Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Overall Rank: #37
#1 Conference USA
Tulsa Team Page
2010 Record: (10-3, 6-2)
2010 Bowl: Hawaii Bowl vs. Hawaii (W 62-35)
Coach: Bill Blankenship (First season at Tulsa, 0-0 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Peterson
Defensive Coordinator: Brent Guy
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: G.J. Kinne, QB, 561 yards
Passing: G.J. Kinne, QB, 3,650 yards
Receiving: Damaris Johnson, WR, 872 yards
Tackles: Curnelius Arnick, LB, 115
Sacks: Shawn Jackson, LB, 8.5
Interceptions: Dexter McCoil, S, 6; Marco Nelson, S, 6
Other Key Returnees: G Clint Anderson, DE Cory Dorris, C Trent Dupy, CB John Flanders, OT Tyler Holmes, WR Ricky Johnson, WR Thomas Roberson, CB Lowell Rose, DE Tyrunn Walker
Key Losses: LB Tanner Antle, RB Charles Clay, CB Charles Davis, WR Trae Johnson, DT Odrick Ray
The top two rushers for Tulsa were quarterback G.J. Kinne and wide receiver Damaris Johnson. Charles Clay was the starting back, but he did most of his damage out of the backfield, catching 43 passes for 526 yards and seven touchdowns. Willie Carter will try and replace Clay at the H-back position. Meanwhile Alex Singleton and Trey Watts will battle it out as the more traditional running back.
Strengths:
Clay will be missed, but this offense will once again be a dynamic unit that will rank among the best in the nation. Quarterback Kinne threw for 31 touchdowns and 3,650 yards last season and those numbers could get even more impressive during his senior season. Johnson is one of the best kick and punt returners in the nation, but he adds to his already NCAA record all-purpose yardage on the ground and through the air. Johnson led the team with 57 receptions for 872 yards a year ago and rushed for 560 yards and seven scores. With the offensive line returning just about everybody who played last year, there is no reason for this offense not to pick apart every opposing defense and average over 40 points per game. Thomas Robinson and Ricky Johnson will provide Kinne with more receiving options and double teaming Johnson is extremely difficult when there are usually five guys out there running routes.
Weaknesses:
Even by Conference USA standards, the Golden Hurricane were awful at defending the pass last season. No team in the country was worse. The only reason the defense was not completely awful was because they could create turnovers. With the help of Dexter McCoil and Marco Nelson, who picked off six passes a piece, Tulsa had the second best turnover margin in the nation. Intercepting passes is nice, but this team still needs to stop the other team from catching them. John Flanders is back to man one of the corner spots, but part-time starter Lowell Rose better be ready to step into a bigger role. Generally there is a direct correlation between the play of the front four and the play of the secondary. If the front four cannot get pressure on the opposing quarterback, the secondary cannot hold off the receivers. However, this is a team that can get to the quarterback. Linebacker Shawn Jackson had a superb freshman campaign and led the squad with 8.5 sacks. Defensive ends Tyrunn Walker and Cory Dorris are experienced players who can be disruptive. With middle linebacker Curnelius Arnick leading the way, this Tulsa defense has the potential to be much better. The unit boasted a couple superb freshmen who garnered some national accolades in Nelson and Jackson and they are only going to get better.
The Bottom Line:
If it was not for the fact that Coach Bill Blankenship is taking over the team after the departure of Todd Graham, just about everybody would have Tulsa winning the conference. They are more than talented enough to do so and the conference slate is manageable. What is not manageable is the first month of the season that includes games against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State. The Golden Hurricane offense can put up good numbers against those teams, but the defense may be demoralized by the end of that run. If they are, Tulsa could fall into the middle of the pack.
Projected Bowl: Liberty Bowl
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 216.92 (15th in nation, 1st in conference)
Passing Offense: 288.69 (13, 3)
Total Offense: 505.62 (5, 1)
Scoring Offense: 41.38 (6, 1)
Rushing Defense: 131.85 (34, 3)
Pass Defense: 319.00 (120, 12)
Total Defense: 450.85 (111, 10)
Scoring Defense: 30.31 (85, 6)
Turnover Margin: 1.31 (2, 1)
Sacks: 2.31 (35, 2)
Sacks Allowed: 2.15 (75, 8)
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