Sooners ‘Tweaking’ Their Way To Success
Posted on: November 12, 2015
Image via Sooner Sports
Like most of you out there I’m not sure what to think about the last four weeks. After the annual egg laying festival that we’ve grown accustomed to, this time against Texas, I was none too pleased. With K-State looming in Manhattan, I wasn’t sure what would happen… then…55-0. So I chalked that up to being the Sooners being pissed. Then, Texas Tech’s coming to town with the best offense they’ve had in years…63-27. Kansas isn’t any good, but still…62-7. Iowa State just crushed that same Texas team that looked like they were going on a tear after beating the Sooners and K-State handily…then…52-16.
So what’s happened that has allowed the Sooners to go on a four game win streak with an average score of 58-13? Have the coordinators made adjustments, or are the players just playing better? I think it’s a little bit of both.
Offensively, a few tweaks or adjustments I’ve noted:
1. The offensive line is playing better. Dru Samia has taken over the right tackle spot (JY pops collar and dusts shoulders off), and it seems like Baker Mayfield has a little bit more time overall. He’s not getting hit all the time, even though he is still taking more hits than i’d like to see. O-Line isn’t championship level just yet, but they’re a lot better than they were. Getting Jonathan Alvarez back this week will help.
2. Early on this year when you look at formations, especially from the shotgun, the backs were at the same depth as the QB. What I’ve noticed in the last few weeks is that now out of most every formation the backs are lined up two yards deeper than the QB placing them about seven yards off the ball most of the time. With a back like Samaje Perine, letting him get going out of an I-Formation depth helps him see the play develop and those two steps are critical to a lot of backs. This is why, often, when the ball gets bobbled on a kick return it sets up a better return.
Letting the play develop is far too underrated, and not everybody’s a Quentin Griffin type of back that only needs a step to get going. Even though Joe Mixon is thought of as the “smaller” back between he and Perine, Mixon is actually three inches taller at 6’2″ and not too far behind Perine in terms of weight. So really you’ve got two big backs with a lot of ability. Letting them build that head of steam and see the play in front of them has paid big dividends the last four weeks.
3. Receivers are catching the ball. Leading up to the Texas game and all the way through it, the Sooners were letting the ball hit the ground too much. At all levels of the rotation outside of maybe Sterling Shepard, guys were just dropping the ball. Now you see guys hanging onto it just a little bit better.
Defensively, a few tweaks or improvements I’ve noted:
1. The defensive line is starting to emerge. Charles Walker is becoming a terror in the middle of the defense, and Charles Tapper has been lights out the last couple of weeks. If the middle of the defensive line can control Baylor up front and let Eric Striker and Devante Bond come off of the edge, Baylor will be in for a long night.
2. Where have you been Will Johnson? Johnson has decent size with plenty of skill. He’s listed as a corner, and his emergence at the nickel spot has allowed Coach Cooks to move Steven Parker back to strong safety. Parker is a play-maker and anytime you can get an instinctive guy like that closer to the line of scrimmage it’s a good thing. So really now at DB, you’ve got Zack Sanchez, Jordan Thoma, Parker and Johnson, who are all very good cover guys. Not many defenses in the Big 12 can put four solid cover guys on the field at the same time. Stoops has that now.
3. Guys are tackling better. When was the last time you saw three fourth down stops by an Oklahoma defense? We saw it on Saturday.
Look, I’m not ready to anoint anyone just yet, but talking about this Baylor game to K last night, I told him that I haven’t had a feeling about the Sooners like this since before the Alabama game two years ago. I called that one, too (you can look it up). I know these guys are motivated, and they’ve got true leadership with Mayfield now. I’m not so sure that the good guys don’t go out and make a strong statement Saturday night. Minus the egg laying festival this year, the team has been pretty good.
What better way to break into the consciousness of everyone out there than doing it on a Saturday prime time game with Gameday in town. Something tells me that these guys understand that they have everything in front of them.
162 Comments
“The Big Red Machine is Rolling”
Brings back memories. I lived in Nebraska for years. Husker fans would look at me sideways when I answered “Go Big Red” with “BOOMER”. Of course a few moments later I’d have to yell “SOONER”. For some reason they always left me hanging.
My favorite tweak? OU didnt have an offensive penalty last week until almost halftime.
