WE WANT…Bama?
Posted on: December 8, 2013
Image from Allstate Sugar bowl
Want em or not Bama may be exactly who we get. It hasn’t been officially announced but a number of national reporters are predicting Oklahoma vs. Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Might be a rematch of Bob Stoops vs. Nick Saban in the same venue they met last time Oklahoma was in the Sugar Bowl (emphasis on “might”).
So I’m sure we’ll have plenty of breakdowns for y’all but here are some quick initial thoughts:
– Alabama’s lone loss came on a last second play at Auburn. Does anyone believe that if Bama played Auburn again Auburn wins? I’m not sure I’m convinced. Alabama is as good as any team in the country and still may be the best. Oklahoma isn’t playing in the national championship but Oklahoma is playing a national championship caliber team.
– Any extra practice that the players can get – especially young players which we have loads of – is huge for development and preparation for next season. This is one of the reasons bowl practice is important. But the players aren’t always motivated to work hard in bowl practice. It’s tough to get pumped for certain teams. But this matchup will certainly capture the attention of our players and these won’t just be good bowl practices, they’ll be some of the most intense practices Oklahoma has had all year.
– We are a team that should compete for a spot in the playoffs next year. This game is exactly what these young players need to understand what they have to do in the offseason to be the best. They’re going to see the best. They’re going to see it on tape and then they’re going to see it on the field. They’ll grow up even faster than they already have.
– The buildup to this game should be huge and may really help Oklahoma close on some recruits.
– As daunting as this game may be it really is a great thing for Oklahoma. OU doesn’t really have anything to lose here. Alabama will certainly be favored and a good showing at the bowl game would do wonders for our momentum on a national level. If by chance we could win it would tremendous. All the pressure is on Alabama here.
– Not going to sugar coat this; this is a tough matchup. Bama has size, they have depth and they are disciplined.
– For some reason Smart and Saban like to stay with their big 40 front against spread formations and running QBs. It doesn’t work. I knew it wouldn’t work going into the TAMU game. Bama’s 40 front is just huge and relatively athletic but there are chinks in that armor. And they don’t have a great pass rush. And on the flip side they seem susceptible to a good pass rush. #Eric Striker. This could be a coming out party for Tapper who had a great game against OSU and seems to have taken another step forward.
– Here’s something that may surprise you Oklahoma is ranked 18th in rushing offense with 236.5 ypg. Bama is ranked 21st with 212 ypg. But Bama does average 5.97 ypc while we average 5.35. Some would argue that Bama faces more stout defensive fronts. And they’ve got one themselves – ranked 11th in rush defense. You may be surprised to know that Oklahoma is 27th in rush defense and we appear to be more physical up front than we we’re earlier in the season. LSU held up pretty well against Bama’s run in the 1st half but just couldn’t hold on in the 2nd. But LSU’s rush defense hasn’t been great this year (ranked 43rd)
– Having Trevor back will be huge but you still gotta wonder how much they’ll be willing to run him.
Again, we’ll get into some of the tape on Bama but regardless it’s hard not be excited by the prospect of playing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. If it happens we will definately be excited! What do y’all think?
56 Comments
This is exactly what OU needs. In order to take the next step with all the youth in the program let’s run with the Big Dog and see what we can do.
Heck yeah, I doubt any of our guys are gonna stay on the porch for this one. Let’s line it up and see what happens!
To be the best you got to beat the best…… If we have to lose, be competitive for 4 quarters. , not 2, not 3, 4 quarters …. We don’t need another beating like the one we suffered from ta&m…. With that said i don’t think we will …… Couldn’t agree with you more !!!!
To be the man, you gotta beat the man. Heck I’m ready to play. Our guys are gonna want to prove themselves, and do you think Bama will be even interested in this matchup?
I think this is going to be the best time to play them…. Coming off 2 natty titles, a near 3rd appearance … And the rumors of the head man leaving…..
So many things could happen between now and Jan 2nd. This really seems like a lamb to the slaughter scenario. We have seen power run teams gash us all season. I have no clue how we rank that high in rush defense, other than we are good against spread running attacks(when they don’t run the QB draws). Between the injuries and the mismatch athletes in the first year of a new scheme, I applaud Mike and Co. and the effort of the guys on the field for sticking in there all year long. With the amount of playing time the youngsters have gained I can foresee a bright future. Maybe playing Bama will be just the type of yardstick that these guys need to see how close they are too championship level.
