Sooners News Daily 8.8.16

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173 Comments

  • metzker says:

    BOOMER 1ST

  • Boomer4life says:

    SOONER!!!!

  • OUn8v says:

    Good morning, everyone. Some good stuff in the daily today. Thanks, Jordan!

  • Dick Bump says:

    SupRising weekend. Sooner!

  • Cush Creekmont says:

    I enjoyed getting back into the NEWS. It’s nice to read OU coaches and players comments.

  • Chris White says:

    The Athlon Sports article was a very interesting read, I assume all the info was true and did come from the coaches so I like to see unfiltered opinions! I’m definitely a Homer but I think our offense will be much better than they expect but they made a key point in saying that OU is circled on everyone’s calendar now

    • brainpimp says:

      OU has been circled on most peoples schedules for the majority of the last 60 years.

      I’m just not seeing that as any big difference maker for us.

      • Dick Bump says:

        Very true.

      • Rob says:

        My only concern is that the last 5 times OU was preseason inside the top 5 they finished 15,15,16, unranked, unranked. Or something close to that. Hopefully this is the year they finish it.

        • SamSooner says:

          “The Law of Average” says that will not be the case this time.

        • Birddawg says:

          No injuries and this team is going the distance.

        • Walter Sobcek says:

          So much of it comes down to injuries and the bounce of the ball. We’re due some good luck.

          • Spitting Bull says:

            Well, we had pretty good luck last year. We truly didn’t face the best Baylor, TCU or even Osu team last year with all the QB injuries and had to deal with very little on our own. Losing Charles Walker for the Clemson game was pretty significant but other than that. Pretty much no losses that were very detrimental to the team. We used all of our luck up. Going to have to bring the skill!

          • Walter Sobcek says:

            Well, I’m looking at the last 10 years. So we’re still due some good luck dividends.

        • Mark_in_VA says:

          I get the impression–in the past–that the staff lets external factors influence their intensity. Maybe with the staff shake-ups, they’ll put that to rest, and now Bob has had so many years of experience about letting complacency get a foot in the door, no matter how small. I think he’s going to be hungrier for internal reasons: he has to see the end on the horizon and he must really want those Natty’s before that time comes.

        • Scott says:

          Those teams didnt have the Bake n Shake on them.

      • Boom says:

        Boom.

    • Bob Edwards says:

      It seemed pretty accurate though I might disagree with how much “being circled” really makes. Sometimes, knowing that just makes you prepare harder.

      So given that they are accurate on us, it sounds like this is Strong’s last year. People talk about how much talent they have, but they are missing key pieces and right now most of it is “stars” talent and not on the field talent. Add in a completely new offensive scheme, a schedule that sets them up for some early losses, and things don’t look promising in Austin.

      • SoonerOracle737 says:

        I worry about the day when Texsa finally gets a good coach and a decent QB. But, they aren’t there yet so all is well.

      • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

        No way this is chucks last year. I’m not sure why a lot of Sooner fans believe this is his last year. I think he could finish below .500 again and still be safe. Revolving door of employees is never a good look, even if you see the university of Texas. I guess we’ll all know soon enough, but I completely disagree with you on this one.

        • Bob Edwards says:

          If he finishes below .500 he is probably gone before the end of the season. No way the big money donors, who didn’t really want Strong in the first place, put up with three losing seasons in a row. He’s their John Blake at that point.

          • Dick Bump says:

            I agree. You could tell he wasn’t that popular of a choice from the start. The fact that the OC at frickin’ Tulsa wasn’t that interested in going to Texas in the beginning says a lot.

          • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

            His first two years were a wash. Everyone knew with him cleaning house the way he did that their was going to be growing pains. I think he gets 4 seasons and after that then who knows.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            I think you don’t understand the situation. The UT powers believed they were getting Saban until Mack screwed them around and didn’t leave graciously and Saban signed for a lot more cash. So rather than Playing for their second NC this year under Saban they will have had three losing seasons under Strong. They believe they can hire whoever they want why. Would they stick with a three time loser?

          • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

            I understand the situation Bob. I just don’t agree with your take on it. You talk as if Texas would have signed Saban that it automatically means they are playing for a natty. That’s such an ignorant statement. The fact of the matter is they signed Chuck, he cleaned house, has landed great talent and started an extremely young team and they are on the rise. I don’t care about the ” what if ” scenario with Saban because it didn’t happen and it was never going to happen regardless of what some of the big Doners thought. Texas is still extremely young and it doesn’t take a genius to realize that. You cannot have a revolving door of leadership positions in any job and I think most Texsa fans have come to this realization. I hope they fire him because I firmly believe he’s a great coach and if he’s given the right amount of time at Texsa I think he could easily right the ship which is scary but whatever.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            First of all I am not the one that thinks Saban would have won national championships in his second year but I guarantee there are a lot of their fans that would believe it. After all, if Stoops could do it coming in as an assistant at piddly little Oklahoma then Saban ought to be able to do it at Texas. They believed they had talent at that time, they just thought Mack wasn’t the coach to get them there. In this scenario it’s not important what Saban could have done it’s what the guys who pull the strings at Texas think he would have done. It’s also the fact that some of them felt pushed out when Strong was hired.

            This is a very similar situation to what happened at OU before Stoops. Lots of internal politics and losing records. We had one player in Stoops first year who, because of injury, got a sixth year. Stoops was his fourth HC.

            This is how it usually goes at elite programs when losing starts to happen. I can’t think of an school that views themselves as elite that would allow a HC to go more than three years with a losing record no matter what the circumstances. That’s just not how people work.

          • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

            How about we just beat the snot out of them and send them into a 1-4 start and they fire him after the loss to us? I think we would all enjoy that. 🙂

          • SoonerSpock says:

            I don’t think anyone is saying Saban would have won a national championship in his second year at Texas. What I read is that many big money donors envisioned Texas could win a national championship in his second season when the reality of the situation was 180 degrees from a national championship season.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            Not on the rise until they go 9-3 or so. Stop with the ESPN hype.

        • Scott says:

          If Tom Herman leads Houston to another new years six bowl and if Coach Strong has another bad season , i think Mr. Strong will be gone.

          • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

            I just think they’ve accepted the fact that chicks first two years were a complete wash since he had to clean house. Either way I don’t care, I just don’t think it’s a lock he’s gone if they struggle this year with a freshman QB and a new offensive system.

      • SamSooner says:

        I will be rooting against them, for sure.

      • Scott says:

        Dont forget all the expectations these Texsa fans are placing on the freshman QB , their acting like he’s the next Colt McCoy already.

    • Mark_in_VA says:

      Texas

      “In my opinion, they won’t be very good.”

      lol – I’d sure love to know who reeled that quip off.

      • Birddawg says:

        We know it wasn’t Stoops his quote would’ve been,
        “What time is it? 8:22am and Texsa still Sucks! Boomer!”

      • Spitting Bull says:

        I think it was Stoops. 🙂 I hope it was Stoops!

    • SamSooner says:

      Chris, good morning. I read some of those opinions also.

      In my opinion, those quotes don’t sound like something a coach would say. The quotes didn’t seem to be specific enough. It’s anonymous; so you don’t have to have sources.

      What coach would say this, singling out Jordan Evans:

      “They’re going to take a step back defensively for sure losing Eric Striker and Charles Tapper up front. Jordan Evans is a good athlete at linebacker and has gotten a lot better, but he’s not a great player.”

      It’s in coaches DNA to be respectful even if they don’t believe in what they’re saying. Even if they are speaking anonymously, they won’t veer too far from being respectful, if nothing else, for fear that it will be revealed they are the source of the quote.

      Just my opinion.

      • SoonerOracle737 says:

        I personally don’t like anonymous sourced articles no matter the topic – especially politics. The article can easily be political (or otherwise) propaganda.

      • DCinAZ says:

        Charlie Strong would say that about Evans.

      • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

        I read it and wanted to punch someone lol. I couldn’t believe it. Sounds like if they did interview someone it was Kliff or a Baylor coach spouting off that crap because the comments made about us sounded like they came from someone who’s salty as heck.

        • SamSooner says:

          I know who you can punch: HWMNBN

        • SoonerOracle737 says:

          Anonymous sources are crap and usually have an agenda.

        • Spitting Bull says:

          Well, they didn’t say a lot that wasn’t true except for Jordan Evans maybe. We’ll see if he becomes great. We did catch a lot of breaks last year. Gosh, facing three teams that had fantastic QB’s with out them. That was a stroke of luck for sure.

          • Scott says:

            Seth Russell isnt special , the toughest team he played was Iowa St. Puke st QB is mediocre at best. The only team we may have dodged a bullet from is TCU.

