I forgot to mention that DL Gerald McCoy was also staying. These were all some pretty key players. And some good leadership coming back for next season. But why Sam Bradford is staying is beyond me. Personally I think it's a mistake coming back, when he could have been one of the first players taken in the NFL draft. I just hope he doesn't get hurt next season trying to operate behind a new offensive line.
It will most likely be a play-in game. But I definitely think an improved OSU team who has everybody back will have a say in the Big 12 South. In the North Division Nebraska could be tough next year if they can find a QB. OU has a very tough schedule next season. Probably one of if not the toughest in the country. They open the season playing BYU in Arlington, TX. Then the next week they have to go play Miami in Miami. And then they come back home and play Tulsa, who is another dangerous team. Plus OU has Big 12 games on the road against Nebraska, Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas in Dallas. I don't have high hopes for the Sooners next season with having to rebuild their offensive line. Texas chances are a little better than OU's. Although they have to replace the bulk of their defensive line and WR's Cosby and Shipley.. But The Horns have a very cupcake non conference schedule. Then they have to go to Mizzou, OSU and Texas A&M. OSU especially will be tough to beat in Stillwater. Like this season, I doubt that anybody from the Big 12 will come out of the conference undefeated next year.
i am also shocked but i seriously applaud the guy for coming back if he is happy....he is king of campus and im sure will live more in that 1 year than most of us do in a lifetime and you cant put a $$$ on that LOL...
i am also sure he has a hefty insurance policy on himself before he runs out on the field for spring practice....like 7figures big....he will be OK....
i am also sure he has a hefty insurance policy on himself before he runs out on the field for spring practice....like 7figures big....he will be OK....
Texas weak schedule will probably hurt them in the BCS (god forbid it is still there in all it's splendor). If OU squeeks thru its tough schedule than it will be back up there. The game in Dallas should be the game of the year if hostility has anything to do with it. Like that rivalry needs more fuel for the fire. OSU is a factor too. According to flsunman there is no sense in the Big 12 even competing next year because Tebow will lead them to the chosen land again. With USC losing their QB and others things change in the PAC 10. Ohio St has an emerging superstar QB, and Penn St could come back hungry and motivated next year too. If LSU or Mississippi beats Florida there could be a bunch of one loss teams again next year. I have not looked at UTAH, TCU, or Boise St.'s schedules but one of them could go undefeated and really make a mess of things. Next year might be more fun than this year.
Without a true playoff it is all pretty unpredictable.
OU has a very tough schedule early in the year when they are the most vulnerable. I don't have alot of high hopes for the Sooners. But i might feel better about them after the spring. Texas has a soft schedule, but something tells me it isn't going to be OU they have to worry about with their schedule and the BCS. It's the other teams around the country who will most likely have identical records to them that they'll have to worry about. Flsuman could be right about Florida. I really don't see any team outside of maybe USC who will be able to compete with them unless Texas can somehow go undefeated. The Shorthorns still have to replace Orakpo, Miller and Lewis off of the defensive line. That may not be easy. Boise State is the only non BCS team who has a chance to go undefeated. The three heavyweights in the Mt West BYU, Utah and TCU lose way too many players to graduation to be able to compete with the big boys next season. The team I really like next season out of the Big 10 is Iowa. But I haven't heard if Shonn Green is coming back. They should be loaded next season with very few graduations. The ACC in general will be a much tougher conference next season if you go by graduations. FSU, NC State North Carolina and especially Va Tech should be pretty tough next season. If I had to pick a team from another conference who will compete with Florida for the BCS title it would probably be the ACC champ.
GS,
How do you see OU's receiving corp performing next year? We all know that OU and Texas both bring in plenty of talent at the OL position. If OU can find someone to replace Iglesias, with Bradford and Gresham back, I feel they will be just as dangerous on offense. I'm probably one of the few Longhorn fans that was actually hoping they would come back because this makes the RRS even more exciting and could help mask Texas' soft OOC schedule. I also see Bradford's return leveling the playing field in 2010 with Texas and OU both having first year starters at QB (assuming
Bradford does leave after next season). Look forward to your Big 12 discussions next season.