Who knows what we will have on offense? We are 3-0 when our QB goes down with injury this year. Maybe we should work that into our gameplan.
I say bring it. I would rather put toe to line and have my clock cleaned, than cower in fear standing behind someone else.
Love those last 2 lines Gregor! Nice!
Amen!!! Bring on the tide!!!!!
Abso-frickin-lutely!!!
Live on your feet or die on your knees, bring on the Tide, this is OklaFREAKINhoma. Never back down…
Very high risk and high reward. All of the pressure is on Bama. However, if OU were to be beaten 45-7 and a story were to be knitted that OU is still not ready for the top teams, then I see that as a big negative. I don’t think that OU needs another stitch in a narrative about being embarrassed on national TV against the top teams. We just be ZeroState, but there’s a difference in beating them and beating the “mighty SEC.”
I think OU can hang with Bama, due to the fact that Bama is set to lose yet another crop of players to the NFL. Players like McCarron, Mosley, Clinton-Dix, Beleu, Norwood, Kouandjio, DePriest, and Hubbard will or may likely be playing their last game at Bama. As noted, this works to OU’s advantage (assuming we play them). Perhaps this could be a repeat of Utah’s win over Bama in the 2008/2009 Sugar Bowl.
Given what appears to be a burgeoning ability to make plays and win games when they need to, a game against Bama is good internally for the team and the coaches. However, externally, I’m not sure fans and the media need to see OU play another top team on national TV and lose (if that were to happen).
The only way I see that this works externally is if OU goes toe-to-toe with them or they beat them. OU would need to play like Missouri does or Utah did. They need to be fast, ferocious, relentless, and opportunistic. They need to feel disrespected. Bama has thrived on creating a story for them to rally around. I don’t see them having a story to tell themselves. OU does.
I agree. A blow out would not look good. ND had a great year last year but that embarrassment in the NC really hurt their brand. I think we can play man on the outside and prevent the quick strikes so that at the very least the game slows down and the score stays within reason.
Sorry man, but they run all over us. We can’t stop the run, all they do is run. We have no QB and they won’t allow our backs to get going. This is not a good matchup for us at all. This could sour our recruiting coups.
It’s hard not to be a “Boomer Gloomer” about this matchup. We’ve had a great year and yesterday’s win was amazing, but this might hurt our brand nationally if we get dominated. If we can hang with them through the first half at least, that will say a lot.
Now if Saban goes to UT before the game….. That makes it more interesting.
I agree. Mike and Bob have done a great job in shortening the game this season.
Love the matchup. Hate that one team is basically full strength and the other isn’t. Just like Bedlam. The difference is that Bama will abuse OU up front because it appears Thompson and Shead are still going to be out for the bowl game.
Also hate that we are missing Nelson and Phillips. So frustrating.
I just don’t think we have the depth or physicality to matchup with Bama, but hopefully I’m wrong.
I think OU has got to develop more options off of the zone read and get very creative with the different looks. Take some pages out of Auburn’s playbook and really analyze aTm’s game plan against Bama as well. I hope we run VERY high tempo offense as we need to put pressure on them and wear them down.
Should be a big challenge and it will be good for our program regardless of outcome. If we win, though, it will be huge…
Bring it! We’ve got nothing to lose, they’ve got nothing to gain! It’s the perfect storm!!
This is going to be like Permian vs. Dallas Carter High School in Friday Night Lights…Alabama is a great program but you know what? We are too. We are on an uphill climb and we don’t need to let a team who we have historically dominated get in the way, even if it is the King. We need to surprise them and come out swinging like aTm did last year when no one was paying attention. Last year, aTm was the new kid on the block from the Big XII with an undersized running quarterback. OU is the under “appreciated” school with the little running quarterback that (quote from the players) “wants to shock the world.” Let’s get it!
Amen brother! I thought about the Permian guys as well. It’s not insurmountable
JY literally said the same thing yesterday Adrian lol!
I agree on a lot of fronts- although we may well be outmatched on the field, we’re young and this goes a long way towards giving these young guys the experience they need, the knowledge of what each of them must accomplish to compete against the best. Great opportunity for us in closing out the recruiting season as well.
Also have to wonder if the Saban to Texas rumors might be a huge distraction here…
I’m reminded of the Bama-Utah Sugar Bowl a few years back. The Saban-lead Tide appeared to want to be anywhere but there and we all know the result. Who knows if Saban will even be the coach?
