SB Nation - Jon Cooper

The State of Oklahoma: A Preliminary Look at the Oxen that Make the Wagon Move, Part I

TheElusiveShadow — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:41:29 -0000

Update: In what probably isn't good news for OU, the injuries to centers Habern and Lepak have forced OU to turn to a tight end, Brody Eldridge. Good, therefore, is probably sticking to center regardless, although he is still a possibility. Trent Williams reportedly has taken center snaps, but he is most certainly not sticking there.

With the 2009 season so agonizingly close and expectations up in the stratosphere, Texas fans are dreaming of another undefeated, national championship run. When assessing our schedule, it is no secret that two games loom the largest as we look in our preseason crystal ball: October 17^th in Dallas and October 31st in Stillwater. The two schools from our... favorite neighboring state up north present the most significant, and some would boldly say only, roadblocks of the season. It is only appropriate that we keep an eye on them throughout the season and note the strengths, weaknesses, and progress of each respective team. Thus, I here present to you the State of Oklahoma.

Note: Certainly, some could point out that "The State of Oklahoma" could be answered for the whole season with, "Oklahoma sucks," both as a description of the school bearing the name as well as a summary of the state's education level and overall culture. I wouldn't argue with that and it definitely has a poetic simplicity to it, but humor me as I occupy myself with writing long-winded posts.

This series will be split into two posts a week, one focusing on OU and the other looking at OSU. Today, I'll take an introductory look at the much discussed Oklahoma offensive line and what their performance means for Sam Bradford and the team's overall national title aspirations.

More after the jump...

Oklahoma's National Championship Run Failure: Shock and Awe

In 2008, Oklahoma was favored to win the Big 12 and was one of the favorites to appear in the national championship game. While Oklahoma completed both of those quests, the journey was quite unlike anything anyone expected: Instead of complete dominance, Oklahoma was derailed by Texas, and only an oft-debated tiebreaking system gave them the breaks to continue to the Big 12 title game and subsequently, the MNC game. As angry as Texas fans were over the tiebreaker, there's no question Oklahoma fielded a very capable team. With an experienced offensive line, deep talent at the skill positions, and Sam Bradford, OU blitzed multiple opponents with their hurry-up offense in a sort of "shock and awe" type of strategy. Oklahoma scored a whopping 51.1 points per game and had a stretch where they scored 60 points or more in five straight games. While we can quibble a bit about Bob Stoops running the up score, the Sooners obviously had the capability to put up a lot of points and do so in a hurry. Because this team depended so much on a high powered offense to knock out their opponents early in the fashion of Mike Tyson, as described here by The Boy (now Bill C) at Rock M Nation, it was obviously a big deal when the likes of Bradford, Gresham, and Murray decided to turn down the NFL and give the Sooners a chance to recreate their 2008 offensive success. Although the losses against Texas and Florida showed that Oklahoma strategy was ultimately flawed, it worked well enough that they will obviously seek to have a similar offensive philosophy going into 2009.

However, not all key players returned; the majority of their much hyped offensive line departed for good after 2008, leaving a giant question mark where the Sooners were allegedly so strong for the last two years.

Sam Bradford's Protectors: Will They Make or Break the Season?

Like it or not, Sam Bradford is an excellent college quarterback. However, if there is one significant criticism of him, it's that he gets rattled easily by pressure, at least in comparison to his peers Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow. For his first two seasons, this was normally not an issue for Bradford, as his offensive line allowed him to build campfires while scanning the field. The few times it was an issue, Bradford, and Oklahoma as a whole, had moments of struggle. Consider these games:

-at Texas Tech, 2007: Bradford gets injured on a hit and OU falls in Lubbock
-vs. West Virginia, 2007: Bradford is sacked three times and hounded all day by the Mountaineers, leading to another embarrassing BCS loss for Bob Stoops.
-vs. Texas, 2008: Bradford has a good game but the Sooner offense stagnates in the second half as Texas wins the battle at the line of scrimmage, leading to constant doses of Brian Orakpo and Sergio Kindle. The interception Bradford throws before halftime is also a direct result of pressure and the Longhorns cash in a field goal.
-vs. Florida, 2008(9): While Bradford doesn't have as bad a game as some people say, he has some bad moments due to pressure and is sacked twice. The Sooners score only 14 points while Florida escapes with only 24, also well below their average.

In short, of the mere 13 sacks Bradford suffered in 2008, eight of them came in three games against TCU, Texas, and Florida. Incidentally, those were the three lowest scoring games for the Sooners.

Bradford isn't a statue, but he is most definitely not as mobile as McCoy and Tebow and gets flustered easier when defenders go at him. While it is certainly true that all quarterbacks will struggle when faced with constant pressure (duh), Bradford's apparent inability to adapt to the rush makes this a more glaring weakness for him than his fellow Heisman finalists. This makes the losses at offensive line even more of a concern for the Sooners, for their All-American QB could possibly have a draft stock-damaging season if they can't keep defenders away from him.

These are the stakes: Keep Bradford upright and a national championship is within reach. Fail in this regard and the Sooners' best result is probably a BCS at-large berth or possibly even worse if the defense does not improve as expected. Maintaining their overall rushing success will obviously be important as well, but that too helps keep the heat off of Bradford. Bob Stoops knows this well, but he is not without answers. Let's meet their projected starting line.

The New Workhorses

LT - Trent Williams, SR. Replaces: Phil Loadholt, 2^nd round pick

If there's one recognizable name in Oklahoma's line, it's returning starter Trent Williams, who will switch from right tackle to left tackle for the 2009 season. He was first team All-Big 12 last year and is a preseason pick for All-Big 12 this year. He is considered one of the top tackle prospects for the draft and has been starting since his freshman year. Kevin Wilson, OU's offensive coordinator, called Williams the best lineman he's ever had. This can be chalked up to typical coach hyperbole, but the guy is obviously talented. Needless to say, his return is arguably more important than Murray's and Gresham's combined. He did not come out of high school with the highest of expectations, listed as a three star recruit by Rivals.com and not making ESPN's top 150, but he performed well as a freshman and earned a spot on the All-American Freshman team. Having somebody with as much talent and experience as him protecting Bradford's blindside is huge for Oklahoma.

The mere fact that Loadholt was the left tackle and Williams was not last season may be cause for some slight concern, for while Loadholt dominated smaller ends, he struggled against elite ends. Brian Orakpo embarrassed Loadholt last October, which contributed to him falling into the second round. Williams will not have the misfortune of facing Orakpo, but he will undoubtedly get his chance against Sergio Kindle. Thus, for Williams to be truly successful enough for OU's national title aspirations, he must do more than dominate opposing lineman significantly less talented than him; he will have to hold his own against elite college pass rushers in the Sooners' big games, something Loadholt did not do. However, while he is not as big and strong as Loadholt, he is quicker and reportedly has superior footwork. Being roughly 20 pounds lighter than his predecessor, Williams may have the lateral movement necessary to block pass rushers who turn the corner in a hurry, pass rushers who left Loadholt in the dust. His presence automatically bolsters the Sooners' national championship aspirations, and a standout season from him at his new position would spell big trouble for opposing teams trying mightily to slow down the Sooner offense.

LG - Brian Simmons, SR. Replaces: Duke Robinson, 5^th round pick

While not a starter last year, Simmons saw action in every game last season as a backup, making him the only other Sooner lineman with a large amount of game experience. According to Rivals.com, Simmons was a four star recruit and the #2 player at his position... which was defensive tackle. His switch has been a successful one, and he was the Sooners' most valuable backup last season along with Branndon Braxton. If anything, his history as a defensive tackle suggests that he has decent mobility to go along with size.

