Latest proof that '01 OU D should have been impenetrable
Published: 11/19/2010 11:01 AM
Last Modified: 11/19/2010 11:01 AM
Select regional scribes are putting together an all-time all-Big 12 team. I've seen two ballots so far, from two of the best -- Dave Matter of the Columbia Daily Tribune and Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star.
Matter stuck one Oklahoma Sooner on his all-time offense: tackle Jammal Brown. Picking O-linemen for any awards team is never easy, but Brown should be a slam dunk. Outland Trophy winners typically are.
Matter chose four Sooners for his all-time defense: tackle Gerald McCoy, linebacker Teddy Lehman, cornerback Derrick Strait and safety Roy Williams.
Kerkhoff selected Strait, Williams, Tommie Harris and Rocky Calmus for his defense.
Think about that for a second: FIVE players on OU's 2001 defense are strong enough to merit consideration on a league's all-time team.
It begs one of the all-time questions: How in the world did Kansas State score 37 points on that defense? At Owen Field no less? What was K-State quarterback Ell Roberson made of that afternoon?
Kerkhoff gave three Sooners the nod for his offense: Brown, running back Adrian Peterson and guard Duke Robinson.
Why did Matter leave off Peterson? "I went with (Darren) Sproles," he wrote, "who in this voter's opinion had a more complete career and was more valuable to his team. Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin was a distant fourth on my ballot."
Matter also considered Jermaine Gresham at tight end, but went with Missouri's Chase Coffman. He selected Michael Crabtree and Rashaun Woods at wide receiver over Ryan Broyles and Jeremy Maclin.
Matter considered Harris and Dan Cody for his defensive linemen (that's a SIXTH '01 Sooner by the way), and Curtis Lofton at linebacker.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