At least the Sooners will be excited. Not like WV, UConn, Boise, etc…
If they study their history they’re going to want this one 😉
Oh yeah.
Man, just imagine the matchup between Haha-Dix vs Shepard/ Saunders….. or Colvin/ Sanchez vs. Amari Couper? Cannot wait
This is the best matchup OU could have got, in my opinion. Playing tOSU or Clemson does not give you as much insight on our retooled team, going into the 14′ as playing Bama does.
I especially like your commentary on practice. To be the best, you’ve got to hone against the best. Without question, IMHO, Bama is the probably the best team in the nation and I consider us to be playing an MNC contender, nothing less. Honestly, I am not expecting us to win, but a decent showing and solid execution by our young guns even like we did with Florida means we get national recognition and close out what has been a great recruiting year and get us back on track on a solid path
I’ll wait to make more commentary on keys to the game till y’all come out with the break-down, but you are spot on, so far. We need to operate on another level in practice, something we have shown with the OSU win. Hopefully we get our line men and Knight back.
Colvin is going to get a chance to shine once more on a national stage against a big time receiver. I agree Bama is the best team in nation IMO.
Don’t think for a minute that Ikard is not going to embrace this opportunity to show he can hold up against those big skilled guys in the middle.
He wasn’t supposed to show up against Nix.. but he did. If anything, I like this matchup mostly because of what it does to our players. Yes we could get whomped, but you are never going to get a more meaningful set of snaps than playing these guys. I believe that we have some of the best guys available in Ikard and Colvin and it’ll be interesting to see how Bama adapts to our read option and the manziel attributes in knight… which Bama has not done well on
I’m excited for this match-up if it does truly happen. OU vs. Alabama, two of the most storied programs in College Football history. Alabama lost out on another NC opportunity by losing to their in-state rival on a last second play and OU beat their in-state rival in the last seconds to deny them a shot at a BCS Bowl Berth, setting up this match-up. Stoops is 2-0 vs. Alabama, but hasn’t played the Crimson Tide on this big of a stage. OU also gets a chance to erase some bad memories vs. the SEC. What’s not to love.
This is why players come to Oklahoma, to play in big time bowl games against excellent teams. Considering that this was supposed to be a rebuilding year with a new QB and an unproven, young defense, a Sugar Bowl berth is fantastic. BOOMER!
Exactly. Heck even when Baylor had their best season they’re playing UCF.
My first thought is this movie scene:
“He’s cut! The Russian is cut!..”
http://youtu.be/wFYjOZu3nG8
SO GOLD DUDE!! LOL
We’ve gotta figure out a way to make them a “man” and not a “machine.”
“You see?!!! He’s not a machine….he’s a man!!!”
(maybe our guys should be heading to the Siberian Mountains for training.)
Seriously, I have a good feeling about our team’s attitude going into this game. It may be crimson-colored glasses, but I feel like the Sooners have a better vibe about them than the last few years. That said, Alabama is loaded and they’ll be focused. To avoid just getting worn down late, we’ll need some breaks and we will need to run the ball somehow. If you look at games where we lost, it was because our offense couldn’t sustain the running game. Yes, the defense was gashed against Texas on the run. But the defense – even when it struggles – seems to always adjust and improve. We’ll have a terrible quarter but then come back with a solid quarter. The offense needs to be able to answer along with them.
I think that means we need a healthy Knight and a healthy zone-read attack. Just look at last year’s Cotton Bowl: a close game against a team with superior talent (at qb at least) until the offense couldn’t sustain a drive. We have three 3 and outs to start the 2nd half, game over. We can’t put that kind of pressure on our defense. And unlike last year’s team, I’d actually be excited to see our defense on the field late, needing a stop.
I posed a negative comment earlier, but I’ve thought about it some more:
Oklahoma isn’t some weak team. OU is one of the all time great college football programs and has earned their respect in the college football world. There are tremendous athletes on the team, with the size, strength and athleticism to rival anyone else out there (Saunders, Colvin, Clay, Trevor, etc.)
That said, we were supposed to have a “rebuilding year” and not contend for much, and yet despite all the major injuries throughout the year we’ve overcome all the “experts” to make it to a BCS bowl. We’ve got tons of young talent, it just doesn’t always come together (i.e., against Baylor & UT). We’ve seen Bell look great in relief and look awful at times. Trevor has tons of promise and continues to improve.
