NORMAN — Isn’t it amazing how many Oklahoma football stories these days begin with the words, “A year ago …”
It is the 2010 season. Sam Bradford, Gerald McCoy, Trent Williams and Jermaine Gresham have all exited via the NFL draft’s first round.
It’s a new day.
Nonetheless, sometimes, it’s just required. Particularly when the subject becomes the Sooner offensive line.
Bob Stoops got after the line heading into spring of 2009. Approaching preseason practice, the line was popular as the No. 1 question mark on the team. But as opening day approached, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, a line coach by trade, was telling anybody who would listen his maligned young group would shock the world (or surprise folks, anyway).
Silent on the topic was Stoops.
In retrospect, it appears clear the head coach never quit being suspect of the line and certainly never bought into the hype generated by his offensive coordinator.
So just who do you think was the offensive line’s biggest defender at Friday’s 2010 media day.
Stoops, of course.
“I’m really excited, truthfully, about our offensive line,” he said. “I think it has a chance to be much, much better than people think.”
Try to forget the part about what people think, because it’s an old Stoops favorite, setting up the oppositional straw man with which to disagree. Allow yourself to bathe in the first part.
He’s … excited? Truthfully?
Stoops may not be Cool Hand Luke, but he’s no Excitable Boy either. If he’s excited about something, truthfully, you best pay attention.
While not fair to pin Bradford’s shoulder injuries on it — any line can give up a couple sacks — it’s still the case OU’s early season line issues last year were right out of the John Blake era. They were hilarious if only they had not been true. They were off-the-curve embarrassing.
Then came the injuries.
So bad was it, Eric Mensik, a recruited tight end, was pushed into service at a tackle spot before ever practicing at the position.
OU could hardly get through a practice.
But just as all good things can produce a few negative consequences, dark clouds sometimes produce silver linings.
The Sooners played a bunch of people on the line. Some made a real impact, like Steven Good, a preseason All-Big 12 tackle selection this year, or Mensik, who’s eaten himself from 260 to 290 pounds, who’s back at tight end, but more than anything to block.
Everybody got better.
“It was kind of like me. I hadn’t played any games,” Sooner quarterback Landry Jones said of his ever-changing year-ago line. “And now those guys have a whole year behind them … They’re going to have a great season.”
The preseason depth chart places Good and Tyler Evans at the guard spots, while Donald Stephenson and Cory Brandon are at left and right tackle. Ben Habern’s at center. As a result of classroom issues, only Stephenson didn’t play extensively last season, though he played as a freshman in 2008.
Backups include Jarvis Jones, Brian Lepak and Tavaris Jeffries. Those should be familiar names, every one having played a bunch last season.
The Sooners claim to have quality. They certainly have depth.
“We came together really well during the spring,” Mensik said. “This group of guys is really good together.”
If he’s right, it means an end to drive-killing penalties. It means Jones has time to throw to Ryan Broyles and maybe a few others. It means DeMarco Murray has room to run.
If he’s right, a door to greatness might just open.
Clay Horning 366-3526 cfhorning@normantranscript.com
