Open Post | Weekend, Jul. 10th – 12th
Posted on: July 10, 2015
Image via Sooner Sports
Team News | Arthur McGinnis: We had quite a few people reach out yesterday and ask about an injury rumor involving the true freshman OU linebacker. I checked with a couple sources and tweeted out the following last night:
For folks asking about Arthur McGinnis, he is fine.
— TFB Sooners (@TFB_Sooners) July 10, 2015
Apparently McGinnis heard about the rumor as well because a few hours later, he confirmed our note tweeting out:
Lol.. To all the supporters, I did not lose a leg and I am perfectly fine!
— 須藤 莲 🥰🥰 (@Soil40262) July 10, 2015
Some may be wondering where this rumor came from and I couldn’t really speak to that, but I will say that I’ve been told McGinnis has had a lingering pinched nerve in his lower body.
He has been able to workout and it doesn’t sound like anything serious. He may have suffered a small tweak related to that, which may have been the source of the rumor, but again that would simply be speculation on my part.
Regardless of however it got started, there doesn’t appear to be anything to it and that’s good news. – (Super K)
Team News | Baker Mayfield: Just keep everyone updated on latest regarding Baker Mayfield’s status or “fatigue.” I am told that for the second straight week, he did not participate in 7-on-7 workouts.
Been told Mayfield has been running and doing all the training staff will permit to try and stay in shape, but he has not participated in 7-on-7 or lifted weights for the past couple weeks. – (Super K)
Team News | Sunshine: I know the recruiting trail hasn’t exactly produced a ton of good news of late for the Sooners, so I wanted to pass along a little “sunshine” from a friend who is close to the program. I’m not offering this up in order to make a case for or against what OU’s season is going to look like mind you. I just figured some of you would like to hear something positive I was told this week.
Offense – Regarding the offense — and I know this may sound hard to believe but remember it’s simply the opinion of a source close to the program — my friend told me to expect Lincoln Riley will have “as many weapons as we have ever had.”
When I was first processing that statement, I thought of all the weapons OU had in the past…Malcolm Kelly, Jermaine Gresham, Ryan Broyles, AD, Demarco Murray, etc. But when you think about a complete set of weapons, OU is going to have Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, Sterling Shepard, Dede Westbrook and a host of other up-and-coming potential contributors. There does seem to be quite a few weapons, assuming the quarterback and the offensive staff can use them properly of course.
Defense – The same source was of the opinion that the secondary will be much improved. They talked about how Kerry Cooks and Mike Stoops have really changed the way they teach the defense. And my source felt the players have been picking things up much faster.
In talking to various people, I get the sense you’re still going to be seeing a base Cover-3 defense with plenty of zone coverage. However, it’s going to be a MUCH more aggressive zone coverage compared to what we’ve seen in recent years.
You’ll probably see a lot more press and pattern match within the zone, similar to what you’d see from an LSU zone defense. You’ll likely see the corners riding inside routes and then pealing off to really squeeze space and disguise the coverage. – (Super K)
Gary Overshown: Last week Oklahoma offered 2016 defensive end and TCU commit Gary Overshown (Mesquite, TX). Just prior his commitment to TCU this summer, he visited Norman along with current OU commit and teammate 2017 QB, Chris Robison.
I caught up with Overshown earlier this week who let me know he may visit OU for a game or two during the season. But Overshown did also go out of his way to emphasize he is “100%” solid to TCU. – (Alex)
Eric Cuffee: For those who missed it, 2016 Waco DB Eric Cuffee released his Top 11 which, surprisingly, did not include Oklahoma. Cuffee seemed high on the Sooners earlier this year, even visiting for one of OU’s Jr. Days with plans to return at a later date. But it seems OU and Cuffee, at least for now, have parted ways. – (Super K)
Jonathan Jones: A list OU did make was for 2016 LB Jonathan Jones (Orlando, FL). Jones received an offer from Oklahoma back in March and when I spoke to him at the time, he had mentioned a desire to visit OU over the summer. It appears instead he will take an official visit to Oklahoma during the football season. – (Super K)
LB Jonathan Jones top 5 Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Oklahoma, Duke. All 5 will get officials. ND in Sep, UofM Nov pic.twitter.com/WuwH7bo1CM
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) July 9, 2015
354 Comments
Sure would like to see a “Boom” this weekend.
Not impossible but it would have to really come out of nowhere considering the dead period they’re currently in won’t expire until Monday.
Just get the ball to the playmakers! That is all I ask. Thank you Lord and may all the starving pygmies in New Guinea be fed. (w/apologies to Larry the Cable Guy)
Well, I have never been an elite QB… but I was a pitcher for about 20 years of my life, and I can definitely say that I never missed more than a few days max for anything resembling “fatigue”. BM definitely has some form of injury, maybe it isn’t one that requires surgery to fix, but it has to be more than fatigue at this point. My guess would be a small tear or maybe some form of tendinitis.
Sure sounds like ligament strain of some sort. I’ve got the same in my left wrist while trying to the the golf ball out of deep rough at ShangriLa a couple of weekends ago. The only way to heal it is with rest, so no golf for me this weekend. Sigh.
I had to shut down for close to 2 weeks before due to elbow tendonitis back in the day..
Someone mentioned last week that if it is the worst case scenario of a torn rotator cuff then surgery will need to be done within 3 weeks. I think they quoted some sort of online health journal
I saw that post and don’t necessarily agree. I had a tear in my rotator cuff and my doctor gave me the option to rehab or have surgery. Obviously it depends on the severity, mine was a very small tear. I went the rehab route and it was a mistake. To this day I still have problems with it and there is no way I would consider myself full strength. My concern would be ***IF*** he does have a tear that he goes the rehab route just because he knows he will miss the season with surgery, then injures it further and needs surgery anyway.
It’s possible he could play through the pain but look at Brett favre with the jets. They were 8-3 and just beat the Titans to be considered the best afc team at the time, then he tore something in his shoulder and played through it and they went like 1-4 or 2-3 and missed the playoffs
I’m of the opinion that he definitely has something “structurally” wrong with the shoulder. The good news is, if that issue isn’t major, rest may be enough to get him thru the season. Or it may not. I had a shoulder issue and drs pulled me off the weights and told me basically to not use my arm for a month. A month or two later, it was no better, and I had surgery for a torn labrum. Let’s hope BM’s injury is one that “fixes itself” with a little rest.
Tendinitis very well could be. Could be a “tear” in a wear and tear spot. I pitched for many many yrs as well and got dead arm pretty much every year. Only cure is rest and anti inflams
What’s the cure for your big mouth?
Your daddy should have left you in the sock drawer
@boomersooner:disqus and @soonerfantu:disqus and @disqus_cItxT0Z8XC:disqus Does all of this portend that a whole season may be difficult for Baker? In other words, he’s allegedly having problems during practices because of too much of something. The season is quite long. Thus, how would one complete a full season when they are experiencing problems now?
If you have enough rest. If you have the right drugs that work well for you (celebrex was good to me). If it’s something that is “wear and tear”. I’m sure he has something in there that’s a little more than normal fatigue. You have to calm it down with the rest and drugs and then start Jobe’s which are shoulder exercises with smaller weights (think no more than 5 lbs). These strengthen everything around what’s barking and most times carry the extra burden of whatever is lacking. I believe I had a labral tear in front and rotator tear in back(could be reversed, I don’t remember exactly) but these were called wear and tear spots and I pitched for many years after due to the exercise regimen they have you on. It’s all really a case by case basis, which sounds like doctor copout speak, but we’re all our own person and have different everything even tolerances for pain.
That’s my tldr on it
To add to this, In my situation the Jobe’s took me about 12 weeks to build up the proper surrounding strength, and the pain that I was feeling only gradually decreased during that time frame, all while not throwing the whole time. With fall camp coming up so soon, i would be really shocked if he has rehabbed enough to be ready.
All guesses at this point though since none of us know what is actually wrong with his arm.
Holy crap, you were messed up. Yep. All guesses and hopefully none of this starts a rumor flame. Just rather throw out some good while some folks are thinking him and hulk are missing limbs. Hope you get some mobility back if it ain’t too late
Ha, thanks.
I just gave up on using my arm for overhead activities. I realized that some people just aren’t built for it, sad but true… Just hope i don’t pass the genes to my kiddo.
Drugs? I’m in. How does one “fatigue” a shoulder by tomorrow at noon?
Hahaha
As usual, you don’t know what you are talking about.
