in game one for an injured Sam Bradford and became the permanent starter when Bradford went down again against the Longhorns. He's handled the ascension to the next Sooner big man on campus with relative success in throwing for 1657 yards and 17 touchdowns to just 6 picks. He's been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week twice in five starts.

Meanwhile Cody Green has snatched the reigns to the Nebraska's offense away from Zac Lee who was benched after seven games for being ineffective. Green was 12-21 for 128 yards, an interception and 1 pick in his debut which was a 20-10 win over the Baylor Bears. You have to think that Brent Venables and Jeremy Beal are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to welcome Nebraska's signal caller to this rivalry in just the second start of the season. Even though OU's quarterback situation isn't ideal at least they are the ones with the freshman quarterback making his 6^th career start instead of the 2^nd.

Dominant Defenses

The offenses this year may not be anything like the ground and pound/flash and dash offenses that made this one of the most storied rivalries in the nation but the defenses sure are. Both are difficult to score on and both like punishing quarterbacks while stuffing the run. Nebraska leads the conference in scoring defense with 11.3 points allowed per game and the Sooner defense is just behind them at 12.6.

The two best defensive tackles in the conference will be wreaking havoc in this game. Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh has 49 total tackles and 5 sacks while OU's Gerald McCoy ranks 4^th in the conference in tackles for loss with 12.

Game Changers

Neither team gives up much in the way of points or yardage. Both OU and Texas are in the top three of the Big 12 in scoring, rush and pass defenses. That means that things like turnovers, kick/punt returns (field position) and field goals will play a huge role in deciding who wins this game. OU just made a switch at place kicker two games ago and so far it has worked to everyone's liking. However Nebraska's Alex Henery has the exact same field goal percentage (11/13) that got OU's Jimmy Stevens benched. Oklahoma's Tress Way (new place kicker) is also second in the conference in punting average (43.1). All of this very well could equate to a close game that will be decided by a single "game changing moment" that will most likely come from a turnover of the special teams units.

Oklahoma 35/Kansas 13 – Post Game Reaction Thread

ccmachine — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:51:03 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

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The Sooners won their sixth consecutive game over Kansas in football by holding the Jayhawks to nearly 200 yards below their season average. Landry Jones completed 26 of his 38 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns. Unfortunately he'll be credited for an interception as well although we know that the blame for that belongs to Cameron Kenny who was benched once again.

Stats That Stand Out

Ryan Broyles                - 11 receptions, 121 yards.

Adron Tennell               - 6 receptions, 47 yards, 1 touchdown

Chris Brown                 - 22 carries, 78 yards, 2 touchdowns

Travis Lewis                 - 12 tackles, 1 tackles for loss

Auston English - 9 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss

Jonathan Nelson           - 9 tackles

Interesting Notes

It looks like Jimmy Stevens has been benched yielding to Tress Way.

Brody Eldridge started again on the offensive line. I think that he'll be there the rest of the season.

Tavaris Jerrries is suspended and didn't make the trip to Kansas.

Unfortunately for Oklahoma, today's win still has them on the outside looking in when it comes to the Big 12 Championship. The good news is that with fives games left in the season there is still time for something to happen. OU needs a lot of help still and playing the way they did today there isn't a game left that they can't win. Oklahoma State/Texas is a crucial game for us next week as one of them will be dropped from the ranks of the unbeaten in conference play and gives the Sooners the opportunity to at least move into a tie for second in the South.

Post Baylor Game Quotes And Thoughts

ccmachine — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:17:11 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

2 months ago: Oklahoma's Cameron Kenney, left, bobbles a pass in front of Baylor defender Tim Atchinson, right, in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Quotes From Bob Stoops

"It was a good solid win here today. Our compliments to Art Biles and Baylor. They really played disciplined, good football. They are in a bad position. I thought their quarterback did a really good job but obviously he doesn't have the experience their other quarterback has. We caught a break that way, but overall I think they have done a good job all year."

Reading between the lines Bob Stoops is saying that it nice to finally be the team playing someone else without their starting quarterback instead of being the team without the starting quarterback.

Baylor's Nick Florence completed 53.7% (22/40) of his passes for 220 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Unfortunately for the Bears he was Baylor's only source of offense as the Bears were held to just 7 net rushing yards. Baylor's offense was so bad that I couldn't tell how much of their futility had to do with the Sooner defense and how much was attributed to the ineptness stemming from not having Griffin.

