Open Post | Tuesday, Sept. 29th (UPDATE 12:16 pm)

Robert Barnes: OU 2017 safety commit Robert Barnes (Southlake, TX) tells me that he will be in Norman this weekend for the West Virginia game. – (Alex)

Obi Eboh: OU will also host Barnes’ teammate, 2016 CB and Texas commit Obi Eboh (Southlake, TX). Earlier this month Eboh committed to the Longhorns, but it sounds like he will still make the trip to Norman this weekend. I can’t say what OU’s chances are of flipping Eboh, but a trip to Norman is certainly somewhat a good sign (and one of the many benefits of winning). – (Alex)

Team Note | Starting CB: Yesterday when Bob Stoops was asked if Jordan Thomas would start at cornerback this weekend, he was non-committal. In talking to a couple sources it sounds like Thomas is, not surprisingly, receiving the first team snaps this week in practice.

So unless something changes, we expect him to be the starter on Saturday opposite Zack Sanchez (who is also still a little banged up, but expected to be ready to go against WVU).

Tyree Horton: With the news yesterday of OU backing off Marvin Terry, many began to speculate about where things may stand with recent OU visitor & JUCO 2016 LB Tyree Horton (Highland CC). You may recall shortly after his visit to Norman, Horton decommitted from Florida State.

Horton is expected to take additional visits in the coming weeks, including trips to TCU and Baylor. I spoke to a source regarding Horton’s recruitment and whether it’s inevitable that he recommits to FSU or end up at some other Florida school (Horton is a Florida native) and was told, “everybody has a shot as of now.” So it sounds like Horton has genuinely re-opened things and is considering all comers. – (Super K)

– UPDATE (12:16 pm): Here is the visitor list for this weekend some of you have been asking for.

261 Comments

  • Doobie74OU says:

    News about Horton isn’t the ringing endorsement of OU I was hoping for but I will take it! Thanks for the update!

  • Robertson / Robertson 2016 says:

    Need a big showing from our LBs this–and every–weekend. Welcome the hungry to the Land of Boz.

  • Jordan Esco says:

    update added

  • Tulsa Terry says:

    Mountaineers are bringing a ton of confidence which worries me more than anything else. I personally rank this game only behind Baylor in degree of difficulty.

    • metzker says:

      I rank em all difficult well maybe not kansas

    • Lincoln Hawk says:

      You know I read somewhere that worrying doesn’t add one hour to your life, so just enjoy it while you’ve got the chance 🙂

    • james babcock says:

      Agree I am worried we are going to lose this game this game will make or break our season.lose this game I say we lose 4 or 5 games if we win I can see us winning 11 or 12 games this game will be very important for this season.

    • EasTex says:

      But is it false confidence?
      We shall see if and/or how they face adversity, something they have yet to experience this season. We know how the Sooners handle adversity.

    • Matt says:

      It sounds to me like this Sooner squad is as confident as any in recent memory. Falling down by 17 on the road in a 100k+ stadium and staying totally positive? That hasn’t been the M.O. for Bob’s teams at least for a long time.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      I do too. I believe that West Virginia has the best combination of offense and defense of anyone we play this year.

    • Walter Sobcek says:

      I agree. I’ve been worried about this game since August. I have a fear (hopefully irrational one) that they force some ints and fumbles, and put us in, to quote my favorite Soggy Bottom Boy, “a tight spot.”

      • D Hunter Sanchez says:

        Really no reason for your thinking. It’s irrational. They don’t out recruit us, their coach is good, but we have better. Their QB is not a real threat to take it to the house. No Austin, no White. Some speed, but you can counter that with Andrews, Shep, Perine, Mixon, Westbrook, Baxter.

    • RBear says:

      Thinking they’re more cocky than confident- it’s their funeral.

  • Matt says:

    is Mique Juarez a possible flip for the Sooners?