Go troll elsewhere douchebag
I think it’s a valid concern. Let’s assume there is something wrong with his shoulder that a month+ of rest can “heal”. I’d say there is a pretty good chance that going thru an entire season of throwing would probably lead to some level of re-aggrevation of the injury.
Total supposition with no supporting evidence.
Baker is know for an over-the-top work ethic, and probably pushed it too far. Much better to rest it now and allow any strained connective tissue to recover before creating more damage.
Yes- my bet is tendonitis FWIW.
Regarding Mayfield, James Hale reported last week that they were shutting him down through the end of the month & that he wouldn’t throw again till August. I know how you guys feel about James but i thought i’d throw that out there anyway…
Thanks Jeremy! And for the record I don’t feel any way towards James. I hear he’s a nice guy.
Sorry, that probably should’ve been directed towards Jordan.. I tend to lump all TFB contributors together..
It’s nothing personal against him, he just can’t take his crimson glasses off when reporting on OU, which I fully understand.
They are my feelings, and mine alone (far as I know). Just don’t want my fellow TFB guys getting lumped into something they may share a similar opinion on.
Regarding Mayfield, however, I wouldn’t disagree w/ anyone reporting that he’s out and may be for a while. That’s really not all that different than what we’ve been reporting, other than the important distinction that calling your potential starting QB missing several weeks of summer workouts and possibly being shut down until (at least the start of) fall camp as “not uncommon” strikes me as incredibly naive and borderline disingenuous.
JH is just towing the company line to stay in good graces w/coaching staff. That’s how I take his comments re:Mayfield’s shoulder. But maybe I’m naive? 🙂
I think given years of historical evidence, you pretty much hit the nail on the head.
The sad part for his paying customers is that in order for him to maintain whatever “inside access” he has, he has to withhold most of the information he obtains. He has become little more than a spin outlet for the coaching staff. It is rare these days to get any inside information from him that isn’t already available from other sources (like TFB and OUI members with connections to the team).
He has basically sacrificed any claim to objective reporting from an insider perspective so that he can have a little insider perspective for himself only. He then markets his “insider access” but rarely actually provides insider information to his paying customers.
I’m sure the coaching staff likes having an outlet to disseminate misinformation when they feel it is warranted, which I’m all for if it can somehow give us an advantage.
I apply this information filter of his in context when reading the OUI stuff. It took me a few years to learn how to appropriately interpret what I was reading. And yes, I bought into the hype for a few years until I saw with my own eyes the discrepancy between reality and “spin” I was reading. But I hung on for mostly the recruiting news. I may finally end my subscription this August when it expires. I think I’m done over there. TFB is an excellent replacement at a great price! 🙂
I like the source’s opinion about the upcoming year. I think the only way this season is a disaster is if the OL doesn’t figure things out. The running backs are great or have great potential but they have to have holes to run. And one thing that will give the qb’s a chance to be better is if the OL holds up in pass protection.
Or if Trevor Knight is the QB
As opposed to mayfield and Thomas who have proven even less? The reason knight seems the worst is because he has the most film. And mayfield played against sorry competition
There are good thoughts here.
Baker can really throw the ball well. He reminds me of Stephen Garcia, however. Mayfield’s limited stats and his play in the Spring Game suggest that he will take chances and throw INTs, just like Stephen.
This is all correctable, just like it is for Trevor and Cody.
If you have 3 qb’s at this time of year still competing it means you don’t have 1.
I trust in Bedenbaugh. I strongly believe the OL will be good, or better.
Only way to heal dead arm, which Mayfield has is rest. I’d be surprised if he threw at all in the month of July
Don’t know what his specific injury is. Was only told that it was related to the rotator cuff. Here is the definition of dead arm syndrome via wiki: Dead arm syndrome starts with repetitive motion and forces on the posterior capsule of the shoulder. The posterior capsule is a band of fibrous tissue that interconnects with tendons of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. Four muscles and their tendons make up the rotator cuff. They cover the outside of the shoulder to hold, protect and move the joint.
With Mayden and Cuffee out, I hope the staff puts their focus on Obi Eboh. Watched a little bit of the opening last night and he looked pretty solid.
Kyle Mayberry would have been a good get his year..
Yeah, it’s always nice to bring in state kids if their talent/potential warrant it. For the uncommitted kids I really like Eboh. Heard good things about Parrish Cox as well but I don’t know if there is any interest there.
Yep.. Seems to have worked well lately (Colvin, Alexander, J Evans). And seems to be more and more talent in state year after year. Not sure, I am sure they will sign at least one CB though.
Looks like Jonathon Jones is looking at top notch academic schools in addition to their football program. Nice to see us in that company.
Thanks K…good stuff
Who will be the next unexpected star on offense this season? I really want to see a TE destroy the middle of a defense. Stoops best teams had good TE play.
Hopefully one of the young WR’s, but I really couldn’t venture a guess as to which one. With Shep being a SR, and Westbrook a JR, we really need to hit on one or two of those young guys.
It’s hard to say who the unexpected star will be since there’s so much expectations. I will go with knight only because there’s extremely low expectations for him and I think he’s better than the reputation he’s got with the fans.
I just assume OU will have a breakout OL like they do seemingly every other year or so.
Mark Andrews will be a BEAST!
I’m hoping we utilize him to the fullest extent possible.
Orlando Brown
It would be awesome to get the TE more involved in the passing game. Just an extra dimension that the defense would have to account for and would be incredibly valuable in Red Zone.
True. I hope they start the season with the full play book. Don’t hold back a thing. Let everybody see how much we have to throw at you and then let other teams have to prepare for “Catch 22.”
My dream season is we open up the offense right from first snap and don’t let up all season. Just be relentless on both sides of the ball and play to win. Just that alone would make me happy.
This!! Visualizing aggressive and relentless effort on every play on both sides with chips on every shoulder, fatigued or not. Use the underdog mentality and fly under the radar as long as we can since we seem to look to be ranked low. Just win every single game one at a time and improve weekly. Bring some wood finally and eventually silence the doubters all the way to #8. That’s my dream season. Yeah, I’m a homer. LOL. One can dream.
This was exactly what we did in the Alabama game. There is no question that bama was a better team but or guys played with more wreck less abandon. Nothing to lose attitude. Honestly so did Buckeyes last year. That is what it takes as much as talent. I want to see that from the defense even more than I do the offense personally. I want the defense to no longer have this if you give 17pts it’s a good day mentality and start having a shutout or fail mentality.
One other thing that I love to watch for is do teams celebrate together after big plays or do they celebrate individually. I think you learn a lot from this. Teams that truly come together root for each other and when they make big plays look for each other more than individual celebration. Again watch the bama game. Those guys were for each other as much as they had been all year.
Sorry long post.
I want a repeat of the Bama game every game! Big plays. Domination. Excessive celebration. I would allow it.
I wear my “homer” title proudly! I like your vision!
I’m fired up! Let’s play!
Thanks. Visions of ferocious hits, no missed tackles or broken assignments. Striker in Beast Mode, baby! Nobody gets past the D in pass coverage! Ridiculous number of interceptions! Jump around after every shut out, every game! OU is all the way back! There’s Only One!! Well, I’m just a sunny pump-up video today. Don’t hate me, Jordan.
Lincoln Riley
I’m hoping the unexpected star is a QB, then everyone around him just needs to be solid.
What he said.
One play I would love too see is the I-formation with Mixon under center, and Perine and Ross in the backfield. with the option to drop back and pass to the wide open TE. I know I know wishful thinking. Hey it could happen.
Dahuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Is that “Dahuuuuuuuuu”, like “Ruuuuuuuuufus Alaexander?”
Or, DAHuuuuuuuuu like “YAHoooooooooooooooo” the yahoo commercial hook yodel?
Both! Dahu is an awesome name as is Rufus. I like em.
K, Any news on how Knight or Thomas have been performing/improving with the increased number of reps?
They aren’t taking extra reps. The 7 on 7 sessions are actually being shortened because baker isn’t throwing
Guess thats says a lot
Thank you, any idea how they are progressing? Let them know I can come throw if needed so the rest of the team can get plenty of reps. HA
I know that Trevor feels very relaxed and comfortable in this system. Seems to really be improving
Well TFB Family, I’m off for a fun filled weekend of golfing. 18 holes today, 36 holes on Saturday, and 18 on Sunday. Yay, me. It’s going be fun hanging out with 20 of my pals with not a thing to do.
Awesome weekend. Have fun!
That’s the plan. I have a bucket of golf balls in my bag because I’ll need them. The guy who heads it up like to pick tough courses.
Would it be ok if Jordan Spieth is your designated driver?
