OU vs. KSU Post Game Discussion

Haven’t gone back and watched the game obviously but I’m sure we all saw the same things:

– Pick 6 hurt

– Missed FGs and extra point…wow

– Durron Neal forcing the pass

– Stuffed on 3rd and goal…gotta think missing Rip and Bell hurt there. Play calling should have been adjusted accordingly though. Wish OU was more comfortable under center for those situations.

– LBs getting take for a ride almost every time they tackle.

– Safety triggering late and missing tackles in space.

– Lack of any real defensive identity.

– OU continues to play with that secondary alignment they teach and it just doesn’t work in my opinion. Fitting, I suppose, that it was that cushion that would put the nail in the coffin. Hayes didn’t have much of a chance. Some would argue he could have read the route combination and broke quicker but whatever.

– This is going to go down as one of the most underachieving teams that Stoops has had. He’s got pass rushers galore and loads of young talent. When players keep making mistakes…it’s not the players. It’s the position you put them in…the calls you make…or the players you’ve chosen to play.

I’m sure we’ll have more later…

498 Comments

  • ohiosoonerdevildog says:

    Bye bye Huepel. Mike needs to tweak the secondary. We need some gap filling linebackers.

  • Bret says:

    Young, Inexperienced players making critical mistakes, and no one stepping up to be a leader. I think we may need a season of 3 or 4 losses for the attitude to change around this team. they are not hungry.

    • SoonerBred says:

      Not a very good OU team and though the offense was pretty darn good alot of the day.I think defensively the tweaks after the Bama game by Mike Stoops has turned this D into a below average unit. Confused safeties, allignment issues, and they seldom get pressure. Why would you fix sumthin that ain’t broken?

  • Jordan Esco says:

    My thoughts…

  • Randall Nodine says:

    Not the offense fault this time. Did everything that fans said they should have. Amazing that special teams killed ou.

  • Christopher Napper says:

    As Bob said “All the problems are fixable”. Unfortunately, the problems apparently won’t fix themselves.

  • blaster1371 says:

    And the loss was in Norman to boot.

    Getting stuffed at the goal line was sickening.

  • Dr. Doobie says:

    We’ll… Baylor loosing, maybe we can win the b12…. Hahahah jk

  • Randy White says:

    Talented players but not a talented team.

  • Dlee914 says:

    I feel ashamed of myself for buying into the hype again this year. This D is about as overrated as they come (has anybody seen Striker, anybody?) The O-line cant pick up 1 yard on 3rd and goal from the 1, the QB is the definition of mediocre, the OC calls a good game about once every three games (thought it was good today, mostly) the DC cant seem to figure out whats going on until after halftime, Ive never been more frustrated as a Sooner fan.

    • Dr. Doobie says:

      Hard to see striker when he is in coverage the whole time!!

    • Lesslie Stanford says:

      I have seen him, he is busy chasing wide receivers!

    • Won says:

      If it’s any consolation, I was chugging that crimson kool-aid this year.

      • Dr. Doobie says:

        Me too, that’s why I’m so pissed

        • blaster1371 says:

          I’ve been at this too long to beleive hype. But I stared at that glass all off season.. Whispering “maybe maybe this is the year….” Reached for said glass of Crimson kool aid …. Blinked and slowly pulled my hands back….. Wait until November to,drink from the cup, I said. That ain’t happening now.

    • OklaSooner says:

      Square peg. Round hole. About the best way to describe our defensive scheme

    • Kyle says:

      Need to get Striker in there more, I agree. Striker needs to learn a second move though. I think some of the reluctance to rushing him against a QB that can run is his technique. He goes straight up the field and never cuts in due to his size and speed being his asset.

      This leaves huge gaps for the QB to step into and run free. Waters would take advantage of that.

    • John Garner says:

      My thoughts exactly. Frustrated and disappointed. I thought we’d make history this year. Instead, we are history.

    • OohRah Mama says:

      Well, I still remember Smelly Schnelly and Blecch Blake. In my fifty years of fandom, that Dark Time after the Loss of the King is still a supporating sore on the soul. I still say that all of us who sat in pouring rain till the bitter end of the ’96 loss to Kansas deserve season tickets for life.

      That being said, this every damn year stuff is disappointing. I’ll never give up my team, though. Never.

  • Dr. Doobie says:

    As a consolation, we may have beat the best team in the big 12…. WVU

  • Dr. Doobie says:

    As stated earlier this week…. KISS… But that’s an anomaly!!!! Getting too cute, costs you

  • connie usa says:

    I actually thought that Huepel did “better” this game. The D cannot stop anything at all. Every team can move the ball on us. OUs LBs are poor tacklers and the safety’s get faked out all the time. VERY disappointing in all facets.

    • Dr. Doobie says:

      One safety (13)

    • Jordan Esco says:

      I definitely agree, to some extent, re: Heupel. Got away from it a little bit in the middle of the game, but this loss isn’t on him or the offense…at all.

      • ohiosoonerdevildog says:

        That pick 6 was on Huepel. Horrid call. Same with the reverse pass. He left a minimum of 6 points on the field. Not blaming the loss on him, but he didnt help.

        • Kyle says:

          It was a lazy route too. Bad play call but terrible route. Not sharp and telegraphed the play for the DB.

        • roygbell says:

          The pick six is directly on Knight. The coverage was tight an the defender was positioned just right and Knight threw the ball right in his hands.

        • 22dupree says:

          We got a penalty the play before … and it looked like the same play was on, except Knight was looking to his right and ready to throw to Sterling when the whistle blew. Seemed like we sorta showed KSU the play call – and instead of getting out of it – we just ran it to the other side for the pick six.

        • Rene Goupillaud says:

          Throw a flat pass 30 yards down your own goal line. What’s the opposite of brilliant. Look it up and you will find this play as an example.

      • JB says:

        I have to disagree about the offense, Jordan…the offense is as responsible as the D or Special Teams for the loss, whether it’s Trevor’s horrible decision and easy read for KSU DB on the pick 6…OR Neal’s bad decision to throw into coverage on the INT…OR Heupel’s bonehead decision when we had 3rd & inches to the goal line to put Trevor in the shotgun instead of calling a QB sneak or Belldozer…OR their constant inability to get plays called in time causing us to waste timeouts. The last one has been more of a problem this year than ever before, blowing through our timeouts. I’d probably lay most of the blame on special teams today with 2 missed FGs, blocked XP, 2 shanked punts. But the O cost us as many points as STs. No pick 6, we win the game.

        • soonermusic says:

          I agree that both Trevor and Neal made horrible decisions. Heupel’s play call on third down wasn’t the problem there. Hindsight is easy, but the O-line got beaten badly up the middle, so your call of qb sneak would not have been successful, other than teeing the ball up in the middle for a field goal. And you might want to rethink calling the Belldozer with both Bell and Ripkowski unavailable. 🙂

  • Dr. Doobie says:

    ROSS had the best game of his career. Wish we could be creative and maybe run a sweep on the goal line….

  • Ronald Keith says:

    Heupel and kish have to go. They just flat out suck

  • Dr. Doobie says:

    Time to go back to the attacking d we saw the first 3.5 games of the year. If not, we will lose 2-3 more games.

  • connie usa says:

    Maybe our talent isn’t as good as we all thought. But, granted good coaching (KSU) will beat better talent (OU).

  • Kyle says:

    Where was Grissom for most of the game? I think he’s been one of the better players on the D but was MIA for good chunks of the game.

  • connie usa says:

    Why can’t OU recruit some LARGE, fast LBs? Kish, or the D that Stoops runs?

  • Daddy R says:

    “This is going to go down as one of the most underachieving teams that Stoops has had. He’s got pass rushers galore and loads of young talent. When players keep making mistakes…it’s not the players. It’s the position you put them in…the calls you make…or the players you’ve chosen to play.”

    On-point sir.
    Thank you K.

  • OklaSooner says:

    “Turn the lights out ! Lets get the bulldozers in here, turn this place into a parkin lot!”

  • Daddy R says:

    Memories…light the corners of my mind,
    misty watercolor Memories, of the way we were…

  • Chris Austin says:

    I said this in the other thread by I’m really shocked by the defense. Not seeing much intensity and adjustments take a half if they come at all.

    Looks like we need to score 35 points a game to win.

  • boomersoonerlife says:

    KSU couldn’t do anything when we dialed up pressure but I guess M Stoops saw that and didn’t want to do it very much and it’s pretty bad when the announcers are talking about the bad offensive play calling. My hope is that the recruits visiting saw what happened today and thought “man, this is bad. I could start as a freshman.”

    • Daddy R says:

      My only downer on that, is what if this is just Mike and his style. Would a recruit want to go somewhere where they may not put him in best position to succeed?

      • boomersoonerlife says:

        The first 3.5 games this year, he dialed up all kinds of pressure. Why the sudden change?

        • Daddy R says:

          3 running qb’s in a row. I think this is just how he plays running qb’s for some reason. It must be. Because he dials it up against pocket passers (and vastly inferior opponents..)

  • JDSooner says:

    Can someone who understands D-line play better than me explain why Chuka, Phillips and Tapper look like they are all sitting back and “catching” the opposing o-linemen instead of attacking up the field? If you watch them, they are all sitting back on their haunches and seem to be playing soft. They didn’t do that earlier in the year, I don’t think….sure seems like that would take a lot pressure off the linebackers and free them up to roam and not get caught up in the “trash”…

    • Daddy R says:

      I’m guessing its coaching style by not wanting to get beat by QB rush. just like how mike likes to play soft coverage too, and only rush 3. This seems very typical of Mike coached teams against running qb’s unfortunately. But someone else may have a more detailed perspective of d line youre looking for…

  • connie usa says:

    Is 2015 gonna be any better? Most of the OL leaves. Wouldn’t shock me if Phillips and Striker leave. Heck, maybe even Shep leaves.

    • Daddy R says:

      Not that I want him too, but Sheps stock should be VERY HIGH after this season..playing with an average offense and qb and all..

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      Shep isn’t going anywhere. He won’t be a very good NFL WR anyways, I don’t think.

      • Daddy R says:

        Then what better time to leave than now, Before NFL figures that out! lol I tend to agree with you though. Reminds me of our other “studs..” Clayton, Iglesias, Broyles.. Damn good here though.

      • F1at1ined says:

        Shep does what all NFL coaches want from a WR – he catches almost everything remotely catchable, runs great routes, battles, plays hurt, plays with heart, and is a gamer. Am sorry but I would take him to war on my team every time. He may not be Megatron big, but he has NFL talent if used well and given a chance.

        • boomersooner says:

          welker’s not enormous either but he’s pretty good. would be really good without all the concussions…yeah yeah, i know, everybody uses welker as a comp for a little guy. point being why can’t shep be that good?

          • F1at1ined says:

            If you can catch and run good routes, you can succeed. Yes I know his height isn’t an asset, but being tall doesn’t translate to success either (there was a giant WR from Indiana I believe who went to the Bills and had little to no impact). He lacked ethic, hands and heart. Seller is one of the favorite small WR but there are several successful ones in today’s game – Hilton, Sanders, A Brown, Maclin, D Jackson, G Tate, Cobb, Wayne, Harbin etc. Am rooting for Shep and I would find a spot for him on my team.

          • boomersooner says:

            don’t think i coulda said it better

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          He just doesn’t seem to fit. Too small. He is a great college player. Hollis Price was a great college basketball player. Never sniffed the NBA. Broyles, even when healthy, hasn’t had many opportunities in the NFL. Clayton. Iglesias. Several others. Nothing in the NFL. Love the kid to death, but I’d be shocked if he did much of anything in the NFL.

  • connie usa says:

    What is wrong with the OL upfield push? At TCU and KSU they can’t get ONE FREAKING YARD!!!!!!!!!

    • Daddy R says:

      Product of the pistol. Its not a “push up the field” formation.

    • boomersooner says:

      haha. i think i’ve been stealing your material. i think that’s killed us even as bad as we’ve been playing

      • connie usa says:

        During every game, the commentators mention that OU across the line measures 6’5″ and 320 pounds. Well, that doesn’t seem to be the answer. Maybe OU needs some guys that can move faster. Lane Johnson went 4th overall because he can RUN and pass block.

