Then vs. Now | Offensive Line
Posted on: August 23, 2016
Image via Lubbock Online
As we approach this upcoming season, I’m going to discuss each position group and offer some thoughts on how it compares to last year’s group. Let’s start in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball.
Offensive Tackles
Last year the Sooners were breaking in two new edge protectors. At right tackle, Josiah St. John eventually lost his starting spot to true freshman, Dru Samia. Meanwhile on the left side, redshirt freshman Orlando Brown won the job early on and held it throughout the season. Not surprisingly both Brown and Samia had their ups and downs during the course of the season, but both also unquestionably improved as things continued to progress.
To be candid, after watching Brown get out-athleted over and and over again by edge rushers early in the season, I started to think that no amount of time or experience was going to resolve the issue. However, I can admit now I was wrong. He certainly struggled at times, but improved overall on his ability to get out of his stance and pick up that pressure off the edge.
This year Brown and Samia have a full year of experience under the belts and an entire offseason to get bigger and stronger. That said, this OU offense will also face some new pass rushing challenges this year as compared to last. TCU’s defense was decimated last year, plus their incumbent edge guys are also a year older as are the guys behind them. Same is true for Texas with Naasshon Hughes & co. And Oklahoma State will have no less than three high ceiling pass-rushers in Jarrell Owens, Jordan Brailford & Trey Carter.
Prediction – Based on the talent both Brown and Samia displayed last season as first-year starters and now with that experience, I expect Oklahoma should be better at both offensive tackle spots in 2016.
Offensive Guard & Center
The Sooners still have one of last year’s starting guards in Jonathan Alvarez, but they are also replacing two former starters in Nila Kasitati and Ty Darlington. It’s easy to think Oklahoma will be better simply due to a potential upgrade in athleticism at both spots, a presumption I’ve seen many an OU fan make. But on the o-line you can be as athletic as you want, however if your leader isn’t identifying blitzes, if someone is missing a block, simply put it can all go to crap real quick. And no amount of strength or athleticism will make a lick of difference when/if your man gets through the line unimpeded, or you’re late making your way up to the next level.
We all love Cody Ford. He’s a big strong kid that roll his hips like a tidal wave and runs very well for someone his size. But he’ll also be getting his first start ever in a college game less than two weeks from now. Alvarez clearly has some experience at center but based on reports out of fall camp, the Sooners may wind up starting walk-on Erick Wren in the middle. Which would be another inexperienced guy who would have a lot on his plate as the new leader of the line…or as JY says, the tip of the spear.
If you put center aside for the moment, the biggest question mark right now seems to be at right guard. Going into camp the starter was Ben Powers, but based on what we’ve heard from practices it sounds like Alvarez or Alex Dalton will eventually get the nod there. Alvarez has experience at guard playing on the left side last year, so if Dalton is able to beat him out it would seem somewhat safe to assume the position is in good hands.
Everyone should (and probably does) know that if you MUST leak on the offensive line, it needs to be on the edge. Interior defensive pressure is the most immediate and while the Big 12 isn’t stacked with great interior defensive linemen, typically the undersized guys who move well — something there are plenty of in this conference — can create no shortage of slants, stunts, twists and all kinds of movement employed to create missed assignments. For an inexperienced interior offensive line, like the one OU could potentially be putting out there, picking up those gap exchanges can be a problem.
Prediction – No surprise, this one is a little tougher. On the one hand, I agree with the majority that OU is looking at an upgrade in terms of athleticism as compared to last year. But at the same time OU is going to face some stiff competition over the course of that first half of the season, with teams that like to move their defensive front A LOT to create pressure and confusion.
By the end of the season I see this position being better than last year. Early on, however, there’s likely to be some issues and this team’s success (or lack there of) figures to have a lot to do with (1) how big those issues are (or are not) and (2) how quickly they get resolved.
476 Comments
first!
and sweeeet!
Good stuff K! They are going to get tested real quick. UH’s d-line is pretty darn good. They are going to have to perform quicker than they did last year, that is for sure.
They improved vastly last year, but goodness were those first few games tough on the line. Between penalties and the pocket completely collapsing, it was a rough go at first. Hope this year’s start is quicker than that
Me too brother. It was bad enough that Akron was taking our o-line to task, but they are facing a much better d-line in the first game this year.
Akron had the one transfer kid that WAS stellar.
Yes they did. They also were very experienced, I believe their front 7 have like 4 or 5 seniors in it. That does help a lot.
^^^^^^^this.
Yeah that’s very true. In just the first four games this year, we’ll feature several lines (Houston, tOSU, TCU) better than the best one we played last year in the first four games (Tenn)
Yep, we will know really quick how good our line will be.
Yep! Though they will improve. Either the starters will get better or be replaced like St. John was last year. While they will need to be, I think by tOSU the line will be solid.
TN front 7 was pretty stacked. young, but incredibly talented. In fact if you look at JUST the Dline, its every bit as talented as tOSU this year.
TN front 7 was pretty stacked. young, but incredibly talented. In fact if you look at JUST the Dline, its every bit as talented as tOSU this year.
Yes. My worry, but UH will not be able to practice against what BM or the two RBs will bring – that is the OU edge.
Very true Cush! But they have a starting QB that can be more elusive than BM.
That is for Mike. The O line just needs to make some holes and protect BM some.
Their QB can’t pass in the same world as BM – just don’t let Mike Stoops defend like texsa last year.
True, I do not know if Ward’s backup is as good with his feet as Ward is, hard to equal that, but I am sure he will give their D a good look before we match up. UGH! Going to be a good fight in the trenches.
I was having a pleasant morning before you brought up our D against texsa last year
Sorry. Hoping to learn from OUr mistakes (F-up is more like it)
Cush, enjoy ya but to pin UT loss on D is pretty crazy. We didn’t play great D but the O let us down, big time. There were a lot of changes from Riley down to players losing positions. Baker made a ton of mistakes too. It was a total screw up.
You are correct. Yet, the ball control and scoring by a poor texsa offense has to be taken into account. Had the D played well, it would have been low scoring, but OUr poor O output might have been enough.
If our O was any good, they would’ve kept the D off the field. Goes both ways but I agree. Based on that game, it got us to where we ended. Good team but not great by any means. We are a good team this year too. If some of these guys step up big time, maybe we will get closer to a great team. I think we are solid but not dominate.
The O has to score more than 17 points. The line was gashed in the shorthorn game, it was like they were not sure what they were doing. Especially a certain tackle that lost his job after the game. The O not being on the field is what hurt the D. You cannot expect even a great defense to stop a team when the other team has the ball all game long. The offense has to give the defense a break at times just to catch their breath.
There were plenty of missed assignments on both sides of the ball to go around. And not all of them happened to the D in the second half.
It was obvious in the second half that the D was tired, the arm tackles instead of wrapping up showed that. Yes, both sides of the ball had to improve after that game and they did. A team needs an offense to sustain a little bit of a drive to help the D out though. You have to get a couple of first downs to give the D a break. I am not saying you have score every possession, but that would be great, just move the ball some and flip the field.
