Image of Parker Boudreaux via scout.com
– Coaching Assignments: We’ll get to some recruiting stuff in a minute, but we wanted to start with some of the coaching staff talk that we’ve been hearing. At least at the time of this post going up on Monday morning, there still has yet to be any kind of confirmation, announcement, or even acknowledgement on OU’s part regarding Kerry Cooks and/or Dennis Simmons. Nobody outside the Switzer Center appears to know why that is the case, even after both Cooks and Simmons have made multiple public references to their respective impending arrival in Norman.
With regards to Cooks, nothing has changed from our original reporting of the hire in that we still have every reason to believe he will in fact be responsible for the entire secondary. Thus many have asked what that would mean for Mike Stoops, because as many of you know he has been responsible for coaching the safeties in years past. And, of course, you have the seemingly never ending speculation as to Tim Kish’s status.
Well based on some recent conversations, primarily with respective prospects OU is currently targeting, we may have a possible answer as to both.
Every indication we have been given from those recruits we’ve spoken with leads us to believe Tim Kish will remain on staff for the 2015 season. Now as we’re all aware nothing has been officially announced by Bob Stoops yet, so it is possible any number of things could still change. But based on where we have been led to believe things stand today, the expectation is that Kish will stay.
So if Kish is staying and Cooks has the entire secondary, we are once again led back to Mike. And right now, based on some of what we have been told by OU recruiting targets, we have been led to believe Mike will be responsible for coaching the outside linebackers this coming season, while Kish will coach the inside linebackers. We still fully expect Mike to be the co-defensive coordinator and responsible for calling the defense — neither of which are really news per se but with the reassignment we believe will take place, we just wanted to add some clarification — but obviously with more input from Jerry Montgomery.
Again, nothing will be official until Stoops chooses to address things be it whenever they get around to announcing the hires or at some other time. But this is kind of the latest based on some of what we have been told, so we wanted to be sure and share it with you.
Ed. note – Just want to be absolutely and perfectly clear with regards to the coaching notes above. As stated multiple times within what was written, TFB is not reporting anything as though it is final and/or official. Again, as stated above, this is more or less conjecture based on some of what TFB has been told, primarily from recruits that OU is currently targeting. Does it make sense on some levels? Sure. But there are still people who will tell you Stoops may not be done with respect to staff changes. So at this point nobody other than Bob, and those he chooses to share it with, know what is going to happen. IF YOU TAKE NOTHING ELSE AWAY FROM WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, TAKE THIS PART OF IT.
– Parker Boudreaux: Brandon had a chance to catch up with Parker Boudreaux (Orlando, FL), who is a 2016 offensive tackle out of Bishop Moore H.S. The talented OT has an argument for being one of the most sought after prospects in the 2016 class considering he can claim nearly 70 offers in-hand already.
The good thing, however, for OU fans is that he loves the Sooners. “I’m on definitely high on the Sooners. Coach Bedenbaugh messages me everyday. I love their tradition and OU’s academics. Everyone around the OU program is awesome.”
And if that quote wasn’t enough to get you excited, Boudreaux also said he is making plans to get up to Norman for the spring game. And also stated he plans to try and make it to at least one regular season game as well. It’s still very early in the 2016 recruiting cycle, but it sounds like OU fans can definitely expect to be in this fight until the end.
– Dwayne Haskins Jr.: We talked about Haskins last week after OU offered, but Brandon (continuing to put in work) had a chance to catch up with the highly coveted 2016 QB over the weekend.
Haskins has somewhere around 40 current scholarship offers and with OU only being one of his most recent, one might think that has them playing catch up with regards to his recruitment. But based on what Haskins told Brandon that doesn’t appear to be the case at all. In fact, Haskins is already making plans for not just one visit to OU, but two.
The date of the first visit has yet to be set, but Haskins said it could be ‘sometime in March’ but it will not be for OU’s Junior Day. Which may strike some as a little odd, but Haskins explained why that was the case. “They (the OU coaches) told me to come down with me and my family on a day we could be by ourselves, so they could show us around and just hangout with me.”
It’s pretty clear that Lincoln Riley plans to make Haskins a top priority in this 2016 class. The main question right now is where exactly does OU stand with the talented QB, who could go pretty much wherever he wants to go. When asked his interest level in the Sooners, he said “they are probably in my Top 5 schools.”
– Kerry Cooks Wasting No Time: We all had fun with the Lincoln Riley and Cale Gundy recruiting adventures through Twitter a while back, and I (Brandon) can also confirm to you that the newly hired Kerry Cooks is already off and running as well.
We caught up with 2016 safety and OU offer Chanse Sylvie (Shreveport, LA) to see get his thoughts on Coach Cooks. Sylvie seemed impressed saying, “he (Cooks) seems like a coach that’s fired up about football. You can tell he loves the game and the kids. It’s not just about X’s and O’s with him.” Sylvie will have a chance to meet Cooks in person next week, as he plans to be in Norman for OU’s Junior Day.
Another defensive back Cooks has already been in contact with is Eric Cuffee (Waco, TX). In speaking with Cuffee he offered the following with regards to OU’s new secondary coach, “Coach Cooks is a great coach and going to set trends at OU.” And while that’s nothing ground breaking from a recruit, it does show that Cooks’ enthusiasm can be contagious and the kids are already feeding off it.
Cuffee also went on to say that he plans to be at Texas’ Junior Day on February 15th and then expects to attend OU’s on March 7th.
– Feb. 15 Junior Day: Speaking of Junior Day, Alex and Brandon will be putting together a list of those expected to attend this coming weekend. We plan to get it up by Wednesday at the latest. The list getting pretty long at the moment and it is already full of some big names from this 2016 class.
– UPDATE (9:23 am): If this tweet is any indication, we could (finally) hear something from OU with respect to these expected coaching hires.
https://twitter.com/CoachKerryCooks/status/564794728382623745
– UPDATE (9:45 am): OU announces the start of spring practice and sets a date for Pro Day, but still nothing official yet regarding the Red/White game.
Less than a month until SPRING FOOTBALL practice!
OU's Pro Day set for March 11. #Sooners
MORE – http://t.co/aunscUyCak— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) February 9, 2015
– UPDATE (2:35 pm): Change of plans for 2016 DB Eric Cuffee.
Eric Cuffee(@JaeRican27 ) has changed his plans and will now attend #Sooners jr day this weekend. @TheFbBrainiacs @OUnation @LandThieves
— Brandon Drumm (@Bdrumm_Rivals) February 9, 2015
– UPDATE (2:37 pm): Big time 2016 LB Dontavious Jackson.
https://twitter.com/DCinco__5/status/564885290448195585
– UPDATE (4:49 pm): Brandon and Alex have put together a full working list for this weekend’s Junior Day and will, of course, continue to update it throughout the week as needed.
454 Comments
Sorry if this has been answered, but how many do we sign in 2016?
That’s a pretty difficult question to answer at this point seeing as we still don’t know how things might shake out numbers-wise following this semester (meaning potential transfers and what not).
Do you think the 4 year guaranteed scholly’s will impact numbers in future? I know OU was opposed to them…
i doubt it
Right now I would say 17 is a realistic number for 2016. We only lose 12 scholarship seniors and then I would guess 5 could be transfers or early departures
really think there will be more than 5 transferring or leaving early. could be a medical or two reducing the roster….some people have posted the number at 20 but that might be TOO high.
Well if OU was in the SEC we would sign 25 or 26 – however, I think Zack is probably correct, I would bump then number to 18 but that is only because with new New OC I am sure some will not see the light and want to move on.
well depending on who wins starting job at qb, and who we are targeting for 2016, I could see 1-2 qb’s transferring after next season.
In before the Kish meltdown
Kish still has a job. Man he MUST have pics of someone in a compromising position.
It is pretty baffling.
Bob’s loyalty to his assistant coaches…..
Perhaps Bob Stoops knows more about how to evaluate an assistant coach’s performance than the nincompoops on this board. Hence Kish is retained.
Hey look. I may not have played organized football in forty years, and I may have never coached at any level, but I have been on the Interwebs so I am sure I know more about football than either of these Stoops guys.
Thanks Brains.
you’re welcome brawn
So much for “as committed as I’ve ever been.” Baloney. Family and friends > OU football program.
Because he hasn’t fired mike? We all knew mike wouldn’t be fired. As far as kish I wouldn’t claim that’s because he’s a friend. I just think they believe kish isn’t the problem and they probably think he will land 4 solid guys for 2016 and 2 of those may be 5 star guys in smith and kelly.
