OU @ K-State – What I’ll Be Watching
Posted on: October 15, 2015
Image via USA Today
* Out The Gate: Ahem…
“1-4 or not, this is still Dallas and it’s still OU. Texas is going to have some juice coming out of that illustrious tunnel. So the last thing OU wants to do in this game is give a desperate Texas team hope.
Whether it be a big play or, heaven forbid, an early lead, the Sooners need to withstand that inevitable initial wave Texas is (presumably) sure to open the game with. Do that, match it with your own, and this game could very well turn into the blowout so many of us are hoping to see. Don’t, and well the Horns may ultimately still not have enough right the sinking ship that is their season but why even bother having to find out.”
That was from last week’s ‘What I’ll Be Watching‘ and, as it turns out, it couldn’t have been more prophetic.
Now clearly this isn’t OU/Texas, but this is a pissed off Kansas State team coming off two disappointing losses they feel (and deservedly so) could have just as easily been two big upset victories. So who better to take that out on than an OU team coming in reeling from a terrible loss to their hated rival. An OU team we’ve seen start slow, at least offensively, in virtually every game so far this season.
Much like last week, I’d rather not even have to bother finding out how this OU team might respond should they get down early, again.
* Psyche: Kind of feel like this one is pretty self-explanatory. Coming off 2014, we really didn’t have a clue how this particular OU team would react when faced with adversity. Then the trip to Knoxville and OU fans thought they knew who this team was, but then Texas happened.
So here we sit again going into a football Saturday having no real idea which OU team is going to show up in Manhattan. You could probably convince me this OU team comes out with their hair on fire with something to prove just as easily as you could convince me Bill Snyder devises the perfect game plan to which OU has no answers.
* Mayfield Mistakes: We’ve heard all week be it from fans, coaches, even players that Baker Mayfield, at times, needs to do a better job of getting the ball out of his hand quicker. So I can’t help but wonder if that doesn’t get into his head and we maybe see a questionable throw or two that, for the most part, we’ve really yet to see from Mayfield so far this season. everyone have been drilling into his head to get the ball out faster, does he take more chances now?
* Adjustments: As great a coach as Bill Snyder has been and continues to be, with Bob Stoops & co. at the helm I’ve always felt pretty confident going into these games with regards to the coaching match-up.
This Saturday, not so much.
Admittedly a good deal of that is being somewhat jaded coming off last week’s debacle where we saw Oklahoma on both sides of the ball make virtually zero adjustments in spite of basically everything they were doing fail to work. So if you’re going to come into Manhattan and try to do all of the things that you’ve struggled with through all five games — the same OL lineup, running almost everything between the tackles, 2-4-5 against run-heavy sets, etc. — I will be immensely disappointed.
I kind of can’t fathom the OU coaches doing a lot of those same things even though they have five games worth of tape showing how little success they’ve had with them, but then again I would have never expected the approach they took against Texas and yet here we sit.
* Take Your Shot: No one needs any reminders as to OU’s offensive line play, but even in spite of that I’m convinced you have to at least start taking some shots down the field. You have to do something to loosen up these opposing defenses. Be it Jeffrey Mead, Mark Andrews, Sterling Shepard, hell even Dallis Todd, I don’t really care. Take a chance or two, throw it up and see if one of them can’t go get it.
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What will you be watching for Saturday afternoon?
183 Comments
There’s Only 1
Boomerrrr
SOONER!!!
It’ll be interesting to see what changes are made both in terms of personnel and play calling.
I agree. I will be pleased if some real changes occur, even if they don’t work out. At least it would show that Bob and the staff realize there are big problems. The only way this game would be truly disappointing would be if it was more of the status quo.
Only if the ‘real’ changes are effective… I would prefer to see effective changes…be they perceived as ‘real’ or not.
“effective changes…be they perceived as ‘real’ or not” well put.
I can’t agree completely with that. As long as these changes are not obviously stupid, or without a specific goal in mind, then I will be pleased. Sometimes change doesn’t work immediately, or it doesn’t work at all and you have to be willing to give it another go. The most important step is recognizing that something needs to be done. Of course, it would be great if all these changes happened and they worked out well, but that would be unrealistic.
