Open Post | Monday, Jun. 29th (UPDATE 6:25 pm)
Posted on: June 29, 2015
Image via Scout.com
– Xavier Kelly: There isn’t a ton in the way of recruiting notes this time of the year now that dead period is upon us. But after missing out on OU legacy Jared Mayden’s Top 7 last week, OU has now also failed to make the cut for one of their top 2016 d-line targets in Xavier Kelly.
To be quite honest, this comes as quite a surprise. Kelly had recently visited Norman and told TFB following the trip that he not only enjoyed the visit, but planned on taking an official to Oklahoma this fall. I exchanged messages with him just a few moments ago and Kelly now says he’s not sure he will make it to a game in Norman this season at all (official or unofficial).
It’s becoming imperative that Oklahoma reassess it’s recruiting board and really begin to recruit players they have a reasonable shot at landing. Otherwise, this recruiting cycle could end up leaving a bit of a hole in the program’s overall talent base.
In the coming days, I hope to take a look at some of the prospects OU can hopefully focus on and eventualy land. At the defensive end position specifically, it seems clearer now that an offer to Teton Saltes may be warranted. – (Super K)
– Joe Mixon: In case you missed it over the weekend, I confirmed through a source that Joe Mixon did suffer a high ankle sprain last week as well as some bruising to his knee. But I have also been told Mixon has been walking around without any crutches. – (Super K)
– UPDATE (6:25 pm): I am hearing that Baker Mayfield has sustained some type of injury. I don’t know the full extent of it just yet. But I have been told it’s a rotator cuff issue, and that Mayfield is not currently working out with the team due to said injury.
Will continue to update you once I have additional confirmation and/or clarity on the extent of the injury. – (Super K)
378 Comments
First.
Well, there’s always next year.
Careful, that sounds awfully Ok. State-ish
You must have missed the obvious in that comment. I was just warming the place up…
I’m thinking that winning is more important than love with tcu in the top 8 and not OU.
That might be so but it’s been a known fact the coaches do not recruit up to par with other programs Montgomery made it know how far back there were with recruiting. Tennessee doesn’t win but yet they have had top 10 classes the past couple years and look at Miami they have a better 2017 class than we do 2016. Winning does help with recruiting no doubt but the coaches still have to get out there and bust it on the recruiting trail.
Tennessee does have the advantage of the SEC “allure,” that seems to be winding down finally though.
Miami has a ridiculous resume of 1st round draft picks and the popularity of the 30 for 30 documentaries. Yes, I know OU has both of those things but our 30 for 30s are about an unstoppable force that ended his college career early, and The Boz who they portrayed as an NFL bust.
Not all publicity is good publicity, loved those documentaries though
I agree with some of what you have said but do you get the feeling the coaches are not maybe working as hard as some of these other schools to connect with the recruits?
On a case by case basis, maybe. I would say of course KSU goes all in on a highly rate in-state defensive recruit. OU does not have to go all in on Kelly because we have a national appeal. There are other highly rated DEs out there we can appeal to.
Man those two really hurt! A legacy says no thanks and a recent visitor to all our facilities and soon to be updates chooses kstate and tcu over us. But I am sure our coaches weren’t really that high on these guys and know exactly who they really want. (heavy sarcasm)
James Mayden wasn’t exactly a dynamic basketball player, so I’m not all that concerned about losing out on Jr. But losing Kelly hurts.
I hear you but what is most troubling is not that we are missing but that we are missing a top 8 list. We are not even making it past the window shopping phase with kids right now. Unless they play QB.
I’m more excited about Chandler than I am about Mayden
Not sure if you’ve been, but TCU’s new stadium is very impressive. Once (if?) ours gets upgrades I’m sure that will help us
Damn it, Monty, why’d you have to leave our staff so soon? If Monty were recruiting these guys we would be in their top 8.
In some ways it’s been hinted that JM might not have been as good or better coaching than he was as a recruiter. the thing that will help Reynolds the most is by putting a product on the field that leads the big 12 in major categories like yards per rush, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. That’s a lot to ask for but when things were rolling in the 2000s, it was because our DL was great and front 7 as well.
Still not sure where that comes from. Number 1 rush defense in the Big 12 last year and the DL was the only redeeming quality in the Clemson game. It’s the DC’s choice how much pressure they bring and from where and 3 man rushes were the regular response to a max protect. Something I know is common but not, in my opinion, intuitive.
Those comments have been made and I think some of the more telling signs came from an interview with Phillips where I’m paraphrasing but he basically said the DL didn’t mesh well last year and guys weren’t playing for the team.
Which is ironic because Phillips was imo the most “me first” guy.
I also didn’t like that guys didn’t get rotated much throughout the year. I thought wade did a great job in 2013 when Phillips was hurt so I never understood how he got in the dog house and that would have been a JM decision.
Jerry just liked quicker guys off the ball so he played Romar more.
Super K, do you think Walker is going to be a star? Seems to me he has all the tools.
interesting remark……”It’s becoming imperative that Oklahoma reassess it’s recruiting board and really begin to recruit players they have a reasonable shot at landing.”
I’d probably go w/ depressing but, yeah, it’s definitely something 🙂
you have to watch out for the board police………..btw, welcome back tho I’m sure it was too short for you
thanks, good to be back.
Id go with depressing too. Who would have thought even a few years ago that OU would be fighting it out with the likes of TCU and Baylor for talented kids and seemingly losing out more often than not.
I feel like Im living in the Bizzaro world.
Who knows what weighs on a youngster’s mind. Personally, I think the recruiting process probably leads to more mistakes by kids than good decisions. Like most, they want immediate gratification and celebrity. Kids get offers from 50 schools who are just trying to get a seat at the table whether they have a true interest in the kid or not. Alabama offers every 5 and 4 star on every recruiting site. Pretty sure they offer kids they know nothing about. Then if the kid shows interest they may learn more about him. These offers aren’t commitable offers. If the kid says I want to commit, they tell him it’s tentative pending decisions by others. Then as things fall out, the school gets more serious in evaluating.
I think we have moved in this direction, just like most other programs. The process needs a rethink.
Of course, some of the kids are manipulating the system too. You see it in the immaturity some display. That’s what issuing a top 10 list is all about. They may think they have the leverage, but they don’t. Just look at how many had Bama in their top 5 then never committed or signed with the Tide.
I suspect that if OU really likes Kelly, they will continue to recruit him despite the list. If they not, they won’t waste the time or expense of doing so.
appreciate Jordan telling it like it is…what OU has a reasonable shot of landing are guys at the 2* & low 3* level ( with all the pluses and minuses as athletes ) who are being bypassed by the high D-1 level schools ….
So OU will have no four star recruits when the class is done, and our avg. stars for the class will be less than 3?
And if Baylor and TCU, and any SEC school are going after a kid, we should just drop out, because we have no chance?
So we’re now on the level of ISU and KU? Because that is what you described.
All of this is what you have inferred, because X Kelly passed on us?
You need to change your username….Chicken Little…….
Did Kelly express to you in the text exchange why OU didn’t make the cut?
I would imagine he just doesn’t believe the vision for how he fits in the defense scheme since we’re talking about being multiple. Maybe he just wants to go to a place where he knows he’s either a DE in a 4 man front or a OLB in a 3-4
I honestly didn’t ask David but I can definitely follow up with him.
Eighteenth.
I can’t believe we missed out on a top recruit.., that probably wants to stay home or compete in the College Football playoff.. ? Chill..
There are always going to be other kids, so one will always have the ability to say something similar. But at some point, missing on kids you arguably wouldn’t and/or shouldn’t be missing on becomes a problem.
OU already has a talent problem, I’m not sure how that can even be debatable at this point. So you’re already small margin for error w/ regards to recruiting is now that much smaller.
6 players drafted looked pretty good.
Good, not great when you consider where most were drafted. But I definitely see your point.
Only Florida State, Louisville, Florida, Alabama, Miami had more.
So if we don’t have 7 first day draft picks each year, we’re lacking talent?
The problem is not that we don’t have any talent. It’s that there are certain positions that we are far short of championship level talent. I don’t think anyone with sense would claim we have a talent problem at RB. But we had the 117th rated pass defense in the country. That’s points to a talent problem in the back seven.
I also think that it is also a depth issue. We may be able to put eleven good players on the field at any given time, but how many injuries do we have to have before we are tapped out.
Talent problem ?
Yes, talent problem.
