Big 12 Preview Breakdown

I posted a Big 12 Preview at New Era Scouting this morning, and already the emails are pooring in. Here's my look at the preview. Feel free to post comments/questions here.

Conference Power Rankings
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Missouri
4. Kansas
5. Texas A&M
6. Texas Tech
7. Colorado
8. Nebraska
9. Kansas State
10. Oklahoma State
11. Iowa State
12. Baylor

I've already gotten a lot of heat about the rankings, so let's discuss them. No one should argue that Oklahoma and Texas are the best in the South. Texas Tech is an up-and-coming team and I like the youth there, but I worry about the defense, a lot. Texas A&M is a greatly improved team with Mike Sherman and his west coast offense. No more power option means a better Stephen McGee and Mike Goodsen running wild.

In the North it will again be Missouri vs Kansas. I think that's pretty cut and dry.

 

First Team All-Conference
QB- Sam Bradford, RS-Soph, Oklahoma
C- Shawn Byrnes, Sr, Texas Tech

 

These two picks seem to be getting the most heat. How can I list Bradford over Chase Daniel or Graham Harrell? 30 touchdowns in 2007, and he's playing with a better offense now despite losing Malcolm Kelly. Oklahoma is a legit team to compete for the National Championship, something Missouri and Texas Tech are longshots for. If Bradford leads OU to a Big 12 Championship again, he's the first team quarterback despite any other stats by Daniel or Harrell, two players I really like.

Shawn Byrnes hasn't had the best spring, but take a look at the other centers in the Big 12. Cody Wallace and Adam Spieker graduated, leaving a gaping hole in upperclassmen at the position. Byrnes did however have a good 2007 campaign and was called by our friends at The Sporting News the best center in the Big 12.

A nod to the Red Raider fans: If I had one more pick it would be Louis Vasquez. He's one of my favorite guards in the Big 12. I also really like Manuel Ramirez, my only feelings on the players are that they benefit from a scheme and are not at a level of Duke Robinson or Cedric Dockery as individual players.

Unit Rankings

Backfield
1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri
3. Texas A&M

Receivers
1. Missouri
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech

Offensive Line
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech

Overall Offense
1. Missouri
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas Tech

Defensive Line
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Missouri

Linebackers
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Kansas

Defensive Backs
1. Missouri
2. Texas
3. Baylor

Overall Defense
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Missouri

Special Teams
1. Missouri
2. Texas Tech
3. Nebraska

More than any other words I've written, these are getting nailed the most. Let me first say that I've been a credentialed member of the media and scouting to the Big 12 for three seasons now. I try to see every team at least three times, but that's nearly impossible. These are predictions, and as we all know those are horrible at best.

Backfield
1. Oklahoma: Sam Bradford + DeMarco Murray. Easy choice
2. Missouri: Heisman candidate Chase Daniel and an underrated core of underclassmen.
3. Texas A&M: Senior leader at QB with Stephen McGee. I also love Mike Goodsen.

Receivers
1. Missouri: Chase Coffman and Jeremy Maclin are future 1st round picks.
2. Seniors Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are very good, plus a load of freshman who will be able to contribute. There is no star here, but a heavy group of future studs.
3. Texas Tech: Two words, Michael Crabtree.

Offensive Line
1. Oklahoma: The best left side in football.
2. Texas: Young and talented. Five potential sophomore starters.
3. Texas Tech: This was actually a typo which has been corrected.

PLEASE leave questions or comments here.