        • boomersooner says:

          yeah we need those balanced guys. maybe get somebody that can grade these kids, nfl wise, in high school. obviously these coaches can spot talent, but i don’t see the harm in hiring someone to help that has that eye for kids that they think will develop into nfl talent or already are just need to get bigger and more sound and whatnot

  • John Garner says:

    Tough loss, but only because it shows how inept our coaching staff has become. I expect us to lose a couple more. One thing though, the O seemed to catch fire when Cody was at Q.

    • connie usa says:

      The offense wasn’t the reason for the loss.

      • tfb_fortyseven says:

        Yeah, but … He did give ksu 7 easy points, so he does share responsibility for the loss.

      • John Garner says:

        Yes it was. Pick 6 — missed PAT and FGs — can’t punch it in from the 2 — int in the end zone. So what we gained 500 yds. What difference does that make if you don’t win? When the game was on the line, we couldn’t make 2 yds.

        • soonermusic says:

          It does indicate that the offense didn’t just “catch fire” when Cody was in, tho.

          • John Garner says:

            Maybe that was overstating the facts, but he sure looked good.

          • soonermusic says:

            Agree on that. Especially considering how quickly he got thrown into a pressure situation, he looked like a guy who was ready to play. Just great.

          • John Garner says:

            Yes. I agree with your analysis. Not saying he’s better than TK but he’s a capable backup which may allow us to use TK as his skill set dictates.

  • Dr. Doobie says:

    I have other stuff to do but this killed my day, good thing it’s my anniversary and I have a beautiful wife to cheer me up!!! My final thoughts…. Special teams killed us. Say all u want about the blocked xp, but we were responsible for a 21 point swing, 2 missed field goals, 1 xp, pick 6, int in the end zone… But the D can’t stop air. We gave this game away, nobody to blame but ourselves, but not sure we will do that. There are major changes needed on cloth sides of the ball. Whatever……

  • F1at1ined says:

    There’s still some poor play on the field, but the coaching has to be seriously looked at. Coaches can’t be responsible for dropped passes or FG misses, but these wouldn’t have even been a factor if we played to our strengths on defense and played aggressively to win. We need to attack every play. I can handle the occasional misread as that is more likely the opposition making a better play, but we play our corners with such a weak cushion, and we ask Thomas to play in space when he clearly looks lost, slow and uncomfortable. That is coaching. Striker makes other QBs account for him when the rushes. So why make him play in no mans land where he can have no impact. He is an impact player. Let him be one. We don’t have the talent (whether it is poor development or scheme is questionable but either way, is on coaching) to expect them to cover talented speedy and rangy WRs. Rushing 3 and dropping 8 is playing passive. Its playing conservatively. It is not, or should not, be the Sooner way. Fix it or change the coaching. Heupel also needs to get his ass down to the sideline to coach his QB. Our defensive coordinator can call plays from the sideline. So can Heupel. Introduce another formation to the pistol. Show some different looks. Everyone knew that 3rd and goal was going to be a run up the middle by a tired Perine. Run with TK. Heck, run with Flowers. We need more innovation than a WR reverse pass and again that is down to coaching.

    • Rene Goupillaud says:

      I blame the coaches for the last missed FG. I couldn’t watch because I knew he’d miss it. Two is a trend in this business. It’s like shanking a golf shot.

  • connie usa says:

    I graduated from OU in 1985, and every loss still ruins my day/night/weekend.

  • LandThieve3 says:

    In regards to KState’s 3rd and 3. I believe Hayes played off because the other two DBs played on the line of scrimmage. I was taught as a DB that if all DBs are on the line of scrimmage, a pick route can easily be run and then you’re toast. You have to match up at different levels so that doesn’t happen. Not sure what we could have done differently there except for Hayes to play extremely aggressive and expect a short route.

    • connie usa says:

      When you miss an extra point, and two easy FGs, you deserve your fate.

    • Super K says:

      You’re right there is always the threat of a pick route but at least that requires a degree of execution. This was just pitch and catch. He’s got to put his hands on him. He can’t play 7 off and let him stem without touching him. 3 off and hands on him and pressure from the trips side.

      • LandThieve3 says:

        Yeah, not getting pressure from the trips side hurt. Dline and a blitz with their hands up would have made that play much harder for Waters.

  • Exiled In Ohio says:

    I understand everyone is sad and frustrated. But sometimes things just bounce wrong
    – Defense gave up 24 points to a good team; not a tragedy
    – Hunnicutt has a career bad day
    – Two bad O turnovers, but they bounced back well
    – Bell hurt at a terrible time on the last drive. Perine was tired and the Belldozer would have scored
    – Outgained them by 150 yards
    – We win this game if Ford available

    Overall, I’m not as down as I’ve been the past two weeks. We gave them a fight, but “sometimes the bear gets you.”

    • Daddy R says:

      I’m not as down because I no longer have any expectations for this team whatsoever. Deep breath time from me. LOL Now I just hope to high hell we can beat Okie Aggie.

  • Logan says:

    Hats off to Snyder. Just wish he had a lil more luck and finished against Auburn. Would have made this loss more palatable. We have tremendous athletes that are making plays but also making mistakes/missing assignments still. We are also entering a time of parity in the big 12 OU, K state, TCU, Baylor, O State, WV, and look out here comes Texas all can play toe to toe with anyone in the nation. Lets get used to that fact before we wig out over a couple of losses to some very well coached teams.

    • Daddy R says:

      so, go ahead and expand to 16 team playoff? lol (I like 8 better myself) Would be something if 3 outta 4 playoff teams had two losses this year! Though, I absolutely am not assuming we would be one of them..

  • Cory Reedy says:

    Same story…different year.

  • ND52 says:

    Remember when we were all so stoked after the Sugar Bowl and couldn’t wait for the 2014 season to begin?

    Yeah……….

  • vargo05 says:

    Were the recruits impressed?

  • Kdubracing says:

    Why doesn’t OU go to a defensive alignment that allows them to use their athletic ability on the edges and create pressure from lots of different angles? This would keep the opposing QB and OL on edge. It would look something like……oh wait….never mind.

  • JB says:

    A few questions for the Brainacs: do any of you guys know and speak with Mike Stoops? If so, would you please ask him why, starting with WVU game and continuing ever since…why on earth does he only rush 3 defensive linemen or 3 DLs and Striker on damn near every 3rd and long? We were 73rd in the nation in 3rd down conversion percentage defense going into this game, and once again we couldn’t get stops on 3rd and long and gave up plenty of conversiond on 2nd and long as well today. We keep trying this and we keep getting burned every week. Ask him why we aren’t taking advantage of the 3-4 and attacking a lot more Dick LeBeau style. Ask him why we insist on 3-4 rushers only, giving opposing QBs all day to throw or take off and run. Ask him why we aren’t attacking with frequency on those many 3rd and longs we give up. Ask him, with the alleged talent we have on D, why aren’t we letting them dictate the flow of the game to opposing offenses, keeping them off balance, not knowing which direction the heat is coming from (again, see: Dick LeBeau or Rex Ryan’s defenses at Baltimore).

    I would just like to know what the hell he is thinking, because I don’t comprhend why we’re setting ourselves up for failure. It would be interesting if you guys could ask these questions and print his responses.

    • Logan says:

      dude, you can’t line up every play against the spread with 8 guys showing blitz. You pick your battles. The secondary has to make a play in coverage every once and awhile on third down.

      • JB says:

        Umm…I never said line up 8 and blitz every down. I implied that we should try bringing at least a 5th player, which you can do very easily from the 3-4 with a LB, CB or safety. And you can do that a lot more often than we are. What we’re doing right now is failing to pressure the QB.

  • Wilson says:

    I think we really miss Keith Ford and Charles Walker….

    • JB says:

      I think we also miss having a QB. Knight is not an OU caliber QB. His decision making is terrible. He routinely overthrows his receivers, especially on the simple dink passes. He locks onto the receiver without reading the D so picking him off isn’t a big challenge for opposing Ds…he may end up with more INTs than TDs before all is said and done. I thought it was a mistake to start him last year. Blake Bell should have been the starter from day one and should still be the starter. If Bell is dead set against moving back then I’d like to see Thomas or Hansen get a shot. Trevor will cost us another game, maybe 2.

      • Daddy R says:

        Not sure about moving Bell back now.. Better for him at TE. But I certainly agree with you on wishing Bell would have just been “the man” last year and this year. Then you would have had Knight (as a junior) to compete with Thomas, Hansen, and whatever freshman we bring in, for next year.. Bell could have been a much better QB if coaches would have just been behind him the whole time.

      • Wilson says:

        given the fact the play calling is not to his strengths…but we did have some pretty bad QBing going on in the mid to late 90’s (Sans Heupel)

      • boomersooner says:

        knight did not lose this game. different ways to skin a cat, but for me it all boils down to needing one yard in both losses and you run the pistol. you can’t expect to get 2 ft when you start 7 yds back. another reason you need to show i form so that when you run it in short yardage situations, they’re not sure if a sneak is coming or not

        • Daddy R says:

          Right on. And totally confuses me too, because we havent ran I Form all season reallly, and yet, they actually ran it today for a sneak! Why not hand off out of it too? boggles my mind.

        • JB says:

          Knight had plenty of help from the spevial teams and D. But Knight’s inability to NOT stare down his intended target and poor decision-making led directly to the easy pick 6. Given the final score, that one play would have made the difference in the outcome.

          • boomersooner says:

            so would either field goal. i’m not saying he’s the best thing ever, but he’s not piss poor either. that was an awful play call, yet that doesn’t mean don’t read it just throw it. but if we sneak and get a yard in the 2 losses, obviously we win this one and the tcu game we might just win too

        • tfb_fortyseven says:

          You can’t say that about Knight. His pick six, that HE threw, is just as responsible for this loss as the missed FGs, missed PAT, Durron’s pick in the end zone, JH’s suspect play calling, Mike’s overly complex defensive scheming, etc. The offense played better this game, but the decisions made during the course of the game were pathetic … Including Trevor’s telegraphed, high-risk, pass to the shallow flat with a defender right there 5 yards from his own end zone.

          • boomersooner says:

            ok. decent point. but you kind of make my point. if he hadn’t thrown that ball, they would have 6 less points on the scoreboard, probly 7. but even with that, a whiff on a block on a e.p. and 2 gimme kicks from the best kicker in the game, and we can’t line up under center for 2 ft instead of asking the biggest rb since bettis(who obviously is getting the ball) to get 7 yds + the 2 ft. i mean that’s why TEAMS lose games.

          • tfb_fortyseven says:

            Wull yeah …. But to say he’s not responsible makes you sound like you have blinders on.

          • boomersooner says:

            or you’re just another of the wet blankets that want to fire everybody, cut all the players, cut the football program from the budget and burn the school to the ground. did his pick lead directly to points? yes. did he throw for over 300 yds and 3 tds and whatever else he did? yes. and he lead us down the field for the game winning score(yes i know that we ran quite a few times). you people are starting to sound like the romo haters. i guess if he just leads us on td drives every single possesion ya’ll will be happy

          • tfb_fortyseven says:

            Or maybe you’re just one of the sunshine pumpers who continue to look at everything through rose-colored glasses? Are you ever sober enough to see reality or does the sunshine tea you drink manage your thoughts away from the way things really are? And how long have you been an ou fan? 5 years? 10? Also, have you even met bob stoops? Gary Gibbs? Barry Switzer? Chuck Fairbanks? Are you even an ou booster? And “you people” should get a grip and see what is going on with the program instead of demanding conformity to your kum-bai-ya, “can’t we all just get along?”, “all is groovy” communal, group-think. Last I checked this is a free country, and I am entitled to my opinion just as much as you are. So cut the crap and realize there will always be people who disagree with you.

