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If I were to tell you that our D would not have...

  • Box, Flemming and R. Lewis. What would you believe our MNC chances would be this year?

    I'm not saying we won't have any of those 3, just saying it's a possibilty we won't have any of those 3.

    soonerbait

    Pontius Pilate

  • Not good... losing Box hurts, but I think Wort will be fine. Losing Flemming would hurt (although all signs point to him being back), but I think we have some depth there. Losing the Hammer would hurt the most... we don't have anyone who can come close to replicating his impact on the field this year IMO... but he should be back as well.

    SoonerFromDal

  • SoonerFromDal said...

    Not good... losing Box hurts, but I think Wort will be fine. Losing Flemming would hurt (although all signs point to him being back), but I think we have some depth there. Losing the Hammer would hurt the most... we don't have anyone who can come close to replicating his impact on the field this year IMO... but he should be back as well.

    I would say our chances would be ZERO. We would have zero chance to run the table in conference without those established players on each level of the defense. That worries me to no end. I think losing Box (R.I.P) is devastating enough and may end up costing us in itself. I'm not sold on Lynn or Colvin as a starting CB just yet. Also not sold on the Duke of Whiffington at Mike...not till he proves he can be in the right place at the right time and knock someone on their ass consistently.

    Paint me concerned.

    soonerbait

    Pontius Pilate

  • Well, don't crucify me for disagreeing (see what I did there?), but I'm very optimistic about our LB corps in general, including the man you're labeling the "Duke of Whiffington". I expect Wort to make big strides from last year and be a player we can count on every Saturday. With Travis Lewis, Corey Nelson, Tony Jefferson, and Joseph Ibiloye in the mix, I think we'd be more than solid even if Wort didn't perform well.

    At corner, I agree that we're much stronger with Fleming back there, and would concur that we'd likely see a bust or two while Lynn adjusts to the starting role. However, even without Fleming, our secondary would be one of the best in the conference. Could our National Title hopes be compromised? Meh, wouldn't help, but it wouldn't destroy them either. We've had plenty of guys in the Stoops era that have shined in their first year at CB. Lynn could be next.

    Ronnell is the one among those three that we're least prepared to do without. He brings elite athletic ability that few OT's can hope to compete with, and that no one on our roster can replicate. I really like Geneo Grissom's future, but don't want to be in a position of needing him to start this year. We'd be better served with him being the first DE off the bench, then move him into the starting lineup in 2012.

    SlicedBread

  • Very good question posed.

    Ronnel has an attitude this D needs this year and Fleming kinda has one, too, and I think that's what these two can bring that replacements wouldn't neccesarily have right off the bat.

    Austin, RIP, is with them in spirit and though he's not putting on the pads, he's kinda our 12th man, if you will, because they're all gonna play for him.

    That's who I am... a Sooner.

    burbanksooner1 ●

  • is there something wrong with ronnell that he might not be back ?, or , are you just making stuff up ?

    This post was edited by sonofpoweredge on 6/21/2011 at 4:46 PM

    sonofpoweredge

  • SlicedBread said...

    Well, don't crucify me for disagreeing (see what I did there?), but I'm very optimistic about our LB corps in general, including the man you're labeling the "Duke of Whiffington". I expect Wort to make big strides from last year and be a player we can count on every Saturday. With Travis Lewis, Corey Nelson, Tony Jefferson, and Joseph Ibiloye in the mix, I think we'd be more than solid even if Wort didn't perform well.

    At corner, I agree that we're much stronger with Fleming back there, and would concur that we'd likely see a bust or two while Lynn adjusts to the starting role. However, even without Fleming, our secondary would be one of the best in the conference. Could our National Title hopes be compromised? Meh, wouldn't help, but it wouldn't destroy them either. We've had plenty of guys in the Stoops era that have shined in their first year at CB. Lynn could be next.

    Ronnell is the one among those three that we're least prepared to do without. He brings elite athletic ability that few OT's can hope to compete with, and that no one on our roster can replicate. I really like Geneo Grissom's future, but don't want to be in a position of needing him to start this year. We'd be better served with him being the first DE off the bench, then move him into the starting lineup in 2012.