I’ll be watching for how many pop passes go by without any “illegal man downfield” penalties.
Hype video for this weekend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_MURzp5DzE …
I’m impressed with Cook’s athleticism. He played QB against OSU and looked good till he hurt his shoulder. I’ll be interested to see how our D holds up against their unique offensive scheme.
If they tackle better which up to last week we all have been saying they were this year, I think they beat KSU if the OL allows for any sustained success.
Also looking for Mixon to get a few swing passes
When #8 is in, he’s not the runner that they’ve had at QB in the past. He is a pretty decent passer, loves to throw the back shoulder/jump ball type pass. I just want the ball out of Baker’s hands quickly this game. I think we fell in love with the deep pass against WVU and it hurt us against Texas.
He missed a few tosses to Mixon I thought were there a few times last week. One was a TD most likely
It sounds like the biggest difference between WVU and Texas gameplan was that WVU blitzed the hell out of him while playing man on the back end whereas Texas blitzed the hell out of him and played more zone causing him to hold the ball and wait to see someone clearly beat coverage. Maybe seeing that on tape will help him be ready to throw against zone blitzes in the future.
that makes sense
Matt, you’re exactly right. They gave up the underneath route all day too. He was just looking for the homerun instead of the 3-5 yard play. With limited guys in space, you break one tackle and that’s now a 20 yard play though.
Right. Take what the defense gives you, isn’t that what they say?
Watching the replay of the missed td to Shep, I did notice that Mixon was open, BUT so was Shep. It was especially obvious from the alternate angle that this is the type of pass completion that they routinely make. I agree that there were many times that Baker had a quickly available receiver open that he didn’t see, but I’m not gonna fault him for throwing to Shep on that play.
The one play that still gets me is the skinny post where he threw it behind Mead. If he hits Mead, it’s TD. So close but yet so far away.
I’ve been looking for Mixon to get a few swing passes since game one…and looking…..and looking ….and looking..
LR might should look at Heupel/White/Hibel to Q back in the day. That swing pass just killed em. Over and over and over. Even when you knew it was coming, Q would still break one off for 7-15.
Just remembered we play Houston in Houston to open next season. With their improvements, that may not be an easy game at all.
i was thinking Ohio State was the opening game. I’d rather play Houston than Ohio State for the first game!
Ohio St. is the 3rd game. La. Monroe is sandwiched between UH & tOSU.
* I will be looking for 3 defensive lineman.
* I will be looking for Will Johnson to show me he has earned his opportunity, despite little playing time thus far.
* I will be looking for more commitment to the run (probably wishful thinking).
* I will be looking for a more energetic team (this is a revenge game from last year).
–what the snyder d has in store getting after bm and the lr response
— mikey has stated the difficulty in defensing snyder o’s…….
— good news there’s no lockett, don’t know if they have anyone to replace that guy
My eyes will be on the OL. If there is no improvement this one will be another barn burner. If OU lets KState get a lead or hang around and the crowd gets into the game, it could be a long afternoon. Manhattan is not an easy place to play when the crowd gets into it and believe me they want this one bad. I think the Sooners will pull out a close one late but the Debbie’s will still be calling for Stoops head. Boomer
Ill be watching the good guys score more points than the kittys think thats a win
I am not expecting any wholesale improvement this week. Out manned is one thing. but allowing Tex to out hustle…..sticks in my craw.
I’ll be watching Baker’s play and decision-making. He can cure a lot of offensive woes if he can somehow get through his read progressions faster and find the check-down RB in the flat. We had that open a lot last Saturday, but didn’t find it. If he could have hit just three of those I think the outcome last week would have been different.
-Who’s playing OLine for OU and how they do. That will define the offense.
-Do we remember how to tackle?
-Does KState get away with having OLine down field on pass plays.
-Which team is more physical.
I’ll be looking for just overall improvement from last week and energy for 4 quarters. Watching our team in the 4th quarter last week was rough. That’s the look that you want your opponents to have not your team. I’ll also be watching Baker and hoping he doesn’t hold the ball too long.