See above
Same
Do you think our young depth at DL is scaring away some recruits(not that it should)? Got 6 guys that will be Juniors next year when the 16′ recruiting shows up on campus plus a really loaded class from last year with Gallimore, Overton, Campbell, Mann, Roberts if he qualifies and if Lampkin were to get in that class it would be a really deep class. This doesn’t include guys like Bolton or Obo who play OLB/DE. Plus we got one committed for this year if Terry stays on the defensive side of the ball. I completely agree that our overall team depth needs a ton of work though!
I don’t, but mainly b/c I don’t see the depth others appear to, at least at DE. I think you have three, maybe four guys after this year that are on the current roster. If that’s scaring kids then the issue is w/ them and/or the coaches not being able to sell them. That shouldn’t be scaring anyone away from OU, IMO.
Yeah it is really hard to determine what OU is looking for in a DE right now! In a odd front I could think 6 maybe 7 guys could play DE but in this Hybrid Even front with a LB playing De it is hard to see more than 2 or 3 that fit the bill. Maybe the muddy water will clear when we see some games played!
There was a experience problem, and a miss identifying who could play CB problem. Then injuries to Grissom and Hayes (who was too good and “experienced” to move to NB). Basically I am saying Wilson should have stayed at NB, Hayes at S and work in Thomas at CB if he was the best out of Austin and Taylor.
They have or have had issues in very recent years at WR, OT, TE, DT, LB, CB & S. What am I missing?
Yep, and so has everybody else. FSU at QB, Bama secondary, but we are talking ’15 where are we missing talent ? Not experience but talent ?
FSU at QB? You mean where they just had a Heisman trophy winner? Or Bama w/ their three (essentially) 1st round picks in the last three years?
You mentioned all of OUs woes in recent AND past so yes FSU had QB issues before Winston. And Bama’s weak link the last few yrs according to experts and Bama fans has been CBs.
Nothing at all, think many folks are thinking you are saying OU has no talent when you are mostly referring to lack of depth and a few key positions that OU missed on recruits. You can have the best players in the country at each position and still have a talent problem cause if you don’t have depth then you don’t have much!
I guess we could get classes like Texas and Florida recently they have done so much better ?
Let’s see…..Two drafted OT’s….a drafted NT…..a drafted TE…. a drafted LB……and that’s just last year’s draft class.
Saunders, Broyles, Brown, Stills are all WR’s still in NFL from “recent” years…..
Julian Wilson, as we hated last year, is still on an NFL roster, as we speak…….
NFL website just name OU OL U…….
What am I missing?
It took Monty a year to build momentum. Losing Kelly is not positive news but there is time. The DE depth is building.
Austin Roberts will be Jr
RS Fresh – Orso Fresh – Mann & Campbell
DE’s on the radar – Saltes, Madubuike, Bowan, Bledsoe, & some others. But it looks like the board will change due to Kelly.
Definitely time. Madubuike will likely never visit OU. Don’t know about Bowen and I was told Bledsoe isn’t in it for OU but that info was a couple months old.
Well, with the insight, their board will need to be scrubbed. Honestly K, I’m not really sure what type of DE OU is looking for with their multiple sets. Not a lot of 6’5 guys that run 4.55 around so interested to see what happens next.
They just need to recruit the traditional 1,3,5,7 techs. Guys that are quick off the ball, have got flexibility and a hard working. Then you coach em up. Don’t have to get “stars” just need the right guys. But if they don’t reassess that board quickly the pool to draw from is going to get smaller and smaller.
Any updates on Marvin Terry? I’ve seen him listed as a DE but his size indicates LB to me.
I like your idea about Saltes. Truthfully, after your analysis on him and the video, I was kind of in the “what’s taking so long” camp anyways.
Would we like to land X Kelley? Yes. If he has the drive and work ethic, with his measureables, he can be a star. But for whatever reason, it didn’t click. Move on, find other talents, and coach the talents you’ve got. I Coach Reynolds can coach, it will show on the field, and the players will come.
I’m of the opinion that we’ve got to show on the field, and that until then, we’re going to miss on some Kelly’s. Truthfully, even if we’re back to OUr standards, we’re still going to miss some.
I like Super K’s idea as well…..think Saltes will be a fine college player………..
And you have three guys listed on the current roster, none of whom have yet to take a single snap.
Could they be fantastic? Sure. But from a recruiting standpoint, you simply can’t approach things that way. You have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Either way, though, three guys isn’t nearly enough from a DE depth standpoint no matter if you’re playing a 3-4 or, what I think they will be moving back towards, a 4-3.
Jordan, don’t take this wrong but could you let me know your past on scouting or coaching. Thanks
No offense taken. I don’t have one. Never claimed to, though, fwiw.
I would go easy on bashing a player if you don’t have that expertise. Derek has worked his tail off to represent OU on and off the field. I don’t know him but for what hes gone through, he has my respect.
Who is bashing a player? I called him a career backup (which he has been), while also qualifying that with the fact he’s played behind guys who are now playing on Sundays. I feel like that’s pretty clearly stating the facts as they are, not “bashing a player” as you’re suggesting.
Voicing potential concern over a guy who has never really been asked to start on a consistent basis and/or has a ton of live-action experience isn’t, IMO, bashing a player. It’s stating a legitimate point.
It may not be one you agree with, but that doesn’t make it null and void. It could just as easily prove to be a non-issue, and he could turn out to be a star. But until we see something to that effect, I don’t think I’m at all out of line in expressing some skepticism considering the lack of a proven track record.
Which would be the same for any player, btw. Do I think Joe Mixon is going to be the next stud RB for OU? Yeah, I like the chances of that happening. But until I see him on the actual field doing all the things that stud OU running backs have been known to do, I’m going to be skeptical about whether or not it happens. So am I bashing Joe Mixon now with said skepticism?
But more to the point, I’ve always found this notion that you have to be a former player and/or coach before you have the right to offer your opinion on the game to be rather silly.
If your buddy asked you for advice regarding their marriage for example, would you throw your hands up saying, “Sorry, you’re own your own bud. I’m not a marriage counselor, can’t help ya.” Which is just one of countless examples I could offer disproving this theory.
If someone were to watch football for the better part of their life, is it then inconceivable they could have gleaned a fair amount of intelligence as to the finer points of the game? Even without have been a former player and/or coach themselves?
Which is in no way to suggest former players and/or coaches don’t know more about the game than myself. But I also wouldn’t make that type of a blanket statement with respect to either side of that coin.
It’s fine Jordan.
Roger that
Have you ever read JE’s tweets lets say during a OU men’s basketball game. Joe C needs to give Esco a call. He seems to have all the answers.
JK miss your insight and expertise on the board. Don’t leave and keep bringing your knowledge of the HS ranks on here. I enjoy it as well as others.
Look man I used to post on here all the time. JE is a typical arm chair QB that loves to rip the coaches the Stoops brothers especially. Being in the profession I typically don’t frequent these pages like I used to pre JE.
Don’t let one guy keep you from providing your insight. Everyone has their own views so it’s all good. I choose not to point out one player who has played behind 2 guys who started most of the games the last 3 years and then were drafted.
I’m all in with Saltes!
I realize that OU should probably aim lower to not leave a hole in the program’s talent base but I mean if that isn’t telling, what is? Very troubling stuff indeed.
What I mean by that is just really assessing the board and looking for guys that are the right fit even they aren’t necessarily the “stars”
Sounds a lot like Kruger’s philosophy, which certainly has produced and turned a program around, especially difficult at a football school. The guy takes the right pieces, even if they are more pedestrian, and just builds chemistry. Personally, I love that philosophy.
It gets better, yall. The sun will come out. Oh and there isn’t a talent problem these days; that notion to me is absurd. It’s not hard to make he comparison to golf: everybody caught up to tiger and Phil. The same thing has happened in college football.
You’re familiar w/ the secondary, right? Or LB. or OT. Or WR last year. I’d love to hear how there isn’t a talent problem.
I wouldn’t say there’s a talent problem. I do think the talent level is good enough to still compete for big 12 titles but there is a somewhat significant change in the coaching and attitude imo. I think a lot of last year’s secondary issues were just inexperience I do expect a huge turn around there. At LB I think OU may have some of the most athletic and talented guys around but may have trouble putting them in position to succeed.
The offense and way the receivers were coached last year was worthy of a drug test from both OC’s.
OTs will be fine under bedenbaugh. The WRs last year were a blatant coaching issue IMO. And I guess I’m one of only a few who thought the linebackers played well. The secondary was and is talented but they were inexperienced and never communicated with each other. No talent issues to me so we may have to agree to disagree haha.
I very much agree re: Bedenbaugh in that they will (key word) be fine at OT, but for 2015 they’re looking at the very real possibility of having to start Derek Farniok.
