Image of Marcel Southall via Scout
–Β Marcel Southall: After the great defensive front performance by the Sooners this past weekend, I thought it might be a good idea to check in with 2016Β DT and OU target Marcel Southall (Duncansville, TX) and get his thoughts on the game. You may recall Southall visited OU towards the end of the summer and is very high on the Sooners. Southall is very similar in build and athleticism to current OU defensive lineman, Charles Walker.
I caught up with Southall’s father, Marcus, who told me they did indeed watch the game, “big time come back win!” He went on to say his son spoke with OU defensive line coach Diron Reynolds yesterday morning shortly after the team returned to Norman and evidently Marcel told Reynolds, “I could be a part of that!” Marcus said he and his son are expecting to make a return visit to OU at some point this season to catch a game. In fact, Marcus said those very plans was one of the topics of conversations for his son and Reynolds yesterday.
The thing about playing good defense is that good defensive prospects want to play for you. – (Super K)
– Team Note | Jeffrey Mead: It certainly goes without saying that for much game this past Saturday, Oklahoma’s passing attack was not terribly effective. Which led to us receiving multiple inquiries as to why Jeffrey Mead was conspicuously absent from the OU offense. I asked around and wasn’t able to get a great deal of information, but was told Mead’s lack of involvement was not related to a suspension or injury. – (Super K)
– Team Note | No Quit: I spoke to a source about the overall vibe of the team this past weekend at halftime during the Tennessee game. I was told that the Sooners were absolutely confident they would win. Was told that the team was extremely fired up at halftime, and they felt strongly that it was just a matter of time before they took over the game. – (Super K)
– Team Note | Rodney Anderson: I haven’t been able to get any definitive word on the status of true freshman RB Rodney Anderson after what looked like a potentially serious ankle/lower leg injury on Saturday night. One source I spoke with, however, did say the injury was “probably season ending” but they could not confirm it with absolute certainty. I suspect Bob Stoops will give us all a more definitive answer this afternoon during his weekly presser. – (Super K)
– UPDATE (2:07 pm): 2016 DT Jordan Elliott (Houston, TX) tweets he will be in Norman for an official visit the weekend of TCU game.
https://twitter.com/JAE__95/status/643495813172338688
337 Comments
FIRST! BOOMER!
SOONER!
Sucks about Rodney Anderson.
Running backs on special teams=injuries.
That could have been anyone. It could have happened at anytime. Someone has to do it. There is equity of risk/injury amongst all who play this game.
What a game, should only help the recruiting surge the Sooners have enjoyed lately.
Tulsa has been playing pretty well and while I am not worried about losing, Sooners need to keep that focus this weekend before heading into conference play. Should be fun in Norman on Saturday morning!!
I think number 1 we have to win (obvious I know, lol) and number 2, we have to hold them under 10pts. DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE!
So fun to have a (maybe) good to great defense again. Barring injuries, they will only get better!
Our defense has started several seasons strongly in recent years, only to collapse later. In fact, I’d say it’s more the rule than the exception.
way to be positive. our defense has not started like this in many years. the defense dictated terms to Tennessee in front of largest crowd Sooners have ever played in front of. Give em some credit.
Have to go all the way back to…. hmm, 2014 to find a comparable start for the D.
50 something ranking on pass D through 2 games is same as 6th? got it.
I have no idea where the pass defense ranked after two games last year, bu they had given up 44/79 (55.6%) for 395 yards (5.0 yds/att) and 3 TDs and 3 INTs. This year they’re better than that in every category (41.9%, 4 yds/att, 3 TDs, 3 INTs). But the rush defense is worse (89 for 267 this year compared to 63 for 148 last year).
So if I get to cherry pick 1/2 the defensive stats like you did, this year’s defense is worse than last year’s. Got it.
assuming that we hadn’t played a team that can run the ball this year, I would agree. Tennessee is much better than the other opponents in the sample. If you want to nitpick and find a reason to be negative, go for it. Bottom line is the defense has played really well and should only get better unless there are major injuries. Last year’s defense did not feel the same as this year’s after two games.
Seems some just wanna watch the world burn
You think the defense from last year could have held this Vols team to less than half a yard per play over the last quarter and a half of the game? I don’t.
Do you think (thing I want to argue was better) could have (unrepresentative sample cherry-picked to support my argument)?
I can do that, too!
Do you think the defense from this year could have held Hurd under 100 yards rushing, intercepted two passes, or scored a touchdown against last year’s Vols team? I don’t.
The defense was great through three games last year. It gave up 16, 7, and 10 points in the first three games. It was forcing negative plays and turnovers and holding opponents to low per-play averages. La Tech scored more points against everyone else. Tulsa never scored less than we held them to.
You’re not really a very knowledgeable football observer, if you can’t see that this year’s defense is improved over last.
I see that you lack evidence to support your claims. You’re not really a very rational person if you cast aside empirical evidence in favor of a what you see as a “knowledgeable football observer.”
This year is following a pattern common to many recent years. Remember “The Sharks?”
Statistics can be deceiving, sir. You clearly have an agenda, which is to malign the defense. As such, you are using them to support your agenda.
At no time last year did we see this kind of attacking defense. The DL schemes were set up to soak up the blocks and stuff the run, at the expense of a pass rush. We didn’t have very many TFL last year, at any time, because of that scheme. And while the pass defense stats were decent early last year, the still were NUMEROUS receivers running free in the secondary. This defense attacks, gets into the backfield, and swarms the ball.
Bottom line, last year’s team, given the challenges OU faced at Tennessee, would have folded and gotten run over.