  • Lincoln Hawk says:

    So does Texas still do that no visits for commits or you lose your spot thing? Or was that a different school or just Mack?

    • Eric Hoffpauir says:

      Just Mack. It was a pretty dumb strategy, premised on the ability to figure out who the best recruits in Texas were before their junior season, and then locking them in.

  • trusoonerA53 says:

    If our team is doing their part to get better week by week, our crowd has to know they are part of the team as well. Their noise does count for something. Last game against Tulsa we graded horribably giving the other team confidence the crowd capacity did not match the noise effect it should have had. Did I get that complaint wrong about the Tulsa game we became spectators I think it is. WV has never made it easy for OU I just hope we can return the favor. Every team need’s to know they will leave hoarse(can’t talk), ringing ears, and a head ache to boot just for being in our HOUSE. BOOMER we can do this I believe that is why we’re expanding. Let’s take that title on our own spread the word welcome to the DOMINATION OF NOISE. I’m pissed it’s 11:00a.m., pissed loosing money (merchant’s), no fun time to really tail gate, i had to wake up before i was ready to get up, could’nt enjoy my friday night as well as I would have like to that is why I HAD TO WAKE UP EARLIER THIS MORNING TO DRIVE TO NORM, yea i would not be happy, and you expect us to be quiet and sleepy Saturday morning remembering when we play you in WV it’s a afternoon or evening game just one more reason to be a unforgiving LOUD.

  • Scott says:

    I thought Lamar Jackson was taking a OV this weekend

    • KJ1123 says:

      Supposed to. But their game doesn’t end until around 10 pm pst on Friday. And its a 11 am game on Sat so it may not work out. Usually the recruits need to be at the stadium around 9 am for 1 pm games. So they’ll probably need to be there around 8 for this game. Still he hasn’t officially cancelled so the OU staff may be working to make it work.

  • Mustvid says:

    Will we see PJ and Thomas on the field together this week? If not, who will be the five DB’s? I think we need more CB’s on the field then safeties. Thomas and Byrd scare me against Air Raid offenses.

    • EasTex says:

      WVU had 300 yards rushing and passing last week against Maryland. They do want to run, having run stopping safeties on the field is probably the best approach or at least one.

    • Exiled In Ohio says:

      Yeah, I’ve been wondering what the deal was with Will Johnson. Why hasn’t he played nickel, particularly against Tulsa?

    • Zack says:

      Don’t get your hopes up to see more than two corners on the field.

    • Daryl says:

      I think our DBs will be Sanchez, Thomas, Parker, A. Thomas, and Bird. BUUUUUT could Wil Johnson or Kahlil make it to the field this week?????

  • Exiled In Ohio says:

    Would we take Eboh? I thought we only had one more CB slot and were holding it for Parker.

    • Jeff says:

      I bet, but he is probably returning the favor since Barnes went with him to Texass

      • holieway4ou says:

        Maybe Eboh wants to see if we whine as much as Texas fans. Hopefully he will see a full house(unlike at Texas) and an impressive OU win.

  • Walter Sobcek says:

    WVU hasn’t played top notch opponents, but being number one in turnover ratio and scoring defense is nothing to sneeze at. Very good receiver in Shelton Gibson, great DB in Joseph. This is going to be a tough game. Hopefully, the 11 am start will affect them a bit more than it does the Sooners.

  • j l says:

    I got busy with work and forgot to post asking for a visitor list. Come back and they beat me to the punch. Well done fellas.

    • John Garner says:

      OU would be the #1 defense as well if it had played the cupcakes WVU lined up their OOC schedule. I think Tulsa would give most D-1 schools a run for their money.

    • EasTex says:

      Looking at the highlights from their last game wvu just hasn’t shown me anything.
      https://youtu.be/2VatZBBVkHw
      Some of the clips in this Soonersports video showed me how terrible the UM passing attack was, which they had to go to after getting down so early in the game.
      http://www.soonersports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ID=4472392

      • metzker says:

        Agreed looks like we run the ball wear em out that d didn’t impress me

      • MoJoOkie says:

        So much for the “wrap them up” tackling cited in the article Birddawg posted.