          • boomersooner says:

            i don’t know who you think you are talking to there tough nuts but this ain’t a one way street. its obvious people disagree with me but i am not the one who thinks his opinion is the only one you could possibly have. people like me are level headed and don’t try to kill ourselves and everyone else when we lose, we try to figure it out. its really not that difficult. what the hell does it matter who i’ve met. you have no clue who i am and i don’t give a damn who you are. but for you to sit here and try to talk down to me, i’ll be damned before that happens with some internet freak. i would much rather be a “sunshine pumper” which YOU PEOPLE so like to call us, than sit in mommy’s basement and try to burn the world down. maybe you should try cheering for a different team or, better yet, go to local spelling bees and place some wagers and leave football to the people who can handle. good day and good riddance

          • tfb_fortyseven says:

            Good luck with that closed-minded attitude. I’m sure it gets you far in life. And yeah, I know who I’m talking to … People like you are a dime a dozen, they all love to stick their head in the sand while everything goes south around them … then get all offended when others have the audacity to hold their overpaid public figures accountable for the hubris that is keeping our players from achieving their dreams. There are many sooner fans who simply do not like bob stoops, so get over it … We all want to see our program succeed.

      • OUknowitscomin says:

        I don’t know how anyone comes aways from that game pinning it on TK, was quite accurate & made excellent decisions today – 1play….that was a terrible call. Granted, shouldn’t have thrown it…but did you watch any D series today?

      • tfb_fortyseven says:

        You forgot about Hybl. Even though he helped win the rose bowl, and was MVP, Hybl could throw interceptions with uncanny proficiency.

      • soonermusic says:

        Disagree with your assessment of Knight. Other than the one poor decision, Knight had a terrific game. Great decisions, precision passing both short and long, good reads. Consistently throughout the game. Over 300 yards, 3 td throws, over 80% completion. That’s hero level qb.

      • soonermusic says:

        Totally disagree about Knight. Except for the one horrible read at the goal line, he played a terrific game.

  • Wilson says:

    On another note A&M and Okie State are getting smashed….

  • ND52 says:

    Second verse same as the……

  • Jerry Rivera says:

    On a positive note, I now have my Saturdays back. No need to leave work to catch the game.

  • Wilson says:

    Bammers 44 TAMU knot…not quite half time….wow…

  • Kevin says:

    I think that the expectations for this season have made the last three games so disappointing. If we were 5-2 given the two types of losses we had (both close with a chance to win at the very end) it would still be maddening but it would give us hope that we could improve by the end of the year and into next year. Unfortunately, the grit and style in which we pulled out last season made anything less than perfection a complete disappointment. There are so many different things to be frustrated about too- coaching/preparation, play-calling, execution, etc.- that it really makes it hard to believe that OU will win out. All three phases have not been in sync, and we just can’t win with one phase executing right while the other phases are laying duds. I hope that the losses will reignite the intensity we saw at the end of last season and the beginning of this season.

  • Guest says:

    Snyder owns Bob in Norman like Barry owned Tom in Lincoln

    • Wilson says:

      um…not….but even more truthful…Bob owns Snyder in (whatever town they call home) like Bob owns everyone else at their home….(damn…did it again)

  • lebval15 says:

    Good thing we didn’t need any of the timeouts we pissed away at the end of the game [sarcasm font].

  • akryan says:

    That should have been our game. Looking at the box score, we dominated the game. We had twice as many first downs. We outgained them by 150 yards. We were balanced on offense and won TOP. Apparently, it’s not going to matter that Shepard is our only receiving threat because he can carry load. We just made the mistakes that KSU didn’t and when it mattered the most, we couldn’t come up with the big play. Championship teams get those.

  • lebval15 says:

    Bob stoops = lloyd Carr. Won a national title early, and wins lots of games, but can’t keep a team focused for a whole season and thus loses at least one a year he shouldn’t lose, so he’ll never do it again.

    • boomersooner says:

      i’m not arguing. asking sincerely. who would you want as hc? oc? dc? or have you gotten that far?

      • lebval15 says:

        I want an offensive innovator. Chad Morris would be a great example. And he has Texas HS ties. I’d take Sumlin or Briles of we could get them too.

        • boomersooner says:

          decent resume, but it begs the question, was it him or was it boyd, watkins, and ellington? would be nice to see them put up the same numbers after those guys are gone. guess we’ll have to wait and see. don’t know their situation(injuries and talent and whatnot), but 17 on fsu with an overtime doesn’t sound good and today doesn’t look to great. i’m not bashing, and i don’t know coordinators enough, just wondered what some people thought

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          Might want to check the score of Sumlin’s game today.

          • Mysterio1 says:

            I’ve always liked Patterson, but I think he’s as old as Stoops?
            Bob is way too comfortable, he just doesn’t see to see the issues.

      • Daddy R says:

        I think it would be funny if Barry came back after Bob, because he’s pissed Bob beat his numbers, (well, except for the big one..) Hey, if Snyder can still coach, so could BS. I doubt Castiglione would even approach considering it.

      • Won says:

        Not sure, but BS is under contract until 2020.
        I assume he will be here as long as Joe C and DB are here unless he chooses to leave.
        The missed chances at the NC are more painful as each year that passes.
        So much talent has been through here and we have not capitalized as much as we could (no-brainer).
        We need a purge

        • boomersooner says:

          well, i don’t want him gone. i’m just asking those who do or seem to. i will always love bob, but if he has 2 or 3 4 or 5 loss seasons in a short span…it would be hard to say he needs to stay. man, i hope we never get there and he gets to leave with all sorts of dignity, pride and one heck of a legacy

      • Tulsa Terry says:

        Bob Stoops hc. Ralph Fridgeon oc. Jerry Montgomery dc.

      • RBear says:

        Anyone that coaches DURING the game and doesn’t rely solely on a game plan; someone who can adapt on the fly- takes advantage of situations and like someone said here, an innovator who is capable of thinking outside the box.

        • tfb_fortyseven says:

          All that is great, and I would add: someone who consistently puts his players in a position to make plays …. A master enabler. Switzer was such a coach.

    • Wilson says:

      You know I have heard people, media, etc. say… Oklahoma always seems to lose one or two games they shouldn’t..but seriously isn’t that true for about 97% of Div I and Div II football teams?

      • Won says:

        Well OU is “thought of” as being at the elite level so you can’t compare OU to others. That’s just the way it is. It’s NC or bust.

        • Wilson says:

          So is Notre Dame, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Stanford, Michigan, Texas, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Florida State (maybe the only recent exception), Oregon, etc…regardless of their current records they are all considered elite. But have had a history of losing that one game

        • Wilson says:

          UCLA…..Nebraska…..LSU….

    • dudley04 says:

      Iebval15 i have been saying this for the word another spell the word another that the sooners will never win another national championship with bob stoop as are coach big game bob is the problem

    • OohRah Mama says:

      *yawn*

    • hemisooner says:

      I agree

  • Daddy R says:

    I know Iowa St. hasnt really looked good in any way, but how scary is this game on the road in two weeks?

  • leatherneck1061 says:

    I’ve never been a fellow traveler on the “Fire Heupel” bandwagon before, but after witnessing one of the absolute worse play calls I’ve ever seen in my life which resulted in a pick-6, I’m officially ready to join the club. Hope there’s room on the wagon for one more.

    • Won says:

      I think they are adding capacity…
      It’s now a wagon-train.
      All aboard!

    • Daddy R says:

      I really wish they would at least try to get him on the sidelines to see if that would help before they can him. some coaches just arent meant for the box… we’ll never know unless they try.

      • leatherneck1061 says:

        Maybe the solution is for Bob to just “encourage” him to take the SMU job when this is over. You know….like, putting a padlock on his office door, packing his bags for him and driving him to the airport.

    • akryan says:

      What’s most frustrating about Heupel is that he’s called some really good games before. We’ve put up video game numbers under him. Then he’ll lay an egg here or there. I don’t think he was terrible today though. We were balanced and won in just about every offensive category. Bad turnovers killed us, and that’s not totally on him. Not sure why he can’t come up with a better play to pick up one yard though.

      • Rene Goupillaud says:

        1) called a flat pass for a pick 6.
        2) called a reverse pass (no option?) to stop a drive.
        3) cost a timeout when he couldn’t get a play to the field in time.
        4) wanted to go for it on 4th down in our own territory in the first half.
        5) 3rd and goal run for negative yardage, Perine’s 5th consecutive rush.

        This is what $750,000 a year gets you these days.

        Clearly there were missed assignments and poor tackling on defense giving up some big runs, but Lockett didn’t eat us alive as he has before. Of course, Honeycutt was off his game. But IMHO, this loss is squarely on JH. Yes, he had possessions where he called great plays, but when it was on the line, they guy getting paid a lot of money dropped the ball. Instead of taking what the defense gave, he told them what we were going to do and said defiantly stop us. They did.

        • soonermusic says:

          1. that call was very likely a “read” and Trevor should have handed it off. (B. Stoops even said so)

          2. Before the game you want him to “pull out all the stops.” This was a perfectly ok call on 2nd down. Neal is taught to keep it or throw it away if it’s not open. Simple. Live to play another down.

          3. When a play doesn’t seem to get in on time, it is often a result of things the players have not done correctly on the field, not the coaching staff. Trevor and Ty have addressed that in the past. Can’t blame it on the OC without more info.

          4. The only reason they lined up to “go for it” was to see if they could catch KState not ready., or get a quick offsides call. They weren’t going to run a play.

          5. 3rd and goal, Perine and the O-line had been dominating as they approached. If he had called a pass or run wide and lost yardage, you’d be calling him out for “going away from what’s been working,” and not calling Perine 3 times in a row since he was being so successful. They got dominated in the middle. Hindsight is easy on that one.

    • DCinAZ says:

      Seems like every season we only get peak performance out of Heupel when the noise gets loud and his seat starts to glow red hot, and then all of a sudden the offense get’s more productive. Not sure if it’s laziness or lack of ambition or what.

    • soonermusic says:

      If the play call was a “read” and B. Stoops says it was, then it’s not on Heupel. We make those edge passes backed up to our own goal line all the time. Blaming it on Heupel is looking in the wrong place. I think Neal’s route was suspect and well, but Trevor should have never thrown that pass.

  • leatherneck1061 says:

    One thing I find interesting in all this. We’ll take a well-deserved beating from the pundits and in the polls. But other teams who consistently underperform still don’t get the same scrutiny. How about Oregon for example? They are always one of the teams favored to possibly win it all, and yet they have only been to the NC once and never actually won it. Why don’t they get abused more in the media?

    By the way, that’s just a rhetorical question. We all know the answer already.

  • Tulsa Terry says:

    Entertaining game. The blown timeouts have cost us two games thus far. Defense is catching up to the offense in blown timeouts. Every game, every half we blow our timeouts. Doesn’t make the staff look stupid, it shows us they are stupid.

    • boomersooner says:

      sorry, but 1 yard has cost us 2 games(total of 2 yards). if we get under center a little more, it wouldn’t make under center in super short yardage captain obvious that we’re running a sneak. why you don’t sneak in those situations or just give to optimus from under center is beyond me. if we had picked up the 1 yard in both losses, we probly win and, THEN the timeouts would be looked at as “man, we better figure that out before it costs us”

  • Wilson says:

    ok so At the beginning of the season I really believed OU would be undefeated or have 1 loss at the worse. But that was before we loss Shannon (political casualty), Keith Ford, Charles Walker, Baker Mayfield (another political casualty), Mixon (poor judgment, hope he plays with a passion unmatched next year), DGB (long shot anyway – hope he plays next year), before Heupel decided to scrap the original run pass game plan and before Mike Stoops decided to make one of the premier pass rushers in the league a DB and then decide to castrate the defense. Now…9-3 would be acceptable….Keep hope alive….

    • Daddy R says:

      And what’s also amazing to me is that, even with all that, and ALL the mistakes, we are 7 pts from being undefeated still..

      • Wilson says:

        Ding ding Ding…Daddy R…you are correct…akryan…..thank you for your social commentary…but…what about the premise of the original post?