"It was pleasing to win a good football game. I thought it was pleasing to go in at half, 14-7, and come back in the second half and play so well and so solid throughout the game. Anytime you have an offensive day when you have no turnovers and fewer penalties, you rush the ball for over 200 yards and throw for near 400 yards and you are doing things that are positive. I was disappointed in the drops, but again I think a lot of that is inexperience. We have all kinds of yardage and big plays, if we just catch the ball better. I'm hopeful and I believe the ability is there. It's just time and time on the field to make improvement and to make those plays when they are there to make."

Sam Bradford might have had a career day had it not been for the drops. I know that frustrations were high with them. There were several murmurs in the crowd, screaming from the coaches and even a little body language from Bradford himself. This has been an issue troubling the Sooners all season long but has never been on display more than it was on Saturday when just about every skill position player on the field dropped a ball.

"Defensively in particular, I thought in the first half even though we held them to seven, there were some plays we could have definitely played them a little bit better and been in better position, and we did in the second half. Anytime you hold someone to six yards rushing, that is positive, and hold them to seven points with as a wide open offense they have, and formations and adjustments they give you. I thought in the second half we really settled in and played good disciplined football to be where we needed to be."

It's a lot easier to hold a team scoreless when you don't have the type of coverage breakdowns that led to Baylor's first and only score. Yes, it was only better but it should be noted that the Bears were averaging 36.2 points per game coming into Norman and had it not been for one defensive breakdown in the first half this might have been Oklahoma's third shutout of the season.

Quotes From Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson

(Discussing the Red Zone) "We had a couple of drops a couple of times that got us into some third-and-eights. We tried to stay in some spread stuff instead of some big guy stuff when it came to our approach. We got down there quite a lot and other than finishing the drive, I thought that our guys played pretty solid. So we will look at what we are doing and look to find how to finish things off."

At least we didn't see any draw plays on third and long. As much grief as we gave Wilson last week it has to be said, this week, that its awful had to call plays when your receivers are dropping passes all over the field.

"We have to work our way into some positive momentum. We had to force it in today and when the guy dropped it, we would throw it right back to him the next play. We have to stay positive and stay aggressive and for the most part we did. The run game will come in time, they were a little committed to load the box. We had a fair amount of pass yards, but we have some inconsistency right now and we have to play through it. I thought our kids battled as hard as they did all year and I was proud of them."

Oklahoma had 25 rushing yards at the half and ended the game with over 200. That's not a bad turnaround. As long as receivers are dropping passes Oklahoma's opponents are going to stack the box and force them to win through the air. As soon as they are able to find success in their air it will open up on the ground as well. Saturday was a perfect example of this.

Quotes From Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables

"I thought that we responded really well in the second half. I thought that they made a few plays on us obviously in the first half. They threw up some balls in the first half and did a good job competing for it and we had a couple of breakdowns. The guys came back and played a lot better in the second half."

"Outside for the most part, when they scored, we had a couple of things during that drive that happened. Overall, I thought that they played pretty well."

In addition to holding Baylor to 29 points below their season average the Sooners also put the brakes on the Bears' running game. Baylor was averaging 196.2 yards per game on the ground which only makes the 7 yards that OU held them to even more impressive. However, like last week the breakdowns in the defensive secondary were costly.

Individual Performances

Travis Lewis - Led the defense in tackles with 7
Brian Jackson - 2 pass breakups, 1 interception
Jordan Lake (Baylor) - This kid has his name called all afternoon! Finished the day with 14 total tackles.
Jimmy Stevens - 4/4 on field goal attempts, 2/2 on extra points
Brandon Caleb - 7 receptions, 139 yards
Sam Bradford - 27/49, 389 yards, 1 touchdown
DeMarco Murray - 17 carries, 82 yards, 4.8 average

Is Brandon Caleb #2? – Some Post Tulsa Game Questions And Answers

ccmachine — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:43:47 -0000

More photos » by ALONZO ADAMS - AP

Brandon Caleb (8) gave Oklahoma what they had been looking for from the receivers on Saturday against Tulsa. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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Brandon Caleb gave Oklahoma what it needed Saturday afternoon and the Oklahoma Sooners gave Tulsa a beating for the ages. In what was supposed to be a test of Oklahoma's improvement since starting the season with a 14-13 loss to BYU, the Sooners were completely dominant on both sides of the ball. Looking for answers to some of the questions that have plagued the team since that opening loss OU left fans, coaches and themselves a lot to be confident over. Here are some of those answers.