      • Birddawg says:

        I like our chances 🙂
        Thank you EasTex.
        Getting a lot of positivity from you.

        • EasTex says:

          The Sooners haven’t hit their stride yet. We’ve seen improvement in each game. We are due a game with turnover bounces going our way and no penalties. This would be a good weekend to start that championship drive.

          • SoonerOracle737 says:

            Yes, you can see o line improvements. So if we can clean up penalties that would be huge just by itself. Throw in an oskie or two and BAM – we blow them out.

          • SamSooner says:

            This is the correct time to begin peaking.

          • RBear says:

            A crawl before you can walk scenario where LR and his new O is concerned- it’s coming along.

      • Easton says:

        RUN IT. Then throw it against the WVU D. RUN THE BALL. TACKLE, and COVER.

      • Katyboomer says:

        Saw a guns up on one of the TDs and no flag? For such a great guy SS in sure on the bad end of a lot of PF. Things that make you say hmm,

      • Cincysooner says:

        Also, if you watch WVU game against Liberty at home. They were not that impressive either. Liberty scored 17 points missed 3 FG and was able to move the ball. The score was only 41 to 17. I think there defense is good but i also believe that OU’s offense is better than Liberty’s offense. I am feeling a 42 to 28 game for OU.

      • Walter Sobcek says:

        EasTex always bolsters my confidence. I’m feeling much better now.

      • Dwebb_96 says:

        Hey gotta give them their due, they run over cheerleaders really well, then not even act concerned about her.

      • Daryl says:

        Just to play devil’s advocate. When you can shut a team out or hold them to 6 and you don’t have any real highlights on defense, to me that shows that you they played really solid, assignment sound defense without making any huge plays on the defensive side. That could say more about their defense than a video filled with highlights on the defensive side of the ball.

        The biggest thing I liked to see on the film was the big runs. That makes me feel like Perine could have another day like he did last year or Mixon could break out. Either way is fine by me.

        • EasTex says:

          I like the potential of our run game in this match. We might use the run to set up the pass, force their vaunted All-Galaxy safety Joseph to show us how he likes tackling Perine at top speed.

      • Robertson / Robertson 2016 says:

        Attack(!) these clowns. Set phasers to kill. Tell Walker, Romar, and Co. to train their angry bones and come Saturday with an appetite.

  • Slim Sooner says:

    Having read all the comments here so far today, I’m surprised at the number of fans who are so scared, worried and concerned about OUr chances in this week’s game. I agree with having a healthy respect for every opponent since we all know anything can happen in college football. However, I do not think that West Virginia is more confident, more talented or better coached than OU. It may very well be a difficult challenge, but I CHOOSE to BELIEVE we win this game, just like I expect we do every single time we take the field. This Saturday morning we will stripe the stadium, get loud and rowdy, and win another game because we are Oklahoma and guess what….There’s Only One. Thank God I’m a Sooner and not anything else.

    • EasTex says:

      Bravissimo!

    • Cush Creekmont says:

      Tell’em Slim, tell’em! 🙂 🙂 : )

    • metzker says:

      Put some OUDNA on Slim

    • SoonerBred says:

      I think this will be the biggest challenge for the OU offense that they may see in conference play. Looking forward especially to how the oline and receivers respond.

    • D Hunter Sanchez says:

      I know. We keep hearing about WV from ESPN, Jake Trotter, Tulsa Sports etc…All I know is that we’ve beaten them every game, although a couple have been close. Last time in Norman we scored what 16 points? That was a mediocre offense and sub-standard for OU as was last year’s. But they got bruised and beaten by Perine. I think the narrative of WV is much like Tennesee. “It’s their time, they are ready to win a Big 12 title now.” Well, we saw that Tenn was good, but we were better. I suspect the same outcome Saturday.

