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OKLAHOMA SOONERS

2012 record: 10-3

2012 conference record: 8-1 (tied for first, Big 12)

Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

RB Damien Williams, FB Trey Millard, WR Jalen Saunders, WR Sterling Shepard, C Gabe Ikard, DE/DT Chuka Ndulue, LB Corey Nelson, CB Aaron Colvin

Key losses

QB Landry Jones, WR Justin Brown, WR Kenny Stills, OT Lane Johnson, DE David King, CB Demontre Hurst, FS Tony Jefferson, SS Javon Harris

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Damien Williams* (946 yards)
Passing: Landry Jones (4,267yards)
Receiving: Kenny Stills (959 yards)
Tackles: Tony Jefferson (119)
Sacks: Chuka Ndulue* (5)
Interceptions: Javon Harris (6)

Spring answers

1. Playmakers abound: The Sooners might have lost leading receivers Kenny Stills and Justin Brown, but there’s plenty of firepower back to support whoever wins the starting quarterback job. Jalen Saunders was actually Oklahoma’s most efficient receiver the second half of last season and seems primed to take over as the go-to target. The Sooners also have several talented up-and-coming receivers who had good springs, led by slot extraordinaire Sterling Shepard. The backfield is even deeper, with leading rushers Damien Williams and Brennan Clay back, to go along with Trey Millard, one of the top all-around fullbacks in the country.

2. Cortez will flank Colvin: The secondary was decimated by graduation and Tony Jefferson’s early entry into the NFL draft. One of those voids was cornerback, where Demontre Hurst had started the previous years. That void at least, however, appears to have been filled. Arizona transfer Cortez Johnson seized the job from the first day of spring drills, and has given the Sooners every indication to believe they’ll have a big, physical corner to pair with All-American candidate Aaron Colvin in the fall.

3. The linebackers will play: In a desperate move to slow down the high-powered passing attacks of the Big 12, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops pulled his linebackers off the field. The plan backfired, as opposing offenses ran at will over the linebacker-less Sooners. This spring, Stoops has renewed his commitment to the linebacker, which, ironically, could be the strength of the defense. Corey Nelson, Frank Shannon and Aaron Franklin are all athletic and capable of generating negative plays, something Oklahoma’s defense sorely lacked last season.

Fall questions

1. Who the QB will be in October: Bob Stoops said he would wait until the fall before naming a starter, and so far, he’s made good on his word. Junior Blake Bell took a lead in the competition during the spring, as expected. But sophomore Kendal Thompson and redshirt freshman Trevor Knight, who both got equal reps as Bell, played well at times, too. It’s hard to see Bell not starting the first game. But if he struggles against a tough September schedule, it’s not unthinkable one of the younger QBs would be given a shot.

2. How the new offense will fare: Looking to utilize the skill sets of their mobile quarterbacks, the Sooners will be running a very different offense from the one Sam Bradford and Landry Jones both operated. Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel kept most of these new plays - including loads of read option -- in his hip pocket during the spring game. But it will be interesting to see how the Sooners -- and just as important, opposing defenses -- adjust to this new era of offense in Norman.

3. Defensive line play: The Sooners went into spring ball with just three defensive tackles on the roster, and little experience at defensive end. The unit showed strides during the spring, with Chuka Ndulue making a smooth transition from end to tackle, and tackle Jordan Phillips coming up big in the spring game. But that was the spring. The defensive line will have to continue to grow rapidly in the fall for the Sooners to have any hope of improving from last year defensively.

During a simulated scrimmage in Oklahoma's first practice of the spring in full pads, Blake Bell used his BellDozing legs to escape the pocket, but the right-hander was rolling to his left to escape the rush.

Bell, channeling his inner Brett Favre, tried to find a receiver on the right side of the field, throwing across his body to try and make the throw. The toss predictably floated and was intercepted.

"He just shook his head," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "A classic example where it has sting a little bit and you’ve got to learn. Hopefully he’s learned a valuable lesson since then, that you can’t be careless with the football."

That's the bad news.

The good news is Stoops has seen plenty of evidence to suggest Bell absolutely learned his lesson from that early throw. The proof was in every throw from that point forward.

"Since that day, you haven’t seen a mistake like that," Stoops said. "Just being smart with the football is such a big deal."