Simmons played at both guard positions last season but will stick to left guard here to help defend Bradford's blind side. With Simmons and Williams, the left side of the Sooner line is expected to be pretty solid, if not very strong. After these two, however, the experience drops off considerably.

C - Ben Habern, RS Fr./Stephen Good, So. Replaces: Jon Cooper, UFA

Habern redshirted his first year after suffering an injury after playing in three games. Going into the 2008 season, he was the #3 rated center in his class and received four stars from Rivals. He seemed to have won the starting job after the spring, but a recent injury has apparently slipped him out of that spot, with guard Stephen Good getting reps at center. While not a center by trade, Good is bigger and stronger than Habern currently is. Of course, being a good center doesn't just mean you're big; centers are charged with the responsibility of making pre-snap reads and adjustments at the line. This was something departing center Jon Cooper was known to be good at, earning himself All-Big 12 honors. Good has little experience with center in the first place and Habern has no significant game experience to speak of, making either choice a risk for the Sooners. Still, if they can manage that, they both have the physical talent to hold their own against opposing tackles.

RG - Stephen Good, So./Jarvis Jones, So. Replaces: Brandon Walker, UFA (released by Houston shortly after a DUI arrest, to go along with others)

Obviously, if Good does not stick with center, he will slide right back to guard and resume his duties there. Good looks like a prototypical guard and reportedly has great strength to go with that size, perhaps the strongest on the team. If, however, he remains the starting center, it seems former LSU tackle Jarvis Jones might get a look at guard as well. Both players were highly regarded tackles out of high school, with Good receiving five stars from Rivals and Jarvis Jones receiving four. Jones saw early success at LSU, playing as a true freshman for their 2007 national championship team. The ambiguous violation of "team rules" got Jones booted from the Tigers, and he promptly signed with Oklahoma, where he fit the culture much better :). As a transfer, Jones could not play last season, but Good played in seven games as a reserve. Neither has starting experience, but it would be false to say they are completely inexperienced and they certainly have talent.

Because Habern is actually a center, it may seem prudent for Oklahoma to quickly get him back and keep Good at guard, where he is most natural. However, if Good can manage the duties of a center, it may pay dividends for the Sooners to have Jarvis Jones on the field as much as possible. Provided, of course, he doesn't violate any "team rules," like working at the local car dealership.

RT - Cory Brandon, Jr. Replaces: Trent Williams (above)

Brandon played in nine games last season and seven in 2007 as a reserve, and he was a four star recruit according to Rivals in 2006. He does not seem particularly hyped up compared to others on the line, but he does represent some decent experience (relatively speaking) and he seems firmly entrenched as the starting right tackle. It is noteworthy that he beat out the talented Jarvis Jones for the starting tackle spot, but he does have 16 games of Oklahoma experience over Jones. He hasn't made that big of a splash in his four years in the program after redshirting due to injury, and his supporters claim that his time is now. While not nearly as important as the LT position for Bradford's safety, Brandon has some big shoes to fill as Williams switches sides, and he will see his fair share of talented ends from the likes of Texas as well.

Other notes

Jason Hannan, who was competing for the starting center job, transferred in the spring. Alex Williams, who was the reserve guard behind Simmons and Good, also transferred recently. Brian Lepak, a walk-on transfer from Colorado State, may serve as a backup guard or center. Sophomore Donald Stephenson is another scholarship player and played in seven games last year. He will serve as a backup tackle for Trent Williams.

Potential to Production

The cupboard isn't exactly bare for the Sooners; while they lack starting experience across the line, they have several players who have playing experience and have talented options to choose from. Still, of the mere 29 combined starts the line has, 26 of them belong to Williams. Also, with some of their transfers, depth is a concern, especially at tackle should something happen to Williams.

While not as intimidating on paper as last year's line, this unit may prove to be the more nimble of the two, which actually might help Bradford in the long run. Although last year's unit only gave up 13 sacks last season, Texas, Florida, and West Virginia in 2007 showed that quick pass rushers really bothered that line. I have little doubt that this year's Sooner line can gobble up a lot of mediocre defensive lines. The question, as it was last season, is whether or not they can live up to their potential by stonewalling elite pass rushes. Thus, it's not so much the number of sacks given up, which almost certainly will be higher than last year's number, but when those sacks happen and who is responsible for them. Giving up garbage sacks against patsy opponents is better than having your QB hounded in the biggest games of the year, although granted, if they're having consistent trouble protecting Sam against cupcakes, he better be wearing full armor when he goes to Dallas.

As far as the run game is concerned, of which I admittedly discussed little here, guys like Simmons and Good seem well-suited for the task. They aren't blocking for chumps either, with Brown, Murray, and Madu in the Sooner backfield. However, here too the question remains on how they will respond against a top D-line squad. The Sooners churned out almost 200 yards a game last year on the ground but got snuffed out against better defenses. Bradford's arm is still the most dangerous part of the Sooner offense, but without balance, he can and will become a sitting duck. In the three games mentioned above, OU averaged 0.7 yards per carry against TCU, 1.8 against Texas, and 3.7 against Florida. Bradford is a great QB and still put up good stats, but clearly, the lack of rushing success allowed these teams to gun for Bradford more regularly and exacerbate the protection problems.

Obviously, it is too early to definitively say if this year's Sooner O-line will be as strong as Oklahoma hopes or as bad as their opponents hope. What we can say, however, is that they are not going to put chumps out there that any D-line with a pulse can get through. The potential and talent is undoubtedly there, and Sooner fans can place their hope on that. But potential and production are never the same thing, and if it takes too long for the new guys to gel together, the Sooners will probably be sporting at least one loss by the time they face Oklahoma State in their last game (against you know who :) ).

Football Season Quickly Approaching

dishingoutdimes — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:19:36 -0000

More photos » AP

4 months ago: In this photo taken in Norman, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables is pictured during media day. Between 2000 and 2005, the Sooners were ranked among the top 13 defenses in the country every year. That slipped to 16th in 2006 and 26th in 2007 before last year's big drop-off to 68th. Now, players are talking about coming out with a new attitude, one that's mean, nasty and stingy. (AP Photo)

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Practice continues in Norman for the fast approaching football season. There has been a fair amount of information about these practices and the team, so I'll try and condense that in a short briefing here for you.

Stoops' Surprising Players (link)

Bob Stoops had high praise for Chris Brown, Frank Alexander, Auston English, Quinton Carter and Tom Wort, saying that all of these players are unheralded but have a big impact, or the potential to make a big impact. Apparently, Quinton Carter would have started last season had he not pulled a hamstring. And of Tom Wort, Stoops said:

"Tom Wort is going to be pretty special, if not this year, then awfully soon," Stoops said.

Wide Receiver Question Mark

It's hard to say who will be starting at wide receiver for the Sooners when they open up against BYU. It's pretty safe to say that Ryan Broyles has one of the spots locked up. The Sooners employ three wide receiver sets a lot, which leaves two more spots open. Junior college transfer Cameron Kenney has started with the first unit in both of the open practices in 11-on-11 drills. Apparently he has made quite a few plays. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a shot. The other front runners appear to be Adron Tennell and Mossis Madu, the latter of whom was converted from running back this summer.

The Center of the Problem

Center is obviously a position of concern with the top two people on the depth chart suffering injuries a couple of days into practice. The Sooners have been rotating a bunch of other people into the center position at practice in the meantime, in order to have "emergency plans". The list of emergency centers include Trent Williams, Stephen Good and even Brody Eldridge who has been commonly referred to as the "team's best blocker".

The good news is that it looks like the injured centers are on their way back. From the Oklahoman:

Habern, who has participated in some contact drills, has shown gradual improvement since sustaining the injury and doesn’t appear to be too far away from being cleared all the way for practice. When that happens, Patton said Eldridge will move back to tight end, where his blocking acumen is so valuable.

