Oklahoma Sooners

Turnover is an annual tradition in college football, but with that, teams' strengths and weaknesses constantly shift, too. Today, we'll continue our look at the biggest strengths and weaknesses for each Big 12 team.

Next up: Oklahoma.

Strongest position: Offensive line.

Don't discount Landry Jones' experience and decision-making, but Oklahoma threw the ball 571 times last year -- more than everyone in the Big 12 but Texas Tech -- and gave up just 15 sacks, third-fewest in the Big 12. The Sooners have good depth at running back but not a true gamebreaker, and the offense still averaged 4.85 yards a carry, third-most in the Big 12. Oklahoma dealt with a ton of injuries on the offensive line and at the end of the season, was basically reduced to five guys who could play and depended on true freshman Ty Darlington at times, too. The unit loses tackle Lane Johnson, but Gabe Ikard is the Big 12's best offensive lineman and returns alongside Adam Shead, Bronson Irwin and Tyrus Thompson. This unit perhaps could have been better than it was in 2011, which is part of the reason you saw position coach James Patton shown the door in favor of WVU's Bill Bedenbaugh, but it should be a big strength yet again in 2013. I'd say it's definitely the Sooners' best overall position. The Sooners fought through the loss of center Ben Habern and guard Tyler Evans in preseason camp last year, and Evans is out again after injuring his knee this spring. Here's betting Oklahoma fills the void yet again.

Weakest position: Defensive line

If you watched the Cotton Bowl, you know all you need to know about this position for the Sooners. Texas A&M had arguably the nation's best offensive line, but the Sooners D-line looked like a bunch of high schoolers for much of the game, applying zero pressure to Johnny Manziel and letting him get loose for a record-breaking game in a blowout loss. The Sooners lose four seniors along the line, leaving behind just Chuka Ndulue, Jordan Phillips and Mike Onuoha as contributors from last year's D-line that helped Oklahoma rank just 108th nationally in tackles for loss and 94th nationally in run defense. Oklahoma needs a big upgrade at this position to return to prominence, and I'm not sure the answer to the Sooners being as good along the front line of the defense is coming anywhere but on the recruiting trail.

More Weak and Strong.

After recruiting them for several months, Oklahoma's coaching staff was finally able to talk publicly about the players the Sooners added to the program on signing day. Over the next week or so, SoonerNation will review some of the key things coaches had to say about the players signed at each position group during their signing day webcast on Soonersports.com.

Oklahoma is looking to get tougher, more physical along its offensive front. Guard Dionte Savage (Flint, Mich./Arizona Western) should help the Sooners reach that goal. At 6-foot-5, 340 pounds, Savage brings unique size to OU's interior line.

"This guy has size on top of size," co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. "What a physical presence he brings. When you say full-grown man when he walks in a room, this kid is a full-grown man. We had a lot of injuries last year and it was tough at the end getting healthy bodies out there. This guy is a big strong guy who can help us with our running game and depth."

After ending the 2012 season with very limited bodies at guard, Savage joins returning starters Adam Shead and Bronson Irwin along with Tyler Evans and Nila Kasitati, who are returning from injuries. Savage brings a better body than any of the Sooners returnees.

"He is a specimen," running backs coach Cale Gundy said. "He’s someone we expect can come in and give us some help, possibly be one of our starting guards.”

The Sooners were impressed by Savage's dedication, as the former 400-pounder lost more than 60 pounds to get into better shape for his second season at Arizona Western.

"Dionte Savage is a big, strong, physical guy," head coach Bob Stoops said. "A huge weightlifter and a powerful, strong guy. He’s got great ability to move and great strength, so I believe he is going to help us be more physical in there. Just really powerful, an excellent young man. Loved having him on campus, he loves to work. He’s going to help us be more physical."

SoonerNation is counting down the top five moments of Oklahoma’s 2012 season this week.

Play No. 3

Few Sooners have been passed over on the depth chart more than Brennan Clay. In 2010, Clay was supplanted in the rotation by Roy Finch, after Finch returned from a foot injury. In 2011, Clay started the opener but was eventually replaced in the starting lineup by walk-on phenom Dominique Whaley. This season, junior-college transfer Damien Williams quickly took carries away from Clay on his way to winning the starting job.

But late this season, Clay’s patience finally paid off. After Williams was injured at the end of the Notre Dame loss, Clay got the nod at Iowa State. Clay made the most of 24 carries, rushing for 157 yards and a touchdown in the best performance of his career.

His shining moment, however, came three weeks later. After trailing Oklahoma State the entire game, the Sooners finally had a chance to win after the Pokes settled for a field goal in the first possession of overtime.

Trey Millard took the opening salvo seven yards. Then, riding the hot hand, offensive coordinator Josh Heupel called Clay’s number on a trap play. Clay maneuvered his way through the Cowboys' front line, spun out of Daytawion Lowe’s attempted tackle, then escaped Shamiel Gary's diving attempt at the ankles before lunging into the end zone.

Clay was mobbed by teammates in the end zone, and the Owen Field crowd hung around for several minutes to celebrate the Bedlam victory with the team.

The O-line did a great job getting blocks; shout-out to Gabe Ikard and Bronson [Irwin] and Adam [Shead],” Clay said afterward. “They hit their guy and parted the way and I was able to hit the hole and made a few guys miss and get the end zone.

“Being able to break a long one and being able to score the game-winning touchdown, it's really blessed me."