KJ, I know that you have inside info to what extent I am not sure. However, I would like to ask a question based on Soonerfandave post above. Who is responsible for working on tackling? Is it the position coach or Mike Stoops telling the position coaches to work on it?
Read today that Michigan, statistically one of the better D’s in country, hits and works on tackling every other practice.
There’s alot of technique work that gets worked on during the individual periods, that’s run by the position coaches and assistants. During team time, good on good, or scout team, it’s more focused on schemes that’s more or less what Mike is mostly involved with. Just my opinion, but I don’t feel like there are enough live sessions in a the week. As of right now they only have one full padded practice. I understand it helps with avoiding injuries, but you have to simulate live fire to be able to react on Saturdays.
Thanks for the response, helps me to understand a little better.
1 live padded practice a week in the season is the norm in the NFL.(or none at all) Just need to learn to bring it on game day.
I agree they need to learn how to bring it on game day. But they’re still kids not professionals. 98% of them wont be playing pro ball and alot of them don’t know how to hit the switch when they have to so they need the practice.
Any potential changes for the OL?
Yeah, they’ve made a change but well see what the actual lineup looks like after tomorrow mornings practice.
Coolio
Offensive line
Tackling
Seibert
Team attitude after that gut punch from Texsa
Did I mention tackling?
I started to say blocking but offensive line will cover that. Just block and tackle. I had a friend who used to get in many fights and his theory was you make your opponent bleed first. I hope OU punches first right out of the gate. Like someone else mentioned OU needs to start fast.
discipline, I shouldve said discipline. Guys can’t miss blocks by picking up the wrong guy, happens a lot this year, and for defense running out of position and not wrapping up when in position result in 81 yard runs and easy scores down the sideline.
also, stop being minus in turnovers. had a negative ratio in all but the WVU game(20 point win)
I’ll be watching how everyone who wants Baker to get rid of the ball quickly react to a turnover because he didn’t hold onto the ball longer. “If he would have just waited another half a second, Shepard would have been long gone.”
When you get the ball out quicker, it’s usually for quick slants, bubble screens, or stop routes. These type of throws are more open than holding onto the ball. Just get the ball in our playmakers hands quick. I really like this on 1st down so we pick up 3 – 7 or break it for another 1st or longer.
If D linemen are coming untouched, straight up the middle, it’s difficult to throw any route. I don’t want to get into OL bashing, but Mayfield has, IMO, been one of the few who are going above and beyond to help get a win. It’s easy to look at film and say this or that should have happened, and something else altogether to remember your task was to drain the swamp while up to your ass in alligators.
117th in sacks allowed and we wonder why the QB is struggling. I’m thinking that might have something to do with it.
I wish I could upvote MoJoOkie’s and Bob Edward’s points more than once. I do think this is the crux of much of our offensive lethargy with our games thus far.
Maybe a little.
some random thoughts
1.This is a turning point game for Stoops . Win and improve maybe beat either Baylor or Tcu and go 10-2 win a bowl game and its a decent season . But lose making Osu, Tech , tossups and then lose to both Baylor and Tcu and finish with 5 or 6 losses . 2 years in a row with 5 or more losses even though many staff changes and the heat is on.
2.I have been bitching about our safety position for years . Parker is great but the other guys playing safety are killing this defense over the last 4 years.
3. At wr I would start Andrews ,Shep , Mixon and Wesbrooke .
4. I would like to see Mixon return punts and Mixon and Brooks return kickoffs.
5.And lastly I think Darlington is a great guy and Sooner ,but I think Alverez might be better as our starting center.
Some interesting thoughts. I think if they get it turned around enough to beat Baylor in Waco, they definitely beat TCU at home. Agree with the Safety play last year and so far this year. 2012 and 2013 the safeties were great both years.
Why does anyone want to see Mixon play WR at this point anymore? That experiment has been a failure and he’s RB, not a WR.
I like seeing him flair out for dumpoffs but generally one does like to see your RBs playing the RB position.
