Oklahoma Football: 11 Reasons Why the Sooners Run the Table in 2011

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Everyone knows Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops has built a dynasty in Norman. 

Since taking over in 1999, Stoops has a record of 129-31, which averages out to be almost 11 wins and less than three losses per season. 

But in recent seasons, the Sooners have had a little bit of trouble by their standards—particularly in 2009, when they finished a disappointing 8-5. 

However, after finishing with a 12-2 record and a dominating Fiesta Bowl win over Big East Champ UConn, Oklahoma looks primed for a national title run. 

Ranked as the top preseason team by most major sports services, here are 11 reasons why the Crimson and Cream buck the trend and finish the 2011 season as national champions.

Sources: Scout.com, Rivals.com, ESPN.com, NationalChamps.net, SoonerSports.com

Landry Jones to Ryan Broyles: The Connection

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Sooners quarterback Landry Jones hooked up with wide receiver Ryan Broyles an unprecedented 131 times in 2010, which amounted to 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Wow. 

The Jones-to-Broyles connection has become a staple of the Sooners offense.  The nation's best quarterback/receiver duo will only be better in 2011, with Jones entering his junior year and Broyles entering his senior year. 

Even teams with an elite secondary will be hard-pressed to stop this tandem, as evidenced by last year’s Big XII Championship game. 

When all else fails, Jones-to-Broyles won’t.   

Promising Running Back Stable

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Although Oklahoma’s top rusher, DeMarco Murray, left for the NFL, the Sooners won’t have to worry much about their running game in 2011. 

They return Roy Finch and Brennan Clay, both youngsters who showed promise in 2010, and add five-star recruit Brandon Williams, who is touted as the next Darren McFadden by some. 

Finch flashed big potential last season, rushing for 398 yards and a couple of touchdowns on just 85 carries.  But with Clay and Williams nipping at his heels, the running back stable won’t be short on competition. 

Expect that to translate into big on-field success.

Those Other Sooners Catching Passes

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

As if Broyles wasn’t enough for Jones, Oklahoma will provide its quarterback with a handful of strong receiving options. 

Elite wideout recruit Trey Metoyer joins Kenny Stills, Trey Franks, Dejuan Miller, and James Hanna to form one of the nation’s most experienced and talented corps of pass-catchers. 

Stills exploded onto the scene as a freshman with 61 catches for 786 yards and five touchdowns, while Franks, Miller and Hanna were all productive contributors in their own right.  Metoyer will add an instant and very dangerous threat to the offense. 

When such a group is at the disposal of a quarterback as good as Landry Jones, look out.

Experience in the Sooners' Trenches

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

As good as all those backs and receivers are in the Sooners’ backfield, everyone knows you can’t have a good offense without some adequate blocking.

Oklahoma will have that and more in 2011, with four starters returning along the offensive line. 

Donald Stephenson, Gabe Ikard, Ben Habern and Tyler Evans are back for the Sooners while returning contributor Stephen Good will look to compete with Ikard for the starting spot at guard.  With this much experience returning, things are looking up for a unit that had already improved from 2009 to 2010. 

To win the close games, you have to win the trench battles.  Oklahoma should be able to do that.

The Lewises of Norman

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Two of the biggest reasons why the Oklahoma defense will dominate in 2011 are Travis and Ronnell Lewis. 

Travis had a monstrous season at linebacker in 2010, racking up 109 tackles and three interceptions, his third season with at least 99 tackles.  The unquestioned leader of the Sooners defense, Travis could have his best season yet in ’11. 

Ronnell flashed great play-making potential in 2010, recording 38 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception for a touchdown.  Ronnell could step into a major or even starting role in 2011 and should be one of the defense’s breakout players. 

The Lewises will anchor what should be a strong front seven.

The Third Trey

You’ve already heard about Trey Franks and Trey Metoyer.  But what about Trey Millard? 

The Sooners’ breakout freshman fullback bulled his way for three rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in ’10, adding yet another dimension to the prolific Oklahoma offense. 

Millard should only continue to get better, and when push comes to shove down at the goal line or on a fourth-and-one, Millard will come through. 

The power element is an undervalued asset to have in a spread offense, and the Sooners have that in Millard.

Photo

The Cornerbacks

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Similar to Travis and Ronnell Lewis in the front seven, cornerbacks Jamell Fleming and Demontre Hurst return to impact the secondary in a big way. 

Fleming was very active in 2010, recording 71 tackles and five interceptions, while Hurst showcased playmaking ability by forcing an interception and three fumbles. 

Although new safeties Sam Proctor and Javon Harris will be starting in 2011, Fleming and Hurst will bring experience and success to the back third of the defense. 

The four talented players should form a secondary that will not be easy to beat.

Sooners Reload: More Gunpowder Means a Bigger Bang

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

As you may have seen from the past few slides, the Oklahoma Sooners are loaded at just about every position. 

If that isn’t enough in and of itself, consider that most of Oklahoma’s successful seasons under Bob Stoops have come without quite this much talent. 

Although the Sooners are in reloading mode and are immensely talented each and every year, this off-season feels a bit different. 

The talent and depth Oklahoma possesses for 2011 is almost unprecedented, and with as much experience as they have returning, they are primed for a BCS Championship run.

Bob Stoops Primed for Another Championship Run

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Oklahoma might be loading up for a National Championship run at just the right time, because for head coach Bob Stoops, it’s been a long time coming. 

After winning the National crown in 2000 and then going to another in 2004, the Sooners have had almost no success in the BCS, at one point having lost five straight BCS games. 

The Sooners finally broke that “curse” in 2010 by beating Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl, but if they want to shake the nickname “Chokelahoma,” they need to win another championship, plain and simple. 

This year might be the year for Stoops and the Sooners to do it.

Longhorns and Cowboys Rebuilding

Oklahoma seems to be hitting its stride at just the right time.

Two of the Sooners' biggest threats, Texas and Oklahoma State, are in rebuilding mode one way or another.

The Longhorns usually reload on talent, but after an awful 5-7 campaign, the coaching staff got a major overhaul.  Texas will be back soon, but 2011 will be a bit of a transition year.

Oklahoma State was a surprise 11 win team in 2010, but the defense was a liability all year.  With the losses of Ugo Chinasa, Orie Lemon, and Andrew McGee, that doesn’t figure to change.  Although Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden return to lead the offense, the Cowboys won’t have the defense to go with a prolific offense.

The Longhorns and Cowboys won’t have enough to take down the Sooners in 2011.

Photo

Oklahoma Unbeatable at Home

One of the nation’s longest current streaks is Oklahoma’s 36 game home winning streak. 

Oklahoma plays as good as or better than anybody in the nation when at home, and in a stroke of luck, the Sooners get both the Texas A&M Aggies and the Missouri Tigers in Norman. 

This does not bode well for two of the best in the Big XII and the only two teams that beat Oklahoma last year.  Don’t expect the Tigers or Aggies to be able to get past the Sooners this time.

If the Sooners can get past Florida State, a team that they walloped 47-17 in ’10, a clear path is cut for their run at a National Championship.

Photo