Ugh, we could not tackle our way out of a wet paper bag against the shorthorns last year.
Like two hand touch.
No offense my man, but Mike doesn’t miss tackles. The players do. A lot of that Texsa game fell in the hands of poor execution (tackling) as well as the offenses inability to move the ball. Could Mike have schemed better, of course, but IMHO I don’t believe that was the main problem in that game to be honest. Just my opinion though and we know everyone has them 😉
Hey JP! If you read down, you will see that I agree with you. The main two problems were the offenses ineptitude and the defense’s inability to tackle. Fix those and that game is very different.
Great minds right?!
I noticed that right after I posted. Didn’t mean to beat a horse!
LOL! Oh heck, beat away. That game still sticks in my mind. If we only win one game a year, I want it to be against the shorthorns.
I really really want to beat Ohio State, Would be a huge win for the school and the conference – biggest since the Bama victory.
Huge for recruiting.
Huge since I paid a small fortune to go and cannot go watch a loss.
Oh yeah, I totally agree. I’m just saying losing to the shorthorns is worse than losing to anyone else.
We all good – Boomer!
Sooner!
SOONER!
Cant blame JP he probably has Cheryl sitting in his lap!
That’s right….
Not lurking today Metz!
I love the Stoops, but I never have cared for that coach’s self-defensive line they’ve used in the past about the coach not being the one ‘missing the tackles on the field’.
It’s not only the job of the defensive coaches to scheme, but also to teach the players how to consistently execute on the field.
The product we see on the field is the one the coaches have produced, from recruiting good tacklers, to improving their tackling ability.
If you’re talking about one or two players missing tackles badly, ok. But the problem in the texsa game wasn’t limited to one or two players. Therefore, sorry, but Mike Stoops doesn’t get a pass.
I didn’t give him a pass, just said that my opinion was that issue (along with poor offensive production) were more to blame than him.
I would be inclined to agree more with you if that tackling issue (as severe as it was) had gone on all year, but it did not. That game was bad, really bad.
Edit: This was mot meant to be a defend Mike Stoops post, just an opinion of the reasons for the outcome of one game last year).
Agreed. Overall, there was good improvement on both sides of the ball as the season progressed. And Mike Stoops did good overall. The texsa game was clearly just a total dud from players to coaches.
The last sentence is one we can ALL agree on unfortunately.
This year we erase that bad memory.
It is like the entire program came out flat like it was a lazy Saturday afternoon. I hope to never see that again.
Exactly. I thought I was watching them come out for a quick flag scrimmage. And it was pretty much the whole team. Perhaps Stoops will use that to light a fire under their butts this year.
I certainly hope so. But Bob has said numerous times it is not his job to get the team “up” for a game. That is their job. A little rah rah in the locker room before kickoff never hurts.
That sexaT game was Stoops fault but only partly. Fault because, he should have gotten Will Johnson in and moved Parker to Safety much much earlier than he did. Byrd was a utter disaster in that game. Watched it three times, and still cannot imagine how they didn’t sit him earlier. He was consistently late to fill the gaps, and when he did, he filled the wrong games, and his tackling, GOD!
Second, but I read everything twice!
A fair enough assessment. I am just too ignorant about the line calls and the “complexity” of same to know if OU is going to have trouble. The physical talent is a big upgrade in the interior!
Thanks for the breakdown. Definitely agree, hard to see the tackles not being better than last year. But with everything we’ve heard out of camp about center and right guard, interior certainly looks to be in for a learning curve. Hopefully its a quick one
I agree, I hope they learn BEFORE kickoff on the 3rd.
Brown, Ford, Wren, Samia, Evans
That’s how I’d like to see it.
Great breakdown and appreciate it. Cool how you added the other teams and their rushers too. Whoever the tip of the spear is, hope they are a quick learner. Also, hope Bake can help with this a little too.
K, even though you focused on the 1st team, I would like to see who may be getting a shot if someone doesn’t do well. For example, did Evens do enough in camp to come on as the RT? In other words, who is the next man up if an OT or OG goes down? Thanks
They were working Evans in at RT through camp in hopes that Samia could kick inside but it would appear the drop off at RT from Samia to Evans is greater than it is from to Alvarez/Dalton inside.
That is not good.
One way to look at it but another is maybe Dru is really excelling at RT. Bottom line, Dru is a very good OL at either position.
That’s what I am trying to do.
Or maybe Dalton is that good?
I think it’s great to play the guessing game on who starts because it all means one thing – they all getting better. Makes for better competition all year long and great depth. Win/Win.
Great point Boom!
Oh I totally agree that Dru has been amazing. Kid was 18 last year and look what he did. Just saying, we need depth and not a huge fall off. And I’m usually the optimistic one, must be the meds I’m on. LOL
I was hoping that delta wasn’t that much but thanks. Really wanted Evans to make that next jump.
Did Daimler have a legitimate chance to take RT spot?
I believe KJ mentioned when he got hurt that he was most definitely an option there.
His timetable was to come back 3-4 weeks from end of july.
Maybe he healed fast to play.. or at least be an option.
He’s a Houston guy too.
Maybe KJ can comment cause I’m going from memory, but I want to say that the injury timing was really bad for him as he was progressing quickly, so quickly he had a shot to move Dru inside. When he got hurt that stalled some of the development/show out time.
I dont think he’ll make it back to get some playing time during the Houston game. I believe the most we can hope is that he starts practicing next week.
Gotcha.
That’s good news on getting back to practice.
Like going into last season.. having options to move people around helped a lot.. Samia coming up big for us last season.
We need other players this year to step up big for us.
Great read K.
We have been blessed with cerebral guys on the line for a long time.. Jon cooper, ben habern,gabe ikard, ty darlington.. All very bright dudes on/off the field that led the Oline.
Got to be assignment sound, vocal leaders to get all the calls made in a spilt second under duress of a play clock.. not easy at all.
Even with Ty and Nila, they struggled with handing off rushers all season. It was one of the biggest reasons Clemson dominated the way they did. Hopefully after a full year and another offseason in this scheme, they’re starting to figure out how to hand off rushers.
agree
K, what is the general consensus on Wren’s “football IQ”? No doubt it will be tough to match some of the guys we have had there in the past, but curious how much(if much) drop off there may be in that department.
He’s a senior. Let’s hope he’s learned a few things over the last 4 years.
You keep mentioning athleticism at the Guard and Center spots. I see a lot more physicality. Ty was small and Nila wasn’t very strong. That’s where we can get those extra yards against the SEC or Clemson D-Lines .
This is true, but those guys had whiffs inside as well. I mentioned Fords ability to roll his hips and generate power.
Looks like run blocking will be better early in the year with less likelihood of a blown assignment and a more athletic group. LR pound that ball early and often!
This is what we need. An interior line that holds and separates, rather than bends backward. They don’t have to do a huge amount to give enough of a chance to Perine and Mixon. I look for (and at least hope for) a big improvement in our run game overall. Just let those big backs get through the first line, and the rest will take care of itself.
From the article that was posted in the news this morning about Anderson’s injury, it sounds like LR wants to run the ball a lot more than last year. That is always a good thing.
