Sooners News Daily 9.23.15

FOOTBALL

Baker Mayfield debuts in top 5 of the ESPN Heisman watch (ESPN)

re: Jarvis Baxter

RECRUITING

OTHER

Crazy.

In.

233 Comments

  • Glocal Sooner says:

    Boomer Sooner!!! I’m 1st!

  • Katyboomer says:

    I see where Westfield TX plays on the Death Star Network ( AKA ESPN) tomorrow night. Should be a good game and a chance to see some players that may play for OU Next year

  • Eric Hoffpauir says:

    Why is Chuka Ndulue listed as a NT? Is there a defensive scheme that prefers 270 pound nose tackles?

  • Golfluvr13 says:

    LOL!

  • Fear The Magic says:

    Off topic: This is Hilarious.

    http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2015/9/22/9370081/nsfw-its-meltdown-time-week-three

    Please don’t read it if youre under 21

  • Soonercntry says:

    I’m not a huge fan of Baker getting all of this attention right now. This team needs focus to be at an all-time high right now. The only good thing is this hype came on a bye week. Nothing else to see here fellas, time to get back to work. #soonermagic #nobigheads

    • Daddy R says:

      Good point. A week off will allow everyone to forget Baker, for a week anyhow. But, hey, Heupel was getting all the talk of heisman in 2000 too, remember he came in second to Weinke. So, Championship teams (and QB’s) have to be able to deal with these distractions (promotions/hype) and excel anyway.

    • Swanny says:

      Agree and disagree. I think you want this kind of attention. Big time players want to play for big time programs. This has as much or more implications for the years to come as it does for this year. The SEC gets the kids because it gets the pub.

  • Dd992emo says:

    I’m old now, but when I was a kid in McAlester the baseball game of the week on Saturdays and Sundays was nearly always the Yankees vs somebody. Hated the Yankees, but loved Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. Great catcher and a damn good outfielder. Best bad ball hitter I ever saw. RIP, Yogi…

  • Cush Creekmont says:

    RIP Yogi – I NEVER liked the Yankees, but liked Yogi and the Mick.

  • Sooner 76 says:

    RIP Yogi. A life long Yankees fan, my father would take me to KC in the early 60s on the train to see the Yankees. Skowron at 1st, Richardson at 2nd, Kubek at short, Boyer at 3rd, Yogi or Elston Howard at C, Yogi or Tresh in LF, Mantle in CF, Maris in RF. Main pitchers were Ford, Ralph Terry, and Bob Turley.

    At an oldtimer’s game several years ago, he was walking onto the field, and the names of former Yankees who had died during the past year were on the scoreboard. Yogi looked up and said, “I hope I never live to see my name up there.”

    • SoonerBred says:

      Same here 76, we made that same trip to watch The Mick and the Yankees in the early 60’s. Always a Yankee in good and bad times.

      • Sooner 76 says:

        We were at the same games. Awesome. I remember one was a double header on a Saturday afternoon. Moose hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 9th to win game 1 by 3-2, but the As won the 2nd by 14-3 or something. I think the next year, one of the games was 3-1 Yankees, with Terry pitching, Yogi was in LF that day, b/c I remember my neighbor who went with us saying that had Yogi charged a liner, Terry would have had a 1-hitter or no-hitter going to the 9th.

  • Sooner 76 says:

    I watched the FC Bayern – Wolfsburg game yesterday. Those were sick goals Lewandowski scored.

  • Jeremy Phillips says:

    Juco LB Horton is no longer an FSU commit.. Are we in a good position there or is it likely someone else..? I’ve read its probably a transfer credit issue with Florida St..

  • D Hunter Sanchez says:

    Need to punch the ball out, anticipate throws, take chances on INTS. Obviously, the players are concerned about making the tackle, but also need to be able to force some turnovers.