So, yes, if you don’t see that as a potential problem then yeah we probably will have to just agree to disagree 🙂
We have three OT’s right now that aren’t freshmen in eligibility. One is the aforementioned Farniok, one was recruited as a tight end, and one is a JC transfer. Why would that be a problem. 🙂
Your sarcasm aside, are we saying that the aforementioned freshmen are lacking in talent?
And it seems to me that Coach B has filled his cupboard, with his kind of players, and that his track record thus far is showing that he can coach ’em up.
So I’m not seeing the lack of talent at the OT. Somewhat green. But I’ve total confidence that Coach B will field one of the best OL’s in the conference, if not the country, each and every year.
good summation ….really need Frison to come through and St John as well…………….
I think Farniok should get his chance. Guy has stuck it out in the program for so long and the guys behind him are just oozing ability (IMO) so if he doesn’t hold up so well enter Frison/Brown.
That’s a strong statement there, Jordan. Overreact any?
In general, if you know anything about football, you know that playing pups at LB or safety is asking for trouble. So was there a talent issue at LB and Safety? Yes, one left by Venables, that forced the playing of underclassmen. And, if you’re honest with yourself, the LB’s were more than solid against the run. Just inadequate v. the pass. No reason to assume that they don’t have the talent to become complete LB’s with more experience and coaching. As for the safeties, maybe not so optimistic, but still will expect Jr.’s to play vastly better than sophomores. Most wanted to run Gabe Lynn off after his freshman and sophomore years. Yet he turned out to be more than serviceable as a junior, and downright indispensable as a senior.
WR – there may or may not be a talent deficit. But there is more than an inkling to suggest that there is talent, that was severely under-coached. Guess we’ll see.
And OT. Don’t even know where you’re pulling that out of. Nothing at all to suggest that Bedenbaugh has not totally stocked the cupboard with talent. I’d like for you to support your suggestion that we’re lacking OT talent, with some facts. Or even anecdotal or any support.
I would love to hear something other than your darts above, to support your suggestion that this team is seriously lacking in talent, overall.
The only talent deficit I see, is at QB. And a big part of that may be coaching as well.
Not bothered. Play well on the field especially on defense, and things will improve recruiting wise. Its that simple.
OU never misses on a recruit, the recruits misses out on OU. The only recruits that matter to me are the ones who sign on the dotted line. I want players who want to bleed for the Crimson And Cream, period. To be a Sooner is hard work and takes discipline and dedication, guys only looking for ‘da luv’ need not apply.
I agree but some of our coaches need to do a better job of convincing kids that this is a place that they want to bleed for. For example: Manti Teo did not grow up in any loving the Irish but he sure as crap gave them everything he had. That is a good find and good sell by coaches to get that kid to come to your school. Other than Gundy Coach B and LR we need to see this more on our staff. I know Reynolds and Cooks are new but I want o see Bob, Mike and Kish start closing some deals.
As a fan, and having never been close to recruiting, I’ve always depended on the hope my beloved Sooners would build a team by heart and desire. Working together so as the sum of the parts are recognizably greater than the whole. A magic with so many unaccountable parts I tend to not worry about stats and numbers and hype. I will however come to this site several times a day as it feeds my foam at the mouth desire to, ‘know stuff’. Thanks to those who know!
I have been visiting this site for about as long as it has been out and I love all the info that I get and I sincerely appreciate the opinions of just about everyone that posts here. So for my first post, I just wanted to say that it is my belief that OU needs a spark on the defensive side of the ball. I honestly just don’t see Mike Stoops being able to turn this thing around on that side of the field. Lord knows I hope he will, but I think it was a mistake to for Bob to keep him around. Lincoln is already proving that at least at the QB position he will be able to bring in some highly rated kids. We need to see the same thing happen on the defensive side and hopefully something will happen one way or another to ignite that spark.
Welcome aboard!!! I hope that within the next 68 days Mike has an epiphany and realizes that his defense is not doing so well. And that he takes the correct steps to remedy the situation.
If I were a DE, I would have no idea what my role in the Mike Stoop’s Defense Scheme of the Week would be. Is he running, a 4-3, 3-4, 3-3-5, 4-2-5, 4-1-6, 5-2? What exactly is our base defense? Will it be the same next year? Next month? Next Week?
Yep.
c’mon man, it’s multiple……
Multiple – from the Latin meaning “I have no clue.”
Makes me think of the old axiom about teams planning to use more than one QB… “if you’re using two, you don’t have any.”
I hope we don’t have two this year.
And along that line….do you have any idea if you are going to be playing in a one gap aggressive scheme or in a two gap scheme where you are asked to hold up blockers?
I seem to recall Super K saying that his info was that we were going to go back to a one gap approach.
My take always was that Mikey played two gap because his LB’s were inexperienced and undersized (because they’re young). He was protecting them. Going one gap suits his personnel better as he’s gotten more experienced and bigger at LB.
But if you recall, he played a lot of two gap in his early days. I watched a replay of OU-Neb 2000, and the announcers went on and on about how the DL was set up to soak up the OL blocks and let the LB’s make plays. I.e., two gap. I even remember Tejas trying to use that against us when we were recruiting Tommie Harris. They would suggest he would waste away in our two gap scheme. He needed to go to Tejas where they let their DL play and attack.
But there you have it….every semester under Mike Oklahoma is not ply changing alignments they are changing the fundamental structures of their defense.
So it becomes a chicken and the egg scenario with Oklahoma. Do they have no foundation schematically because they lack talent and all the key pieces of the puzzle to make it fit. Or do they lack all that due to the scheme changes and huge issues that has caused in recruiting?
It’s clearly the latter!
If you don’t know who you are, what you are going to ask of your players or what you are going to do you obviously are going to struggle to recruit to fit anything.
It’s better to have a clear bullseye to aim for rather than tossing crap at the wall and painting a bullseye around it.
What MS ran in his first stent has no bearing on now. The change in the Big 12 to a spread passing league has caused some issues. Look around the league. One week you need to play an effective scheme against a run-oriented K St, then, the next week the five wr set of Taco Tech comes to town. Indeed, you need to be multiple. Bama is an example. Look at their last three important games. Auburn torched them for 40 two years ago. Then OU another 40, and OSU last year for 40. Three different type of offenses and they had time to prepare and still got torched. Defending teams these days is diffiuclt.
I really want to see us he aggressive and accept that fact your gonna get beat once in a while rather than set back and be demoralized like we were last year.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Diron Reynolds.. however, something is obviously not connecting with the high school kids he’s responsible for recruiting..
Even after everything I’ve already said in here, I still don’t think we can go here just yet. It was likely always gonna take some time, especially considering his lack of true experience being a primary recruiter. But I think it’s much too early to be jumping to any conclusions. But that’s JMO.
It is very early for him.. but every DL kid that Monty had a good relationship with in this class has dropped us since he left & DR has taken over.. Even after having met him & been recruited by him for the past few months…
I can’t argue that.
I can.
To me, it seems like Monty was selling himself a lot more than he was selling Oklahoma or the program in general.. Otherwise these kids would at least be giving us a shot still.. But they’re dropping us before they can even take officials..
The best salesmen sell themselves first and the product second. Are you going to buy from someone you like or someone you don’t know or particularly like. Lots of people have a similar product, it comes down to the better salesman. Translates to recruiting too.
I bet we get more out of the Dline this yr than we had the last 2. And if someone mentions “we were #8 in rush defense” I am going to scream.
I hope you’re right.. & i hope that means good things for ’17 DL recruiting..
Then recruit more JCs he did fine there..
OU isn’t K-State. Going heavy on JUCO guys is very risky & OU doesn’t have the best track record developing those type of guys.
Then start a good track record with them. Evaluate more in state, border states (Ark). And go get the best JCs on the board. We are not too good for that.
WAY easier said than done
With K-State it’s not really about track record. It’s mostly about culture, and a lot of that is Snyder. K-State is really big on producing an atmosphere where walk-ons and JC transfers can thrive. Works pretty well for K-State because they’ve never had a ton of talent coming in as freshmen.
It’s still early
It’s June!!!!! Let the guy establish some relationships, and do some things with the kids he has now, and then let’s see.
Nobody get’s everybody they go after. Maybe Coach Reynolds is real quiet and laid back ( a la Dungy, his mentor ) and maybe XK responds better to rah rah guys? Who knows. But way to early to draw any conclusions, IMHO.
Also has the biggest learning curve from being in the NFL where guys are going to him rather than in college where he has to go get guys himself.