With how much OU likes to pull on rush attempts i see the additional athleticism as a bonus. It should keep the offense out of 3rd and long. Which they were in all game vs Tennessee, Texsa, and Clemson. Not surprisingly OU only won one of those 3 games
Third and long is no way to make a living.
Yep those edge rushers have the advantage when behind the chains
I think that was a very good and fair assessment of the state of the Oline. For me, this is the one area where we need to mature faster than others. We have the talent, but the mental side maturity needs to be accelerated.
Good stuff K!
The one thing I’m encouraged by is hearing that Brown and Samia are becoming coaches on the line as well as solidifying the edges. Just shows how they are maturing and are understanding the game. I honestly think they will be the best bookends in the conference this year. Last year on the line….I hate to say it…we got lucky, having a play maker makes all of the mistakes up front look minuscule. Having a better OL with a playmaker at the helm should no doubt bode well for our offense.
good to hear you’re excited about the line KJ! From the games I’ve rewatched, it looks like just cleaning up protections on stunts, twists, and blitzes will go a LONG way to improving the performance. The question is, do you think these guys will show that improvement just from being in the system for a year or do you think its really going to take time on the game field too?
Yes definitely from being in the system. I think the tackles have improved in picking up twists and stunts, their awareness is better. I can’t really comment on the middle because it looks like well have a whole new interior.
Must be able to out physical people and be able to run, even when they know its a run
I actually reflect back to Brown vs oakman last year and Brown showed me a lot in that game. oakman would have loved to have put a hit or two on Baker and I’m not sure he ever got a touch. That convinced me that Brown’s got the stuff. It seemed like a typical young OL to me; growing pains. This year, I’m going to predict pretty big improvement if the core stays healthy.
Oakman was pretty much stuffed in that game. I loved it, even the penalty on Brown. We owed him for the cheap shot on Trevor the year before.
Yeah, I wondered during that whole game, and almost including the penalty if someone had gotten in Brown’s ear about oakman being his only assignment. It was fun to watch.
Add to that when Baker got in Oakman’s face and challenged him to a fight and Oakman seemed stunned at how much moxy OU came to play with.
Yep, fun fun.
Baker has quite the infectious attitude and I love it!
Yes, he’s so much more than I expected. Not that I had discounted him per se, only that I didn’t expect the entire package.
I’m right there with you. Since I don’t follow taco tech I did not know much about him. But he was shot in the arm the program needed.
I saw the game last night. For the life of me, I’ve never seen so many stupid undisciplined penalty’s we had in one game. Killed us. Hope we handle our emotions better this year.
Also, it was another Baylor game with targeting that wasn’t even called. Refs missed or chose to miss one of them on Mixon. Guy was trying to kill Mixon and came close. Nothing, no flag, review, nothing.
Bailer always seems to get away with that as does TCU. Drives me to foaming at the mouth. Yet we get a 15 yard penalty for clapping when we catch the ball. ARGH!
Different game, but I always go back to when we were playing WV and Sterling got lit up over the middle and he flexed his arms when he started getting up. They tagged him with a 15 yard penalty!
Different game, same result. That should have been targeting as well, the defender went high at his head. But yet Sterling gets the flag. That ticked me off too.
I was ready to jump through the tv! Honestly thought that I was hearing things when they announced it was on the offense.
Yep, you were not alone!
Two seasons ago he got a 15 yarder for doing the Cam Newton “Super Man” celebration and they stated he was “throwing up gang signs.” Sometimes the refs are so out of touch it’s comical.
I hear you! And some of them are blatantly blind.
Most (not all) of the Big 12 refs are full of ……well, poopy, okay?
Poopy offends me!
Sorry Metz, but offending you does not count as a problem. LOL
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
should help…
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/Febreze_Bottle.jpg/150px-Febreze_Bottle.jpg
ROTFLOL!
I see Bailer as dirty, but not TCU. I know the hit on Baker should have been flagged, but I think TCU is well coached and generally plays at a high level.
I see TCU as starting to play dirty. Not just because of the hit last year, but a couple of plays that I saw when they played KSU. Gary is starting to play the bailer way.
I like TCU but that team was trying to take out Baker last year. I hope Samje trucks the living Sh** out of that LB that hurt Baker.
I don’t see it that way. I do agree that that LB speared Baker, no doubt, but as a team I really don’t think TCU play dirty or were out for Baker.
Frankly, if Baker were to slide a little more he wouldn’t be in harm’s way so much, but we know that is not Baker’s style. (and he may have been sliding when that TCU backer hit him, I don’t recall)
Here is the play in slow motion, notice how he lowers his head at Baker’s head. This is clearly targeting, they did the same thing to KSU last year too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRR4ucRZd_E
No. It is definitely targeting. I just don’t see TCU as a dirty team. This play was definitely dirty, but I think it was isolated and a common occurrence with TCU or a coached play.
With Bailor, I think it is common and coached.
Defintely targeting and the ref is in perfect position to call targeting and did not. I would hope the B12 admonished the ref or fined him for the no call. Terrible!!!
me, too……that was an intentional, dirty play by the TCU guy, probably on orders from Gary Patterson…….
I had forgotten the Mixon hit.
We got a lot of penalties that served a purpose. Got them all fired up! They weren’t going to be denied. If we would have played like that against Clemson. Things might have gone differently. It all started with Baker getting in Oakman’s face. Everyone else saw that and got jacked!
Baker ain’t Trevor
Howdy Bob! No, Baker is certainly not Trevor. As much as I like Trevor I am thankful for Baker.
TKPK6
You read between the lines!
If Brown had been a woman, Oakman would have been much more motivated to be tough.
Looks like karma is about to catch up to him.
hopefully the Sooners will enjoy a healthy season. improvement will continue if they can stay on the field……..
Health is definitely the x-factor.
yes, as always, but not near what it was last year. last yr with FR OTs who made mistakes but were noticeably better than any other option we had on campus. this yr it looks like we have some guys who can fill in without a noticeable drop off across the OL.
Now, QB. . . that’s another story. That’s the one position on this team that we have no idea what we have after him, and it’s by far the most important position to begin with.
Scares me the most, we lose that extra dimension if Bake goes down. Well still get yards on the ground and able to complete some passes. But Austin wont scare defenses like Baker does.
<<hp.. ★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★::::::!il406r:….,….
I’m with you. I am pretty happy with our boys at the end of the trenches. We will definitely need them to help out during the gauntlet that is the first 5 games. I think they will show a lot more improvement by mid-season.
Now that’s a prediction: I think OU’s OTs will be the best bookends in the conference this year after being lucky a lot last year.
This from Super K kinda makes me nervous!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It should. If the problem is some fundamental, its one thing. But maturing players is something that just takes time.
LR may frequently utilize two backs to help with pass blocking in the early going while the O line gels. I feel pretty good having big tough backs like Flowers Mixon, and Perine back there to pick up an inside blitz or stunt.
Yep, we’ll need them, at least for awhile.
Perine and Mixon both had some great blitz pickups last year. I expect the same this year.