Agree, No penalties means sustaining drives. Which leads to more points.
and means the OL is playing much better
The OL is playing with confidence. When they are confident, they do not have false starts.
Great read JY! I think one of the keys has been the leadership on the team. Not necessarily what we might see on the field, but what is going on behind closed doors. One other thing to note, after the shorthorn debacle that was, LR got the entire offense together and asked them what they wanted the offense to be. They made some tweaks to the playbook to work towards the strengths that they had. Since that time, the offense really has been rolling (other than the second quarter against ISU). Moving Johnson to the NB and Parker back to safety has helped the backend of the D big time.
I’m quite excited about this game. OU has been trending up, and it sounds like they’re coming in mad. Baylor has been trending down a little, and it almost feels like they’re going to do what we did in the rrso.
I agree with JY. Sooners have been rolling with little to no motivation. These last three weeks I think we see the best Sooner team we’ve seen since 2003 pre-big12-CCG. I think this team has the team concept and chemistry down more than any Stoops team I’ve personally watched (I was only 10 in 2000 and didn’t understand football too much) even moreso than the ’08 team because I think the defense is light years better than that team, I think the offense is just as good with more talented backs. I think the leadership of Mayfield, Shepard and Striker was missing on that ’08 team also. I’m a believer that this is the year we see #8. Let’s soak up this “November to Remember” boys. This team isn’t the most talented in the country but they have a feel like no other team out there this year. My only fear is that playoff committee has an agenda and may leave us out. But for now, I’m a believer that we get #8 this year.
I hope you’re correct, JY. I personally don’t see any blow out either way though. I think this one is gonna be tough on both teams. May come down to turnovers and special teams.
I agree with you JY.
I my humble opinion, I think offensively the team is playing with a lot more moxie and the defense is playing with a controlled recklessness, almost like they are playing like they are pissed off!.
Speaking of tackling better…Sanchez hasn’t missed a tackle in two weeks. first time in his life he’s gone that long without missing one.
And doing it while playing out of position. I would just as soon he play the candy man role again this week.
The first half hearted shoulder throw tackle attempt and he needs to sit. Things have been going to well to change now. In my opinion Sanchez should be coming off the bench to spell Austin if he’s getting beat. But not until then.
Dakota Austin quote – ” How soon they forget ! ” 🙂
Yep. Add Dakota to that list. Would expect him to provide quality relief or maybe time as the ‘dime’ back.
Would be nice to see Ross or shep break on a return vs Baylor. It’s got to happen eventually.
Me too. But I think we stand a better chance of winning 77-0 than seeing that, unfortunately.
Haha. Funny but very true.
Now if they would only tweak the kickoff returns and put Mixon and Brooks back there . And tweak the punt returns by either putting Mixon ,Dede , Baxter . Then actually pretending its a important play and either set up for a return or try and block the punt . Then all three phases of the team would be outstanding .
To me, if they have no intention of returning a punt, why not at least try to block them?
If we did that every time then other teams would start running fakes..Stoops wants the ball and let the offense do the scoring…I wouldn’t mind a blitz here and there but you can’t show your hand as far as going for blocks
Probably worried about roughing the kicker penalties
Against Kansas Shep muffed one, but because we don’t even run back there was no one else to help recover it. Huge risk.
Maybe no attempts at PR’s is a setup for the last three games? Just thinking.
I wouldn’t change punt returns at all. The game is too big, and anyone not named Shep has shown a propensity to drop passes. A fumbled punt is too much of a momentum changer, and I believe (not sure) Shep dropped the Kansas punt because he was not focused. What won’t surprise me at all is some ginormous, illegal hit on Shep (at any time of the game) that takes him out of the game … which the officials will probably miss either on the field or in the replay booth or both. Soo, I’m hoping there’s a plan B or even plan C for IF that happens. Baylor plays a dirty ballgame … they remind me of the old Miami Hurricane teams pre-1990s. I cannot imagine the refs will call a fair game Saturday night.
Interesting comment on the refs. I’m not one to say the refs beat us. However, I was dumbfounded when we played UT/KSU and neither of them were charged with an offensive holding penalty. Several were called on us but none on them. That said, I’m curious if they look the other way since one team is undefeated and playing at home. I look at holding penalties like free throws. They are part of the game but when one team has 40 free throws compared to the other teams 8, I question this. Same with holding if one team gets 5 calls and the other team doesn’t have one. I’m sure JY never held but someone is on every play.