        • akryan says:

          I don’t think losing those players is what the problem has been. Jordan Evens has played pretty well at LB. We still have a lot of DL talent out there, so I don’t think losing Walker is to blame. Baker Mayfield would have been nice, but we were all on the Knight train before the season began, so I don’t think not getting Mayfield should have lowered expectations. Keith Ford has probably hurt, but it’s not like he was the next coming of AD and Perine has stepped up pretty well. He was an exciting recruit to get but we don’t know how good Mixon would have been and again, our RB are pretty good anyway. I think what people really overlooked was how young and/or inexperienced our WR corp (and secondary for that matter) was going to be. We have 1 WR that is a threat and he is still amazingly carrying the unit. We have a lot of 6’4″+ WR and TE on the roster. I don’t know why they aren’t getting in the game at all. I don’t care if they don’t run perfect routes or have break away speed. We just need to try giving TK a giant target to throw to. I think we overestimated our OL too. They haven’t been as dominant as they looked like on paper. We’ve lost two games to two pretty damn good teams by a combined 6 points. TK threw a pick six in each of them. What’s killed us is just the big mistakes at the worst possible times. Blame it on the players. Blame it on the coaches. Probably fair to blame both. Next week is a huge gut-check. Both teams had dreams of a national championship. Both are coming off gutting losses. I think we’ll learn more about OU next week than we have all season.

          • Daddy R says:

            I agree with damn near everything you said. But, I also think those players being here would have EASILY negated those 6 pts. Not only for the talent, but also the momentum we were carrying over from Sugar Bowl, and offseason recruiting. Having ALL that happen that Wison mentoned, really killed momentum, more than I think any of us realized..

          • akryan says:

            Maybe. None of us know. I hate blaming things on lost players because every team has to deal with losing players. I think we’ve played a little too conservative on defense at times too. We’re asking the secondary to do too much and defend for too long. I’ll live with a few big plays by an athletic QB, if we can stall their drives by stopping one of those third and long plays by forcing the QB to deal with pressure. We gave up 7 of 11 third downs today. We can’t win consistently if we can’t keep third down conversions under 50%.

          • Wilson says:

            not saying it is the reason…but Keith is a different type of runner…where Perine may get 7 through some of the holes I’ve seen…Keith would be in the secondary because of his explosiveness…Walker gives us that aggressiveness and power when the other guys get tired. Now I will agree about the big receivers…just about any receive can run 9 routes and go for jump balls….

    • akryan says:

      I don’t want DGB. I think it was a mistake to bring him in. He broke into a house and dragged his girlfriend down a flight of stairs by her hair. I’m okay with giving guys second chances, but not after he does something like that, no matter how good he is. We’re better than that.

  • Tyler says:

    I wish OU was good at football

  • pshaw says:

    Talent is obviously there. Everyone knows that. Play calling is atrocious on both sides of the ball. The whole entire game I was trying to figure out if I was watching Oklahoma football. 3rd and 3 and you give a receiver a 7 yard cushion?! Doesn’t make sense. We finally look like Oklahoma on offense and our defense just can’t hold on for us. Coaching has a lot do with what’s going on in Norman.

  • dudley04 says:

    This coaching staff is pathetic for any of you who call yourself true sooner fan’s it is time to realize spell that bob stoop’s is part of the the problem this program is going in the wrong direction

    • Wilson says:

      Damn, and all this time I thought I was a true sooner fan. I guess I will give back my diploma, ask for my money and ask Bob where are we moving next….

    • Daddy R says:

      I understand where you’re coming from, especially if you’ve been following since the “good ole days..” But, it’s also very hard to want a guy out when he wins 10 games or more, damn near every year… Is he “part of” the problem? sure, but I think most of us hope “he” is also the one who can fix that problem. He does win 10+ games a year normally… its his 16th year. Thats a lot of stinkin wins! Do we want more NC’s? HELL YEAH! But, you gotta watch what you wish for. I’m only 33, so I was a newborn – 8 yrs old during Switzer (amazing coach), I remember a bit more when it comes to Gibbs (good coach, but really, who can follow “The King?”) Then Schnelly (oh god) then Blake (really oh god), and Then Bob, and oh thank heavens for Bob! Is the man a saint, no. but he wins 10 games a year, and deserves to keep coaching the Sooners as long as he keeps winning like he does. If he suddenly drops to 5+ losses a year, then maybe that’d change. I’m just not ready to give up on Bob yet.

    • Sooner Ray says:

      You come in here and say the same thing every week, come back when you get another pony for your trick.

      • boomersooner says:

        and these are the tired acts from landthieves. it got old so i left. now, i know, we just can’t have nice things….anywhere. you can’t run from stupid, apparently

      • dudley04 says:

        Sooner ray i would agree with you but every year it’s the same thing with this coaching staff they lose in the big game it is that simple

  • Kuzi says:

    Someday we will win it all… Hopefully I am still alive

  • Indy_sooner says:

    We tried very, very hard to lose the game to day. Went out of our way, in fact. No words…. well, except the usual “Next year” bs.

    • leatherneck1061 says:

      They figured that strategy worked out just fine last week. If it worked once……

    • Daddy R says:

      No, we tried very hard to lose the tejas game, we “did” lose this game. lol, sorry, just being a sarcastic ass.. that kind of a day ya know?

  • Kuzi says:

    It would be nice to be in the race late into the season. It has been a while (2008). I couldn’t tell you what the problem is. Firing everyone is not usually a good solution. One of these days it will all come together… Maybe next year.

    Brainiacs… What is the outlook for this o line in the future?

  • leatherneck1061 says:

    Bama must still be pissed about the sugar bowl loss. They’re taking their revenge by trying to break our 77-0 point record against the aggies. Getting pretty close to it too. Damn Nick Saban!

  • RBear says:

    Regardless of what’s already happened or what will happen- this staff is not focused.

    Clock mismanagement (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg) game in, game out is unacceptable. Castiglione should probably be scheduling a sit down with Bobby fairly soon.

    Accountability, from the top.

  • pag says:

    To be honest we can’t ask for much more.We’re not consistent on offense(running or passing) not consistent on our defense ( our secondary seems like they can’t stop anyone at times).The team is definitely not playing on a playoff level…

    • Daddy R says:

      This. This is why I am really, really glad we are sooo young. Hopefully, experience will pay off in the skill positions and on D, and talent will pay off in replacing the o-line.

  • CKill1 says:

    I read and on some level understand the anger at the coaching staff. We were by far the more talented team today. We should have won. However, in the game I watched the OU coaches put our players in a position to succeed. This one isn’t on the coaches. Yes, I have an issue with only rushing 3 for large stretches, especially when Waters’ accuracy dropped dramatically when under any pressure. And I hated the timeout called when Kish & MStoops were bitching at each other. But think about this: We knew coming in that we couldn’t have many mistakes and beat a Snyder-coached team. KSU is a good, sound, football team that usually won’t beat itself. Our Sooners were good enough to overcome a potential game-altering mistake or two. Just not 5 of them. Had TK9 not thrown that pick6, had Neal pulled that poor pass down and taken a loss or thrown it away, or had Honeycutt(guess it’s not Moneycutt anymore!) made any of his 3 kicks we’d all be talking about how to use this KSU win as a springboard for a late run, just like last year. I’m disappointed in the loss, just like y’all are, but I see many positives here. We have great RBs. I think Knight will get much better, as he has still started fewer than a complete season of games, and I’m kind of excited about C Thomas, as well. I think our defense will continue to improve. My biggest concern is our inability to impose our will with this behemoth O-line. We should have a more consistent push ALL GAME LONG. Maybe I’m a glass half full-guy, but this is how I see things.

    • Super Keith says:

      My thoughts are exactly the same. Well said.

      The one thing I didn’t really account for (when the season began) was inexperience (especially in the defensive secondary). It turns out that is a contributing factor. Truth is, this team shouldn’t have been as hyped coming into the season (thank the Sugar Bowl win for that), and is set up better for 2015. Still, we had a chance to win today (and against TCU), but couldn’t get it done.

      We’ve lost 2 games, to two top 15 teams, by a total of 5 points. And, we made mistakes in both of those games that kept us from winning. There’s definitely some positives in there.

      • Mysterio1 says:

        I would point to 2015, but I think OU will lose some players to the draft. Phillips can make some serious money.

        • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

          Phillips will be playing against people that are as big as he is. That is not to say he can make some serious money.

      • soonerguy742 says:

        Schuedule in 2015 is tough. @ Baylor, @ KSU, @ OK State, and @ Tennessee is no joke

        • Tulsa Terry says:

          I would rather have a team that can win anywhere than a team that has a favorable schedule.

    • PLAW0720 says:

      KSU is a good, sound, football team that usually won’t beat itself. – Sad, I remember when they used to say this about OU. Bummer

    • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

      I stopped reading after your first sentence. That is the attitude that has to change!

  • Hotrod33 says:

    I watched the first half and then had to dvr the second. The secondary still plays too far off the wr’s and not putting pressure on Waters when he had a hurt shoulder. I would of rushed 6 and played man coverage with the wr’s. If they can’t cover I’m putting the other guys in. On offense Heupel needs to quit running that pass to the side. The coaches are not using their players the way they should. Some of the play calling is horrible. IMO, start putting some of these freshmen in more so they can get some experience and trust what they do. The season can’t get any worse.

  • Wilson says:

    Hopefully Keith Ford will be back after the bye… I don’t think Charles Walker will be…

    • Daddy R says:

      Would it be too late to get him medical redshirt? or has he already redshirt?

      • boomersooner says:

        medical is different, but i don’t know enough about games played and snap percentages and whatnot

      • Wilson says:

        I think we need to play Ford…but a medical redshirt may be a possibility for Walker…

      • SoonerfanTU says:

        Eh. He won’t want to redshirt if healthy, and we don’t need him to. We need him playing. We gain Mixon and the true freshman kid next year. We don’t need to be getting guys more years at OU. RB recruiting isn’t an issue either.

        • Daddy R says:

          Well we know how depending on Mixon worked out the first time, lol. I’m just thinking with this year basically done as in NC, why not give the kid another year if you can. But I see what you’re saying too. Who is this “freshman kid” you are referring too?

      • Wilson says:

        This may help:

        A player can request a medical redshirt if they have played in 30% or less of the teams games and suffer a season ending injury. The NCAA can then grant a player an extra season beyone the typical 4 years of eligibility once requested by the player.

        • Daddy R says:

          Must be season ending. Got ya. But can a player have two redshirts? say he was redshirted normally, could he then later on get a medical too if he needed? or would the original redshirt disqualify him?

          Edit: I guess there have been guys around for 6 years.. so appears you can do both, and that answers my question..

          • Wilson says:

            not sure on that one…Didn’t Tyler Evans have something similar to that occur? What about Gurly with Georgia? He has had a couple of season ending injuries.

          • blaster1371 says:

            Yes they can have a medical redshirt and your typical red shirt. Jason White had both.

  • Wilson says:

    Here is the funny thing….we actually killed the Kansas State vaunted defense….so we do have talent….and moments….here is to the moments left in this season….may they be plenty…

  • Bryan says:

    It just seems like there is this ceiling OU can’t crack. Anyone have a good thought of what that is? I can’t pin point it… so many different things go wrong year after year. Offense, defense, special teams…. missing out on those one or two recruits who could make an impact. I default to assuming it must just be the overall regime but I’m not dumb enough to scream fire Stoops. Who do you replace him with? Would we really be better off? We definitely get our share of wins each year and we’ve never been *that* bad. We’re stuck on neutral though and I really thought after brining in Mike, Jerry, etc. and getting the buzz from the Sugar Bowl we had finally shaken things up enough that we could break through this year. I was wrong as usual.

    • Wilson says:

      tough question…but there are few teams that find the right chemistry and luck each year. This year it will come down to the wire for the final four…lots of good teams…still more losses to come…hopefully not for the Sooners…but everybody else….(0:

    • ToatsMcGoats says:

      The last few years it’s always been confusion in the secondary. The exact same problems that OU has right now. I thought that, with Mike back, the problems would disappear…guess what? Oh, and that “no switching sides” thing with the CB’s, yeah that’s working really well. They found out that Sanchez was shutting Lockette down, so they just send him over to Wilson. Worked everytime. And that cushion? Well, we’ve heard enough about the cushion…

      • soonermusic says:

        I think they adjusted and put Sanchez on Lockett resulting in only 1 reception in the second half.

    • Tmac says:

      Bob must go get the best. He has settled regarding offensive and defensive coordinators. Sonny Cumbie comes to mind.

  • kcsoonerfan says:

    With the talent we have there is no reason to have lost this game at home… so who wears it.