When you look at what went wrong for OU last year, imo linebacker was the 3rd best position group (you could argue 4th but I think the OL let us down more often) behind running backs and the DL
Who are your two WORST? QB and DB? I’d say as follows:
WORST – QB
2 – DB
3 – WR/TE
4 – LB (Only this high because of Striker)
5 – K/P
6- OL/DL
Best to worst
1 running backs
2 DL
3 LB
4 OL
5 TE/FB
6 QB
7 WR
8 C/S
I would flip 3 & 4, and 6 & 7, but i agree with you overall
Best to worst:
1. RB
2. DL
3. OL
4. TE
5. LB
6. WR
7. QB
8. DB
I would just say I think the qb was overall better than the receivers. But the fact the were 2 of the worst position groups last year shows why heupel and norvell are gone. I believe the talent is here
Maybe we hear something today or tomorrow, i.e. coaching hires…
@CoachKerryCooks: 405 BOUND http://twitter.com/CoachKerryCooks/status/564794728382623745/photo/1
haha, see the update I just posted 😉
I shoulda known…
Maybe his grandma lives in Norman…
Is it just me or is this delay just silly?
OK let’s put it on the table Tim Kish is a pretty good football coach. He has a weakness in recruiting, other than that he’s solid. Tired of people bashing this guy like you are 100% in every aspect of your job. If he was recruiting coordinator then fire him but he’s a coach and a pretty good one. Now after saying that I’ll say this I wouldn’t be that upset if they decided to go in another direction.
jealousy/envy is a deflectionary response. it gets the focus off stupid people and it gets you off their scent. their scent stinks of “why is he making so much money ‘to be mediocre'” or “i wish i could suck at my job and get paid”. things of this nature from a bunch of people who have no idea what they are talking about. they’ve heard it in a chat room and spit it out all over the internet like its their own original thought process. its beyond tired and now, when official word comes out that he’s staying, can be put to bed. and if they ask me what i think, i will say i hope he coaches up these boys awesomely this year and lands some of these studs he’s supposed to have a pretty good relationship with already and shoves it right where it needs to go with some of these clowns…and preemptive no i’m not him or related to him to some yukster
Not too mention It’s not that easy coaching both inside and out. Been their done that. Totally different set of drills, technique etc….
Never realized that. Thanks. Feel free to elaborate for the “Offensive-minded” among us.
I agree wouldn’t cry if they let him go but not upset if they keep him. I think next years LB class will be stupid good! I am not saying Kish will be the main reason or that his recruiting prowess is going to be the key but with Monty, Kish, and Coach Cooks I think they will close with a amazing class of LB and Kish will be a part of it!
Let’s see – A) keep Kish, who looks like a pretty good coach, and very iffy recruiter, and hope to land the recruits this season or, B) since we are OU, make a home run hire (aka Montgomery) who can both coach and flat out recruit. I vote for B.
I don’t know any of these coaches and don’t wish anyone to lose their job, however, these guys are connected enough they usually land on their feet.
I didn’t know it was as easy as a or b . Let me try A) win the big 12 and lose a high level bowl game or B) Go undefeated and win the national championship I pick B
i’ll give it a try. A) talk out of my mouth like most people do…for example bob edwards, you, me, eastex, et al. B) talk out of my ass like several others do…um i’m gonna go with….oooh man its a toughy…gotta go with A. yes A. i will choose to talk outta my mouth and not like this…
Lol you should have put me in b that’s one of my many talents
IMO….recruiting is a pretty big part of coaching, on the college level.
You are right I agree. But his title is coach so that is the main job. pair him with one of our several phenomenal recruiters and we are in business.
It either kept Mack Brown around for so long or was the reason he “retired”. It’s definitely a double-edged sword.
Agree. The success of ones coaching is dependent on talent at that position. You’d think a coach wants the best players he can get. But Kish may not have the talent for being a top recruiter.
If Kish is such a good LB coach, then why is Mike Stoops taking over the OLB group?
Because we gave all db’s to the new secondary coach, and Mike has to work too.
Ok why did the lb’s look lost all year especially in pass coverage? Why every year does Kish offer the top 20-25 lb’s in the class and they all put us in the top 5 then never land them and were left scrambling at the end and other recruiters have to be pulled off their position groups to come in and try to land some lb’s? Why have we undersigned at lb 2 years in a row and now after this season we will be in dire straights bc of lack of depth and if we do t land some juno talent that can provide quality depth right away we will be in huge trouble? Those are the questions I want answered.
Clearly I don’t have all the answers, but would you agree that he is a good coach ?
No personally I wouldn’t say he is a good coach. At least by OU standards. The lb’s looked lost all year. Played slow and looked like they didn’t know where to be. IMHO they were second guessing themselves instead if playing from instincts and playing fast. That goes back to the coach. They played good on blitzes because they didn’t have to think about what they were supposed to be doing. They played horrible in passing situations and made it harder on the secondary. The middle of the field was open all year. As a group they regressed from last year to this year and in my eyes continued to regress from the beginning of this season to the end. That’s all coaching.
You can’t put it all on the coaches. That makes no sense. Coaches don’t win championships players do. Everything you banned sounds like a player problem.
When a whole position group is unprepared mentally to know where they are supposed to be at and what their assignments are on the field I absolutely blame the position coach.
Then you have accountability issues, no offense.
Not at all. If 1 player is lost that’s the players fault. If all the players are lost that’s the coaches fault. That’s universal.
In order to sustain your argument, you need to show how “all the players were lost.”
Watch film. If you can’t break it down find someone who knows football to help you. If you want to argue with everything I say then you’re gonna have to come up with a valid argument. I’m going to stop acknowledging you if you can’t.
Been watching football probably before you were born. Don’t take it personally. You have good thoughts. It’s just that you made a claim without justifying it. Not every LB was out of position on every play. Go watch Alexander and Evans…they misread the TE (at times) that’s on them, not the coach. A number of times they fed the TE to a spot and no DB was there, is that on the LB or the Secondary?
When a Qb fails to make a correct read on a read option, we say it’s the QB’s misread correct? Likewise, when LB’S misread a play or do not react as they are taught, it’s the LBS fault, not coaching.
The secondary sucked b/c Martinez left the cupboard bare. We had only 4 safeties on scholarship in 2014. Sanchez was recruited by Mike at the last minute after he arrived from Arizona.
Very young back there and they made a lot of mistakes. Parker and Thomas will get better. Mike just signed an incredible class of 6 DBs.
They didn’t have the players to play bump and run. They will now.
BV left the cupboard understocked at LBer as well. He almost always had some good players, but never had any depth of good players. I was disappointed we only got 2 LBers, but they are very good ones. Kish is in on the top LBers in 2016. I’d give him one more year.
The D will be better next year and even better in 2016.
The lack of offense late in the season and in the bowl game killed the D, as they rarely got off the field. I also saw a D that got demoralized after every Trevor Knight pick 6.
I agree with most of what you just said. But if you go back and look at recruiting since Kish has gotten here he has been in on a lot of top lb recruits at the first of the recruiting cycle and a lot of them put us in their top 5 but he hasn’t signed any of them. It’s the same thing every year. It doesn’t matter who he is in on at the first of the year it’s who he signs at the end of the year. It’s also if he gets enough lb’s signed and that hasn’t happened either. Monty bailed him out this year. Stoops clearly doesn’t want to get rid of Kish. Hopefully Monty can get his DL class in the fold early and they put him on lb’s asap because we probably need to sign 4-5 highschool lb’s and 2 juco lb’s that can provide quality depth right away in this class. I understand they don’t want to fire Kish bc he is a “good guy” but I wish they would create a quality control position for him and bring in a really good lb coach who can also recruit. This is college football, recruiting is the lifeblood of the program. OU should have a lb coach that can do both.
I love when people complain about a coach but then when someone points out something they did well, it’s dismissed outright with some excuse.
If by “excuse” you mean “facts” then I see what you’re saying. Facts always ruin a good narrative.
Well the D can’t play any worse. Only one way to go for this D. It cannot be that hard to recruit LBs to OU. We put LBs in the NFL and we run a 3-4 D. It just can’t be that hard.
Kish maybe a good coach, but OU deserves the best. Didn’t Boren say that Money is not a problem when hiring new coaches this year?
Kish is staying. Get over it.
Coach Stoops denied undersigning at LB. Not the view of OU’s staff.
Honestly dude c’mon! What do you expect him to say?! Every year after signing day, every coach got every one they wanted and met every need. Why were they still recruiting at least 2 other lb’s right up to the end? If you honestly believe they have enough lb’s for now and the future I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Running a 3-4 with 11 lb’s on campus, at least top 2 will be gone after this year, top 6 after 2016. That’s not enough, that is scary thin. That’s an injury or 2 away from disaster.
Disagree. How many LBS played this past year? Three? We’re okay for 2015.
Please explain to me how we only played 3 lb’s in a 3-4? I’m done arguing with you, you have no clue what you are talking about.
I meant we didn’t need too many off the bench. GG got hurt, sure, but the numbers were adequate.
Kish may be only a good ILB coach.
A journeyman barnacle on the S.S. Mike Stoops.
He will probably get one more year. Who knows maybe mike can help him land some lb next year.
So Kish still has a job…. If he still has a job I don’t know how people get fired from anything. In all seriousness I really can’t believe he’s still there when Bob could let Norvell go who was 10x the recruiter Kish is. We really need to recruit and develop better LB’s and he’s already shown that he can’t do it.