A: Brandon Caleb

Q: Who is Oklahoma's #2 option at receiver behind Ryan Broyles?

Ryan Broyles provided his second monster game in a row but this time he wasn't alone. Complimenting Broyles on his 11 catch, 128 yard, 3 touchdown performance was Brandon Caleb who produced 104 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 receptions. Clearly Brandon Caleb is the second best receiver on the team at this point.

A: Landry Jones

Q: Who is the best freshman quarterback in the country?

No, this isn't a reach! I saw shades of 2007 Sam Bradford on Saturday afternoon except he wasn't wearing #14 he was wearing #12. Landry Jones completed 27 of 37 passes for 336 yards and a school record 6 touchdowns. There isn't a freshman quarterback in the country right now that has put up those type of numbers.

A: Yes!

Q: Does Oklahoma need Sam Bradford back to win the Big 12 Conference?

As good as Landry Jones has been we really haven't seen him on the road and we haven't seen him against a conference opponent. Following a bye this coming weekend OU's next three games are at Miami, home against Baylor and then against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. OU's best chance to survive that stretch is with Bradford under center.

A: It appears so.

Q: Is the offensive line fixed?

We kept saying that the problems with the offensive line were all mental and some personnel changes along with experience seems to have been the magic formula for a unit that struggled heavily in the first game. In 37 pass attempts Landry Jones wasn't sacked and the false start penalties seem to have been left behind in Arlington.

A: Possibly the best of the Bob Stoops era.

Q: How good is this Sooner defense?

The Sooner defense has now produced eight consecutive quarters of shutout football. Bob Stoops has not had a defense accomplish this since coming to Norman in 1999. This defense is dominant upfront and fast at every position. Against Tulsa on Saturday the Oklahoma defense produced 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery. There is still room to improve and if they ever reach their full potential then it could lead to greater things.

A: Place Kicking

Q: What is the glaring weakness on this team right now?

With the issues at receiver and along the offensive line the attention now must turn to the place kicker. Somewhere, somehow they've got to figure out how to get Jimmy Stevens to kick in a game like he does in practice. Is there anyone out there right now who would feel confident in a last second field goal with the game on the line?

2009 OU Football Preview/Big 12 Predictions

ccmachine — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:29:36 -0000

We’ve put out individual position-by-position breakdowns for the 2009 Oklahoma football team but in an effort to collaborate with all the SBN Big 12 blogs we’re going to run one more overview of the team, make our conference predictions and then share a few thoughts on some questions being passed around to the Big 12 sites. Feel free to chime in with your own thoughts.

Offense: The Sooners are loaded at every skill position and if the offensive line is just average then they shouldn’t be too far off from last year’s 51.1 point per game average. Quarterback Sam Bradford makes his bid for a second consecutive Heisman Trophy with two 1,000 yard rushers from last season in DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown to keep opposing defenses honest.

When it comes time to go to the air there may not be a more accurate passer in America than Bradford. He’s got college football’s best tight end in Jermaine Gresham and while Manny Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias and Quentin Chaney are all gone from last year’s squad a new crop of talented receivers has emerged. We saw in `08 what Ryan Broyles is capable of and Adron Tennell has stepped up in camp along with JUCO transfer Cameron Kenny to turn the heads of coaches and players by providing some of those coveted, "Wow!!!" moments.

Obviously the glaring concern for Oklahoma’s offense is along the line. While some are suggesting that four new starters equates to gloom and doom for OU’s high octane offense and others tend to be overly optimistic I think that the answer probably is somewhere in between. Led by returning starter Trent Williams, this new unit gives up a little size to last year’s line (averaging 305lbs) but should be quicker on their feet allowing offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson more freedom to pull from both sides and also move the pocket. Oklahoma doesn’t have to have the biggest line to repeat the success from `08, they just need a solid unit that can do their job. With OU’s quick strike offense an average line can take them a long way. Should they gel quickly and prove to be above average then records will fall in `09.

Defense: The greatest improvement we may see in `09 from any one unit is along the special teams but the second should be in the performance of the defense. In 2009 OU was #1 in the country in turnover margin (+23) and with 8 returning starters the potential is there to duplicate that performance.

