By John Shinn
When Oklahoma last stepped off the field, it was after a 55-19 mauling by Southern California at the Orange Bowl. It was the only blemish on an otherwise spectacular 2004 season.
Fairly or unfairly, the secondary took much of the blame for the Bowl Championship Series title-game debacle.
That’s water under the bridge. The safeties from last year’s team, Brodney Pool and Donte Nicholson, are gone. Cornerback Antonio Perkins followed them to the NFL. Even Bo Pelini, last season’s secondary coach, bolted for LSU in the offseason.
This season will definitely be one of transition for OU’s secondary, which remains one of the biggest question marks on the team.
But co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright doesn’t consider that a bad thing. Competition makes players better and there’s been plenty of it at the positions under his watch.
“If you don’t come out and play everyday, then those jobs don’t belong to any individual, they belong to the University of Oklahoma,” Wright said. “Our guys know that, and we preach that to them every day that every practice you have to come out and compete to win a job.”
It’s a philosophy that runs throughout OU’s roster. The best players play. Age and experience don’t matter. The philosophy shows in the secondary.
D.J. Wolfe was ha highly-touted running back last season. But he saw his playing opportunities limited by the emergence of Adrian Peterson. He moved to cornerback in the spring and has moved atop of the depth chart this preseason.
“I’m a cornerback now,” he said. “This is all I think about.”
OU coach Bob Stoops has been impressed.
“D.J. has made great strides,” Stoops said. “He is getting more aggressive the more he feels at home. He has the ability to do well there.”
Wright feels the same way about the rest of the secondary. Senior Chijioke Onyenegecha has earned a spot atop the chart at the other corner.
Sophomore Marcus Walker, who started the final five games last season after coming out of redshirt, has been slowed by shoulder injuries dating back to last season. Still, when healthy, he should see plenty of playing time.
Eric Bassey, a senior, should too.
“I feel pretty good about the two-deep,” Wright said. “Our corners have really had a great camp and they continue to impress me.”
Bassey has started off and on the last four years and Onyenegecha played extensively last year.
The safety spots are where the experience is lacking. Lewis Baker, a converted linebacker, has moved to strong safety and is being pushed by highly-touted freshman Reggie Smith.
Darien Williams, a sophomore, has emerged at free safety. But junior Jason Carter, sophomore Tony Cade and freshman Nic Harris are all competing for playing time.
Wright, who has had concerns about his safety spots, believes his players are rounding into shape.
The best sign has been the aggressive play they’ve displayed in OU’s three preseason scrimmages. The Sooners only picked off nine passes last season, but they’ve been able to get their hands on pass after pass through preseason drills.
“Coach Wright always stresses going after the ball when it’s in the air,” Onyenegecha said. “There’s no rule that says only the receivers can get it.”
Turnovers could be the statistics that defines OU’s secondary. Since Stoops arrived in 1999, the ability to create turnovers has been a Sooner staple … until last season.
If this group can turn that around, it will have come a long way.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