All about Mike, man. That dude is like married to Kish and Bob is married to Mike. Unless some other school has a brainfart and offers Mike a job, we are stuck with both…ad infinitum.
All is well that ends well. I have a feeling they are going to field a nasty, nasty defense this year. ( of course I thought that last season too!! )
I’ve thought that every season since 2000…after all, Bob tells us that every dang spring.
If it is true the D coaches (I would assume mostly Mike after the Baylor game sideline incident) lost the team, then how in the world do you ever get that belief and trust back ? I think it’s irreparable with the same players unless there’s major changes on the D staff, all new players, or all new attitude and bygone’s are bygone’s.
The belief in the coaches has GOT TO BE THERE or same results. Looks like Stoops is going to sink or swim with his brother.
He has Shannon coming back to go with striker, Evans, Obo and bond who all have pretty good experience. Then you got Alexander, Tay Evans and Bolton who I think will be solid backups.
He then landed mcginnis and Monty brought in deberry, so I would like to see what kish does now that experience and depth for the first time.
I’ll probably be the only one sticking up for kish but I don’t think he’s done as bad of a job as everyone else thinks he has. And I really hope someone brings up Dwaine Thomas as an example of how he dropped the ball.
I concur. You wont be the only one.. I actually thought the LB’s played decent last year, considering inexperience and no Shannon..
Not to mention we are leading on at least 1 if not 2 Top 10 players for 2016 that both play LB. Both are 5* and could be huge impact players!
Yeah and how many Top LBs did we miss out in 2015? I’ll tell you…way too many!
How many top WR’s? Top OL? Gosh, looks like we should fire everyone.
Who is this? You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.
Caleb Kelly ranked #9 and Lawrence ranked #10
I’m way more concerned about some of the LB’s we were in on in this class and missed out on. That to me seems to be a pattern.
I hear you to an extent but recruiting isn’t about who you missed out on it is about who you got! John Houston, Josh Smith, Malik Jefferson, Keisian Lucier-South, and Justin Hilliard were all LB’s that we missed on but so did Alabama. Alabama did sign 4 LB’s but only 2 – 4* and 2 – 3* and the case could be made that our 2 are as good or better than their 4. We just need to keep improving on the feild and in recruiting and we will close the deal on some great classes going forward.
Alexander is better than Evans. Evans will be the backup if Shannon comes back and we all better hope he does.
I think Striker, Shannon, Evans, and Bond will start.
I don’t think he has either..
You are not alone. I spoke a long time ago, several times, about how Kish had put arguably one of the most consistently strong units on the field, especially considering that he has had to work without his top guy for two years in a row. This was reflected on a fairly regular basis in the coaches’ comments after the games.
I’ve also said it before and won’t belabor the issue by getting into an endless argument about it, but IMHO, the whole notion of “friendship” hires at this level is preposterous. Of course coaches are going to hire people they know, with whom they have worked before, or had a relationship with before. That’s one of the best ways to see how someone operates, to understand what type of person they are and to evaluate how well you think they will fit in to your system, both personally and professionally. Every quality head coach does it. But at the heart of the matter it’s a results business for the guys at the top. It is simply impossible to achieve the level of success that Bob Stoops has had, unless he is highly skilled at evaluating coaching talent, and makes that his top priority.
You may be right about Norvell being a great recruiter, but it seems to me that it’s been a while since we’ve had a deep stable of high level wr’s. It felt to me like the last minute transfers of Brown, and then Saunders, bailed us out for a while, but it continually seemed like we were one receiver injury away from having a huge fall off in production. I know looking back at 2008’s team, you saw Broyles as the number three guy behind Johnson and Iglesias, and there were a couple of other strong receivers as well, plus, of course Gresham. Obviously, having a Bradford tossing the ball was part of it, but I think it cuts both ways, and having a deep stable of receiving talent that’s able to perform on game day, is a critical part of the recipe as well. The comments that Stoops made this season on several occasions about the lack of quality performance by the wr’s in both practice and games supported my feeling that something wasn’t where it needed to be in that department. Jmho, as always.
The fact that Stoops was willing to take a risk with DGB and the huge PR hit that went along with it is a great indication of where they thought our WR corp was.
Yes, totally agree, I mentioned that awhile back, along with the fact that he made an intense push to sign a juco wr. Clearly he was seriously concerned before the season even started.
That Boudreaux kid punishes people like The Waterboy every play. What a beast!
Definitely a kid in the Bedenbaugh mold. Nasty ‘tude.
Completely agree. The kid has an incredible motor. Just gettin’ it every play.
Hope there aren’t many updates today, b/c I need to stay away with all the Kish haters back in full force. Kind of silly for grown men to hate on a guy as much as they do. Oh well.
The 2016 class has a chance to be pretty special for OU. Need to have a good season.
I believe they will keep Kish this year at least because he is so far in with some of these 2016 kids it would stupid to get rid of him. I cant honestly believe he will have a great 2016 class esp. if M Stoops and Monty help.
I hate prognostication. I want to see some dadgum RESULTS for a change! No more fading away, no more inexplicable losses, no more looking LOST on the field. I want this team to finally live up to their billing and dominate people. Feel like I’ve been in football purgatory forever.
SCKS……………..you are not the only one hoping for some dominant results….
While true, FSU didn’t dominant and they got a chance in the final four. Just win baby 12-0 and you’ll get in the final four if you’re OU.
And I swear if they get Haskins, Ill be super excited.
This would be solely due to the hire of Riley. Love the guy’s scheme. Hope it lures the big time QBs and WRs to Norman.
Think OU has a far better chance for Buchele than Haskins……
The jury is out on who OU had a chance with at QB, all eyes will be on what the new guy does with this offense. If the OU O lights it up then OU probably becomes the new cute girl on campus.
After watching McKinney in the USA game…. STUD!!!
update added
Remember this is Bobs decision and he seems to think this staff CAN get it done.
If not….The end.
jmo
1. Has Mike ever coached linebackers? Let alone pass rushing linebackers?
2. If OU truly is moving back to the 3-3-5 more, does that mean Mike is coaching a position that has one spot on the field? (Striker)
1988-1991 – Iowa
Volunteer Asst. Coach, LBs, DBs
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=208803400
still more experience than our previous OTs/TEs coach had……
@SM_5Cinco: 2016 May be up there sacking qb’ with big bro @OgboOkoronkwo
@spolarbear72: #BoomerSooner RT @KhrisPam13: @Chanseluvgod Me and you at OU
Translation?
Just 2 kids (Chanse Sylvie & Khris Pam) talking about playing at OU together. Sylvie is a safety and Pam is a CB and both are 2016 recruits but neither has OU offer yet!
Thanks. Not familiar with twitter-speak and need to get caught up on these 2016 kids.
Says above sylvie has offer doesn’t it?
Yep sure does, spaced put their on that one. Offer hasn’t showed up at 247 when I looked there
Does Mike have any expereince coaching LBs?
Very little from what I can gather.
1988-1991 – Iowa
Volunteer Asst. Coach, LBs, DBs
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=208803400
I wonder how much coaching he will actually do. I can’t remember seeing any glaring issues that need ironing out with the OLBs. Grissom looked a little heavy on his feet in that position but the dude just started playing there. If OU had the 3-4 a few years back, Tapper, with his BB skills probably would have been a natural there.
I’m not at all convinced that the division of labor at OU in either position group coaching, or recruiting, for that matter, is as simple, or cut and dried, as the media and others seem to need to define it.
This will be very interesting……to say the least.
My rebuttal to him not having much experience coaching LB’s is that he was a strong safety. In his college days that was a golorified OLB. That, and he’s been coaching defense long enough I’m sure he has an idea of what to do. I’m neutral on this move. Though, it makes sense on the surface, at least, to me.
While the problems in the secondary seemed numerous the biggest seemed to be the CBs and safeties simply not being on the same page and seeing the same thing on the field. I think watching Hayes play in 2014 compared to his play in 2013 speaks volumes. He was making mistakes in 2014 he didn’t make in 2013. Thomas kept jumping down on shallow routes while the CB released his man for the deeper route. Plus, Thomas was late recognizing things and getting over to help over the top. I’m hoping one coach for the entire secondary will help iron this out. Perhaps too Mike just isn’t able to explain what he wants done in a way the players understand; happens every once in a while to everyone who has to teach.
For what ever it’s worth I think it’s a step in the right direction; trying something different to get different results.
The whole Kerry Cooks thing is just weird when he’s changed his twitter profile to OU and kids are talking about him like he’s already at OU. Expect this is resolved in the next couple of days as it put OU at a recruiting disadvantage to end the 2015 cycle and the first JR Day is this weekend.
I am underwhelmed by Kish, but I am not gonna rail on him any more. Yes, dude under-delivered in terms of numbers but I gotta hand it to him, we have 2 elite LBs this squad who may see time as is.