How do you see OU's receiving corp performing next year? We all know that OU and Texas both bring in plenty of talent at the OL position. If OU can find someone to replace Iglesias, with Bradford and Gresham back, I feel they will be just as dangerous on offense. I'm probably one of the few Longhorn fans that was actually hoping they would come back because this makes the RRS even more exciting and could help mask Texas' soft OOC schedule. I also see Bradford's return leveling the playing field in 2010 with Texas and OU both having first year starters at QB (assuming
Bradford does leave after next season). Look forward to your Big 12 discussions next season.
GoSooners:How can you access NCAA football schedules for next season?
Question: Does Bradford know something we don't know? I did not think he would come back and like you I am not sure it is in his long term best interests. Maybe there is more hope in Norman than we gave credence to. They surprised me last year (especially the T Tech game) so I can not say I have a finger on their pulse any more. I have been following OU since I was a boy scout ushering at their games (over 50 years ago). Iowa does have a nice team and coach. Do Florida and Florida St. play next year?
Question: Does Bradford know something we don't know? I did not think he would come back and like you I am not sure it is in his long term best interests. Maybe there is more hope in Norman than we gave credence to. They surprised me last year (especially the T Tech game) so I can not say I have a finger on their pulse any more. I have been following OU since I was a boy scout ushering at their games (over 50 years ago). Iowa does have a nice team and coach. Do Florida and Florida St. play next year?
The OU/Texas series almost always goes in cycles. And I still believe at this point that Texas still has a small advantage. But one thing that could make it interesting next season is OU's defense, who doesn't lose many players to graduation. I actually think this will be the strong part of the team. Also OU has a much tougher non conference schule leading up to that game. Which never hurts. But Bradford will really miss his offensive line. You just can't replace a line overnight that had well over one hundered starts combined. And as it stands, Bradford isn't a mobile QB. In fact he doesn't run at all. He'll have to next season. Just look at the problems that McCoy had last year when Texas was trying to replace some players on the line. And he's a mobile QB. This is why my hopes aren't real high right now. Bradford loses his two best receivers Iglesias and Manuel Johnson. And gets back Gresham and Ryan Broyles, along with Murray catching passes out of the backfield.. But not having his usual tagets to throw to will probably hurt them early on. I'm kind of hoping that Stoops decides to bring OU back to a more power running team behind DeMarco Murray. But they probably won't since it is harder for a new offensive lineman to learn run blocking schemes as opposed to pass blocks. Texas in a way has the same problem. They absolutely need to find a running game if they want to compete against a team like Florida. McCoy can't do it all himself. That was pretty evident when they went up against a good Ohio State defense. And a Florida or USC are both faster and better on defense than Ohio State.
I couldn't find a site where I could find them all at one time. Mainly because half of the teams schedules aren't totally decided yet. Not even OU's. There are two or three openings on their schedule that say TBA. But I do know Tulsa will be one of them although they aren't officially listed. We should know more in a few weeks when all of the teams get their games and times ironed out. As for Bradford, I really don't know why he's coming back. He was a very shy kid last year..But just looking at him this year, my guess is he's kind of come out of his shell this season and is just now finding himself. So his fun may just be starting as a college kid at OU. You also have to remember that he's been at OU for 3 years. So he could be going back next year to get his degree. Which according to his parents, is very important. If he's like the last two QB's for OU he may end up needing it. But i will give it to him that Bradford has more NFL talent than White and Huepel. But his lack of mobility kind of concerns me in the modern pro game. As for FSU and Florida, I'm not sure if they meet next season. But year in and year out the Florida teams usually get stuck with playing one or the other. Florida just happened to have both Miami and FSU on their schedule this year. Seems like I read somewhere that Florida has a pretty easy schedule by SEC standards next season. That's why they have to be considered the frontrunner. But as we all know, that's no guarantee.
GoSooners: I heard on the Sports Animal that only two NFL teams have quarterbacks who did not attend college at least four years (even if they did not graduate). If I heard that I am sure he, someone in his family, or a friend may have heard that also. That is a pretty impressive statistic if it is valid. You are right, he has come out of his shell this year. No one I know has ever been able to explain why he never runs, especially designed runs like OU used to run. We used to use the same shovel pass that Florida hit us with. Do you think they will add that to his resume next year or will they continue to protect him and restrict his running again, for what ever reason?