    • Walter Sobcek says:

      Last year we had a terrible TO ratio because we didn’t recover fumbles. as we did in 2013. Sometimes it’s the bounce of the ball. But we do need to create more fumbles, and that means strips and bigger hits. As I mentioned earlier in the week, we don’t have the big hitters that we had in past years (Ronnell Lewis comes immediately to mind) although there seems to be a view that Byrd has that potential. So perhaps he will cause a few key fumbles this year.

      • SoonerOracle737 says:

        For all the knocks Sanchez has gotten I remember him doing a few key strips of the WR’s catch. We need to emphasis that to the DB’s that even if they get beat and the WR makes the catch, strip the darned ball if you can while making the tackle. Or team up with one tackling and the other tearing at the ball.

      • D Hunter Sanchez says:

        Lewis, Nic Harris caused fumbles…Travis Lewis was always around the ball.

  • EasTex says:

    R.I.P. Yogi Berra, you were one of a kind.

    • Eric Hoffpauir says:

      Indeed. I went to quite a few Astros games as a kid when he was a coach there. Sometimes I’d just watch him and be happy that the Astros had that link to a bygone era of baseball.

      • EasTex says:

        I got an autograph from him when he was coaching the Mets and they were playing the ‘Stros just before I went over seas in ’73. We had box seats behind the visitors dugout, handed my 5 year old niece the program and a pen and held her out over the dugout and he signed it.
        I was thrilled when he came to coach the ‘Stros. His gruff facial expressions always belied the humor and wit lurking behind it.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      Loved the Yankees as a little kid. Idolized the Mick, Whitey and Yogi.

      For the few of you who might not be familar with Yogisms this is a great site to read a few

      http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/y/yogi_berra.html

      RIP Yogi

      • EasTex says:

        Was never a fan of the team, the name itself was off putting to a Son of the South, but loved the players and thought Stengall was a great manager.
        Met Warren Spahn when I was a kid, he was one of my heroes. Met Monty Stratton at an event in my home town, got his autograph and watched him throw some curve balls that made batters bail out of the box. Was a huge Willie Mays fan.
        Baseball and the players were so different back then compared to today, IMHO.

        • Fear The Magic says:

          “Baseball and the players were so different back then compared to today”
          Never a truer statement made. Back then you actually knew who the players on your favorite team were without having to recheck the roster year to year.

        • Hartshorne Miner says:

          Small world. Warren Spahn was the coach of my American Legion baseball team for one season. His son Greg was on the team.

      • rphokc says:

        thxs for the link……..funny, when reading (or hearing) some of those for the first time you know something is not right but not sure what it is………

    • Soonerfandave84 says:

      Which is as good as being an individual

    • MoJoOkie says:

      No more deja vu.

    • Katyboomer says:

      You see on the ESPN college page the highlights they did with Yogi sayings? Its pretty good even if its from them. They talk a little about the big 12 for once.

  • D Hunter Sanchez says:

    There is an article detailing how Striker and Bond were regulated to sharing playing time against Tulsa due to the nature of the offense. I always thought you need to get your best players on the field. In my mind, Tapper/Dimon have been inconsistent at DE. If you are running a three-front at times, why not use Bond and Striker as standup DEs more often?

    The only argument is that we’d get gashed in the run game. The issue is with Tap and Dimon playing and not getting pressure, we still gave up 167 yards rushing.

    • Matt says:

      The supposed solution to that offense is pressure up the middle and when Mike blitzed against Tulsa, they hit a big play. it sounds like Walker and Wade are going to have to have the games of their lives against Baylor.

    • Birddawg says:

      I was thinking the same thing.
      I would like to see that has our front.
      Bond…Walker…Romar….Dimon…Striker with Dom/Evans LBs
      Prolly wont work against the spread.

    • Randy says:

      I am almost to he point were I want the 4 LBs in the game every game.. Even vs TT, TCU a d Baylor.. If they are going to rush the ball and get 200 yards then so be it, our secondary has to stop getting torched, in bad position, young whatever it is but I trust our LBs more than I do one CB spot, and both Safety spots if Parker is in the Nickel.

