By John Shinn
1. Who leaves early:
Oklahoma’s current junior class has several NFL-caliber players. The only question is how many of them will make the jump a year early. OU coach Bob Stoops said all of them would benefit from another year in school, but that may not stop one or two from leaving. Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly is the most likely. Assuming there aren’t too many defections, the Sooners will have the talent to win a national championship.
2. Consistent offensive line play:
OU returned five starters from the 2006 team and added another with the addition of left tackle Phil Loadholt. Despite the experience, the group was still hit-and-miss from Saturday to Saturday. The end of the season was a perfect example. Lousy against Texas Tech, great against Oklahoma State and Missouri, terrible against West Virginia. That won’t cut it.
3. Get the ball to the best players:
The Sooners thrived on being able to spread the ball around the entire field, but a major reason for their three losses was not being able to get the ball to their best offensive players when they need to. Kelly (9), tight end Jermaine Gresham (11) and DeMarco Murray (13) combined for 33 of OU’s offensive touchdowns, but the trio only got the ball an average of 19 times per game. OU has to do a better job delivering the ball.
4. Solidify secondary:
D.J. Wolfe and Marcus Walker played their final game at the Fiesta Bowl. The Sooners will break in a new cornerback and new strong safety next season. Lendy Holmes could move to cornerback or remain at free safety. Dominique Franks could also fill either void. Those questions should be answered in the spring.
5. Get tougher:
OU struggled on the road. It only played three true road games and went 1-2 and was dangerously close to going 0-3, eking out a 17-7 win at lowly Iowa State. The Sooners will have to go Washington, Kansas State, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M; next season. The last two will come in November when the Sooners figure to be in the heart of the Big 12 and national championship races. They’ll have to be strong enough to handle the atmosphere.