And from the Monday practice report from the Tulsa World:

Ben Habern, competing to replace Jon Cooper at center while battling a strained back, took part in a one-on-one blocking drill. He drove defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger several steps backward after one snap.

Defensive Depth Chart

Here is how the defensive depth chart is shaping up, according to Jake Trotter at the Oklahoman, who watched the open practices:

At the moment, the first-team defense looks like this:
DL: Jeremy Beal, Adrian Taylor, GK McCoy, Auston English
LB: Travis Lewis, Ryan Reynolds, Keenan Clayton
DB: Brian Jackson, Dom Franks, Sam Proctor, Quinton Carter

The second-team defense look like this
DL: RJ Washington, Casey Walker, Cordero Moore, Frank Alexander
LB: Daniel Franklin, Tom Wort, Austin Box
DB: Demontre Hurst, Marcus Trice, Emmanuel Jones, Lamar Harris

No real surprises on the first team. Daniel Franklin has edged out JR Bryant at linebacker, but no significant news on the second team either. The defense is projected to be improved from last year, and they have a ton of talent two-to-three deep on their depth chart.

Bradford Still Sharp

From all accounts, it seems like Sam Bradford has benefitted from another summer of conditioning, learning the system, and practicing. I haven't heard anything negative about Bradford, and most everything has been strongly positive.

BYU Injury Problems

The Sooners' first opponent - BYU Cougars - have had their share of injury problems. Starting QB, and one of the biggest stars on their football team, Max Hall dislocated his finger in a scrimmage on Monday. Max told reporters that his finger was fine, but it is still something to take note of.

Like the Sooners, BYU also only returns one starter on the offensive line. The only returning starter (LT Matt Reynolds) had to have surgery on his left hand and his status is questionable for the OU-BYU game. To top it off, BYU also lost the odds-on-favorite at their left guard spot for the season with a shoulder injury.

This means that BYU could be short handed on Max Hall's blindside for their season opener against OU.

Playing the Numbers Game: New Vikings Get Their Numbers

Gonzo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:44:19 -0000

According to Access Vikings, the newest members of the team have all gotten their new numbers. Here they are. . .at least when I get that Harvin jersey in a few weeks, I'll know what number is on it.

Vikings' Draftees

Percy Harvin (WR, Florida) - #12

Phil Loadholt (OT, Oklahoma) - #71

Asher Allen (CB, Georgia) - #30

Jasper Brinkley (LB, South Carolina) - #54

Jamarca Sanford (S, Mississippi) - #33

Vikings' Undrafted Free Agents

Sean Glennon (QB, Virginia Tech) - #6

Nick Moore (WR, Toledo) - #14

Vinny Perretta (WR, Boise State) - #15

Kahlil Bell (RB, UCLA) - #36

Ian Johnson (RB, Boise State) - #42

Devon Hall (S, Utah State) - #44 (Chuck Foreman's number? Really?)

Robert Francois (LB, Boston College) - #57

Tremaine Johnson (DT, Louisiana State) - #67

Jon Cooper (C, Oklahoma) - #68

Bobby Lepori (OT, Fresno State) - #72

Andy Kemp (G, Wisconsin) - #78

Nick Walker (TE, Alabama) - #89

Antoine Holmes (DT, North Carolina State) - #97

The Sooners NFL Draft Recap

dishingoutdimes — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:38:53 -0000

More photos » by Jerry S. Mendoza - AP

Detroit Lions' tight end Brandon Pettigrew, left, safety Louis Delmas, center, of Western Michigan, and quarterback Matthew Stafford, of Georgia, sport looks of concern about being drafted by the Lions during a news conference at the Lions' headquarters on Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Allen Park, Mich. [I made that up]. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)

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No Sooners are going to the 0-16 Detroit Lions, but it seems like the Minnesota Vikings have a thing for the Oklahoma Sooners. They drafted Adrian Peterson in 2007. They drafted Rufus Alexander last year. And now it appears they have two Sooners on their summer roster - Phil Loadholt and Jon Cooper. It should be noted that Brad Childress, Vikings head coach, visited Norman a couple of times personally. I had that in one of my notebooks, but I'm not going to dig it up now.

In any event here's how it breaks down:

Phil Loadholt: drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 22nd pick in the 2nd round, 54th pick overall.

Juaquin Iglesias: drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 3rd round with the 99th overall pick.

Nic Harris: drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 5th round with the 147th overall pick.

Duke Robinson: drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 5th round with the 163rd overall pick.

Manuel Johnson: drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 7th round with the 229th overall pick.

Jon Cooper: signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.

Brandon Walker: signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans.

Lendy Holmes: signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins (h/t to Woodrow Wilson).

Quentin Chaney: signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams (h/t to Woodrow Wilson).

So in total, 5 Sooners were drafted and 2 more were signed as free agents. Here's a good summary quote from soonersports.com:

Oklahoma continued several notable streaks in the 2009 NFL Draft. At least one Sooner was selected for the 47th consecutive Draft (1963-2009) and for the 41st time in the first seven rounds (1969-2009). For the 12th-straight year (1998-2009), a Sooner was selected in the first three rounds.

OU has supplied 339 players all-time in the NFL Draft (fourth-highest total of all schools). Despite its relative youth when compared with other coach staffs, the Sooner staff has done remarkably well at preparing players for the next level. This group of coaches can boast more than 66 players (41 drafted) who entered the NFL.

Personally, I'm shocked that Duke Robinson fell to the 5th round with his work ethic and talent level. He was often widely considered to be one of, if not our best, linemen.

I'm not really too surprised by anything else. Players still out there that might catch on with free agent contracts include Branndon Braxton and Mike Knall.

Quick List of Vikings' Undrafted Free Agent Signings

Gonzo — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:57:44 -0000

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

7 months ago: Mississippi defensive tackle and potential first round draft choice Peria Jerry, background center, listens as his cousins Derek Pegues, left and Jamarca Sanford, critique the early selections of the 2009 NFL draft, Saturday, April 25, 2009 in Hattiesburg, Miss. A large number of rating services suggest Jerry will be selected in the first round. Pegues, who was a defensive back at Mississippi State, and Sanford, also a defensive back at Mississippi, both have been mentioned as potential later round draft picks or free agents. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Well, the 2009 NFL Draft is officially in the books. With their seventh round selection, number 231 overall, the Vikings drafted Jamarca "Mon" Sanford, a safety from Ole Miss. Dan from our outstanding SBNation draft site, Mocking the Draft, had Sanford as one of "his guys" prior to the draft taking place, which tells me that the guy is worth having around.

So now we reach the second phase of the draft, that being the fast and furious race to sign the best undrafted free agents from this year's draft class. According to KFFL, here are some of the names that have been inked by the Minnesota Vikings.

The biggest name on the list is Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State. He's also known as "The Guy That Ran In the Statue of Liberty Play In the Fiesta Bowl Against Oklahoma and Then Proposed To His Hot Cheerleader Girlfriend Afterwards." And yes, that all deserves to be capitalized. I wonder what kind of conversations he'll have with Adrian Peterson, who was on the opposing sideline for that instant classic.

The other names KFFL has linked to the Vikings are:

Vinny Perretta, WR, Boise State
Jon Cooper, C, Oklahoma
Andy Kemp, G, Wisconsin
Robert Francois, LB, Boston College
DeVon Hall, S, Utah State
Andy Schantz, LB, Portland State
Justin Kucek, P, Minnesota (invited on a tryout basis)
Colt Anderson, S, Montana (h/t to Montana Vike for passing that one along)

That gives you one more thing to mull over from what was a pretty exciting weekend for the Beloved Purple. We'll have plenty of discussion of the draft fallout as the week progresses. However, it's been a long weekend, and now it's time to go to bed. Have a good night, ladies and gentlemen, and we'll see you back here tomorrow!

