Oklahoma Sooners Season Hinges on O-Line Success

As the 2010 college football season rapidly approaches, fans everywhere want answers to their questions about what it may hold in store.

Where did graduation hit their team the hardest? Is this the year they finally break through and beat that hated rival? Will the new coaching staff have the answers the previous regime so obviously lacked?

Are they still going to stop selling beer after the third quarter?

For the University of Oklahoma, whatever success their team achieves may be a direct result of how well the offensive line performs. If this unit performs up to expectations, it could be a special year for the Sooners.

Even casual fans are probably aware that the team in Crimson and Cream from Norman is coming off a below-average year.

Picked as a preseason favorite to make another run at the title game, the Sooners stumbled from the gate.

In a one-point loss to BYU at Jerry World in Dallas to open the season, they lost 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford to a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the majority of the season.

They were out of the title chase by the fourth game with another heart-breaking one-point loss at Miami.

Despite an exceptional defensive effort for most of the season, OU did not nearly live up to the preseason hype it garnered. One year removed from going toe-to-toe with the Gators in Florida for the BCS Championship, the snake-bitten Sooners struggled to an 8-5 record.

As the losses piled up, it was clear the offense that had set numerous records a year earlier was MIA. Most of the offensive problems began with the inconsistency of the offensive line.

Even with the first offensive tackle taken in the 2010 draft, Trent Williams, returning for his senior year, to say the unit struggled would be like stating that Mel Gibson has some anger issues. Tell us something we don't know, Captain Obvious.

Penalties and blown assignments were a regular occurrence no matter which of the nine different starting lineups were out on the field.

What can Oklahoma fans possibly be optimistic about? The same line that couldn't run block or pick up a blitz for the majority of the season lost their best player. They also lost two other players who contributed to their late season success.

Well, sometimes even the darkest clouds can have a silver lining.

Oklahoma did manage to score a respectable 31 points per game last year, despite the injuries, penalties, and lack of a running game.

That inexperienced O-line from a year ago now has been battle tested. They have numerous returning players who have started games or had significant playing time. Many played multiple positions, learning how to perform as a unit.

They played well at the end of the season in a win over rival Oklahoma State, keeping the Cowboys from getting into a possible BCS bowl game.

In the Sun Bowl against Stanford, they again played well and allowed the Sooners to hold off the high scoring Cardinal and Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart in a 33-27 victory.

The starting lineup for the opening game on September 4th at home against Utah State should look like this:

Left tackle: Donald Stephenson, Jr., 6'6", 309 lbs., 0 starts

Stephenson was scheduled to be a starter last year but was ruled ineligible before the season started. He played in seven games as a backup in 2008 and may have the biggest potential of the bunch. He's being counted on to protect Landry Jones from backside pressure.

Left guard: Stephen Good, Jr., 6'6", 299 lbs., 7 starts

An Army All-American coming out of high school, this powerful blocker has been picked as a preseason All-Big 12 performer.

Center: Ben Habern, Soph., 6'3", 292 lbs., 10 starts

A broken leg late last year derailed his season. Fully healed now, he is being counted on as a leader for this unit.

Right guard: Tyler Evans, Soph., 6'5", 335 lbs., 4 starts

Carrying an ideal frame, he has put on about 30 pounds since arriving in Norman.

Right tackle: Eric Mensik, Sr., 6'6", 290 lbs., 3 starts

Mensik moved from tight end late last year to add depth and stability. He played well despite being under weight for the position and put on about 30 pounds in the off season.

These five players should be the starters, barring injury or poor play.

The Sooners have another seven players who could contribute as backups and help keep the starting lineup fresh. These seven include three seniors, one junior and three freshman. Between them, they bring another eighteen combined starts to the table.

It should be a much deeper and more cohesive offensive line taking the field at Memorial Stadium in 2010.

With this experience should come a confidence that was lacking at critical times last season, particularly on the road. This new-found faith in their own abilities and in each other means Sooner fans can look forward to a potent and balanced offensive attack.

By adding a more dangerous offense to a defense that should, again, be one of the top units in the country, Oklahoma could well be back in championship discussions "Sooner" rather than later.