Just as an fyi, whatever issues there were on TOP I’m told have now been fixed. As I know some had mentioned that in other posts. And, yes, we hope to get that back up and running here in the coming months. We haven’t forgot about it and don’t want you all to either 😉
https://twitter.com/dh_simba7/status/564622330459336705
Lol how’s that relevant to OU?
it’s not, really.
By the way, thanks Brainiacs and those others who post OU information here.
Boudreaux = PANCAKE CITY
I have not watched a lot of OL film so .. is it normal for a guy to put That many people on the ground !?
The answer is no. just no.
🙂
According to 247, Cuffee named TCU his early leader. But a long ways to go. He visited OU for last year’s spring game and plans to make JR Day. A lot of time to be selective as it’s a small class for 2016.
it’s gospel…..
http://www.theonion.com/articles/nick-saban-returns-from-2year-recruiting-expeditio,37934/
…
Sometimes I think some of the posters here work for the Onion.
That Boudreaux is a true gentleman…..always trying to take the opposing team back to their bus. 🙂 Really hope we can land him.
Didn’t realize next year’s class, as of now, was going to be so small. That is almost certainly why some of the players some of you guys wanted OU to offer or go after late this recruiting season, never got offers. Would have cut into next year’s available scholarships even more.
Think it’s smart, too. Why take a marginal guy now. Save every extra schollie for the next cycle and go after those guys highest on your board. For the ‘star gazers/recruiting rankers’, with the low overall numbers likely going to be disappointed unless you go by avg player rank. Class will be around 17-20.
I suspect that, with the change in direction with the new OC, we may see a little more attrition than usual. Whenever you change coaches, there are always going to be some who think they don’t fit the new system or don’t hit it off with the new coach (Same applies to managers at companies). I would expect to see a couple of WRs transfer out and probably a RB or two. Then you have the normal grades, injuries, etc.
Well……looks like we’ll just have to wait on things……..not much else to do this time of the year………..honey-do is in season guys……..watch out!
Since we have loaded up on O line the last 2 years, how many would we take this year? id assume we would be very selective.
Not counting attrition, how many are we looking to take total next year?
It appears the whole class will be real small with only 16 – 18 spots at this time. It will probably be more by the time NSD gets here next year but seams like 2-3 offensive lineman would be in the ballpark next year!
We graduate four and we took big classes the last two years so I would guess three to four unless someone transfers.
By leaving Mike Stoops as DC, Bob is refusing to value winning more than his personal relationships. Saban would have kicked MS to the curb before the bowl game.
yeah. i’m sure you’re on to something. nobody likes winning. that sucks. all people are worried about is having jobs for family
Everybody wants to win. For some people there are more important things than winning. When he hired Kittle, we got a pretty good indication of where Bob Stoops’ priorities are.
i guess people who hate another person are just going to continue to hate that person no matter what. good luck with that. tell bob how you feel, see what he says. i’ll wait
A lot of knowledgable folks thought Kittle had a very bright future in coaching, if he were to go that way. Stoops had worked with him and seen him perform on Hayden Fry’s staff, for several seasons, as well as for a year at OU as recruiting coordinator. In spite of the eventual results, it wasn’t simply a “friendship” hire, and wasn’t nearly as much of a shot in the dark as some would believe.
Sigh……………
He didn’t boot Smart after aTm ripped them a new one, nor after OU did the same thing. Matter of fact, Bama had a run of 4-5 games against true spread games over a year or two when Bama’s D looked like crap. Yet Smart was and is still employed there. That Smart-lead D got whipped by Ohio State in the Playoffs too. Next?
‘ol damn facts gettin’ in the way again
Bama’s lost 6 games since 2011, won 2 SEC championships, won 2 National Championships, and the ONLY double digit loss was in the Sugar Bowl to OU, by 14. The next largest loss was by a TD to Ohio State. Their losses have been to LSU, Auburn, Ohio State, OU, Ole Miss, not fartknocker programs like oSu. They aren’t getting torched by Baylor on the road and at home. They aren’t losing more and more home games each year. They haven’t waited 4 years to win an outright conference championships. Pesky facts getting in the way again…
“He didn’t boot Smart after aTm ripped them a new one, nor after OU did the same thing. Matter of fact, Bama had a run of 4-5 games against true spread games over a year or two when Bama’s D looked like crap. Yet Smart was and is still employed there. That Smart-lead D got whipped by Ohio State in the Playoffs too. Next?”
this is how this got started and here you are trying to defend bama. neat. on another subject, have you ever played a sport? honest question. i would like to know and to what level have you played a sport? and trust me, your answer very much matters how seriously i take you. which ain’t off to a good start looking at some of the people you agree with
LOL, Your second paragraph might be the most (unintentionally) hilarious thing I have ever read here!
why because some people think because they are good at madden that it makes them madden?
No, because just like this comment I’m responding to, it speaks great volumes about your intent and I just think it’s funny.
Rather than engage in an honest, open debate, the typical response for some when faced with an opposing viewpoint, is to lash out at them or attempt to marginalize them in some fashion, much like you’ve done by asking JB to post his credentials so you will know whether or not to take him seriously. LOL, you really said that! So tell me, if as you have suspected, your internet gridiron experience is greater than his internet gridiron experience, does your e-penis get larger?
Seriously though, what is it with some of you that can’t stand, or feel threatened, when someone has an opposing point of view? Instead of puffing out your internet chest, why not attempt to legitimately debate that person with facts? Maybe, just maybe it leads to a greater understanding for the person you are debating, the readers or maybe even you. Isn’t that the point of being here on this site? We’re all looking for information and maybe we might learn something in the process. If you find yourself at an impasse, just move along. This is football we’re talking about, there’s no good reason to try and crush an opposing point of view then spit testosterone all over them. All you’re doing is creating a less enjoyable environment for everyone else.
Food for thought… If it’s really just an echo chamber your after, maybe you should call your mom. Mom’s (the nice ones anyway) are really agreeable people. (-;
you must have missed the entire conversation above there sparky. i do not and will not ever think i’m better than someone, but if that’s what you got out of it then by all means run with it. its a pessimistic viewpoint that never admits to anything, just continues to argue just to argue. such as, look at who complains about the kish stuff and who doesn’t. then look at the new hires and no press conference. its the same people on here bitching about EVERYTHING. i take life as it comes. but someone who seems like they’re telling me how something is just because they say so ain’t gonna fly. i got plenty to learn about plenty of things in this life but you tell me where i think i got it all figured out. i’m not out to take someone’s job. if you are, then please tell us why. and how you know it was that coach’s fault. if you think bob should have had a press conference to announce the new hires, then by all means write him a letter asking that he adhere to your timeline. i am not trying to do these things, just asking in someone’s expert opinion, to explain why they want things a certain way
Whatever you say, Champ!
I’ll just move along now…
thanks for proving my point
I think your e-penis just grew some more.
you really got a thing with the last word and with wieners. good luck with that in your therapy sessions. have a good one
Sorry if I upset you. I was simply trying to make a point with a little levity mixed in. I tend not to take myself (or anyone else) too seriously in the process, so please don’t take it personal, because it’s not. Just having a little fun while making my point.
you’re good. right back at you. i usually like to keep things light, but sometimes “gator” comes out. i just don’t ever want to be labeled as someone who thinks they are better than someone else. jb and i seemed to clear the air and now it seems you and i are as well, so i am good with that. sorry for the aneurysm 🙂
All this penis talk will force Nick Saban to grow wood.
I played football, basketball and baseball and participated in 2 martial arts, thank you very much. The people you agree with aren’t getting you off to a good start.
I still don’t care what a D “looks like” I care what they accomplish. Bama’s defense keeps winning the day against these teams you complain made them “look bad”, and Bob Stoops himself has said time and again that the most important stats are scoring defense and the scoreboard. If you look at Bama’s record and their accomplishments, they keep winning football games, more than we do. They made the final 4. Did we even finish in the top 4 of a 10 team conference?
you played a few sports in high school. congrats. should make you pretty knowledgable at sunday supper. and people you agree with complain about EVERYTHING, including that OU didn’t let them know about the new hires when they know nothing about the situation at all. but keep on defending bama. looks good on you. and yes outscoring teams 95-85 makes your defense awesome
Yeah, I wouldn’t trade our record the past 4 years with Bama because ours is so much more accomplished. Winning those national championships was meaningless.
uncle
Nobody is saying this. We are talking about the D’s and the offenses they faced. All I’m saying is Bama’s D has struggled when they play a good spread team or us in the Sugar bowl. 🙂
Boomer, I used to be a sunshine-pumping Sooner fan like you. Read my posts from before the season began. I thought and predicted this year would be the year we had a championship caliber D and we were a year away from playing for the NC. I bought into Bob’s hype that this was going to be 1 of his best defenses at OU, not as good as 2000-01, but good. Boy was I wrong!