I decided that I was going to turn off the radio and not listen to the Sports Animal for at least two weeks until all of the "Stoops can't win the big one" blew over. I hate hearing that shit over and over. Anyway, I think there is some validity to being a more mature 4 year QB entering the NFL. Matt Ryan was a good example this season when he came right in and started for Atlanta and took them to the playoffs. I've never been big on players leaving early. Especially in a game like football as opposed to basketball or baseball.. Your better prospects for leaving early are physical running backs like Adrien Peterson. Not QB's, unless they are something very special. Bradford strikes me as a player that still has some learning to do. But it wouldn't surprise me one bit if his draft status goes down a little after next season. His offensive line gave him alot of protection that most QB's don't get the luxury of having. Next year he'll grow up fast. I just hope he don't get hurt. Or else he'll be back for his senior season too. I just don't think Bradford fits into the same schemes as a Tebow and Florida runs. If your QB isn't a run threat, it totally takes the prospect of a run option away. Opposing defenses know for a fact he won't run. In fact I won a little bet on the Florida game for Bradford to run over/under for 5 yards. That was an easy win. But plays like the shovel pass are still a possibilty. I'm sure Stoops picked up a few things watching the Florida offense dismantle the OU defense in the second half of that game.
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GoSooners: The biggest difference between Tebow and Bradford is Tebows ability to run which sets up other things. It just makes things more unpredictable. To me it was obvious that there was a difference between playing against Florida in the red zone then what OU had encouontered against some of (if not most of) their Big 12 opponents. Our lowest point outputs were against Texas and Florida. I know we played TCU and they have a fine defense but we stunned them early and that was the largest crowd they saw all year. Maybe some wildcat or another QB coming in for certain situations. They can't protect Sam forever and either in college or in the NFL he is going to get leveled like he has never been leveled before. This may hurt his draft status next year but I don't think he is all about the money, probably has an insurance policy to protect him, and maybe he is realistic about becoming a super star in the NFL. Like Tebow and McCoy they are all great college QB's, you can't take that away from them.
Russ...I think many were pretty high on TCU's defense this season. But in my opinion Florida's was better. OU played TCU early in the season before the Sooners really got their running game cranked up. And with the exception of Murray, OU played Florida at close to full strength, and pretty much got shut down in the second half. Florida had a much quicker defense than TCU. And they were also much better in defending the pass. But I still feel like a good running team with a mobile QB would give the Gator defense a lot of problems. OU did in the first half of the game in running Brown. But Brown was all we had. If we had a mobile QB or possibly Demarco Murray catching passes coming out of the backfield, it would have given their defense something more to think about.
BS...I don't know about you, but I kind of feel like the pendulum is swinging a little towards OSU over OU. The Pokes are still probably a couple years away, but my feeling right now is OU better have one hell of a recruiting class in 2010 or else Okie Lite could overtake the Sooners as the best in-state team. Losing these BCS games aren't helping OU's cause. And Boone Pickens is sinking so much money into that program that I think they're going to start seeing results next season. DC Beckman left for Toledo, but I think Gundy will go out and get the best assistants that Boone Pickens money can buy.I couldn't have said it better myself.
As far as the Big 12 South goes OSU gets Texas at home next year. They have gotten them down early there before only to let them out for an eventual win. Baylor's offense is capable. Texas Tech has to replace key playmakers. Texas has some holes to fill and all of that hyped up motivation but I really don't see them as more motivated than OU. OU gets OSU at home this year. One thing did change for OU last year. The crowd actually learned how to be a home team advantage at the Texas Tech game. If that spills over and begins to become more common at least for big games OU could actually start to have a real home team advantage for at least a while. OSU has had a history of losing really good assistants lately and that hurts continuity. With Gundy calling plays like he did last year he will probably continue to do that, if so that helps continuity. Robinson was obviously hurt during the Oregon game but he is a true gamer who is dangerous out of the pocket. He will garner even more attention next year. It turned out the Missouri win last year was not really all that but it was a building block. What would be truly sweet is to have both OU and OSU beat Texas next year. I can't remember that happening in a long time.