Yes, excellent observation Golf. Both backs were very good at picking up blitzers. I might have to take back what I said about you earlier. 🙂 JK!
LOL 737! I’m pretty thick skinned. 🙂 I remember a couple of blocks that Perine picked up to his left last year when he was on Baker’s right side. They were awesome. Stopped the defender in his tracks.
Dampens your enthusiasm a bit, eh.
Maybe a bit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta be full go day 1.
They don’t have to be perfect, just more than Houston can handle. I hope they’re ready.
They are still a young oline. 4/5 of them will be underclassmen.
I think this O-line will have its fair share of Oh S##t moments early on until the interior line get their feet wet. My hope is they can minimize those (especially in crucial downs) and not get Baker carted off the field. I do agree Perine and Mixon will be an asset in pass blocking to help this young line out until they gel. On running downs we may see more outside runs earlier in the season until they become more cohesive and open up the middle. Also I’m all for the return of the screen game early on if problems pop up.
And more rollouts and swing passes.
I do not think the offense utilized the screen game enough last year. I am hoping they remember they have those plays this year.
Mixon seems like he would be a screen game nightmare!
Agreed. Nothing keeps a defense honest like a good screen or counter play.
Right? In the JH era, it seemed like the ONLY plays called were screens or passes to the flat. Ironically last year, could’ve really used some of that to break those blitzes.
We all understand that the UH front seven is going to be good and that the OU O-line has a few things to fix before the game. But with all the games UH played in last year, did they ever go up against a bruiser like Optimus? I know Cook is a great RB but he’s not going to punish you all game so by the time the 4th quarter begins, the defense is tired. And that’s without mentioning Mixon.
Perine and Mixon need holes.
Perine don’t need no stinking holes! (Just kidding)
I completely agree. I just wasn’t sure if they went against a big bruiser like Optimus last year.
Florida state barely even tried to run against Houston.. Not sure if they were saving Cook or what but they just didn’t seem intent on pounding away no matter how many players are in the box.. With a player of that talent level he will find a hole
Someone please explain to me why it would make the guard position better if Dalton were to cut in front of Alvarez at RG? I’m blanking on that. Is it so Alvarez could slide over to LG and cut in front of Ford? I personally like the idea of Ford starting at LG.
I think it just means that Alvarez has underperformed thus far. If Dalton and Ford are the best two guards, they should play. If Wren is the best center, he should play. If that means Alvarez sits out, well then he sits out.
Could the others have raised their game enough to pass him, rather than Alvarez under-performing?
Absolutely, but it has been mentioned by KJ I believe that Alvarez was not having the best camp.
If Dalton wins the battle, that means he has beat Alvarez which we know has had success already. In other words shows how impressed they are with Dalton.
I could get on board with that.
Also from what we have heard on here, I don’t think Ford is going anywhere. Sounds like the last main battle will be Alvarez/Dalton for that RG.
Agree re Ford. On the right side, though, it seems it will be the best configuration between Alvarez/Dalton at RG or Samia at RG and B. Evans at RT.
As a wise man once said, “best 5 on the field, period”. If Alvarez has been over taken by these kids then I assume they are earning it.
“Best” is completely subjective.
OK?
Thanks?
I guess, but isn’t the idea of having a good O-line coach accepting his subjectivity to who is the best offensive line group to win a game?
You would think so……
Well i’ll put it this way, if Dalton is taking first team reps at LG with a broken hand, that should give you a hint that maybe it’s more mental at this point with Alvarez.
That was my feeling all along. I read an interview with someone (probably BB) where he kept mentioning how smart our last two C had been. It just left me feeling that he was NOT saying what he was really saying.
Yeah and to me, and this is just my opinion, but if you are the incoming center, you have to put in the MOST mental work than anyone on the line. Whether Alvarez did that, I dont know. Wrens a little older and is in his last year so he may have that little extra motivation. My guess is Alvarez is dealing with a little pressure and needs to get it handled because we need everyone, not just the starting group.
Nice work as always, K. I like the higher ceiling of this current line. Hopefully the growing pains don’t cost us too many blown plays, and by the end of the season we can see them realize some of that potential.
Thanks Super K, any update on Alex Dalton’s hand/wrist injury? Last I remember, he was limited due to cast.
Thanks for the breakdown. Im both a little worried, and a little excited, at whats been said here.
Im right there with you j l
The biggest thing that makes me lean towards optimism, is knowing these are basically all bedenbaugh’s recruits. The man knows who to grab, and knows how to coach them up.
The anxiety I get before our games is insane lol
Not to mention during.
During that blowout against Oklahoma state I was still not relaxed at halftime when we were already smoking them. The TCU game almost had me so numb I just couldn’t believe what was happening lol.
Oh man no kidding. I always get butterflies before every game, even KU and ISU.
Ok this is where you and I differ. I’ve never had even one butterfly before Kansas.
Me either, that’s when I pull out the wallet and lay the money down!
And thats when I put down the bottle and get off life support.
Yeah. I get caterpillars after the texsa game if we don’t win.
Not so much worried about losing, but every game is a potential disaster injury wise.
Even though i was a bit worried in the game 3 years ago, when they were real close at halftime. We played like Sh*t that game.
LOL Fear, me neither.
For some reason i never get nervous. Even when OU was losing 17 to 3 to Tennessee , i stayed relaxed.
You’re weird lol
That game was weird for me. I was never nervous nor scared, just annoyed at the fact we were beating ourselves. I had a weird feeling we would pull it out and I’m so glad we did! Being there was seriously one of, if not the best games I’ve seen in person.
That game was awesome. Do you trash talk at games?
Well most of the games I’m at are home games so not really. I’ve just accepted the fact I can’t go out in public in Vegas to watch the games because some jackazz always has money on our opponent and it just annoys me. During the Tennesee game I wasn’t saying a word lol. I was with 3 friends and we were smack in the middle of UT fans, but once we won we were just so happy and the UT fans were so disrespectful I just kept my mouth shut so nothing out of hand would happen, you know? I did lose my voice for 2 days because I was cheering so much! Haha
haha im very Conor McGregor like at away games. I get in to it with the student sections.
Nice Article K. Much appreciated.
Thanks K – well articulated…
I wonder if the QB will be able to get off some quick passes when assignments are busted early in the season. I remember last year against the Longhorns, it seemed we could have won had there been more quick pass plays. Maybe this being season two of Coach Riley, he will have them ready for that scenario against Houston.
play action, bubbles, screens, draws, swings, slants, misdirections….anything that is a quick or bait for the D to pause….will help the youth.
So many weapons at his disposal but I think Riley underused Mixon last year. I hope thats not the case going forward.
Mixon is our best player on the team, it’s that simple. As great as Samaje is, he’s not Mixon.
Samaje is better at reading holes/blocks, but I agree that Mixon has the most talent.
Green and Miller both had drops after the ball hit them right on the chest last year as true freshmen. Does anyone know if this was freshmanitis or will drops continue for these two this year? Just curious if they have grown.
I think Miller will have a breakout year and be one of our top WRs. Not so sure about Dahu.