It is clear that there are MAJOR problems with the D, mike’s philosophy has changed for the worse, and that side of the ball needed a massive shakeup…but we fire only offensive coaches? So, yes, I’m a bit negative now because I believe that if you expect a different result when you repeat the same mistakes, then you are deluding yourself.
i’m not necessarily a sunshine pumper. i take life and roll with it. that’s it. i was blessed to play a sport at the highest level you can go, so i would say that makes me an expert on that sport. i try to incorporate things from my life because that’s what i know, being as its my life and all. i am not an expert at football. i love watching it. i love thinking about it. i love talking about it. i defer to the coaches to make decisions because its their job on the line and they do/should know best what it would take for them to be the best and to keep their job(not just to keep it but make it the best they can-“to leave it how it was when they got there, if not better” to borrow a phrase from my folks). if they don’t then they’ll be gone. i don’t agree that there are major problems. there are problems. a blind mouse can see that. but i think these changes will do wonders. i really do. the best defense can in fact be a good offense and i think those hires will help the d and i think the moves we have made on d will help the d.
i hate losing. hate it. i throw stuff when we lose. the tech rain delay game i scared the absolute tar outta my wife, but because of my background i can get over it and move on. doesn’t make me any more of a fan or any less of one. i want to win. period. but i know the coaches and players want it more than i do. because like i said, i was a player at one point. never won one, but got close. any fan who said they wanted it worse than me had no idea what he/she was talking about(that part is not a shot at anyone, just the way i felt when someone would say that to me). anyways, thank you for the conversation and for bringing my blood pressure up and then back down 🙂 and BOOMER!
edit: holy guacamole, sorry for the novel
The Bama D looked good against tOSU? How about in the Sugar Bowl? Auburn last year? I don’t think anybody is saying OU’s D is better than Bama, what I think everybody is trying to say is that Bama’s D struggles when they paly a high powered O.
Edited: Also do you think they really deserved to be in the Top 4 after seeing what tOSU did to them?
Back to looks? I will state it again, i dont care how they “look”, I care what they do. They gave up 35 points which wasn’t good and they lost. But Ohio State beat them by 7. They were better than Bama. But they didn’t humiliate their D 40-6 like Clemson did to ours.
Tosu played a very balanced offense with more rushing yards than passing yards this season, but pretty close for both. That is something we don’t see imuch of in the Big 12, and certainly doesn’t fit the mold of the teams that Bama “struggles” against.
So it doesn’t matter how many yards or TD’s they give up as long as the team wins? SMH ok. I thought we were talking about how good a D is, my bad. LOL Carry on with whatever you were saying.
The difference is that MStoops has had 2 straight years of atrocities. I honestly believe that if Mike wasnt Bobs brother he’d have been shown the door just as Heuple was.
Bama had 2 straight as well, IMO…including losing to Mike’s atrocious defense.
Are you implying that for the last 2 years Bamas defense wasnt way better than OUs?
I believe what he is impying is that Bama’s D has struggled just as much against the spread as OU has. They have given up huge amounts of yards and points.
I’m implying that they appear to be playing offenses that aren’t any good, yet get slapped around when they play anybody outside the SEC.
So, yeah…
What teams outside the SEC are slapping them around? What SEC teams are slapping them around? OU is the only team to record a double digit win against them in the last 4 seasons.
Well, let’s just bring up their last Bowl game. 537 yards of offense vs Ohio State.
How about WVU, who put up 400 yards with a new QB playing in a new system.
In the SEC? Auburn put up 630 yards…
Now is this where you bring up “but they won” in defense of your “better defense” argument? Pretty sure that’s where you’ll try to bail out…
What is the point of a defense? To keep the opponents from scoring more and beating you. Who won that WVU game or Auburn game? Oh yeah, Bama did. They lost to eventual national champion Ohio State by a TD. They aren’t getting blasted by ACC teams like Clemson by 34 points, or blasted by Baylor by 34 points. They aren’t coughing up 21 point leads and lose at home to weak sisters like oSu
You sound upset that Bama’s offense isn’t as great as you had hoped. Giving up over 1700 yards in their last 3 games sounds like a masterpiece of a defense.
Those SEC juggernaut offenses are way better than the Big 12. Gotcha! Sounds legit.
Have a kleenex.
You are a genius! OU’s defense is great. Bama’s D is atrocious. Kirby Smart is clearly a poor defensive coordinator. They aren’t in every game they play like OU (Baylor, Clemson, etc.). Bama doesn’t win national and conference championships. They routinely get blown out at home.
Get a clue.
OU routinely gets blown out at home? Come on.
I totally said OU’s defense was great. Good call. You sound smart.
Here’s another kleenex. Troll Tide.
this site needs an enema to remove some of the dingleberries
A Baylor team that EASILY could have been in the Playoff instead of Ohio State? Fail to see where the shame in that is.
TCU should have been in the final 4. That Baylor team also list to MSU in their bowl game didn’t they. But the point is, neither team was in the final 4. And OU was nowhere near sniffing the final 4 when they were predicted to be there at the start of the year. Losing to a traditionless program like Baylor or oSu gets stuck in my craw just a little.
And yes, I’ll bring up that they won. Isn’t that the idea of the game? You try to make that seem irrelevant when it is the KEY. I don’t give 2 craps how many yards tavon Austin racked up in Morgantown in 2012. I care that we kept them from scoring more than we did. You were probably one of the people who pissed and moaned about that game…a Sooner victory!!!!
Yep, because we know that giving up 1700 yards in their last 3 games means they’re good…not scoring always means the defense is good.
Just like when Florida held OU at the goal line in the 08 game…it was because Florida’s D was sooooo good, not because OU lacked good play calling.
Who cares how many yards they gave up in 3 games when they won 2 of them, lost 1 by a TD, and mafe the final 4? Of course, they would like to have won against ohio state, but ohio state proved to be the best team this year.
That 2008 Florida D was #4 in scoring D, 9th in Total D, and held the #1 offense in NCAA history at the time to 14 points…and Florida won. Yeah, I’d say their D was pretty damn good that day. They did more than enough to help the team win the NC.
Define “mafe”.
Made…keys on phone keyboard are small.
That’s a shame. I like new words.
Believe me when I tell you that Im the last person to ever back Bama in a discussion but the facts are that Bamas defense was rated #11 and OUs # 54. Sure Bama has problems with the spread offenses….who doesnt??? but if you think that if Bama was in the Big 12 conference and got to face those offenses week and and week out that they wouldnt have out performed MStoops’s defenses for the last two years then IMO you’re very wrong.
So you’re theory is that you think they’d do better week in and week out, but they can’t even deal with their biggest rival?
I’d say you’re wrong.
Then we’ll have to agree to disagree but Im quite sure that 90% of the college football world believes that OUs defense hasnt been as good as Bamas for the last 2 years.
Also, the whole ranking of defenses is a joke, because they’re not playing those offenses that OU faces. OU’s defense was terrible, but the whole “Bama is good” garbage is just that…garbage.
They don’t face the offenses OU does? What great offenses did OU face this year? Two…Baylor and TCU. Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Texas, oSu were some real offensive juggernauts!
Missouri, Ole Miss and Miss State lmao
Offenses: Kansas 115th, Texas 110th, Iowa State 89th, oSu 85th…lmao
Your theory *
Hasn’t it actually been 3 years? aTm has given them hell since joining the SEC.
atm won 1/3…….bama 59 zip last yr…..
It really has. Mike has had no answer for the spread. In the Baylor, WVU, OKstate and AM games in ’12 the OU D gave up an avg of 43 ppg. Only difference was the OU offense w/ Landry was able to outscore opponents.
Just like Bama outscored aTm in 2013. Too bad their O couldn’t do enough against Auburn, OU, and Ohio State. That’s just in the last 3 years.
In all fairness, not many coaches have an answer for the uptempo spread, especially if you can’t or won’t press. Even the vaunted Bama defense has had it’s problems with it. Us and TAMU to mention a few.
What atrocities did we have in 2013? At Baylor? Okay. There isn’t a D out there that has to play 3-4 really good spread offenses a year that isn’t going to have a high 30’s or 41 point game against them. INCLUDING BAMA.
Ok now would you care to address the atrocity where we gave up…what was it? 4,823 yards on the ground to WVa in 2013 ?
Oh and the atrocity where we couldnt even begin to stop Clemson in 2014?
The funny thing is, in 2012, the offense was responsible for the two regular season losses more so than the defense was.
As for Clemson, the OU D gave up 389 yards of defense. Considering how piss poor our offense was that game, that isn’t terrible. There was an interception return, and a couple of short field scores. Not saying they played great, or even good, but if you are using THAT game to judge our D, you are clearly biased and looking to bash OU.
It’s not a finished product. That is why some changes were made on the D staff, and why I think recruiting will be a big emphasis going forward. Need better players on that side of the ball.
First of all lets get one thing straight. I will never ever “look to bash OU” so get that out of your head right now. Im trying to be a realist here.
By the 4th quarter Clemson took its foot off the pedal or it would have been substantially worse than 389 yards ( I’m using your stats )
Bama didn’t get ripped at home by 30-40 points, didn’t lose their bowl game by even worse, blow a game against an awful team like oSu. If he had, Smart would be out the door. Oh, and Bama is still in the national title hunt. Next?