In fact, it's the biggest deal for Stoops. For a yet-undecided quarterback competition, Bell's ability to take care of the ball bodes well for him keeping his status as the likely heir to four-year starter Landry Jones.

"The important part for all of them will be decision-making," Stoops said. "Who can make the right reads and decisions and getting the football where it needs to be."

He outplayed his younger competition, Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson, in the Sooners' spring game, completing 14-of-23 passes for 213 yards and a pair of scores, validating a strong spring that left him looking like the Sooners' best option. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over, and both Knight and Thompson couldn't say that after the Sooners' spring finale.

Those 213 passing yards are one short of doubling Bell's total passing yards in 2012, but most college football fans know him best as the BellDozer, bulling his way to 24 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons in the Sooners' signature short-yardage package.

"He’s always been able to throw the football well, we’ve just chosen his role to this point has been short yardage and goal line, getting the extra blocker when you’re running your quarterback," Stoops said. "Plus, he’s a big strong guy to fall forward and get a yard when there isn’t one there. He throws a great deep ball."

Oklahoma's rarely employed a mobile quarterback, but that seems likely to change this season as the Sooners' personnel no longer fits the statuesque style of Jones or predecessors like Heisman Trophy winners Sam Bradford and Jason White who helped Oklahoma win eight Big 12 titles since Stoops' arrival.

"All our guys, when we recruit them, it’s all about how they throw, not how they run. We’re just fortunate that this group of guys, along with throwing the football, have the ability to run, too," Stoops said. "We’ll see what that other dimension can do for us."

Turnover at the quarterback position is the story of the Big 12 this spring, but some schools have made decisions, some are close, and some haven't gotten far in replacing their passers. Here's an update on where each race sits.

Note: Because they have clear, incumbent starters, Iowa State and Texas have been omitted from this update.

Baylor: Bryce Petty entered the spring as the likely successor to Nick Florence and cemented his status as the starter with a strong 15 practices. Petty was officially designated as the starting quarterback on Baylor's post-spring depth chart, besting Seth Russell.

Kansas: Jake Heaps transferred from BYU and looks to have easily surpassed Michael Cummings, as expected, with a strong spring, working mostly with the first team. Kansas held its spring game on Saturday and Heaps far outperformed Cummings, tossing four touchdown passes and completing 20 of 28 passes for 257 yards. Not much competition here.

Kansas State: K-State is about halfway through spring, but there's been almost no development (publicly, at least) in the quarterback race. Last year's backup, the speedy Daniel Sams, is helping juco transfer Jake Waters get acquainted, but they're still splitting reps with the first team and I'd be surprised if we see an announcement until fall.

Oklahoma: Bob Stoops doesn't care about establishing a starter heading into summer 7-on-7 drills, but Blake Bell might have taken that out of his hands with a strong performance in the spring game. An endorsement from Landry Jones can't hurt. Bell showed this spring he's more than a BellDozer and made plays with his arm on Saturday, completing 14 of 23 passes for 214 yards and two scores. Stoops hasn't made an official designation, but Bell looks like he's distanced himself from his competition in Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson.

Oklahoma State: You can find folks anywhere making a case for Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh or Wes Lunt, but Mike Gundy's opinion is the only one that matters. He says Oklahoma State's starter is Chelf, and Chelf is receiving most of the first-team reps this spring. It's not hard to see that changing, but for now, the job is Chelf's. The rising senior may have to do something to lose it.

TCU: Most assumed Casey Pachall's return to the team meant he'd step back in and reclaim his job. This spring, it hasn't been that easy. He may do exactly that this fall, but Gary Patterson says he's looked rusty after not throwing or lifting from October to January while receiving in-patient treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Meanwhile, sophomore Trevone Boykin has looked much improved. Patterson says it's still an open competition, the duo is splitting first-team reps and there may not be a decision until fall.

Texas Tech: It doesn't seem like Michael Brewer has a ton of competition on the roster, but Kliff Kingsbury turned some heads when he trotted out Davis Webb to start a recent scrimmage. Brewer still has to earn the job and it's hard to see that not being the case, but for now, this job is still up for grabs.