K, did Kelly visit anywhere else after the Norman trip? It just seems to me that someone got in his ear about OU . . . I mean, OU went from a presumed top 5 with the intended official visit to out of the top 8? That just doesn’t make too much sense.
If you look at his Twitter TL, that would certainly appear to be the case.
I was wondering the same thing but I couldn’t see venables, Patterson or Snyder negative recruiting against OU. Could be wrong but 2 of those are very connected to stoops and Patterson doesn’t strike me as the type that would stoop to that level.
So you’re saying that not one of them “Stoops” to that level?
I could see them all doing it.
TL? Tag Line? Not a big twitter guy, so idk what you’re referring to, sorry.
Time line.
Thanks
Yeah, time line like Zack said below. Sorry for the confusion.
No worries. But it’s weird, it doesn’t seem like the schools he visited in the interim (outside of michigan) made it in either . . . just seems weird to me.
It would be nice if Super K, JY, Jordon and the rest of the gang could let us know what OU is looking for at each position if there is any inside information available. (i.e. DE 6’5 265lbs Runs a 4.7 40yd dash) With all these Hybrid line ups and schemes it is really difficult to tell which recruit may fit in and where!
I remember TFB doing this last year at least with the cb targets and it was incredibly insightful and helpful. Would love to see that again.
That’s a good idea. I can try to include that when I try to look at some other possible options out there
Can I quote you on the “good idea” part my wife may ask for sworn testimony before she agrees LOL!
Anyone, name me a recruit that we missed out on that had a big impact on OU football the last 5 yrs ?
None…..ever. If we missed out on them, they had ZERO impact on OU football.
Bingo !
Not sure but some of the guys we landed that flamed out, obviously had a huge negative impact on the team.
my point is why didn’t get in Kelly’s top schools list, so what we move on.
and they are saying if he chooses TCU or K-State it will be hard to move on seeing him every year.
True if he lives up to the hype but, if he doesn’t and is just another kid not a single OU fan will be upset cause then it will turn from man wish we got that kid to glad he didn’t choose us. I have said this a million times before give me the kid that wants to be there versus the kid that thinks he deserves to be, cause that kid is coachable and is hungry and will to sacrifice.
Yep, or he could end up like Bryant or Devonte Fields.
I can name more “top recruits” that we have landed that where head cases and problems versus the no names that went on to be huge stars just saying.
I would say it may be closer to 50/50. Bradford white and heupel were not highly touted. Maybe white was but I don’t know for sure. Broyles and Colvin.
It’s easier to name the busts but if you go back and look at some guys you may be surprised how few offers they had.
White was all the hype and then some I was at TU camp with him dropped the first one but had no choice but to catch the second one. TU coaches where all about him he was a 4 star I believe coming out of Tuttle. JH was a JUCO not sure if he had any accolades in the JUCO ranks but little was known by the average OU fan and Bradford they said was a 3 star but people though he could help the Basketball team more at the time then the football team, shortly after BG showed up and dominated. Mean here is the thing Zack it is 50/50 I am sure but, give me the 2/3 star guys with the right 4 and 5 star guys and you will be ok. Way I feel is the guys that want to play for you will give it their all versus the guys that expect to be there you get my drift. I appreciate your post and reviews and outlook for sure along with everyone else.
I’m one of those who believed Bradford would have been a better basketball prospect out of hs. I saw him every year as a rival (pco) and he was a much better basketball player than he was football player at that level.
Him and Gresham both where basketball studs I hear both could have either started or came off the bench on the basketball team by what I hear even with BG and the group they had. But all in all I believe you was right Tech was the next best offer Bradford had and JH I think was considering Wyoming or Utah as far as D1 offers go. I think White had a better rating then that though he was all the hype by my understanding held offers from TU, OSU, OU, Nebraska, KSU, KU, Arkansas, Tech, Baylor, Colorado, etc.
All JUCOs were rated 2 stars in 1999.
Jason White was a 2 star on Rivals, rated as the 88th best QB.
Bradford was a 4 star (17th ranked) on Scout and a 3 star (12th ranked) on Rivals.
Those aren’t bad numbers for Bradford but his next best offer was tech right?
Julio Jones, Reuben Randle, Mario Edwards, Malcolm Brown, Quandre Diggs, Cam Newton (ok bad example but it was between us and Miss. St.), Jace Amaro, JT Barrett, Tevin Mitchel. Just a few I found that were good contributors at other and schools and are in NFL now. I know Julio is a little farther back but talk about a guy that would have made an impact and we made his final cut.
We were OK on offense in ’08 ? If we had Brown we might not have had Phillips. All in all no loses here
Seems another pity party/rant thread has begun. Pretty neat. Wonder how many coaches we’d go through if some of you got your wish every time we miss out on someone?
Eleventy.
It’s actually closer to eleventy kevin.
You said what I have been trying to say for the last hour.. Thank you !!
Dimon
Ijalana
Orso
Tapper
Ward
Garnett
Romar
Wade
Walker
Overton
Campbell
Mann
Gallimore
(and DeBerry and McGinnis)
Maybe relax a smidge, gents and ladies.
Roberts
Good post. You left off Roberts.
OU has 10 DEs (read SDEs and 3-techs in the 4-2-5) and 4 NTs on the roster for this fall. Maybe another one if Lampkin makes it.
Only Tapper is a senior.
That doesn’t NOT count the standup DEs/OLBers, like Striker, Bond, Obo, and DeBerry.
Also, maybe Du’vonte Lampkin will be added in August or September.
Thanks. Beat me to the edit. 🙂
Just having bodies doesn’t necessarily mean they’re useful bodies. I keep seeing these lists of guys on the roster, but a lot of assumptions being made.
It’s one guy, I get it, but what the hell good does it do to include Ijalana on any list other than he’s an actual guy listed at DE? He’s in the first year of a position switch. The presumption that he’s going to contribute anything in 2015 is pretty ridiculous, IMO.
Ward, Orso, Mann, Campbell have all yet to basically play a down and even Walker really isn’t all that seasoned either.
Could they all work out and contribute/be productive? Sure. But to just assume so seems a bit premature to me. Equally as much so to just presume you’ll get nothing out of them (which is not my stance, rather from a recruiting standpoint you have to plan for the worst & hope for the best, as I’ve stated below).
Bell did OK.
Bell, L Johnson…etc…Ah, X Kelly wasn’t going to contribute in 2015 or 2016 anyway.
I never assumed anything, nor stated anything to imply that they would turn out to be all-stars. Rather, I simply listed the players we have to show that we aren’t depleted at these positions.
Moreover, if we roll back the tape a little bit a lot of people ’round h’yah were excited about many of these guys. We lose one player who has yet to finish his senior year and people are throwing a fit.
Point = lets relax a little bit about losing a player.
I agree with your sentiments. We have a chance to win guys over by February. Frison, Mbanasor, Ford, Anderson, Kendall, just come to mind. Probably a few more who switched to us in the past couple years. Let this year’s product speak to the recruits. Many changes were made. Let’s see what happens.
NO ONE said Ijalana was going to contribute this year. Notice where I have him on the depth chart at DE. He won’t see the field and Mann will redshirt.
I see 3 quality players at SDE and 3 quality players at the 3-technique. I see 2 quality players at NT and 2 unknowns. That’s pretty good depth.
The new guys haven’t played a down, but there’s some serious potential there, as with the 2 new LBers. Everyone is excited about the 6 DBs that were signed.
However, until we see where we are at QB, WR, and safety, we won’t know how good this team is. I think WR will turn into a strength, but the other two are question marks.
This.
Jordan is correct…it is just a list of names you have. And seeing as how it is a mixed bag of some players being recruited for a 3 man front and others a 4…how well do they really fit together to form a defensive line that separates Oklahoma?
Deberry and McGinnis are also recruited as linebackers.
It appears to me that right now we have a schizophrenic coaching
staff.
On offense we have a coordinator that knows what he wants to do. He can go out and recruit and know what he is looking for and how to communicate that to potential recruits. He also has a couple of good recruiters as position coaches in Gundy and Bedenbaugh. With that in place, the other two assistants don’t have to be that dynamic. The staff appears to be well balanced between recruiting and coaching.
On defense we have a complete mirror of that. The coordinator seems to be going through the Wikipedia page on defensive formations looking for something new to try every week. None of the assistants strike you as dynamic recruiters and the lack of scheme is probably hamstringing them if they are. It appears that we don’t really have a defensive staff as much as a collection of defensive coaches.
very insightful……………
I agree however Cooks seems to be the most put together assistant amongst them all. Not going to name names but isn’t up to someone to coordinate everything so it works together?