    • boomersooner says:

      i gotta give this one to you. you really lacked that killer instinct. we got a bye week, so lets work on it

  • Jack Durrett II says:

    Part of the problem is that we all thought that our defense was much better than it has turned out to be. So we blame the coaches. However, Phillips needs helpin the middle(however he gets it), our linebackers are not filling the right gaps and Striker needs to learn how to play the run. Our secondary is mediocre at best.

    • Super K says:

      My issue is how the structure of the defense is being used. There are strengths and weaknesses in personnel on most every defense. And there are strength and weaknesses in every call, technique and structure. Our calls, technique and structure often seem to expose the personnel weaknesses. Not always of course, but more often than I personally expected. A great defensive coordinator has to do things to ensure that his calls, technique and structure give his personnel it’s best chance. Mike has done a good job of that at times. He did a really nice job of that last year for the most part…especially considering all the injuries. This year…not as much in my estimation.

  • rphokc says:

    watch, somewhere down the line, kst will probably lose to someone with a less talented d than ou but they will play kst differently and we’ll wonder, ‘why the hell we didn’t do that’……

    • Super K says:

      My bet is KSU loses at least two games. That quarters coverage has too many issues and Heup did a good job of exposing some of them today. Baylor should have a field day against them.

  • Sooner Ray says:

    How are we not winning this shi++y conference?

  • Ed Cotter says:

    Sorry, but today was definitely about execution. Hunnicutt probably felt like the worst guy in the world today after the game. Not getting it in the end zone on 3rd and goal before Hunnicutts last miss is inexcusable. With our OL, no matter the play call, Sooners should have stuck that one in. KSU made the plays to win today, just like TCU did two weeks ago. Interestingly enough a Pick 6 has pretty much decided OU’s last three games. NC chances are gone, but still lots of football left. Will support this team through thick and thin. BOOMER!!

    • boomersooner says:

      i can’t remember if you were in this conversation earlier or not, but i’ll repeat it anyway. with as bad as we played on both ends of the ball at times, with special teams always being steady. now the offense(minus the pick 6, which is large) was steady and d and s.t. was bad. anywho…with all that, it all comes down to a yard in our losses…and formations. if we line up in the i just a little bit throughout a game, it would allow us to run in those 2 short yd situations(1 tcu and 1 today) and get it more than likely. a sneak is easier but optimus wouldn’t have to run 7 yds to get 2 ft, especially when the world is crashing down on the middle run. we get it today, obviously it gives us the lead and we win, i think. and against tcu, fresh set of downs and we’re on the 20-something or somewhere in there. that’s my outlook. 1 stinking yd in each game, would we have won both? i think so

      • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

        Do you realize we have the number one arrogant ass in coaching and his shotgun buddy in the saddle. As much as it makes sense what we see every Saturday is what we will see until Stoops and JH are gone….

    • Super K says:

      I’m not so sure OU’s chances are gone. The season is kind of wacky. I know everyone is going to want to shoot me after this comment but OU has lost two games to two good teams on pick 6s and still has yet to put together a complete game. Within the course of a game they’ve demonstrated dominance on both sides of the ball at various times but can’t seem to do it consistently. If OU wins out…it’s not inconceivable that they win the Big 12. Will they win out? Don’t know. Do they have the ability to win out? With a good game plan…absolutely.

      • Wilson says:

        Super K, yep and I think that is the frustrating part for most. Trained and untrained eyes see the potential for a purely dominating contending team. Just baffled by the play calling, game plans, player position decisions and just pure bad luck. I totally agree with you, but the porch light has been flickering for the past 4 weeks. Question is…will it turn on or go out?

        • Super K says:

          That’s a good way of describing it. There’s a flickering light and if it comes on…watch out. If it doesn’t…watch out lol. Bottom line is I think the criticisms are warranted…I have plenty…but thinking this team sucks or that the season is over is premature. I think OU plays in a good conference and still has an opportunity to show some dominating football and other teams have chances to lose. I will say that my confidence in what the coaches are going to roll out from week to week isn’t super high (to say the least) but I’m willing to wait and see.

          • Wilson says:

            You know I had some say to me…”I’m worried about the TCU game.” My response was…I am only concerned about the positions the coaches put the players in to be successful. If they put them in the best positions to be successful…this team can play with and beat anyone…

          • Super K says:

            That’s accurate to me as well. Of course didn’t expect the absolute bust in the secondary or the pic 6

          • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

            Not sure of that thought. There is not a lot of aggressive play from either the OL or DL. The pass defense seems totally muddled. And who took MS mojo away????

          • hemisooner says:

            This season is done. I can see Baylor rolling us at home bc of non aggressive defense that mike has put out there. We still have to go to Lubbock, a place we dont play very well at. Thats two more losses that i can see. For a team that was EXPECTING to win the conference this very disappointing. know i will not believe the summer hype bc this isnt a very good team at game planning, excuting, or playing smart. It’s that simple. Who throws an out on the far hash marks on their own goal line. Dumb coaches and dumb players.

        • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

          We only have dominating players in the Spring and before the first game. We tell each other that every year and then we get our asses handed to us.

          • tfb_fortyseven says:

            Totally agree. Hype hype hype … Then reality strikes. It happens each and every season. Stoops is overpaid for the product he produces.

      • akryan says:

        It could be an absolute crap shoot if a bunch of teams have two losses in conference. KSU still has to play TCU, WVU, and Baylor. We still play Baylor. We win and Baylor has two conference losses. WVU has the chance to play spoiler against a couple of teams. On top of that I think Texas and OSU get one big time win this year. There is a ton of parity in the Big 12 this year. All of that may just result in no one getting into the playoffs though.

      • Greg Sparks says:

        Super k, your being Super positive! Yes the season is being wacky but not nucking futs. We’ve got the worst OC in the big 12/10, a head coach not doing his job or hadn’t been doing his job and now it’s really shows on the field. The money he’s made off of ONE!!! N.C. Is ridiculous! every year is the same we’ll lose 2/4 games because of lack of coaching or play calling. Now I know he’s a good coach just not a great one his record shows that, his first ten years were good but these next ten arnt shaping up to be any good at all.

      • SoonerFan11 says:

        IMO they should still be undefeated. Thats what stings most. They are better than every team they have playe . Just smh

      • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

        Not so sure that they can put 1 complete game together with JH leading the pack!!!

      • ToatsMcGoats says:

        I see where you’re coming from, but I think that if OU hasn’t put a complete game together at this point in the season, they probably won’t. I’m shutting down my hopeful side simply because I can’t keep going through this every week. It seriously weighs on me…

        • blaster1371 says:

          Agreed! I am Mr. Pessimistic from here on out and think OU will lose the next 6 or 5, whatever is left. That way I will be pleasantly surprised if they actually win.

        • Kelsta says:

          I normally agree with your thoughts Toats but I disagree here. I’m guessing the coaches will finally let the kids play now that we don’t have grand visions of the final four. Knight won’t be playing “not to get hurt”. Mike will hopefully stop playing “not to lose”. Stop using our pass rushers to contain and let them go. I’m guessing we turn it on and win out. Like someone mentioned, this is a squad that is vastly under achieving. There were player execution issues Saturday that cost the game. But with coaching execution, KSU wouldn’t have been close enough to matter.

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            It just seems like the games that OU has lost has always been chalked up to “execution”. Sure, at some point the players have to “get it”, but I just don’t know why it seems to take so long each season. It was around this point last season when the team finally started to reach its potential. I just figured that, with more experience within the system, it wouldn’t have/shouldn’t have taken as long as it has this season to see not only comfort, but improvement.

            It’s tough to assume that they’ll finally get it and put a complete game together when I haven’t seen it yet, and the excuses are the same every single week, meaning nobody is learning from their mistakes. Couple this with the questionable game planning on both sides of the ball (especially defense), I just can’t bring myself the believe that all of these things will be fixed anytime soon. Obviously, this is just my opinion, but without those promising signs, I’m not changing my mind. However, I would love, LOVE for them to prove me wrong.

      • BR says:

        absolutely agree K, this has been a stupid wacky season, but im not sure how much more heartbreak I can take..lol

      • Jeff says:

        For Super K, JY and defensive guru’s, I recently had lunch with a former Sooner LB the played with the Boz, initials PM, who echoed my thoughts over the past two years. He stated that we really haven’t had great LB or D line play for a while now. While he and I agree that Evans and Alexander have done a good solid job, they have basically played to their three star rating. We really need some outstanding ILBs. And the D line play has been good especially on the edge, with the exception of Phillips he noted, none of the interior DL explodes off the ball every play creating havoc. PM cited the D line of Tennessee saying go back and watch their interior DL every play. Pretty damn good for a bunch of young guys. Thoughts?

    • WilliamJack says:

      SOONER! Win or lose. Losses still hurt though.

    • keith moore says:

      Reporter (to John McKay): “What do you think of your team’s execution?”
      McKay: “I’m in favor of it.”

  • Will Narramore says:

    Couple Thoughts:
    1) Thought Sanchez played well. When healthy I think he’s good enough to just leave on an island. Rest of the secondary needs the help more than he does
    2) Sterling Shephard may go down as one of the best WRs all time at OU
    3) Thought Alex Ross looked a lot better tonight. Ran with a purpose and actually made some cuts to make a guy miss
    4) Past couple games havent heard Ndule’s name called that much. Might be time to start getting Grissom some more snaps back at DE and let Bond play even more
    5) Thought the offensive game plan was actually a lot better. We were picking up positive yards on those swing passes every time
    6) Michiah Quick should be the 3rd receiver going forward now
    7) I think Mike Stoops psychs himself out when he plays a mobile QB and eases back on the pressure so he doesnt get burned on the scramble
    8) Minus the stupid pick 6 trevor knight played very well.
    9) It seems year after year OU disappoints. Obviously 10-2 is a great season but this team had the talent to be different but they clearly weren’t ready.
    10) That being said, I hate to say this already but next year’s team could be even more dangerous if everyone (Striker, Sanchez, etc..) dont leave early. Your 2016 team could feature:
    QB: Trevor Knight, more experienced with a competent backup in Mayfield so he should be free to run without fearing injury
    RB: Ford Perine and Ross all with a year of experience plus Mixon
    WR: Shephard and DGB on the outside will be deadly. Quick working the slot.
    OL: This may be the only question mark but I have faith Coach B will have these guys ready
    DL: Tapper Phillips Walker with Dimon Romar Peterson providing depth. All will have experience.
    LB: Striker, Alexander, Evans, Bond. Potentially have Shannon back for depth. Evans Shannon and Alexander would all have a lot of experience. Wouldnt be surprised to see Ahmad Thomas here next year
    CB: Sanchez and Jordan Thomas(?) don’t know who replaces Wilson but Thomas has gotten some snaps as a true freshman and Sanchez is lock down
    Safeties: Parker, Byrd. May need another safety here with Hayes gone.

    That 2016 team could be very good but of course we said the same thing about this 2015 team

    • Super K says:

      Thanks for the note! Good read!

    • akryan says:

      OL is a huge question mark. With the practice restrictions now in place, there isn’t much time to coach guys up. Losing as many starts as they’re set to lose isn’t going to be something they can just replace.

      • ToatsMcGoats says:

        I agree, but everyone has the same restrictions, but not everyone has the same problems. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Arkansas steal a few of our OL commits. They know how to prep those kids to be successful…OU seemingly doesn’t…

        • Brad Warren says:

          What a stupid comment

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            LOL. Thanks for your profound sentiment, Brad.

          • Brad Warren says:

            Your comment is the opposite of profound. We don’t develop olinemen, so commits will jump ship to Arkansas. Total horseshit. Profound enough for you?

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            If that’s what you call profound…I’ll call it argumentative. Anyway, I guess you believe that OU’s line is better at run blocking than Arkansas? Bielema has one hell of a track record of putting guys in the league, our guys are not making those second level blocks like they should be in their second year in the scheme. You can bash me all you want, but it doesn’t put results on the field. Bielema does.

            EDIT: The reason I brought Arkansas up is because I know they have been contenders for some of OU’s OL recruits (e.g. Barnett). We’ve more than likely lost out on Danley because of the success of MSU. For some reason, you don’t think that OLinmen can see the degree of development coming from Bielema in his 2nd season vs. Bedenbaugh’s 2nd season…is this correct?