We also had a senior in durron Neal who had drops left and right? When in his entire career did he make a clutch catch, or even a catch that made you say “damn”? Point is, Miller and green were true frosh, they still have time.
Come on now, Durron had many great catches.
I fully expect everyone to have the hands of Tinker Owens, who caught both passes thrown to him every other game.
Tinker Rawk’d
Rawk’d i like that!
Was the MVP of the Sugar Bowl as a FROSH!
We just used to some greats we had that never dropped a pass. I watched the Bailor game last night and I was shocked that Andrews missed every pass thrown his way. He could’ve had 2 TD and flat out dropped both. Hope he improves when he has people with tight coverage.
Those drops made me furious! We would have smoked them had he caught at least one of them lol. I think he’ll be ok.
Was that the rain game? I know Andrews had slippery fingers that day.
I like how you ask the question as if you don’t know ?.
Lol No I really DONT know. I remember that Andrews had big problems in the rain but I forget who we played that day.
Yes it was but that’s no excuse.
Just the idea that Sheps 80 something receptions will be dispersed to these young big hosses we have is enough motivation. I can’t wait to see AD Miller just go up and Moss someone for the first time. I’ll fly out of my seat and scream, I’ve liked his film and upside since we signed him lol.
Durron’s catch the first game of the year against Akron down the sideline made me say “dang!” He improved quite a bit from his Junior to Senior year. But, I do get what you are saying to an extent.
We also had a senior in durron Neal who had drops left and right? When in his entire career did he make a clutch catch, or even a catch that made you say “damn”? Point is, Miller and green were true frosh, they still have time.
You can’t teach someone how to catch the ball. They either can or can’t.
Run-pass options need to be used 60% of the time. In a perfect world I’d like to see us with a run-pass ratio of 60-40 this season because I really believe no defense could handle it and it would allow our defense more time on the sideline and we can mask the youth at LB a little.
Run-pass option is common in the pros to keep the Ds “honest.”
Run-pass option is common in the pros to keep the Ds “honest.”
spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hüsker düs, hüsker don’ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistling kitty chaser!
OK, them whiskersplitters are no laughing matter.
Exactly. I said this last year, I said it all off season and I’ll continue to say it. We need flats, slants and drag routes to relieve this offensive line at times. Some of our “big play” attempts required just too much development and it ended with baker then trying to scramble after already taking a 7 step drop. I believe Riley is aware of these things and will adjust according because quite frankly it’s a simple fix.
First of all thank you K. Once again you and the staff has out done itself with the amazing insightful information that you bring to the board. Its very much appreciated by us all.
That being said, It makes me wonder why we read that Evans is looking really good at RT thus allowing Samia to move inside yet there’s no mention of it here. I understand that Evans is inexperienced but his name was not even mentioned in your synopsis. It seems to me that Evans would be the answer to the OLine going from being potentially good to potentially exceptional.
I’d really like to know your thoughts on this.
He may be the most athletic tackle we’ve had since Lane. I agree Fear. It sounded as if the coaches experimented with him at RT for almost an entire week or so. He’s so young and raw that it’s almost worth it. Unless of course the line they are using now is significantly better than that with Evans in at RT and Samia at RG.
My thoughts are that maybe they see Evans at RT and Samia at RG as the answer down the road but they might be a little leary of starting him against Houston and tOSU because of his inexperience.
I guess, but you can’t live in FEAR.
I’m BETTING you’re right Vegas.
It was mentioned below that the drop of between Evans and Samia was greater than the drop of between Alvarez and Dalton.
ok..so many posts and Im at work so I only scrolled down for a bit.
Thanks.
No worries. I was playing catch-up myself and just happened across it.
To add to that, it looked as though Daimler was the guy they were hoping would fill that spot, until he got hurt.
From another board (hope I’m not violated protocol)
Daimler close to return
Joey Helmer – Aug 15, 11:39 AM
NORMAN, Okla. — Offensive tackle Christian Daimler is nearing a return and could be back next week or the week after.
“We need to start settling in,” said assistant offensive coordinator and O-line coach Bill Bedenbaugh. “We’ve got everybody back, with the exception of Daimler.”
Daimler suffered a minor leg injury at the very beginning of fall camp and was challenging for a starting spot at right tackle prior to that, which could have shifted Dru Samia inside to guard.
Now, Bobby Evans has done the same, and the Sooners are developing some really good depth up front.
Daimler, a 6-foot-7, 320-pound redshirt junior, redshirted in 2013 and didn’t play either of the last two seasons.
You should have seen the daily this AM,it was lit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll try to catch up on that later. Trying to put 2 kids through college means I have to actually work!…limits my TFB time to no more than 5 hours a day.
It would appear some company’s aren’t getting their moneys worth. 🙂
Its my own company so its all good Ray : )
Waiting on Evans, too. He was a top rated lineman recruit and so athletic but a bit undersized. Just taking more time to get the strength he needs.
Didn’t Evans also come in injured? I was thinking i read that somewhere?
True dat as well. He’s had to work to get on the depth chart. Word out of hs was he had the length and athleticism for LT if he added the size and strength. Was thinking he might take LT and Orlando to RT.
HEYYYYYY texsa SUCKSSSSSSS————
You know they suck too.———
And that’s after already having been emasculated just to qualify as the texsa mascot!
Tell us how you really feel Metz
hate em
Great write up Super K. Thanks!
Marquise Hayes up to #116 in Rivals rankings.
https://twitter.com/Eddie_Rado/status/768119650211074050
This was pretty funny!
That was really cool.
That is awesome!
When was OU on the camp tour. Was it yesterday?
Nevermind…just saw that it is scheduled for tomorrow at 5pm.
Not that i expect them to contribute early, but any word on roberson and swenson, our HS OL from last class? Wondering how they are handling the transition to college.
anyone watched Last Chance U? It was an interesting look into the JUCO life and I totally get now how a 5 star cant-miss guy can not qualify out of HS and have to go to JUCO and then totally drop off the map.
Yeah that is a very interesting documentary. Very interesting job these coaches have at the JUCO level. Dealing with some of those kids would be a nightmare though….
oh yeah! The cold tubs being basically rubber buckets out in the woods…haha
Which was sorta surprising to me, seeing as though they had a nice stadium, nice locker rooms, nice jerseys, etc.
Yeah they weren’t too bad overall
Is that the school that Bester came from? I know he was from Scuba bc of his nickname, but I’m not sure if that’s the school he came from.
yeah it was this one. A TON of big time college players have gone through there.
It’s sad in a way though. I don’t get the sense the coach really gives a rats about the players success outside of football. He clearly shows that multiple times throughout the series. That final episode was just pathetic, IMO.
I have only seen the first two episodes, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the coach. I agree, I wish more effort would be put into making these kids better students, since that is generally the reason they are there. Unfortunately, these kids in the documentary at least don’t seem to care about that, and just want to get back to a big school. Tough hand to be dealt IMO.
yep. Seems like a douche
Well I won’t spoil anything, but it’s definitely interesting to say the least.
agree completely. The whole fight was because of him. He doesn’t lead by example at all. I thought it was really sad when he pushed the lineman and all the kid did was ask him not to push him so he benched him. Then the whole recruiting at the end just came across so fake. I wonder what parents think about him now.
