J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q

Editor's Note: Here's the first of Jim's weekly pre-game blogs. Jim Ross of course is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, owner of J.R.’s Family BBQ, but a life long Sooner fan who has written three best selling books and has appeared weekly on national TV for over 25 years.

In the spirit of the alleged “No Huddle” offense the Oklahoma Sooners will or will not run more often than not this season here is a quick series of questions, some answers, and some BBQ’ed (obligatory plug) opinion on the 2008 Sooners.

Does the overall success of this season lie on the massive shoulders of the Sooner offensive line? Many would say yes and I am among them. The entire group returns but for some reason I can’t get the reoccurring vision out of my head of the West Virginia D-Linemen running by our super heavyweights. The elimination of senseless false start penalties, late hits, and mental lapses will help OU take a major step to return to the national Promised Land. Physical talent isn’t an issue here as this matter lies between the ears. For the senior O-Linemen this year is comparable to a NFL players contract year, there is big money waiting potentially for some of these linemen if they have a good season and not simply a collection of good series over the 12 game schedule.

Will OU be able to effectively run the ball? See the answer above for a portion of the equation. DeMarco Murray will once again wear lucky #7 and has been Jerry Schmitted up to 205 pounds (maybe a little more) without losing any of his blazing speed and the ability to seamlessly switch to another gear. Yes, Murray is special…very special and is so much stronger than last year that he doesn’t look like the same player. Chris Brown is drastically underrated and I shutter to think where we would have been without him last year. When is the last time you can remember Brown #29 not converting short yardage for a first down? Mossis Madu has been impressive this fall and in the practices that I have seen, Mossis has hammered between the tackles better than ever during is brief time at OU. Madu has become a physical albeit elusive runner whose play during the spring and fall may allow Jermie Calhoun and Justin Johnson to be redshirted. Bottom line, yes, the Sooners will be able to run the ball on any one as long as the big, grocery men up front do work.

Read the rest of J.R.'s column at OUInsider.com »