Led by All-American Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma’s defensive line doesn’t look to be pushed around by anyone. One time All-Conference defensive end is healthy again and is looking to return to the form we saw in 2007. Also in the rotation at end are Jeremy Beal, who led the team in sacks last year, and Frank Alexander who may be having the best camp of all the defensive ends. How do you pick just two starters from that trio?

The linebacking corps returns intact in `09 as well. The same group that helped Oklahoma’s defense rank a respectable 20^th in the nation against the run in `08 will be another year experienced going into this season. Travis Lewis led the team in tackles last year as a freshman with 144 total tackles and could actually see those numbers grow this year with the defensive line clearing the way.

Like the line for the offensive unit the secondary is where we find the question marks on the defense. Corners Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson will match up well with any receiver in the conference but the safety spots could be a bit unproven. Quinton Carter started a couple of games last season but played in a total of twelve where he gained a reputation of being a hard hitter who thrives on dislodging the ball from the person carrying it. Sam Proctor is the new strong safety and has more special teams experience than anything else and will have to quickly learn on the job.

Special Teams – The return game (both punts and kickoffs) is set with a quartet of guys (Dominique Franks, DeMarco Murray, Ryan Broyles and Cameron Kenny) who have game breaking speed the Sooners should be every bit as dangerous in the return game as they were last season if not more so.

The problems with Oklahoma’s special teams last season came in the kicking game and defending the returns. Both of those seem to have changed in `09. Jimmy Stevens appears to have found a more powerful and accurate leg while also finding himself on the Groza watch list and the personnel changes last year on kickoff coverage sent a clear message as it also sent players to the bench.

Predicted Final Big 12 Standings

*North*	*South*
Kansas	Oklahoma
Nebraska	Texas
Missouri	Oklahoma State
Colorado	Texas Tech
Kansas State	Baylor
Iowa State	Texas A&M

Roundtable Questions

Who wins the Big 12 North? See Above

Who wins the Big 12 South? See Above

How many Big 12 teams will be bowl eligable? Nine – Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech

Which conference team do you think will show the most improvement from last season (in record only)? Baylor

Who is your Non-QB conference player of the year? Kansas wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe.

Do you believe any Big 12 coaches will be gone (fired or hired elsewhere) after this season? Colorado’s Dan Hawkins is the only coach who is on the hot seat in my opinion and I don’t see any of the other coaches moving on.

What would you prefer as the Big 12's 3rd "best" bowl game? The Holiday or Alamo? Definitely the Holiday Bowl by location only.

Better D-Lineman, Suh or McCoy? McCoy plays on the better defense but Suh is the better player.

Better Wide Receiver, Bryant or Briscoe? Both are extremely talented but Briscoe seems unstoppable at times.

Predict the worst non-conference loss (an upset) that the Big 12 will suffer. September 25^th – Missouri at Nevada

Predict the MNC participants and champion. Oklahoma vs. Virginia Tech – Sooners win number 8

The Scoop – What The World Is Saying About Oklahoma

ccmachine — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:28:48 -0000

* Just about every conversation regarding the Sooners includes the phrase, "Yeah, they’re talented in the skill positions and loaded on defense but they can’t be as good as last year because of their offensive line." The truth of the situation is that we really just don’t know but what we do know is that they aren’t void of talent along the line.

* Gerald McCoy has joined the same choir that has been singing the praises of sophomore defensive end Frank Alexander.

Alexander says he’s lost a few pounds in the offseason and is down to a more toned 252 pounds filling out his 6-foot, 4-inch frame. Last season, he learned how unpredictable the future could be. He’s hesitant to forecast what his sophomore season will bring. Not everyone is quite so coy.

"He could do bigger than I did," McCoy said.

* Oklahoma certainly isnt taking it easy as the season creeps closer and closer to the first game week. Reports from last night’s practice were that pads were popping.

The 11-on-11 work Monday night seemed a little more physical than last Thursday, when Stoops also opened an hour of practice to the public. Safety Quinton Carter rode Clapp out of bounds and to the ground after the fullback's second sizable gain. Later, true freshman linebacker Ronnell Lewis flung fullback Brandon Crow to the grass after a short pass. And defensive end Frank Alexander got popped in the side of the head so hard at the line of scrimmage that his helmet flew off.