Well you just spoiled it for Jordan! Lol. But yeah, the players mimic their coaches personality to an extent and well…. Reminds me a lot of Baylor sand their sissy azz players and Art.
lol the fight is literally the first thing you see in the first episode
Yeah, when the coach was screaming at them after the fight I was hoping one of the players stood up and said, “Coach, I am fine with you yelling at us. I just would like to know which of us you thought were “thugs’ and which of us you thought were ‘rednecks.’ Also interested in knowing what characteristics you used to determine which of us are ‘rednecks’ and which are ‘thugs.””
I was going to mention this actually. I just started last night, and am already halfway through. Very compelling show.
Not for those that dont like cussing though, LOL!
yeah you gotta live with quite a bit in that one
and i gotta watch it with closed captioning on. Those are some thick accents lol.
Wyatt Roberts the QB talks like Sling Blade
haha he does.
That show gets absolutely insane! I binged it in one sitting. Greenlit for season 2!
I feel you! Caleb Kelly…. https://twitter.com/calebkkelly/status/768107342386728960
Thanks K, OU o-line for dummies is right in my wheel house. My immediate take away is (surprisingly) much the same as last year in that w/ inexperience comes potential mistakes. With such an early leaning curve the big uglies are going to have to go hard or go home. If there is a need for compensation however, I believe Mayfield and Co. will handle the slack. Figure we’ll all know the answer soon enough as those first three games…
A second thought, I read below a few remarks below concerning the Tradition Rich Bailer U football program. With the posting of a couple of new 4* yesterday by Rivals for the good guys, that in turn led me to pull up Baylier’s recruiting for ’17. Two – you read correctly – Two. Suspect you leave the dance w/ who brought you and when you dance w/ the devil you gonna pay. Hey BU – time to pay up.
Ok I have to get back to work so if its not asking too much could you all please stop posting for like an hour or so? I hate missing out on stuff on here.
Thanks in advance.
I will honor your request at 1:00 that and i have a meeting!
https://twitter.com/Jordan_Esco/status/768106684308938752
No more of a FULLBACK coming out of college this decade than RIP. GB was smart to get him and have the option of playing basic football instead of only spread!
https://twitter.com/_DAlexander1/status/768107995498704896
When I think ‘then and now’ I go back to a time when we had zero depth and we’re playing athletic but undersized TE recruits, some of whom grew and moved on to the nfl, but we struggled at the time. Having Bedenbaugh and enough depth that he has options is so heartening. The best guys are going out and will play their hearts OUt and grow each week. And OU has the type of backs and QB that the line doesn’t have to be perfect. Still more worried about our receivers getting open so Baker doesn’t hold the ball as much. More rollouts and some screens to Mixon and Flowers will help.
Gotta love Eric Mensik am I right?
And Chris Chester. Who else?
QB Lane Johnson.
Chris Chester is still in the NFL and was a great player even when he was at OU so I wouldn’t really include him in that group.
Definetly belongs coming in as a 230# TE and moving to lineman after a couple of years.
I mean, I guess. I thought you were saying you didn’t like the fact that OU had oversized tight ends playing tackle and felt they underperformed. If thats not what you’re saying then you could put him in there.
Was thinking back when OU had Patton as Oline coach and his philosophy revolved around lighter linemen, many recruited as TEs. There was no depth and the line had trouble holding up against larger teams outside of the conference. We’ve come a long way, baby.
Sam Grant
Gabe Ikard was a TE/DE in HS.
Gained weight and moved to the line.
He’s with the lions now
Ok meeting time bring on the OP—————
Enjoy that dang meeting 🙂 – we’ll see if you bring on an OP.
I really hope Sam has a good year this year…
https://twitter.com/SportsNation/status/768142312920711168
Let’s just hope that LR has a few things up his sleeve that will take advantage of any OL issues (shovel passes et al)
Watching us lose is hard, especially when it seems to be attributable to the trenches- we have so much talent at the skill positions but if we can’t control the lines of scrimmage…
Exactly. Adjustments…
I think anyone could say that we will be better at OTs this year b/c of a year’s experience at the positions. But that’s not a prediction. What I want you to do is actually make a prediction. I want you to say that our OTs, b/c of experience, will dominate those great DEs this year. Will that happen? No prediction?
Well, tell us how you really feel about it…
From the interview with Boulware, they asked about kickoff returns. “Joe Mixon comes to mind, and we’ve got Dede Westbrook. We’ve got Jarvis Baxter and Mykel Jones, and we also have Daniel Brooks and Abdul Adams. Those are the guys that are kind of setting themselves apart as potential kick returners and punt returning guys.”
Hey at least we are down to 6… LOL. My choice would be Mixon and Baxter for KR and Baxter doing the punt returns.
With the loss of Rodney Anderson kinda hope to not see #25 returning kicks.
Same here. I’d have to go with Baxter or Jones. I think we have the WR depth but not so much the RB depth.
Let Brooks have a shot, he is the fastest guy on the team
There’s got to be something with Brooks that we aren’t seeing. I would think that he could have done a better job than Ross.
He always has a strong spring game but that could be for lots of reasons. I just like that he is likely gone if he has a hole to run through
He does look good in those spring games and his speed is fun to watch.
Or if one of the two freshman Jones or Adams dont redshirt, reward them with some touches that way
I like the idea of Jones. From the way it sounds, Adams is going to be getting a decent amount of snaps this year, as long as he can wrap his head around the play book.
Yeah they will need 3 guys, especially if they go 2 back sets a lot.
Which i hope they do
Me too. I know pretty much all of us Sooner fans have been waiting to see more of that formation. We saw it a few times last year, but it was just enough to get us all giddy for more.
Yeah it also helps with pass pro
I wouldn’t mind seeing what would happen if you put Mixon in the slot, Andrews on the outside, AD opposite field and Perine and Flowers in the backfield.
I kinda want to see Perine and Mixon behind Flowers. Yeah some good old Wishbone
That would be a good one too. All three are great runners and have really good hands. You could literally do whatever you wanted out of that formation.
Yeah could you imagine the crowd reaction if they came out in that vs tOSU
http://s866.photobucket.com/user/MaferSR/media/Gifs/tumblr_lke3j6ZR8F1qclt3z.gif.html
that and Utempo with the ninja formation ha!
I’d like to see the return of the diamond formation or inverted wishbone. Line up ‘heavy’ then split a guy out, some motion and create mismatches w those big backs and tall receivers one-on-one.
Yes sir I feel the same way
Before Aikman got hurt, Switzer lined up in the bone and split both HBs into slots. Your notion is sound and makes the opposing D have to remain “honest.”
Kinda agree here. Guy is definitely a burner, but it would be great to see him return kicks with an attitude. Want to see him channel his inner Tim Dwight.
Oh man, if he came with that kind of fire, he’s the guy that you want returning.
I agree. The kid can fly. I would love to see him back there returning kicks.
Let Brooks have a shot, he is the fastest guy on the team
Same here. I’d have to go with Baxter or Jones. I think we have the WR depth but not so much the RB depth.