Now, numerous observers, most of whom make their living observing and commenting on football, most of which are former pro and college players and coaches, are now commenting on the quality of the Sooner defense.
And these are the same observers, who maligned last years defense and the coaches. So it’s not a bunch of “homer” analysts, or sunshine pumping fans.
How much better this defense is, is yet to be fully determined. But Tennessee is no slouch. They are a competent passing team, and a strong running team, and we held them in check, in spite of horrid field position caused by our offensive and special team mistakes. This Tennessee team is better than last year’s and it was played in a very hostile environment.
Tulsa, which runs the same scheme as Baylor, will show us different challenges, and provide more evidence. WVU and their balance still more.
As the season progresses, we’ll see more, but so far, an improved. defense has been observed by most.
You clearly have an agenda, which is to malign last year’s defense’s early-season performance.
Ignore objective evidence – check
Appeal to authority (the same authority that had OU ranked in the top five at this time last year) – check
Accuse your opponent of arguing in bad faith – check
Man, you should be a politician.
As should you, sir. That’s what politicians do, spin statistics to their agenda.
What I want to know, is if we’ll ever see you again, if my perspective proves out?
I sincerely doubt it. I.e, AGENDA.
There is nothing to prove out. I’m only discussing what has happened in the past, and have made no predictions about what will happen in the future.
Your “discussion” centers on what happened last year, which is a statistical outlier, relative to Sooner history under Stoops. So how does that negate other’s observations that this Sooner defense seems better?
I know the Vols don’t have an elite passing attack, but that offense is certainly no joke. and on the road……..
My thoughts exactly… last year we started out suffocating people, only to seem like we changed philosophy and got timid later in the season.
our pass defense was NEVER even decent last year. never.
It was decent early last season when we were pressuring the opposing offense, once we stopped getting pressure they were really exposed. So far this year we haven’t faced a prolific passing attack, so there is no way to know if they are good or not.
I would caveat the under ten points to the first team D. Good chance this one gets out of hand and they score some points in garbage time.
Exactly. Scrub TD’s seem to happen when we have the third string JV team in against their starters. π
Tulsa beat two bad teams, one of them in overtime. I don’t think they pose much threat as long as we come out and execute crisply. This will be a good game for the O-Line to settle in and let things slow down for them.
Question (I’ll have to watch game again) – How did F. Shannon play vs. Vols? I did not specifically look for him…
The stats http://www.soonersports.com//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&CONTENT_ID=1416063 don’t list him as having played.
Oklahoma rotated a lot on the Dline , hopefully we rotate more LBrs , and secondary guys , and on offense we need to rotate more WRs
Hey Bob: I went to soonersports and couldn’t figure how you generated this particular report. I went to Football-More-Statistics and it had similar stats but not in the formal you link to. Could you give me a vector?
When I click on the link I get the top of the page and there are several links there. One says “Game Participation”. Click it. There is a chart of all the starters and then below that is a list of the other players. Hope that helps.
Thanks! But what I was wondering was how you got your link in the first place. I couldn’t figure out how to navigate from the soonersports home page to get to your link (so I can do it in future weeks).
There may be an easier way, but I went to football page, under the more tag, selected statistics, Select game-by-game statistics, then click on the score, then game participation. Hope that helps.
Thanks! That is the way I found it, but I still like the format that Bob posted better than what I found there.
I don’t think he played which is surprising. I could have missed him but I swear I read some where that he didn’t take the field.
Answer per B.S. press conf: Shannon did not play – said due to existing linebacker play/chemistry/flow in game.
The addition of Bond as another pass rusher is priceless. Watch the Sanchez pick. Tennessee used the TE to slow up Striker on one side and had to keep the RB in to chip Bond. The TE eventually slips out into the flat but Evans had all day to get over there essentially leaving only 3 wrs to cover with 6 guys. If teams have to keep in 6 or 7 to block this defense will be dominant.
They may already “be there” and they are only going to get better.
How many near INT’s did Bond have in the flat and on flares?
He almost had 2 on the opening drive alone. I know his is the name the NFL scouts at the game were drooling over.
I’m a Striker fan but Bond has more versatility with better size. Curious how they are going to use these guys moving forward. They could move up and down the line confusing the blocking schemes.
Love Striker too and he is undoubtedly the leader of this defense but Bond does have a more complete lb game. It is a very dangerous combo having two outside rushers that can’t be blocked 1 on 1 by most college OTs… plus Charles Walker is looking pretty unlocks 1 on 1 on the inside as well. Interested to see how Coach Mike uses them both against the Big 12 spread offenses.
I’m not a Pats fan but I like how they jump around the DL and rush with 4 or 5 standing up. Not sure Mike will do this but I could see Walker standing up and pulling Obo in the game too. Lot of options at this point and Diron has them playing at a high level. Great hire.
Bond is a COMPLETE player. He covered when asked. He rushed expertly. He got off blocks and made tackles.
His senior year of high school was his first year to play football. I think this kid is gonna have a good year and be an even better pro.
Boy do I WISH he had one more year at OU – But the way he’s playing, he would leave anyway for the pros.
Also tacked extremely well in space. Dude was everywhere
Striker and Bond off the edge is a nightmare, just as TFB predicted.
Bond should have had an interception too, passed right through his hands. His elevation on that attempt was insane though. Guy has SOME athleticism.
I hope all of our targets were watching the game to see what team chemistry is all about.
You could see Orlando Brown grow up during that game. He had a holding call early and got beat a couple of times but once he get those mitts on his man he can dominate. As the season goes on he will get more consistent, the guy will be really special in a year or two.