Yes. i will channel my inner-Spieth.
I’m jealous. Have fun.
Will do. Peace out.
I tried golf once it didn’t go so well for the people behind me. They kept whispering something about can we play through.
Yeah I tried it once too and I was actually doing pretty well at it….until I hit that damn windmill.
The dang clown was my downfall.
I hear ya Ray
Where did you play at, there were no clowns on my course.
Out of 18 holes I hit 2 shots straight, that’s pretty good right?
So you were buzzed for the other 16 shots?
Slightly.
I quit when I backed up to line up a putt and fell in the wet sand trap with my white pants on. No more beer for me that day.
I think Sam faces the possibility of “shoulder fatigue”.
Yes.
Just a little blind optimism to take you into the weekend…The
stretch at the end of the season involving what could be 3 top 10 teams reminds
me of the 2000 season’s red October when OUr boys faced Texas, K-State and
Nebraska all in a month… and knocked them all off! The opening two months could
be just enough to get this team ready and firing on all cylinders before facing
the big boys and knocking them all off on their way to the playoff! J
I like where your heads at.
That’s what she said!
Nice
Ok…
Upon request. The second part to the multi-part series, “Who is Stephen Dale?”
—-
[In a confessional. Man positions himself in front of screen. There is obvious discomfort].
Faniac: Let me, uh. Let me just say that, this is a little out of the ordinary for me. But I need answers.
Voice: What answers do you seek, my son?
Faniac: Really one. Just one answer.
Voice: I will do my best.
Faniac: See, there’s this guy who, you know, is just so negative towards everything. Everything sucks. Stoops sucks. Recruiting sucks. The logo sucks. The colors suck. Who can live life amidst so much perceived suckery?
Voice: [Whispers] Stephen Dale.
Faniac: [Pauses. Moves closer to screen] You know him?
Voice: [Shushes] Of course not.
Faniac: But you…?
Voice: I spoke his name, yes. But we mustn’t again.
Faniac: Why? I don’t understand.
Voice: Not now. Not yet.
Faniac: But he’s just a…
[A large thud sounds against the wall].
Voice: [Angry] Don’t you EVER say he’s just anything! You got that? He’s more than that.
Faniac: He’s more than what?
Voice: He is not as he appears. He knows where there is hope, and he seeks to destroy it. God is all-loving. But the one you seek, he is all-hating. He is a hateburger supreme.
Fanaic: With hater tots.
Voice: Yes. With hater tots. He drinks your milkshake. And he hates it.
[Pause].
Faniac: But who is he?
Voice: The question is not who.
Faniac: Then, what?
Voice: Yes. That is the question.
Faniac: What. What is he?
Voice: I will speak no more of it. There is only one who can.
Faniac: Tell me, please.
[Screen is removed. A hand appears with a slip of paper. Faniac grabs paper. Reads it. Drops it and runs from the confessional. Paper falls to the floor].
Paper [In orange ink]: I’M A MAN.
I like where your heads at
NOOOOOOO!!! Please tell me it doesn’t end this way. The sleepless nights I will encounter now. “Who is Stephen Dale?”
The end is not yet. There is now a journey to the Douchelord Gundy. Who (*SPOILER ALERT*) turns out to be a tanning, visor-wearing porcupine who only talks incessantly about himself. The Faniac must break the code of making the porcupine talk about someone else for a change. Here that someone else is the mysterious case of Who is Stephen Dale?
OOHHHH the relief, I thought we were going to have to pull a misery on you and hobble you. So you wouldn’t have a choice but to write stories for us Brainiacs. Thanks for making everybody’s day and continuing the saga.
No problem, my Sooner brother. Glad to have some space where my nonsense is appreciated.
It’s not nonsense if it’s true.
AND, it’s not a lie if you believe it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn_PSJsl0LQ
Heh – is there any sticom better than Seinfeld? I dare say not.
Wings was my favorite.
Great show
JE————–Crystal Bernard was so gooooooood to look at ….Nice group of character actors in that show….
It was a sitcom about nothing. And it still turned out to be good.
perhaps not better but right there……..cheers
Cheers at its peak was pretty good. But Seinfeld was very, very good for all 9 years.
SO737——–liked Seinfeld, too……….sure miss quality TV shows these days…..not much to watch after NCIS, and it is only a shell of itself after “Ziva” left…..
I was always amazed at how they could come up with comedy with a plot about nothing much at all. And Jerry would break up with a new girl in almost every episode. The anti-sitcom formula to the max. And it worked! Amazing.
rph————–Cheers was terrific as well…..several of those actors had nice careers after that show closed……….
Married With Children
another very good show….
Visor-wearing porcupine? That’s hilarious!!!
And tanning. 🙂
he who keeps speaking the truth and similar in thought to a couple of MODS….thanks Robertson, very enjoyable……………….all of us need a laugh after a long, tough week of work………..
Im sure youre aware that those who suffer from paranoid schizophrenia believe that they speak the truth as well.
ttrue enough
Be aware the MODS may not appreciate being associated with your kind of truth. Just saying.
true enough.
Thanks, Stephen. And thanks for being a good sport. Keep doing your thang, man.
DOH!! *slaps forehead*
“He drinks your milkshake. And he hates it.” These words, folks, are the words of a literary genius. 9 thumbs up.
If only TFB would make the shirts.
If they do make them. Better have plenty I believe that they would sell out the first day. I need Qty.2 at least.
No.. The “hateburger supreme” with “hater tots”… Is a instant classic and I can see it on a BK or Hardee’s commercial already..
Do they still have Hardee’s? I thought they were all Carl’s Jr now.
There are lots of Hardees east of the Mississippi.
Not in Northwest Arkansas still Hardee’s.. As of now. Lol
Oh…if you are near one, order me some hater tots, please! Lol.
“Hater tots”… That is a good one.
Lol ! I want to say that so bad next time in the drive thru…
G-Day minus 57
Cedric Jones
Is Cedric the most over looked Sooner DL ever?
I cannot remember a time OU’s offense was weaponless in the Stoops era although Landry Jones’s freshman year was pretty thin in the skilled positions. Josh H seemed befuddled with all the offensive tools in the arsenal thus his play calling seemed disconnected and decision-at-the-last-second type of call. It was as if he was overwhelmed to a degree and the offense was as uncoordinated 6 foot 2 center on an eighth grade basketball team. What I think Reilly brings is a guy who is truly a coordinator; he can put it all together. JH showed glimpses of being innovative (evidence: the pitch out plays with Saunders and Shep) but unable to use the weapons in the most basic of ways (Bell as TE and at times Millard). Another thing that I think bodes well for Riley and OU is that his “system” is ready made for the players on this current roster. We shouldn’t have to hear “well, he is using square pegs but his system is designed for round holes” like we did with the 3-4 defense shift or when Wilson was trying to install a power running game after taking over for Long. One thing LR needs to really get through to TK if TK is the guy is not locking on to one receiver. What’s the use of sending four guys out if he doesn’t look at them but, as many have observed, appears to have predetermined where he is throwing the ball? The unknown about many of the positions on the O-line, while certainly a reasonable concern will prove to not be the detriment it has been for Texass (seems to be rebuilding its line every year).
All of this to say I am rather optimistic about this “new” offense.
Off subject but R.I.P. Kenny “the Snake” Stabler ex Alabama and Oakland Raiders QB. He was exciting to watch.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/nfl/former-oakland-raiders-qb-ken-the-snake-stabler-dead-at/article_21151855-bdcc-574b-be78-0862cbe56d30.html
Not if you were a Chief fan! : )
I’m happy to hear that the offense looks better and there is cause for hope on the that side of the ball. On the opposite end, I’m disappointed as hell that we are sticking primarily with zone no matter how much more aggressive it may be. In this league with these offenses with multiple receivers moving all across the field, if you can’t play man or you don’t have Roy Williams, Derrick Strait, JT Thatcher and Aaron Colvin or the like, you’re dead in the water because you will get burned when those receivers cross those zones and DBs get rubbed off.