Give me Jones and Adams returning kicks. Let the young guys that are hungry to see PT get a chance to show something. I do not want to use him, but probably have to go with Dede on PR. His hands seem more sure than Baxter’s to me. I have also never really seen explosivness from Baxter that jumps off the page. What I would really love to happen is to get confirmation that R. Turner showed up to camp and that he has PR skills. Would be great to get a game changer @ the PR spot that is not our #1 WR.
Give me Jones and Adams returning kicks. Let the young guys that are hungry to see PT get a chance to show something. I do not want to use him, but probably have to go with Dede on PR. His hands seem more sure than Baxter’s to me. I have also never really seen explosivness from Baxter that jumps off the page. What I would really love to happen is to get confirmation that R. Turner showed up to camp and that he has PR skills. Would be great to get a game changer @ the PR spot that is not our #1 WR.
Don’t want Dede returning anything. But I hated Shep returning last season even though he was just going to fair catch. Surely we’ve got some speed guys with hands to do that. Not sure I agree about Baxter; it seemed to me that he had a certain burst to him last year.
Agreed, but have heard Jones may be a PR possibility.
Might be a good call, if he’s cool under pressure.
It is possible Baxter’s burst was so quick that I missed it. =^)
It is possible Baxter’s burst was so quick that I missed it. =^)
I love the idea of having jones and Adams returning kicks for the reasons you stated above. Them being young and hungry is ideal. Plus both are burners and can shake the defender to the ground.
I agree! Jones and Adams could be an exciting duo.
Why not Parrish Cobb?
Oh yeah! I completely forgot about him. Seems like he has the hands and moves to take a decent shot at it.
I like it too but he wasn’t even mentioned. I wonder if they have tried him at all?
Probably headed for a redshirt
On yesterday’s’ radio Dusty D. was talking up Cobb saying he had a great camp and wouldn’t be surprised if he played this year. Don’t know about returns, though.
Awesome, thats good news. I hadn’t heard that
Good thought, if he doesn’t have newb jitters.
Electric.
Though, not sure if Bob will put a True Freshmen to handle punts…
The last one to comes to mind 05-06 Reggie Smith?.. or was rankins still around…
Ooo. Good choice. I was thinking Jones, but Cobb may be the better pick.
I would go with Mixon and Brooks, KR. Baxter and Jones, for PR.
Before Rodney got hurt I would be okay with Mixon doing returns but now, I wouldn’t be comfortable losing another back.
Westbrook on either kick or punt returns would make me want to bang my head against a brick wall.
Because…? Too valuable to risk an injury?
yes
Gotta have long arms and good hands to make that fair catch signal…
No, Quick?
Good hands required, so no…
yaaa good point… hmmm trying to think who is thick… good hands… ..don’t want to spell them…. upper classmen is a plus.. playmaker…
Mixon and Brooks..
Found a place for Alvarez!
As long as Baxter can raise his right hand above his shoulder, he should get the job.
As long as Baxter can raise his right hand above his shoulder, he should get the job.
One thing you (Super K) didn’t mention was: Bobby Evans has made a push at right Tackle that could enable BB to move Samia inside to Guard.
Coach – far down the thread, K answered a similar question. As I recall, the thinking was that the guard quality “gap” for Samia to next up is not as great as the Tackle gap from Samia to Evans – Check below for his exact thought.
fwiw, that has been addressed numerous times on the site, incl. the fact TFB was the first to report Evans’ push for time at RT.
Jordan, anything happening with the potential TFB pre game get together that Brandon mentioned a week or so back? Really need to do this man!
i must have missed that, wasn’t aware this was a thing.
This post, sort by best and it will be at top.
https://thefootballbrainiacs.com/ou-oklahoma-sooners-football-recruiting-2017-commitment-boom-alert-open-post
Coach, K mention Evans as a possible RT earlier this year so Dru can move inside. However, I asked early this morning and K said the gap was to wide. Meaning Dalton or Alverez at RG and Dru seemed best at this point. I was hoping that Evans would be the RT so Dru could move down. Guess Evans needs more work before he can take that RT spot.
Random Question for all,
Where is the visitor section (opponent tickets) going to be now that the south endzone was upgraded?
Several rows in sections 19-22, 226-228 and 233-235 will all be made into visitor sections, OU spokesman Mike Houck confirmed Monday.
EDIT: http://newsok.com/article/5474716
Thanks J.R.
My pleasure. I was looking for a pair in Section 233 is the only reason I know.
Sam could benefit from that. I still don’t know where my seats will be. I’m assuming they will be in the visitor’s section for tOSU game.
EXCEPT for Bail er – south parking lot at the weather center on north campus…and that’s too good for’em.
🙂 Lol
Great Stuff K! Thanks! I think every team, after watching the Clemson game, will send blitz after blitz until we prove them otherwise. Can’t wait to see how we show on game day!
They’ll all be watching the RRR and the Orange bowl. Which means we should too….alot. Even the Tenn game, they had good success against our OL last year.
no kidding..freaking Venables knew exactly what the issue was. He called a stunt twist or blitz EVERY play.
totally…and you know Texas is going to have the exact game plan as last year defensively.
They’ll all be watching the RRR and the Orange bowl. Which means we should too….alot. Even the Tenn game, they had good success against our OL last year.
https://twitter.com/soonergridiron/status/768173878459760640
Man Joe C has aged since I saw him last (per the article)
that’s not Joe in that pic, no way
LOL I agree
well… you never know- wasn’t sure if you were serious or not. Just goes to show ya that there are a lot of idiots out there writing articles that know nothing about the subject matter
Words of wisdom RBear.
haha! nope..
Plus he wouldn’t need a pass…
As further evidence to Bob’s newfound mojo and modern day hip factor, we’ll soon see (as many already have within the program), Bob will be sporting signature Rickie Fowler ankle tapered khaki’s this season
As further evidence to Bob’s newfound mojo and modern day hip factor, we’ll soon see (as many already have within the program), Bob will be sporting signature Rickie Fowler ankle tapered khaki’s this season
Great, just when I was getting comfortable with our OL!
https://twitter.com/Eddie_Rado/status/768173768346710016
Ford absolutely blows Roberts up on the first clip. Nice to see.
Yeah he did. Looked like Roberts stepped on a landmine. Keep those coming Cody.
Yeah he did. Looked like Roberts stepped on a landmine. Keep those coming Cody.
https://twitter.com/GuerinEmig/status/768183779865223168
“Fullback Dimitri Flowers said Mixon is playing “so much faster” this
season, which creates a good problem for offensive coordinator Lincoln
Riley.’ NICE!
Nice day TFB.See ya in the AM——————–
See ya, Metz. I’ve been lurking most of the day.
see you!!
Have a great evening and be safe
Have a great evening and be safe
Since there’s no OP….that thing looks nice!
https://twitter.com/PlankShow/status/768187558538858497
Now, we just need one on the other side to match.
That’s hot.
Indeed. I’m having a hard time taking my eyes off it.
During the week after practice, can they open the doors and use this as a man cave. Serve some beer and peanuts and put old OU games on. I like it.