          • Brad Warren says:

            OU has a good track record of putting olinemen in the league. I believe Bedenbaugh is doing a sound job. You make some good points. I just disagree. Have a good day.

          • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

            Take a look at the 3*’s recruited vs SEC teams. There is no contest between OU and SEC…..

          • Daddy R says:

            Weren’t most of OU’s lineman drafted into the league before Bedenbaugh? I like Coach B. (and would actually like to see him call plays), I’m just saying… Who is in league now after being coached by him? Lane Johnson, Ikard? (though they did have some years under others too…)

      • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

        What a friggen excuse. We only trained the Iraqi army for 10 years and their shining moment ended with them throwing down their weapons, changing clothes and running like hell. When you know you don’t have to learn only certain individuals will take it upon themselves to use the time wisely. Plus this is not the first year they have ever played and if they are not ready then they need to fire the F…..g coaches!!!!

    • connie usa says:

      OU loses most of their OL after this year (then again, they aren’t that good anyway).
      I can easily see Shep, Striker and Phillips leaving early. Shep & Striker can’t get much better (unless Striker gets 2-3″ taller and gains 25 pounds). Phillips is healthy; does he want to risk another back injury which would derail his NFL career?

      • Brad Warren says:

        Negative Nelly

      • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

        The NFL will not like his size or his cover skills. If he stays he will grow some and will see more football. I do not see his Skills transferring to the NFLwith success.

    • Rene Goupillaud says:

      Ross played like a true running back today.
      Cody Thomas played well when TK got hurt
      TK played really well when he came back, maybe Cody lit a fire under him.
      Ahmed Thomas isn’t a safety.
      KSU exploited our field corner, boundary corner system. Wilson can’t cover Lockett, Sanchez can. Second half adjustment has Sanchez shifting to be on Lockett and we shut him down.
      We spread the ball around more
      The targeting call just proves how bad the rule is.

      Let us finish this year before we set ourselves up for disappointment next year.

      • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

        Wilson, because of a lack of quickness, cant be a corner. He also does not have the hips. Right on about targeting but it does help in the number of concussions. All football players are just getting bigger and faster and you cant do nothing. I think some of Cody’s success was because KSU did not know what to expect!!!

    • Brad Warren says:

      Its 2014

    • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

      Agree with Ross comments, DL is not performing as a unit, #10 it is really early to start hyping next years team!!!!!

  • Jackson1006 says:

    Had some good seats at the game. It was good to see the campus despite the loss. Some random observations.
    1. We lack fast twitch athletes in secondary. Sanchez is good on the ball but no burner. He followed lockett around in second half and did well. Thomas is no bueno in coverage. Wilson is fast but not explosive. Parker covers lots of ground, he forced some qb scrambles with his coverage. Unfortunately the qb got yards most of the time.
    2. Neal does have ability to get open but he is inconsistent. Some plays designed to him early, he couldnt shake free, so most of the game trevor didnt even look his way. He did have 1:1 all day and capitalized late. Not a great route runner and gets to full speed right away but no extra gear past that. Still he can and will come on.
    3. Quick got open quite a bit. Bennett did too but dropped that pass on his hands
    4. Like K said, too many of our front seven are “drag down” tacklers
    5. If TK9 would just hit his receivers in stride…
    6. On the sideline, i noticed that curtis bolton has already gained some good weight.
    7. Cody thomas has moxie, real calm. Could tell from his body language that he wanted to keep playing.
    8. Our O line is overrated. They miss almost all blocks past first level
    9. K state secondary is awful. It will be their downfall

    • Super K says:

      Good notes. The KSU secondary will get torched continually as they go through the conference schedule.

    • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

      We really miss DGB.

      • boomersooner says:

        we haven’t even really had him

        • Daddy R says:

          maybe they mean “on the sidelines?”

        • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

          That’s the reason we miss him!!!! The coaches knew when we went after him that he was WAY beyond what we had. It is very evident since the new guys have not played in place of the crap we have played.

          • boomersooner says:

            missing something is having it and then not having it. do we miss dgb? no. he’s never played a snap for us. that would be like us missing him because he chose to go to missouri, but that’s missing out on him. would he help us? i’m sure he would, but i can’t see the future, so i wouldn’t know if for sure he would help us. we could’ve gone to all this trouble to get him, he stairts, and blows out on the first play. sorry, i just can’t go the whole “we miss him, he would definitely make us a contender”…or whatever(yes i know you never said we would be a contender with him). is he a better wr than what we have on campus? sure. and i’m also not gonna bash players making myself feel better. we disagree. i don’t really care. smell ya later

    • hOUligan says:

      Good notes. Esp thoughts on secondary. Very weak at the safety position. #8. Oline. Wondering if this ‘big’ oline is a bit ‘too big’ in this conference and need to balance the ‘dancing bear’ thing vs road grader? Love to out-muscle but have to be mobile enough to get to the LBs. Seems opponent LBs are getting fits but OU LBs are not and if they do, too light to make a solid play.

  • Daddy R says:

    FSU or ND?

  • Defend Colfax says:

    Alex Ross looked good today. I was happy to see that.

    • akryan says:

      He’s found a niche. Not an every down guy, but usually good for one or two big plays a game.

      • brian says:

        He looked like a feature back today. He saw the holes, ran through trash, made people miss, and got to top speed quickly.

        • Gary Jackson says:

          And even though eveybody is scared to kick to him he was doing his best to get to the kick so he could return it.

    • Hotrod33 says:

      For the most part I thought the offense played well. Ross did look good today running the ball. The running game was very good. We beat ourselves with the int’s and the missed fg’s. At this point in the season, Mike needs to figure out what he wants to do on defense. I’m totally lost on what we are trying to do and something needs to change. He should go back to what was working early in the season. I have always thought we were a year away from being a very good football team and I still believe that. I think as fans we got caught up when they said this could be a very good defense. Right now I hope they work on fundamentals and tackling and getting back to being an aggressive d. I’m just disappointed in the season as it stands right now.

  • Rene Goupillaud says:

    Please, in doing trench warfare, please analyze the 3rd and goal play on our last possession. Why does JH keep calling plays like this.

  • Rene Goupillaud says:

    I’m not angry, maybe not even disappointed. What I know I am is bewildered. We lost this game in a way I can’t recall OU doing. How can one explain Honeycutt’s performance after so many solid outings.

    As for JH’s play calling, most of the time it was better than the last two games, but he still called some outright dumb plays. The 3rd and goal call on our last possession was predictable 1) that he would call it and 2) that it would fail. 21 guys within 4 yards of the snap. A power run into that wall of humanity with a running back who is the only guy more than 4 yards from the center snap, his 5th consecutive carry. How can this be viewed as anything but dumb.

    It was matched in stupidity by the flat pass to Durron that resulted in a pick 6. Who in their right mind call that play from your own goal line.

    These two calls cost us the game more than Honeycutt’s misses did. That’s 14 points JH handed to KSU.

    • Hotrod33 says:

      I totally agree with you on this. You could run a bootleg or throw a little pass to one of the wr’s fading into the corner. Heck even run the qb sneak. No way he threw them off on that play. Head scratcher at best. You need to be more creative inside the 5 to get td’s all the time.

    • connie usa says:

      TK didn’t have to throw the ball that was intercepted. He should be able to read a defense.
      And any way you slice it, it’s hard not to put the blame on Honeycutt. A 19 yard FG?

      • DCinAZ says:

        Disagree. That was a called lateral pass. We ran the exact same play to the opposite side the play before when we got the penalty. That was definitely what Heupel called.

        • F1at1ined says:

          I don’t think Connie was insinuating that it wasn’t called by Heupel. The throw just wasn’t there so TK should have never thrown it. A pump and go would have worked great. We sadly threw the pass exactly as called despite the pick six threat.

      • Krys Allen says:

        Its tough to get a pre snap read on the defense when your staring at the sideline looking for the play call.

    • ToatsMcGoats says:

      To add to this, I don’t understand why Heuple isn’t running any plays where the receivers do double moves. It seems as though the defenses OU faces are very aggressive, and OU does nothing, for the most part to take advantage aside from the occasional screen, which hardly ever works. If that pick 6 would have been a double move w/a pump fake from Knight, that would have been a very long T.D. pass.

      • Rene Goupillaud says:

        If you understood Heupel’s calls, you’d be the only one. He has multiple play calling personalities. One mixes up plays and is effective. The other is where he becomes predictable, plain vanilla and easy to defend. Also, Josh doesn’t seem to teach Qb technique.

        Final point. Pick 6 against our Qb under Heupel have become common, too common. We had them with Sam, Landry and TK, all coached by Josh. I’m not convinced that he teaches them to read defenses.

        • Gary Jackson says:

          Josh wants to read the defenses for them, then signal the play in at the last possible second, just to keep the defense guessing. 😉

  • lebval15 says:

    I just watched that playing for the mob 30 for 30. Someone needs to look into Hunnicutt’s recent finances [only partially kidding]…

  • SoonerfanTU says:

    Haven’t seen it mentioned, but our punter also sucked today. Boy has he been mediocre this year.

    • Jordan Esco says:

      for two years actually

      • F1at1ined says:

        Yes. Considering the fact we recruited him as a punter from JUCO, I assumed he could either punt long or punt well directionally. Can’t recall many instances of either. Here is hoping we find another Tress Way. Not many of us probably appreciated what we had with him punting here.

    • paganpink says:

      K styate had great field position most of the game because of it! Advantage to them…

  • vargo05 says:

    OU already used one of their timeouts for the Iowa State game.

  • boomersooner says:

    yes its on espn website. something doesn’t belong. shocking how subliminal they are.
    »WVU hands Baylor 1st loss »K-State shocks OU in Norman »Bama routs A&M »TCU rolls by OSU »

    • boomersooner says:

      and frees and these announcers can eat turds. if its under a minute and only one t.o. for your opponent you down it, not try to run another play and act all “oh man i didn’t mean to score”. yes you did or you woulda knelt on it

  • Phil Counts says:

    watch how ole miss and miss st and bama play defense, thats what I want !!!!!!

  • Phil Counts says:

    Defense wins period !!!

  • red clay says:

    I hate losing.

  • Maverick says:

    I’m sure I’m just being bitter here, but can someone explain to me how K State gets away with having a lineman downfield on every frickin power pass they run??

    Go back and watch the Gronk TD, they had an OL 5 yards downfield when the ball was thrown. This season is such an abortion.

  • Big Higg says:

    Mangino back to OU? He put 45 on Tx with less talent…

  • EasTex says:

    Love the Sooners. It always hurts when they lose, even more so when they make so many mistakes in doing so.

    • PLAW0720 says:

      Said almost the exact same thing myself. You and I have been watching the Sooners for a long time. It’s depressing when they lose, but it’s devastating when they make stupid mistakes and get beat. Old ‘dog Lawson is looking down on this and I can hear him like he was sitting next to me.

      Bummer

  • boomersooner says:

    jimbo fisher is starting to look like james caan more and more. even the unis match

  • Greg Sparks says:

    If there ever was a year the stoops to Florida could come true it’s this year!!!!

  • Stephen Dale says:

    OU is the most overrated, overhyped, and disappointing team in D-1 football this season. Winning 7 games is going to be a struggle for this underachieving group. Can’t find any consistency on either side of the LOS and the team seems unable to put a solid game together where all facets are working in unison…This staff needs some more new faces for coaching as well as recruiting.

    • boomersooner says:

      i remember my first couple beers…

      • ToatsMcGoats says:

        I would love to disagree, but I have no argument to disprove these observations. I can’t think of a single thing that he’s wrong on.

        1. OU was #4 at one point, clearly they aren’t that good.
        2. We thought the D were going to be world beaters, clearly, they are not.
        3. Not sure OU can beat Texas Tech, considering the history between the two, AND it’s in flubbock, let alone beat Baylor. And lil’bro will play OU tough. They always do.
        4. There hasn’t been consistency on either side of the ball for a very, very long time
        5. We’ve all wondered about Kish, but now I’m gonna have to call out Bobby Jack Wright. The secondary is atrocious this season. Not to mention all of the recent misses in recruiting.