He had a pretty tough assignment as well. That Tenn. defender was somewhat Striker-esque.
I really think Tulsa will be a good primer for Big 12 play. Looking forward to see how the backend of our D will play against a spread. I have been impressed with the D this year. If they continue this trend through Tulsa and WV then I will be convinced they are for real.
Our O needs to come alive but I believe they will. Right now it is nice seeing the D keeping us in the game until the O comes alive. If the O comes alive and the D keeps playing at a high level, this team will have every chance to win the Big 12 this year.
What an awesome game. I am still feeling light as a feather, just straight up floatin’. It’s good being a Sooner.
I am looking forward to seeing if we can play offense in the first half of the TU game… If we ever start that slow against a good offensive team like Baylor it will get ugly.
C’mon Marcel, come to OU and be another Walker. BTW, can anyone block Walker? Played great again along with a lot of guys. Bond creates flexibility with the different schemes during the year. Liked seeing the 2 down & 2 up along with 5 man front.
Looks like Cooks has put Thomas in better positions and playing with confidence. The coaching change all the way around has benefited this team.
Which Thomas? Jordan played okay. He was beat three times and did not hold the boundary on a rear option. Ahmad was good.
Ahmad. Jordan played well too. Jordan didn’t have any S help on some of those runs. Also, where was the outside LB containment. Takes 11.
The defense played great but Jordan Thomas had a late step a few times in coverage on critical downs
I get it but overall he played well. I don’t point out a couple of flaws, I focus more on the total play. I’ll take it and he’s only going to get better.
I saw that later in the game he did better on his coverage
How many screen passes were blown up by our D? Did they have any successful screen plays?
Pretty sure it was three. And, no, they didn’t
That was my recollection as well but wasn’t sure. Thanks.
Our D has finally started to understand what it means when the o-line lets you go free! I loved seeing Striker put the stops on going for a sack and blowing up a screen play. It made me smile big time!
nothing beats experience. Really liked seeing the vision of the front 7.
TWENTY FIRST! SOONER!
I’m getting the same vibe with this team as I did the 2000 team!! Anybody with me on this?
Yup. We’ll see. Uncanny similarities.
That team struggled at first, not looking particularly dominate against bad teams. I remember all the complaining as we struggled against a bad Rice team eventually pulling away late. Then we went into Dallas and laid half a hundred on them and then scored a couple more touchdowns for good measure.
Been on board since the end of the bowl game.
This is a little early for this kind of talk :).
The 2000 offense had a great OL which was loaded with veterans at every spot. Not All Americans, but great players. This 2015 has three starters that have two games under their belt and two Seniors that aren’t super stars. This offense won’t challenge really good defenses until we get the OL issues solved.
Tennessee isn’t chopped liver, but they aren’t a top 10 team either.
I think the similarities are uncanny. I thought before the season this team was a lot like that 2000 team and just like them I think by conference time and with an extra week to prepare the offense will have a coming out party against what many are claiming to be one of the best defenses in the Big 12, in WVU. This Tulsa game at home will give the offense some more confidence and hopefully calm the receivers down to let them play like we all are hoping they can. The ceiling is the limit for this team that others outside of OU fans aren’t giving much of a chance.
I hope Rodney is ok. A fracture maybe? This team has some grit and nasty. Tackling was good for the most part. Not much in the way of yards after the catch.
Great win in a tough environment I don’t care what anyone says that was something no one on this OU team has seen on the road great poise and savvy by Mayfield. Still need to start off better and need more WRs to make plays. Run game is getting there having aperine and Mixon helps hopefully we can get Ross and Brooks the ball more this weekend (sucks about Anderson). And AGAIN we need 2 RBs in the ’16 class. Defense played the way they did last year vs Tenn but again in a tough environment and the play of Bond and Parker are encouraging. Thomas is better but Coach Cooks or the offenses he is playing is helping not sure which yet. Did Byrd play, probably a good thing.. ? JT will still get best vs Baylor, TCU and OSU.. Maybe Tulsa !?!?!?.. Love the DL and the DL rotation just need to keep them healthy. Walker can be a difference maker if he chooses to be. Dimon is a playmaker because he doesn’t know any different. But we need everyone on the line each has their strength and weakness.. J Wade played like J Philips which is a good sign. LBs were the stars of the defense played the run physical dropped in coverage and didn’t let ANYTHING get behind them vs a athletic TE in Wolfe. Great win, it’s over #BeatTulsa !!!!! Boomer Sooner
As for the LBs, it’s always good when your name is not called.
Heard Bond and Alexander’s a lot.. But it was good.. Lol
Touche’.
Bond looked like the predator out there! Dude is a beast with his size and speed.
This team had the ” will power to keep on fighting and never give up ” this team can be really special , hopefully for the rest of the season we rotate our WR more often
Obviously an awesome win, our offense was not clicking again the way we’d hoped, but they dug in a came through like true warriors. One facet of the game that really stood out to me by the third quarter was special teams. Over the last two games as a squad our special teams have really done a consistently good job. Austinβs been as good as advertised as well. Iβm looking forward to our team really putting together a complete game this week in all phases.
Austin is something special
β Team Note | No Quit: I spoke to a source about the overall vibe of the team this past weekend at halftime during the Tennessee game. I was told that the Sooners were absolutely confident they would win. Was told that the team was extremely fired up at halftime, and they felt strongly that it was just a matter of time before they took over the game. β (Super K)
Huh? Come on now K.
No speaky the english huh.
Report: I knew you would reply to me.