      • Scott says:

        We need to stop the run so we can make the Baylors of the world more one dimensional

        • Randy says:

          I feel like you almost have to stop their short passing game and make them run. But not QB runs that’s were you get hurt and the run, pass option is so hard to defend.

          • If I remember Mike Leach’s comments when he was at OU correctly, the purpose of the spread is to pass to set-up the run. Which would make your comment correct. Most people who run the spread do it because they want to put the ball in the air, not run it. But, that being said, they will take every opportunity to run when the passing has opened it up.

          • Oscar says:

            If that is really true, that facilitating the run is the goal of the spread, then I would think the opening/base formation would largely be the “I”, therefore beginning most plays with a shift with one back, and put the 2nd back in motion. If you do this time and again, then come back to run a power play, the DBs are already set deep and wide, waiting for the next spread formation before your shift. If the defense always has a LB following the backs/receivers out of the I, then they will get beat on the routes. Also, the Hugh Freeze philosophy is interesting, that is wants nothing but big body receivers. I could see an offense with nothing but Mark Andrew’s type bodies as the play makers.

          • SoonerGoneEast says:

            Those big bodies made all the difference, especially against the underclassmen.

      • Sooner 76 says:

        If OU does that, then they either have 2 defensive linemen or only 4 DBs in the game. So they do the former on obviously passing downs and the latter on obvious rushing downs.

        • Randy says:

          Would be ideal, but if you notice even vs Tulsa they don’t give you a chance to sub in players maybe, just maybe on 3rd down but usually not. My point is a trust our LBs (plus you get a pass rush) in coverage more than our “other” CB spot, and our 2 safety spots. Meaning keep Parker in at a Safety spot. Pretty much what they did vs Tenn the whole game. Yes, I know Tenn is not Tech, Baylor or TCU.

          • Sooner 76 says:

            One thing they did do, was use the 3-4-4, and then sometimes they would move Striker out to the nickel spot pre-snap.

            You are correct about the sub bit. Not only did Tulsa not give us a chance to sub, but they ran plays so fast, that getting the calls and getting lined up were issues. Should be corrected by Baylor game.

    • Sooner 76 says:

      In the first place, Dimon isn’t playing DE, he’s playing 3-tech in the 4-2-5. He’s playing DE in the 3-4-4. In the former alignment, Striker and Bond share the position, and in the latter alignment, they are both on the field.

      Most all teams rotate two groups of DL, in order to keep them fresh. The announcers made too much of a deal about Bond vs Striker.

      One DL has Striker at standup DE, Dimon at 3-tech, Romar at NT, and Tapper at the other DE. The alternate unit has Bond, Walker, Wade, and either DJ Ward or Obo. The problem is that Dimon, DJ Ward, and Obo are seriously too small. So they only one on the field at a time.

      Frankly, Striker is too small for that position as well. DeBerry will be a better fit, as much as I love Striker.

      Mike does know what he’s doing, but he needs another year to get the right-sized players to get where they need to be in order to be on the field together (Lampkin, Overton, Gallimore).

    • guest says:

      I’m still believing since Tulsa is non-Conference and the season is still young, the offense and defense still kept things “vanilla”. But with further growth and development, the plays will become more nuanced as November approaches. Then we can break out the “tuti-fruiti”.

  • Mike Reed says:

    I probably missed it being discussed here, but how did Caleb Kelly’s visit go at Michigan? Did any of the TFB’s talk to him afterwards? Certainly don’t blame him if he doesn’t take a visit to the train wreck down in Austin.

    • Jordan Esco says:

      I read some stuff this a.m., but it was pretty general. Your token quotes about how much he liked it and what not. Nothing earth-shattering, IMO. But Michigan is OU’s biggest competitor for Kelly, IMO.

  • Golfluvr13 says:

    The article on Perine is good. I love guys like that who work hard and are all about the team!

  • SoonerfanTU says:

    The turnovers should start to even out. Not like we haven’t had our chances with loose fumbles we didn’t pick up and INT’s we dropped.

  • Soonerfandave84 says:

    RIP Yogi Berra

  • BigJoeBrown says:

    Really cool interview with ESPN on Mayfield, that was a great share. You can tell Stoops is proud of Mayfield and the moxy, fight and underdog status.