        Seriously, where is this guy wrong?

        • Defend Colfax says:

          UCLA. Game. Set. Match.

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          Bama was ranked pretty high, and they lost and should have lost to Arkansas. Baylor was ranked pretty high, and they just lost @WVU, a game that OU won.

          In case people have missed out, the days of dynasties running all over the rest of the NCAA, or even their conference, are coming to an end. Bama might have been the last of such teams to go on a run like that. Talent from team to team, with a few exceptions, isn’t all that different at a lot of the positions. QB can be the game changer, and OU is a little behind the curve at that position right now. Just look at the SEC. Florida and LSU suck. Bama is down. The two Mississippi schools might be the best two teams. aTm’s little run is over, for now.

          Same in the Big 12. Texas is going thru a downturn. OSU has fallen off a tad bit, and KSU/WVU/TCU have jumped up.

          There is a little less parity in the PAC-XX b/c of the limited competition to get good players out west. But even there, you don’t see USC winning a high level. Even Oregon is starting to suffer some.

          Parity is here. Yes, Bob and OU could use another really good season at run at a title, but gone are the days of OU winning 5 of 6 Big 12 titles. Gone are the days of just about anybody winning their conference with that kind of frequency.

          • Daddy R says:

            I like your point here, and tend to agree (though I think we still can dominate big 12.) One part I like to fantasize about though…even with all the parity, look how damn good we’d be if we could cut out mistakes… Without ALL the mistakes, we dominate our schedule this year so far… and against a good conference. Hopefully we can chalk it up to inexperience, and play like champions from now on, starting against ISU, and all the way through next November!

            And even though we all had really high hopes for this season, wasnt 2015 supposed to be “the year” anyway? Let’s do this!!

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            These are all very good points. I just think that, everyone except the media knew that Bama wasn’t the team they have been in years past, but OU was supposed to be much better than they have been in years past. They aren’t. I know that this is an odd season, much like 2008, where everyone and their mom has a shot at #1 (if I remember correctly, Southern Florida was #2 at one point that season), but I don’t know about conference smashing days being over. And, I’m very worried at the performance of the program, especially after what was supposed to be the “best offseason” of Stoops’ time here, and after what was supposedly one of the “best recruiting classes” Bob’s had since he has been here.

        • boomersooner says:

          i just do not see this team as a 7 win team. 7-5 is very very lackluster no matter what school, but at OU its mind bottling(you know, like when your thoughts get all trapped like in a bottle). i agree with whoever said it, this might be bob’s most underachieving team, but 7 wins. you don’t think we’ll figure something out to be good enough to beat ISU, KU, TT, and OSU? ISU and KU would be the 7 and then you think we’re gonna lose to baylor, ok st and tech? i just don’t see it. the guys that are always half empty think the worst and the team somehow manages to pull together(look at last yr). IF we lose to baylor, and win the rest, that’s 3 losses and yes that’s too many, but this ain’t a 7 win team.
          and i just looked at the guys past comments and i don’t think any of them are even on this site. so its kinda like sticking up for family when some doucher starts popping off about someone

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            LOL…mind bottling..that’s hilarious! I’m not saying that I don’t think OU CAN’T win more than 7, I certainly think they can. I just think that they’ll be very lucky to win out. I also know that, for whatever reason, Lubbock has been historically tough on the Sooners. And, OSU does play OU tough, at least since Gundy’s been there. I don’t think that ISU could be the Sooners, but I’ve also learned that being sure about a Bob Stoops team is like being sure about the Oklahoma weather. That’s all I’m saying. I know they should, I’m just not certain that they can.

          • boomersooner says:

            mind bottling is from blades of glory i believe. awesome movie. and thank you for being one of those that likes conversation and not bashing the team and these young kids and/or people on here. its really not hard to have a discussion, so thanks again

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            I’d like to say the same to you, sir! Thank you!

  • ToatsMcGoats says:

    Am I the only one that was interested in seeing more of Cody Thomas?

    I have to tell you, and I don’t mean to sound rude or anything like that, but when Knight went down, I almost felt relieved. Not that I didn’t want him in the game, and not that I think he isn’t the best QB we have, and I definitely didn’t want him to get hurt…but…When he went down, I felt like that chain that had supposedly been holding the offense back was finally broken. I felt like Heuple would stop calling plays to protect the QB and just start calling plays to win. I was (and I’m ashamed to admit it) a bit disappointed when I saw Knight running back down the sidelines, because I felt like that chain had just been fixed and the offense would be stagnant again.

    I don’t want to sound like I’m being down on TK9, because that’s not what I mean, AT ALL. What I’m trying to say is that, with Knight out, Heuple had no reason to NOT call those plays that he was supposedly holding back in order to protect Knight.

    Just thought I’d get this off my chest…

    • Glocal Sooner says:

      With Rip already out then TK getting hurt, I admit I was stunned by the time Cody took over. I thought he did great. HOWEVER, I think TK proved in the game that he CAN be the guy that leads us to championships. Now that we’ve lost 2 games, there’s no reason to “protect” TK any longer.

      • EasTex says:

        How was Rip’s hit targeting and the hit on TK when he was already down not?
        Second game in a row when a Sooner was hit after the play(Shep TD) was over and the refs did nothing.

        • Boom says:

          EasTex, agreed on both plays. As Trevor was on the ground, the other guy didn’t hit him, he speared him. To me, that is a play to get ejected. Also, Shep took a hell’va hit on the TD at TCU. No call was BS

          • EasTex says:

            I was thinking of the hit Shep took after scoring against Texsa. Right in front of the ref and the play was over.

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      Actually, he had MORE reason to protect the QB. Young guy that hasn’t seen game action, but even more importantly, we were basically left with NO backup at that point. I can’t imagine they don’t want to redshirt Hansen. Mayfield can’t play. If Thomas had went down, you either go back to Bell, or burn Hansen’s redshirt. My guess is that Thomas would have been in a bubble had Knight been out all game.

  • Greg Sparks says:

    So most think jh did good, but I think Sheppard did great!!!

  • Brad Warren says:

    If we make a chip shot fg, we win. Yet everybody still wants to rip the coaching, playcalling etc. Also, yes probably not a great call on Knight’s pick six but guess what? He shouldn’t have thrown the pass when it was obviously not open. I am disappointed but will move on and support my team. Boomer Sooner.

    • ToatsMcGoats says:

      Just wondering…do you take criticism as being unsupportive? Do you think that just because we want our team to be better, it means that we don’t support them? Was the 5-7 yd. cushion NOT the reason why K-State got that crucial 1st down? This is what we as fans do. We see things we don’t agree with, and we wonder why they are happening.

      Texas is not a superpower anymore. Tom Osborne and Nebraska are long gone, yet, here we are, no Big 12 championships (not counting the co-crap) for how long now? This is not excusable if the head coach is making over $5 million. Support mediocrity all you want, but the fans should at least ask for their coach to earn his money.

      • Won says:

        Thanks for this.
        I am a Oklahoma Football fan.
        Largely because of the tradition of championships and how they play.
        You won’t win every game, but the way OU has been losing is not consistent with expectations for OU.
        Theses expectations have been repeatedly set and promoted by the athletic dept and coaches.
        Everyone wants to compare us to others to justify poor performances.
        There’s only ONE Oklahoma so why compare to others. Just perform to the standard that has been set by the champions before.

      • SoonerfanTU says:

        Depends how you criticize. Some is constructive, genuine, and actually legit. Others are terribly biased, not factually based, and sound like more whining/crying.

    • Aunum says:

      If that chip shot field goal is made…how can you say OU wins? Conjecture at best.

    • Bill Duncan says:

      I enjoyed seeing this comment. Yes, we obviously have issues, but I’m tired of the everything is falling apart comments like “fire the staff”or “bench the player”. A few fans on here need to understand that even “great” teams have growing pains. That includes the coaching staff. Not trying to make an excuse for the team but through wins and losses…..and this was a very tough loss to swallow…… Boomer Sooner

  • pag says:

    By the way, unbelievable performance by Shepard, it seems this guy can catch everything in his radius. I am wondering what grade he gets from nfl teams if he leaves this year

  • JJsooner1 says:

    I feel badly about the loss. Not upset with anyone except Coach Mike. I watched the ND/FSU game and I saw aggressive defenses, press coverage, random variable blitzing.

    The message I got from that? If you’re going play, play to win vs, playing not to lose. Go down swinging if you will.

    Feel awful for Hunneycutt. He has been money so many times and has won games for us. He had a bad day. That’s it. Hell, it happens.

    In my view, the real killers were the call for a pass like that, deep in you own territory where a corner can be aggressive IN PRESS COVERAGE. Pitch and catch. Terrible play call and worse execution by TK. The second was Neal’s ill-advised read and pass. Should have tucked it and made the most of it.(I was baffled at the play selection considering we were moving the ball just fine)

    VERY encouraged by the offenses’s execution against a very good defense. TK’s reads were much better. Cody Thomas is a gamer….very collected and calm. Perine and Ross were really good.

    The sun is rising, my coffee is still good and I still love life and my Sooners but they’ve got stuff to work on. Next game up!

    • Jordan Esco says:

      amen

    • OUknowitscomin says:

      Agreed, we always seem to have someone not show up. JH…then special teams….then Mike…then TK….then WR’s….then DB’s…then…..Oline
      It’s intermittent plays here & there, spread throughout team & terrible timing for each. Not as simple as many want to make it. I’ve got no good answers either, just hope it comes together sometime.
      Regarding KSU though, the mountain of problems was in secondary & Mike trying to cover up weaknesses & essentially making them weaker as a unit by doing so.

    • Hotrod33 says:

      I want us to be more aggressive on defense. My uncle and I were talking about that after the TCU game and that should of been an indicator that we needed to play to win not to lose. Also, Cody Thomas looked very poise out there and took control of the offense. I think he should of played at least the next series just to see what he could do. There would be nothing wrong with that. We need him to get more game experience to be prepared just in case TK goes down. There is a good chance he could. A lot of blame to go around for everyone. I can’t blame just one unit. They all had a bad day in one form or another.

  • kt-raida says:

    I was angry and sad about the TCU. Now I’m at a place of acceptance that this team will be an average 10-3 Bob Stoops team. JJsooner1 hit the ball on the head about the way FSU and Notre Dame played is obvious the coaches have trust issues worth their players and I don’t know why. The QB position like every other position should always be up for grabs, Knight played decent yesterday but he always leave more to be desired. If a RB fumbles a couple times coach had no problems benching him for games at a time but a quarterback never gets held to a standard like that. I still think coach Stoops is great but man these let down seasons are a constant.

  • JJsooner1 says:

    My only other thought about this game was the 3rd and 4th down stuffs on the one. Rip was out. Bell was out. They ARE our jumbo set. I flashbacked to aTm and KW calling the plays.
    What’s that saying about doing the same thing over and over and expecting………….?

    I wanted to throw up.

    • Gary Robbins says:

      It’s kind of like here we go again. I read somewhere that 5 million dollar man B. Stoops said “they are ridiculously well coached and efficient”. Was that an indiciment of your coaches and yourself? Or was it a hint for more money?

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      Something else to consider is that a FG should have won the game right there. No reason to get fancy, or put the ball in the air in tight spaces, when you should be able to kick a gimme FG and win the game. Maybe I’d like to have seen a QB sneak, out of all the 3rd and short failures this year, I understand this one the most.

    • Jake says:

      Where are Flowers and McNamara? Part of coaching is having the guys behind them ready to step up. Seems to always be a problem for OU.

  • Glocal Sooner says:

    After sleeping on it, I’ve conceded to the fact that we were once again way overrated and overhyped, specifically on defense. It appears the loss of Colvin on D and Sanders on O are really hurting us. What are we to make of the team that won the Sugar Bowl and the team we’ve put on the field this season? Are they that much different? My opinion: NO. This team should have easily been able to pick up where they left off in January. So what’s the problem? My feeling is that our coaching staff did an incredible job game planning for the Sugar Bowl. They’ve done a lousy job since. Coaches have not brought their A game this season so far.

  • Cory Reedy says:

    Started to cook breakfast….and the wife called a timeout.