From Eric Bailey of The Tulsa World: http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ousportsextra/sooners-defense-anchored-saturday-s-win-at-tennessee/article_fe6ffb31-347b-57a1-90e1-78a69099dc31.html
“But after Tennesseeβs second-quarter score made it 17-0 with 12:14 remaining, Oklahomaβs defense looked like Stoopsβ units from the days of old. The Vols only managed 82 total yards on 48 plays (and eight first downs through the rest of regulation and through overtime).”
Now that’s one impressive stat. Just choke the life out of them, wait for the offense.
I heard 68 yards in the second half, 51 of those on the first two plays of the third quarter. That’s 17 total yards through basically two quarters. Exceptional job by Mike Stoops and the defensive staff.
I’ve worn you out on here for negative posts but I’ve seen quite a few pretty awesome posts today so I gotta give credit where it’s due
I’m excited about Tulsa, with Baylor’s old OC Tulsa’s new HC we’ll get to test the secondary with a spread out attack in the friendliest matchup possible.
4 Straight TD’s to end the game was very telling. Especially the last 2 after going down 7 in OT. All these whining moaning losing fans forget they were up 7 in OT.
I’m extremely excited about this defense and I’m not worried about the offense. The oline will get better each and every week and the offense as a whole is close to clicking. I think Tulsa and the bye week are coming at the perfect time for this team. Defensively I am drooling. Coach Mike ideally wants his unit to be versatile and multiple and this group can be just that. Dline has speed and size and Charles Walker looks unblockable 1 on 1. Bond and Striker together present so many issues the OCs in the big 12 are going to have nightmares. Parker is a star in the making and other safeties are much improved. Sanchez is Sanchez and will make great plays but give up plays and JT needs to get better or I think PJ will be out there sooner rather than later.
Hopefully PJ starts next game
Don’t sleep on Tulsa.
Vegas came out OU -34.5… I’m thinking I’ll let that get down to hopefully 32.5 then I’m all over it. Not scared of the little cousin up the turnpike one bit.
As our offense was struggling throughout most of the game and our Oline was having a rough go of things was I the only one begging for Riley to revisit the spring game and throw a shuffle pass or two on that aggressive Dline?
you werent alone, I was also wondering where the quick toss out to the wideout (like the one mead scored on against Akron), that seemed to work well, and as much pressure as the d was putting on Mayfield it only made more sense
There’s a difference between Riley and Heuple. Riley has a feel for the game; he doesn’t call plays he hopes will work. He calls plays he knows will work, if executed properly.
Agree to disagree. Heupel routinely called plays that, if executed, would work. They often were plays that had worked perfectly earlier in the game and were in fact wide open for huge gains but failed due to poor execution.
Fair point. I see what you’re saying.
I agree with you. I read some posts here that criticized Riley’s play calling early in the game. If they players don’t execute, how do you criticize the play calling?
Last year when Trevor was on, the play calling was great, but when he struggled the play calling was bad?
Re Mead. take this for what it’s worth, but during the Akron game the announcers were showing replays and bestowing great compliments to the wide receivers on the great blocking downfield, showing plays with Baxter, Westbrook, Shep, Neal… At some point they showed a play with Mead where he didn’t make much of a block and they commented that he looked like he didn’t want to block. Of course, they’re tv announcers, but if that’s an issue he won’t see the field much, judging by the way things often go.
Correct just like Andrews. Make someone feel left out and you build a quiter or a champion give it time….
Andrews missed a block on what I believe may have been a bubble screen, and that raised the ire of the usually calm Shepard. Didn’t see much of him after that, but I hope we do this week. He’s going to be needed down the road.
“The thing about playing good defense is that good defensive prospects want to play for you” This bodes well. π
It was far from a flawless performance, but make no mistake about it, in spite of the dramatic play at the end by the offense, IMHO this was a defensive win.
Edit: of course, they’re all team wins, and one side needs the support of the other, and without the winning plays by the O, it doesn’t happen. But the Defense had to keep us in the game, time and time again, for a very, very long period of time pretty much without support, and contributed a dramatic stop at the end as well.
a win is a win
I’m good with that.
just survive til the OL gels and keep playing good D and it will take care of itself
Yep. So much better learning lessons after a win than having to learn from a loss
To me, it’s like this:
Defense = Big Brother
Offense = Little Brother
http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/103505/oklahoma-rediscovers-identity-through-tough-minded-qb-baker-mayfield
Good article save for one line:
“This is hardly Stoopsβ most talented collection of players. In fact, there might not be a single All-American among them.”
I guess he forgets Perine, Shepard, and Sanchez are all in that discussion.
Bond should be!
If Bond plays all the time his year will be better than Striker’s.
What I like is that they have quality everywhere, maybe not AA, and excellent depth. Just need the OL to improve each week.
It will. Just need playing time together.
Sanchez: B12 DPOW….I think Zach played well, and had a great pick in the end, but our defense as a whole are the players of the week imo.
The DL controlling the middle forcing the zone read out to blitzing LBs was the key
Bond is my guy!
Bond and Walker both had great games. Every time Walker was in there he was either making a play or disrupting one. He is going to be a great one. Bond is just nasty!
Yup. Everybody on defense played their butts off but Zack has had three INTs roll off his fingertips the last two games. It was only fitting that he’d end the game by hauling one in. That’s what he does.
I also really liked that they had a play just for him that was a double move.
He did NOT bite.
some sooner fans make me understand why a lot of people don’t like sooners fans. so negative all the time.
It could be worse – imagine trying to find a positive Texsa fan right now.