West Virginia: This one's still wide open. Texas natives Paul Millard and Ford Childress are still splitting first-team reps and there doesn't appear to be much separation just yet. Expect this competition to heat up in the fall. The coaching staff has already said they don't expect to name a starter by the end of spring or even by the beginning of fall camp.

For most of these games, we'll do a "What happened" section in addition to "What we learned," but we had SoonerNation on the case, so you can see more about the raw facts here and here.

A few of my observations on what we learned:

• Unseating Blake Bell looks mighty, mighty difficult. Given how he'd looked as a passer in limited opportunities thus far in his career, there was plenty of reason to doubt how well Bell would handle running the Sooners' entire offense. Still, when you consider how he played and threw in high school, there was equal reason to believe he'd handle it fine. Belief in the latter looks to have paid off. Oklahoma will want his completion percentage to be a lot higher, but he made a whole bunch of plays down the field and over the middle that show plenty of potential. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, but most importantly, he didn't have a turnover. If that means a lower completion percentage, Oklahoma's staff will take that trade all day. On Saturday, though, Bell was what he needed to be: A step ahead of competition Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson. There's no guarantees yet, and Bob Stoops has never placed a high premium on naming a starter in the spring as opposed to fall camp, but by now, I'd be shocked if Bell doesn't mature into "The Guy" for the Sooners over the summer and leave little doubt in fall camp about whose team it is.
• The defense has a few interesting new faces. Trey Franks was suspended all last season, but turned a few heads by making seven tackles and breaking up two passes. The former receiver looked solid on the other side of the ball. We'll see how he fits into the rotation at safety for the Sooners. That's a huge position of need, and you'd have a hard time convincing me he couldn't challenge for a starting job in fall camp. D.J. Ward, a hyped, home-grown defensive end recruit, finally got on the field after being cleared by the NCAA, but he didn't record any stats and Saturday was his first practice in pads.
• Bob Stoops clarified his pay-for-play comments. I wrote about Stoops' controversial comments here, but he added another clarification after Saturday's game, according to The Oklahoman. "I was just asked about paying players to play football, and of course I went off on what they already are paid,” Stoops said. “And I probably was a little -- I didn't mean to be insensitive when I talked about when the dining halls close and we've all been in that situation. We've all been a little bit hungry on a Sunday here and there. … That doesn't mean I'm not concerned about my players and want to best for them." I don't disagree with Stoops there, but what he said doesn't change my point about the possible repercussion on the recruiting trail. It won't be hard for folks to make the case that other coaches are more sympathetic to their players' current situation, whether it's true or not. I agree with Stoops in that introducing how much he makes is irrelevant to the discussion (he argued that in Saturday's clarification), but I'm betting if Stoops had it to do over again, he'd take a pass at the question. No one's asking Stoops to change his answer or his belief. He's entitled to his opinion, and suggesting it's not a valid opinion is silly, but I fail to see the positives for him in speaking out on the issue.
• Start up the Trey Metoyer hype train one more time. Every now and then, guys make big noise during the spring and don't show up in the fall. That happened to Metoyer last season, but he sounds like a more mature player this spring, and showed up in a big way again on Saturday. Six catches for 122 yards will definitely get people fired up for him to break out in the fall. He's got everything you could ask for physically, he's just got to turn it into production. I sense we'll be hearing "Bell to Metoyer" quite a few times this fall, but only a few less times than "Bell to Shepard." Sterling Shepard had a quiet day with just two grabs for 22 yards, but I loved what he showed last season. The Ryan Broyles comparisons are premature, but he's definitely got flashes of the FBS all-time leader in receptions.

NORMAN, Okla. -- With nothing open from his initial reads, quarterback Blake Bell abandoned the pocket. But instead of attempting to truck his way into the end zone, the artist formerly known as the "Belldozer" rolled right.

Near the sidelines, he waited, and waited. And then when he couldn’t wait any longer, Bell stuck a pass into the chest of receiver Durron Neal for a three-yard touchdown.

Bell said after Oklahoma’s Red-White spring game that he wanted to show he could "sling it around a little bit, too."

And sling it he did, demonstrating that the power running that made him a fan-favorite the past two seasons is just one facet of his arsenal.