Interesting rant…
That’s the trouble with zone. Opposing teams pick at the boundaries of areas of responsibility in the zone defense no matter what the sport. In my old sports days many moons ago, we switched to man to man when we wanted to get after a team and be aggressive since we had very good team speed. But if you don’t have team speed then the best thing to do is to play zone. I just get the feeling that MS is cautious and that is what he would rather play. Bend, but don’t break and force the other team to execute at high percentage to sustain drives. That is just what it seems like from an armchair perspective.
federer vs the joker at wimbledon finals………..would love to see fed win and he’s really playing well, but if joke is on his game he takes it
I’m pulling for the Joker, but I’m glad it’s 2 powerhouses instead of 1 vs some Joe Shmoe who got lucky for several rounds only to get humiliated in the finals. I don’t enjoy those kinds of final matches…except maybe Sampras-Rusedski…
pulling for fed b/c he’s on the backside of his career and these chances will be few ……..above all, hope it’s a 5 setter and headed into ‘ot’
I can root for a 5 setter!
my disappointment was the upset of wawrinka by the french guy which derailed a joke/wawrinka semi
Sharif tried to pick up my wife, right in front of me, once. Never had much respect for the tiny little schmuck after that.
good grief, well, he wasn’t faithful to tonia……sorry you and the wife had that experience
…..btw, from reading many of your posts, it sounds like you’ve led a very interesting life………may I ask what your work is and reply if you’d like…..
Financial Information primarily…Reuters, Thomson Financial, Euromoney…and I own a small consulting company.
The Sharif run-in was not related to work. It was at the Academy Awards. I talked my way into tickets in the early 80’s, then ended up on the list for 4 seats each of the next 10 years (until Karl Malden became president of the AMPAS).
There were several thousand members at the time Malden took over. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion held a few thousand or so and the Shrine Auditorium held slightly more, but there were still many members who could not get tickets…especially after you account for nominees and their many guests.
Malden (rightly so, frankly) saw no reason that knuckleheads like me should have 4 tickets. He implemented a new lottery system that basically eliminated outsiders like me from getting tickets because only AMPAS members could be in the lottery. I think my last Oscars was 1992.
Got to meet some fun people over the years, though…although Sharif was not fun.
Hate to interrupt, but are there many SOONER fans there in London?
Ha! I’m not in London anymore. I actually left in 2003 and moved to Tulsa for a year, then to Hong Kong. We live in Sarasota now.
I just bought a box in the new endzone renovation with a friend I met in London. He and I were the only OU fans around. I met him online and we actually watched the OU/FSU National Championship game from the bar at the Marine Headquarters in London.
We were desperate to watch and of course there was no TV of the game except on Armed Forces TV so we called the Embassy and begged to get in. They sent us to the Marine Headquarters, where all the guards worked, and we showed up at midnight in full OU garb and talked our way in. The bar was closed but they let us sit there with the TV on until the game was over about 4-5:00am.
We actually went back there and watched games regularly until 9/11. After that, they didn’t let goofball football fans into the building.
As rphokc said you have definitely lived an interesting life it sounds like. It sounds like you represented the SOONERS well why you were in London.
Oh yes. I fly the colors everywhere I go. I lived in Sao Paulo a couple of years and had the guys in the office watching coaches show video replays in between soccer games. (Didn’t work to make them fans but everywhere I go they know the Sooners when I leave.)
Saw a local in Beijing wearing an OU hat once. I went up to him and said “Boomer Sooner”. He had no clue what I was talking about, LOL. Was good to see the logo in China, though.
Did he give you the dumbfounded stare? That would have been priceless to see. Keep up the good work supporting the crimson and cream. And may your journey’s continue to be interesting.
That’s a good story. Thanks for sharing!
………continued success …….thxs
Have you guys watched tape of Jones yet.. He looks like a real deal MLB.. I like the way he takes on blockers..
https://youtu.be/G7WnIg4ugHM
He reminds me of Deontre Hardwick but Hardwick seems more explosive but Jones seems quicker from sideline to sideline. All in all I like Hardwick.
This is the reason I like Mayfield better than Knight. At least he can get the ball accurately to receivers. Yes he will throw int’s because he gambles a lot, but not due to just bad decision making.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIUsyldSYQQ
Not sure if you are serious… but his stats that game were 28 of 51 (54% completion) with 4 td’s and 1int. So basically Trevor’s average stat line.
I saw plenty of not so difficult throws that were missed just on the first drive of that game, and keep in mind he had Jace Amaro to throw at, Jace was usually either 15yards open, or matched up with a DB half his size.
I reaaaallly hope that TK is the starting QB at some point this season to finally settle the argument of whether or not he can be the guy from the Sugar bowl consistently. Maybe I am wrong, but I think he can be that guy if Riley is calling the game.
Just as a follow up, he also had 54% completion against TCU and Texas. All while running an offense more similar to Riley’s offense than what Trevor has been running.
Sad to say, but you are probably correct. He may not be an upgrade.
As I’ve said many times…OU is QB-challenged…skill at all the positions except the one that handles and distributes the ball every play.
I believe Cale has one year of eligibility left. Could be worth a shot.
Amen
BM 2013 stats
Career comp percentage for Mayfield is 64%. Plus Texas Tech Oline gave up over 20 sacks and he still completed 64% of his passes.
Trevor Knight was only sacked 9 times last year and threw for under 60%
Keep in mind WHO HIS 70% completion rates were against…. SMU, Stephen F, Kansas St & Tex St. Not sure how throwing 50% against TCU, TX & Baylor is worse than TK… And I am not a TK fan
What kind of weird argument are you making lol!?
You said: “At least he can get the ball accurately to receivers.”
His career completion percentage is 64%, which is higher by 4 gigantic percentage points than that for Trevor. However, the game that you post as the example of how accurate Baker is his completion percentage was 55%.
I fully expect both TK9 and Mayfield will play QB this year. Both will most likely get hurt at some point. I’m not sure where Cody Thomas will figure into the equation, but he could see some PT too. You never know.
You’re right, nobody knows yet. Whoever is on the field leading the offense in the winning direction will be the right guy for me. Thankful to have options and that I don’t have to decide.
Did JH not call the Bama game?
I think OU fans make too much of the play calling. It may have effected the offense as a whole, but there were way too many plays where TK had time, had an open receiver, and simply didn’t throw a good ball. I can’t blame that on the offense or the play calling.
Why is it so hard to believe that TK simply isn’t an accurate passer of the football? He’s really only had the ONE game where he looked anything more than average.
He’s had plenty of stellar games. K-State 2013 had me thinking we could beat Bama if he started, for example.
Consistency is what I think play calling has lacked… yes JH could put together a few good plays or maybe a full game, but was never consistent.
Also I think only having 1 solid playmaker at reciever really hurt him, then when Shepard went down the wheels came off.
Same scenario with Landry Jones, just look at how bad he was affected when Broyles went down. Heupel seemed to run his offenses to where they depended on a single receiver too much.
Agree about 1 “solid” WR. But I think what hurt — or hampered — TK more was not having 1 “solid” backup at QB. In which case, maybe the zone read would have been a zone read. His ability to run could have really opened things up.
How can you be consistent in the play calling when you don’t trust the QB to make the throws you call? You have to change your game plan and call what you think will work when the QB is having a bad day, which has been way too frequent the last 2 years.
Exactly!
Also even in the Bama game, the O got 24 points in the first half (1 pick 6 is that correct) and only 7 O points in the 2nd half (although they did have a GREAT drive to eat clock at th end).
You obviously are pointing to the Bama game as that one game, I assume. He had 2 more that I can think of off the top of my head just last year in KSU & Tennessee.
KSU: Everybody remembers the pick. It was one bad play, no getting around it (although it’s quite debatable as to whether the preponderance of the blame falls on TK for throwing it, or for Heupel calling it in the first place considering the play before, but that’s another subject) but for the rest of that game, Knight was almost perfect. 26 for 31 for 318 yards & 3 TD’s. Hardly average. He was the only reason we were in that game in the first place because KSU held Perine in check very well.
Tennessee: TK went 20-33 for 308 yards & 2 TD’s (1 rushing). His only INT came when a ball that KJ Young should’ve caught hit him in the hands & deflected to a Vol DB at the end of the first half when OU was in the hurry up trying to get closer for a FG attempt. Again, well above average from my viewpoint.
Has he been sporadic/inconsistent? Sure, & that’s the frustrating (& I’m sure no more so to anybody than TK himself) thing about it. He’s shown the ability to get it done multiple times. Hopefully, Riley’s system will help him address that; as of right now, it’s the great unknown to anybody at this point.
One thing I’ll be watching with interest is Utah State’s offense. Heupel will have a 5th year Sr. at his disposal @ QB, & the competition won’t be as tough as he faced here. I’ll always remember him fondly, but I’ve often wondered the last year or 2 if he didn’t bite off a little more than he could chew making the jump to OC on top of being QB coach (see QB performance from LJ’s jr. yr. through last yr.).
totally agree with you about the KSU game. And the drive immediately following the pick 6, was a thing of beauty and got the points back instantly.
