OU-BYU: Early advantage, Sooners
Published: 5/14/2009 8:59 AM
Last Modified: 5/14/2009 8:59 AM
There is some concern among Oklahoma fans about the 2009 football opener. For one thing, it looks like you're going to have to cough up a paycheck just to park your car at Jerry World.
Then there is the opponent.
BYU is a fringe top 25 team that will come out of the gate firing behind third-year starting quarterback Max Hall (3,957 yards and 35 touchdowns last year). Behind Hall is running back Harvey Unga, coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. That should get the Sooners' attention.
But then so should this: The Cougars are practically starting over up front.
"The offensive line was one of the strengths for the Cougars in '08, but freshman All-America tackle Matt Reynolds is the only returning starter," writes Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com "Senior R.J. Willing, a career backup at tackle, moves into the starting lineup at center."
Mr. Willing, meet Gerald McCoy. Good luck to you.
Lining up against McCoy, Jeremy Beal, Frank Alexander, Auston English and everyone else on one of the deepest, most talented defensive lines in the country is a chore if you're experienced. For such a green group to face OU's heat in a season opener? Wow.
Much has been made of the O-line rebuilding job facing the Sooners. Buchanan, in fact, topped his list of the "10 teams with something to prove up front" with OU. Trent Williams & Co. face a stern out-of-the-block test against BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen, the Mountain West Conference's all-time sacks leader with 24.
The Cougars' test, though, seems even harder. On paper alone, the early edge goes to the Sooners' front four.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