It would help fund the money we are losing by being in the Big 12.
Our defense is going to have to keep getting turnovers if we want to win this one. Those penalties aren’t helping ULM’s cause either. Must have had a few false starts inside their 5.
Not enough rushing yards either.
Good lord. I feel sorry for the people sitting directly under the speakers.
What? 🙂
I said, do you wanna dance?!
lol
Ha! Let’s jump around!
Ha! Let’s jump around!
Is that a recording studio on top?
Its Switzers mancave.
Oh man, the F*’n King himself. I should have known…
Then I’m sure we’re all invited.
I can see Switzer and Boz getting in after the stadium closes and hooking up a little Madden . . .
B E A Utiful!!!
The screen looks clearer than looking at the stands themselves.
Fantastic.
But I disagree with the score. OU 70 – shutout.
OU w 31 in the 1st sounds good.
That thing is awesome
Wowzer!!
Still waiting on that Boz video…..jus sayin.
Was it Brian or Boz that claimed it was coming and do they speak to each other? 🙂
http://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2014/10/Brian-Bosworth-1.jpg
Keep that bar level, Brian!!
That’s not Brian, that is “The Boz”!!!
If you’re talking about the Boz addressing the team, I saw part of it somewhere, not sure where.
Metz posted this yesterday. Here is the Twitter link: https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/767724741356511232
Sounded like a hell of a pep talk.
He had their attention, that’s for sure.
I want to hear ALL of it.
I know, right?
http://oklahoma.247sports.com/Bolt/Five-star-Khavon-Moore-to-visit-Kentucky-and-Oklahoma-46919869
Hope Lon can seal the deal.
Would be big. It would help if we had Trae Young in the fold.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/south-carolina-reports-22-ncaa-sec-infractions-past-203258536–spt.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=YAHOO&utm_term=COLLEGE+FOOTBALL+NEWS&utm_content=COLLEGE+FOOTBALL+NEWS
Good ole $EC, baby.
We will definitely see how good Coach B is at his job once we see them play vs. Houston. I expect some growing pains, but for the talent and athleticism to take over once the nervousness is gone.
I am not sure if the so-called issues are actually OL not blocking in practice or BB is trying find the more dominate mix.
I think it has to do with youth and not as much experience, especially in the interior. The more reps and getting game experience will help. Hopefully sooner than later.
Our OL is going to be really good. We are finally back to those NFL sized o-linemen that we used to see dominate the LOS. The mad scientist is just perfecting his concoctions.
So, are we really going to be able to score enough to beat Houston with the questions of the OL? Just a question, is BB working with enough talent? It seems that we didn’t get rolling until AFTER the Texas game last year, that can’t happen this year.
So it seems like practice notes have pretty much died down… I am assuming they don’t want to give out info to the enemy???? Just sayin’…
Soooo, yOUr saying that yOUr the enemy??? 😉
Lol!!!! I am definitely not the enemy. I am sure Houston and other schools view this site based on some of the great info that is provided. 😉
https://twitter.com/TRowOU/status/768224022618378240
Eggcellent!!!
Ford handled him pretty well. Makes me feel better about the OL.
I don’t comment much about linemen because I only know what I see. I am completely confident in the left side and feel better about the rest than I have in quite a while. Probably most concerned about center and not because of the physical talent available, more about the mental leadership required and not knowing enough about the guys in contention.
Wren was Darlington’s understudy, as it were. I think we’ll be good there. As far as breaking in new guys goes, three new guys have relegated a returning starter to the bench. Some people may take that as a negative but I see it as nothing but positive.
He’s got great size.
He raved about Austin last year and he never sniffed the field.
https://twitter.com/OUDailySports/status/768238294307962880
https://twitter.com/BPrzybylo/status/768239841351835648
Gallimore Walker Romar Q…
I don’t guess I catch what you’re talking about.
Thanks for your thoughts, K. I’m just thinking how nice it would be to go into the season with NO issues, concerns or questions about the O line. I’m too old to remember a time with my memory shortin out on me. Somebody remind me! Maybe I’ll live to see that time in the future.
ALL OF THE KING’S TEAMS except for 81-83. I knew the wishbone would score.
Looks like competition has ramped up on the o line. I find that more refreshing than just having incumbent starters from last year. I am surprised to see Alvarez possibly on the bench. It looked like last year he played solid. It looks like BB is building some quality depth along the line at last.
Houston will test this group for sure. They held FSU to like 50 yrds rushing. But FSU always threw for over 400 and committed 5 turnovers. Protect the ball, play smart I think we can handle the upstart Cougars
https://twitter.com/joeduvall/status/768248004784427008
We have to win game 1 if for no other reason than to avoid the silly headlines: “Houston, We Have a Problem” or “Houston, We Have Liftoff” etc.
Good read
Yep.
Dahu Green brings ‘spectacular plays’ to receiving corps
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ousportsextra/oklahoma-football–dahu-green-brings–spectacular-plays–to-receiv/article_a94a9112-873b-5adc-a357-c66a5d896b46.html
Dakota Austin, A.D. Miller Talk Improvements During Fall Camp
http://www.newson6.com/story/32825216/ou-football-dakota-austin-ad-miller-talk-improvements-during-fall-camp
The first game out of the gate will be a huge test for this unit. Houston’s defensive line has the chance to be the best unit our offensive line will see all year. I know it sounds crazy, but if you haven’t taken a look at their personnel up front, go check it out. And that’s not really even considering Ed Oliver, and as many Sooner fans know, he’s got the potential to be exceptional.
If the line can get out of week one without making too many mistakes, and can control the line of scrimmage, then that’s a really good sign for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, there isn’t much time to develop early in the season, and as Super K mentioned, our conference doesn’t have a shortage of edge rushers.
As the offensive line goes, so will the 2016 Sooners.
True story
“Texas and OU are both 1-2 headed into conference play”
http://www.vivathematadors.com/2016/8/23/12603492/five-big-xii-predictions-for-2016
Most entertaining. LMAO at delusional taco techies. Baker butt hurt lives on.
With losing Rodney I don’t want to see Mixon returning kicks. I’d rather see Daniel Brooks
Brooks’ speed might be preferable to Mixon, not to say Joe has no speed, I’m just saying Brooks really has wheels.
SHOULD BE FUN! BOOMER!
SOONER!!
SOONER!!
Seems like I’ve read Cobb and Parnell’s names a ton the last week or so. Those guys might become studs for this team in a couple of years.
https://twitter.com/BPrzybylo/status/768253133000548352
<<hp.. ★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★::::::!il406r:….,…..
https://twitter.com/_CeDariann/status/768272563155849216
Can any of you fine folks give me your opinion on the Sooner Sports TV package? TIA
Anybody on the “inside” hearing anything pertaining to a wrestling coach search? thanks
Only 10 DTG Boomer
Can’t get here soon enough
Rare look: https://youtu.be/ZsZ3pe5shfc
I absolutely loved that first play that nebraska ran on offense! I remember jumping up and down and hollering and I was watching this game with a bunch of cornshucker fans. LOL