Open Post | Weekend, September 2nd – 4th
Posted on: September 2, 2022
One on One’s | OU vs UTEP 2022
– Charlie S – Posted on: September 1, 2022
It’s almost football time in Oklahoma!
For those of you who are joining us for the first time, this weekly piece will highlight two matchups in the upcoming game that are imperative for Oklahoma to win for them to be successful on the scoreboard when the clock hits 0:00.
Lot’s of excitement in Norman with the new staff and new schemes on both sides of the ball and it will be interesting to see how things progress as the weeks pass!
One on One Number One:
OU Cornerback Jaden Davis (#4) vs UTEP Wide Receiver Tyrin Smith (#1)
The Miners opened their season last week with a 31-13 loss to North Texas but Smith was a bright spot for them as he hauled in 7 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. The score of their opener is a bit deceiving as the Miners only trailed 14-13 at the half.
Smith is a JUCO transfer to UTEP and he had a big day in his debut. At 5’11 180, he is not a guy who will hold a massive size advantage over Davis, but he has decent speed and showed the ability to run solid routes and create separation.
Davis has worked his tail off to earn the starting corner job opposite of Woodi Washington and it has been his consistency throughout the spring, summer, and fall camps that has stood out to the new Sooners staff. He has drawn high reviews for his tackling ability and it will be imperative for him to get his season off to a good start and Smith will give him a good test when they matchup. I will be looking to see how Davis has developed under corners coach Jay Valai and in particular I will be looking to see multiple techniques being employed. I expect Smith to be heavily targeted (along with Slot Receiver Reynaldo Flores) so this is gonna be a matchup we get a good look at.
In the new defensive scheme, OU will be playing less man to man as they did in the previous years so there will be a chance for some busts. Show me very few busts, get a pass breakup or two, and show me solid tackling and I will consider that a good showing.
One on One Number Two:
OU Running Back Eric Gray (#0) vs UTEP LB Tyrice Knight (#10)
Knight (6’1 235) was a tackling machine for the Miners last season as he recorded 101 stops. Against North Texas, the Miners defense gave up around four yards per carry.
I expect the OU offensive line to be able to open some lanes and that could lead to multiple instances where Gray is facing Knight as the one man to beat coming through the hole. The new running scheme should be a heavy focus for OU early in this game and Gray will be the guy who is likely getting the early carries.
If Gray can put together a day where he gets 15-17 carries I expect to see him break the 100 yard mark.
This game will give us all a chance to see the new scheme, and I think it will start with a heavy dose of pounding the rock. What I want to see from Gray is decisiveness and burst. He will need some patience and vision to go along with the decisiveness and burst, but I expect him to capitalize on the increased carries when compared to his first year in Norman.
If it comes down to a one on one situation with Eric Gray and a linebacker, it would go a long way for the Sooners expectations for the year to have Gray win a majority of those battles.
Bonus One on One:
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables vs Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby
Not a grudge match or anything like that…I am just fascinated to be able to watch Brent grow as a defensive-minded head coach when dealing with an offense that could score quickly and in bunches early in the game on Saturday.
The tempo offense, against an inferior team like UTEP likely will have periods where it is boom or bust and it will happen quickly.
Brent will have a lot of opportunities to watch his defense being guided by Ted Roof and one of the things he will begin the process of learning as a head coach will be pacing. Pacing his team through both his offense and his defense as the games will eventually become more competitive.
I will be watching to see how much Lebby changes pace after what I expect to be a frantic start.
How long it takes for them to get in sync with each other will be a one-on-one that will carry us all the way through the season because there very well could be a time in the first two games in particular where the defense will need a breather and this is when both of the coaches will be taking notes and trying to adapt.
2024 Allen QB Michael Hawkins
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: August 31, 2022
I was unable to attend Allen’s season opener against St. John Bosco this weekend, which might have worked out in my favor in hindsight, however I was able to catch up with 2024 QB Michael Hawkins to get an idea of where his recruitment sat currently and his plans for the fall.
Hawkins has been on the OU radar for the 2024 class since receiving an offer back at the end of July at the Sooners’ camp in Norman.
As a result, the four star Allen prospect, and OU legacy, is hopeful to return to Norman sometime soon to see the inaugural season of the Brent Venables’ era for himself.
“I am definitely going to be at some OU games,” Hawkins said. “I don’t really know my schedule right now. But I am going to be at some OU games for sure.”
One game that Hawkins knows for sure he will be attending is the Red River Shootout on October 8th in Dallas. Believe it or not, Hawkins said he has yet to see the big rivalry game in person despite his father, Mike Hawkins, having played for the Sooners back in 2002.
September 1 is just days away and Hawkins is looking forward to the Sooners’ staff being among the many suitors being able to reach out to him first.
“It’s pretty good,” Hawkins said about his relationship with Jeff Lebby. “After I threw with them at the camp that is really what made a big change with them and how they think of me and stuff. I’m trying to build a relationship and get to know them more.”
Of course come September 1, that relationship will be able to grow without any limitations. One note that could certainly help the Sooners in the eyes of Hawkins is the play and production from the QB position in Jeff Lebby’s first season calling the shots.
“I want to see their QB this year get more involved in the run game,” Hawkins said. “But I also want to see how they throw the ball in the RPO game.”
Hawkins said Arkansas is a school that is recruiting him very hard at the moment. His relationship with the staff and their consistent pursuit of the 6’2″ signal caller leads me to believe they hold a slight edge at the moment. I believe his relationship with Kendal Briles and Arkansas staff is a further along at this moment than that his standing with OU.
A reason for that aside from my conversation with Hawkins, is the current landscape of the 2024 QB class. Will OU prioritize DJ Lagway or Michael van Buren? It remains to be seen but I have them running second for Hawkins at the moment, but I don’t believe the gap is something they cannot overcome.
TFB Talking Point | Big 12 Predictions 2022
– TheFootballBrainiacs – Posted on: August 31, 2022
College football is just around the corner! The TFB team has their conference predictions below. Let us know how you see the season going!
CHARLIE
1. Oklahoma (8-1)
2. Baylor (8-1)
3. TCU (6-3)
4. Texas (6-3)
5. Kansas State (5-4)
6. Oklahoma State (4-5)
7. Iowa State (3-6)
8. West Virginia (3-6)
9. Texas Tech (2-7)
10. Kansas (0-9)
Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma over Baylor
CJ
1. Baylor (7-2)
2. Oklahoma (6-3)
3. Kansas State (6-3)
4. Texas (6-3)
5. TCU (6-3)
6. Oklahoma State (5-4)
7. Texas Tech (3-6)
8. Iowa State (3-6)
9. West Virginia (2-7)
10. Kansas (1-8)
Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma over Baylor
- I still hold a Kansas State to win the Big 12 ticket at +750.
RYAN
1. Oklahoma (8-1)
2. Baylor (8-1)
3. TCU (6-3)
4. Oklahoma State (5-4)
5. Texas (5-4)
6. Kansas State (4-5)
7. Texas Tech (3-6)
8. Iowa State (3-6)
9. West Virginia (2-7)
10. Kansas (1-8)
Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma over Baylor
TFB OU Radio Ep. 1 | Welcome to the Brent Venables Era!
– TFB – Posted on: August 31, 2022
The first episode of TFB Radio OU Edition!
Ryan and Charlie take to the airwaves to bring you a preview of the Brent Venables era at Oklahoma.
Take a listen and get your fresh batch of Kool-Aid as the season inches ever so closer to kicking off in Norman, Oklahoma.
