Sooner Football Spring Practice Only a Week Away

March 13th, 2006

Courtesy: SoonerSports.com

NORMAN, Okla. — The advent of spring in Oklahoma brings longer days, warmer temperatures and thunderstorms. March also returns the Sooners to the football practice fields.

OU begins spring practice on Monday, March 20.

2006 OKLAHOMA SPRING FOOTBALL
The question marks of last fall are this spring’s exclamation points. After the National Football League draft claimed 10 Oklahoma stars, the 2005 season unfolded with plenty of unknowns, primarily because the team was so young.

Bob Stoops and his team, clinging to the head coach’s credo of, “no excuses,” ignored several apparent setbacks and forged ahead.

The start was slow, but after the 2-3 beginning chemistry developed and inexperienced players gained confidence. The crescendo built to an impressive roar in the closing weeks and on the last night of the season, in a west coast stadium inhabited in the majority by hostile Oregon fans, a young team with plenty of reasons to do otherwise, vanquished the nation’s sixth-ranked team.

In doing so, Oklahoma regained the attention of a nation and positioned itself for a championship run in 2006.

This bunch of Sooners, like its competitors, doesn’t necessarily have all of the bases covered. But as it looks toward the season ahead, it does so know that nothing would be more satisfying than to punctuate this campaign with a championship.

THE OFFENSE
If the 2005 season could be quantified on a growth chart, a measuring stick to the heavens might be appropriate. The unit that began the season and the one that finished had but one thing in common — they both included 11 players. Beyond that, the similarities were hard to find.

Rhett Bomar grew up in the quarterback role, a young receiving corps impressed as its experience level grew closer to that of its talent, an offensive line seemingly devoid of chemistry developed into a solid unit and a stable of backs survived the lengthy mid-season absence of Adrian Peterson. That was the offense in ‘05.

For the most part, the skill positions return intact right down to Bomar, Peterson and the team’s leading receiver, Malcolm Kelly. The line, for a second straight season, needs some retooling after the loss of four starters. Fortunately, the list of young players is promising, and two incoming junior college players appear capable of providing immediate help.

THE DEFENSE
In a season in which Oklahoma made a rare departure from the national rankings, the Sooner defense was probably underrated. With its customary speed and improved secondary play, OU’s defense ranked No. 4 against the rush and No. 13 in total yards. Similarly, in Big 12 play, the passing defense numbers were glowing.

Gone from that unit are two key performers, DT Dusty Dvoracek and SLB Clint Ingram. Both played dynamic roles in production and with their emotional leadership.

But Oklahoma returns a lot of speed and experience and should again have the defense ranked among the nation’s leaders.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS
The most noticeable change is at one of the least noticeable positions — long snapper. That job belonged to Jacob Rice over the last four years and the results were rock steady. Oklahoma will have to make a change there, but otherwise welcomes back special teams units that look a lot like last year.

Coming Tuesday – Look Back at 2005 and Look Ahead to 2006

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2006 OU Spring Football Specifics
The Sooners begin spring practice on Monday, March 20. A complete schedule is available online. The annual spring game is slated for Saturday, April 8, and will be televised nationally by ESPN. Advance tickets are available now from the OU Athletics Ticket Office.

Unless otherwise noted, Oklahoma’s spring practices are open to the public. Most will be held on the practice fields immediately south of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and will begin around 3:30 p.m.

It should be noted that all of the times and dates are subject to change. Fans are encouraged to follow SoonerSports.com in the event that alterations are made to the schedule.

Entry Filed under: Oklahoma Sports,Sooners