Oklahoma is lower than every week away from the beginning of its 2022 marketing campaign. While there’s been heaps of optimism and positivity coming from the camp in Norman all summer season, elsewhere, folks aren’t as offered on Oklahoma’s potential this season.
Some of the writers at CBS Sports shared their thoughts on the Big 12 heading into 2022. The convention’s flagship applications, Oklahoma and Texas, have been deemed two of its most overrated teams. Shehan Jeyarajah had this to say in regards to the Sooners.
The Sooners have been the mannequin of consistency over the previous six years, however they’re getting into a brand new period. More than 40% of the roster is new, in response to Venables. Gone are the highest two quarterbacks, main two rushers, 4 of the highest 5 receivers, and the highest three sack leaders from final season. There’s loads of new expertise to interchange the losses, however they haven’t performed collectively. The teaching employees is new, and the scheme and philosophy are new. This isn’t a turnkey operation, and we gained’t see one of the best of Oklahoma till November. – Shehan Jeyarajah (additionally Barrett Sallee), CBS Sports
There’s validity within the perception Oklahoma won’t appear like final 12 months. The factor about that individual thought is Oklahoma, particularly offensively, didn’t look good in any respect for a number of stretches final 12 months.
Spencer Rattler struggled. The offensive line struggled. The swap to Caleb Williams in the course of the season infused new life for some time. But the group nonetheless struggled with among the identical bigger points that plagued it when Rattler was underneath middle.
The offensive expertise that was misplaced, outdoors of operating again Kennedy Brooks, isn’t that massive of a deal, contemplating they now have a wholly new offensive system, and the offensive line has a brand new blocking scheme as nicely. The Sooners are bringing again three starters alongside the offensive line, their finest huge receiver Marvin Mims, and Theo Wease is getting back from lacking most of 2021.
Adding to that’s new beginning quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who’s had success in Jeff Lebby’s offense, which resulted in freshman All-American honors in 2019.
Defensively, the losses the Sooners suffered could also be extra vital, at the least proper now. Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas, Perrion Winfrey, Brian Asamoah and the security duo of Pat Fields and Delarrin Turner-Yell, had the expertise and manufacturing mixture that may’t simply get replaced. Potentially extra vital, most of these guys have been leaders in this system in addition to leaders for the protection. They misplaced six starters on a protection that must be higher in 2022 than final 12 months.
DaShaun White, David Ugwoegbu, Woodi Washington, Key Lawrence and Jalen Redmond must take massive steps ahead in manufacturing and management to assist maximize Oklahoma defensively.
All in all, the idea that Oklahoma could also be overrated could also be a slight exaggeration. Its video games with Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma State will inform us lots about who the Sooners are. If they go 0-3 or 1-2, it’s protected to say they have been overrated, however successful two of these or sweeping that trio of teams would possible be sufficient to get again to the Big 12 championship recreation. An look and win there would pull them from the overrated class in a heartbeat.
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