      • J J says:

        It’s always someones “time to take the next step” and its always against OU…it is what it is

        • Judith Galvan says:

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    • BleedCrimson says:

      :):
      Simply a choice.

  • Dwebb_96 says:

    West Virginia will be a quality opponent. They bring a quality offense, and a quality defense. Should I be worried? Absolutely not! I am not on the field playing (thank goodness), but as a fan I will sit back and enjoy the game. This Sooner team has a confidence I haven’t seen for a while. They faced a tough team/environment in Tennessee and didn’t blink. See no reason to think they will on Saturday. When WV plays someone other than cupcakes and leads the nation in whatever category, then I might be worried. Just my 2 cents worth

  • Walter Sobcek says:

    Fine Palmburn is all over poor Butch Jones this week. Not that anyone cares what that blowhard SEC sychophant thinks.

  • Walter Sobcek says:

    Arkansas v Tennessee on Saturday. Loser gives up football?

  • Katyboomer says:

    everybody already watch this?
    “Offense Media Availability (09/28/15)”
    http://www.soonersports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ID=4470797

  • CS says:

    Found this very interesting and relevant. Re: Kish, the recruiter.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571143-the-college-recruitment-of-rob-gronkowski?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=college-football

    “”He had 45 to 50 scholarship offers,” Kish said. “We got our foot in the door with him, and he came out to campus. I think Rob looked around the university and saw it was a beautiful situation with great weather. He knew we were throwing the ball all over the place at the time and that he’d have an opportunity to compete to play right away.” – Tim Kish

    • Cam says:

      I never realized Gronk played for Mike at Arizona, that’s pretty neat.

    • paganpink says:

      That is so interesting to me because on Hard Knocks this season they showed JJ Watt standing about five feet in front of their machine and catching balls over and over as fast as they could feed it in there, and they were coming out hard! Sounds like the Gronk was doing it years before he was! Sounds like Kish was instrumental in getting one of the probable all time great ones to go to Arizona.

  • Oscar says:

    A couple of Sooners in Monday Night Football’s Prime Time game!

    • hOUligan says:

      Wow. That really is an ‘I fear winter’ growth Rip is sporting. Be afraid, Rip. Be very afraid. Oh, and buy a good parka.

  • Jason Vos says:

    I bet Mark Andrews is a big weapon this weekend

    • John Garner says:

      I hope. Him and Samaje and Mixon and the O-Line and the other WRs and the defense and Mike Stoops. Especially Mike Stoops. I hope the team comes up big against a talented and confident WVU team. But you’re right, Mark could be a match-up nightmare.

  • EasTex says:

    Watching the replay of the McAllen Memorial game with Speights at RB.
    Not really sure what I am seeing, if the LaJoya defense is really bad or if the Memorial OL is really good. Speights has some skill, he makes some really smooth fakes and moves, his speed is good, he seems taller and lighter than what I have seen listed. My overall impression is I don’t think he will look good in Crimson and Cream. He just doesn’t seem to have that “it” that OU RBs traditionally have.
    IMHO.

    • Dustin says:

      Who does, in your opinion? You still like Hogan more than the rest?

      • EasTex says:

        I like Hogan, a lot.
        Speights is on a very bad football team and he is 95% of their offense. He isn’t built like an OU RB, his upper body isn’t developed very well and pardon the expression, but he doesn’t have any “ass” in his pants. He would need a RS just to start to look like he had a grown man’s body.
        Hogan already looks like a man, is powerful and fast.

      • EasTex says:

        Just noticed, Norman North is at Union this coming Friday night.

    • SamSooner says:

      EasTex, what channel?

    • Sooner Ray says:

      Appreciate your opinion Tex. I thought he looked good on film but NO ONE puts a bad film out for viewing. I have noticed others from the area say he played against weak competition but had no way to verify that for myself. If our coaches see something in him, I won’t argue their opinion because they have a pretty good track record.

