The Football Brainiacs

Image of Tay Evans via Scout

LINEBACKER

While I understand what qualifies as the ‘biggest question mark’ is largely a matter of opinion, for my money linebacker is right at the top of the list. Not only because OU lost three of their four starters, but also because they seem, if I may be so bold, almost ill-prepared as to how they replace said starters. Both from a depth (looking at the current roster, while yet to be updated, and I see all of six scholarship linebackers listed. And one of those six, Jordan Evans, is expected to miss most of spring ball. Even if you include walk-ons, I still have no clue where Bob Stoops is coming up with the 13 he referenced in his presser on Thursday) and experience (I’d challenge you to recall the last time you can remember any current OU linebacker not named Jordan Evans on the field in a non-blowout situation) standpoint.

Now I’ll grant you that whether it was under Brent Venables, Tim Kish, or Mike Stoops, OU has really never been one to rotate a ton of guys in at linebacker. They pretty much play their starters the entirety of every game. And if we’re taking Stoops’ comments at face value, the early departure of Dom Alexander to the NFL Draft came as a bit of a surprise to the coaches. However even with all of that said, one still has to ask why they’re in the position they currently find themselves in having to replace three starters with guys who, for all intents and purposes, haven’t really ever seen the field.

The depth, or lack there of, though is really the biggest issue in my opinion. Again, outside of walk-ons, you’re looking at a current roster with two(!!!) outside linebackers: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo & Ricky DeBerry. That’s it.

And yes they’re bringing in a bunch of guys at linebacker later this summer, but it’s not often realistic for guys who show up that late to come in and make an immediate impact. But they will be asked to because given the current situation, OU won’t have much else of a choice.

WIDE RECEIVER

Not sure why my man Super K’s wide receiver preview only had like 30 or so comments, as I found it to be a quality read that touched on a number of the guys OU will be looking to in 2016. And while I may not entirely share his optimism (SHOCKER for me, I know), I’m also not nearly as down on that group as some might assume.

It’s not a matter of lacking talent rather, much like at linebacker, a matter of inexperience. I firmly believe OU has a number of talented options with which to turn to, but until we see one (or more) of those guys actually step up I think it’s only fair to be at least a little bit skeptical.

I mentioned it on Twitter yesterday after K’s post went up, but I’ll repeat it here again for anyone who might of missed it. If you asked me to bet on one guy “making the leap” in 2016, for me that guy would be AD Miller. Now I’ll grant you at this point that’s mostly a gut feeling type of prediction, although we continue to hear positive things about the work he’s been putting in this offseason. I just kind of feel like of all the guys at WR, Miller has the best combination of size and speed to be that threat on the outside.

After redshirting in 2015, the speed of John Humphrey out of the slot also intrigues me as well. But like K said in his preview, and I very much agree with, in this Lincoln Riley there will be no shortage of either (1) options or (2) opportunity. It’s simply a matter of who, and hopefully how many, prove capable of stepping up and seizing what’s in front of them.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Oklahoma will have two brand new starting offensive guards in 2016 and a center who is shifting over from one of those guard spots after some might say had their own share of struggles at times last season. So yeah, this position group was bound to make the list.

The Sooners are looking to a trio of JUCO guys, two recent arrivals (Ashton Julious & Ben Powers) and one from last year’s squad (Jamal Danley), as well as a redshirt freshman (Cody Ford). Meanwhile, Alex Dalton is another guy who will likely be in the mix at some point as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered last year during the team’s bowl prep.

However there remains a theory among OU fans that the possibility exists Bill Bedenbaugh could move Dru Samia inside from right tackle. Now that’s 100% speculation at this point, but should someone like Bobby Evans or Quinn Mittermeier prove capable at tackle — be it right or left, then flipping Orlando Brown over to the right, where some believe is his more natural fit — then it could simply be a matter of moving Samia inside in an effort to get your best five on the field. Only time will tell, however, whether this ever materializes into anything more than a theory.

BACKUP QUARTERBACK

While I suspect some might argue this should be higher on the list, I have it beneath the other three above for one simple reason. Those are about starters, this is about a backup. Granted, with Baker Mayfield’s injury history it’s a VERY important position. But it’s still a backup.

Also between the QB preview we ran earlier in the week and everything else I suspect you’ve already read addressing the situation, I’m not entirely sure what else really needs to be said. You all know the situation and it’s less than ideal. You hope it’s not something they have to deal with, but in the event it does OU has done everything they can to prepare Austin Kendall and that he rises to the occasion. #analysis

PUNT RETURNER

Now if the plan is to simply have another designated fair catch guy as opposed to an actual punt return threat, then we can quickly eliminate this one from the list. However, I’m cautiously optimistic that won’t be the case again in 2016. I’d like to believe that’s not just wishful thinking on my part and common sense would dictate you don’t voluntarily concede one phase of the game that could easily swing momentum in your favor, but we have really the last two years as evidence to suggest otherwise.

As to the possible candidates, I suppose your guess is as good as mine. In other circumstances I probably wouldn’t be in favor of a guy like Joe Mixon being back there, but given the depth OU has at running back that may be a risk you feel comfortable taking. Along that same line of thinking, personally I’d prefer to not see someone like Dede Westbrook on punt return. Just seems like it would be a Sterling Shepard type of situation all over again.

Quick and Humphrey, I’d suspect, are a couple of other names who could likely be under consideration as well.