Cooks seemed to be the right move at the time (before Monty left). Definitely needed an upgrade in DB coaching. I don’t know that Reynolds is a bad coach or even a bad recruiter. But right now we don’t seem to have a dynamic recruiter in the bunch. A team/staff needs to be more than a collection of people. They need to cover ALL the needs of the group, but each one doesn’t have to cover every need. I just don’t see that the recruiting need was covered well in who we selected in the latest defensive hires.
It’s JUNE!!!!!! It’s over 7 months until signing day. How about we withhold judgement until then, at least?!?!?!
Whose judging I said “we don’t seem to have a dynamic recruiter.” “Seem” by it’s very nature implies a lack of final judgement. And they can be decent recruiters without being dynamic ones. The point was the lack of an obvious dynamic defensive recruiter on staff like we had in Monty, not that none of these guys are capable coaches.
By dynamic, you mean could sell ice to an Eskimo?
E.g., Switzer or maybe Monty?
I’ll buy that. Coach Reynolds come across to me, per the anecdotal accounts, as like Dungy. Quiet, firm, teacher. He may be an effective recruiter, but one that requires more time to establish his HS relationships, and demonstrate what he can help the players become.
And by his quiet nature, he may never mesh with certain kids that “need” to constantly be pumped up, told they’re the best everyday, etc.
Not saying that that is what’s going on here, but it could be…. My general opinion is that many, many, many, many, many, many….(you get my direction) of the five and four star players have been constantly and consistently told how great they are, and “need” incessant pumping. I’m guessing Coach R’s low key, quiet approach, may not mesh well with all those kids.
Anecdotal accounts suggest that the current kids are really responding well to him. We’ll see the on-field product soon. If that’s strong, he’ll get more love from the star players.
Gundy didn’t get all the star recruits early, and by all accounts he’s a no nonsense approach. “you do the work and I’ll help you be the best” , “I’ll keep recruiting ‘over’ you”, and such. But after a while, his track record won out….. That and his steadfastness and loyalty and such.
I don’t think we need a Monty or a Switzer. But I do think we need someone who can recruit the kind of kids you are talking about. It seems to me we don’t have anybody on the D side that can. We seem to have all low key guys as far as recruiting goes. Having several on the staff is OK. Having all of them that way, may be a problem.
This is exactly why I think this will be Mike’s last year as a DC any where. I honestly believe the guy has lost all confidence in his own system and is trying a mix match bag of tricks. We need a system that we can stick to and recruit for it.
Under Mike.2 we have ran what three different defenses? We go 2 scheme, 1 scheme, and then back to 2 scheme. Now we are told we will see more of the 1 scheme. I just do not get what he is trying to do. If I do not get it I imagine the HS kids are thinking the same way.
Seems pretty obvious to me Mike is being given latitude to try everything and anything first before he gets run off, hence the different scheme every season. At this point, his return has been so unremarkable, I think he’s just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks in hopes of saving his career.
OMG not the Draper Overreaction all over again. Yeah he didnt include us in his top 8, so what, you win some you lose some.
You know whats more impressive, Parker Boudreaux including us in his top 5 from a list of 70 schools. What about all the schools that didnt make Boudreaux list? Think they are wetting the bed like you guys are.
Please, we lose out on one recruit, you move on to the next one. Thats how recruiting works, no need to start crying and wetting the bed like a bunch of little girls.
The kid committed to Texas Tech Noah Jones would be a good option, or Saltes. Not like we are hurting for Dlinemen right now
…
http://media0.giphy.com/media/fwcGzF1l2cILe/200.gif
Saltes would be a great option in my estimation. Jones doesn’t seem appear to have nearly the kind of twitch to project at the same position as Kelly.
Could Saltes play OLB ?
Yeah. That’s what Oregon is recruiting him as
Then, we need to offer him at OLB as well like yesterday !!!!!
Expressing concern and “wetting the bed like a bunch of little girls” seem like significantly different extremes to me, but far be it from me to insert logic into things.
Amen. Instead of “huh, wonder what he didn’t like?” we get “every coach except Switzer needs to die slowly”.
It’s what happens when a bunch of people who don’t know what they’re talking about get angry for the millionth time at the same thing
Edit: and if Stephen Dale agrees with you it might be time to rethink life
actually I do agree with a point or two Jason stated………….
Please don’t slay me for these points.
Point 1: There’s a lot of people that say we almost never do well with highly rated players and we should focus on 3* guys. This would be a little ignorant. The spotlight is on these highly rated guys so we notice their failures more so than a 2 or 3* guy whose name isn’t as recognizable.
Point 2: OU currently has 161 offers out, of which 71 are committed to a school including us. That leaves 90 guys still out there at this moment and a small majority of the offers are for the DB position. I would suspect that after they reevaluate their position in recruiting, they will extend more offers where they already have a lot of guys off the board at their position.
Point 3: Guys flip.
Point 4: June…watch nervously but don’t sound alarms yet.
Point 5: The season ended on a bad note which really won’t be forgotten till we get back on the field and win games. If I worked for the program (I don’t so this really doesn’t matter) but I would release these new uni’s and sell the future hard meaning the stadium, the locker room they haven’t showed, really anything to get the bad vibes away from program.
Point 6: Maybe the most flack I’ll get is for this, but the Big 12 isn’t an exciting conference to play in and is probably the lowest among the P5. A&M has really taken a big step in recruiting because they have those three letters on their jersey now and that excites recruits, especially in-state recruits. The rise of Baylor and TCU isn’t doing any favors for OU when it comes to Texas recruiting either so OU is stuck battling more schools for recruits they use to win over regularly.
better get ready !!!! others will accuse you of being me……….
That’s my biggest fear…
Just by reading your post I could tell you weren’t Dale …he seems to take it too another level (no offense Dale)
To be the next SD, your comment would have needed calling the Big XII by a different name and a reference to how OU missed out on a track guy from Texas. We will just call you a damp blanket instead of wet blanket! (you are not being either, BTW)
You are not far from the truth on your points.
IMO, 4* and 5* players not getting excited about the Big XII is a perception issue that could be corrected by getting an official visit. The problem is getting that OV right now. Someone like X Kelly needs to see that a game day in Norman is just as exciting as anywhere else and the stakes are just as high.
OU needs to keep after the high profile guys but only if they fit the scheme properly. On the flip side, just going after the easy commits will result in mostly 2* and 3* players.
I am normally not that nervous about recruiting in June and I pretty optimistic, but I am not getting a good feeling about this class and I haven’t been for a while now.
I think we will do very well on the O side of recruiting but the D side will all depend on our play this year.
Offensively, there aren’t massive needs like there are on the defense. They are also revamping the offense which gets guys excited and it is a much easier to sell than playing on defense that was miserable at the end of the season and isn’t going through a very public change like the offense is.
your last sentence describes the feeling many are experiencing……
Don’t worry. It’s early.
No Dale post there. Reality, yes but still a love for Donner football. I agree we need to start selling hard on the future. That is exactly what Baylor did. They sold hard on a future that did not exist, they sold it, to make it happen.
I can see that you’re trying, but you take your finger off the period key a little too quickly.
If our conference were part of the problem, Baylor and TCU wouldn’t have risen at all.
Okay well perception of the conference is the problem. Then again, perception is reality. We can’t expand the conference because no mid-major team would want to join with the current media contract. We can’t have a conference network like other conferences do because of that one school down south. There is no true champion according to last year. The whole thing is just a mess.
You simply ignored DCINAZ’s rebuttal to your first comment. Please, for the sake of integrity, respond to his point about Baylor and TCU. The problem might not be the Big 12.
I believe I did. You have a conference who’s two best teams were ignored for a playoff spot because the conference has no way determining a championship.
As for the rise of TCU, they’ve been a fairly decent team for awhile now, granted Patterson has gathered a great staff and developed strong players.
Baylor on the other hand was more of a bottom dweller and rebranded itself starting in 2008 with Art Briles (when the conference was 12 teams with CCG) and further more with providing players with multiple uniforms, new facilities and a brand new stadium they can use as a selling point for recruits and they managed to win their big games.
So with all that, they did not garner enough respect for a playoff spot and it was that the conference and the lack of CCG was part of the decision.
Your argument is valid only if you assume an OU/Tex tie would be treated like the Baylor/TCU tie was. This is an assumption I am not willing to make.
It’s the only evidence we have to go on at the moment but I see your point.
