Four months ago, who would think Oklahoma fans would be rejoicing after a 31-27 victory over Stanford in the Sun Bowl?

Especially if the Sooners — ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press preseason poll — finished the season at 8-5.

But one can’t argue with Sooner Sports Network color commentator Merv Johnson when he said the OU coaching staff did one of their better jobs this season.

This was not the team it was in August when a return to the national championship game was a very realistic goal.

Injuries changed OU’s chances, of course.

The biggest two being when 2008 Heisman Trophy quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham, both of whom are considered to be high NFL draft picks, missed most of the season due to injuries.

Bradford, who injured his shoulder in the season opener against Brigham Young University, was replaced by redshirt freshman Landry Jones, who threw for 3,198 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Gresham, who injured his right knee in a fall practice before the season-opener, was never really replaced. OU’s tight ends combined to catch 21 passes for 233 yards and no touchdowns this season. Gresham caught 66 passes for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior in 2008.

But also consider this:

The Sooners used 10 different combinations of starters on the offensive line. The year before, the Sooners started the same offensive line in the last 13 games, according to OU’s Media Guide.

The offensive line is the one of the most important units unit in terms of being in sync with each other.

OU used four different starting centers, including tackle Trent Williams in the Sun Bowl and tight end-fullback Brody Eldridge in the opener against BYU.

Eric Mensik went from No. 88 and tight end to No. 69 and a starting tackle against Oklahoma State and Stanford. He held his own.

Eldridge, once called by OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, as the team’s “best football player,’’ would start at left guard for four games before a season-ending injury against Nebraska.

And this was with an unit which lost four starters from the year before.

So the Sooner offense went through plenty of growing pains.

The offense was penalized more (107 for 1,044 yards) more in 13 games this season than they were in 14 last year (102 for 905). The turnovers went from 11 last season (9 interceptions and 2 fumbles) to 26 this season (15 interceptions and 11 fumbles.

A year ago, OU had a plus 23 on giveaway-takeaway margin. This year it was a plus four.

OU scored touchdowns in 2008 about 85 percent of the time it was in the red zone (71 of 84). This season, it was only 33 of 57 for 58 percent.

One other glaring stat, OU was 8 of 13 on field goals in 2008. This season, the Sooners were 18 of 28 with three different kickers.

The third down success ratio went from 51 percent (101 of 197) in 2008 to 40 percent in 2009 (81of 202).

One surprising stat, though,was pass blocking. OU quarterbacks were sacked 15 times for 124 yards, compared to 13 for 95 last season.

The defense shut out a then-top 20 team (Oklahoma State) without standouts such as Auston English and Ryan Reynolds.

Gerald McCoy was the only starting down lineman for the season opener with BYU who was still playing at the end of the Stanford game.

The Sooners were so close to a BCS Bowl. Four of the losses were by a total of 12 points — 14-13 to BYU, 21-20 to Miami, 16-13 to Texas and 10-3 to Nebraska.

The dropoff in kicking and red zone production were especially felt in those game.

Bob Stoops and his staff, though, kept the team together during adversity. It’s encouraging for 2009 OU played its two best games at the end of the season — OSU and Stanford.

The game against Stanford was arguably OU’s best bowl game since the 13-2 win over Florida State in the (January) 2001 BCS Championship game.