http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/players/derek_farniok/152317 Recent articles about Derek Farniok en-us In his first spring practices at Oklahoma, new offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will have four starters back from last year and a few players who have playing experience as well. He recently told Jessica Coody of Sooner Sports TV that the best way to play the line is to be tough, physical, mean and nasty. “I’m going to coach them hard and I expect them to be great,” he said. But the problem isn’t that OU’s front wall isn’t tough and physical, because they had been tremendous in protecting Landry Jones in the pocket. The problem is that they hadn’t been mean and nasty when it comes to opening running lanes. Bedenbaugh, a former West Virginia line coach, is more of a spread offense guy, and the Sooners need to learn how to block better for the running game to develop. Guard Tyler Evans (6-5, 315, Sr.) is expected to return to the lineup this year after tearing up his knee last fall, when he was penciled in at right guard. It appears that Evans could be battling again... Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:59:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/oklahoma_spring_football_preview_offensive_line/13015348 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/oklahoma_spring_football_preview_offensive_line/13015348 Oklahoma Spring Football Preview: Offensive Line http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/oklahoma_spring_football_preview_offensive_line/13015348 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png What did we think/hope would happen? It looked like in early August that OU finally had quality OL depth that would go ten deep allowing OU to keep their OL fresh. Starting tackles would be Darryl Wlliams and Lane Johnson with Tyrus Thompson providing depth. Starting guards would be Tyler Evans and Gabe Ikard with Bronson Irwin, Adam Shead and Nila Kasitati providing depth. Starting center would be Ben Habern with Ikard as the primary backup Derek Farniok would get some reps at tackle during blowout time. Freshman center Ty Darlington would redshirt. What did happen? All elements of depth would disappear during the year. OU ended the season starting Johnson and Thompson at tackle, Shead and Irwin at guard, and Ikard at center, with the only meaningful depth provided by Darlington at center allowing Ikard to play guard and Farniok backing up the first-team tackles. Despite all the chaos, the OU OL had a great season, holding up well enough for the Sooners to... Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:37:48 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/2012_position_review_offensive_line/12455179 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/2012_position_review_offensive_line/12455179 2012 Position Review: Offensive line http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/2012_position_review_offensive_line/12455179 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Two weeks to go until OU takes on UTEP. Let's take a quick look at some of the big stories of camp as two-a-days end and classes start up.*What's the real injury story on the offensive line? OU has lost three OL to injuries and two defections/academic issues. Three (McGee, Latu and Dismuke) of the losses are a recruiting problem for Bruce Kittle and James Patton for signing day. The actual lineup/depth loss is Tyler Evans. OU knew all spring and summer that center Ben Habern might not go this year. Even at Big 12 Media Days, Habern was talking about playing 20 snaps per game at most. Habern's absence means Gabe Ikard's back at center, just like spring and half the season last year. Evans' loss has a bigger impact. It means Bronson Irwin moves up to starter and Nila Kasitati moves up to back up both guard spots instead of backing up Ikard at center. OU is fine at tackle with Daryl Williams, Lane Johnson, Tyrus Thompson and Derek Farniok. OU will have to play Ty ... Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:29:09 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/preseason_camp_reality_check/11501242 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/preseason_camp_reality_check/11501242 Preseason Camp Reality Check http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/preseason_camp_reality_check/11501242 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png In his quest to make Oklahoma football even less fan-friendly, the Sooners have been going through a spring practice blackout again this year, per dictum of coach Bob Stoops. Stoops did pass out a few scraps to hungry fans this weekend via some video highlights of Saturday's scrimmage at Owen Field – about 10 minutes worth, to be exact. Honestly, you can't tell that much from the tape, which is shot from behind the backfield at such a tight angle that you're only seeing half the play most of the time. However, seeing as we have to take what we can get, I went through the footage and took a few notes. So take all of these observations and impressions with some huge salt grains and the understanding that they are based on about 10 minutes of amateur clips from inside OU's shop. *Three players pretty clearly stood out above everyone else: Sophomore quarterback Blake Bell looked outstanding. Fans haven't really had a chance to see much of Bell running OU&#3... Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/observations_from_oklahoma_sooners_scrimmage_highlights/10462138 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/observations_from_oklahoma_sooners_scrimmage_highlights/10462138 Observations from Oklahoma Sooners' scrimmage highlights http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/observations_from_oklahoma_sooners_scrimmage_highlights/10462138 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/f/cf683d6912b244f60b65634e4a293b1a76bcc8df/mini/c8.jpg With National Signing Day now past, the next big date on the calender for the Oklahoma Sooners is the opening of spring practices in March. Injuries and off-season attrition have left OU a bit thinner than usual across the roster. Early enrollees such as Taylor McNamara and Kasseim Everett should have the opportunity to stake an early claim on a spot in the two-deep this fall. Another major story to watch is the return of Mike Stoops, the recently fired head coach of the Arizona Wildcats and for OU defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003. Mike's return, of course, led to the departure of longtime OU assistant Brent Venables. While the Sooner Nation has embraced the move by and large, people are expecting big things. Defensively, look for Mike to tinker with the personnel and schemes as he tries to make OU's D his own once again. Let's not wait to speculate. Here's my stab at the spring depth chart: Offense LT: Daryl Williams, Tyrus ThompsonLG: Bronson Irwin, N... Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/predicting_the_oklahoma_sooners_spring_depth_chart/9787084 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/predicting_the_oklahoma_sooners_spring_depth_chart/9787084 Predicting the Oklahoma Sooners' spring depth chart http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/predicting_the_oklahoma_sooners_spring_depth_chart/9787084 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png