Are we talking HIV positive or positive about the season?
Positive disposition on the state of the program of course. I can’t imagine how this board would be if we looked like that team south of the Red River. I wouldn’t be hanging out here.
Oh, you mean the Texas team that got outgained by RICE 277-462 yards and only won because of a +5 turnover margin. I can’t see why the fan base would be concerned about that. At this point even Kansas is not looking like a gimmy.
You are right. This and every other OU board would be melting down if that happened here, given the level of complaining we are hearing about a game in which we beat an SEC team on the road.
If that was my team I’d wear a paper bag on my head. Yeesh. Rice?
What!? We didn’t have 2 100-yard rushers? Fire somebody!
Fire Kish! Fire Mike Stoops! Fire Heupel!
Bob, I like your matter-of-fact comments. Keeping it to a minimum.
Oh, by the way, you misspelled texsa.
Texsa is playing so poorly that it’s bleeding over into everyday life – When I had steak with rice this weekend, the rice smoothered that poor hunk of steer
Good one.
Hahaha. Thanks for that
Why? They beat Rice by two touchdowns
It was interesting glancing at the Tennessee board and seeing some familiar comments, like the complaints about “friendship” hires etc.
Yeah. Drives me nuts. “Yeah we won but…” Unless what you have to say after the but is gonna help the team get better just bite your tongue
Don’t think anything any of us have to say is ‘gonna help the team get better’, but I smell what you’re cooking. Filed under ‘wish list’.
Point being, none of these people have any clue as to what the future holds. “We won’t beat so an so if we avgs 3.3 ypc” “we won’t beat so and so if we start slowly” “we won’t stand a chance to beat a good team if this player or these players don’t get much much better”. You know what? We very well could. What did we avgs per carry this week? We won. Did we start out slowly? Yep still won. Did everybody play a perfect game? Nope still won. We very well could win every single game averaging 3 yds a carry. We could win every single game with Baker running for his life or feeling like he has to because we just did it. People who say we won’t do this or that have no proof and just point out negative crap. I have proof that we can play bad for a long period of time and still beat a pretty dang good football team in their house
Interesting, Baker didn’t complete 50% of his passes w/2 INTs. He won, period which is all I care about. However, there will be the one’s, if we don’t complete 63.2459% of our passes, we will get beat.
Winning happens all different ways and you have to realize this during a game. I’m not a Tiger fan but he did say something I will never forget. Tiger said, I won today with my C game. I knew I didn’t have it so I did what I knew I could do and got out with a W. Winners win.
Exactly. Winners will always find a way. If it can be done it will get done
right after interception…….
…….http://i.imgur.com/UTuT9YX.jpg
Love Trevor Knight in this picture! After losing his starting role and still being supportive and genuinely thrilled…..says a lot.
Yup! It’s clear to see why Trevor is still a Captain.
Anyone else watch first Baker then Knight seek out Tennessee QB Dobbs after the interception celebration? They both congratulated him.
No media commentary/coverage on that, was there?
How about schmitty though? I like seeing him on the sidelines all hawkeyed
Love seeing TK in there. Really great kid, I hope we find a spot somewhere for him to play.
94 has some ups for a big guy
OU proved they have grit, determination and toughness. Now we need to focus on getting more polished on offense. On TV you usually can’t tell if the receivers are getting separation, so I’m curious if anyone else got a read on that? Sterling Shepard continues to make receptions that are jaw dropping.
Shep is a superstar. Having said that, I read on another site (OUBreakdown.com) that our WR’s are having trouble on the crossing routes (rubs) and getting knocked off the route by the LB’s. The cross is supposed to be a staple of this offense and if we can’t run it correctly we are going to struggle. I would think that we need to coach ’em up more on the correct way to tangle up the LB’s instead of themselves. At least, that is what the review of the tape showed.
Thanks for that. I’ll check out that site. (Although this will always be my “go to” site!)
The sight is good for what it is. It’s one coaches opinion. But he has consistently had some good observation for the last couple of years. He is a reality voice, on another site, when people are saying irrational things from what they do’nt know
Thanks for the link. Between K breaking down defensive alignments, JY with his notes on the offense and OL and Jordan’s recruit info, tweets and commentary, not much left, but I always like more perspective.
Agreed. I like all the perspectives on OU football that I can get. But the guy above studies offense and most of the info here on TFB is centered on defense. Which is great stuff, but I’m also interested in what we are trying to do on O, and what successes and areas of improvement we need that the casual fan doesn’t know or understand. I had no idea that the Air Raid passes were supposed to be in open space where the defenders aren’t and our receivers are supposed to break to that space at the last minute while shielding the defender. Really interesting stuff IMHO.
Edit: TFB centers on defense & O line! JY’s stuff on O line is awesome.
I see that Hatari had no stats. Did we just play 4 DBs as our base defense? If so, then the Tulsa game will be a good opportunity to get practice with the Nickel as base. Hatari or one of the new guys has got to step up against spread teams.
Postgame stat: Byrd giving the bird.
I have a feeling Mr. Byrd will be sitting out for the Tulsa game or at least not start. Just a gut feeling and I’m sure Stoops will speak on this in the presser today. Striker may miss the start as well for the crowd interaction but I can’t see him missing a full game for that. Bob has to send that message to others that sportsmanship trumps all. IMO
Yeah, he might. But I bet he was chuckling to himself about Striker.
That I don’t doubt and Mike Stoops was probably ready to jump out of the box and join in the festivities with Hatari!