I agree. As an all-purpose back, that’s part of his slillset is catching passes out of the backfield. But lining up as a WR, he doesn’t have a WRs mindset, a WRs vision, or WRs route running ability. Asking him to do so is clownish and a waste of time IMO.
Thought I was on this page when I wrote my post so repeating it here:
From Pop Warner to the NFL from the Wishbone to the Run & Shout/Spread Offenses, if your defense doesn’t TACKLE it doesn’t matter who you are playing, it doesn’t matter what the play call was, it doesn’t matter if you were out of position. it doesn’t matter if you play bump & Run or Ten Yards off the WR. YOU DON”T TACKLE YOU DON”T WIN!
yes, tackling is the most important part of defense
Finding your way to the stadium is the most important. Then tackling.
not really, the bus driver takes care of that for them now 😉
Bus drivers have always scared me. I get the sense they wouldn’t mind getting into an accident just so they can go home early.
Sorry boss, the bus got hit. I’m taking the afternoon off.
That’s it exactly. “Oh, and someone needs to come and pickup all these football players. I think they have a game or something.”
I’m unclear as to what you’d like to see on Saturday. Could you clarify?
I think he wants the wishbone.
Let me get this straight: So you DO want to see tackling?
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/youaretheresistance-141020101126-conversion-gate01/95/you-are-the-resistance-championing-humancentered-design-amidst-the-rise-of-the-machines-28-638.jpg?cb=1413800211
I’m looking for:
1) Blocking
2) Tackling
“The goal is to get a seal here, and here, and run this play IN. THE. ALLEY.”
– Lombardi
Yeah, right now it’s pretty simple. We need the guys blocking and tackling like they should. If that happens, and we are still losing, then we can talk about schemes and play calling. There was no mystery to the loss to Texas they outplayed us in the fundamentals, and that is really sad given their play the rest of the year.
Exactly. Do that and we’ll win.
How about we just think about vengeance. We lost last year… work on rebounding and throttling these cats.
What am I looking for? Fire.
I want to see coaches and players who understand their responsibilities and aren’t stupid, but who play with maniacal frenzy. Don’t hit someone to ‘compete well’ or even to ‘stop his progress’. Hit the man with the full intent to permanently injure or kill the SOB. Clean but extremely hard.
It’s been so long since our team has exhibited this and its time for the drought to end.
I am looking for an end to powder puff football being played in OU jerseys.
Just want to see OU run and stop the run Saturday
that would be nice to go along with a victory
Bring our ‘leverage’ to the game.
I would like to see the officials call a good game. If there is holding, call it. Call the pop passes or linemen downfield. I realize this will be on the home team but make the right call.
Quit wasting so much time on replay. Provide some decent announcers who don’t go into the whole Synder/Stoops connection. We got it down. I would like to see some fire in Bob and his assistants. I don’t remember them clapping or giving high 5s when their players come off the field. Meet them half way like the old days. I just want to see passion from OU.
They aren’t going to call that illegal forward pass. I watched the KSU/TCU game last week and KSU ran that little play a handful of times with the OL being 5-6-7 yds down field and blocking 2nd level defenders before the ball was released and no flag was thrown. Heck, KSU ran a pass play where the QB was 4-5 yds passed the LOS and nothing was called.
The following are our trifecta for the win:
1) OL Blocking, protecting Baker;
2) DL stopping the KSU run game;
3) Mayfield’s ability to complete throws, but not to the other team.
Those are my big 3 after last week’s game. I may not be able to watch the game …. I’ll be visiting my son in Boulder (yes, he’s a CU Buffalo).
I want to see almost exclusively quick passes… too many obvious reasons to list. OU was seemingly trying too much for the big play last week and it cost them.
If this is not the case, I will come unglued.
“Take your shot”? Am I missing something here? It seems that Riley’s version of the Air Raid IS to take multiple shots down field. It seems to me that they already take a lot of shots, what I’m NOT seeing is the quick hitters that get the ball out of BMs hands and into the playmakers hands. Where are the quick slants and crossing routes underneath the deep throws? Where are the dump offs to the RBs when things are covered downfield? Where is Andrews matched up against LBers? This is far from a typical Air Raid system.