          • SoonerMagic76 says:

            I don’t know if I can agree with the Seth Russell note. I know it is very easy for a QB to rack up stats in that offense, just like it was easy for Henry to rack up rushing yards at Bama because he was the only person doing anything on offense, but Russell was still pretty darn good. His efficiency was impressive.

            With that said, Rudolph at oSu doesn’t scare me, so I’d agree there. And I do think we dodged the TCU bullet

          • Drew says:

            I keep seeing Rudolph listed as one of the conferences best QBs, but he split reps with a completely mediocre Walsh last year. I’m simply not impressed. Same with their WR Washington, though I can at least understand him if you didn’t watch Bedlam and just looked at his stats against us (which were pretty good as he was never called on his blatant PIs).

          • Drew says:

            I keep seeing Rudolph listed as one of the conferences best QBs, but he split reps with a completely mediocre Walsh last year. I’m simply not impressed. Same with their WR Washington, though I can at least understand him if you didn’t watch Bedlam and just looked at his stats against us (which were pretty good as he was never called on his blatant PIs).

          • ToatsMcGoats says:

            To be fair, they caught a break too. Mayfield sitting out the entire second half seemed to be the definition of “game changer”.

          • Spitting Bull says:

            Don’t agree. Wasn’t Seth Russell leading the NCAA in a few categories when he went out? Rudolph mediocre? I guess we will see for sure this year but I think he’s better than that.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            It’s just part of the game. We had players hurt too during the season but found a way around it. If injury is a reason to adjust the results of a season then the 2008 OU teams needs to have a crystal ball.

          • Spitting Bull says:

            True. But it’s a little different when it’s the Quarterback. TCU game when Trevor comes in for Baker? BYU game when Sam’s knocked out and Landry comes in. We don’t beat TCU, Baylor or OSU without Baker. So we didn’t get their best by far.

        • D Hunter Sanchez says:

          Former Coach Briles?

      • Birddawg says:

        I completely agree, I was thinking it was some graduate assistants.. quality control coaches.. position coaches… not a HCs/OCs/DCs..

      • SWoods says:

        I agree 100% no way that came from a coach.

        • SamSooner says:

          It just didn’t sound like it did. A coach would pick a player and be complimentary, even if the rest of the rest of the team sucked.

          I mean, Kansas would have received a compliment. For instance, this is what I’d expect to see: “They’re a young team but the coaches at KU will keep coaching them up.”

          • SWoods says:

            Exactly. Coaches can be critical of a player but not in that way. You can just tell that it wasn’t a coach. Coaches just don’t speak that way.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        I think it is in most coaches DNA to be brutally honest but they learn to keep it in check in public because of all the crap that comes from it. I can see them saying much different things anonymously than they do in public.

        And the quote about Evans seems pretty accurate to me. Take you OU blinders off for a minute an read the Evans quote again.
        1) He’s a good athlete – true
        2) He has gotten a lot better – true
        3) He is not a GREAT player – I would agree, he may become one but he certainly hasn’t been one yet.
        There is nothing really negative in there it’s just not as positive as it could be.

        Compare that to what they said about Texas’ linebackers:

        “Defensively, when you go back and watch the tape, the young guys just didn’t play hard. Their young linebackers were highly touted, but you could tell they took too many plays off and it cost them a lot of big plays.”

        • Spitting Bull says:

          Agree with you totally. What they said wasn’t far from the truth as we know it today. I hope Evans proves them wrong along with the rest of OUr D.

        • Boom says:

          Agree. The coach also went to say Tech’s defense was horrid. I enjoy reading things like this so it helps me with my homerism. Is this now a new word?

        • SamSooner says:

          But that’s my point, Bob: a coach would have stopped at “…he’s gotten a lot better.” “He’s gotten a lot better (minus) he’s not great, which means he was below average (equals) he’s average or below average. That, in my opinion is an insult.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            I guess you read not great differently than I do. He can still be a good player and not be great. Given the other things he said about him that would seem to be the charitable way to read it. He probably picked out Evans because LB is the question for us and he’s the only returning starter we have. I read him as saying he’s no Striker. Well, duh water is wet too.

          • Boom says:

            I understand your position. However, I have a question for you. When was the last time we had a “great” LB. Striker was good at rushing the QB but not great against the run. To me, great is thrown around to much. Great means they can dominate a game. I don’t see Jordan doing this but not many can across the country. Just my .02

          • SamSooner says:

            I see your point. Something to consider.