The images of the Baylor beat-down with Wilson’s meltdown and looking helpless with no adjustments will require many more sessions before it is erased. Followed by the no-show against Clemson…
Context. We were talking about the Bama D. The Bama D that gave up 42 to aTm two years ago. Just b/c the aTm defense sucked worse, doesn’t mean that should be acceptable D from Bama, right? And going back to your point about us losing to Baylor. That wasn’t all on the D. How many points did our offense score that day? 14?
And OU can’t compete for a conference championship? lol. Two years ago we lost TWO games, and beat two top 7 ranked team in December/January.
Exactly
Everybody wants to win. For some people there are more important things than winning. When he hired Kittle, we got a pretty good indication of where Bob Stoops’ priorities lie.
you know Saban personally or something? Otherwise how and the frick do you know what Saban would do too his Bro that has had a record of some d@m good defenses in the past?
Long time reader here, site is awesome. Obviously it’s early, but I’m excited about the potential of our 2016 class. Seems like we have a legit chance with some bigtime defensive guys like Caleb Kelly, Agim, and Rahshaun Smith who are all at the top of my wish list
very excited for ’16 as well….and biggio was one of my all time favorites. heart and hustle. except for the size was pretty much a jason white type. pound for pound and inch for inch was arguably the best of all time
He was a gamer for sure. Glad he made it into the HOF this year.
thanks for reading!
Hey BRAINIACS will you please remind some of these myopic people. Bob just had hip surgery this past week. It seems to me there are some priorities Bob has in life he must give much needed attention then other people needs for announcement’s.
……this is interesting, recruits as a news sources…….
I like it 🙂
I don’t see that as a bad thing if they are in a position of knowledge.
https://twitter.com/BGKofiBoateng/status/564850476252811266
I would think it should be a priority to have the new coaches in place by Junior Day.
They will be.
thanks.
Has Bob called UCLA to have Mike interview for the new DC job yet?
Check w/ Blevins 😉
Kished 🙁
He had better bring in Caleb Kelly.
say what?
Spring Game is Saturday April 11th, if it wasn’t already posted.
OU just said today they haven’t set a date yet. 4/11 is a date many have speculated the game would take place on, primarily based on the scheduling of the game in years past, but that’s not an official date (at least yet).
Ok well you always know best. But that’s what the players were given. I’ll follow you.
I’m not saying I know best. I’m just saying OU hasn’t put anything out officially. As you, I, and many others have said, 4/11 makes a lot of sense. And if you’re saying that’s what the players have been told, who am I to question you?
All I’m saying is according to OU, the date has yet to be announced. And until that time, I’m just not sure how we could really take anything as “official.”
unbelievable. The defense is the biggest reason we are where we are. All we do is change a secondary coach? Not very encouraging.
Think many expected more changes but it was the secondary that was OUr most glaring fail last season. At least a change there with a shuffle of current staff assignments.
I think having no clue how to run a 3-4 is also a pretty big issue.
No argument here. Having coordinators run schemes that they aren’t familiar with, on offense or defense, would seemingly not be a good idea. But anyone who thought Bob would can his brother….welp….
Big reason we brought in Cooks from ND. He’s a 3-4 guy.
And how do you know that they have no clue?
have you watched them play the last two years?
Exactly. I wouldn’t object to kish being gone but I’m not going to demand it be done. Regardless of what % credit he gets for the 2 linebackers, he has 2 quality guys joining the team this fall and quality experience returning. But I think the seconday was the biggest weakness on defense.
The secondary was terrible, but in fairness, the front 7 wasn’t helping them out when we chose not to attack and failed to get qb pressure most of the time.
You are right, more drastic changes were expected given the liability our defense was in 2014.
Fair point but can’t blame the front for not getting pressure when the CBs are playing 8-10 yds off and giving the QB a quick, easy throw.
Agreed. This change in philosophy by Mike from playing 80-90% man coverage as recently as 2012, to majority zone playing deep off the receivers is baffling, especially since our pass D improved drastically in 2012 in spite of our poor DL. This failed approach is why BV was demoted!
the secondary was the problem on defense
Big time. We had a top ten run defense and a piss poor secondary that couldn’t cover or tackle worth beans. For all the knocks on Kish about his age and lack of recruiting, the guy can coach LBs otherwise Bob wouldn’t have kept him during the recent purge. No excuses now though. We’ve got great talent coming in and new blood coaching it up.
People like to say no one ran on OU thats why the rush D was good. But the YPC allowed was also really good. No one in the secondary could make a play on 3rd down…All season long
You are supposed to stop them on 3rd down? I thought you were supposed to back your DB’s off 10-15 yards and give the QB an easy throw so they could get a first down. Are you positive?
lol…that tells me they have no faith in them to cover anyone. Hopefully that’ll change this year with the addition of Mbanasor
It wasn’t just the secondary. If I remember correctly, our LBs were horrible at covering anything over the middle. That goes to Kish as well.
I do agree with that
I think the big problem is that we never tried to jam receivers at all. They always got a free release and sometimes that was over the middle. I think in theory are linebackers are athletic enough to hold up for 3 or 4 seconds but our safeties were so bad that we couldn’t rush 5 guys and make the qb get rid of the ball quickly.
I think it was Lofton that said that our LB’s were playing to help the safeties, which put them too deep and out of position a lot of the time. I could be wrong on the source, but I did hear something to this effect.
With the size of our corners we should bump and run most of the time. Sanchez Tito Austin and Taylor can’t play that style but Sanchez is very good imo of playing off man with cover 3 responsibility. I thought Taylor could too but he didn’t see the field this year so the coaches must have very little confidence
I thought he looked good against Tulsa a couple of seasons ago…not sure what has happened with that guy.
Not sure but some scouts believe he would have been a better wr than corner.
If he doesn’t see the field on defense then it would be nice to see him on offense
What i like about the Cooks hire. His experience in 3-4 defense. He should improve the secondary and it will help mike tremendously. Really like this hire. Not to mention he can recruit.
I’ve seen this type of comment a few times “experience with 3-4” but he’s a secondary coach. How much changes on the back end due to the front 7’s alignment? I’m curious though really
He also coached OLB at ND, if I’m not mistaken…fwiw
Arguably, the top QB and top OL in the country are really high on OU, but we are melting down in these comments! Ha!
The discussion board…Goodness can be injected, but everyday brings a new page of worry and, well, grave concern.
Yep. Looks like some folks are a little testy today.
My guess is it has something to do with the lack of changes in the defensive coaching. Just a hunch though, could be this awful weather we are having:)
Let’s not leave out a couple of top LB prospects, Kelly and Jackson. Have a little faith, baby. Stop with the negative waves.
Is Tapper’s cousin (Smith) not as high on OU as he was? #10 player in the country, according to Rivals.
No doubt a great prospect and likely play LB for OU but listed as a DE on 247. I really like him as an ILB. At about 6’2 230 a lot like DeBerry and plays with his hand on the ground some.
What’s the latest with Rahshaun Smith?
where do i know this name from?
http://247sports.com/Player/Rahshaun-Smith-21501
thank you sir…or ma’am
Haha. Sir…
Also, thank you for inspiring Chuck Berry all those years ago.
You are very welcome. And I apologize for not being able to tell you how the 2015 season’s going to go; the sports almanac was printed before the 2015 football season…..
LOL! Biff probably would have ripped that page out anyway!
He’s Tapper’s cousin, from Maryland but transferred to IMG in Florida for the remainder of his high school career.
Was supposed to be high on OU and visited several times.
i think this is what i remember. thank you to you and cirwin for the help
I haven’t heard anything negative about Kish since sometime before the McGinnis signing, but I keep reading these “One more bad word about Kish and I’ll…” type posts…LOL…
https://twitter.com/TopeImade/status/564873815847493632
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3235704/tope-imade
Nice.
It seems the coaches are hungry for pancakes.
What has changed that when Jordan or anybody posts, whatever it is that Jordan posted, these it is just blank?
will you send an apology to Kish if he wins the assistant of the year this upcoming season?
Who is ‘you’ and who awards this ‘assistant of the year’ title?
Esco, just wanted to say thank you for your hard work here and finding stuff to report when we’re entering the most down time of the football season. Your work and intelligent opinions are appreciated!
No prob, happy to do it.
I think it’s safe to say that no one will lose any sleep worrying about sending any apologies out to Kish.
From what I’ve seen from Jordan over the years, he’s more than willing to eat crow when proven wrong about something, especially if we perform much better than expected.
It is much easier to criticize what someone else is doing than to go and do it yourself.
I think some on here take this way to seriously. We are all allowed to have an opinion and discuss that opinion. Come on group hug. Jordan, get your hand off my butt. 🙂
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130225072425/glee/images/2/26/Awkward_Alert.gif
LOL Just trying to lighten the air.
Monday is getting the best of us.
