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Updated: August 18, 5:59 PM ET OU's defense may be one of its best ever By Mark Wangrin Special to ESPN.com |
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Oklahoma Sooners
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Coach: Bob Stoops (43-9, 5th season) 2002 overall record: 12-2 Conference record: 6-2 Returning starters Offense: 6 Defense: 9 Kicker/Punter: 2 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Quentin Griffin (1,884 yds) Passing: Nate Hybl (2,538 yds) Receiving: Will Peoples* (571 yds) Tackles: Lance Mitchell* (124) Sacks: Jonathan Jackson* and Jimmy Wilkerson (6 each) Interceptions: Brandon Everage* and Derrick Strait* (6 each) Outlook: Bob Stoops was talking luck. Bad luck. Jason White's luck. "I think he's used up all his bad luck,'' the OU head coach said of his starting quarterback, who's blown out both knees in the last two years. "That's what I'm hoping for," White said. "At least I don't have any more knees to blow out." Knees? No. Opponents? Well, that's another story. White's return at quarterback, where he'll replace Rose Bowl MVP Nate Hybl, is a question mark most because the Sooners have so few. "Even in the spots where we lost a guy we have a chance to be better," Stoops said. "Maybe." One spot that's unlikely is at running back, where Quentin Griffin's emergence helped carry the Sooner offense last year. Griffin's gone, leaving two backs with promise, short-yardage back Kejuan Jones and Renaldo Works, who saved the early season game against Alabama, as the prime contenders. Stoops said he expects the offense to be "more diverse" this year, but he's more direct with his praise about the defense, saying it could be the best he's had at OU. Linebackers Teddy Lehman and Lance Mitchell will work behind tackle Tommie Harris, and the secondary could be the best in the country. Keep an eye on: Donte Nicholson. Under Stoops the Sooners have a tradition of producing outstanding safeties (Roy Williams, Brandon Everage) and the junior strong safety, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio Junior College, should be the next in line. He had a strong spring and his role will be magnified if free safety Brandon Everage's legal problems cost him playing time. Key game: The obvious choice would be the Texas matchup, which has decided the Big 12 South title two of the last three years. But OU has begun to own the Longhorns, something the Sooners can't claim about the Cowboys. Two straight losses, including a 2001 defeat that cost the Sooners a spot in the Big 12 title game and a shot at the national title, have stuck in their craw. "To do what we want to do we have to beat them,'' Lehman said. "We didn't reach all of our goals. We really want them this year." It's a good year if. . .: OU wins its fourth South Division title in five years and plays in the national championship game. If White can stay healthy, that's probable, but the quarterback play behind him has been a concern. Brent Rawls, who slipped from a shot at the starting job to fourth team over the summer because of bad work habits, could get a chance to redeem himself in the fall. Given White's history, they may need him. Mark Wangrin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News.
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