      • EasTex says:

        I finally realized by the 3rd qtr that the team they were playing, LaJoya a district opponent, is really-really bad.
        When I turned it off Memorial was leading 42-7 in the 3rd and their QB was 1-9 and wasn’t even in the same area code with some of his receivers. They don’t have Speights, they got nothin’.
        I respect the coaches decision, but for the life of me I don’t know what they are seeing.

    • SamSooner says:

      I just watched Hogan’s Hudl video. The kid is smooth and very elusive. He runs as fast as he needs to run.

      I see he doesn’t hold an offer from OU.

      • EasTex says:

        There must be something we don’t know about, he has no P5 offers.

        • Dustin says:

          Speculators would say, “Grades”.

          • EasTex says:

            Or worse.

          • Zack says:

            I would say 40 time and not going to enough camps. I’m surprised Nebraska hasn’t tried to come with an offer.
            I’m not saying he’s slow but my guess is his 40 time is in the 4.6 range which will not get the scouts to come to Norman.

          • SamSooner says:

            Zack, I didn’t think he was going all out. He seemed to be running as fast as he needed to run. I think he has 4.4 speed or better.

          • Zack says:

            Like eastex said it’s odd that he has no major offers. If we were taking an instate kid though I would rather take Jeremy Lewis from lone grove.
            I’m not sold on the speights kid, seems like a reach when others are out there.

        • SamSooner says:

          I see that. There must be something.

          • EasTex says:

            There are still some quality ballers out there.
            This kid is ranked by MaxPreps as the #30 RB in Texas and yet has no scout or rivals page. He’s 5’8″ 180, 4.4 forty and finished 5th in the state powerlifting championship for his weight class. Many kids from small towns don’t have the resources to go to camps and just need to be discovered. Hopefully they will continue winning and he will get more exposure. They play their ancient rival and state powerhouse Longview in two weeks, probably a lot of scouts will be there.
            http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/chavis-mills/mwkkxy16EeS00gAmVebEWg/videos.htm

    • RBear says:

      Always appreciate your input but I trust Gundy- he and Boulware were there for that game and offered that night. They had to have seen something.

  • J J says:

    looks like I am missing all the fun

    • Sooner Ray says:

      It’s ok to have fun…..just don’t steep off a curb. 🙂

      • RBear says:

        No one said there would be curbs, curbs, really?

      • J J says:

        xnjzklfj v
        I stepped on a sprinkler head today & thought I was gonna need more repairs

      • J J says:

        speaking of… now that you know who I am… is it more hilarious that my mom, when she called after surgery the next morning, apologized & said ” I hate it for you, but if that’s what it took to beat bama…” my sweet mama

        • Sooner Ray says:

          LOL!, I would expect nothing less from your mom. 🙂 Reminds me of the time I broke my nose in a game…..my dad jumps the fence and asks me if I’m going back in, when I said the coaches won’t let me he said well get off the ground and let’s go to the Hospital.

          • J J says:

            throw some dirt on it! surprised you headed to hospital… mine would have waited til after the game 🙂

          • Sooner Ray says:

            Oh, he wasn’t happy about it but all the blood and the coaches dry heaving convinced him to get me out of there. I’ll never forget coach Wilson saying “son, your nose is laying on your cheek” LOL.

          • J J says:

            Alan Wilson??? lol… how did you break your nose that badly in a helmet?

          • Sooner Ray says:

            That was the game I decided a T-bar really wasn’t a bad idea. 🙂 It’s amazing how well someone’s cleat fits in there just perfectly when you go low and they think they know how to hurdle.

          • EasTex says:

            I also found I could get the base of my fist far enough inside a face mask without a T or Donut to whop the nose real good.