Exactly my point below. You’re forcing Baker to hold on to the ball when the routes are all run that deep.
We had a couple of quick slants against texas, but they were defended perfectly. I can’t remember going over the middle the whole game. Did we?
Well, Westbrook fell down on the quick slant in the end zone. That hurt.
twice, once with Mead and pass was behind him and the other was to Quick and he almost made a TD. That’s it. Slants don’t really count since they are still considered outside.
I’ll be looking for the defensive line to make their presence felt for the first time since blowing up that WV tailback and then hoping to the high heavens that they start to show up more consistently. I’d be more ready to convince you, Jordan, that they’ll come out with their hair on fire. Intuitively, it’s just the sense I get when reading about and listening to the players this week.
What I hope I’ll be watching: a great, exciting game that OU wins on a last second field by Awesome ‘Money’ Seibert. What I fear I’ll be watching: The Purple Wizard schooling his protegee.
If they haven’t managed to at least give Samia a shot in this game I will be greatly disappointed. St. John isn’t the answer by a mile at RT and I’d rather have the guy who showed actual promise and proper footwork over the guy who had a few years of JuCo which just reinforced his bad habits.
“2-4-5 against run-heavy sets, etc. — I will be immensely disappointed.”
“But Mike’s choice in the defensive personnel and front wasn’t the problem. In fact sometimes when you play a smaller set you can be more disruptive in the run game and you can play misdirection better.” (Super K)
I disagree that “virtually zero adjustments” were made. But, having said that, if your players are in the right position to make plays, but are missing tackles, making adjustments just for adjustments’ sake, is the wrong thing to do.
The failure really came down to the linebackers not filling lanes or just getting blown the hell up on the outside and losing contain. Evans did the best and he was still struggling to plug the holes.
It was a mob scene on the second level, filled with unblocked O lineman. On more than one ocassion, Evans and Dom fell over bodies trying to get to the runner. Very messy.
Striker also kept having small lapses in judgment and got far too aggressive on the outside which led to over-commitment and getting blown by. Drove me insane.
Yeah, Strike is a doulble-edged sword. Love his aggressivenes in getting into the backfield, but frustrating when he loses contain. Then again, might be nice if he had a defensive end he could play off of. But I don’t wanna open up that whole 2-4-5 business again. It’s been touchy!
We only had two Dlinemen on the field to block which allowed their OL to freely release to the 2nd level and chew our LBers up and spit them out which is what happened when you watch the replay time and time again. The LBers were set up to fail. That’s why I disagree that Mike’s scheme was “a good scheme against a running QB”. Well…..all he has to do is give the ball to a RB to run through those gigantic holes on the Dline because those holes are there before the ball is ever snapped and the RB can get to the 3rd level without being touched. Easy peezy…
Where is this 4-3 option we heard about in the pre season? We’ve run at times what looks like it, but all we’ve done is move Bond or Striker up like a DE. That’s not a 4-3.
Once again Mike took it upon himself to eliminate a defensive position only instead of LBers, now it’s DEs.
Dusty put it fairly simply, I may be paraphrasing a tiny bit, but not much “If you don’t tackle and you don’t block, you probably don’t win.”
and he is exactly right! Couldn’t put it more simpler than that.
KSU more than any team we play forces you to be sound in you assignments. If guys get over aggressive and don’t execute this could a long day. I’m looking for focused sound play on both sides of the ball.
That’s the big thing about KSU, they are mentally probably the toughest team we play all year. They are fundamentally sound because they are coached up to an unimaginable level.
Yep. Wish Bill would pull a Spurrier and quit this week. But I don’t see it happening!
Would have to put TCU in there with KSU.
At this point I’m not inclined to micro manage on either side of the ball and say “i expect such and such a defensive lineup, or more run, or more swing passes.” I will, however, be hoping to see something that looks to the fans like a “totally different” team. We like to talk about pedal to the metal and keeping the pressure on. As much as I love the thrill and the excitement, I don’t want to see a nail biter this week. I’d like to see the game over by half time with OU handily in control.