Sooners in the NFL Draft

dishingoutdimes — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:43:11 -0000

Despite Oklahoma making the national championship and graduating/losing 9 starters, and 6 backups, none of them are really projected as a first round pick right now (per ESPN). this is pretty shocking, especially with the talented offensive line that OU had. Before the season ended, many people thought that Phil Loadholt or Duke Robinson might be able to sneak into the first round. Anyways, we're going to examine some guys here and give a little capsule on what each might expect in the draft. Enjoy!

Duke Robinson - OG

6'5" 329, 40 Time: 5.32 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: 20, Vertical Jump: 31.5", Broad Jump: 8'3", 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.90 sec, 3-cone: 8.09 sec. (Most of those are OU Pro Day results)

Duke is widely regarded as the top guard on the board. He will probably be the first guard off the board. He didn't do a whole lot other than the 40 at the combine (perhaps he hurt his stock a little there), but his measurables at the pro day all looked pretty good and most of the NFL teams had scouts there. And at the pro day, all the scouts loved his build. He projects as one of the top interior linemen in the draft and will probably work best on a team that has a power rushing attack. No doubt he'll get drafted. If all the teams pass on him for one round, expect him to go in the first 5-7 picks in the second round. "During his last two seasons, Robinson had 229 knockdown blocks and had a key block on 29 touchdowns" --NFL Draft Scout. I don't know if he'll be a pro bowler, but I expect him to be successful in the NFL.

Phil Loadholt - OT

6'8" 332, 40 Time: 5.45 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: 26, Vertical Jump: 29", Broad Jump: 8'9", 20 Yard Shuttle: 5.06 sec, 3-cone: 8.18 sec. (Most of those are OU Pro Day results)

Phil Loadholt has the size to have a huge impact as an offensive tackle in the NFL. He probably projects to a right tackle, but is a bit too tall for guard. The Bears and the Vikings have expressed interest in Loadholt already. Despite extremely long arms he had 26 bench press reps which is great. He's a better run blocker than pass blocker. "He has the size, strength, and flexibility to be a dominant drive blocker in the running game. He had pass blocking challenges at the Senior Bowl that validated concerns about his ability to stay at left tackle in the NFL" --NFL Draft Scout. Look for Loadholt to perhaps move to right tackle to fit in at the NFL. Given the pass blocking concerns he might drop to mid to late 2nd round. Anything after the 40-45th pick I would consider a steal though.

Juaquin Iglesias - WR

6'1" 210, 40 Time: 4.50 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: DNP, Vertical Jump: 34.5", Broad Jump: 9'8", 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.40 sec, 3-cone: 7.22 sec. (Most of those are Combine results)

Depending on how the draft is going, I would expect Iglesias to go somewhere in the 2nd to 3rd round. For being a "hands guy" who should be reliable to catch just about anything, he has a decent amount of speed. I think his fastest 40 time was in the neighborhood of 4.45. Overall he has good measurables. In pads he has a surprising quickness and he has a feel for getting open in the coverages (just ask Sam Bradford). At the OU pro day he dropped his first pass and his last pass but caught everything in between. NFL Draft Scout said it was "like watching Velcro". In any event, I think Iglesias could be one of those guys who is never an elite NFL receiver but a solid guy who catches a few passes a game for decent yardage and would be a good threat out of the slot.

Nic Harris S/OLB

6'3" 234, 40 Time: 4.84 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: 15, Vertical Jump: 31.5", Broad Jump: 9'1", 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.37 sec, 3-cone: 7.05 sec. (Most of those are Combine results)

Nic Harris is a great athlete, but he's one of those guys that it may be difficult to find a position for in the NFL. At safety, he is a bit too big. He's very fluid in coverage but may not be able to keep up with the speed at the NFL level. At linebacker, he's a bit undersized and might not be able to fight off blocks or work too well close to the line. So, he's kind of a tweener. It's a shame, because I think he has the athleticism and talent to make a big impact. If the right team with the right scheme drafts him, he might work out okay. I think he'd work better in a 4-3 defense, but could work in some sort of hybrid 3-3-5 defense where he can slide down to LB to make it a 3-4 in running situations. Gil Brandt from NFL.com raved that his backpedal was just about as fast as his 40, so it would be a shame to waste his coverage skills. He's projected in the 5th round right now.

Those are the guys who are projected to be definitely drafted. Here's how the rest shake out:

Possible Late Round (7th) or Free Agent:

Brandon Walker, OG: Don't know all that much about Brandon, other than that there's a lot of guys who are projected ahead of him. I don't think he really separated from the pack at pro day or the combine. I don't think he'll go in the draft, but could get invited to a camp.
Branndon Braxton, OT: See Brandon Walker.
Jon Cooper, C: He's a really talented player. Some may say he's a bit undersized for the NFL but he weighed in at 290. He quarterbacked OU's amazing offensive line and I think he could actually surprise in the NFL. Could be a steal as a 7th rounder or a camp invitee.
Manuel Johnson, WR: He's smaller at 5'11" and only about 190 so that immediately raises some flags for NFL scouts. He doesn't have a great 40 time and he only really broke out last year with solid stats. Despite all that, he's a solid receiver with good game speed, agility and fluidity and reliable hands. It's possible he'll go late in the draft depending on how quickly receivers go earlier on.
Lendy Holmes, FS: He hurt himself with a 40 time around 4.7. Unlike Harris, he doesn't have the size to be a tweener at linebacker. His 40 time is disappointing since I always considered him as faster than that. Still, he's been a playmaker during his time at OU and started out as a corner. His coverage skills and talent might be able to overcome some scouts who will frown on some of his combine measurables.
Mike Knall, P: Overall he was a solid punter in his time at OU but never did anything really special to make you say, "well that guy could play in the NFL". Punters aren't a dime a dozen so even if he isn't drafted he could get an invite to a camp.
Quentin Chaney, WR: He's got the size at 6-4 208. However he got way less playing time than Johnson or Iglesias. I don't think he'll be drafted but because of his size and his pedigree (OU), I could see him getting invited to a camp.

C, Jon Cooper, Oklahoma

Jeremy Bolander — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:29:01 -0000

C, Jon Cooper, Oklahoma

At A Glance
Position 1: Center	Height: 6-2
Position 2: Guard	Weight: 291
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 7th-FA	40time: 5.09

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: 31	Vertical: 31
20yd Split: 2.95	Broad Jump: 8'9"
10yd Split: 1.69	20yd Shuttle: 4.60
3 Cone Drill: 7.46

Pros: Rare initial quickness. Snaps the ball cleanly and easily gets to the second level or outside for screens. Efficient and reliable cut-blocker.

Cons: Looks significantly smaller than listed size on film. Simply lacks the bulk and strength to compete with NFL-caliber defensive linemen unless protected by a zone-blocking scheme and plenty of size flanking him.

Styg's Broncos Fit: The traditional makeup of a zone-blocking center. Cooper is smart, versatile, and can hold the point of attack with help from the guards. Tenacious and never gives up on a play. He moves well and has a real gift in his short area quickness, allowing him to help both guards in the same play. Excellent snapper out of the shotgun and has long-snapping experience, he is bound to intrigue Denver if they still are looking for this classic version of a zone-blocking center; lighter, quicker and very aggressive.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

While center Jon Cooper was preparing for the Shrine Game last month in Houston, his West roster teammates began receiving e-mails containing invitations to February’s NFL Scouting Combine.