Accuracy is correctable.
Not always. College football is chalked full of QB’s that had accuracy issues that went uncorrected.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t correctable. Your example simply means it wasn’t.
Didn’t they lose that game? I have resisted putting this on here because Ima a super stand up person, but I’m gonna now. It’s funny. Baker was younger then.
The game before Baylor, against Kansas State, Baker didn’t really play well…
http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3541967/techlol.gif
Baker played terrible against teams who were even remotely decent… Piled up #s vs SMU & Stephen F Austin
Zactly.
I remember watching some of that game and the commentators noted this lack of effort
Jason, I don’t know if you realize that among a “gamble” throw is a bad decision. Bad decisions lead to INTs and that means the other team gets the ball whether you call it a gamble or a bad decision.
Rangers are on a 5 game losing streak, Mavs just lost out on Jordan in a crazy ordeal, the Cowboys seem determined to be worse than last year with Murray leaving and a key defender suspended and who knows what’s up with Dez, OU’s top bball recruit decommitted and the football team can’t buy a commitment. Let’s see if we can get some optimism rolling here.
What if Riley digs deep and finds that inner Sugar Bowl TK9 on a weekly basis in 2015, Perine picks up where he left off, Shep is fully recovered, stays healthy and we have 2 1,000 yrd receivers (Westbrook being the other), Reynolds and Cooks end up being home run hires and turn the defense into a top 10 D in 2015. We have a DLine that can’t be contained and 2 shutdown corners on the edges.
Until then, now back to reality.
Love me some optimism. Reality, not so much.
That second paragraph got the blood pumpin haha!
https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1z06t12X01qg6rkio1_500.gif
Look at that. Just as I made this post one of the Cowboys suspended defenders got a reduction in his suspension. The tide is turning!!!
The story with Linebacker Jonathan Jones. Looks like Michigan is the clear leader.
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/on-the-trail/insider/post?id=70066&ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_VanHaaren_JonathanJonesHasLeader
Glad we made the cut for Jones but I REALLY hope the coaches can find a way to land dontavious Jackson. Maybe both, who knows.
I’m sure this only win me even more fans here, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up on Jackson if I were you.
I think you’ve got many fans here who would never fault you for sharing your opinion or telling the truth. Realism has its virtues, too. There’s a big difference between negativity and realism. You love my Sooners. Some here clearly do not. Most here appreciate all the work you do for this site. You don’t force anyone to agree with you on every comment or post. So I won’t get my hopes up on Jackson because I trust you know more than I do on this matter.
How very level-headed of you 😉
Thanks. I think. I wasn’t being sarcastic. But, ok.
I didn’t get that he was being sarcastic, Slim. I figure it’s the level-headedness that some of just aren’t used to seeing, knowwhatahmeanvern?
Great post, Slim,
Yeah, thanks. Pretty sure it was the old sarcasm font but at least he didn’t call me a BAD name. LOL.
Haha. Love me some Ernest. I love what Jordan brings to this site except for the riff raff that follows and gets to voice their “opinions” in fact form and get all uppity and mad when they get called on it and call people names like “board police” and other things to let us know their wittle feewings got hurt
Hey yall have the inside word on such things so I’ll take your word for it and won’t knock you for it either. But…. that still really sucks to hear haha.
So…..you’re saying there is a chance….
By the way, thanks for the sunshine, K. I’m all about that. Good to know McGinnis is perfectly fine and Jones has us in his top 5. I’ll be relieved when Baker recovers from his fatigue and starts throwing again. Appreciate your info and this fine free site.
Ladies and Gents,
I think we have three talented QBs who are not done developing. It’s stimulating to discuss player stats from 2013 and 2014 that occurred on teams with somewhat (or a lot) different players, different coaches, different play callers, and somewhat (or a lot) different offenses (or offensive capabilities).
I agree with you. I happen to think that the chances of at least one or maybe more of these young QBs will be vastly better and will surprise many skeptics. They’re all a year more mature. They have a new and presumably better QB coach. A more friendly scheme for QBs and add to all that a vastly improved ( IMO ) Receiving corps. Im excited and looking forward to a much better QB starting for OU this year whoever that might be.
This is how I feel about the qb situation
Clearly you are not one of the enlightened ones. There are people on here that KNOW these QB’s are never going to get better.
Of course if I actually knew such things, I would go sell my services. Can you imagine how much some of these schools would pay to know that about the kids they are recruiting? I bet I could clear seven figures easily here in SEC country.
If this is the Bob Edwards that I’ve seen make a few posts here then I would have to know that this is sarcasm. If I had to know this is sarcasm, I would know that this is hilarious.
Edit: If this is not, then I would have to disagree because I’ve seen many a late bloomers in college football.
Never said it was 100% certain that a QB had hit the ceiling. Also said I hope my opinion is wrong, and couldn’t be happier if was wrong. I think reasonable people can hold this opinion. Don’t you?
If you have an OPINION then I am not talking about you. I am talking about the people who say TK or CT can’t get any better. They don’t state it as opinion they state it as fact.
The problem is the point L’Carpetron made that there are a whole lot of extenuating circumstances. Until we have seen them perform in other circumstance, we don’t know how much was them and how much was the circumstances they found themselves in.
I doubt you can find me one poster that has said CT can’t get any better. That would be ludicrous.
Ahem, he says softly.
Obviously TK and Boykin are two different people but their first two years stats were basically the same then in Boykins third year he’s now a heisman fav…so year three and even a new coachsystem did wonders for him…hopefully we see the same improvement from TK…Its absolutely possible
The second I finished reading this post I thought that you were
backtracking. And it seems that you are. If you’re clarifying your opinion by saying “I don’t think it’s 100%. It’s just that my statements make it sound like that” then fine.
Your words are pretty clear that you think he can’t get better. That’s pretty close to “I think it’s 100% certain he won’t improve.”
Found here: https://thefootballbrainiacs.com/ou-oklahoma-sooners-football-recruiting-jordan-carmouche-duvonta-lampkin-jamyest-williamsopen-post
Said by you:
“I said a while back I thought TK9 has reached his ceiling in performance. The others have room to grow. But, I’d love to be wrong.”
“I want TK to succeed, but if I’m honest in my talent evaluation I have to tell myself he’s not getting better. Why isn’t he getting better? Most of the burden falls onto the player and not coaches.”
“Show me where his passing accuracy and ability to make reads has improved? It got worse as the year went on last year. Hence, my opinion.”
It is simply my opinion that he hit his ceiling. Opinions can be right, wrong, and somewhere in between. I don’t see where I’m backtracking at all.
Your opinions were stated quite definitively. Now you’re saying that it’s not certain. What we know for certain is that you are softening your opinion. Thus,…
It’s funny when people get called on something and hide behind the “opinion” curtain. It’s usually someone calling a player or coach out or one of the empty glassers spouting off at the mouth
I hide behind nothing. An opinion is an opinion and nothing more. It is not fact, nor is it definitive in someone’s imaginary black and white universe. Your certainty is indicative of immaturity of thought.
My certainty that you got called on making opinion sound like fact is immature? Okie dokie. Am I the board police now? Or do I wear crimson shades? Or drink the koolaid? Cause it seems like that’s where we’re headed and I’m the immature one….haha. You guys sure got it backwards
Just not into soft-serve ice cream machines if you’re hip to my jive.
I’m picking up what you’re putting down
If you can’t practice how are you developing?
Film room. Develop a better understanding of how collegiate defenses work and try to stop you.
@OceanDescender:disqus
How is that going to help when he can’t even stay healthy in non–contact events?
Well that’s the thing — injuries will happen and you have to hope for the best whenever the injured player returns. Arm fatigue now isn’t a guarantee that he won’t come back and be fine, so while he is coming back, you can bet that Coach Riley will have him working his butt off on the mental aspects of the game and therefore developing as a player which will most certainly help come game time.
Apparently it’s not obvious to some that you don’t just fold up shop and go home when you’re injured. There’s tons of stuff to do and tons of stuff you have to do. But some are just here to be wet blankets
This is true. I think the sooner faithful that are starting to really hit doom and gloom mode are just suffering from football withdrawal though. Can’t wait for the healing power of preseason ball in a few weeks!
I hope so. I can’t stand fairweatherness. Dealt with it my whole career
It’s a complicated matter of physics and refrigeration. Moreover, the countenance of his austerity hasn’t passed anyone’s protuberance.