In spite of what I take to be “gamesmanship” remarks from Stoops about running more, I suspect we’ll go after K-States weakest link, which by all accounts is their secondary. The pass will set up the run and the run will be second half grind the clock material. If they go contrary to that, I’m okay with it, but I need to see some points on the board and some powerful defensive stands. Thank you.
I expect the Sooners to play well Saturday, but I doubt it will be over by half. KSU doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot, so we’ll have to just steadily pull away from them. I’m looking for it to be over before the 4th. But I feel pretty confident about this one. Bob has a great track record following a loss.
I’m with you. I want to see an ass whoopin delivered by OU.
Clearly win the special teams and maybe even score off a punt return.
KSU is very sound in special teams, every year. It’s time for Alex Ross to house one.
Bill Snyder: the man, the myth, the legend, the only man brave enough to tuck his windbreaker into his slacks.
That, my friend, says all. “Say what you will,” says the Purple Wizard, “I shall dress myself in the manner and fashion that I desire.” And I’ll bet the manufacturer of said windbreaker got a nice hand-written note from him as well.
I had to go back and see it for myself. LO. He’s man enough he can do anything he wants.
If Bill Snyder had been in the same coaching era as Bear Bryant, more would have been written about him, and he would have been a bigger legend than Bryant.
No coach in college football does more with less. In fact, very coaches do more with more. Poke fun all you want, but Bill Snyder’s kids always know how to block and tackle.
I will be looking for…
1) Tackling with PASSION. defensive SWARM to the ball. IMPOSE your will into the ball carrier. Have a damn ruthless attitude!
2) Oline. It starts and ends with them. They play as bad as they did in Dallas. We wont score the pts to win. Actively find the best 5. Pickup the blitz.
3) Parker. My favorite player on this D because I think he has the most potential to be a great NFL guy. The better he gets, the better this D gets. I want to watch him have a great game (hopefully at safety)
4) Will Johnson. If he is coming into the nickel. I don’t how much he will play against KSU. But if we can get quality play from him. This defense can be pretty good.
5) DL, I believe we got a real talented young group that can stop the run.
Thank goodness football is back on tonight. I actually read a book last night. It was hard.
Some good baseball this postseason.
Dam rangers errors are like tackles id say
Yeah, I heard a missed an amazing game tween the Jays and Rangers last night.
Crazy 7th
Rangers 7th was like Jason White’s second quarter vs USC.
I’ve managed to block that out.
I wish I could
That Joey Bats HR was the stuff of legend… the bat flip even more legendary.
Loved the bat flip. “I’m done with you, bat. Leave me now.”
Let’s Go Royals!
Can somebody tell me why it was okay for Switzer to lose 4+ games three seasons in a row and not lose his job, but Bob can’t have a single 5 loss season without people coming unglued? Barry had more than his share of 2+ loss seasons as well, in a time where it was much easier for OU to dominate. Give me a break.
Where did you get the idea it was OK for Barry to lose 4 games? Believe me, it wasn’t. Fans had meltdowns when we didn’t win the Big 8. It was unacceptable.
In fairness, winning the Big8 was nearly a gimme. Nebraska. That’s it.
They’d be calling for Bob’s head every year if he couldn’t win a conference like that.
OOC schedule was also pitiful back then, typically, in comparison.
Whole lotta North Texas foes….with 140 on our sideline.
So winning the one game every year was easy? From 73-88 OU had the best w-l record in all of CFB, guess who was second? Nebraska. We had to beat Texas every year. OOC pitiful? 1973…Neb, Texas and USC in the same year.
No, beating Neb every year wasn’t easy. Winning the Big8, was easy, in comparison to winning a conference these days. I thought it was self explanatory. Been watching OU since 72, so I’m going by memory. Even at the time, I thought the conference was pretty pitiful. Remember thinking we’re lucky to have such an easy road. You can likely pick a year here & there for OOC looking decent, but by far & large, packing cupcakes to make the road easier was the norm of yesterday.
Not just saying this now, I remember being thankful for it at the time. Now I’m glad we actually have a tough road.