Cooper, voted the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the league’s coaches, waited for his e-mail to arrive, too.

It never came.

"I was worried I wasn’t going to get invited,” Cooper told The Oklahoman in a phone interview. "I called the National Football Scouting office just to see, and they said the first invites, which is for seniors, had been sent out.

"I wasn’t one of them.”

Eventually, Cooper — as well as former OU guard Brandon Walker, who also was left off the first list — received a Combine invitation earlier this month. [see more...]
A quick, athletic center who snaps and steps very quickly. Showcases impressive lateral mobility in pass protection and plays with natural leverage on contact. Is very fluid in space and has the athleticism and coordination to get out to the second level and cut down blockers. Is very intelligent, carries out all his assignments and works well in tandem with his guards. [see more...]

2009 NFL Draft -- Point of Attack - Centers/Guards Ranked for Denver

Jeremy Bolander — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:31:31 -0000

With only a handful of ideal starter-quality zoneblock linemen, and with many mocks placing them at odd spots just out of Denvers reach, I found myself looking deeper and deeper at a position that is generally a lot of fun to analyze. I was pleased to see lots of good, traditional-style zoneblock linemen throughout the middle and later in the draft, with a few more promising prospects just on the outside of the CFA cut.

With that in mind Denver should feel pretty good about going after a C/G combo at any point where the deal falls into their laps, and no sooner. Worst case-scenario Denver misses out on the draftable prospects and gets their choice of some highly select, workaholic prospects, so this is one area where I am hoping to see Denver refrain from reaching.

As to whither C or G, these analyses ended up leaning towards C, but only because a lot of good guard prospects this year are more suited towards power schemes, and thus translate better between G/T than C/G. A few prospects looked like good fits anywhere along the line, and they were included, and a few looked like they would make better tackles, period, and they were left off. Of the group selected here they tend to be more athletic, good second level blockers, good at timing and placing cut blocks, technicians favored over power, and capable of or experienced at handling C duties. The highest rated prospects for Denver also tend to have a great football mind to go with their great zoneblock fits, which raises their short-term value significnatly, on the grounds that they may be asked to step in in the case of injury, and so they will need to learn quickly and show a good grasp of their responsibilities, with the potential to prevent Hamilton from having to slide over to center in the event of injury at C.

Lets check out the rankings:

C--Alex Mack

1st-2nd

Alex Mack, California: A solid all-around center with terrific speed and balance, but who can lose leverage battles against quicker 3-techs. He has above-average intelligence and football smarts, even for a center, and has mastered his duties on the line, in terms of getting other players in position and making the correct reads. He has a classic competitor's mindset and plays through the whistle every time. Tough and ornery, this is one near-elite level player who figures to be gone by the time Denver gets around to addressing the O-Line depth, but no doubt ranks highly on Denver's board.

C--Max Unger

2nd

Max Unger, Oregon: A tough player with a nice, workman-like attitude towards his responsibilities. Though his speed and agility impressed at the combine, on the field he doesn't look quite that quick. He is, however, good on short pulls and traps and can land blocks at the second level. Very intelligent and understands his job. If he has a serious compromise, it is in his whole-body strength, as he is severely lacking in lower-body strength, and very inconsistent about using his upper-body strength to consistently hit and reset against opponents. It really hurts his drive-blocking ability, which makes him an early liability in the running game. Overall he is a solid player with experience at the tackle position, but I am expecting Denver to not rank him that highly for what they are trying to do, and for a second-round pick, I think they will be looking for more than a questionable starter.

G--Duke Robinson

2nd

Duke Robinson, Oklahoma: Excellent size and weight, and is surprisingly agile for his size. Not fast so much as quick, and does a great job getting off the line and into his blocks. Excellent in short yardage and power situations, but has issues when blocking on the move. Not the most effective pull or trap guy, and doesn't always make contact at the second level. Does not place his cut blocks well against DBs, and can lose his own footing and balance easily. A lot of teams will appreciate his size and presence in a drive-blocking scheme, and Denver will no doubt agree that he has a lot of upside, but for what Denver is trying to accomplish on the line, the value isn't there; from a scheme standpoint, their are major questions as to whether he could fit in at all. Only two stars for this excellent prospect who simply doesn't fit the traditional profile on the Denver line.

C--Eric Wood

2nd

Eric Wood, Louisville: Smart, strong and athletic with lots of durability and and an unquestionable drive and work ethic, this player is almost perfect for Denver. Where he falls a bit short is in the characteristic "nimbleness" required from our interior linemen. But for as tall as he is, he has mastered keeping his pads low and rarely loses the leverage battle, and he understands opposing defenses inside and out, putting in lots of extra time to study them. He isn't the most consistent through the hips and knees, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to stay with and finish a block. He has an intense attitude and gives 100% every play. Denver will definitely value Wood, but may find themselves out of the running before they even have a chance to consider him in the 2nd round.

G--Kraig Urbik

2nd-3rd

Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin: Powerful upper and lower body, with quickness and explosion at the snap. Can play inside or outside, but has not played center. Good at pass protection and on the move, but can struggle in short yardage and goal-line situations due to letting himself come up in his stance. Needs to bend more at the knees and work on keeping his pads low, but has an excellent grasp of the game and tenacious work ethic. Again, another case of versatility that isn't quite what Denver is looking for, but which provides extra value.

C--Jonathon Luigs

3rd

Jonathon Luigs, Arkansas: Less-than-desirable lower-body strength, and inconsistency in bending his knees and driving forward will drive down Luigs' stock, but there may be no better "game smart" player at the center position in 2009. Applauded by coaches for his ability to translate coaching to on-field production, Luigs could execute even complex plays and schemes with minimal practice. His love for the game and competition shined when he was put up against tougher or faster players, and he would fight to the whistle to stay with a block. His explosion off the snap is excellent, and he has relied on it to compensate for his lack of brute power, but he will need to address his lower-body strength in the pros. He is excellent when pulling and locating blocks on the second level, but needs to do a better job of maintaining his balance when blocking fast DBs, as he will overextend himself to make the block. His highest value will be to zone-blocking teams, but any team will be able to appreciate his awareness of the defense and alignment on the field. I am thinking Denver may grade Luigs out very highly among offensive linemen.

C--Antoine Caldwell

3rd-4th

Antoine Caldwell, Alabama: A leader and a motivator, Caldwell is stronger than his measurables might indicate, getting most of his power from his lower body. Not the most effective player on the move, nor does he seem to possess other great prospects' feel for the pocket and protecting their QB, but he does handle line calls and pre-snap reads adequately. A stronger type of center that would be suitable for a power scheme, but to the degree that Denver continues with zone-block, should lose value.

G--Tyronne Green

4th

Tyronne Green, Auburn: This is one of those "sweet spot" picks that Denver may have a chance to nab. He is versatile, playing at DT, G and most recently C, which he picked up quickly. He does a good job of studying defenses and using technique against opponents, but his strength is definitely his inherent athleticism. Not a finished product currently, he needs a little more time to work with an offensive line and to polish his game up. He grades out well and consistently in every category, but with some time he has the ability to grade out great. As a high-investment backup, he has the potential to pay tremendous dividends.

C--A.Q. Shipley

5th

A.Q. Shipley, Penn State: a former nose guard, Shipley is tough, physical, aggressive, and likes to get dirty. Understands his duties on the line, makes good calls and consistently gets off the line with adequate pop; he lacks a bit in the work-ethic category, and isn't a guaranteed "play to the whistle" type of player. Doesn't have ideal measurements to play at a consistently high level at guard, so may project best as a backup center.