Along these lines, I envision the OU WRs having a difficult time getting separation due to all the holding slights and overly aggressive coverage that could get called for PI. The baylor secondary will be illegally draping our receivers. I see this happening on every pass play. IF the refs don’t get control of this early on, we’re in for a long night wrt passing. On the flipside, I envision the baylor WRs pushing off as much as the refs will let them. Baylor has absolutely no respect for OU. They play us at an angry/mad level, and I just can’t see the refs not allowing this to happen Saturday night. Baylor is home, national TV, the crowd will be insane, and their players will elevate their aggressiveness from the outset. When was the last time the refs called an even/fair game when an OU away game was this big? The ‘officiating factor’ is something I will be watching closely, and if all goes fairly, then we stand a great chance of winning. But baylor is baylor … I expect them to deliberately go dirty on us as much as the refs will allow.
That’s a given but the area Brilies always get away with is the pick play. Curious if they call this especially on the goal line.
Will Johnson has had a big impact on this team.
3 best passing teams in a row.
I’m rooting for him to continue playing at a high level
He announced himself pretty quickly from the get go, too. Made me wonder why he hadn’t really seen action before.
I have to go take my blood pressure medicine! 🙂
And it’s not even gameday yet… sounds like you may have some problems on Saturday. 😉
LOL I always get excited when OU is getting ready to play. Especially when it is such a big game like the one with BU. Never dull bein a Sooner fan!
Sooners by 24. Book it
love it. Just remember the Red October games. None were even close, one of them was a blowout. I’ve been telling Bears fans to tell parents not to bring their kids to the game. The things that Perine and Mixon will do to the Bear defense will show up in a lot of NSFW gifs on Sunday.
The GIANT just woke up after a 2 year nap. I’m with JY too since I watched the KSU/Baylor game. I see fear in Briles.
Yep, scared enough to send his son-in-law to Tulsa’s sidelines. I mean, who does that and got to be embarrassing.
Desperate measures create desperate actions.
It would only be an embarrassment if the guy had any shame. I think Artiepoo has already sold his soul to the devil, and all his shame with it.
This is good but If Baylor blows OU out this is all for nothing
It’s not happening. OU is going to tear them to pieces.
I hope, been excited way too many times just to be let down
Oh I definitely know that feeling. But this team is different from years past. Especially post-Texas. This team will go as far as the committee will let them.
Not for me. I am forever an OU fan. I will continue to risk dissapointment.
I’ve been disappointed at times with teams that Wilkinson coached, all of the coaches in between to Stoops teams. It’s a part of being a fan, because sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. I have never been “let down” by any of them. Only your X can do that.
Yes. It is hard to impart to anyone that was not alive then just how terrible it felt for Sooner fans after the 1957 ND game.
What are you 10?
So love hurts from time to time. Buck up! After all,we’re big boy football fans, aren’t we. Besides, the let downs make months like this last one so much the sweeter. Sooner faithful who persevered through Schnellenberger and Blake know the price of suffering can be glory.
I usually ignore you. Isn’t it past time for you to go hibernate? You know you’re grumpy when you don’t get your sleep. Do us all a favor.
One last request: just read this, don’t respond.
Hows the tattoo sam?
It’s a little tender. I can’t believe my wife hasn’t asked me what’s on my forehead. LOL!
I said this a few days ago, but it’s worth saying again. I haven’t been this confident in a Sooner team since probably the second half of 2008. The offense is clicking nicely and the defense is playing incredibly well… a combo that we haven’t seen in a while. I think these boys are ready for Baylor and are ready to put them in their place. IF they close out the season in the same fashion as 2008, it’s going to be hard to justify leaving them out of the playoff, although I’m sure the committee could find a way unfortunately.
they’re playing better than ’08 because the defense is actually playing well too.
I think that 2008 defense was pretty good… MUCH better than people give them credit for.
they were responsible for a lot of short fields for Sam and co. to work with
I agree they were better than people give them credit for. I think this defense is playing better. That’s not a slight on the ’08 defense. That’s how well I think this team is playing.
according to Mike and Mike this morning, OU is the only team in the top 15 of offense and defense efficiency
and Ohio St and Clemson are the only other 2 inside top 20 on both sides of ball. We’re in VERY good company.