I agree with you on Byrd, not on Striker. Striker is passionate and it can’t be confirmed as to what he said. That has to be a common reaction in a hard fought battle.
I agree and I wouldn’t do a thing to Striker but I just wonder since it’s Tulsa and Bob doesn’t want be labeled that bad sport coach he may not start him. I hope I’m wrong.
To be continued, right? LOL!
Yeah I guess I’ll have to wait about 20 minutes to see how my prediction turns out. I wouldn’t mind being wrong in this case. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing one of these highly touted freshman getting their feet wet at safety before conference games start. We may need them.
No way Stoops says anything negative in the press conference. Maybe just something like “emotions were running high on both sides.” If he has concerns, they will be handled between him and the guys individually; that’s Stoops’ approach.
I posted something yesterday about how Striker gives this team an edge its been missing. Suspending striker might cause the rest of his team mates to not go there. This team desperately needs more players to go there. Striker is gone after this season. We will need replacements.
All this team needs is for someone to be the a willing villain, offensively and defensively. On offense, it might be our OL. Alvarez looks like one nasty dude.
Punishing passion doesn’t seem like the right approach to me. I’d be wanting to cultivate it. I was proud of Striker after the game; no backward steps.
I doubt Striker receives any punishment, Byrd probably. I think Mikes statement on the SEC’s #1 supporter and Strikers comments before the game, to me it’s very telling.
I agree. If the team takes on the personality of its coach, then Mike Stoops needs to be the advocate for the defense. We know Mike has the attitude; he just needs to make sure his players know he has their back. If that happens, we’ll see nasty.
BS will catch the guys after practice, put his arm on their shoulders, and say “hey, let’s tone down the postgame comments to fans.” Very low-key and end-of-story.
Why? We don’t know the context there. People assume that stuff was done for no reason, but I have a feeling there’s a reason.
Context or no he flipped someone in the crowd the bird (no pun intended) on camera. So in Bob’s words ‘they’ll deal with it internally’ and “they know better than that” I’m guessing he will try remedy that by giving him some type of punishment. Trust me I would have a hard time containing myself if a bunch of fans are ragging on me the whole game and saying things that I’m sure aren’t pleasant, so I get that. He just has to use his head and walk on by and celebrate with his team.
Other than the DL, there was very little subbing on Sat night based on what I observed.
esco…….just posted a quote from a poster on LT and it was not allowed……have done this many times before with no problem………what’s the deal?…….thxs
Not sure
FWIW, seemed RT subbed back and forth between St John and Samia couple times.
I’m hoping there will be more subbing of the OL as the season progresses, so we won’t be back in the same position, replacing three starting OL, with players with severely limited experience next year.
Samia didn’t play at all. He may play more this week.
Yes, mostly played 3-4-4, and he is on the bench in that alignment. When they go to the nickel, Parker moves from SS to NB, Amad Thomas moves from FS to SS, and Byrd goes to FS.
In our system, the FS is sometimes a weak side safety, depending upon the number of WRs the other team has.
Watching some highlights of the game, AGAIN, can’t get enough of it.
J Alvarez is a nasty blocker. The finish in the run blocking is just dirty. Also, he never quits blocking, keeps trying to find a person to put a hat on, and when done, keeps moving downfield trying to find some more. He is going to be a GREAT one.
tfb……posted a quote from LT poster and it was deleted……….what’s the problem…….thxs
Id post it again…might just be one of those random deletes
Not condoning the post game actions of our players. But I spoke to someone who was on the sideline and was told that those fans were REALLY bad. After 4 quarters of hearing that I’d be temped to give them the salute too.
I agree with flipping the Byrd (see what I did there?) but Jones had no place calling for Striker to be classy. The whole week, all he heard crap from them and was bold enough to back his talk…we needed that in this game. Offense and defense.
BTW: I thought the disdain for Finnebaum was unwarranted. Oh man, I have never heard a more retarded presenter. Even other commenters on the SEC network called him out on his comments of “Bob Stops being irrelevant”
Hey Super K can you check with Mecole Hardman & Nigel Warrior to see how they liked the game & what they thought of Striker talking to the recruits since they were unofficial visitors.
Wasn’t Tyree Horton, the FSU LB commit that visited OU last weekend, there as well? Seems I read where he planned to drive up for the game.
Regarding the defense, I can’t help but feel that Mike being up in the booth is really helping. Him being able to see the entire field has to be beneficial to our defense regardless of how people thought he ran our defense from the sideline last year.
Hope for a speedy recovery to Rodney Anderson. His has had surgery on his ankle and is expected to red shirt this season.
Yes. Hope all goes well for Rodney.
Can he use his regular redshirt or will this be a medical redshirt?
I’m not an expert but I assume they will apply for medical and he shouldn’t have any trouble getting it. I don’t think he could use the regular redshirt this year since he’s already played.
I would think it would be a medical since he has already participated in games but obviously well under the 30% for the season.
Can anyone tell me what time Stoops is on with Jack Arute on siriusxm? Also, is it today or Tuesday?
Thank you
I’m dressing as Charles Walker for Halloween. Kids will ring my doorbell, and I’ll scare them out of their candy. They’ll drop their bags of goodies right there at my feet and run. It’s a foolproof plan.
To Marcel: Have you seen Mr. Walker? That’s what Coach Schmidt does. #BecomeTheBeast #JekyllToHyde
so you must live in a sec neighborhood ?
update added
Between Elliot, Southall and Chris Daniels, OU looks to have some top talent looking. Gotta help when they watch the way OUr defensive front is playing right now. Bring ’em home, Coach Reynolds!