G--T.J. Lang

5th-6th

T.J. Lang, Eastern Michigan: A work in progress, Lang is a tough-minded, physical player who never lets up and who shows flashes of the kind of awareness you like to see in C depth. He is athletic enough to pull and trap effectively, has good balance and is smart enough to learn the line calls. A self-starter who responds well to coaching and could play a relief role at any spot on the line, he could be a good value for Denver in their search for interior depth, but may not have the upside to project to a long-term answer at C.

C--Edwin Williams

6th

Edwin Williams, Maryland: The overall world-class depth of this year's center class is driving down the value of good players like Williams. Because he isn't the tremendous athlete of the top of the class, teams can expect to start bidding for his services later in the second day, and they may just get a steal. Williams had the admiration of his teammates and coaches for his leadership both on and off the field, and he could be counted on to disrupt surprise-blitzers and to call the exotic defensive plays correctly for his team. Adequate strength and speed, with excellent short-area quickness and a great explosion off the snap, he can be beaten by quicker defenders consistently, and struggles to maintain longer blocks on the stronger players. Overall a solid player with limited upside but who could provide dependable depth for years.

C--Jon Cooper

7th-FA

Jon Cooper, Oklahoma: The traditional makeup of a zone-blocking center. Cooper is smart, versatile, and can hold the point of attack with help from the guards. Tenacious and never gives up on a play. He moves well and has a real gift in his short area quickness, allowing him to help both guards in the same play. Excellent snapper out of the shotgun and has long-snapping experience, he is bound to intrigue Denver if they still are looking for this classic version of a zone-blocking center; lighter, quicker and very aggressive.

C--Brett Helms

7th-FA

Brett Helms, LSU: Another undersized zone-block specimen with adequate smarts and recognition, a good snapper in the shotgun and a great never-say-die attitude. Team player who buys in completely to the line and QB, giving up his body in protection. Of course, he wouldn't have to do that so much if he had the strength and athleticism to consistently hold the point of attack. Intriguing prospect with a small amount of upside, rare for this late in the draft.

G--Roger Allen

7th-FA

Roger Allen, Missouri Western: Very smart guard, one of the few guards in this class who clearly could project to center at the next level. He is very competitive, has played through an injured hand and shoulder and takes a lot of pride in his consistency. The shoulder injury and questionable competition figure to drive his stock way down; but after getting cleared medically, the hope is he can climb back into the draft. He has tremendous upside, with a very strong hand-punch; good, strong lower body with good drive and consistency in run blocking. He also has quick feet and hands, adjusts well to defenders and finds good blocks at the second level. An exceptional option late in the draft, he may turn out to be one of the best linemen drafted this year, and Denver is bound to take a long, hard look.

G--Matt Slauson

7th-FA

Matt Slauson, Nebraska: A one-and-done type of player, Slauson is in need of some good coaching, because his "one" can be positively amazing sometimes. As a moving blocker, he adjusts and pulls well, and has the speed and agility to locate and execute blocks at the second and even third levels. Has adequate strength, but shows flashes of a terrific hand-jolt that can hold up blitzing players on his outside shoulder, without losing leverage for his inside block. But these flashes of elite-level talents are inconsistent, and too often he can be beaten after that first move. He seems to lack the knowledge and understanding to properly readjust and reset, so he tends to be finished after that first move. Hopefully he can get the coaching he needs to address this, and if so, he has tremendous potential. As a final draft pick or UFA, he could be worth a shot.

C/G--Alex Fletcher

7th-FA

Alex Fletcher, Stanford: A smart player who has started at both center and at right guard. He was a team captain who knows how to anchor, and how to play with leverage. Cna hold his own versus strength and bull-rush oriented opponents and also has the lateral agility and speed to pull or trap effectively. Has great hand technique and can turn defenders and get his hands placed well, and can place and reset to maintain the line of scrimmage. Tough and thick like a burlwood knot in the middle of the line, he has only marginal lower body strength and struggles to get a push in short yardage and goalline situations. Overall a solid pickup as a late rounder who could provide solid depth or be a surprising earlier pick with potential to start.

OU Football Spring Preview Part One: Who Is and Isn't Back, Exciting New Players

dishingoutdimes — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:29:16 -0000

Isn't that a beautiful sight? Owen Field filled to capacity, waiting to watch the OU football team take the field. I know we are in the middle of two remarkable basketball seasons (men's and women's), but it's time to start previewing the football team as the Red-White game will be approaching, and Spring practice has already started. Now, with the tournament starting soon, these may not be regular installments, but I will link to previous versions of these previews in the latest preview that I post. Eventually, when I end, there should be a series of links at the top of that post, and you can explore all of my spring previews.

Here's how it will work: I will post articles throughout the offseason (starting now and lasting possibly through May), and eventually we should have a nice overall view of how the football team is shaping up.

In order to go anywhere with this preview, first we need to understand what pieces will be missing from last year. This will be the "logistical" part of the preview - who is and is not back, who redshirted last year, etc. etc.

All the good stuff after the jump...

Who We Lost

Regular Starters: OT Phil Loadholt, OG Duke Robinson, OG Brandon Walker, C Jon Cooper, WR Juaquin Iglesias, WR Manuel Johnson, S Nic Harris, S Lendy Holmes, P Mike Knall.

Role Players/Backups: OL Branndon Braxton, WR Quentin Chaney, DT Cory Bennett, DB Brett Bowers, DE Alan Davis, QB Joey Halzle.

Obviously, what jumps out is that we lost almost our entire starting offensive line, our two starting wide receivers and our two starting safeties. We'll delve more into this when I talk about how we're going to fill the holes in our team from last year and graduations. However, I'll offer a few thoughts on these issues:

First, wide receivers are relatively easy to replace. It's not like in the Stoops era that OU has had an absolutely incredible stable of wideouts. On the contrary, I would argue we have had a stable of running backs, and a ton of really solid wideouts. Even 2 and 3 star recruits at WR pan out to be solid for the Sooners. Quentin Chaney was a 3 star recruit. Juaquin Iglesias was a 2 star recruit. Plus, we have some pretty solid guys waiting in the wings. Like I said, more on that in a later issue.

We have some awesome recruits waiting to compete for the safety spots. That's not really a concern. In fact our defense is loaded. All of that in later issues. Most concerning about these losses is the offensive line. It's not easy to replace such a bulky, athletic and talented offensive line overnight. It's probably the most unheralded position on the field except maybe the punter, but I think our offensive line was the big reason why our offense put up such astronomical numbers last season. Bradford rarely got touched, and we could pick apart defenses.

Last Year's Redshirts

We had a few redshirts last year (19 to be exact). Here they are:

DB Derrick Bradley, RB Jermie Calhoun, LB Daniel Franklin, OL Ben Habern, DB Lamar Harris, LB Dylan Hughley, DB Joseph Ibiloye, LB Emmanuel Jones, OT Jarvis Jones, QB Landry Jones, DE David King, OL Brian Lepak, DT Stacy McGee, TE Josh New, QB Ben Sherrard, TE James Toms, DT Casey Walker, DE R.J. Washington, K Tress Way.

New Players To Watch

Obviously we know about what we're getting from guys who were on the field regularly. But there's some new recruits or redshirts from last year who you should keep an eye on, especially in the spring game:

DE R.J. Washington - This guy was a 5 star recruit coming out of Keller, Texas. He was redshirted last year, but everyone was real excited about him. I'm not sure how much of the field he'll see with really only one DE graduating, but I would expect to see him become a part of the rotation. Here's some YouTube highlights.