* Yes, you read that right. Brandon Crow is now playing fullback.

* The Oklahoman’s Jake Trotter gives his version of the collision between Matt Clapp and Quinton Carter.

The biggest collision of the day came between to heavy hitters. Fullback Matt Clapp was running down the sideline and ducked his shoulder into a soaring Quinton Carter. Even though they were only in helmets and shoulder pads, both players collided at 90 percent and flew to the ground. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was on Clapp afterward, saying "You going to let that DB tackle you?"

* Another day brings another preview of the Sooners. If you ever cared to know what they thought of Oklahoma in the northwest…well…here ya go.

OUTLOOK: Oklahoma's schedule is challenging, but won't likely cause many problems, save for the annual showdown with Texas and perhaps one or two other conference games. The non-league slate features bouts with tough teams in BYU and Miami-Florida, and Stoops welcomes the challenge. "I've always felt it gets our players' attention early, that we need to be prepared early to play. You know, hopefully gives you big challenges early that hopefully can help you later."

The OU offense will have little trouble moving the chains and putting points on the board, and the defense should be better than last year. With that, expect the Sooners to once again be playing in the Big 12 title tilt with a shot at another trip to the BCS National Championship Game.

* If you’re like me you most likely took a double-take when Jimmy Stevens name appeared on the Groza watch list. However, there are definite signs of improvement.

I have watched two hours of Oklahoma preseason practice, and the most interesting thing I've seen is the new-and-improved right foot of Jimmy Stevens. The sophomore kicker has tried eight field goals in my presence, and made all eight, including three from 50-yard range.

* No news yet on Mike Balogun.

Balogun, a 25-year-old senior, did not earn money to play in the North American Football League, according to league officials, but NCAA bylaws mandate that if he played in any games after his 21st birthday, he must lose a season of eligibility.

Both the school and the NCAA have declined to discuss specifics of Balogun's case because facts are still being gathered. It's unknown whether the NCAA's Eligibility Center can grant exemptions, but if it rules that Balogun is ineligible, OU can appeal the finding.

* Non-Football related, the Phoenix Suns signed Taylor Griffin on Monday.

2009 OU Football Preview: Special Teams

ccmachine — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:57:46 -0000

via cdn.bleacherreport.com

As we heard over and again last season there wasn’t anything at all special about Oklahoma’s special teams in 2008. From missed extra points and field goals to blown coverage on kickoffs it was often an exercise in futility when the special teams unit took the field. I think that Bob Stoops was the only person in the world who thought that Jimmy Stevens was going to make that field goal in the BCS championship game, the rest of the world though that it would turn out…well…like it did.

Finding a solution to these woes has been the task of Oklahoma’s coaching staff this off season and now that fall camp is underway the competition is heating up. With open races at kicker, punter, return men and an expectation for the coverage guys to actually cover or suffer riding the pine, OU’s special teams are primed to be a contributor to success on the field rather than a detractor of it.

Return Men

This position actually seems to be settled. While DeMarco Murray could still be a factor in kickoff return yards it appears that the coaching staff would prefer him not after season ending injuries the last two years on kickoffs. Should either Franks or Broyles be removed due to performance or injury, expect JUCO transfer Cameron Kenny to get a shot before Murray. However, Murray is the only guy on the team now who actually returned a kickoff in `08.

KR/PR

Dominique Franks, JR: Averaged 5.8 yards per return on punt returns last season but was only allowed six opportunities. His longest punt return was 17 yards and it came against Cincinnati.

Ryan Broyles, SO: Averaged 9.9 yards per return on punt returns as Oklahoma’s leading man in the position. His longest return of the season was a 69 yarder for a touchdown against Kansas State.

PUNTER

Redshirt freshman Tress Way is penciled in as the starter at this point but he’s being pushed by Cameron Kenny who averaged 47 yards per kick at Garden City Community College last year. Stoops has already said that he likes the idea of Kenny back to punt because of the other "options" that he brings so expect there to be a two man punting unit in `09.

KICKER

Jimmy Stevens, SO: Set a school record for the most extra points attempted and extra points made in `08. Kicked a career long 42-yard field goal against Texas A&M. He made 8-of-11 field goal attempts and 92-of-97 extra point attempts. Stevens was named to the 2009 Groza Award watch list.

