Scrolling through some posts tonight and from what I'm seeing it's sounding like the big guy Devonta Lee is headed to LSU (no surprise). While it remains to be seen where exactly he goes, it has me thinking about next year's offense and what to realistically expect from that group. I have to admit that I'm seeing some trouble.
Starting with the good:
1. Junior Lynn Bowden. The obvious big-play threat for next year, he's really going to have to be a touchdown catalyst for the team.
2. Terry Wilson. The athletic ability is there, I'm going to remain hopeful he develops into a weapon with a year under his belt.
3. Offensive Line. Definitely some good pieces there. Drake Jackson is solid, the return of Landon Young will be nice too. The others, Price, Stenberg, a couple younger guys, will make for a great group next year.
.. but now the question marks:
1. Running Backs. I could easily see this group being a strength. AJ Rose was a tremendous back up to Benny last year so I think he'll take the torch and run with it. We saw some good things from Smoke and Rodriguez, but all-in-all, this unit significantly lacks experience so we'll have to wait and see.
2. Receivers. Take out Lynn Bowden and you'd have a hard time finding a worse unit in the country last year IMO (don't come at me with stats, too lazy to look them up right now). Before last year I used to think the most puzzling thing of the Stoops era has been the lack of play from the secondary. The lack of downfield passing game has now taken the lead. This group has lacked SEC talent for a while and I don't see it getting significantly better next year.
3. Tight Ends. Honestly don't see a drop off. Can't find a much better TE than Conrad but we used him in the passing game so little that I think his receiving production can be replaced. Blocking will probably take a step back, but then again maybe it won't.
I think this years recruiting class severely needed a dynamic playmaker and we just weren't able to get one. Wandale Robinson was definitely the human joystick, put you in space and make a play type of player that we needed but that didn't work out. Devonta Lee is trending to LSU and Javonte Richardson now appears to not have the grades be accepted - two guys that certainly would have helped.
SO, I'll remain hopeful but realistically I see some rough seas ahead for the offense.
Starting with the good:
1. Junior Lynn Bowden. The obvious big-play threat for next year, he's really going to have to be a touchdown catalyst for the team.
2. Terry Wilson. The athletic ability is there, I'm going to remain hopeful he develops into a weapon with a year under his belt.
3. Offensive Line. Definitely some good pieces there. Drake Jackson is solid, the return of Landon Young will be nice too. The others, Price, Stenberg, a couple younger guys, will make for a great group next year.
.. but now the question marks:
1. Running Backs. I could easily see this group being a strength. AJ Rose was a tremendous back up to Benny last year so I think he'll take the torch and run with it. We saw some good things from Smoke and Rodriguez, but all-in-all, this unit significantly lacks experience so we'll have to wait and see.
2. Receivers. Take out Lynn Bowden and you'd have a hard time finding a worse unit in the country last year IMO (don't come at me with stats, too lazy to look them up right now). Before last year I used to think the most puzzling thing of the Stoops era has been the lack of play from the secondary. The lack of downfield passing game has now taken the lead. This group has lacked SEC talent for a while and I don't see it getting significantly better next year.
3. Tight Ends. Honestly don't see a drop off. Can't find a much better TE than Conrad but we used him in the passing game so little that I think his receiving production can be replaced. Blocking will probably take a step back, but then again maybe it won't.
I think this years recruiting class severely needed a dynamic playmaker and we just weren't able to get one. Wandale Robinson was definitely the human joystick, put you in space and make a play type of player that we needed but that didn't work out. Devonta Lee is trending to LSU and Javonte Richardson now appears to not have the grades be accepted - two guys that certainly would have helped.
SO, I'll remain hopeful but realistically I see some rough seas ahead for the offense.