On a more cereal note, Baker hasn’t been throwing for how long and we’re to conclude that his development has stopped… Perhaps it’s a smidge too early to make such conclusions.
fsu is having a productive off-season……….http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13234576/dalvin-cook-florida-state-seminoles
there appears to be an epidemic of young women going into bars hurling unprovoked racial epithets at football players twice their size…./(sarcasm font)
Yes, they all appear to be drunken women who punch the players first and are punched back in return. It occurs to me that it would be possible to end an opponents star players career very easily by setting them up that way if an evil person wished to, now that public relations and Title IX allow universities to act as judge and jury before there is even a trial. I’m not saying any of these women are doing that and I don’t think they are- I’m just contending that when innocent until proven guilty is abandoned in the name of political correctness or demands for immediate action against the football player- then you could easily have such a situation. Heck, when a drunken racial slur by a teenage frat boy allows the school to expel him permanently from the university, ban an entire fraternity for guilt by association for that one person’s words, and force all incoming students to attend mandatory diversity training as a condition of attendance, then schools are being given more power then courts ever have been in many ways.
sorry, I didn’t mean to reopen this topic. I tried to use the sarcasm font. My bad. You and I will have to agree to completely disagree on this one.
Fair enough, and I appreciate you saying so! It’s rarely a black and white situation when people are involved because every case is different.
We need to send bodyguards out with our guys…when B otchs step out then the body guard steps in…Ive know a few women that could handle this gig hehe
G-Day minus 56
Aubrey Beavers
Great player in a down era for OU.
Yes he was. Enjoyed his play. Wish he would have had a bit more help.
A little light for a lb wouldn’t you think…anything under 250 and Kish and Smitty should be fired
Regarding this offense, especially the QB’s, is it not premature to say anyone has hit a ceiling and is unable to progress further? Coach Riley might have a response to that line of thought. I could easily be wrong, but IMHO, the day that JH went to the box, QB play suffered alot. I get the feeling that Coach Riley is good enough to coach them up and fit his schemes and plays to their strengths.
I feel like there’s too many unknowns and way too many additions in staff and players to predict this coming year based on last years failures. No crimson glasses here, just rational thought.
I think some folks have been disappointed by TK for two years even though he is a high character person and a leader. He also seems to be very prone to injury to the point it appears that the coaches were ordering him not to run with the ball and exercise a true option play even when he was open. But there can be huge changes in a players performance when coached correctly and put in a position to use his talents and minimize his weak points so I completely agree no one should be writing him or any other QB off before we see a season with the new system and new coaches ever play a game.
Crap, just having an organized offensive philosophy will help things. We have been running rudderless the last few years. Just running plays doesn’t cut it.
I wonder what the expectations were for Josh Heupel when he suited up for the 2000 Sooner team that went 13-0 and won the Natty? He had attended a small school, then juco before signing with OU…not exactly a five * sure-fire can’t miss QB prospect. He was matched with a system that worked and he developed into a winner and a playmaker, but if you look at his stats for that year he had 20TD passes and 15 INTs.
Had the Sooners not had an outstanding defense and the almost unbelievable good fortune to not lose a starter on either side of the ball to injury during the entire season, he would not be remembered as fondly as he currently is.
I await each new season with the same optimism, that the Sooners will dominate their opponents and win the Natty. I don’t like to be disappointed anymore than others, but I can live with it when I am.
I think Coach Riley will get his QBs ready to play. If the defense is improved I think the offense will benefit accordingly.
Welcome back, EasTex. How was your time away?
Thanks, bruh.
It was wonderful.
Watch this video and read the story.
http://newsok.com/lincoln-riley-stories-from-muleshoe-texas/article/5433215
Lincoln Riley will surprise a lot of people this year just like he did In Muleshoe Texas and at East Carolina. Players have to execute but it’s looking to me like the Riley hire will put OU’s Offense back in high gear. BOOM!
Good story.
I think the offense will be in good hands with Riley and he certainly has the talent to work with.
It’s the other side of the ball that needs to step up, now.
https://youtu.be/_gxT0xakGEw
Last night I saw the OU defense in 2002 get shredded by OSU. All the stars and got lit up. My point, any defense can have a bad day. They do need to step up but I think with these styles of offenses, it’s more about contain.
I am of the philosophy that if you aren’t attacking you are being attacked.
I am with you on the philosophy. I used to race dirt tracks, and I had a buddy that had big “WFO” (Wide F@#$ing Open)on his dashboard. I told him that if he needed it to remind him, he had the wrong thought process going in.
Short term memory loss, perhaps?
Broken record alert: The defense was the very worst part of the team last year. Our O was good enough to win most games even though it wasn’t as prolific as KW’s offenses. The defensive coordinator is still in place, the defense lost its best lineman in Phillips, Sanchez gets burned like Sunday’s toast for every good play he makes, and we will have a lot of inexperience on D. There is great reason to be concerned for a repeat of previous failures from last year.
To me, firing Josh & Jay but retaining Mike & Tim makes as much sense as realigning the car’s rear end when the front end was what was out of alignment. You tried to fix the wrong problem.
talk about a broken record.
I’ll add this to the other broken record about how Riley’s offense will save what ails us this year.
JB, your rants are the exact same. Yes, if you’ve read the board for any length of time, you want Mike Stoops fired. We get it and that’s fine. However, shut the hell up, we heard it a 100 times and we all get tired of your pompous attitude. I don’t even see why you care as you dropped your season tickets. Bob fired the wrong coaches and you still are in a tail spin 6 months later. Let it go.
Thank you for your concern, but I’ll continue to voice my opinion whenever I feel like it regardless of what you want. Don’t like my posts, don’t read them.
Careful. Him and his friends might start the name calling. They just want to vomit venom and not be called on it. Then hide behind opinion and phrases like “I hope I’m wrong”
Our defense is awesome, a beast about to be unleashed! It was and is a strength!! Fans didn’t really boo coach mike during the Baylor game last year. He didn’t really scream at Julian Wilson on the sidelines. We didn’t get humiliated on our home field by Baylor and a horrible oSu team. We really didn’t get our butts handed to us by Clemson. We weren’t really 117th in passing yards allowed, 66th in 1st down defense, 47th in 3rd down defense, 65th in 4th down defense, 54th in interceptions, 53rd in red zone defense, 55th in passing efficiency defense, 53rd in tackles for loss, 51st in total defense, 74th in turnovers gained, and 55th in scoring defense. National Championship this year is a foregone conclusion with the new offense; the defense won’t matter. There is no reason for concern for our defense whatsoever!
If honesty is” venom”, then what do you call the preceding prose? I just lied through my teeth!
I’m an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma who’s held season tickets and donated to the program for 24 years in a row. I traveled to a number of bowl games and road games and almost every OU-texass game since I was in college. I have eyes, they still work, I used to play football, and I recognize poor play and coaching when I see it.
Refusal to wear your crimson glasses is not a character flaw or spreading “venom” as you described it.
And harping on it makes it not happen? Does coming on here and joining with your other wet blanket friends and bringing up the negative crap make it go away? Nope. Last I checked, you can’t change the past. And now you and/or your fellow empty glassers ignore and attack. “This is a message board” “You’re not the message board police” etc etc. What you guys don’t get is nobody wants to read it. Try talking about something with a positive outlook. For example, which position group do you think will be considered the best? (None of em is not an answer and rb is too easy)
Turn the question on yourself. Ignoring it won’t make it go away either. The truth is often unpleasant, but until Bob recognizes the problems with our D, those won’t go fixed, although I think he knows on some level that Mike is his greatest problem.
Easy or not, if the question is which position group will be the best, the answer is RB. Samaje Perine may just be the best running back in the country. Joe Mixon is unproven in D-1 as of yet, but if he’s half as good as I think he’ll be then he’ll be a damn good one. Alex Ross is a capable RB and is a big play threat. QB is thin and inexperienced, with a guy made of glass and a knack for throwing pick 6s as a possibility if Mayfield’s shoulder doesn’t heal in time. WR should be better because they couldn’t get much worse once Sterling went down. OL has a chance to be good IF the new tackles are good enough. Fortunately our OL coach is quite a teacher. Kickoff returns should be great with Ross and Quick returning. The whole kicking game is unknown with a new punter and kicker. If westbrook is as good as advertised we may have an equally explosive punt return game as kickoff returns. Defensive line was our greatest strength on D last year, but we lost Phillips and Grissom. LB play left a lot to be desired, but hopefully getting Shannon back will be a plus and hopefully Mike will stop trying to play Striker as a nickel and let him pressure the QB as much as possible…that, and bring more than Striker & 3 linemen only. Our secondary was the single worst unit on the team in any phase, and without drastic improvement, we are in deep doo doo. So, RB is the best and deepest unit.