Bell completed 14 of 23 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns -- with no turnovers -- Saturday. He also showed the most poise and precision among the quarterbacks to seize momentum in the QB competition heading into the summer.

"I missed a couple throws," Bell said, "But overall, I thought I made some good plays, and was pretty accurate with the ball."

Bell displayed that accuracy from the opening possession, quickly moving the offense down the field with three completions to Jalen Saunders. The drive ultimately ended in a touchdown, when wide receiver Lacoltan Bester scooped up a Damien Williams fumble and raced 35 yards for the score.

(Read full post)

There are several reasons to believe Oklahoma won't win the Big 12 title in 2013. It lost a four-year starter at quarterback (albeit a heavily criticized quarterback) in Landry Jones. It loses seven starters from a defense that struggled late in 2012 after a strong start, playing just well enough to earn a share of the Big 12 title.

Two of its best players, receiver Kenny Stills and safety Tony Jefferson, left school early for the NFL, leaving big holes on both sides of the ball.

Despite all that, our poll on the Sooners still shows that having "Oklahoma" across its chest means the Sooners are to be taken seriously in the Big 12 in any given year.

The losses didn't have a big impact on our voting, where 58 percent of you tagged last season's co-Big 12 champion as a Big 12 "contender" in 2013, compared to just 42 percent of you who say the Sooners are just pretending when they talk about winning a league title in 2013.

It's too early to really know, and Oklahoma has a lot to prove, but for me, it boils down to the quarterback spot. I don't have high expectations for Oklahoma's defense, so it needs the offense to put up a lot of points to win enough games for a Big 12 title.

That's up to the quarterback spot, whether it's Blake Bell or Trevor Knight or Kendal Thompson.

The Sooners received a lot of these votes based on reputation, which is part of the luxury of winning eight Big 12 titles since 2000. Based on that, they deserve the votes. But Oklahoma is more of an unknown than than any team we've looked at, and it's going to take a few games before we have any idea if it is a Big 12 contender.

We'll take a look at some of the Big 12's breakout stars this spring, but we'll move forward with a series looking at guys who will be stepping into bigger roles this season and what they have to provide. Some are going from being role players to starters. Some are going from starter to star. Some from stars to bona fide superstars.

Let's move on with Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's spring step forward: QB Blake Bell
Six teams in the Big 12 are breaking in a guy this spring who's never started a college game for his current team. I'd argue that Oklahoma's need for Bell to be great is more important than any other team in the league. For one, the natives are getting restless in Norman, tiring of 10-win seasons that feel pedestrian by Sooner standards, however unfair (or fair) you think that is. They want more, and in the Big 12, that's just not possible without truly excellent play from the quarterback spot.

Bell hasn't won this job yet -- youngsters Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson will push him this spring -- but it's likely his job to lose and Oklahoma would be well-served if he'd win it. Bell has been in the thick of big-time football for the Sooners and the bright lights and big stage shouldn't wow him anymore. It's time for him to step forward and take control of the offense, though, shedding his single Belldozer package for the rest of the playbook. If Knight or Thompson wins this job, you have to assume more serious growing pains are in order, and that will mean losses. More than a few, and you can bet Oklahoma likely finds itself back with a 10-win season or worse. If Bell steps into his bigger role and fills it (adding in some excellence running the ball that Landry Jones' skill set could not provide), the Sooners will be in position to surprise with a big year and a great shot at a Big 12 title. If he doesn't, Oklahoma is going to have to settle for an average season or worse by their standards with a defense ill-suited for a big 2013 after losing seven starters from last year's unit.

Bell's the man who can pick up that slack, and Oklahoma's fortunes next season hinge on him.

See more Big 12 spring steps forward.

The Oklahoma Sooners open spring practice this weekend with change in the air. Let's take a closer look.

Schedule: The Sooners begin spring ball Saturday, the first of 15 NCAA-allowed practices. OU will hold its spring game April 13.

What's new: What’s not? Bob Stoops brought in three new assistants, seven defensive starters are gone, and for the first time in six years, the Sooners have a quarterback competition. After back-to-back three-loss seasons, this is lining up to be the most important -- and most intriguing -- spring of the Stoops era in Norman.