That’s what cracks me up when people try to compare Bob & Barry with his 140players on sideline in cupcake conference. I loved Barry, but just being honest.
I don’t think it’s about the losses as much as it how those losses happened. Can you honestly say that what you saw on the field Saturday was acceptable?
Well, I remember the “Bury Barry” signs. I also remember them not extending Barry’s contract like that had up until then. I don’t remember it being OK.
Yep. Switzer had a whole gallery of critics that thought he was a clown and not getting the most out of the team’s talent.
Bob has twice as many losses to double digit dogs as any other coach in his tier.
For me it’s not just about the loss to Texas, it’s the product I see on the field and the performance of both the players and the coaches. It’s the same failures year in and year out in spite of graduating players who “aren’t executing”.
Because Barry Switzer won his national championships where big game Bob lost three in a row the only coach to lose in three straight national championship games.
In a time of less parity while letting the inmates essentially run the asylum. Bob is the one who cleaned up Barry’s mess.
Ya. But he got there. Some never get close. .
Fans didn’t like losing any more then than now. The main difference, and Barry has touched on this, is social media and message boards.
#28 totin’ the rock (this means we got a big lead)!!!
I’ll be watching…..other football games because OU football frustrates the hell outta me.
Honestly, the one and only thing I will be watching is the score. I don’t care how they get it done, just get it done.
Everyone keeps saying how disciplined this K-State team is. I understand this is an old cliche because Father Time is their coach, but are there numbers actually supporting this? Based on my cursory glance of the stats, I’m not blown away.
Because K-State’s pass D is 114th in the nation, I’ll be watching our O-Line. If they can even partially do their job and give Baker even a little bit of time, I’m thinking Shep & co. will have a field day.
Defensively, we need to tackle and we can’t give up big plays. K-State’s run O checks in at 58th and their pass 0 is ranked 96th, and for offensive first downs they are 92nd. Our D can bend, but not break, and K-State will come off the field. They are out of Lockett’s, which will really help us prevent big plays.
Question: Can Alex Ross block? A friend an I were discussing the idea of playing Ross as a FB. Flowers can’t seem to get it going and their height/weight are basically a wash. It would be nice to see him out there (as long as he can block) given the obvious threat his speed presents.
I’ve mentioned the possibility of Ross at FB several times now. If he can block, catch a few routes, and then those quick hitters with his straight-line speed. He could be lethal in that position…
They’re ranked 114th because they’ve played Ok State and TCU. They are a solid defense, and they tackle well in space.
La Tech went 30/51 for 314 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. besides OSU and TCU, they played South Dakota, UTSA, and La Tech. they aren’t all world, but you are probably right that they are solid.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Ross try that position, no one expects a FB to be shifty, he could easily slip out on a flat route or down the seam because most people don’t pay much attention to the FB.
I don’t see Ross as much as much of a blocker. Awfully top heavy. Doesn’t have a wide a base to get that umph going after contact.
that was my thought as well
I haven’t seen anyone block yet. 🙂
LOL! This is true. Sadly.
He’s certainly no Roy Finch.
Then again Flowers tends to whiff or go after someone not even remotely near the running lane.
I’ll be looking for them to actually play a full game, start to fininsh. If they come flat again and play like crap, I’ll be looking or my next shot of whiskey.
Wasn’t what was expected and all but going in to this year I was really trying not to get excited because I didn’t want to be disappointed like last year and I know no one for seen a loss against Texas. Also the season isn’t over yet, they might get everything just right to make a run for the XII but 2017( an argument can be made for 2016) is going to be the year something amazing most likely happens. They’re only losing a few guys this year and this team is extremely young. Plus if they land the 16 class everyone is hoping/expecting for then I believe 2017 will be a big year for the Sooners. Who all agrees or disagrees?
Maybe we can get someone who can throw like Landry Jones and run like Trevor Knight?
What if he ends up throwing like Trevor Knight and running like Landry Jones?
That would be me and I’m fresh out of eligibility.
