Oklahoma knew back in March where its biggest question mark was. The Sooners were going to enter the 2006 season with an offensive line in flux.

Four senior starters had departed and depth was going to major a issue to a young group. And all that was before sophomore guard J.D. Quinn was dismissed from the team.

Most brushed those issues aside in the wake of Paul Thompson’s return to the quarterback spot, but offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson seemed more concerned with the impact on the offensive line.

“J.D. Quinn was going to be a 50/50 starter,” Wilson said. “He played some for us as a freshman, he was going to be a backup center … He was a guy that had a good chance to start and if not start, be a major contributor and contributing in that center capacity, to give us some good depth there.”

Because for all the talent the Sooners have at running back in Adrian Peterson and out wide with a group of talented young receivers, it all starts with the offensive line.

Senior left tackle Chris Messner is the only player who has started more than an a handful of games and he’s only started eight. Sophomore center Jon Cooper, tackle Branndon Braxton and guard Duke Robinson all gained some experience last season, but the numbers are still thin.

But for a group of guys who all weigh over 280 pounds, thin is a word that doesn’t have much meaning.

“We have the numbers we need,” Messner said. “We have some guys coming up that are working hard. We were down in the spring and we did fine then. We’ve had a whole summer to get some of these freshmen ready. I feel like we’re going to be all right.”

Following Quinn’s dismissal, Redshirt freshman Brian Simmons moved into the right guard spot. It was a familiar spot for him because he worked all spring while Quinn recovered from an injury.

However, he’s already missed some practice time with a knee injury.

OU coach Bob Stoops said freshman Chase Beeler from Jenks has looked impressive in early workouts and could be one of the youngsters who breaks through this season.

“He really was impressive with his lifting and his strength. Unfortunately, he had an ankle sprain at some point this summer, which he’s still working through,” Stoops said. “But you hear the kids talking. He works hard and looks good, even with a sore ankle.

“But he has the strength and the power to really step in right away. And we’ll see with the other guys, but we’ll work them all and see.”

Then again coaches always preach the importance of depth. In a perfect world they’d like all 14 of the offensive linemen on the roster to be perfectly interchangeable.

But that won’t be the case. OU will play the hand that’s been dealt and leave the complaining to others. For the Sooners, the only issue is getting what they’ve got ready.

“We’ll have seven or eight guys that we like by the time it’s ready to play,” Stoops said. “We’ve got our numbers back in a decent way and we’ll keep improving but I think there’s a lot of potential there with some guys like Brandon Braxton.

“He’s got great ability, he’s becoming a leader in the huddle, a rangy big and strong guy. Chris Messner is looking really good. Jon Cooper is coming back from that ankle injury as well. So everybody loves to paint this terrible picture, but it’s not that way.”

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com



Notes



Practice open today, but not after

Anyone wanting to watch an Oklahoma practice better be at the OU rugby fields at 5 p.m. today.

OU coach Bob Stoops announced today’s practice will be the final one open to the public and media. Stoops did not give a reason for the change.

He left open the possibility of OU’s scrimmages still being open. The Sooners’ first scrimmage is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday. A second scrimmage is slated for 11 a.m. Aug. 19.



Smith named to Thorpe watch list

Defensive back Reggie Smith has been named to the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s best college defensive back.  

Smith, who is one of 33 candidates, started 10 games in 2005 as a freshman and recorded 47 tackles en route to being named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 teams.

The Edmond native joins four other Sooners who were named to various preseason watch lists this season in June (Adrian Peterson — Maxwell Award, C.J. Ah You and Larry Birdine — Hendricks Award and Rufus Alexander — Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy).

OU has three Jim Thorpe Award winners in program history. Derrick Strait last won the award in 2003, two years after Roy Williams was honored in 2001. Rickey Dixon became the Sooners’ first recipient in 1987.



— John Shinn