The Fog of '09 - South Defenses

Bill C. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:06 -0000

Defensive Lines

Oklahoma (DEs Auston English & Jeremy Beal, DTs Gerald McCoy & DeMarcus Granger)
Texas Tech (DTs Colby Whitlock & Richard Jones, DEs Brandon Williams & McKinner Dixon)
Oklahoma State (DEs Ugo Chinasa, Derek Burton)
Texas (DT Lamarr Houston, DEs Sam Acho & Eddie Jones)
Baylor (DT Trey Bryant, DE Jason Lamb)
Texas A&M (DTs Lucas Patterson & Tony Jerod-Eddie)

That's right, all four of OU's DL starters (plus DT Adrian Taylor) return. Granted, any of them could choose to go pro, but a) I doubt it, and b) if so I'd still probably have OU's line #1.

Linebackers

Oklahoma (Travis Lewis, Ryan Reynolds, Austin Box)
Texas (Sergio Kindle--for now, Roddrick Muckelroy, Jared Norton)
Oklahoma State (Orie Lemon, Patrick Lavine, Andre Sexton)
Texas Tech (Brian Duncan, Marlon Williams, Bront Bird)
Baylor (Joe Pawelek, Antonio Jones, Antonio Johnson)
Texas A&M (Von Miller, Anthony Lewis, Garrick Williams)

Seriously, OU is going to have BY FAR the best front seven in the conference. Their offense might struggle from time to time, but they'll still be in the South hunt because of a stud defense. Beyond OU, there's pretty much a logjam. If Sergio Kindle decides to go pro, then UT's LBs possibly fall to about #4 or #5 because OSU, Tech and Baylor all return pretty competent units almost intact.

Defensive Backs

Texas (CBs Chykie Brown & Deon Beasley, Ss Earl Thomas & Blake Gideon)
Oklahoma (CBs Dominique Franks, Brian Jackson)
Baylor (S Jordan Lake, CB Antareis Bryan)
Texas Tech (CBs Jamar Wall & Brent Nickerson)
Texas A&M (CB Jordan Pugh, S Jordan Peterson)
Oklahoma State (CB Perrish Cox, ...?)

Texas aside, everybody's secondary takes a step backwards. The Longhorn secondary, however, will be STOUT.

South Defenses, 2009

Oklahoma (17)
Texas (14)
Texas Tech (11)
Oklahoma State (9)
Baylor (8)
Texas A&M (4)

I'm starting to get the indication that Mike Sherman's second year at ATM won't be much better than his first. ATM is young, and they'll have some talent, but at some point they fell a step (or more) behind everybody else in the South.

Special Teams

Oklahoma State (K Dan Bailey, PR Dez Bryant, KR Perrish Cox)
Oklahoma (PR Ryan Broyles, KR DeMarco Murray, K Jimmy Stevens)
Texas (K Hunter Lawrence, P Justin Tucker, KR Malcolm Williams)
Texas Tech (K Donnie Carona, P Jonathan LaCour, KR Edward Britton)
Baylor (KR Mikail Baker, K Ben Parks, P Derek Epperson)
Texas A&M (PR Jordan Pugh, KR Cyrus Gray, ...?)

No complete unit among the group, but OSU is the closest.

Coaches

Oklahoma
Texas
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Baylor
Texas A&M

If I rank them again in 5 minutes, I'll probably get a completely different order. I didn't say this was scientific.

2009 South Rankings

Texas (43)
Oklahoma (43)
Oklahoma State (40)
Texas Tech (29)
Baylor (19)
Texas A&M (15)

Honestly, with the status of OU's offense, this surprises me, but there OU is, right in the thick of things. So how do the schedules shake out?

-- Schedules --

Baylor

10/10 - at Oklahoma
10/17 - at Iowa State
10/24 - Oklahoma State
10/31 - Nebraska
11/7 - at Missouri
11/14 - Texas
11/21 - at Texas A&M
11/28 - Texas Tech

North schedule: @ ISU, NU, @ MU. An unfortunate slate for Baylor, really. Yeah, they can probably take out NU at home, but traveling to Ames makes that one something of a tossup (I picked ISU in Monday's North preview, and I'm already regretting that one) and traveling to Columbia gives MU an edge there. I say 1-2.

South home slate: OSU, UT, Tech. Hmm. They're going to win one of these games, but I'm not sure which one. Tech, maybe? We'll go with Tech. Two upsets here is possibly too much to ask, but it's not unthinkable. 1-2.