Freaking exactly. Memo to S. Dale.
pts #2, 5, & 6 are spot on……
#6 is way off base. FSU and Clemson get props for being pretty good recently, not because of the ACC. In fact, if North Carolina State won the ACC with an 11-1 record this year, beating out an 11-1 Duke, we’d all hear that the ACC is down. B1G is probably regarded lower than the Big 12 as well, and was probably considered the worst of the Power 5 before the playoff.
Agreed. B1G and ACC are both two team conferences and they’re not any better than the BIG XII by any measure.
Except for the fact that they have more than 10 teams and have a conference championship…
Nobody really cared about that until Ohio State blew out Wisconsin.
They cared, don’t fool yourself. There were huge debates about this topic and still are.
Overreaction Monday? Look, since the whole recruiting year lies in front of us, no one should be getting worked up over X. Kelly. OU finished 15th and had it’s highest average star ranking in a long time. OU will finish with a higher ranked class because we are going to kick some ass this year. Chill.
I don’t think this I was overreacting, in fact I said there shouldn’t be panic alarms going off in June.
Okay. Point taken thanks.
— Robertson /Robertson 2016 prediction (Update 2:38 PM): It has been determined that no game in 2015 will be decided by a 2016 recruit. Rest your worried heads, fellow faniacs.
Rabble.
There is another point about the way we played last year that nearly no one talks about. I believe MS lost all respect from his players and especially the DBs. For example, the shouting match between he and Julian during the Baylor game. Its hard to motivate players and get recruits in when things like this are going on. We have enough talent, but they must be motivated to give their all in practice and games.
I started talking about Mike having lost the defense toward the end of the season last year and nobody wanted to believe me. The defense flat out revolted against him in the Clemson game and didn’t show up at all. He lost his defense during the Baylor game last season and I’m not sure he ever really had their respect.
I’ve also said that him being up in the press box now isn’t his decision and it’s permanent. They had to separate him from the players. He’s creating the same toxic environment for his players in Norman as he did out here when he was at AZ. They nearly revolted on him too and were happy to see him go.
That is exactly what I saw!! Players have to want to play for you as a coach or they just go through the motions. I have seen Stanvon and Dakota both play at a high level yet they never saw the field last year.
Yeah I noticed that too. Seems to me like Stanvon or Dakota should’ve gotten a shot when Wilson went down instead of an inexperienced freshmen.
You could tell the defense gave up on him in that Baylor game.
Yes Sir I agree 100%
DL showed up though. They had a real good game
True. DL had a different position coach though.
All could be true. I was at the Clemson game. What people who watch the game on TV don’t see is what’s happening during time outs and when the camera isn’t on particular people.
After the first TD Chuka was waving his palms to the ground to tell the team to calm down. Other players were kinda pissed when a big play happened. It seemed to me, through watching the not-on-camera behaviors that Clemson get on them early and many of the players just quit. Couple that with Venables knowing OU’s offense (and Josh’s timidness in that game) and you have an embarrassment.
Such is life…
The world is ending and OU hasn’t played a single down.
Heard a couple of “buzz” comments that defensive recruits like Kelly are being told that if they come to OU, they’ll have a new defensive coach and position coach after next season because it will be Mike’s final year at OU. None of this is verifiable of course………
Interesting….
Kind of what I thought but it’s just rumors at this point.
Definitely the time of year for that stuff. But very little in the way of negative recruiting from other schools/staffs would actually surprise me. Cutthroat world out there.
Agreed and these folks on here that don’t think Venables or Patterson would neg recruit OU are naive IMO. It’s a VERY competitive business.
Trust me, it happens all the time every year!!
Yep. I’d say it’s the norm, not the exception.
Venables apparently had a few comments about OU when visiting Draper.
Oh yeah? Like what?
Heard down the grapevine from friends of the Drapers so I can’t say specifically what was said but I know he was taking shots at OU by saying they were ignoring him and not showing him attention that Venables thought he deserved. Venables explained that he came all the way from Clemson to meet with him and OU (I’m guessing Mike Stoops) couldn’t take the time to come down the road.
Again, not verbatim but what was implied to me.
Not meaning to bring up another Draper debate, by the way.
Wouldn’t surprise me. Venables doesn’t have any reason to not dog OU or the guy he lost his job too simply because he’s Bob’s brother. I just continue to see this staff get outworked by just about everybody and that’s what concerns me. The Draper fiasco was just another example of everybody running circles around our staff.
It was an easy shot to take and would easily get him and the family thinking. I’m sure other coaches say other things but that’s just an example that was told to me.
You’re saying that the OU coaching staff is telling recruits that Mikey is gone after this year, and the whole defensive staff?
Or are you saying that other teams are making that negative recruiting pitch?
I’m saying there’s a buzz out there that Kelly got neg recruited on OU because other coaches (from other schools) are telling him there will likely be more coaching changes in Norman after next season.
Well if I’m Coach Reynolds, and I want Kelly, I stay in touch, keep working him, and if the defense improves, maybe we get back in the game.
I’ll go ahead and get a hold of Jim Leavitt….
If there is any truth to this, incredible he would be kept yet another year AFTER BS already had his house cleaning opportunity. Keeping him on IMO already cost us Monty. No way he leaves if he was given the full reins. Might just be players reading message boards.
EDIT just saw your clarification below–re neg recruiting from other schools.
Monty was leaving regardless, and as much as people here think MS was the cause of all our woes, do you really think Monty would do better as DC? As far as I know, he’s had no experience running an entire D before, which wouldn’t bode well. And while I think we can all agree he was a fantastic recruiter, how well do you think he’d be able to leverage that skill when he has to gameplan for 14 teams a year?
Really, the promotion to co-DC was an excuse to give him a raise to help keep him around. Even if MS got offered a HC job somewhere else and had taken it, Monty wouldn’t have been given the whole reigns.
Jordan, what do you think the problem is with the DB talent? Looks like we have some talent but MS has confused and belittled them into thinking they are not very good. 2 yrs ago Stanvon filled in for Colvin and did a good job and Dakota played pretty well in the Sugar Bowl.
Well, I’m sure K could speak to it much more intelligently than I can but since you asked. I feel like it’s partly they’re asking guys to do things they aren’t comfortable with and also that they’ve simply missed on some guys. But more so the former than the latter.
I just find it hard to believe they continually have so many guys that simply can’t figure out this scheme and thus lack confidence in when/where they need to be. At some point you have to look at those in charge. But they’ve now changed that person, so I’m optimistic most of that kind of stuff will happen much less frequently.
Thanks, I coached for many years and I sometimes notice things others do not, but I do think there is talent at the corners and Parker can play, Byrd can hit but gets out of position a lot, and Ahmad does not cover well at all.
I don’t disagree w/ any of that. I think people tend to take things said here, positive or negative (esp. negative when it comes to things I say, but I suppose on some level I’ve earned that rep) and completely take them out of context.
What I’m NOT saying is that every secondary player on OU’s roster is dog bleep. Obviously Sanchez is a quality Big 12 corner. J.Thomas as the look of a solid player. And, yes, as you’ve said Parker can most definitely play. But to your other points, outside of those guys OU definitely have some issues.
Again, I’m not sure how anyone could argue otherwise (which you obv are not doing). And yet here several are doing so. Baffles me.
Oh, I agree. We need upgrades at Safety and Nickel but with the right coaching I think there is enough talent to be serviceable.
Again, agreed. But WTF are we doing talking about OU just being serviceable??? b/c there in lies the problem to me. w/ the obvious caveat I fully understand OU isn’t going to be putting multiple DB 1st round draft picks into the league every year AND that every program in the country will invariably experience some type of a dip. but still….
Not OU, just the safety position, I actually think we are very solid at the other defensive positions and actually excited about most of them.
I get that. And it’s in opinion I share in a number of cases, but also something I was saying at the time about the guys people (myself included) are now questioning.
My critique of your critique, Jordan, is how broad you painted it. You strongly implied we have little to NO talent, at OT, WR, DL, TE, LB, and DB. You suggested that it was both current, and recent past. Pretty much you implied we have and haven’t had any talent except RB.
Of all of those position groups, the only one I could see as being wholly on target, is safety. Not sold on A Thomas, nor Byrd.
But I think LB’s will be a strength of this team, corners will be good, and DL will be deep, and talented.
There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that WR issues of last year may have been as much about coaching as talent.
And I’m dumbfounded at anyone who can question Bedenbaugh and what he does. The OL was and will continue to be top notch, as long as Coach B runs it.
Not to mention that we had people drafted (albeit not 1st day, which it seems you’re saying only 1st day counts as “talent”) at nearly every position you blasted the talent level.