All eyes on: The quarterback derby, which will be the dominant storyline of the spring. Junior Blake Bell, sophomore Kendal Thompson and freshman Trevor Knight are all vying to replace four-year starter Landry Jones. Bell is the favorite because of his age and experience in the “Belldozer” package, but insiders around the program believe Knight is capable of unseating him. Whatever happens in the spring, don’t expect a starter to be named. Stoops waited until the fall to declare Sam Bradford his starter in 2007, and figures to do the same here.

New faces: The Sooners welcome four mid-semester enrollees, and all four have a chance to make immediate impacts. Toronto native Josiah St. John, the No. 1 junior-college offensive tackle in the country, figures to be no worse than a key backup. Wide receiver Dannon Cavil, who grew up a Texas fan, has great size and should vie for a rotation spot at outside receiver. Defensively, Ahmad Thomas will be given every opportunity to start at safety, and defensive end D.J. Ward, the top player coming out of the state of Oklahoma, could boost a defensive front that ranked 108th nationally in tackles for loss last season.

Question marks: With only 11 starters back, the Sooners have plenty. On top of the quarterback battle, OU must overhaul virtually the entire defense, with All-Big 12 cornerback Aaron Colvin the only returning impact defender. Defensive tackle and back safety are especially tenuous. The Sooners have only three defensive tackles on the roster to practice with at the moment, and no one other than Colvin has a down of experience at back safety. Mike Stoops will have to be creative just to get through the spring, until reinforcements arrive over the summer.

Don’t forget about: Wide receiver Trey Metoyer, who was the star of last spring as a true freshman. Metoyer, however, failed to carry that momentum into the fall, lost his starting job and eventually fell out of the rotation. A new year and new quarterback should re-energize Metoyer, who has all the tools to become a dominant outside receiver.

On the mend: Guards Tyler Evans and Nila Kasitati, who are both coming off season-ending knee injuries. Both, however, are hoping to be at least limited participants in the spring, which would spur them into summer workouts.

I released my Big 12 2013 power rankings on Tuesday, and colleague Mark Schlabach dropped his "too-early Top 25," too.

How did the Big 12 fare? Four teams cracked the list, with Texas leading the way at No. 11.

"Will the Longhorns finally move back among the sport's elite? If quarterback David Ash plays the way he did in the second half of a 31-27 victory over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, UT will have a chance to be a lot better in 2013," Schlabach wrote. "But if Ash and backup Case McCoy continue to struggle, it might be another long season for coach Mack Brown, who might be on his last legs in trying to turn things around."

I'd say that's too high for Texas, but if Ash matures and plays throughout the year with consistency, Texas will definitely be a force and a likely top 10-team.

He also had TCU as the second-highest Big 12 team, at No. 14.

"TCU limped to a 7-6 record in its first season in the Big 12, but it might have been Gary Patterson's best coaching job," he writes. "The Horned Frogs were stung by a drug bust that cost them four players in the offseason, then lost quarterback Casey Pachall to off-field problems after four games (he might return in 2013). By the end of the 2012 campaign, TCU's leading passer (Trevone Boykin), rusher (B.J. Catalon) and pass-rusher (Devonte Fields) were freshmen."

I couldn't agree more there. For TCU to stay afloat with all the problems and youth this season was unbelievable. Credit to Patterson, but we may see the big results next year.

Oklahoma checked in at No. 17.

"Bob Stoops and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel will begin the task of replacing Jones, a record-setting quarterback, who threw for 4,267 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this past season," he writes. "Sophomore Blake Bell, affectionately known as the Belldozer because of his 6-foot-6, 254-pound frame, is the favorite to win the starting job, but he'll have to hold off junior Drew Allen and freshmen Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson."

No doubt about this one: Oklahoma's fate in 2013 depends on how well the quarterback transition goes. The defense has a lot of questions and low expectations with the high volume of losses, but a good quarterback could keep the Sooners in the hunt for a Big 12 title.

Oklahoma State is the last team in the rankings, all the way down at No. 24.

"The Pokes will have plenty of firepower behind the quarterbacks next season, with running backs Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith returning to school," he writes. "The Cowboys had 20 players make their first career starts this past season; only five other FBS schools had more first-time starters. That experience should pay off in 2013, when OSU plays TCU, Kansas State and Oklahoma at home."