Just show up and play well, win the turnover battle and keep the penalties down and OU will win the rest of their games.
https://theyoungersideofsports.wordpress.com/2015/11/12/v-for-vengeance/
All we can ask for is a win. And beating Baylor would make me happier than any.
Nice list, JY. Thanks. Also like how LR gives his QB the chance to audible out of/into plays. And Mayfield has the savvy and confidence to go along with his athletic skill to take advantage of what he is seeing when they line up.
Captain Obvious right here but turnovers will be a huge key to the game. If you notice our past games, Texas with two TO’s in the first half and you know the result. Full momentum in Tulsa and then two TO’s and that changed the game. Even last week we were rolling and Perine’s fumble happens and we just halt and don’t score in that second quarter. We have not responded well after a TO. Everybody knows it and yes its obvious but we need to win that battle!
Good point Captain Obvious, can’t happen on Saturday.
The key will still be can we cover their receivers. I think we can if we put the right players on the right receivers at the right time. I don’t expect to see sacks, but hurries would be nice. Confuse them with our coverage.
Love the depth on the DL. Baylor is used to wearing down defenses but being two deep we’ll probably fresher in the 4th quarter than any other team theyve faced.
Hopefully we’ve broken them by the 4th.
Oh, they’ll be broken. But they won’t accept it. Which is even better because they’ll keep getting up for more, to which I hope Bob turns a blind-eye to the score board.
I would drop 80 points on them
Amen to that!!!!
All sounds good Sam, but let’s hope no one forgets their game with TCU last year. I’m not worried that Coach(es) are fully aware.
F Baylor and their smug coach! The more I hear him talk the more I want to serve him a tall glass of shut the heck up juice. We’re preparing and over preparing for the big bad monster and they’re over looking us. Flippin Lamar ran on their over hyped defense. We’re gonna smack em in the mouth and say “you’re welcome” on the way out.
Don’t hold back, KJ. Tell me how you feel. LOL!
What’s the news today? What can you share with us?
LOL just tired of hearing about that stupid team already. We’re a really good team hittin our stride, cant wait for Sat.
Haven’t heard much today, I heard this weeks been a really good week of practice. Heard that Samaje ripped off a 40+ yard td off of the right side earlier in the week during the full padded practice. Really feel good about Sat especially after hearing how well preparations are going. Couple more days of some good reps and then lets just unleash on these guys.
Thank you, sir. I hope we cause a perforation in their bowels that is so bad that they have to wear a colostomy bag.
dang
Once again KJ, your input on here helps to make TFB the best Sooner site online…by far.
Thanks.
Thank you for the great info all the time.
I’m with the rest of these guys. Thank you for your contribution to the board KJ it is MUCH appreciated by all of us 🙂
I vote for KJ to give the team the pre-game speech.
I cant wait to talk smack the whole night to them trash balyor fans. They deserve it.
… for Briles and the Bears…
KJ’s Updates…
^^^^I’m begging TFB to give this guy his own post whenever possible.
Would go great under “The Original Posters” section.
Always has nice inside tidbits that keep other posters happy!
Post qualifies for Post of the day!!!!!!
KJ, I like your style!
Here’s a little gem for you:
The SEC became the preferred brand of football because it was faster than what the B1G had to offer. Because of that, the SEC gained in popularity. Now, the Big XII has turned up the tempo even more and it’s viewed negatively. I can assure you, if the SEC was an air raid conference, the offensive production would be the talk of the town.
The real kicker is this: this whole committee thing is agenda driven. It would seem they’d want to see SEC type defenses face-off with Big XII type offenses. Let’s give the people what they want and see just how good those SEC defenses are.
You’re exactly right! I don’t remember if it was last year or two years ago, the narrative was “look at the great qb’s these defenses have to deal with”. They had to flip script since they couldn’t enjoy their 9-6 snooze fests anymore.
“…9-6 snooze fest.” Good one. I mean it was the mid-80s when it took off and no one complained. Look at what Miami was doing during that time.
I’m from South Georgia; while I’ve never been a fan of any SEC team, only OU for me, I can tell you I’d prefer to watch SEC football over B1G football.
Now the Big XII is playing faster and it’s viewed negatively. If I’m correct, OU started the uptempo in the Big XII with Sammy B’s team.