South road slate: @ OU, @ ATM. You know Baylor will be gunning for their first bowl since Grant Teaff next year, and with a likely 3-1 non-conference record (@ Wake Forest, UConn, NW'ern State, Kent State), the bowl bid might come down to the ATM game. They stomped ATM in Waco this year...but for now we'll go with the home team. 0-2.

Waaaaaaay too early prediction: 2-6.

Oklahoma

10/10 - Baylor
10/17 - vs Texas
10/24 - at Kansas
10/31 - Kansas State
11/7 - at Nebraska
11/14 - Texas A&M
11/21 - at Texas Tech
11/28 - Oklahoma State

North schedule: @ KU, KSU, @ NU. The trip to Lincoln could be iffy, as could the trip to Lawrence, but...for now I'm sticking with 3-0.

South home slate: Baylor, ATM, OSU. Clearly, getting OSU at Owen Field is big. 3-0.

South road slate: vs UT, @ Tech. Only one true South road game for OU in '09, which gives them nice opportunity to break in a new O-line and possibly a new QB with fewer setbacks. But the youth will still bite them here. I favor UT in Dallas, and the trip to Lubbock screams "setback". 0-2.

Waaaaaaay too early prediction: 6-2.

Oklahoma State

10/10 - at Texas A&M
10/17 - Missouri
10/24 - at Baylor
10/31 - Texas
11/7 - at Iowa State
11/14 - Texas Tech
11/21 - Colorado
11/28 - at Oklahoma

North schedule: MU, @ISU, CU. This sets up very well for OSU. The trip to Ames might be a landmine if the Jack Trice Winds play a factor...but probably not. 3-0.

South home slate: UT, Tech. BIG games here. I say they beat Tech, but...Texas? Are they ready for that? That could decide the South right there. I change my mind later, I'm sure, but I'm going to say yes...yes, they can win that game. 2-0.

South road slate: @ATM, @BU, @OU. The Baylor trip could be a major landmine, but we'll say OSU pulls it off for now. They still lose to OU, though. 2-1.

Waaaaaaay too early prediction: 7-1.

Texas

10/10 - Colorado
10/17 - vs Oklahoma
10/24 - at Missouri
10/31 - at Oklahoma State
11/7 - Texas Tech
11/14 - at Baylor
11/21 - Kansas
11/28 - at Texas A&M

North schedule: CU, @MU, KU. Yeah, 3-0.

South home slate: vs OU, Tech. Only one true South home game, but they'll TCB. 2-0.

South road slate: @OSU, @BU, @ATM. I said OSU would win? Guess that means 2-1.

Waaaaaaay too early prediction: 7-1.

Texas A&M

10/10 - Oklahoma State
10/17 - at Kansas State
10/24 - at Texas Tech
10/31 - Iowa State
11/7 - at Colorado
11/14 - at Oklahoma
11/21 - Baylor
11/28 - Texas

North schedule: @KSU, ISU, @CU. 3-0? 0-3? Anything's possible here. I'll go homefield and say 1-2.

South home slate: OSU, BU, UT. 1-2.

South road slate: @Tech, @OU. 0-2.

Waaaaaaay too early prediction: 2-6.

Texas Tech

10/10 - Kansas State
10/17 - at Nebraska
10/24 - Texas A&M
10/31 - Kansas
11/7 - at Texas
11/14 - at Oklahoma State
11/21 - Oklahoma
11/28 - at Baylor

North schedule: KSU, @NU, KU. 2-1.

South home slate: @UT, @OSU, @BU. Tech's been much better on the road this year than previous years, but without Harrell and Crabtree (and over half the O-line), there will be regression. I'll still have them beating BU, but that's it. 1-2.

South road slate: ATM, OU. 2-0.

Waaaaaaay too early prediction: 5-3.

Standings

Oklahoma State 7-1
Texas 7-1
Oklahoma 6-2
Texas Tech 5-3
Baylor 2-6
Texas A&M 2-6

Summary

I don't think I'm giving Baylor enough credit. They'll probably beat ATM or OSU or something, but who knows. Also, I'm probably giving OSU too much credit--expectations could overtake them. Honestly I'm already wanting to bump UT ahead of OSU and BU ahead of ATM, but that's just me thinking too hard.