Ignoring it won’t make it go away. That’s correct. But they call it the past for a reason. Learn from it and move on with life.
Qb-I think we’re fine
Rb-we’re awesome
Wr-I think we’ll be awesome
Te-I think will exist
Ol-will be solid
Dl-solid
Lb-awesome
Db-decent
I agree with learning from mistakes and moving on. Apparently, Bob has not learned from his, based on the postseason firings & lack thereof.
I have to ask about 3 of your position assessments.
LB: How do we go from weak at LB last year to “awesome” this season? What has changed so much in this off season in personnel that would warrant that high an upgrade? Did Bosworth, Dante Jones and Rocky Calmus find some extra eligibility? If they are improved from last year, we go back to a 4 man front, I’d optimistically grade them “solid.” I need a lot more than a gut feeling or that they looked good in a meaningless Spring Game.
WR: Sterling Sheperd was our ONLY good and consistent WR last year. Westbrook comes in with a lot of hype, but he’s unproven at this level. His potential excites me, but I need to see it in a game. Metoyer came in with a lot of hype too as the top WR in the country, but he wasn’t good once he took the field. I need to see it first before I buy it. Mead looked good in a spring game which means little, but not so good last year. Dahu Green & AD Miller get good reviews by TFB but also never played D-1. I think Quick has great potential though.
QB: Mayfield gives us the best chance to win in my opinion but he has been out for a while and now he’s sitting out with a shoulder injury. TK9 can’t stay healthy, doesn’t throw for a high percentage (need to be 65% or better in this offense according to Mike Leach), and makes about as many TD passes going the other way as he does the right way. CT was unimpressive throwing against TTU and was much worse vs oSu especially in crunch time. I’m wondering why you say we’ll be “fine” at QB this season because the only known quantities at QB aren’t impressive.
Is there some objective, measurable means to justify your assessments for these positions? I genuinely would be interested in reading them, and perhaps I’d be persuaded.
No. More of gut feel and faith. Our qb’s weren’t terrible and now they get a shot with what seems like a pretty awesome oc. The lbs are getting better with the seasoning they’ve been getting and Shannon, like you said. You keep using the phrase “can’t get any worse” so I guess I’d use it on wr and db. Then I’d use “easier to get better than worse” for qb and lb. I hate losing and 8-5 stinks but I just can’t harp on it. I don’t like making myself mad. I mean we were a little luck away from 11-1 and the playoff. You probably won’t agree with that but that’s the way I see it. As bad as some of y’all think we were, we were closer than some would like to admit
Our DBs and WRs couldn’t be worse than last year so there is no where to go but up unless John Blake became HC again. Makes sense and you’ve sold me on it, but I am much more confident in the WRs than DBs. Tjis is a more QB friendly offense, but TK and CT still scare the crap out of me based on their past performance, especially TK.. But you make another good point about the offensive scheme givong them a chance at getting better.
I just can’t see your point on the LBs. I hope the LBs are improved, but last season really burned me about Mike Stoops and given how bad the secondary was with him coaching them, it worries me he’s now coaching LBs.
Mike’s still in charge of the D and I think the ONLY reason he still has a job is that his brother is the HC. He has gone away from his previously successful philosophy that was dominated by man coverage schemes. Hearing TFB say we’ll still be using a zone dominant scheme really chapped my hide. I think Mike’s lost his mojo and doesn’t realize it. I was one of the happiest people when he came back. Now, I am ready for him to join Josh at Utah State.
I think we should just run the wishbone this year and go to LR’s game next year
Anyone else feel like our only chance at a decent class this year is to have a great season? I mean like a 1 or 2 loss season by that. I hope I am wrong, but it just seems that way. I mean why a top recruit pick OU right now? With stoops uncertainty, big 12 headed downhill, and coming off a terrible year by OU standards I don’t blame them.
Recruiting is funny – but it sure seems like we have already missed on a lot of top targets that will be gone regardless of record. Of course a great season will help as opposed to hurt – but you won’t find many kids de-commit and flip to OU because we win 10 games as opposed to 8. I like it better when we get early commitments of top choice guys – not this year it seems.
There is no “Stoops uncertainty”, unless he chooses to retire. This despite what a few may wish.
If OU goes 8-5 again this year, there will definitely be some uncertainty for his future. I still say he fired the wrong coaches, and he can’t just keep firing coaches to keep the heat out of his seat.
Let’s just hope for a better year.
The on-field product certainly helps turn the heads of recruits but there are a lot more factors to securing the signatures of teenagers than just wins and losses. For me, recruiting is one of those things where I absolutely have to keep myself distanced but still interested or else I’d end up in a room with all soft walls haha.
2010 was a good recruiting class…2009 was a 5 loss team…what is this STOOPS UNCERTAINTY you speak of…its still way early in the recruiting game…july to febuary is a long time in recruiting
I was going to mention the time frame as well. Thanks JD.
Yes & no.. this is most likely going to be a small class anyway so ranking wise, it’s not going to be ranked high for that reason… But the better the season, the better the players we’ll end up signing, in my opinion..
Yes.. Alabama keeps reloading because they keep winning. Same thing happened for USC in the 2000s, Nebraska in the 90s, Miami in the 80s, OU in the 70s, etc. Players coming out of high school may have a lot of different reasons for choosing a school, but it seems that most of the top recruits flock to the places that have a great shot at winning the NC.
It is a double standard. The girls can throw first punch – but the guy can’t respond and punch back. Of course if it is against another guy it is “self defense” and more acceptable. Absolutely not condoning any guy punching any girl – what I am saying is no one should punch anyone – girl or guy – and there should not be a gender bias. These girls do this and no one ever blinks an eye – as if it is okay for a girl to slap or punch a guy. Crazy.
Let’s not re-hash this again. Please take this thread over to LT.
Just curious – what is LT?
……http://www.landthieves.com/board/
Ah – thank you. This is only site I come to for my daily fix of my beloved Sooners! Great work by everyone on this site – love it.
LT can be pretty rough, but very humorous sometimes, depending on your sense of humor……
I love LT for the comic factor. It is mostly world problem stuff with some sports on the side. Fun place to hang out if you have thick skin.
I stopped reading the boards on any other site. I used to be on scout a lot, but one day somebody linked to an article here, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Please, let’s not talk about this again.
You’re not wrong but some people don’t want to admit that girls do this crap all the time now because they think (they’ve been told) they’re untouchable. The guys should always walk away but if it’s a dude they hit then it’s a totally different situation and it shouldn’t be that way.
Zack – agree on all points.
You don’t hit girls. Period.
You either walk away or you block their punch and hold onto their wrists so they can’t do it again. Then you have someone call the police and they will haul her off for battery.
And girls shouldn’t hit guys either. Period.
No, they shouldn’t, but unless it’s one of those MMA chicks, it’s not a big deal. Double standard? Sure it is…a necessary one. We can do so much more damage to them than they can do to us, especially when you’re talking about huge football players. D’Andre Johnson had a punch thrown at him with enough force to tickle a fly’s wing. If you want to teach them a lesson about hitting you, get the police involved & press charges. They will be treated equally under the law for battery.
If a (weaponless) woman hits you, be a man and take it, walk away, and/or call the police. Hitting a woman is down right chickens**t and requires the automatic forfeiture of your man card.
I’ve been hit by two or three women over the years, even had one hit me with a ski pole. I took the ski pole from her and she grabbed a clothing iron and swung it at my head. That iron could have done some REAL damage. I still managed not to punch or hit her in any way, and I was no older than D’Andre Johnson at the time. I lacked life experience at the time, but thank God my parents raised me right.
and then you married her, right?
I wanted to marry her! We went out for 4 years, but I blew it in the end, about a year after that incident.
In her defense, if you knew her, that could not have been more out of character for her. It was just one of those arguments where you stop being kind and start thinking of the most hurtful things to say for pride’s sake, and I said some things that cut like a knife. I don’t know if I deserved having my head bashed in, but I certainly earned the anger she had for me that day. She was the sweetest, most kind-hearted and most beautiful woman I have ever met, and I have no ill feelings toward her whatsoever. She’s one of the good ones and I’m an idiot for letting her go.
Was she ironing your shirts when she decided to swing it at you?
No…we were in her dorm room. She went to school in Colorado while I went to OU and I was visiting. I think that was her roommate’s iron and ski pole that she grabbed.