    I agree with this ^^^^

    All Day OU

  • Fleming and RL are taking summer classes, so they can play.

    If they do not do well, they cannot enroll for the fall.

    tlccva

  • We will be fine defensively.

    oumodguy

  • If Ronnel qualifies will this be his last year? Let's face it, he's had academic issues since he enrolled at OU. One good season could lead him to the NFL.

    allgonzo

  • Fleming is our best playmaking DB. He would hurt. With Lewis, we might as well prepare to be without him a game or two just do to his neglect of his body. Two more DEs beside he and Alexander definitely need snaps because both will miss some time at some point.

    Wort will be an asset this season. BV has mentioned that he can be the best he's coached, but losing Austin Box hurts leadership and depth.

    Don't forget though, Bama, LSU, and Oregon too will lose key players at times.

    Deep Red

  • allgonzo said...

    If Ronnel qualifies will this be his last year? Let's face it, he's had academic issues since he enrolled at OU. One good season could lead him to the NFL.

    Gonzo, I'll bet that you're right. His combine numbers would probably get him early first round attention even if he doesn't have a big year. A lot like Mario Williams a few years back (although I think we'll get much more production out of RL than NC State got out of Mario).

    SlicedBread

  • Ronnell has almost zero starting experience as a college football player. Not only that, but he played eight-man football in HS up until his senior year. Regardless of his combine numbers, NFL GM's are going to be hesitant to risk first-round money on a guy that is so unproven. I love the Hammer and think that he is primed to have a break-out year in 2011, but I think it would be best for both Ronnell and whichever NFL team he ends up playing for if Ronnell plays two more years for the Sooners.

    soonerdowns

  • soonerdowns said...

    Ronnell has almost zero starting experience as a college football player. Not only that, but he played eight-man football in HS up until his senior year. Regardless of his combine numbers, NFL GM's are going to be hesitant to risk first-round money on a guy that is so unproven. I love the Hammer and think that he is primed to have a break-out year in 2011, but I think it would be best for both Ronnell and whichever NFL team he ends up playing for if Ronnell plays two more years for the Sooners.

    This. Plus, a rookie salary cap might drastically alter the early departures.

    AdamsHall

  • soonerdowns said...

    Ronnell has almost zero starting experience as a college football player. Not only that, but he played eight-man football in HS up until his senior year. Regardless of his combine numbers, NFL GM's are going to be hesitant to risk first-round money on a guy that is so unproven. I love the Hammer and think that he is primed to have a break-out year in 2011, but I think it would be best for both Ronnell and whichever NFL team he ends up playing for if Ronnell plays two more years for the Sooners.

    Cam Newton was taken #1 overall with one year of experience. If you prove you can play at a high level, it doesn't matter how much you prove it.

    Deep Red

  • Don't kid yourselves. Losing all three would be devasting from an experience standpoint. Box's leadership will be hard to replace. Not only on the field but this summer during workouts. He was one of Schmitty's favorites and highly admired for work ethic.

    Bulldog75

  • Maybe we'll just outscore everybody

    quest48

  • burbanksooner1 said...

    Very good question posed.

    Ronnel has an attitude this D needs this year and Fleming kinda has one, too, and I think that's what these two can bring that replacements wouldn't neccesarily have right off the bat.

    Austin, RIP, is with them in spirit and though he's not putting on the pads, he's kinda our 12th man, if you will, because they're all gonna play for him.

    I agree 100% !

    signature image signature image signature image

    OUGrad97

  • SlicedBread said...

    Well, don't crucify me for disagreeing (see what I did there?),

    Not trying to butter you up, but that was classic.

    OhYou

  • Deep Red said...

    Cam Newton was taken #1 overall with one year of experience. If you prove you can play at a high level, it doesn't matter how much you prove it.

    Oh for heaven's sake, Cam Newton has been playing quarterback for competitive systems for 15 years. And OBTW ran the table in the toughest conference in college football. Lewis is playing a completely new position and his only real "experience" is on Special Teams. His "production," isn't going to get him picked and at his size he needs 20 sacks to make any kind of impact on NFL scouts. One year wonders need to be world beaters to move into that rarefied air.

    This post was edited by capclay on 6/27/2011 at 2:34 PM

    capclay

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