But you know better, so……
The immediate problem w/ this premise is it’s your interpretation of what you think I was saying.
What I said was they’ve had issues at all of those positions either currently and/or the very recent past. I’m not entirely sure how anyone could argue that point, but if you disagree I’m certainly open to being convinced otherwise.
LBs will only be a strength of this team if they actually play them. If there are only two of them on the field at a time (assuming we’re considering Striker to be a defacto DE), they could still be the strength of the defense, but they’ll have to make a hell of a lot of plays to do so. And I’d be all for it, btw.
I wouldn’t expect anyone on here to read every single comment, so I’ll forgive that you may not have seen where I stated having the utmost confidence in Bedenbaugh. But OU is looking at the very real possibility of starting Farniok in 2015. A career backup who has never really seen the field all that much. Admittedly, due in large part to playing behind guys that are now in the NFL but still that’s both your potential starting OTs with very little experience.
Again, how anyone could argue that’s not a potential red flag and/or see that as a slight to Bedenbaugh rather than a simple stating of the facts is beyond me.
And yes, absolutely deserves credit for putting six guys (in terms of getting drafted) in the league. But it’s also incredibly naive to suggest it doesn’t matter where those guys get drafted with regards to how impressive of an accomplishment that amounts to being.
But even with all of that said, I’m not here to convince anyone they have to share my same opinion on things. I’m simply stating mine as you, and everyone else, are more than welcome to do the same.
So if you (and I mean ‘you’ in the collective sense, not you specifically) everything is all good and OU is going to be perfectly fine, be my guest. Nothing would make me happier for that crowd to be right, regardless of what my opinion as to the current evidence would suggest as to that actually coming to fruition.
I didn’t say everything is “all good”. And you didn’t say anything about those positions being red flags or question marks, in your original remark. You said those positions are and have been lacking in talent.
I simply am suggesting that things aren’t as bad as you’ve painted it.
And you’re right, I’ve not seen you tout Coach B. In fact I’ve never seen you say anything positive about the coaching staff. But I’ve not been here that long……..
Correction Jordan, I have seen you hand out effusive praise for Monty. Sorry about that…..
Wouldn’t these comments be true about every team every year aren’t certain parts of every offense and defenses going to be strengths and weaknesses. And I just read where tyrus Thompson was getting reps with the 1st team at guard. He was drafted in the 6th round so lets say he cracks the starting unit at Minnesota what is the perception of Thompson is he a 6th round pick or a starter on an NFL team does where he got picked matter then?
Let me add to that and giving my reasons for saying so. Stricker and Tapper are proven players. LBs will be better because Shannon can call signals now and shore up that group which now has much more depth, The DL has Romar and Wade who have proved they can play, and I think Walker will be a star, add Dimon, Ward, Bond, Obo in the mix and we cannot help but be better unless we are just very poorly coached imo.
I wouldn’t call Tapper a proven player unless you see something I don’t. He completely disappeared last season.
I agree, but he has played at a high level in the past.
Fire Monty.. Wait, what he left ?
Same things I see. We have talent in our DB corps.
I think Mike Stoops runs a D that is too complicated for young guys. We need innovation where it is simple for guys to understand, yet can be complex for opposing offenses. TCU does some innovative stuff where the D is split up in different groups and each have their own calls and responsibilities. I think they repeat it so much that it is easy to learn (very few busts). We NEED something like that too.
I thought we had plans to run a variant of the 4-2-5 this year?
2003-0; 2004 Rhett bomar, Adrian Peterson, Chris Patterson 2005 Demarcus Granger, Ryan Reynolds 2006 Gerald McCoy 2007 Mike Reed, 2008 R.J. Washinton, Jermie Calhoun, Stephen Good 2009-0, 2010-0, 2011 Brandon Williams, Trey Metoyer 2012 Trey Metoyer again 2013-0, 2014 Joe Mixon 2015-0
So out of these Lance Mitchell, Adrian Peterson, Gerald McCoy Lived up to there 5* ranking
Pasha Jackson, Demarcus Granger, Ryan Reynolds, Stephen Good became multi year starters that were contributers not really what 5* are suppose to be
R.J. Washington Started his senior season
Rhett Bomar, Chris Patterson, Mike Reed, Jermie Calhoun, Brandon Williams Trey Metoyer didn’t do anything besides leave get kicked off or not contribute
and wait and see about joe mixon ? I used just one site because if you use multiple sites they are all different so just using one makes it easier to compare from year to year.
Now name all 2* and 3* busts or who never saw the field or had no impact during their time at OU. The argument that ONLY highly rated players are busts to me is irrelevant. Each player is a different person than the rest. Each player has a different background, attitude, work ethic, stars do not determine or reflect that.
The stars do reflect the supposed potential of these players. Its the same as if you are drafted in the first round and don’t pan out your a bust but if you are a late round pick your not suppose to make it as a star
Yes but my point is there are a lot of 2 and 3* players that don’t become star players as well, we just don’t talk about them.
because they aren’t built up to be stars they are suppose to be role guys and people for depth
So star players can’t be role players? I wouldn’t say a highly rated player who comes in and just does what is needed for the team is technically a bust.
no they can be role players but by them being rated so high out of high school. cause there is only around like 25-30 5* players a year they are expected to be the stars of the team not just role players basically because of the rankings these kids have different expectations than others. I mean these are the players that everyone is complaining about OU not getting so why are 5* players so important to get? if its not to be stars on the team
I think we should take more of a NE Patriots approach to recruiting. They heavily evaluate every player they bring in so that they fit their system. Forget stars, evaluate talent and character to fit our system!! that is if we have one on defense.
I completely agree the * system is flawed to a point yes there are hits on high ranked players and misses and the same on lower ranked players but rankings don’t mean anything as to how the players will actually play on the field
In all actuality there probably are no more than 10 – 12 ” Can’t Miss” HS players out there in most years.
Here’s a Brainiacs article that speaks to the star rating system.
So, I’m guessing that we had 10 starters kicked off the team today. At least reading the comments below, that’s what must have happened. I hope we’ll be able to field a team this year.
But I guess it’s not a big deal whether we field a team, since the B12 will probably disband before the season starts.
Other than that, life is good.
You didn’t hear? Tim Kish has taken responsibility for the lack of LB performance last year and will start himself at ILB this year.
See, just when everyone is depressed, we find out that Kish has a year of eligibility left! Almost worth a boom!
405 Stand Up! Tim Kish commits! #OUDNA
what’s his 40
Let’s just say if he runs as fast it takes him to evaluate players, we could potentially be in trouble.
And Mike Stoops has vowed to become a “players coach”!!
This is exactly what happens. A bunch of “realists” “keeping it real”. Then that place gets rundown cause nobody wants to read it except all the other “realists”. Then it spreads like a zombie apocalypse. Meanwhile, we get called cool names like “board police” while they get to call incessant bitterness “opinion”
True.
What kind of chance do we have with Thomas Graham DB? We made his top 5 and he announces wednsday?
Well, on a positive note…I watched the 2010 Alamo Bowl today. Lincoln Riley’s first game as OC, and the O dropped 41 on a Narduzzi coached D. I know, I know…Michigan State was without 14 of their players…but TT was without their HC and had a 26 year old calling plays on O for the first time ever. Not only that, but they switched QB’s midway through the 4th qtr. and converted 2 4th down attempts on their last offensive drive when they really needed to score to put the game away. I’m pretty excited about Lincoln Riley.
Has anybody heard anything about Dalton not being with the team anymore?
Dalton Wood?
Sorry total brain fart on my part. I saw on another board that Dalton was away without leave. Of course I know about Dalton Wood but I instantly thought Alex Dalton….I so need a vacation.
update added
Well, you definitely threw fuel on todays fire with that one.
yeah, sorry. we don’t make the news unfortunately, just report it.
to be fair though, it could be worse. you could be paying for this bad news instead of getting it for free 😉
Hey, I’m not shooting any messengers (-: especially at this price.
Yes, I always like my bad news for free!
Great Mayfield injured. Now that is something to worry about. Not X kelly.
K, can you confirm if it is the throwing shoulder? That’s a very long and hard rehab if surgery is required to repair a tear.
I can’t just yet but I’ll check bud
Wow…. All sorts of positivity today..
Great….Suddenly Hanson leaving is looking a lot worse.
That’s why transferring is not always a good idea.. Trevor & Cody haven’t made it through a season healthy yet.. Baker hasn’t played a down here yet.. & now he’s hurt..
Well this is just great…..hope he didn’t do it break dancing. 🙂
I know that the past few days he has been fine at least nothing noticeable while doing normal everyday things.
