The Football Brainiacs

Image of Rodney Anderson via Sooner Sports

With spring football starting on Saturday, we figured now was as good a time as any to preview where things stand with this Oklahoma football program. Coming off a disappointing loss in last year’s CFB playoff and returning 14 total starters, there will be no shortage of expectations for this 2016 squad. The plan is to preview things by position group, both as to where things stand in the spring and project how things might play out later this fall. So let’s get started.

* Much like our quarterback preview, there is very little up in the air with respect to running back as well given who OU returns in 2016. Between Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon there is a strong argument to be made that no other team in the country can boast as dangerous a RB duo. And the talk that Mixon has added some bulk yet looking even quicker than he did last year only adds to the anticipation of what we can expect from both he and Perine this season.

When it comes to spring practices, however, I’m not sure how much you should expect to hear about either. If Perine isn’t held out almost entirely, he’s all but guaranteed to get the Bob Stoops treatment in limiting his snaps considerably. And understandably so, there is nothing that guy needs to prove taking unnecessary wear and tear on his body during the spring given his running style and how much that takes a toll on him during the actual season. I’d expect Mixon will be somewhat limited as well seeing as he’s not someone who will be fighting for a job and the coaches know what he brings to the table.

* So the guy that should have the most prominent role this spring figures to be redshirt freshman Rodney Anderson, who is expected to be ready to return following a broken leg suffered during the Tennessee game last year. Anderson was a guy that this same time last year the OU coaches were raving about, both for this athleticism and physicality.

By the time fall rolls around, OU will be legitimately six deep at RB (which is pretty ridiculous to think about). And yet I’m extremely confident Lincoln Riley & co. find some type of role for Anderson in this offense.

* Similarly, I also believe there is a role for Daniel Brooks in this OU offense. If for no other reason than he’s such a different type of back from everyone else on the roster. Quick, shifty guy with really good speed who can get to the corner and make plays in space. Granted, with Perine/Mixon/Ross/Anderson all likely ahead of him touches are likely to be limited, but he’s still a guy I think could excel in that type of role.

* Which brings us to the enigma that is Alex Ross. Not to start off on a tangent, but is it just me or does it seem like Ross is one of those guys you feel like has been at OU for 10 years? Anyway, back on topic. We’ll get to Ross as a kick returner — although I’m not sure what we, or anyone, can offer outside of ‘WTF?’ — when we preview OU’s special teams, but as for what he brings to this offense as a running back at this point I’m kind of left scratching my head.

We’ve seen, at times, Ross have success, but more often than not it seems the offense struggles to move the ball consistently when the it’s in his hands. If I were a betting man, I’d say some, possibly even most, of Ross’ carries become Anderson’s, but I suppose only time will tell on that.

* Abdul Adams is the lone RB in OU’s 2016 signing class and while he has a ton of ability, you have to believe a redshirt is in his future. Although if I were to hedge my bets on that, I’d include a fairly substantial qualifier.

As seniors-to-be, OU is assured of losing both Ross & Brooks. In addition, many people believe given the short shelf life of NFL running backs, there is a legit chance they could also lose Perine & Mixon, both of whom will be draft eligible following this season. So it would appear there is an argument to be made that you’d need to have Adams “ready” for that 2017 season, where you could be looking at both he and Anderson as your primary ball carriers.

Now where you find carries to get Adams “ready” with five other talented, more experienced backs ahead of him on the depth chart is a question that’s above my pay grade. I will say, however, that I’d hate to see a year wasted with Adams playing special teams, something we would have seen just this past season with Anderson were it not for the broken leg. I’ve just never understood how playing special teams prepares a young guy for when they are expected to have a more prominent role the following season.