The optimist in me is always looking at why something will work and working on it until it does. If it doesn’t, so be it because now I have a reason to believe it won’t work.
update added
Another update added and one in which, IMO, lends credence to our notes above with regards to the possibility (likelihood?) that Kish isn’t going anywhere.
More whining in 4..3..2..1..
Think it’s past the whining stage and now people have moved onto the moping in solitude stage. Next we’ll get fear, denial, anger, and finally……………………………..acceptance.
Ha! I’m in the anger stage right now!
I’ll move backwards on this order of stages just to spite people….
…0…..waaaaah
people need to get over it… the guy struggled in recruiting this year, no doubt… but if you believe Bob we were only signing 2 LB’s anyway… and that is something that was said on the recruiting trail early on… but nobody believed it… anyway Kish was responsible for the Hulk and he did well the previous 2 seasons in recruiting… people just have to have scapegoat every year to bitch about… with JH gone, Kish has been getting the full brunt ever since… the guy does a pretty good job and kids like him but for whatever reason that isn’t good enough for most of the OU fans…
The reason: lack of information, i.e., just not knowing the reality of matters.
Not only that, but I bet he has a strong class in 2016.
Soooo… what have I missed?
Would love for D. Jackson to follow the crimson/cream brick road to Norman. He is one of several elite LB’s we have a shot at in 16.
https://twitter.com/jacobunruh/status/564890363874140160
Wish I had $1.00 for every negative reference for Kish & M Stoops on this site. We’ve made significant coaching changes so get over it, and look forward to a much different team this Fall!!
Hey you would have made about $100 off of me alone!
Eric Cuffee looks like he could be Jordan Peele’s son.
Nailed it.
It seems like OU is in a great spot with some of the top tier LB in this class. I’m hoping Kish can land a couple. If he were to do so, the opinion fans have of him (mine included) will do a complete 180.
I’m just afraid mine will do a 360!
I’m looking forward to seeing what Cooks can do with the secondary. The talent is definitely there and there’s more on the way. McKinney & Haughton were lights out in that all star game this weekend.
I feel real real good about the whole DB class we’re bringing in this year.
I agree I hope to see some good play the next few years in the secondary. Everyone last season was playing a new role in the secondary. Sanchez was on the left side but moved to the right. Wilson was a nickel and moved outside. Then Byrd and Thomas had no business on the field. Often they looked like volleyball players since they combined for 20 or so almost int’s
I do think Byrd is capable of getting better and Parker looked pretty solid. I would look at playing green or Tito at nickel
The CBs should improve in the next couple of years but Im even more excited about the safetys. Parker, McKinney, Haughton, Sunderland. Such potential there.
The freshmen have a shot to steal spots.
Just so many people against him staying on staff.
I was just trying to make a point…he could improve?
https://twitter.com/BrandonTFB/status/564900304382996480
You know what I think?
I think it is almost time for a big platter of super nachos and brewskis in frosted mugs.
4:17 central time. The clock is moving slooooww.
Coaches know better than I do. I always thought Kish was a decent Coach, just not a good recruiter but the biggest TEAM issue last year was Secondary and we made a coaching change, we thought our Linebackers could do better but honestly, are main inside linebacker was suspended (Frank Shannon) and Jordan Evans wasn’t really supposed to get playing time until this year so the way he played and improved actually does speak to Kish’s coaching. Montgomery is co-DC so he will have a hand in Linebacker recruiting and if Mike is really coaching outside linebackers,(hopefully to focus on blitz schemes) than that’s 3 coaches recruiting that position. Somehow, once again, Bob has me excited for Football season and I swore I would be more hesitant this year but I can’t help it!!
Also speaking to what I said, any word on Frank Shannon for this season? Good to go?
I have always thought Kish was a good coach and a really, really bad recruiter. But he does seem to have good rapport with some of the recruits, just had trouble closing. Being a bad recruiter is not a job killer if there are others on the staff who can close the deal. If he stays, I wish him the best.
One thing I noticed some say recently is they wish they knew more about him. Perhaps if he could get more involved in the social media arena he would seem more “with it” or “cool” to the fans and recruits.
The “with it” or “cool” part, for me, is not that important. I just wish I knew who the guy was. We all seem have a somewhat informed opinion on a lot of the other coaches, hell, even that GA (Viney), but there just isn’t much to go on with regards to Kish.
Taking my boys (3 and 5) to first Thunder Game tonight, here in Denver! (and first Bball game for them period!)
LOL!
At those ages you won’t see much of the game, but you will know the concession people by first names.
luckily I scored tickets on a row with no row in front of us! (so can avoid at least bugging and/or kicking people in front of us! lol)
is this your way of saying you got front row seats? what a jerk 🙂
I wish! maybe if i wanted to pay 75/ ticket!
front row i think you may need to triple that
Normally, yes… I was using the resale market! got tickets for 10 a piece! floor were going for 75 ish.. Denver Nuggets suck.. season ticket folks dont want to see them get butts kicked!
wow. that’s sounds like a good night then. 30 doll hairs for you and the younguns to “learn em some hoops and what those mints are in the urinals”
40! my wife too! lol
screw that. boys night 🙂 have fun. can’t wait to start doing these things myself. mine are 3, 1, and a lil surprise still baking in the oven. we’ll hold down the big monday fort and beat the tar outta the clones
They better play good tonight, I’m having to dvr ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘Star Wars Rebels’ and ‘Top Gear’ to watch them.
I’m pretty excited about “Better Call Saul”.
That’s a good thing, won’t have to disturb as many people in your many trips to the latrine.
update added
Geez, Boudreaux is a beast!
Is it just me or does Boudreaux hold on almost every play?
He’s an offensive lineman. He holds on every play…he just gets away with it better than most.
you’re basically allowed to as an OL as long as you keep your arms inside of his and you’re square to his hips. As soon as you’re in a position where you’re holding the guy after he’s beaten you then they call it.
Looked Boudreaux up on Rivals to see what they had and happened to notice in the right column there is yet another Farniok brother that is an OL and has an OU offer.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Matt-Farniok-146452;_ylt=Ak2v5BVSkxOD7foxo782wXNHPZB4
Didn’t see a check mark in the offer column. Rivals late to update?
Aaah!
Good eye, just looked at the list and mistakenly took it as an offer.
I would love to have him. Looks really good on film. Plus, offers from Stanford and Vanderbilt. I dig intelligent players.
He does look good and IMO more talented than his two big bro’s.
Not as big as them, but seems more athletic.
Got to have ‘smart’ guys on the OL these days.
Given how we just passed the NSD with a pretty good haul, it is tough for me to get excited about the next class as we still have several untested players to get a gander at in 2015. Like most of y’all know already, the recruiting trail is long with many twists. I hope all the prospective big dogs come to camp, but I can’t get excited about any of them until closer to the fall. Besides, the Mcginnis saga pretty much left me drained and the Wariboko drama a bit cynical.
I will be interested not excited about the 2016 and beyond classes until next Jan-Feb.
I’m anxious and excited to see the 2015 OU team. Many proven players and many young players who have seen limited play or haven’t seen the field at all.
What I am most interested in seeing is who are or will be the “play makers” on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game.
That is where I am at. New offense, shake-up on defense, bunch of new faces on the o-line. Guess that all takes up my finite amount of attention I dedicate to OU football.
Some guys (me) are just recruiting junkies!
Reckon the reason OU has not made an announcement on the new coaches is that they may want them at the news conference so everyone can get a look at them?
It also may be due to laws concerning the posting of employment opportunities for public institutions.
Alley Oope.
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops officially added Kerry Cooks and Dennis Simmons to his coaching staff Monday, while announcing new responsibilities for other assistant coaches.
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209882639
Interesting the defensive side is pretty much what has been predicted. The interesting thing is Boulware to RB coach and Gundy to inside WR.
Found that interesting, too.
It isn’t mentioned who will coach the TEs. I don’t find that a cryptic message that the TEs won’t be a part of the offensive scheme. Perhaps the TEs will fall under the purview of inside WRs or possibly the RBs.
You beat me to it!
Finally an announcement!
Ryan Aber @ryaber 4m4 minutes ago
Cale Gundy moves to inside receivers while Jay Boulware will coach the RBs #Sooners
I don’t get this move and I’m not sure I like it.
Probably means Gundy wants to take a step up. In order to become a head coach he pretty much needs to have been a coordinator. To be a coordinator, he pretty much needs to have coached more than just running backs. Moving to WR coach gives him the opportunity to coach on the passing game side and take the next step forward.
If that’s what is happening then good for Cale. IF that is what’s happening. I just hope this doesn’t screw up the RB recruiting momentum we’ve had the past decade.
Or since we are going to the Air Raid, we need top notch wide receiver recruiting so we are moving him to the position of need. Boulware seems to be a good recruiter, just hasn’t had many positions to recruit. Given our RB history a good recruiter ought to be able to recruit a decent running back to OU.
Or they’re going to de-emphasize the running game to the point that it will affect Cale’s ability to recruit and he sees the writing on the wall.
Entire post makes sense. A lot.