How about this tweet from a former Sooner coach?!?!?!
Pretty cool.
That is cool, but I have to say, If roles were reversed in last years bowl game, and we had beat the hell out of Clemson, I’m gonna say this tweet never makes it out. LOL.
I tend to agree with you!
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Can someone please tell me why Mark Andrews hasn’t been used much
missing his blocking assignments
Finebaum eating crow a bit:
Ha what a douche. I hope ESPN made him do it.
I wonder what kind of reception he gets with those ears?
I don’t know, but I hear he doesn’t need cable…
LOL!
I quit watching E$PN when they started their non-stop promotion of the way overrated $EC conference. I only watch if the Sooners are on or the Royals… Beyond that they can go take a flying leap!
Need Sammy B to come through BIG TONIGHT!
I’m not even worried about him. He’ll do great.
I know he’ll be good, but I’m down 50 points though π Need a monster performance!
Haha, with Sam, I like your chances.
Definitely pumped to watch Sam & DeMarco!
And Lane
That’s right. Big Lane Johnson. Converted from a TE to DE to OL in only 2 yrs to a first Rd pick. Very impressive! We have also have AD in game 2.
This night can only help recruiting.
Can you imagine the athletic ability of Lane’s kid? His wife’s dad is the former Sooner, John Goodman!!!!
Wow! I remember him from the late 70s. D lineman. We need to start recruiting the kid now. Lol.
The only thing that needs pumping after that first half is my stomach. That was sickening to watch. Bradford and the Birds laid a giant egg in front of the whole nation. I sure hope they regroup in the second half.
There you go! That didn’t take long. 20-10. Right back in it.
Im down 11 points, and i only have ryan left. My opponent only has demarco left.
I want murray to do well, but 12 points less than ryan. Such a conundrum lol.
That’s gonna be tough, maybe it will be a shootout…..Im playing against Atlanta’s RB so Im hoping they throw alot.
I nabbed bradford in like the 15th round as my backup QB, seriously considering starting him over ryan tonight.
I already made one boneheaded move this weekend(steve smith over sankey in the flex), so im wary of changing a player lol.
Oh yeah I got Bradford real late, but my starter is R.Wilson and I benched him.
Thought Smith was going to save his day late but he couldn’t bring in that catch for a TD. I know how you feel, I had Harvin on my bench and he went off haha.
You think start bradford or ryan? looks like the eagles secondary was much worse last season.
I dont know 10% as much about the NFL as i do college lol.
The first week is always tough. I would be more concerned with Atl’s OL. But Sam went like 10 for 10 or something like that in his last preseason game so it looks like hes pretty dialed in.
So man freaking variables, gah!
I need an algorithm lol.
Finebaum just took another shot at Stoops. Said he finally won a big game again….with a quite the sarcastic tone.
Penis Head wishes he was Coach Stoops.
Of course he did. Stoops called him out today when he said he gets paid to promote the SEC.
Need 2 tickets to the Tech game.
Go to vividseats.com
So I watched the Jordan Elliott video but I’m an idiot when it comes to breaking down linemen. Anyone with some experience have an opinion?
He’s good.
I meant someone beyond x-box experience. π But thanks.
Playstation, buddy.
Me too.
LOL! You guys are making me spit my morning tea out!
Finebaum needs to check his records on Bama vs Stoops’ Sooners!!
No, he just needs to stfu. I love how stoops put him in his place at the presser.
fwiw, deano says darlington is hurt but don’t know the extent
No percentage?? π
50% chance it’s his left knee.
That’s a relief, I was worried about the right.
49% chance it’s his right knee.
So 1% chance it’s the wee-nee?
lol something like that
Gimme 2%. C’mon, bruh!
Fiddy? Is that all?
That’s probably the one area least able to absorb injuries. Quality depth not there, especially in the interior, and trying to get a young line playing together. Hopefully not true and if true, not serious.
Nila can play center too
Knee injury.. Dean said he’d miss a couple weeks.. Dalton & Alvarez took turns at center today..
Dalton has been listed as the bu with Wren listed on the depth chart recently. At least we have Tulsa and a couple of weeks.
Chris Chester starting at RG for Atlanta. Sooners everywhere.
Wow, Paul Finebaum has given this team bulletin board material. A lot of people have thought it but no one has come out and said that Bob Stoops and OU is irrelevant.
If that doesn’t piss these boys off, nothing will.
In a way, that explains Striker’s behavior: he’s standing up for his team and his coach.
Who woulda thunk a falcon could whup an eagles arz.?
Its all about tactics and flying ability
Haha alright. Who can get me a job down near Norman or in Oklahoma, so I can be closer to Sooners fans to celebrate wins like this. Lol all the suckeye fans weren’t amused with my enthusiasm on OUr team making that great comeback. And me telling them how I’ve never seen them win like that.
Getting your digs in, I see.
Any and every chance I get.
Exiled and I are going to meet up when OU comes to Columbus. You in?
I’m absolutely in. I’m sure my dad will be too. I don’t watch a Sooner game without him.
You bet. I will be with my wife and her Uncle. Big tOSU fans. So, play nice.
I’ll try my best. Can’t make any promises though ;). No that’s fine. As long as he’s not like my uncle and dogs Oklahoma when the yuckeyes do bad. Man is it frustrating.
Nope. He’s cool. When OU lost to K-State in the Big XII title game. One of my wife’s cousin, who never calls me, called that night to yuck it up. I just mentioned it in passing to her Uncle. He cornered him and told him to never do that s**t again. He roots for OU as much as I do.
