USA TODAY International Edition
Experienced Oklahoma offense ready for next step
Each week until the release of the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, USA TODAY Sports will examine a college football team projected to factor strongly in the initial rankings. This week: Oklahoma. The situation: The Sooners did about all that coach Bob Stoops could have asked of them in 2015, winning the Big 12 title and making their College Football Playoff debut. They lost to eventual national championship runner- up Clemson during that game. Can that experience help Oklahoma make the final step? Key returners and losses: The Sooners can feel quite good about the offensive side of things. The optimism begins with incumbent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who made the most of his fresh start in Norman by passing for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2015 and finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting. There’s no experienced backup available, however, so his teammates will need to help Mayfield avoid excessive contact.
There’s more good news in the backfield, with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon returning. H- back Dimitri Flowers likely will have an extensive role, especially as a fairly green corps of wideouts find their way.
The most significant loss to the offense from the 2015 senior class is go- to target Sterling Shepard. His 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns will be hard to replace. Dede Westbrook has the most explosive potential among the Sooners’ experienced pass catchers, but Jarvis Baxter and tight end Mark Andrews also are dependable.
Left tackle Orlando Brown is a terrific foundation on which to build a better interior line. Other veteran blockers include Dru Samia, who could move inside to guard or stay at the other tackle slot, and Jonathan Alvarez, who likely moves to center.
The defensive side of the ball has a lot more retooling to do, particularly at the linebacker level. Gone are last year’s senior leader, Eric Striker, and Dominique Alexander, an early entry to the NFL draft. Jordan Evans will hold down one of the inside linebacker spots, with Tay Evans ( no relation) lining up next to him to help stuff the run. Much will be asked of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who could line up at end or outside linebacker, to lead the Sooners’ pass rush. The depth in the secondary is less of a concern, with Jordan Thomas, Dakota Austin and Will Johnson all exhibiting cover- corner skills. Thomas’ status, though, was unclear after a June 30 arrest.
Key number: 41. Oklahoma needs to improve its pass protection. The Sooners allowed 41 sacks, or 3.15 per game. Only eight other Football Bowl Subdivision teams had their quarterbacks crunched more often. Why this is a top- 10 team: The returning talent and defending conference champion role will translate to a high ranking for the Sooners entering the season. The first half of the schedule is a killer. The Sooners will be wearing the bull’s- eye against Houston, the presumed standardbearer from the Group of Five leagues. A visit from Ohio State is followed by a tough conference opener at TCU. If the Sooners have anything in the tank by the end of October, their strength of schedule will put them in the Playoff mix.