And that type of response is exactly why there is a double standard. I don’t approve of hitting a woman but if a woman hits a man and he retaliates in the same fashion it should be treated equally as if it were two men or two women.
It will be treated equally in court. But the kind of damage we can inflict on them and the lack of damage they can inflict on us warrants this double standard at combat time. Teddy Lehman made the same point on his radio show on Friday. He can’t just punch back because the result would be asymmetrical when she might inflict a scratch on him while he can break her jaw with one shot. The result would be unequal, therefore the physical response should be different.
If a weakling (male) punches or tries to punch, are you going to unleash everything on him? No, of course not, because it would be pathetic and unnecessary when you could put your hand on top of his head and let him swing away and miss.
I assume you haven’t actually ever fought someone who knew how to fight size means very little if you know what you’re doing. But to your point of it being treated equally I completely disagree I’ve seen it too many times where I had a guy grab a woman as you had suggested and because she had marks and his weren’t severe he was arrested and convicted once for battery and another guy for domestic abuse. I again don’t think a man should hit a woman but there are plenty of women who know how to hit and cause damage whether people maintain a perception of weak women who can’t do anything for themselves, doesn’t mean that is reality.
You assume wrong. I work in a violent profession and have to go against people who are younger and bigger than me. Yes, some people are smaller and well-trained, but 98% of the time, size matters, especially between men and women. There are very few Rhonda Rouseys walking around Oklahoma City.
I’m sure we can agree to disagree on this , there may not be a lot of women mma fighters in Oklahoma but You don’t need to be an mma fighter to throw a punch or kick or to assault someone. And just to reiterate what I had said before I do not believe in hitting women but every situation is not black and white and there are plenty of women who are bigger then the men they beat it’s not a one sided affair like so many seem to make it.
The same goes for some men who have less pain tolerance than other males.
Agree 100% Shawn. The deciding factor should be the conscious act itself and lack of discipline / self-control of striking another person – not a subjective factor re: how much damage the strike may or may not cause to the victim. A female MMA fighter (for example) should not be held to a higher standard than a female “weakling” simply because she is stronger and can cause more damage with her punch. If they hit a guy they ought to be viewed/judged the exact same way – and identical to the way a guy hitting a girl (regardless of his “strength”) should be judged. It is the act itself – not the strength of the person that should be penalized and held accountable.
Half right. Women bruise easily and thus the police not seeing any bruises on you, will take you in for grabbing/restraining the female. It’s been done on many domestic cases. Sorry, but you should walk away. But women will follow you out to your car and provoke you beyond the limit than what?
Get in the car and drive away.
G-Day minus 55
Jammal Brown
Excellent choice!
A few other names from the way back machine… Dennis Buchanan/Kevin Ormand/Paul Ferrer.
Found a couple of them.
Teamwork.
A few years ago.
Thank you for the assist EasTex. Great players in their time.
You betcha, keep doing the work on finding those images, good stuff.
A few names for Monday…Jimbo Elrod/Tom Braheny/Mike Sawatzky.
From good ol’ lawton ok was bought in as a DT
I’d love to clone Jammal, he was a great player. I wouldn’t be greedy…just 5 clones, one for each offensive line position!
Agreed he could of easily played all positions on the oline or been a Jordan Phillips on the dl given his size and speed
Oh yeah!! And a line of 5 Jammals would be ridiculously good at all 5 spots, virtually unstoppable!
There are a bunch of kids that come from this lawton area look at just the stoops Era players perkins, brown, wolfe, whaley, Harris, birdine and recent commit maurice chandler
Agreed…we need to recruit that area more. I’m excited about Chandler’s potential.
congrats to joker for wimbledon………..congrats to federer, not bad for 33
Was rooting for Fed – but the joker was too good today.
I have a hard time rooting for Federer. He reminds me too much of Rudi Garmisch (those who know their 80s ski comedies will get that reference).
I was hoping for a closer match, but when Joke is on, he is unbeatable.
yeh, it’s interesting……when joke was coming up he had a ton of talent but he was a head case………developed discipline, matured and he’s riding the top
I’m ready for an American to take over the tennis world again. I miss Sampras & Agassi.
I do too, but add mac and connors…………..I follow 2 or 3 of the slams each yr and us men are nowhere in sight…….several at wimbledon and no one made the quarters………..my favorite, the us open, starts around end of aug………hopefully good weather and under the lights in ny
In a perfect world, that would be the case. Unfortunately, those days are gone.
Yep – I was kidding / being sarcastic. Unfortunately education is far down the list of factors for a lot of the guys today – yet ultimately is what will put bread on the table for a high percentage of them.
I just wish there were some way to make them understand that (about their education). For every Gabe Ikard and Sam Bradford who excelled academically, there seem to be a hundred Byron Hanspards (Mr. 0.0) and Bam Morrises (drug dealer).
Hello
Let me preface by saying I am not proud to admit that I have actually fallen victim to the quest to find who Stephen Dale really is. If you want to see some real tomfoolery, check out his Facebook. Holy Cow! This guy rips tennis players, soccer teams, female athletes, etc. It’s apparent this guy is extremely disgruntled with life. I propose Hugs for Stephen Dale.
You’ve solved the mystery! He’s fat ass Jim Traber!
That is hilarious!!!
No matter how interesting the results, there is no way, even with Jack Bauer torchering me, that I would EVER admit doing what you just did!
Lmao!
I, uh…no!
Me neither. No hugs.
A slap would do him better
A slap would do him better
Off the topic of football, my niece will be a HS senior this year. She came up from Dallas to tour OU and I met her for breakfast. She loved OU!!! She went to Columbia the next day, but did not care too much for Mizzou. She’s going to visit some universities in Texas, but has no interest in UT whatsoever. She said she could not understand why anyone would wear “that ugly color.” I told her to keep an open mind and that ut is a very good school, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say her words brought a smile to my face! I’m still smiling about them… 🙂
I’m not gonna lie if I had a shot at a full ride I would probably actually chose Austin over OU.
I would rather you just lie. 🙂
Me too! Just lie!! Lol
If I had a full ride to OU and UT, I’d still choose OU. If I had a full ride to UT and had to pay for OU myself, I’d probably choose UT. Then again, maybe I wouldn’t. I lived in Austin for a summer and its too damn hot down there.
Our girl is going to tour OU later this week which brings a smile to my face. She has already toured Stanford and Cal poly on one trip, visited some other top engineering schools in the mid-west, and received tons of letters from Ivy League schools out East. I will be proud regardless of her decision but I love to hear her say she has no interest in Texas or other orange colored schools. 🙂
Stanford? Wow! Wherever she chooses to go, I hope she enjoys the heck out of it. Her distaste for orange also cheers me up! That is awesome how she’s being recruited by so many top schools, I’m sure that makes you proud (as it should).
I forgot to mention my niece has received a ton of letters from oSu but she said she has ZERO interest in them either.
I would be tickled if my niece ended up here in Norman. It would be nice to have my nearest family member only 2 minutes away instead of 2 hours away.
congrats on her earning the choices……good luck to her
I went there only because it was convenient. I was at my last duty station, Bergstrom AFB(now Bergstrom Intl Airport). I went to a few games while still in the USAF and always pulled for the opposing team. When I was within months of discharge I sent out applications to five schools and Texsa was the first to accept me. I didn’t have to move, had family close by and didn’t have to pay out of state tuition. That was forty years ago and the school wasn’t nearly as big as it is now. I could tolerate most of the Austin culture since there was a lot to do. The last time I was in Austin was 1986, I left vowing to never return and haven’t. One of my daughters and her family live in Round Rock and even they view the city limits sign as a warning, not an invitation.
The thing is the arrogance, it is institutional and permeates everyone associated with it.
Sure, the degree stills carries weight, especially if you plan on living in Texas after school, but I could never recommend anyone attend there. There are days when I come home, check the mail and there is another letter from the Texsa Exes begging for money, offering a cruise or life insurance. I chuckle, toss it in the trash and log onto TFB as soon as I get inside.
Send the prepaid envelop back empty (if they provide one) that way they have to pay for it lol…I did that to capital one and they quit sending me junk mail…I put a note WHATS IN YOUR ENVELOPE lol sorry my keyboard is fried
Good idea.
Greatness!!!
Glad to hear there is no interest in UT almost purely for the reason that bridges don’t collapse when you drive north on I35. But also because they are Texas and they still suck.
EDIT: (just to clarify) If you go south from dallas, the freeway ain’t so sturdy.
Need the football to start now won’t make it much longer without….. With last breath “stop starring your receiver down!”