Our defense is no joke, and if we can figure out how to fill the A and B gaps against Bama’s running game, we can compete against Alabama’s offense. They have the size to go toe to toe with them in the trenches, and I think Striker could be huge in this game. Getting pressure on McCarron with Tapper and Ndoule is key, as well as tackling well in open space.
The biggest challenge will be OU’s offense against Bama. Bell won’t be able to just go out there and truffle shuffle on every single down, and Trevor Knight will not be able to get away with throwing inaccurate passes. If Trevor plays like he did yesterday, and if Bell can come on in relief to throw the ball down field, that gives us the best chance along with Clay on the zone-read. Also utlilizing Shepherd and Saunders in the passing game on the short slants. If we can’t sustain a few drives and keep our D off the field, we’re toast.
The likely scenario is that OU’s defense will spend most of the game on the field while the offense struggles to make anything happen. If it comes down to a special teams battle, then we’ve got a shot our special teams play is absolutely legit. Hopefully they try some of those beautiful trick plays again from the OK State game.
I pick Alabama to win this one, but I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout.
“truffle shuffle” LOLLLLL
Hahaha during the UT game Bell was a mix of the truffle shuffle and a tap dancer, when he was flushed from the pocket. My buddy said that and it stuck with me.
Even a close loss in a tight game should get us some national respect back..another blowout would not be good….big question is will Saban be coaching??
can’t play scared…heck with that. Let’s line it up and go like heck!
Oh no doubt!! I expect to have some intense practices leading up and winning..just saying how much the cotton hurt our image last year.. We can’t have another blowout on the big stage..It’s time to put the SEC in place
You can’t make guys WANT to do something. Our guys are going to bristling at this opportunity.
IT’S OFFICIAL: OU vs. BAMA!
sweeet
Bring it on! I’ve been wanting Bama for years. I will always believe my Sooners can beat anyone. Boomer!
http://youtu.be/jkm1i2o6Ri8
Does anyone know who of the walking wounded will be back for the game?
hopefully Colvin will be 100%. Not sure about Trevor or the OL that are out. Maybe find out tomorrow.
Hope you can find out. Of course, Stoops (not that I blame him) will say, “it does us no good to talk about that…” re: who’s injured…
I love it! I’m with many of you in thinking this will be a great game. I will have to do some research, but you guys may already know – but it doesn’t seem to me that McCarron is known as a mobile guy, but very accurate and extremely savvy. Meaning, he’s not the kind of guy that will give us fits on his own but allow for mano-a-mano execution across the board. Is that accurate? Given, Bama is obviously talented, deep, disciplined, excellent – but may not have the JFF / Braxton Miller X-factor that you can’t game plan for.
He’s a heck of a player for sure. I don’t think he’s invincible, but he’s a really good qb. He doesn’t make mistakes often, and he’s really good at protecting the ball.
And with their OLine, he’s hard to get to. But I’ll bet Mike has some fun pressures dialed up! Man, this is gonna be a fun game!
At first I thought…Oh god, Bama?! I was certain we would get creamed and then I thought….everyone seemed so certain we would get not only beat but destroyed by OSU. Well look how that turned out. I mean we had a few things go our way but this team seems to have a lot more mental strength. Even against UT and BU in big losses it seems like our players stayed pretty focused. I think they are mentally tougher than people give them credit for. And I swear Tapper and Striker seem to get better by the day. So now i think. We gotta a shot. Still a long shot but I don’t think we will lay down. And as you guys said…They have everything to lose. Great stuff guys. BOOMSOON
I am grateful that we get the opportunity to play Alabama. After USC, Boise, A&M this is the only matchup this year that can validate us as being elite again. We will be playing what I think is the best team in the country. Our players/coaches are going to be laser focus’ed on preparation and the practices will be intense (this will mean so much for our young players not only for this game but also for next year). This matchup is a gift that we should wholeheartedly embrace and could be the stepping stone to a huge leap for next year. THIS is the game that could change the perception of recruits and the national media and bring some much needed validation for the Big 12. To be the best, you have to beat the best and Bama certainly qualifies. Put me in coach, I’m ready to play.
Seems to me we’ll have to change our base defense for this game. I can’t see Mike’s three man front holding up against Bama’s front at all.