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2009 Big Twelve discussion (Dez Bryant)

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BB73

BB73

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Stoops: Oklahoma's offensive line 'weak link of team'

NORMAN, Okla. -- On his way to the Heisman Trophy, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford rarely was concerned about his well-being when he dropped back to pass.

With an experienced, mammoth front line in front of him, Bradford was hardly touched by opposing defenders as he threw for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns. In 14 games, the Sooners allowed only 13 sacks -- one every 37 pass attempts.

It could take some time to forge a new unit that's as capable of protecting Bradford as the Sooners try to make another run to the BCS championship game -- and come away successful this time.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops called out his young offensive line Tuesday at the start of spring practice, using the kind of criticism he rarely aims at his own players.

"Whether it's their work ethic, their attitude, those kinds of things need to improve," Stoops said. "They haven't had the winter everybody else has had. They right now are the weak link of the team and we'll see if they can respond and have any kind of a spring and summer to help us be a team that can contend for a Big 12 championship.

"They'll be a big part of whether we will or will not depending on their attitude, workout habits, those kinds of things if we'll be able to do it. They've been very inconsistent that way in how they work and their toughness and discipline."

All-American guard Duke Robinson, all-Big 12 tackle Phil Loadholt, all-conference center Jon Cooper and guard Brandon Walker are gone from the starting five, and top reserve Branndon Braxton's career is also done after his senior year.

Cont'd ...
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Fiu ponders whether the conference was overrated last year.

cfn

Did the bowl season expose the Big 12 as overrated?

...

So no, the Big 12 wasn?t exactly exposed as overrated, but it didn?t come through as well as many expected meaning the league won?t automatically get the benefit of the doubt in the national respect department without a big non-conference season.

This year, it?ll be important to take a more critical eye when it comes to looking at the league considering the rebuilding job needed to be done by teams like Missouri and Texas Tech. It?ll also be important to keep an eye on Texas, a certain preseason top three-ranked team, and not just judge on its record. The schedule is light enough to make it a two-game season against Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State.

It?ll be vital to keep a record of how the North does in non-conference play to see how much it matters if and when the South fattens up on the lesser division. Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech don?t have anyone of note in non-conference play, unless you consider Tech?s date against Houston and A&M?s date with Arkansas impressive, so be wary of big, fat records by some of the South?s stars. However, there are several chances for the Big 12 to shine. For example ?

- Baylor plays at Wake Forest and hosts Connecticut
- Colorado goes to West Virginia
- Iowa State hosts Iowa
- Kansas State goes to UCLA
- Missouri plays Illinois and goes to Nevada
- Nebraska goes to Virginia Tech
- Oklahoma plays BYU and goes to Miami
- Oklahoma State hosts Georgia

The Spring Big 12 Team Rankings
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Oklahoma State
4. Nebraska
5. Kansas
6. Texas Tech
7. Missouri
8. Colorado
9. Texas A&M
10. Kansas State
11. Baylor
12. Iowa State


Cont'd ...
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Andy Staples answes five questions for the Big 12 this season:

SI.com

Spring football: The QB to watch, more burning Big 12 questions

Will anyone pull a Texas Tech and actually challenge Texas and Oklahoma for conference supremacy?

Can Nebraska become a contender again?

Who is the conference's most exciting player? (He picks Robert Griffin)

What's next for Texas Tech?

Will Missouri remain the best team in the North after losing its top three offensive weapons?

Cont'd ...
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I'm gonna keep an eye on Okie State. The Dawgs open up in Stillwater this year - not an easy matchup since they seem to explode with 40 point games at home.

T. Boone Pickens - we're comin' for you!
 
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Buckeneye;1437799; said:
Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and toss my hat in the ring for Okie on this one bud... :biggrin:
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Booooo!


bulldog.jpg


Go Dawgs!
 
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I'm excited to see Dez Bryant next year....he might be the best player in the country. He'll have the same buzz as Crabtree last year, except I think Bryant is actually better.

Okie State should be an offenive juggernaut yet again. The loss of Pettigrew hurts, but they still have playmakers all over the field.

Stillwater must have been crying as Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford announced they were coming back. Had they left, Okie State is prob the favorite.....

Big 12 might be the best conference in the country next year.
 
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Tresselbeliever;1437868; said:
lol. Because as you know, they dominated all their OOC opponents this past bowl season.
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I just don't put much stock in it. Like I don't put much stock in Ohio State being mediocre becuase they haven't gotten over the hump against UF, LSU, and Texas.

Texas, OU, Okie State, and Kansas all have very good QB's. Better than any 4 collective QB's in any other conference, and I don't think it is very close.

The only conference that compares would be the SEC, but outside of UF, I'm not sold on anyone. LSU is loaded, but Jefferson is still a bit of a wildcard. Alabama was exposed a bit by Utah, and are breaking in a new QB. UGA is reloading. I still don't know what to make of Ole Miss.

And the Big 10 is still a notch below, IMO.

I am looking forward to Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant connecting for a bazillion yards next year though. The best QB-WR duo in the country, IMO.
 
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I think the Big XII needs to consider fielding some defenses next year. Their offenses are good, but the numbers are a bit inflated by the atrocious defenses they face. Iowa State had the 31st ranked passing offense in the nation last year, and they won all of 2 games (Kent State and South Dakota State). They were one of the worst passing offenses in the Big XII, too. Does that give you an idea of how poor the Big XII defenses were? The bowl games weren't really a fluke - it would be a hell of a coincidence if all of those teams suddenly had an off day on defense.
 
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Tom Dienhart ranks the Big 12 coaches.

SI.com

Stoops inches past Brown for top spot in Big 12 coaching rankings

1. Stoops
2. Brown
3. Mangino
4. Leach
5. Pinkel
6. Briles
7. Pelini
8. Snyder
9. Sherman
10. Hawkins
11. Gundy
12. Rhoads

Cont'd ...
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