WR's Jameel Owens and DeJuan Miller - Both of these guys were recruited last year as well. They both have good size. Owens is 6'3" 210 and Miller is 6'5" 200. While Ryan Broyles will be one of the obvious starters, and upperclassmen Adron Tennell and Brandon Caleb will be given every opportunity to win the other spot, I would expect to see both of these guys challenge for significant playing time and/or a starting spot. They were both 4 star recruits, so both of them have the talent to be big impact receivers. I would expect one of them to step up big time and impress.

S Quinton Carter - He isn't really new, but I would love to see him step up. In the playing time he did get, he was sort of a spark plug. He hits hard and would play well as a strong safety I think. We're going to need a centerfielder out there with a little bit more range and fluid hips in and out of turns, but I liked what I saw of Carter last year. Here are some samples of his work:

Ben Habern, Stephen Good and Jarvis Jones - All of these offensive lineman were highly rated in recruiting services. Jarvis Jones was a starter at LSU as a freshman before he transferred to OU. They all have the size to be successful in Division 1 college football, but will their skills transfer? If so, our offensive line could be almost as good as it was last year, which was basically untouchable.

RB Jermie Calhoun and RB Justin Johnson - Both of these guys were 5 star running back recruits last year. With Murray, Brown and Madu, they didn't get any playing time last year. However, they are both obviously very talented, and the majority of the buzz has been about Calhoun (he hasn't seen the field at all, he was redshirted). With the possibility of Mossis Madu moving to WR, that could open up the possibility of one of these guys sliding into 3rd down back or quality depth back role. I'm particularly excited to see Calhoun finally.

If a lot of those guys step up and help fill in major roles vacated by departing players, I think we'll be close to last year's level of competitiveness. We are returning a lot of starters, especially on defense.

The next spring preview issue should involve the major holes that have opened up, and the players that we should expect to step up and fill in these roles.

Big 12 All-Conference Teams & Players of the Year

irish1611 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:44:22 -0000

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR	DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, So., QB	Brian Orakpo, Texas, Sr., DL,
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR	COACHES OF THE YEAR
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, So., PR/KR	Bob Stoops, Oklahoma, 10th season
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, So., PR/KR	Mike Leach, Texas Tech, 9th season
OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR	DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Robert Griffin, Baylor, Fr., QB	Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, Fr., LB,
OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR	DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Brandon Banks, Kansas State, Jr., WR	McKinner Dixon, Texas Tech, Jr., DE
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR	DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Jon Cooper, Oklahoma, Sr.	Brian Orakpo, Texas, Sr., DL

Click after the jump to see the first, second and honorable mention teams along with some commentary...in my opinion, Josh Smith got screwed.

2008 ALL-BIG 12 FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Pos.	Player	School	Class	Hometown/Previous School(s)
QB	Sam Bradford	Oklahoma	So.	Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City North
RB	DeMarco Murray	Oklahoma	So.	Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman
RB	Kendall Hunter	Oklahoma State	So.	Tyler, Texas/John Tyler
FB	Matt Clapp	Oklahoma	Jr.	Phoenix, Ariz./Paradise Valley
WR	Jeremy Maclin [r1]	Missouri	So.	Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood
WR	Dez Bryant	Oklahoma State	So.	Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin
WR	Michael Crabtree** [r1]	Texas Tech	So.	Dallas, Texas/Carter
TE	Jermaine Gresham	Oklahoma	Jr.	Ardmore, Okla./Ardmore
OL	Jason Smith	Baylor	Sr.	Dallas, Texas/W.T. White
OL	Phil Loadholt	Oklahoma	Sr.	Fountain, Colo./Garden City CC
OL	Duke Robinson [r1]	Oklahoma	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga./Washington
OL	Trent Williams	Oklahoma	Jr.	Longview, Texas/Longview
OL	Russell Okung	Oklahoma State	Jr.	Fort Bend, Texas/Bush
OL	Adam Ulatoski	Texas	Jr.	Southlake, Texas/Carroll
PK	Jeff Wolfert	Missouri	Sr.	Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West
KR/PR	Dez Bryant	Oklahoma State	So.	Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin

2008 ALL-BIG 12 FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Pos.	Player	School	Class	Hometown/Previous School(s)
DL	Ziggy Hood	Missouri	Sr.	Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro
DL	Gerald McCoy	Oklahoma	So.	Oklahoma City, Okla./Southeast
DL	Roy Miller	Texas	Sr.	Killeen, Texas/Shoemaker
DL	Brian Orakpo	Texas	Sr.	Houston, Texas/Lamar
DL	Brandon Williams	Texas Tech	Jr.	Fort Worth, Texas/South Hills
LB	Joe Pawelek	Baylor	Jr.	San Antonio, Texas/Smithson Valley
LB	Sean Weatherspoon	Missouri	Jr.	Jasper, Texas/Jasper
LB	Sergio Kindle	Texas	Jr.	Dallas, Texas/Woodrow Wilson
DB	Jordan Lake	Baylor	Jr.	Houston, Texas/Memorial
DB	Darrell Stuckey	Kansas	Jr.	Kansas City, Kan./Washington
DB	William Moore**	Missouri	Sr.	Hayti, Mo./Hayti
DB	Nic Harris [r1]	Oklahoma	Sr.	Alexandria, La./Alexandria
DB	Darcel McBath	Texas Tech	Sr.	Gainesville, Texas/Gainesville
P	Justin Brantly	Texas A&M	Sr.	Sealy, Texas/Sealy
A tie in voting created an additional offensive line spot on the first- and second-teams.
[r1] - Repeat first team selection from last season
**Unanimous Selection

2008 ALL-BIG 12 FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Pos.	Player	School	Class	Hometown/Previous School(s)
QB	Colt McCoy	Texas	Jr.	Tuscola, Texas/Jim Ned
RB	Derrick Washington	Missouri	So.	Peculiar, Mo./Raymore-Peculiar
RB	Shannon Woods	Texas Tech	Sr.	McKinney, Texas/North
FB	Jorvorskie Lane	Texas A&M	Sr.	Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin
WR	Dezmon Briscoe	Kansas	So.	Dallas, Texas/Cedar Hill
WR	Juaquin Iglesias	Oklahoma	Sr.	Killeen, Texas/Killeen
WR	Jordan Shipley	Texas	Sr.	Burnet, Texas/Burnet
TE	Chase Coffman	Missouri	Sr.	Peculiar, Mo./Raymore-Peculiar
OL	Kurtis Gregory	Missouri	Jr.	Blackburn, Mo./Santa Fe
OL	Matt Slauson	Nebraska	Sr.	Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Force Prep
OL	Jon Cooper	Oklahoma	Sr.	Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins
OL	Chris Hall	Texas	Jr.	Irving, Texas/Irving
OL	Louis Vasquez	Texas Tech	Sr.	Corsicana, Texas/Corsicana
OL	Rylan Reed	Texas Tech	Sr.	Dallas, Texas/Crossett (Ark.)
PK	Hunter Lawrence	Texas	Jr.	Boerne, Texas/Boerne
KR/PR	Jordan Shipley	Texas	Jr.	Burnet, Texas/Burnet

2008 ALL-BIG 12 FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Pos.	Player	School	Class	Hometown/Previous School(s)
DL	George Hypolite	Colorado	Sr.	Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola
DL	Ian Campbell	Kansas State	Sr.	Cimarron, Kan./Cimarron
DL	Stryker Sulak [r2]	Missouri	Sr.	Rockdale, Texas/Rockdale
DL	Ndamukong Suh	Nebraska	Jr.	Portland, Ore./Grant
DL	Jeremy Beal	Oklahoma	So.	Carrollton, Texas/Creekview
LB	James Holt	Kansas	Sr.	Altus, Okla./Altus
LB	Travis Lewis	Oklahoma	Fr.	San Antonio, Texas/Robert E. Lee
LB	Andre Sexton	Oklahoma State	Jr.	Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls
DB	Dominique Franks	Oklahoma	So.	Tulsa, Okla./Union
DB	Lendy Holmes	Oklahoma	Sr.	Dallas, Texas/South Oak Cliff
DB	Jacob Lacey	Oklahoma State	Sr.	Garland, Texas/Naaman Forest
DB	Ryan Palmer	Texas	Sr.	Arlington, Texas/Bowie
DB	Daniel Charbonnet	Texas Tech	Sr.	The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands
P	Matt Fodge	Oklahoma State	Sr.	Garland, Texas/Garland
[r2] - Repeat second team selection from last season