  • Martin says:

    Having a daughter on a travel soccer team has messed up my OU game viewing this Fall. I end up watching taped games late Saturday or early Sunday mornings.

    OU has a lot of potential and young talent, but execution is sooo much more important in winning games. OU has basically thrown away two games so far this year. The B12 is at least the #2 best conference in this season, although they will never get their due. Do not give up on the 2014 team… they have plenty left in the tank.

  • SamSooner says:

    Get up. Dust yourself off. Get back at it. Move on.

  • paganpink says:

    Here’s what I think- I can’t help but feel we do have problems with coaching as is shown by our constant problems with getting plays in, wasting time outs, and being ill prepared for other teams game plans. I have never seen a record setting kicker with years of experience have as big a collapse as “Cunnihut” did. Our defense gives too much cushion even if the entire game relies on us stopping one pass play. It isn’t good to see coaches having vociferous fights on the sideline, and it DOESN’T indicate they are “competitive” We seem to be poor tacklers even at the linebacker positions. We have a lot of guys trying very hard and even injuring themselves but who seem to lack a sense of direction. There not only may be no teams in the Big 12 without 1 loss there may be none without 2 losses. We don’t try to block punts. We don’t have a good plan for short yardage because we don’t take snaps under center. If even the running backs catch 1000 balls a day in practice why do so many actual receivers catch the ball poorly because of bad technique? Trevor Knight really IS fragile.

  • rphokc says:

    with the frustration of ou games and all the subsequent venting, I usually find some counterweight humor on LT that provides an escape……….there’s a thread there, ‘my worst fear’, which starts out with the fear ou is becoming like neb and georgia, etc………on down, a guy lists his real fears which include………..

    ,……………http://i.imgur.com/a5E3BkW.jpg

  • Defend Colfax says:

    I love you Josh Heupel.

    But, I honestly do think we have to go a different direction for OC. Something has to give. We are not developing QBs to be successful anywhere else but here. Trevor threw a pick 6 because you told him to throw left.

    We get a delay of game penalty, after a change of possession might I add, we run a little out to the right. I’m watching this, trying to not be mad about the penalty and laughing to myself “and now watch us run that same stupid play to the left” Turns out me and the DB have the same sense of humor.

    Landry Jones was a 9th year senior and we still had trouble getting plays called/in.

    It’s not working.

    • Defend Colfax says:

      I usually don’t rag on the coaches too hard, and this has nothing to do with the myth of play calling. It’s situational awareness we lack. That goes all the way up.

      Ps. If we aren’t going fast how about some under center or hard count? Remember those things? Maybe if you start now you can give some of the freshman a chance at an NFL career and TK something to take to the Montreal Alouettes.

      I kid, but come on Heup.

  • blaster1371 says:

    This has likely been said by some, refuted by many. This loss was a combination of poor play calling and poor execution…a total team loss. The KSU goal line stand we saw the OU line get out hustled, out executed and outmanned and outmuscled. That calls for a sack check for the oline. Pick 6 was a stupid call and dumb decision by Knight (I yelled “NOOOO when I say him look to that side and cock his arm) and as several commentators said, the WR should have cut up field as soon as he saw the CB jump the inside play before the pass was even thrown. Hunnicut……dude, really? That is just plain suckiness on his part. Not pressuring the KSU QB more often, on Mikey Stoops. Missing tackles and poor angles goes on the players.

    Take out that pick 6 and Knight played pretty well. Accuracy was much better, had some good zip on the ball. Still think the zone read was there a few times. #44 for KSU seemed pretty intent to not get fooled again this year like he was several time last year.

    • Sooner Ray says:

      I agree about the total team effort. For the most part I thought the play calling was improved, I thought the rushing game was good enough to win, Trevor had a solid game other than the pick. Our biggest issues are game management and a defense that is not near aggressive enough. The hard thing to accept is we have been aggressive in the past, why not now? and how much money would everyone have bet against someone who said we would miss a couple chip shot FG’s? This team has enough talent to be undefeated and in the top four right now, I just can’t figure out how it always seems to be our team that has the couple of game deciding breakdowns then I see other teams put together a full 4 qtr. game and look like superstars when there isn’t really any big difference between them.

  • Stephen Dale says:

    Its not only a coaching staff bloated by success ; it is the ‘entitled’ players who make mistake after mistake yet never lose their starting spots. Most of the starters are juniors & seniors who have practiced these plays thousands of times. their sole reason for being on the field is to execute plays. when these guys fail to do so , they should be replaced by others who might do a better job. competition never hurt anybody and , maybe, some competition for playing time is needed to sharpen the focus of the upperclassmen. What started as a decent chance to make the 4-team playoff has disintegrated into a battle to finish the season at 7-5. There is disappointment and there is DISAPPOINTMENT ! Neither the coaches or players are more or less responsible than the other. I think it is time to ‘clean house’ at OU : retire Boren, hire a younger Joe C as AD, and replace Stoops & staff. New blood is needed, new coaching perspectives couldn’t hurt, different talent evaluators desparately needed, and better players required to improve what has become a yearly problem. Talent evaluation ‘mistakes’ occupy much of the roster in Soonerland ; otherwise those guys would be getting field time. Its past time to fix the problem in Norman.

    • BigJoeBrown says:

      That’s crazy talk….

      • dudley04 says:

        No it’s not david boren and joe should be forced out been at ou for way to long they are blind to the fact this program is going the wrong way damn david boren is nearly 100 years old you think he should stay until he is 200 year’s old

  • JBones says:

    Someone on the other board is saying Stoops went on a 4 day vacation during the bye week! Surely this cannot be true? Anyone with insight?

    • JBones says:

      To Florida with the family!

      • Sooner Ray says:

        Why is that hard to believe? Most HC’s probably use bye weeks to spend time with family since they can’t do much with them during game weeks. I can’t be too upset about that.

        • JBones says:

          I guess the results speak for themselves against TCU. I would say Stoops should feel like he’s compensated in such a way that he could stay close and work on this team for the season instead of running off on vacation. I think it stinks!

  • Will Narramore says:

    The worst part about this loss is that it more than likely ends the season. Sure it would be great if we won out but we’re still not making the playoffs and that makes the season a letdown. This also hurts because of all the momentum that OU had coming into the season both on the field and on the recruiting trail and you wonder how this season affects us with all the big time recruits

  • Stephen Dale says:

    Five regular season games remain. 4 of those games are ‘tossups’. OU could win any combination of them or lose 2 or more. TT looks like a loss as does the home game against baylor. ISU is no longer a comfort game on the road and the Pukes will come to Norman ‘sky high’….given OU’s performance the past 3 wks., a 7-5 record is not only a reasonable assumption but at the high end of this team’s abilities…And it has been a lighter than normal list of injuries this season so that excuse won’t fly. What it says to me is the talent base is not nearly as good as those inside the program believe or express to fans. What it says to me is the coaches have lost the ability to obtain the talent needed to build depth to win this league. Will any of us live long enough to see OU win another NC ??? I’ve lost any confidence in this staff to win another one in my lifetime ( or theirs ).

  • hushnpa says:

    I don’t normally read comments so much when we lose but some of the humor here helped me feel a little better .. thanks ..

    My take on things is.. if you’d told me before the game that Moneycutt would miss two field goals and have a x point blocked , I’d have asked what were you smoking ..

    soo .. maybe it just wasn’t meant to be ..

    we have a lot of great young talent , maybe we can keep a couple guys who might have gone .. develop a lot of these youngsters we have thru the rest of the year ..

    I’m not really just counting this year out , just sayin lets develop this bunch and see what comes .

    to me it looks like Ross is starting to see holes .. even used a spin move !
    I’m confident the receiver corps are going to come around ..

    Sterling Shepherd should have a record breaking year . TK can develop more
    Cody Thomas made me feel a lot better too ..

    then we get Frank Shannon back who I think we may be missing more than most people realise in intangibles .. Baker Mayfield ( -take more chances ).. maybe Dorial Green-Beckham and if QB’s and young receivers have developed their sync .. we have a monster 🙂

    so I’ll be watching for all of that , especially TK getting in rythym with the youngsters

    No Naty ? ( which may not be totally out of .. I mean it could happen .. be really weird but ..) anyway .

    I’m still excited about watching these youngsters on both sides of the ball develop .
    I think we will continue to improve and gain experience and pity the fool that gets on the field with these guys down the road not to mention next week !

    I know the Sugar Bowl raised all of our expectations and we have to deal with it but

    I love this team like none since 2000 . I really like this scrappy bunch of overlooked ,
    overachieving , under rated three star guys ( I know there were a few four star recruits ,but hey ..) . They’re terrific and I know they’re going to start putting it all together consistently .
    So i can stand it till they do .

    🙂

  • T. says:

    Love this site and I love that you give viewers the ability to voice their opinions. One thing I consistently see is that there is too much illogical thought fueled by emotion, and while I realize our expectations are usually heightened in comparison with other programs, we must also realize that we aren’t always going to have the best team on the field. Sometimes we can win those games, sometimes we cannot. I have not been drinking any “koolaid,” and I am not defending nor criticizing the program, but us as fans have a responsibility to respect our program. The derogation of our program (which by the way, we are lucky to even have such lofty expectations for) that I continue to see from people is ridiculous and uncalled for to say the least. To be frustrated is understandable. To want change is also more than understandable. The freedom of thought and speech is a great thing, but I believe we are doing ourselves a disservice when we choose to disrespect our program and the people involved with it (yes, they are also humans with feelings and emotions who make mistakes). If you have a criticism, may it be just. May it also provide a unique perspective without irrational judgement and emotionally-fueled disrespect. Take this with a grain of salt, or love it… just something I have been seeing.

    Boomer Sooner.
    There’s Only One.

  • Stephen Dale says:

    Hushnpa…………….nope. born in Oklahoma, spent my life here, attended OU…..not from Texas but like how UT has cleaned house, developed a new, tougher-than-nails persona , and is winning games again. UT outplayed OU in the RRS and lost ; OU reversed the role again KST….excepting the kansas game ( maybe I shouldn’t ), there are no ‘gimme’ games left on the schedule when the Sooners play so erractically. Stand by the 7-5 prediction and a trip to Shreveport for the Tidy Bowl in December. Think this team finds a way to lose 3 of the last 5.

  • Stephen Dale says:

    BoomerSooner……………..after yesterday, what mental abilities are left ??

  • boomersooner says:

    brainiacs,

    i kind of have a disqus question and am wondering if ya’ll know. is there any way to mute people? kinda hard to not read someone’s posts, so just wondering if there are ways that i can get rid of some of the ones i don’t care to read, such as a button i can hit?

    • boomersooner says:

      tired of these people, who want to burn everything to the ground, thinking their opinion is the only one you could have or you’re some sort of maggot. scram. go back to land thieves. i’d much rather have a decent conversation with someone who doesn’t share my views, or even talk to trees, than have at it with one of these clowns

  • Greg Sparks says:

    Sterling played an outstanding game, his individual talent made tk look better not tk making others better. I thought tk started looking like a qb when Sterling was off the field.

  • boomersooner says:

    congrats demarco. you deserve it brother

  • boomersooner says:

    i want us to run the rams punt return play

  • Terry Stone says:

    Does no one suspect the “F” word? And I don’t mean the eff word. The best kicker in college football misses 3 gimmes and 2 when it was critical? It happens and has happened and numerous times. Seems to me a lot of people are ignoring the elephant in the room.

  • Cush Creekmont says:

    I agree with all the original statements. It took an unusual number of bad performance plays, bad play calls (more on D), and bad judgment to have this outcome. The one post game excuse that did not sit well with me was in regard to the 3rd and goal and Stoops saying (and you repeating) missing “Rip and Bell.” As a coach, you know they are missing. If you are going to jam it up the middle, put in two OFFENSIVE LINEMEN instead of backup TE and backup FB. Block them and get the silly yard.

    While the FG should have been made, it is no certainty that our passive D would have kept KSU from driving for a winning field goal. Given all that happened to that point, that was a crucial play that should have had a better design by the Head Coach as well as the OC.

  • Stone says:

    wtf??? No one suspects the possibility that the game was fixed? Get real folks.