LOL
Who are you talking about? Baker has been very good so far. Undefeated until texass where the O L got their butt kicked and on occasion he held the ball a bit. But the QB is NOT the problem so far. Get a grip.
You’re right. I was trying to say that it seems many people want an imaginary QB one person who can do EVERYTHING the best.
I’ll be watching for the team to regain some of the confidence it lost. But I think it’ll take a few series. I think they’ll come out flat and then, *Whamo!* One of the playmakers capitalizes on a K-State bust and makes a highlight-worthy play. The rest of the team starts to feel it. The Old Man can’t find an answer (or his glasses). And we start to reap the fruits of our personnel changes.
And I enjoy a quality win with my babies. I give their mama a little wink and nudge, and I play my cards for a 5th quarter.
No penalties, no turnovers, better OL play, no sacks, good field position in every quarter, more time of possession, shorter passes for lots of yards after completion, and lots and lots of TDs… that’s about it.
Due to an afternoon kickoff, I’ll be watching my lunch expand my waistline instead of breakfast for once
I’ll be looking for better tackling and blocking. I will also be looking for that 4-3 defense we heard about in the pre-season. Using two actual DEs instead of moving Striker and Bond up.
If the coaches ain’t going to give Uhles a shot at fullback, why not Connor Knight? He’s a strong dude. Seems selfless enough.
I’ll be looking for Curtis Bolton.whats the word on him.
I like that kid. Hope he plays as mean as he talks.
How do we know KSU is pissed off? Are the OU players not pissed (at least Zack Sanchez), according to sources alleging Zack read the team the Riot Act?
Mayfield mistakes would, most likely, imply interceptions, not holding on to the ball too long. I think he has been coached out of his “gunslinger” mentality. I don’t mind him not throwing INTs. However, he’s not a runner. He’s a passer.
I do agree, however, 100% that Bill Snyder will understand OU’s strengths and weaknesses to a level only OU’s coaches know. I think Bill Snyder is the best coach in college football. If we don’t mix it up/confuse KSU, then, I think, we’ll have some issues. Of course, if OU were to execute their “regular,” then, I think, they will win by a couple TDs or more.
I said it in another post that OU’s season starts NOW. If they aren’t ruthless and lack pity for their opponent, then they will increase their probability of losing more games.
Like that Zack is getting up in their ass. He’s an upperclassmen and that’s what I expect of him.
Wish this attitude would have happened after Tulsa so they could have been more prepared for Texas. That tackling…yuck.
Re Mayfield “mistakes”: Season 66.3% completion rate, 14 TD, 3 INT. Vs saxet 71.4% completion rate, 1 TD, 0 INT. Not sure that Mayfield is the biggest problem we have. I agree that I would prefer he hold the ball and not turn it over.
One could say that OU has been the less physical team in nearly all games this year . Just see a team that gets pushed around a little too much . With the limited practice time and the focus on throwing the football , I don’t think the air raid helps develop run blocking . I’ll be watching to see how they respond if K State punches em in the mouth
Two weeks ago Baylor’s back had 240 yards rushing!
I’ll be watching for 100% effort on Offense, Defense and ST from first play to last with emotion (excitement and that controlled rage we keep hearing about). I want to see Pride from angry young men who value their abilities, their brotherhood and the university they represent. Let’s field a team that is Mobile, Agile, Hostile. I want the real OU football.
Wathcing the Kentucky-Auburn game, ad Boom Williams is a very good back.
Nice screen pass to the…tight end! Let’s try that.
DL and OL
IF this Defense continues to be unmotivated and constantly have bad game plans every week (having a 2 man front against a team determined to run) does anyone think M Stoops is gone next year and if so, who would be the next D coordinator to target?
Mike should have been gone last year. He’s a joke.
#troof
Hey bot! What the hell is a “collaborators stride mother”? Gobblety goop.
Omg… That Stanford wr just made the best catch I’ve ever seen.
Not to live in the past, but I hadnt seen this. Its since been deleted.
I’m watching the OL. If they can’t block, this team is sunk. LBs and Safeties will be huge in this one…that dadgum TE pop pass always shows up and burns OU.