2008 ALL-BIG 12 HONORABLE MENTION
Baylor:	Derek Epperson, P; Dan Gay, OL
Colorado:	Cha'pelle Brown, DB; Brad Jones, LB; Daniel Sanders, OL
Iowa State:	Mike Brandtner, P; Leonard Johnson, DB/KR/PR; Rashawn Parker, DL; James Smith, DB; Jesse Smith, LB; Reggie Stephens, OL; Kurtis Taylor, DL
Kansas:	Caleb Blakesley, DL; Ryan Cantrell, OL; Jake Laptad, DL; Adrian Mayes, OL; Kerry Meier, WR; Mike Rivera, LB; Jake Sharp, RB
Kansas State:	Brandon Banks, KR/PR/WR; Jordan Bedore, OL; Eric Childs, DL; Brandon Harold, DL; Joshua Moore, DB; Brooks Rossman, PK; Nick Stringer, OL
Missouri:	Tim Barnes, OL; Jaron Baston, DL; Castine Bridges, DB; Colin Brown, OL; Brock Christopher, LB; Chase Daniel, QB; Justin Garrett, DB; Jeremy Maclin, KR/PR; Tommy Saunders, WR
Nebraska:	Larry Asante, DB; Roy Helu Jr., RB; Alex Henery, PK; Jacob Hickman, OL; Zach Potter, DL; Ty Steinkuhler, DL; Nate Swift, KR/PR/WR
Oklahoma:	Chris Brown, RB; Keenan Clayton, LB; Brandon Walker, OL
Oklahoma State:	Jeray Chatham, DL; Perrish Cox, KR/PR; Orie Lemon, LB; Ricky Price, DB; Tonga Tea, DL
Texas:	Quan Cosby, KR/PR/WR; Cedric Dockery, OL; Blake Gideon, DB; Aaron Lewis, DL; Henry Melton, DL; Roddrick Muckelroy, LB; Chris Ogbonnaya, RB; Charlie Tanner, OL; Earl Thomas, DB
Texas A&M:	Jeff Fuller, WR; Trent Hunter, DB
Texas Tech:	Baron Batch, RB; Brandon Carter, OL; McKinner Dixon, DL; Brian Duncan, LB; Stephen Hamby, OL; Graham Harrell, QB; Jamar Wall, DB; Colby Whitlock, DL; Marlon Williams, LB; Marlon Winn, OL

Some early commentary regarding these selections. The biggest disappointment to me is the fact that Cha'pelle Brown wasn't a first team selection. He had a great year on the #1 pass defense in the Big 12.
The Buffs only had 4 players selected to any team, tied for last with Iowa State. Yes, Texas A&M, Baylor and Kansas State placed more players than the Buffs. Motivation boys, motivation! Do they deserve huge numbers? No but for a defense that was pretty consistent all year, not to have more on that side of the ball in such a bad defensive conference is crazy. Call me a homer.
LB's Shaun Mohler and Jeff Smart were 5th and 4th in the conference respectively in tackles? Not to pick on a player or team by Iowa State's Jessie Smith was eighteen in the Big 12 in tackles, had the same amount of tackles for loss as Shaun Mohler and had one less sack...he got honorable mention? Orie Lemon from Oklahoma State, same thing?
Josh Smith led the conference in punt return and kick return yardage by a pretty big amount with 1,568 yards. Not honorable mention. First team PR/KR Dez Bryant had 405 yards return yards. thats almost four times less than Smith. Bryant also made first team offense so its not like it was a charity give for his all around work. Josh Smith was the only player to rank in the top 5 of both kick off returns and punt return average this year. Other players who got awarded instead of Smith were Leonard Johnson from Iowa State, Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Shipley from Texas, Perris Cox from OSU, Nate Swift from Nebraska and Quan Cosby from Texas. Josh Smith ranked ahead of all these players in all purpose yards except for Maclin who was already named a first team receiver? Smith got the shaft in a big way.
Rodney Stewart was on pace for a second team selection until he got hurt. His yards/game is still 7th in the conference.
How can Oklahoma center Jon Cooper be selected as the "Lineman of the Year" in the Big 12 but not make the first team unit. Cooper made the second team?
How can anyone in their right mind select Javorskie Lane to any team, let alone second team fullback? I guess being overweight to a point of confusion gets you enough publicity to trick people into thinking you are good?

Here is the release from the Big 12 site:

Sam Bradford is the third Oklahoma player to be named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Former Sooners Jason White (2003 and 2004) and Josh Heupel (2000) previously won the award. OU is now tied with Texas for the most Offensive Player of the Year winners in conference history with four.

Brian Orakpo of Texas is the third Longhorn to receive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was also named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2005. Orakpo is the fourth player in Big 12 history to receive both the defensive freshman and player of the year awards (Mark Simoneau, Kansas State - 1996, 2000; Derrick Johnson, Texas - 2000, 2004; Jordan Dizon, Colorado - 2004, 2007).

Bob Stoops was tabbed Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career (2000, 2003, 2006), while Mike Leach was honored for the first time. No other coach has matched Stoops' four coaching awards in 13 years of Big 12 conference play.

Robert Griffin was named Offensive Freshman of the Year, marking Baylor's second individual award winner. Griffin joins Daniel Sepulveda, who was named Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006.

Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State, the Special Teams Player of the Year, gives the Cowboys their third individual Big 12 award in program history. Previously, Adarius Bowman was honored as Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2006, and Bob Simmons earned Coach of the Year accolades in 1997.

Kansas State's Brandon Banks gave the Wildcats their second straight Offensive Newcomer of the Year award winner and league-leading third overall. Deon Murphy was honored in 2007, joining KSU's first honoree, Michael Bishop (1997).

Oklahoma has won the most major awards in the 13-year history of the Big 12 with 23. Texas is next with 20 winners, followed by Kansas State (14), Nebraska (9), Texas Tech (7), Colorado (6), Iowa State (6), Kansas (6) and Missouri (5).

SB Nation - Jon Cooper

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C, Jon Cooper, Oklahoma

C, Jon Cooper, Oklahoma

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Highlights:

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2009 NFL Draft -- Point of Attack - Centers/Guards Ranked for Denver

2009 NFL Draft Coverage-Merry Draftivus!!

C--Alex Mack

1st-2nd

C--Max Unger

2nd

G--Duke Robinson

2nd

C--Eric Wood

2nd

G--Kraig Urbik

2nd-3rd

C--Jonathon Luigs

3rd

C--Antoine Caldwell

3rd-4th

G--Tyronne Green

4th

C--A.Q. Shipley

5th

G--T.J. Lang

5th-6th

C--Edwin Williams

6th

C--Jon Cooper

7th-FA

C--Brett Helms

7th-FA

G--Roger Allen

7th-FA

G--Matt Slauson

7th-FA

C/G--Alex Fletcher

7th-FA

OU Football Spring Preview Part One: Who Is and Isn't Back, Exciting New Players

Who We Lost

Last Year's Redshirts

New Players To Watch

Big 12 All-Conference Teams & Players of the Year