      • Spitting Bull says:

        Either way, it’s great bulletin board material for a few. Texas defense for sure. And for OU Jordan Evans and the D. “They’re going to take a step back defensively for sure losing Eric Striker and Charles Tapper up front. Jordan Evans is a good athlete at linebacker and has gotten a lot better, but he’s not a great player.”

  • Cush Creekmont says:

    Full week of practice – coaches and players working hard with support from the…

  • J.r. Kamm says:

    Good FOOTBALL morning, fellow Brainiacs!!! What a great start to the ’18 recruiting class!!

    • Cush Creekmont says:

      Good morning, JR. SS17 has set a standard. 18 is starting their run. It will be interesting and exciting to see how both of these classes progress and CLOSE.

      • J.r. Kamm says:

        Good morning, Cush!! Can’t wait to see how SS17 closes and how ’18 adds to it. Good times.

    • soonerbred4ever says:

      Everyday is a great day to be a SOONER!

  • BleedCrimson says:

    26 DTG – ONE All-American and a cOUple of great players.
    Jack Mitchell AA 46-48; Ted Long 87-88; Barry Burget 76-79; Rhett Bowers 06-08

    Jack Mitchell AA

  • ALar03 says:

    I wrote about this the other day but to me looking at Johncarlo Valentins Twitter he seemed to be at Lackawanna JC

  • Walter Sobcek says:

    Finally got to watch the Clemson-Bama game on espn re-airing yesterday. Clemson let that one slip away. Wish OU would have played Bama in the first round – think it would have been the same result as in 2014.

    • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

      Our offensive line was too young. If they got abused by Clemson then the same thing would have happened against Bama.

      • SamSooner says:

        But the great equalizer is Bama’s offensive game plan: very vanilla and the QB was no threat to take off.

        • Vegas_Sooner21 says:

          Oh for sure. Their offense is nowhere near the level of Clemson’s but still lol. I think we were a year ahead of schedule. I just wish Sanchez and Dom came back for this years playoff run.

          • Walter Sobcek says:

            Lol? Heard the same thing about 2014. I think we could have made it a very close game, especially by creating turnovers.

      • Walter Sobcek says:

        Perhaps, but we would have a better time against their offense. Coker was tailor made for Striker and Tapper.

  • CW says:

    Super K/JE Can someone break down Patrick Fields/Josh Proctor and other 2018 instate talent. Thanks

  • Birddawg says:

    Millard will have to bring his best game. He is battling Sherman one of the best Fullbacks in NFL. Sherman is due 2mil. (16th highest paid player on team) Chiefs are strapped for cash. If Millard proves he’s serviceable. Chiefs could trade Sherman and sign Millard.

    • D Hunter Sanchez says:

      Chiefs have my team but this small market BS has got to go. They are an NF freaking L franchise, they are not low on money. They are cheap.

      • Birddawg says:

        Chiefs are spending the 2nd most in the nfl right now.
        If millard proves he can do a good enough job.. They could trade Sherman for a 6/7th and open a little more cap space.
        http://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space/

        • D Hunter Sanchez says:

          Is that correct? I don’t really follow the money trail. But okay, I’ll take it back. But Sherman is very important to the running game.

          • Birddawg says:

            Oh yea, Sherman is top 5 but his cap # is awfully high for a FB hence bringing in Millard. I don’t have a dog in this race but certainly wouldn’t mind another Chief Sooner. 🙂

  • metzker says:

    Anyone got a link to Boz addressing the team?

    • SamSooner says:

      Not yet. I’ve looking for it. You find anything, Metz?

      • metzker says:

        Nope i cant find it.And FOOTBALL,Sam

      • cush creekmont says:

        Sam! I was out of town all weekend – even missed the Rising boom until last night. I got to read through two days worth of comments – you guys kept things rolling.

        I am now officially stoked for practice notes!

        • SamSooner says:

          I’m so stoked and I can’t wait.

          I’m a very analytical person; I’ll admit it slows me down. But I’ve always taken pride in paying attention to subtleties, as they are sometimes no more than that but at other times very valuable.

          For instance, the photo of Boz addressing the team: what’s different: everyone is attentive, everyone. I’ve seen similar photos and some players might have their heads down. Not in this photo: most seemed to be engaged.

          The practice photos: I see intensity in the eyes of the players: it’s like, I have to get this right today, during practice. That kind of intensity is something you see in a game. I’m seeing it during practice. I can’t say I’ve seen this before.