    I agree with the ugly trend, but what I want to see for the trend to go in our defense favor. Let’s see some turnovers..

  • Scott says:

    5 star lb USC commit may take a OV to OU

  • Randy says:

    Biggest difference from OU (outside the top 10) and the elite teams as of now (inside top 8) is defensive line whether it’s a SEC, Big 10 team each one of those top 8 (and Texas AM, cause I picked them in the CFP) has ELITE defensive linemen. It seems everyone has a explosive offense now although I think Baylor and TCU (Boykin) are on different levels other teams inside the top 8 have shown to be able to put up points consistently even LSU with their QB questions.. Going off this you would think Baylor would have the upper hand in the Big 12 (Billings, Oakman). But I will say this unless Baker Mayfield has a game every week like he did last week or Tapper, Romar, Walker (or Unknown DL ) starts playing at a ELITE level then don’t be surprised OU is playing in the Alamo Bowl.

    • Katyboomer says:

      I think it’s our O line. That’s what I think will end up holding us back this year.

      • Randy says:

        Yeah.. vs ELITE Dlines.. Lol.

        • Boom says:

          Who do you think has an “elite” DL.

          • Randy says:

            Dline, and moreso one or two linemen that I consider ELITE.
            Ole Miss
            Michigan State
            Ohio State
            Notre Dame
            Baylor (I know but let’s see in conference)
            LSU
            Texas AM ( I think them and Ole Miss by far have the best DL)

          • Easton says:

            A&M leads all FBS in tackles for loss, and sacks. Wow. LSU will be a final four team, IMO.

          • SoonerGoneEast says:

            LSU needs to figure out their QB situation and soon, if they are to have any postseason expectations. A&M is getting really good, and that defense. Maybe not this year, but they’re a team that could make a run for it all next season.

          • Easton says:

            Yes. The SEC QB is a bizarre thing. A&M has the advantage because Sumlin comes from some air-raid schemes. Force LSU to run the ball, have a stout defensive line, and some island owning corners, and they’re inept on O.

          • Boom says:

            Interesting, Baylor gave up 173 rushing yards against Lamar. Lamar.

          • Randy says:

            And Bama.. But these other teams scare you on offense as well..

        • Easton says:

          Its in the trenches. Both sides must be elite to be a top four team.

    • Easton says:

      I agree. I disagree that Oakman is elite. He is elite in photo shoots.

    • Sooner 76 says:

      I think our current dline has the talent, I just don’t think they have the physical size to play at an elite level. That will take time to change, but it will get there.

      • Randy says:

        I would like to think so, but most of the ELITE guys I am talking about have it or or don’t I mean as FR.. The Myles Garrett, Robert Nkemdiche, Joey Bosa.. The whole line at Michigan St, LSU and Bama, Day at ND. I love our talent and think Reynolds will do wonders for the line but we have to get a big time (ELITE) DE or DT to get past these offenses we will face every week. I have given up on a ELITE safety or CB but at least we have some experience at both those spots.

  • leatherneck1061 says:

    On the one hand I’m glad for Mayfield, and on the other I wish they wouldn’t give these kids this much attention this early in the season. Too much of a distraction.

    • Daddy R says:

      At least its on a bye week. And we got to remember, ALL championship caliber teams get these distractions. When FSU won, Jameis was talked about all season long, for all kinds of reasons (many of them negative). Happens all the time. Distraction, yes probably, but just one more thing to overcome if you’re going to have a stellar season, and sort of comes with the territory.

    • Boom says:

      Baker knows how to deal with the attention and it’s great for the program. I think it makes him work that much harder. He knows it doesn’t matter unless the team does well and that chip he has is more like a tree trunk.

    • SoonerGoneEast says:

      Agreed

  • KJ1123 says:

    C Kelly may not be visiting Texas???? WHY???? They’re doing so w….oh wait

  • Soonerfandave84 says:

    Reading the comments from the NSFW Bama page, holy cow. Could you imagine the implosion that will take place if/when Nick Saban tries the NFL again.