Actually, Bud was the first to employ the hurry-up on the theory at you can score more points if you run more plays.
Bring back the computers, this committee thing is already getting out of hand. Keep playoff and committee just add computer to to keep it real.
Yep at the very least make it half human half computer.
You should read “Midnight” by Dean Koontz.
My GF is a Dean Koontz fanatic. Im sure that I can just ask her about it.
I have everything he’s ever written, even the ones written using a pseudonym: Brian Coffey, Deanna Dwyer, and Leigh Nichols to name a few.
He has some children books as well: Oddkins (good luck finding that one, I got lucky) and two Christmas books.
Yep she swears by him. If I wasnt so damn busy spending all my time reading TFB I might actually give it a try and read one of his books.
I hear you.
If I haven’t read all of Koontz books, I don’t know which one I missed.
If I haven’t read all of Koontz books, I don’t know which one I missed.
That, and everything else by Dean Koontz
I have everything.
OU is fifth in the country in yards allowed per play. Two SEC teams in the top five; One Big Ten team, and one ACC. Couple that with the amount of total plays defended, and OU has dealt with the most, and held more plays to lesser yardage than anyone else in the country.
See what a little homework will turn up. Thanks, Easton.
BOOM.
I concur with Joel Klatt that the bias against spread offenses that score lots of points and appear to play little defense results from the influence Barry Alverez and Tom Osborne have on the committee. Both are big proponent of rushing offenses and strong defense, primarily against the run.
Frequently hurry up spread offenses have twice the number of possessions as do predominantly run based offense. It is only logical that games between spread offense like frequently occurs in the B12 will have both teams score significantly more points than the Alabama vs LSU game merely because of the number of possessions per game the quick scoring offenses generate. Something that Tom and Barry will never acknowledge preferring instead to convince the Condoleezza Rice like members that they are instead not complete teams because they do not play defense. Hence committee bias against the spread offenses west of the Mississippi.
When I first glanced at the headline I thought it said “twerking” their way to success.
I need new reading glasses.
Can you imagine what it would look like if the monkey on your avatar was twerking?
Ha!!
Nope, you read it right. In fact we just hired Mylie Cyrus as the new strength and conditioning coach.
Geezus, now THAT would be a toxic/poison pill for our team … yeeesshh, makes me shudder to even think about it.
Great article JY. With this corrupt CFP selection process stacking the deck against us, making a real statement with convincing wins these next 3 weeks could really be the difference maker. Not saying I’m predicting this, but how good would it feel to humiliate Baylor in their own house the way they did us last year? SATURDAY. HERE. NOW!
CFP Bias? SEC lovefest? Just look at this list of who is on the committee. http://www.collegefootballplayoff.com/selection-committee
Only Big 12 influence is from Tech Tech AD and tech is just terrible as a football team so who the hell going to listen to their AD. We need to get Joe Castiglione on that committee!
You’re right. SEC, Big 10 and Pac seem to be very well represented. No wonder Iowa is over Baylor and OSU. Stanford sure has support from the panel. This needs to be shook up a bit in my opinion. I say, Send in the King. Switzer won’t let them abuse the Big 12.
Bob is on Mike and Mike (ESPN) and just admitted he’s never seen any of the Star Wars movies and didn’t know the mask he wore was Yota or who that is.
FYAR STOOPS!
Bob is probably more into chick flicks….its ok, to each his own.
He said he doesn’t watch a lot of movies and prefers to sit out on his back porch with his family, cook on his grill, and have a beer. He’s a dude’s dude. Can’t argue with that!
Coach stares at film at work day after day, year after year. How many mechanics do you know who can’t wait to work on the wife’s car this weekend?
I suspect most of us will one day look back and wonder why we spent so much time staring at screens when there is so much living to be done.
So true man. So true. I confess, I’m one of those. But there is still a lot of living to do! But come Saturday at 7pm. I’m staring at that screen.
IMO…..OU right now reminds me of TCU last year towards the end of the season. Last year I felt that TCU was playing the most sound fundamental football toward the end of the season barring injury. I still think they could have won the whole thing had they been aloud into the playoff. If they would have played Baylor week 10 ro 11 rather than week 4 they could have gone undefeated.
