By John Shinn
For two years Oklahoma’s offensive line has been billed as one of the best in the program’s long history. Most see guys who’ve been starting games since 2005 while others see the raw size and athletic ability as the basis for the favorable comparisons.
But OU’s coaches have tempered the praise for the big men up front. It isn’t because they’re downplaying expectations. It’s because consistency is the true measuring stick for an offensive line.
Can the unit play up to its potential on a weekly basis?
Last season it didn’t. OU’s three losses all included bad days from the offensive line.
“We take responsibility for it,” OU center Jon Cooper said.
Despite those lulls, many believe the best offensive line in college football resides in Norman.
There’s plenty of evidence to back up that theory.
OU has five seniors in Branndon Braxton, Cooper, Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker who are all returning starters. That group has combined on 131 career starts. Junior tackle Trent Williams and junior guard Brian Simmons combined for eight starts last season.
That experience and talent helped average more than 42 points and nearly 450 yards a game last season.
“I think it does begin with the offensive line,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “If they will be more consistent, more physical and play at a higher level then it will give (the team) an opportunity to be physical and run the ball. If we will protect the quarterback, we will still throw it more efficiently and very well.”
Consistency will be the key for the Sooners’ offensive line this season. It has been the group’s mantra throughout spring and preseason practice.
The preseason accolades have been nice, but carry no weight on the practice field.
“We don’t walk around with our chests poked out,” Braxton said.
The No. 1 area OU has worked to improve is focus. About the only thing that slowed OU last season was penalties.
Robinson, a guard, had a consensus All-American season, but was still guilty of the misdeeds in several games. He wasn’t alone.
“The false starts and penalties for me were more of my desire to want to attack the person across from me and attack the defensive player, and I had to calm down,” he said. “I still have to have the same intensity that I had, but get off those false starts and those penalties. I need the same intensity, but need to slow down and just relax and still need to be able to do my job at the same time. We’re working on that, and we have done better this camp.”
If it doesn’t work out, the coaching staff believes it has a group of very talented youngsters ready to accept more playing time.
Cory Brandon, Donald Stephenson, Jason Hannan and Alex Williams are all sophomores or redshirt freshmen. They constitute the future of the Sooner offensive line and are a group that should play together for several years. In other words, follow the same model as the group OU expects to pave the way this season.
For most of them, this is the last go round. It’s not often a program has the chance to line up with a senior-laden offensive line. The Sooners will this season. It should be the strength of a very talented offense. It was in most games last season.
The goal in 2008 is to make it the case in every game.
“We’ll find out how good we are,” offensive line coach James Patton said. “I think everybody wants to be great starting the season, and it’s good to be recognized. But it doesn’t matter where we start, it’s where we finish.”