Sounds like my kind of guy. Seems like we’ll get along just fine.
However, on that day, he will be all in for tOSU. Which is fine by me because there will be no holds barred when it comes to OU.
Oh I understand, and don’t blame him. He’d probably be happy to know my cousin is marrying their starting center this year.
Really? That’s cool.
Yeah. He’s a good guy. He even let me wear the gold pants they get for beating Michigan. But yeah him and his 2 brothers all played for the bucks. Now I do tell him the Sooners would beat them though and he laughs.
That’s cool.
I meant to ask. Which part of Ohio are you in? I’m in Pickerington which is about 30 minutes southeast of Columbus.
Akron.
I have a barn that needs to be cleaned out……doesn’t pay much but you can celebrate with me when you’re done. π
Haha that’ll work. Can the wife and 3 kids come too?
If they know how to handle a shovel….bring it!
Man, no one stands a chance with you. First, Dustin. Now, OhioSoonerDevilDog. You must be violating some serious labor laws, dude.
Hey now, Dustin has a green card. π
LMAO
Anyone watching the disastrous first half by the Eagles? Absolutely putrid. Maybe the worst performance by an NFL team I have seen in ages.
It’s a Sooner weekend…Bradford and Murray will pull it out in the fourth. π
Within 3 now
I’m close to giving it up to myself. π
Three 2nd half possessions, 3 touchdowns. Not sure if Bradford has thrown an incomplete pass in the half. Impressive!
He’s deadly when he’s protected and not hurt.
22-24 in the 2nd half.
Coach screwed up by running twice there. Should have put it in Bradford’s hands.
He’s got a chance at a 4th qtr comeback
That’s what Sooners do now I hear.
I also heard something to that effect.
Oh well, I like Bradford on this team much more than the Rams. He’s got a chance there anyway.
I’m just glad he has an All-Pro LT to protect his backside.
Exactly.
Well, they damn near did. Wish that kicker had come through.
EasTex, if you’re out there, I thought you might enjoy this. My daughter shared this with me today. Really impressive. Linsey Pollak makes a clarinet out of a carrot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BISrGwN-yH4
I once made a beer drinking device out of an ordinary funnel and a hose…..should have made a video. π
You’re on a roll, my man.
Did you play the video. That things sounds great.
Just did, sounds great. I better stick with my guitar because I would likely eat the carrot.
Yeah. Would it kill you to give the carrot to Dustin? He’s in that tent, you know.
I give him the pickles I remove from my hamburgers….don’t want to spoil him with a carrot.
LMAO. You crack me up.
Interesting.
Saw these two in concert back in the mid 80’s, it was the first world tour by Milton in quite a while. He could use his voice as an instrument and would match Metheny’s synthesized guitar tone for tone.
https://youtu.be/GA4JhCz18HY
Pat Metheny is one of my favorite jazz guitarists. And you’re right: Milton’s voice/sound was as key to the identity of Metheny’s music as was Metheny’s guitar. I have all of his albums. I absolutely love Pat Metheny.
I saw him play in Jacksonville and Atlanta.
I became a fan of Metheny’s about an hour after I bought his first album. Have seen him many times.
It took a 15 years-old girl to teach me about Metheny. I had a hard time getting him. I used to do a jazz show in my home town, in South Georgia. I never played Pat’s music. She suggested that I should. Upon sampling it, I didn’t like. I seriously tried to like but I didn’t. She said, “You’re trying to understand his music, just enjoy it.” When I started to just listen, as she suggested, I was able to enjoy what I was hearing. My youngest daughter, is now a fan of Metheny.
That is the thing about Metheny’s music, it doesn’t talk to you it lifts you up and carries you with it.
San Lorenzo is still one of the finest songs ever EVAH.
https://youtu.be/6-j4wE7dOes
After Milton left the band, I think Mark Ledford filled in using the same style or harmonizing with Pat.
Milton Nascimento was never in Pat’s band, though they did some collaberations. Milton is as legendary in South American music as Elvis was here. Milton also did some collabs with members of Miles Davis’ old band along with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, etc.
O/U on number of times Dilfer says “AP” instead of “AD”?
10, and that may be low.
Ooooohhh, I’m taking the over on that one.
I meant 10 before I fall asleep. π
Old man
Snot nose.
Well I’m heading to bed soon, too. Tons of crap to do tomorrow.
Storms woke me at 4am…I’m tired.
Go get some rest, man. I have the weirdest feeling that tomorrow’s OP is gonna be a good one.
A lot of people with the Football IQ of a potato blaming Sam Bradford for that last INT. He’ll prove them wrong, though. A lot of season left to play.
The ball hit the receiver in the face mask, how can they say it was Bradford’s fault?
Curly or straight cut?
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Get off me bitch!
You shall not pass!!!
Good for you for owning up, Hatari.
https://twitter.com/HBizzy559/status/643595915677204480
Sweet. Simple. Sincere.
Dear Eric and Hatari: As a mom of sons and as a Sooner fan, I expect all the boys I care about to be the best they can be. It’s what you are capable of and what your sweet souls deserve to show unto others and yourselves. It’s done, thank you for the apologies. Hugs and blessings to you both. Your brightness is not diminished, just momentarily hidden.
Thanks for sharing that OoRah Mama. Very up-lifting.
………http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13660045/eric-striker-hatari-byrd-oklahoma-sooners-apologize-obscenities-middle-finger
How about a hoops BOOM.
http://www.scout.com/college/oklahoma/story/1587052-juco-pg-darrion-strong-commits-to-ou
whoa, a top ten class, eh?