OU looks that way now, yeah some of the competition has been less than steller but overall the Sooners are playing some amazing football. Blocking, tackleing, route running, coverage, awareness, ect….just good fundamentals and development as the season has come along. Look like a team.
Just a random thought. I think LR has been holding back and this will finally be the game that he gives us OU crazies some of the things that we’ve been clamoring for ie: More of Andrews up the middle and more Mixon /Perine wildcat etc etc. I just cant help but think hes been saving a special punch in the mouth for Mr Briles & co.
You might be right but its also hard to argue with the success we have had the last 4 games as well.
I hope so. I was immediately disappointed after we ran and scored on the reverse flea-flicker against Iowa State… thinking why didn’t we save that for Baylor. I’m going to pre-suppose Riley has something even better in store for Baylor.
Gives the dc for Baylor something to think about. Imagine if you are a db/s thinking about tackling Perine/Mixon, they come out of the backfield, then the flea flicker goes over your head to a wide open receiver. Next time a play action happens your head is not were it should be. At least that is how I would react. Then again, I was never a college player, so take it for what is worth…. my hopefulness!
I would prefer the Baylor DB’s having to think about it after watching Flowers backside cross their goal line.
You could run that same play, let Perine keep it, and throw to Flowers.
Or, you could have Shep fake the pitch to Mayfield, and throw it to Flowers. Or, you could have Shep keep it, throw a lateral pass to Mayfield, and he throws it to Perine.
There’s a lot you can do. A helluva lot.
My line of thinking is the backside DE won’t come crashing down and that will allow cut back lanes for Samaje and Mixon against the leagues better defenses
It also allows Flowers to have people trying to “cover” him when he is going to level them.
Agree. One guy I’m looking to see many a lot of (at least half dozens receptions) is Andrews. I think you are right about Andrews for sure and possibly the wildcat, although I like our O just fine w/o it (i.e., Mayfield c/make the read and run or pass).
throw it to whoever is open and convert 3rd downs while Perine and Mixon rack up 25 carries each 🙂 is my hope for Saturday
I have appreciated the fact he flashed a few “what ifs”, all season to give opposing D coordinators something to think about.
Andrews has been checking his blood sugar with vigor in anticipation for this game.
Since we (players, coaches, fans) cannot control the playoff committee, I refuse to waste my valuable time thinking about “what if”. Instead I waste my valuable thinking about this game with Baylor. I get so excited just thinking about it and then reading here and some on the BaylorFans message boards, my wife asks me are the Sooners playing Texas this week? I usually only get this worked up for the Red River Rivalry. Going to be a great game. After being blown out, the bears are thinking we done it before we will do it again. Become complacent after sustained success is very easy to get. Coaches get (see our past few seasons), players feed off coaches. Hopefully this is where the bears are. Hurry up Saturday!
My thinking all along has been that I will be content with winning out, regardless of what the playoff committee decides. Beating BU, TCU, and OSU is enough for me.
Agreed. Do that and let everything fall where they may. If we want in without discussion/worry we should have beaten texas. Actually; simple in concept, hard in reality (win every game)
Hopefully the win will improve the Yahoo rivals ranking of OU at #50….yikes.
If it’s 50 in January OU is in trouble. OU will jump up to around 10-15 by NSD
Just using the 247 class calculator, adding Caleb Kelly and Tyree Horton OU would have a top 25 recruiting class. (both seem like a good bet for OU)
http://oklahoma.247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/Commits/Preview
I have to said that Lincoln Riley has been awesome at adjusting the offense after the Texas egg laying festival. Hope he sticks around for a long time. When was the last time OU was able to crank out 50+ points this many games in a row? I was rooting for him to be the OC after reading that bleacher report on him. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2316211-meet-lincoln-riley-fast-rising-mastermind-of-east-carolinas-high-octane-attack
So glad he ended up at OU rather than Jake Spavitel from TA&M or Scott Frost from Oregon (both potential candidates to replace Heupel). Look at how those teams are doing right now. Awesome to be a Sooner! Now lets go hang a hundred on Baylor teddy bears!
i would love to hang 60+–seriously. AND, I think we can do it. Why? Two reasons: 1) Baylor doesn’t have long O possessions; and, 2) their D is terrible; and 3) our O c/score 60+ on bad defenses; and 4) I don’t count well.
