The Football Brainiacs

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If you follow OU recruiting, you’re aware of several things: (1) That the Sooners don’t currently have a 2015 commit at the linebacker position. (2) OU very recently missed out on two of their top targets at the position. And (3) for whatever reason/s recruiting the position has been somewhat of a struggle in recent years.

Struggling at any one position is obviously never a good thing when it comes to recruiting, but the linebacker position has become doubly important for Oklahoma because (as you all know) they employ a 3-4 scheme now rather than the traditional 4-3 we became accustomed to during Bob Stoops’ first decade plus in Norman.

So with the added emphasis on the position and the fact that OU is very clearly struggling to land their first 2015 LB commit, I thought we’d put together a quick diagram of why some of us are a little worried. Take a look at the picture below which is a very simple illustration of sorts as to what a projection of the position would look like next year as things stand today. There are some obvious caveats as I suspect you’ve already noticed and I will explain below. But for now just look at that version of a depth chart and let it sink in. (*If the image is too small, just click on it to enlarge)

Okay, let’s just dive right in.

* Scary, right? And I don’t mean in terms of talent. There is plenty of talent represented there, but the lack of depth is incredibly alarming. Or at least it was for me. That is every linebacker currently on the roster reasonably certain to return in 2015. If they had one at the position, I would have also included any current commits.

* First, I assume the immediate take away is “Where the hell is Striker?” Well, I left him off for a specific reason. It’s just because he’ll be draft eligible following this season. And it’s not because some NFL Draft “experts” have, at times, listed him as a potential first round draft pick. And it’s definitely not because there has even been the slightest whisper about him wanting to leave early. If I were a betting man, even in spite of what I’ve already written, I expect (and, as a fan, sincerely hope) he will stay for his senior season. BUT when it comes to recruiting you have to hope for the best while planning for the worst.

Which, in my opinion, means if you’re an OU coach, you can’t just assume Striker will be back. You have to recruit as though he may not be. There are no guarantees when it comes to this type of decision. The minute you think a kid is coming back and you coast on the recruiting trail as a result, then say that kid changes his mind at the last minute and now you’re screwed because you thought you had it made with them on campus for another year.

That’s why I left Striker off. I think he’ll be back, hope like hell he’ll be back, but if you’re an OU coach you can’t just take for granted he will be. You have to plan/recruit as though he won’t and what you see above is that plan.

* We’ve seen basically one game from Devante Bond and while he looked pretty good against Texas, it was still just one game. If that had been the final game of the year, could you honestly say you felt confident about that spot going into 2015?

Admittedly, that’s a loaded question. It wasn’t the last game of the year as we have at least six more to see what Bond can do, assuming they continue to play him like we saw last Saturday. And we don’t know what he is or isn’t doing in practice, so the coaches certainly have a better feel for where things stand there as well. Maybe Bond proves to be the beast many thought he’d be after watching his JUCO highlights.

But even if that’s the case, and we don’t know it to be right now, he’ll be a senior next year. And the guy listed behind him, P.L. Lindley, will also be a senior. So if you’re projecting ahead to 2016, as the OU coaches always have to be doing, both those guys are gone. And there isn’t a third guy listed behind them because I didn’t have room to list one. There’s no one listed because there is no one else on the current roster or committed that could be listed.

* Similar situation on the other side. We’ve seen glimpses of what ‘Obo’ may be capable of and they have been very, very promising, but they’re still just glimpses. Then you have Curtis Bolton behind him, who is redshirting this year, and while his h.s. film was also very impressive we have no clue yet if he can play at this level.

Again, it’s not about a lack of talent. Both guys appear to have plenty, but it’s about the inexperience. Even if ‘Obo’ were to expand his role in the defense this year and look primed to have a breakout season in 2015, what if he were to get hurt. You’re going to be confident in a kid like Bolton who will have either never seen the field or, at best, will have a very limited number of snaps?

* And before I go any farther, some of you may be say (or may have already stopped reading) “Well, sure, but this is all ‘what if’ type stuff.” And you’re not wrong.

But ask yourself, if you’re a coach is it possible to recruit any other way than to approach things from a ‘what if’ perspective. Isn’t that the only way you can truly prepare and have your roster ready for whatever scenario may present itself in a given season?

I don’t know how the answer could be anything besides, yes. So that’s I chose to approach this little exercise.

Moving on.

* Inside is where it gets really scary for me. They literally have three ILBs right now that project to be on the roster in 2015. I’m sorry but that’s ridiculous.

Now, to be fair, part of that is because of the Frank Shannon situation, which is another name I chose not to include but could be there depending on how that whole thing shakes out. But, again, as a coach you can’t just presume, after all that’s happened and how that whole thing went down, Shannon will chose, or even be allowed, to come back next year.

But even in making that caveat, you’re not even two deep at the position without the possible scenario of having to go to a redshirt freshman in Tay Evans who, like Bolton, would have very little if any experience on the field.

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I want to be clear, even though I’ve already mentioned it a couple different times, this has nothing to do with a lack of talent. They have talent. However, what they do not have is depth. And that’s where the concern lies because you have; Bond who has already dealt with an injury, J.Evans who has missed time with an injury, Okoronkwo who redshirted because of an injury, and Alexander who has played through multiple injuries.

We’re still several months away from signing day, but even if OU was able pull off something of a minor miracle and land any number of the remaining top targets on their board, they’re still going to be true freshman. And true freshman at a position very few kids come in physically or mentally prepared for at the level in which OU plays.

Obviously things could change significantly if Striker stays (IMO, likely) and/or if Shannon were to rejoin the school/program (who knows), but as I’ve said those are things as a coach you cannot count on happening.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. And as it stands today, the planning stage is looking like it could use all the help it can get.