I was watching Coach Stoops presser earlier today and one of the writers asked Stoops whether the Belldozer was still in play and Stoops said yes. That wasn’t a surprise for me. I’d heard that they were working on special packages.
But the writer actually asked about something specifically that made me perk up. I was sure, when I heard the question that Stoops was going to go off. To his credit he didn’t. The writer didn’t just ask if the Belldozer was in play…he lingered on the question and said something like, and maybe you’d have Trevor Knight split out wide?
It seems to me the writer has heard something because that’s a package I’d heard about from a friend earlier this summer. Maybe it’s intuitive to assume that they’d leave both players on the field at the time…it wasn’t to me. The Belldozer, as far as I can remember, included one QB so I have a hard time believing that the question wasn’t prompted by something the writer had heard.
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Rumors were rampant all summer. Glad to hear Coach Stoops confirm the rumor. He has been much more open this season, compared to years past. Shows just how confident he is in his team. Should be a fun year. Nice update, K.
He has been indeed. The question came from Hoover so I perked up when I heard it. They’ve had some “interesting” exchanges in the past and I thought that question…or the way he framed it…would prompt another one of those exchanges.
Hadn’t thought about it that way either, but as soon as he said it, it made perfect sense. To be able to spring the Belldozer w/o any warning via substitution that it was coming; to have the fan’s dream option of a lateral or pitch to Knight who could then throw down field, or run, if the D-crowds in too much; to have Bell with the option to pass; and still have the heavy package in the backfield threatening a crushing short yardage run- all without allowing the defense to substitute or be ready. What could be more fun.
But the main takeaway I got from Stoops’ answer was that we probably won’t see it unless they’re having trouble with their regular short yardage offense. And I don’t think that’s gonna happen.
Agree. I got that sense when it came to the Belldozer package as well. I think they know they can run down hill now and get the yards they need so why bring in a substitute package every time?
A play like that definitely fits Stoop M.O. Leave the same guys in but shift them around and use their versatility to create mismatch. You have a normal I set with TK, FB, and a good handed RB. Suddenly you shift the running back into the slot move TK to wide and the FB into the TE position and you Bell to QB. All sorts of weird match ups. Most likely result is a timeout by the other team.
Imagine that scenario with Rip, Flowers and Shep on the field. They could do a lot out of that package. If the defense is in nickel you can kill them with the run. If they’re in base defense you can run or let Shep work deep or underneath. And you get Flowers on an LB and I think he wins that battle.
And that is why Bob seems to love the multifaceted players like Millard was and Flowers seems to be set to become. They might not be the best pure player at any one position, but you can create mismatches by moving them around. Since they don’t have to switch out players, if they match up a LB you split them out if you put a CB or safety on them then you move them to TE and run right at them.
Exactly! And the cool thing about Flowers is that while he may not be the same in-space blocker that Millard was (though he’s got plenty of time to develop), he’s appears more fluid through his lower body and can hopefully be an even more explosive offensive weapon down the road.
I think Bob welcomes questions like that right now because he can just say “sure” and every D coordinator in the country has to mix a strong drink.
Awesome. I just laughed out loud at work and people are giving me funny looks. Worth it though.
I’ve been coming to this site every day since finding it about a month ago (love everything about it!) but have not commented. I had to comment on this though – laughed out loud!
Now that you broke the ice, we will expect you to start commenting. Welcome.
Welcome! I’m in Denver!
Thanks. Headed to Stoney’s on Saturday!
Great Place! I’ve been here for a year and a half, and only gotten to go there once so far, for a Thunder Game. I’ve heard the OU telecasts have a fantastic atmosphere!
Yes, they do a great job on OU game days. It will be packed tomorrow since it’s pay per view only.
I would love to see Rip, Flowers, and Perine in the diamond formation with Bell at QB for a true goal line power formation.
The versatility that we have on offense (and defense for that matter) is pretty incredible at this point. I don’t know if we do, but imagine if we also have a WR who can throw the ball the way Bester did a few times last year. You’d see some D-coordinators racing to the restroom with a serious case of the trots from worrying about how to defense those kind of options.
Lol agree. OU has tremendous potential to be diverse and multiple. A lot can be done without having to substitute.
If at sometime this year Bell throws a pass from technically the TE position to Trevor Knight the current QB he will further the Strong Legacy he is building at OU. The dude probably never has to buy drinks in Norman again as it is know.
I think he’s already furthered his legacy in a remarkable fashion by beating out a talented upperclassman to start at TE. How the heck did that happen?
Makes perfect sense to me to leave TK on the field. That way we catch the D by surpirse, and WE can dictate their D package.
After 2 games, it appears we have all the dozers we need.