          It could be nothing. It could be everything.

          • Cush Creekmont says:

            Been so much stuff in the OP and the Boom, I didn’t look back at the News – You are a dedicated Sooner Sam! I agree with your analysis of the team “buying in” because they are actually paying attention. I may have to start using my best Sherlock Holmes brain to see what hidden gems come out of the August practice pics.

          • SamSooner says:

            Like you and other fans, I want all things good for this team. The 90s was a tough period. I survived that, I’ll be okay with this team and future teams.

  • Soonerfandave84 says:

    Morning all.

  • Lane Gilstrap says:

    We need to stomp Texas so bad Chuck gets fired and Marvin Wilson comes to Norman

    • SamSooner says:

      I want a beatdown so bad Charlie Strong is fired at halftime.

      • Scott says:

        I want a 63 -7 type of win so i can laugh at the texsa fans.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        I really think that could happen. A embarrassing first game lost to ND. Beat UTEP. Then a late game loss on the road to a not very good Cal team. Then looking forward to salvaging the season by beating OU they get pummeled on the road at OSU. In the first half LR is dialed in as OC and the Sooners run rampant on a demoralized UT falling just short of half a hundred at halftime with a 49-0 score. Red McCombs and five other BMD’s corner the UT AD in his suite at halftime and the decision is made to let Charlie find his own ride home ala USC and Lane Kiffin.

        • SoonerMagic76 says:

          That Lane story was so darn funny when it came out….

          But yes. Yes to all this of this. Yes please.

        • SamSooner says:

          Dang, Bob! The script is written; let’s contact a movie director.

          I want Bob to stop being courteous by calling off the dogs. I really think that Mike Lupica rant about the A&M beatdown bothered Stoops.

          • Scott says:

            Lets the dogs eat.

          • cush creekmont says:

            Bob is older and wiser now. As the “dean” of current college coaches, he can sub the 2nd team guys, but tell them to tear he “H” out of the other team – that way the Lupikas have no story.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            In this game he does, but UT is so demoralized at this point Rodney Anderson and Daniel Brooks combine for 247 yards on nine carries in the second half. With the score at 73-0 going into the fourth quarter, just like in the A&M game, they invoke the NCAA football version of the run rule. They turn on the clock and don’t stop it for any reason. Still, OU continues to drive down the field. Finding themselves at the UT 20 with more than five minutes left the put Jaxon Uhles a FB in as the tail back and hand him the ball seven straight times after telling the UT players what hole he is running in. In an embarrassing turn of events Uhles breaks a tackle at the three and rambles into the end zone to score the final TD. After the kick the score stands at 80-0 game over. Except that on the ensuing kick off the kick is muffed and an OU player falls on it in the endzone. Final score 87-0.

          • Sacramento Sooner says:

            The Prophet has spoken!

          • OohRah Mama says:

            Niiiiice.

        • SamSooner says:

          Dang, Bob! The script is written; let’s contact a movie director.

          I want Bob to stop being courteous by calling off the dogs. I really think that Mike Lupica rant about the A&M beatdown bothered Stoops.

        • Scott says:

          Cal got Davis Webb also they run the Taco Tech air raid offense. Things could get interesting.

        • cush creekmont says:

          I like the scenario, Bob. The only problem will be all the orange barf that has to be cleaned out of the Cotton Bowl.

    • SoonerOracle737 says:

      Sweet. Love the practice notes because it is FOOTBALL and not some anonymous opinion from the stadium janitor.

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  • SoonerFan92 says:

    https://twitter.com/jeremycrabtree/status/762648141099184129

    Not Sooners related, but that’s crazy he chose them over the local schools.

    • SamSooner says:

      What is that about? That’s interesting and telling.

    • Boom says:

      He’s a great player and did well at the elite 11. His dad is a good guys and they have looked at a lot of schools.
      The deal with Sears is he came on late and there was a guy in front of him. However, when he went to these camps, he was lighting it up and did the same at the elite 11. Problem, all the other QBs had committed to the big schools and he didn’t have a lot of options. He’s also smart and how can you not want to play for Cutcliffe and get a degree from Duke. Good for him and his family.

  • cush creekmont says:

    Had to come back to the NEWS because there was a llama “fail” and I didn’t see any comment from Metz.

    What’s up with that my man?

  • KJ1123 says:

    Ok that was a good failarmy.

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