          • Sooner Ray says:

            I’m glad I didn’t make a living in the trenches, I witnessed and heard some gruesome stories from that place. One time I had to cuss one of my linemen because I was stretching for the goal line through a pile and he was biting me on the leg mistaking my calf for a defender’s. 🙂

          • EasTex says:

            There was one game where this kid, the center for the other team, blind sided me after the whistle. My team mates wanted revenge, I just asked what his number was. A little while later in a pile I twisted his ankle about 300degrees until I heard it snap/crackle/pop. He jumped up and looked around to see who did it. He walked away with no limp and I was amazed.
            Late in the game I was at NG and he and I were staring eyeball to eyeball, just waiting for the ball to be snapped. The QB went hut–hut–time out! The center snapped the ball and the look in his eye was OH S**t! I came up with a forearm to his throat, lifted him up in the air and he flipped backward over the QB who was covering the loose ball. He went after the QB for his getting pwned.

    • EasTex says:

      Not a party until you showed up. 🙂

    • SamSooner says:

      Hey, there JJ. How are you? Glad you stopped by.

    • rphokc says:

      damn, jj, are you a nhl fan? if so, any particular team?

      • J J says:

        I like hockey no particular team, try to see a couple games in Dallas. Honeslty I base it on who they are playing 🙂

        • rphokc says:

          yeah, I like several teams esp the rangers………when I lived in ntx I followed the stars and still do since they show on cable…….hopefully they can reverse last season and make a run………enjoy the season

          • J J says:

            yes they’ve had a rough go recently, it was a lot of fun though those seasons (ugh) 15 years ago when they won the cup & were in the finals.

  • RBear says:

    Slap Shot showing on NBCSHD, DirecTV Ch. 220

  • SamSooner says:

    I’m watching the 4th quarter of the Tulsa game, again. Bye weeks are horrible.

    With about 11 minutes left in the game, Mayfield threw a wide receiver screen to Neal. Before the pass, Neal stutter stepped prior to stepping back behind the LOS to receive the pass. Man, did the Tulsa DBs come down hill quickly. Westbrook was blocking his guy but he could have just as easily run right by him. It was a quick throw but there wasn’t a rush of any sort. A pump fake and 88 out the gate, as we say down South.

    This is the kind of stuff LR pays attention to. I know he picked up on it and chose not to go back to it. I don’t believe we’ve seen anything from this offense. WVU is in for a rude awakening.

    • EasTex says:

      I want to see some tempo. We might need to hold off on that until Texsa to be certain our OL is synced up.

      • SamSooner says:

        Yep, for sure. The OL is looking better each week.

      • SamSooner says:

        I sure like how Alvarez never looks between his legs before snapping the ball.

        • EasTex says:

          Well, in fairness, that was his only time at center this year and it was in front of a home crowd that gets quiet when the offense is on the field. No way he could have heard the QB at Knoxville.

    • EasTex says:

      About to hit the bunk.
      You probably won’t see this until the a.m., but you might find this video entertaining…I sure have.
      The two RBs in red, #33 Senior, #5 Junior. Also watch #9 on defense, kid just started playing football last year, he is a soph DE 6’6″ 200lbs, but very athletic. The video starts at just under 16 minutes, there is about 4 minutes left in the 1st qtr and the score 28 before half time.
      https://youtu.be/LQzxePJszPk?t=15m45s

  • RBear says:

    A little bit on how some of our recruits are doing in their most-recent games:

    https://oklahoma.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1808020

  • NBatt says:

    Interesting takes from Dana Holgorsen on this Saturday’s game. His thoughts on some on our guys, our D vs Tulsa, last year’s problems with us…. (sorry if already posted)

    http://www.wvillustrated.com/story/30144312/watch-wvu-coach-holgorsen-looks-ahead-to-oklahoma

  • Jeremy Phillips says:

    Looks like we offered a DE from Bishop Gorman in Vegas yesterday.. Haskell Garrett

    Blessed and honored to say I have received my first Big 12 offer from the University of Oklahoma #sooners http://t.co/02CSiPbSHN

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