Oklahoma Spring Game: Sooners Showing Promise Ahead of Big Day

Spring games will come at us full force as we get deeper into March. It gives us the perfect moment to consider all the promising things going down with the Oklahoma Sooners. 

It's been a great spring with every reason to hope that 2012 will be a magical season, delivering even more victories to a storied program. 

The Sooners will hold their spring game on Saturday, April 14th like a great many programs across the nation. Before we get to that point, let's take a jaunt around the team and see what's working and what will be some strong points headed into the end of April and beyond. 

Punt Return

Ryan Broyles had the most underrated position on lock-down. With the speedster looking for work at the next level, the Sooners are looking for an electric playmaker to take over. 

Michael Baldwin of The Oklahoman brings us up to speed on who will be the threat to run back an electric six next season. 

The candidates are down to Kenny Stills, Roy Finch and Brennan Clay. Here is what coach running backs coach Cale Gundy had to say, via the report. 

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That was the unique thing about Ryan was how good he was at it. He was so natural. Kenny is pretty good at it. Roy is fairly good at it. But it's not easy. First you have to catch the ball and then learn how to set things up to know where your returns are.”

There are not very many guys on the team that can catch a punt. You have 100 guys out there, 85 on scholarship and there's probably three guys that can do it. It's not like catching kickoffs. Everybody can catch kickoffs.

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It sounds like the race is wide open and may come down to dominance at the spring game. 

Quarterback

Landry Jones gives Oklahoma a seasoned senior that will help lead an dynamic offense, but the future is near. 

The time is now to find who will be the next QB to contend for a title in a Sooners jersey. A friendly civil war will take place between junior Drew Allen and sophomore Blake Bell. 

Allen may have a slight edge, but here is what Landry Jones thinks about the race, via The Oklahoman. 

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They're both doing a good job. Blake is a big kid who can move around a little bit. Drew is probably further along in the offense, but he's been here a year longer so he's expected to be a little further along. They're both progressing. They're both playing good ball.

"

Offensive Line

There may be no bigger part to the offense, other than QB, than the offensive line. The early returns are in, and the Sooners show some tremendous promise currently. 

John E. Hoover of Tulsa World reports on the line, and is rather impressed with what he sees. 

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The Sooners are closing in on the end of spring practice, and one area that's been particularly promising is the blocking unit up front. Four of the five starters are back from last season with a combined 102 career starts.

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The standout so far has been Lane Johnson who has gained weight and now comes in at 305 pounds, hoping to take over for departing left tackle Donald Stephenson. 

If he can, the Sooners will be a tough team to beat next season. 

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