    • Katyboomer says:

      Or goes to Texas. JK kinda

    • Easton says:

      Its interesting though. Our fan base meltdown over 8-5 was mild compared to the Auburn-Alabama fan bases meltdown. I mean, it is existential, marital, psychological over there.

    • Walter Sobcek says:

      I would love to see the conniption Alabama would experience if Saban leaves. And I think he will. With the playoff system and the “spread of the spread,” he knows he won’t ever have again the championship run he had before. I also think he’s sick and tired of the Alabama press and the ridiculous demnds of the fan base. I think he’s looking to blow out of Tuscaloosa at the end of the season.

    • SoonerGoneEast says:

      I went to rollbamaroll after their loss the other night to take in the meltdown thread, but it wasn’t happening. Very disappointing.

  • Venom says:

    Word around the block is Dalton Wood is with the team now

  • Oscar says:

    Oh, and bye the way, today is the day that the big asteroid is suppose to land in the Gulf of Mex and create a tsunami. FYI. (wink wink)

  • thebigdroot says:

    Seen where aTm lost there top commit, any chance OU has a chance with Little?

  • Wilson says:

    Re-watched the Texas game. Norvell called a decent game. Texas looks like they are getting closer to all that potential standing on the sideline. The Texass vs. OSwho game will be interesting, If the Whorns don’t get out coached.

  • Katyboomer says:

    Anyone know where we can get the TFB premium subscription service for the open post?
    I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Jordan has been doing a geat job of putting up open post type stuff in this post. Thanks Jordan!

  • Josh says:

    Sooners finally offer my boy Levi Ownuzerike!

    • Katyboomer says:

      Amen!!!!!!!

    • Katyboomer says:

      Who all his after him right now? NM pretty much everyone!

      • Josh says:

        Everyone lol… I know UGA offered the other day.

        • Katyboomer says:

          I know right.

          Arizona St.MediumOfferedNone
          ArkansasMediumOfferedNoneRobb Smith, Rory Segrest
          BaylorMediumOfferedNone
          Bostoncoll.MediumOfferedNone
          ConnecticutMediumOfferedNone
          DukeMediumOfferedNone
          GeorgiaMediumOfferedNone
          HoustonMediumOfferedNone
          IllinoisMediumOfferedNone
          Iowa St.MediumOfferedNone
          KansasMediumOfferedNone
          Kansas St.MediumOfferedNone
          MarylandMediumOfferedNone
          Miami (FL)MediumOfferedNone
          MichiganMediumOfferedNoneGreg Mattison
          MissouriMediumOfferedNone
          NorthwesternMediumOfferedNone
          Oklahoma St.MediumOfferedNoneJoe Bob Clements
          OregonMediumOfferedNone
          Oregon St.MediumOfferedNone
          SMUMediumOfferedNone
          StanfordMediumOfferedNone
          TCUMediumOfferedNone
          Texas TechMediumOfferedNone
          VanderbiltMediumOfferedNone
          WashingtonMediumOfferedNone

  • Maverick says:

    Yogi Berra caught Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. The 27th out in that game was former Sooner Dale Mitchell (Whom the baseball stadium is named after).

    Dale Mitchell struck out looking. Some have said that last pitch was at least a foot outside the zone. Mitchell had a terrific eye, only striking out 119 times in 4,000 major league at bats.

    The story goes that when Mitchell protested the call to Umpire Gabe Pinelli, Pinelli said, “If it was close enough for me to call, it was close enough for you to swing at”. Pinelli would later be accused of calling the strike to preserve the perfect game, the first ever in a World Series.

  • Dd992emo says:

    He probably did…Babe Pinelli was an excellent umpire. I remember him quite well, even though I mostly heard his name on Cardinals’s broadcasts instead of seeing him on tv. Jack Buck thought highly of him and often said he and Jocko Conlan (my favorite all-time ump) were the best “arbiters of the game” in baseball.