Improved defense was a theme throughout Big 12 spring workouts, which is a good thing because it’s difficult to imagine that being much worse in 2009.As fun as it was to see Oklahoma spin the scoreboard last season, it was equally painful to watch another Big 12 defense appear as a guest on “Lost.”The Big 12 produced the Heisman winner and runner-up in quarterbacks Sam Bradford of the Sooners and Texas’ Colt McCoy, and their numbers were unfathomable.But from the “truth hurts” department, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was dead on when after the SEC title game he said he’d liked to have done some target shooting against the Big 12.We know how the bowls came out. The Sooners couldn’t stop Tebow in the fourth quarter, Texas Tech couldn’t stop Mississippi, Oklahoma State couldn’t stop Oregon and a nation couldn’t stop finger-pointing at a conference that brought plenty of offensive reputation and swagger into the postseason.Spring football in the Big 12 started on the defensive side, and enough progress appears to have been made to offer these 2009 predictions.Bradford won’t throw 50 TD passes.McCoy won’t top his NCAA-record 76.7 percent completion percentage.These projections do not lessen expectations. Oklahoma and Texas should battle again for the South, with Kansas and its passing-machine quarterback Todd Reesing rating a slight favorite in the North.And although the no-huddle spread continues to be the offensive flavor of choice — add Iowa State to this season’s menu — there were signs this spring of balance entering the equation, or at least the idea of its importance.Coaches talked plenty of improving defensive speed and changing alignments to get more pressure on the quarterback and fill spaces in the seams. In spring games, quarterback sacks were celebrated at Oklahoma, an interception return for a touchdown at Texas. Missouri, Oklahoma State and others talked about defense, and Tigers coach Gary Pinkel offered the best line:“As Don James used to say, if you’re worried about your defense after spring ball, you’re not going to have a very good summer.”Texas A&M created a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position called “jack,” a year after surrendering the most points in the Big 12.There could be other reasons for fewer pyrotechnics from the stars.Oklahoma replaces four starters on the offensive line and has new faces at wide receiver.Texas has questions at tight end and once again at running back.Kansas seeks running back depth. Nebraska and Missouri break in new quarterbacks.Then there’s the only-place-to-go-is-down theory.The best years for some of the top quarterbacks in recent Big 12 history weren’t their last. Oklahoma’s Jason White and Missouri’s Chase Daniel had better seasons as juniors than seniors.Texas’ Vince Young went out on top, with a year of eligibility remaining.For national reputation, the league’s defense has to tighten up. The Big 12 went huffing and puffing into the last postseason and came away with a mediocre 4-3 record. The Sooners took a streak of five straight games with 60 points into the national title game and scored 14 against Tebow’s Gators.Last season, the Southeastern Conference couldn’t match the offensive skill sets of the Big 12, but the Big 12 or anybody else can’t match three straight national championships because of the SEC’s dedication to excellence on both sides of the ball.The Big 12 couldn’t beat the SEC in the postseason last year so it has to join ’em, with better defense. Do that, and let guys like Bradford, McCoy and Reesing do their thing, even at a slightly lower pace than last year, and the Big 12 will have a postseason to remember.

Posted on Sat, May. 02, 2009 10:15 PM

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Big 12 defenses will be better this season

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Improved defense was a theme throughout Big 12 spring workouts, which is a good thing because it’s difficult to imagine that being much worse in 2009.

As fun as it was to see Oklahoma spin the scoreboard last season, it was equally painful to watch another Big 12 defense appear as a guest on “Lost.”

The Big 12 produced the Heisman winner and runner-up in quarterbacks Sam Bradford of the Sooners and Texas’ Colt McCoy, and their numbers were unfathomable.

But from the “truth hurts” department, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was dead on when after the SEC title game he said he’d liked to have done some target shooting against the Big 12.

We know how the bowls came out. The Sooners couldn’t stop Tebow in the fourth quarter, Texas Tech couldn’t stop Mississippi, Oklahoma State couldn’t stop Oregon and a nation couldn’t stop finger-pointing at a conference that brought plenty of offensive reputation and swagger into the postseason.

Spring football in the Big 12 started on the defensive side, and enough progress appears to have been made to offer these 2009 predictions.

Bradford won’t throw 50 TD passes.

McCoy won’t top his NCAA-record 76.7 percent completion percentage.

These projections do not lessen expectations. Oklahoma and Texas should battle again for the South, with Kansas and its passing-machine quarterback Todd Reesing rating a slight favorite in the North.

And although the no-huddle spread continues to be the offensive flavor of choice — add Iowa State to this season’s menu — there were signs this spring of balance entering the equation, or at least the idea of its importance.

Coaches talked plenty of improving defensive speed and changing alignments to get more pressure on the quarterback and fill spaces in the seams. In spring games, quarterback sacks were celebrated at Oklahoma, an interception return for a touchdown at Texas. Missouri, Oklahoma State and others talked about defense, and Tigers coach Gary Pinkel offered the best line:

“As Don James used to say, if you’re worried about your defense after spring ball, you’re not going to have a very good summer.”

Texas A&M created a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position called “jack,” a year after surrendering the most points in the Big 12.

There could be other reasons for fewer pyrotechnics from the stars.

Oklahoma replaces four starters on the offensive line and has new faces at wide receiver.

Texas has questions at tight end and once again at running back.

Kansas seeks running back depth. Nebraska and Missouri break in new quarterbacks.

Then there’s the only-place-to-go-is-down theory.

The best years for some of the top quarterbacks in recent Big 12 history weren’t their last. Oklahoma’s Jason White and Missouri’s Chase Daniel had better seasons as juniors than seniors.

Texas’ Vince Young went out on top, with a year of eligibility remaining.

For national reputation, the league’s defense has to tighten up. The Big 12 went huffing and puffing into the last postseason and came away with a mediocre 4-3 record. The Sooners took a streak of five straight games with 60 points into the national title game and scored 14 against Tebow’s Gators.

Last season, the Southeastern Conference couldn’t match the offensive skill sets of the Big 12, but the Big 12 or anybody else can’t match three straight national championships because of the SEC’s dedication to excellence on both sides of the ball.

The Big 12 couldn’t beat the SEC in the postseason last year so it has to join ’em, with better defense. Do that, and let guys like Bradford, McCoy and Reesing do their thing, even at a slightly lower pace than last year, and the Big 12 will have a postseason to remember.

Posted on Sat, May. 02, 2009 10:15 PM

Buzz Up

Comment (0)

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