Muffled chuckle laugh.
What did you call me?
I said, MUFFLED CHUCKLE LAUGH, just admit it, you are one.
I know, but if I go down without a fight, what kind of an example am I being?
The expression of being meek. Tipping hat.
Turning the other cheek?
A lot of the attraction for these RB recruits was the chance to be coached by the guy that coached AD and DM though.
I think it was to be AD or DM.
The Dook is heating up tonight.
Right, and Cale was a big part in making them AD and DM.
Did yuh see AD before he went to OU? Cale made him more of a freak, ok fine.
nm
Boulware has coached RBs before, ladies and gents.
“Don’t fix what ain’t broken”
Serve it up Dook.
So? Doesn’t mean he’s Cale Gundy caliber. And Cale has never coached WRs to my knowledge.
Doesn’t mean he isn’t.
Slightly confused by this, but honestly don’t hate it. True, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; at the same time though it prevents things from becoming stagnant at our best position group. Also with this move I wouldn’t be shocked to see Mixon being utilized in the slot. Gotta get that guy on the field and the slot would be perfect with his incredible speed and shiftiness in the open field. Think of all the trouble this could cause with various motions and packages that could be brought in with that move.
Ryan! Playmakers getting touches. An inside receiver will look like a running back/receiver hybrid skill player.
Yep, its so crazy it just might work.
Correct. Please see my post above.
How about Blue Right 8 (F-Shoot), Ace Rip Arc, or Blue Right Flip 617 Switch?
http://www.footballxos.com/download/offense/college-offense/1999-Oklahoma-Air-Raid-Mike-Leach.pdf
He hasn’t coached two NFL pro bowlers.
What are we doing here DC? Facts are readily available about Boulware and Gundy.
I agree. And the facts are that Boulware has never coached two NFL pro bowlers at RB. What facts are you looking at?
The same ones. We know what is known. But what about the future? This is where we are going. Boulware will coach the running backs now.
The future to me seems to suggest there will a great de-emphasis on the running game. I really hope I’m wrong because that won’t be well received.
No it will not be. But I think the staff on hand is smarter than we are when it comes to this topic. I believe the running game will be more effective.
lol……you really believe that after last season? I always gave them the benefit of the doubt but last season destroyed that notion. They didn’t strike me as particularly smart at all.
I have blank in response to that. No one is going to prove your argument, or disprove your argument, but the OU coaches themselves, when the team plays again.
True but with this many new coaches and shifting around coaches that are proven commodities at their respective position sure as hell invites a lot of room for disaster.
Make or break season coming up. The potential for greatness and disaster are on the table in 2015 for Stoops and the Sooners.
Definitely. And if it’s a disaster, I feel for Bob on the earthquakes that will rattle his mansion windows like never before.
I get that we need to continue to run the ball well but, it seems like some of you want us to run the ball most of the time. We did that this year and it did not work out. Texas tried as well and it did not work out for them either. In this league you better be able to score and score in bunches.
Now I do want us to be able to run and I do not believe we will have trouble with that. I also do not believe our running backs will forget how to hit a hole now that Boulware is the RB coach.
Finally, Gundy is still the recruiting coordinator. I promise Gundy will still work hard on getting the elite running backs here.
You do realize that accepting a decision and questioning a decision are not mutually exclusive, right?
Right? Yes, in logic, accepting and questioning can be held at once. ‘I accept, but I question’.
Explain the logic that you’re using…
My logic is that Cale was a smashing success where he was and has no experience coaching WRs so I don’t get the move. Boulware has coached RBs with nowhere near the success that Cale has had and Cale’s reputation with RB success is what has afforded us to recruit at a high level at that position.
OU finally announces Cooks/Simmons hirings & several reassignments amongst existing staff.
https://thefootballbrainiacs.com/ou-oklahoma-sooners-football-kerry-cooks-dennis-simmons-coaching-hires-reassignments
No press conference, keeping it in house. At least we got the new staff arrangement in writing.
Now, all coaches in-waiting will give comment.
Mas cerveza! Cerveza frio!!
Me gusto muchas cervezas!!!
I go to ONE JV basketball playoff game, come home and you people have completely shuffled the coaching staff? I need to dig a little deeper into this decision.
Send the iphone next time.
The i is broke on my flipper. 🙂
I don’t pay for data either.
Just don’t look behind the curtain…
There is a small man behind it, with twisty corner mustaches.
Hercule Poirot?
Beware the innernut coaches and those who are clairvoyant.
I still don’t like the fact that Tim Kish is still going to be at Oklahoma he is not the elite linebackers coach fact it seems to be a contradiction the fact he’s not going to be coaching all the linebackers and only some of them doesn’t make any sense.
Who is this Tim Kish you speak of? Is he a coach?
Don’t know how I feel about Boulware being handed RB’s. Cale has a proven track record. Gets basically every RB he wants on the recruiting trail. RB’s have basically been the 1 constantly good position on the field at OU since ’99. Why mess with that?
sounds like a lot of folks are all stocked up on tampons. good luck with those synchronized periods
So…what you are saying is they are going with the flow?
Nope.
LOL!
Good job Sooners, that’s the way to end the first half.
It’s going to be hard to keep this up. They need to get the starters some rest in the second half. ISU is shooting the ball well. I hope the “loosen” the rim on their end in the second half. 😉
I think OU will win. No way ISU stays that hot behind the arc. They will start missing threes but they won’t stop shooting them.
Sometimes, it is possible to know too much. There’s not a thing we can do about the coaching staff. Let it go. Boomer! Sooner!
But I was always taught you can never know enough, that I should always be learning.
/so confused
Them damn paradoxes.
If we always “let it go” we wouldn’t have had the changes that we’ve gotten so far.
so you’re saying you and the rest of the pessimistic whiners on here have caused the changes in the coaching staff? bit of a reach
I find your machismo and constant belittlement of other sooner fans to elevate yourself above them amusing.
belittlement? really? you feel belittled? its only constant when its needed. if you feel its not needed, stop bitching about everything. i am not your bartender or nanny
I’ll make the points I choose to make here and let the owners of this site determine the value of my posts and whether they belong here or not.
My bartender? I’ve never pulled up a chair to your bar, cochise. Stop trying to police everybody. You weren’t elected to do so.
the only point that needs to be made, sport, is that if you and castorboytroy agree on every single aspect of life and sooner football, you may wanna rethink your life. have a good one there bucko, because i’ve been down this last word larry road with you before and it and you are really not worth the time
Then you should stop talking and trying to swing your d*ck at everybody on a daily basis. Nobody elected you content manager of this board.
i would much rather ruin the enjoyment of a couple of yahoos who think they’re better than everyone else and the coaches and players to boot than let the same yahoos run this place into the ground. sorry, fella, not gonna let people bitch just to bitch. i don’t wanna read it. and what is it with you pessimists and wieners? i really don’t understand. they have support groups you can look into or hotlines. either way i don’t care
If you don’t want to read it than be an adult and don’t read it. Nobody is forcing you to read other people’s posts. And you don’t have the power to decide what you’re “gonna let happen” on this board.
Note: Former defensive end, Army veteran, and extreme skier. Who you callin’ a weiner, alpha dawg? Let me know when you’ve tipped a pair of skis over a summit at 14,824 ft., balls out, without sh*tting your pants or had live M60 rounds fired 2ft over your head.
well then thank you for your service. seriously. and no thanks on the 14k ft. i didn’t call you one, someone else was talking about wieners earlier and i wondered what it was with you guys and trying to measure. i’ve got zero interest in that. you brought it up not me. it was against my contract to ski, but you didn’t wanna believe me before when i tried to tell you about my career. i now have a lot of respect for you and we will agree to disagree. thank you for the freedom to come on here and have it out
I don’t really have a beef with you man. I believe what you said about your career and I think that kicks a truckload of a$$. I’d like to know more but I respect your privacy. Just live and let live dude. Some of us are more critical than others but we’re all Boomer till we die and I’ve been Boomer since I was 7 and that’s not ever going to change. A fanbase needs its junkyard dogs. Somebody has to protect that standards. Peace, my man.
So, here’s something to ponder: were you asked to sit at the table? Did Bob, Boren, or Joe say to you, “Hey, DC, we’re thinking about making some changes on the staff. We wanted to check with you first. Are you okay with that? Great, what should we do? Who should we let go?”
Because if this is how it played out, you better call Bob, Joe, and Boren. Tell them they didn’t get it right.
As for let it go, it’s not my gig. I have to put all my effort into the wellness of my family. That’s what consumes my thought every minute of the day.
I’m hearing that the CB Stephens signed with Kilgore JC just in case he doesn’t make grades. Anyone know bout this???
Where are you “hearing” this from…
I saw it on a twitter feed
Jordan/whomever, I don’t see a post on the Original Posters portion regarding the list for the Jr Day this weekend. I’ve only been able to open it thru the link on this page. Can it be added to the OP section, for easier location? Thanks.
Not sure if you just fixed it or it fixed itself, but thank you. It’s there now.