I like OSU's chances more because of its experience and flexibility at quarterback and a defense that should mature, too. I might have slipped Baylor in these preseason rankings, but it'll be close. What do you make of our too-early Top 25?

Oklahoma's Landry Jones has a decision to make after the season. Will he jump to the NFL or come back to OU for his senior season? The SoonerNation staff makes predictions on the Sooners' quarterback situation for 2012. What do you think? Leave your comments below.

It all depends on whether Landry Jones returns for his senior season.

If he does, he will be OU’s starting quarterback — period. Yes, Jones struggled in Bedlam. But he also has won a lot of games for the Sooners, and one poor performance in Stillwater is not going to cost him his job.

But if Jones enters the draft? The Sooners will have quite the quarterback derby on hand in the spring.

Thanks to the midseason implementation of the Belldozer package, Blake Bell got a ton of experience on the field, an invaluable asset to a quarterback. Bell also showed he’s a special runner with the ball, drawing comparisons to Kansas State battering ram quarterback Collin Klein.

But Bob Stoops has already said the Sooners won’t be revamping their offense, meaning Bell will have to show he can throw the ball, too. Bell has a big-time arm. But so far, Drew Allen has proven to be the more adept passer. Bell would have the edge going into the spring because of the experience. But don’t automatically count Allen out, yet.

That said, my best guess is Jones opts to return for his senior season –- in large part to be with OU women’s basketball guard Whitney Hand during their first year of marriage –- and breaks Steve Davis’ record for wins by an QB quarterback.
- Jake Trotter

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Jones will decide to return for his senior season. The junior can’t be happy with his play after go-to receiver Ryan Broyles was injured and could be looking to prove himself to NFL scouts by playing a full season without the Sooners’ all-time leading receiver.

Jones struggled without Broyles as his safety net and NFL scouts undoubtedly noticed. Add to that the strong play of fellow NFL quarterback prospects Matt Barkley of USC and Robert Griffin III of Baylor and Jones could find himself as the No. 4 quarterback prospect this year behind Barkley, Griffin and Stanford’s Andrew Luck.

Jones remains a potential first-round NFL draft pick but he still has plenty to prove to NFL scouts and could cement himself in the top ten with a strong senior season at OU.
- Brandon Chatmon

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If Jones stays, he'll start. If he goes, Bell. But if the offense struggles early in 2012 with Jones at quarterback, got a feeling the Belldozer is here to stay.

There are subtle signs that OU, though not ditching the pass-happy offense that made it such a top destination for big-time recruits, will at least look for more balance in 2012. The commitment of tight end Brannon Green (Altamont, Kan./Fort Scott CC) is a great sign for those that love the rushing attack. At 6-foot-4 and 268 pounds, he’s a bruiser.

If Dominique Whaley can fully recover from his injury, he’s a powerful back. OU’s top running back commit Alex Ross (Jenks, Okla./Jenks) is a very strong runner but also has great speed.

And if you want a more physical presence at quarterback, then Bell is certainly the answer. This offseason will be vital for Jones, if he stays, to develop that type of chemistry he had with Ryan Broyles. Whether it turns out to be with Jaz Reynolds, Kenny Stills, Kameel Jackson or any of the talented playmakers coming in, Jones has to get back on the same page with the receiving group.

Sounds strange to say, but Jones, a legit NFL quarterback prospect, might have to accept taking a backseat to Bell if the offensive chemistry isn’t there early.
- Bob Przybylo

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I'll go out on a limb and say Jones declares for the draft after the Insight Bowl. Why not? If he has, indeed, dropped to the fourth quarterback prospect in the 2012 draft, couldn't he still go in the first round? Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder all went in the top 12 picks in 2011.

So if that's the case, I don't think there's any question that Bell is the overwhelming favorite to start for the Sooners in 2012, ahead of Allen, redshirt freshman Kendal Thompson and freshman Trevor Knight. The question now, in my opinion, is how do the Sooners mold their offense around the BellDozer?

Bell's mobility is intriguing, but his passing has to be considered suspect at best, based on his four attempts (one completion, one brutal red zone interception) this season. It's still an unknown how he'll develop as a dropback passer. Could Oklahoma change up their offense completely and ditch the no-huddle in 2012?
- Dane Beavers