And who are you to report this?
Time for Cody Thomas to step up
Well, him or Knight or both. Rotator cuff tear? or Unkown?
No TKPK6
Better now than during the season
If it is torn RC tendon, he’s out 9 – 12 months. I’m dealing with it now.
Dont think its that serious but we’ll see
It depends if it is tendonopathy vs tear. If it is a tear, it depends on severity and extent. We will have to see.
Meh……there was never an ounce of rationale for the consensus that Mayfield was a good QB much less him being a starter here.
This… There’s just a ton of expectations based on a spring game in a blue shirt… Remember Knight was carving up the OU-d when running scout team too
Geurin Emig just posted that it is just soreness, no tear.
Whos Geurin Emig and where did he get his medical degree?
He’s a reporter for the Tulsa World
I’ve heard emig covering OU a lot this off season. Does that mean Hoover finally got the axe?
We can’t be that lucky
He’s always covered a lot.
Emig & Eric Bailey are the OU beat writers for TW. Hoover is their lead columnist. Two very different roles. The beat writers are there to more or less summarize things, while a columnist is more so there to offer their opinion on things and can generally write about any topic of their choosing (and their editor’s approval) w/ beat writers mostly just sticking to their beat (i.e. OU).
It still may be rotator cuff pathology, but there are quite a few possible causes of pain in an overhead throwing athlete. Often conservative management (rest) can allow for healing, including rotator cuff tendonopathy. The concern was a significant rotator cuff tear that would require surgery.
Where in what we reported did we say it was a tear?
Um. I don’t see that implication anywhere. He might just be reporting what he personally has heard. May not wanna jump to conclusions. Not everybody’s out to get you
Has nothing to do with being out to get anyone. Just offering clarification to avoid may misinterpretation.
Then you could have easily said that in a much less defensive manner, such as “Just to clarify, we have no information as to the type or extent of the injury at this point.” The fact that you can’t see how ridiculously paranoid your message sounded is absurd.
The fact that people can’t read what was originally reported, which states virtually exactly what you’ve said above I find to be equally absurd.
And if my message sounds paranoid it’s only b/c I’ve seen countless others online completely take what we reported out of context and misrepresent what was actually said.
TFB reported that he sustained an injury to his rotator cuff and Kuzi merely clarified a report by Emig that he heard it wasn’t a tear. Where in his comment did you read that he was suggesting TFB reported that it was a tear? Your response was very presumptuous and came across as extremely defensive and outright rude and condescending.
I think that’s a tad extreme, but I do genuinely respect your right to think differently. I guess all I can say at this point is that’s not at all how I intended to come across.
Apologies to you, Kuzi, or anyone who interpreted it that way.
As I’ve said, I was simply trying to be clear with regards to what we’ve reported. Largely b/c I’d already seen so many misrepresent what we had said. Evidently some of that frustration came thru in my comment. Again, sorry for that.
And guys think WE’RE the bitchy ones.
I keed.
I love this place.
Late to the party much?
Why yes, yes I am. I’m a girl, why would you be surprised? We take forever.
And did you delete your other comment because it’s no longer showing up even though I got an email about it. Clearly you didn’t see the timing of my comments as I was barking along with two others including the OP so not sure what you were trying to accomplish.
Dude. Take a chill. DIdn’t you used to get bent out of shape on SF too, or do you just have a similar name to an itchy typing finger over there…
And I didn’t delete, I edited. I’m a writer. Plus I just changed my mind. No need to be so sensitive.
No need to keep replying, sugar. I’ll let you take it from here. No need to get worked up. Take the last word.
Take a chill coming from an internet instigator is all kinds of funny. Have no clue what SF is. Lol sorry I just read your third reply to your own comment. I’ll show myself to the door now.
You didn’t. What else do you think people are worried about when you mention not practicing and rotator cuff?
I couldn’t speak to what others are thinking, or why some may immediately jump to a worst case scenario type situation.
I can only speak to what we reported, which was nothing even remotely close to ‘worst case.’
Google ‘sore rotator cuff’ and see what it tells you. Assuming you can trust the Internet, it could be any number of things. From relatively simple that rest can heal to potentially more serious.
Point being we don’t know the level of severity, but DO know Mayfield has missed workouts b/c of it. Therefore we deemed it something relevant that our readers would want to know, so we told them.
I really don’t see it as any more complicated than that, but I also can’t control how others will interpret things on their own 🙂
You are taking this far too personally. I was adding additional information as it was presented to me, mainly because the open post above was ambiguous and open ended. When you throw out vague information like that, people are going to start to assume the worst. Furthermore, I never mentioned what you all reported or did not report in my post.
I am well aware of the range of severity and potential treatment options. I also know that there are other causes of shoulder pain in athletes other than rotator cuff pathology. My post was pertinent because a serious rotator cuff tear requiring surgery would end his season before it started, where as a simple strain would be treated conservatively.
Frankly, I’m over it. I don’t agree w/ your characterization of things in your comments above, but you have every right to your opinion.
As I’ve said, if I offended you or anyone with my comment then I apologize, as that was certainly not my intent.
So you are saying that you don’t agree that many people immediately assume the worst? That ambiguous statements lead to speculation? I’m not sure what characterization I made with which you don’t agree.
You do a pretty good job with the site, but when you put out information like that without more concrete info, it is going to start some degree of conversation/panic. All I did was add information, not put you down or criticize your website. I’m afraid you see something as an affront that was not directed at you at all. If that’s true, that’s your problem, not mine.
Again, you’re making a lot of assumptions and generalizations about what you think I’m feeling.
We’re good. I have no issue w/ anything you said. NONE.
I completely understand your purpose for posting what Emig said. As I’ve said now many times, my comment was only meant to offer clarification as to what we’d reported b/c I had seen many people (NOT YOU) misrepresenting what we’d said.
I’m also 100% comfortable with what we put out. We know Mayfield has missed workouts. We know it was b/c of his shoulder, which we were told by a very reliable source was rotator cuff related. Nowhere did we say or imply it was a tear or anything of the sort.
That’s what we reported. If that’s vague and/or open for interpretation to assume the worst, then I fail to see how that’s not on the individual and/or the general reaction of so many on the Internet.
As far as I’m concerned, what we reported was actually very clear. And we specifically stated when we learned more regarding any specifics, we’d share it. Just as we shared what we knew at the time.
Hopefully we’re good now?
Yeah, we’re good. I think we got our lines crossed. I understand you can only report what you know and I have no problem with you all saying what you did. It is, in many ways, human nature to jump to conclusions. My career requires that I have to be careful with what I say or do not say for that very reason. It is not your fault that people do that, but as a reporter, you have to understand that that is what happens.
I know that you all take a lot of flak from posters on other websites. I am on your side; this site is awesome.
Right on, appreciate the kind words!
Jordan, I used to be a physical therapist and my first thought went to supraspinatus tear, but my reason for jumping to that conclusion was that it was reported on TFB for a reason…that it was an immediately serious injury such as a tear. Also, with the crappy luck we’ve had with injuries the past 7 years I wondered if we were snakebit again.
Baker just said to relax he is fine. Those are his words
TK just tweeted “two down one to go”
(i kid i kid )
This ain’t right. Funny but not right.
I feel guilty about it, but I laughed out loud.
They’d probably move Durron Neal to QB before the “glass man”
I got a report saying he will be fine
Baker, is that you? 🙂
We can go with that
Updated Whip video or I call BS.
Well call bs then
Hahahahaha!!!!!!
Called bs, no answer. Whip vid, please.
Was trying to set that up for me, Toats. Didn’t even see you used it… I’m too late now. Damn.
Sorry! I couldn’t resist!
Don’t have his number…you got it? If not I call bs.
I never said I had his number
I never said you didn’t. Looks like we will have to disagree to agree.
His girlfriend is my buddys cousin and they talk so that’s the only reason I know he’s fine
It’s cool man, you took me too seriously.
No I was just letting you know no big deal man
I gave you an up vote but its conditional on whether your information is accurate. I reserve the right to undo my upvote.
Well this came from Baker himself so it’s pretty accurate info
For that you get another upvote
isn’t he dating a pukes coed?…………sabotoogee?
She fine tho
That she is
I’d give her a chance.
Her aunt is fine too.
I gave candy a chance 😉
Lol
Candy As in Candice
I know that’s why I laughed at you. She wants this body.
Made the finals list of Brandon Burton, don’t know if it’s great news but after today…..I’ll take it.
Can we start already? https://youtu.be/hY6k7ycz2_E