Oklahoma Needs to Retool Offense for 2005

Tuesday, January 4th 2005, 7:43 pm

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ With the departure of Oklahoma quarterback Jason White and seven of 11 offensive starters, the burden of carrying the team will fall to freshman phenom Adrian Peterson.

This season's team wound up 12-and-one and Number three in the polls after OU lost to USC 55-to-19 in the Orange Bowl. That showing will be tough to repeat with the loss of key players.

Either redshirt junior Paul Thompson, backup Tommy Grady or Rhett Bomar will replace White as quarterback. The new quarterback won't have the services of All-American tackle Jammal Brown, all-conference center Vince Carter, receiver Mark Clayton, guard Wes Sims, tight end James Moses or receiver Brandon Jones.

The Sooners will also need to shore up a defense that allowed Matt Leinart to throw an Orange Bowl-record five touchdown passes.

The Sooners have plenty of positives to look back on from an undefeated regular season and a third Big 12 title in five years.

Peterson set a school record 1,925 yards rushing and finished second to Leinart in the Heisman voting.