We should’ve scored 70 points in the last 4 games but we made some mistakes
Yeah we took the starters out in the 3rd quarter.
I would like to break their will by end of 3rd and never let off the pedal. Scoring on last play of game for a 63-28 game. I want to put the OU flag in the middle of their field and dare them to come get it.
I would like to see Stoops really try to run up the score. At the end of the game if Briles bitches, he can say – “You should have thought about that before you let your DE cheap shot our QB last year.”
I’m just going to start referring to that Texas game as Black Easter with all those eggs that were laid.
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.
The GOOD (for us):
#BU has played a TERRIBLE schedule. Teams they’ve played so far: .338 winning % but when you consider who those teams beat–ACU, Wagoner, Bacone, etc.–it doesn’t even look THAT good.
#At half against some of those BAD teams, those teams were not out of the game: lead one-win SMU @ half: 28-21; Lamar (who has won some games: Houston Bapt, ACU, Wagoner) lead 34-21 at half; lead WV @ half 27-17. A couple of games they jumped on teams early (TT) but that was due to TOs by TT (or they scored themselves) and BU had no problem scoring on TT’s D.
#BU could win the scoring title for the 3rd yr in a row. How is that good news for us? Well, it isn’t really, but KU would win the scoring title three yrs in a row if they’d played their schedule. Okay, that’s silly. KU won’t, but maybe a lot of other teams would have.
#Stidham at QB. Sorry, refuse to believe he could be as good as Russell as a starter yet. He’s a REAL good passer. Watched him in KSU game. Real good. But there’s more to be a good QB than being a real good passer (i.e., getting your O into the right play is probably the most important thing, and that takes time and experience).
#OU is playing MUCH better O and D since UT.
#OU leads D1 in sacks.
#OU has a higher FPI rating than BU. It’s usually a good indicator of how good a team is.
The BAD (for us):
#BU is BARELY behind OU in the FPI ratings.
#BU has scored 40 TDs on drives of 2 minutes or less. Ole’ Miss is second w/29. The reason I bring that up is b/c it’s happened TO US the last 2 yrs also (4 I believe in ’13 and another in 2 1/2 minutes; and 2 in ’14 w/another in 2 1/2 min and another in 3 minutes).
#BU runs plays faster than any team in U.S. at 16.7 seconds per play. Tulsa is running plays at the 2nd fastest in D1 (what’s FBS?). Against Tulsa OU gave up season highs in pts per play (.42), yds per play (6.63), and yds per pass (8.37). And, oh yeah, Tulsa’s coach coached against us in ’13 and ’14.
#Coleman, Cannnon, Linwood. Linwood leads B12 in rushing (of course, remember who they’ve played; that doesn’t hurt).
The UGLY:
#ESPN projects BU as 58% likely to win–who cares?
#2 of the 3 writers at ESPN that cover the B12 pick BU to win. They are probably 3 unbiased observers, so that doesn’t look pretty.
Great stuff, Thunder! I think you’re right on. Well, I guess I do have a different take on your very last point(Classified: Ugly). I know a few guys here in NV, including yours truly, who smile avariciously when ESPN wiseguys differ with our opinions.
I don’t agree with them either. I think OU wins. Better D by far. At least as good of O. OU by 14+
I don’t agree with them either. I think OU wins. Better D by far. At least as good of O. OU by 14+
Great write-up JY! Hope that feeling you have plays out for us the same way it did vs Bama 😉
My biggest fear in the game on defense is Sanchez. I am afraid he is going to try and play when he is not 100%, when at 100% he is a below avg. tackler and below avg. at dealing with the double move. SANCHEZ is good a very good player but his weaknesses I feel are most exploited by this Baylor team.
My biggest fear on offense is the OL and especially the running game. You saw that Kstate kept that game in reach by keeping the offense of the field and the defense stayed fresh and gave the offense some trouble. The OL has to keep Baker out of trouble and give Thunder and Lightning some room to work, and they need to punish whoever tries to tackle them. Make it a physical game.
Almost makes me wish Sanchez wouldn’t be ready til TCU game.
Balderdash!! Glad to have ya aboard, Captain Sanchez.
Whether he’s handing out bubble gum, coachin’ up the DB’s or picking off passes and racing toward the endzone, the Candyman should and will be a part of this and, in all likelihood for much the better. Damn it man, he’s earned it!!
I usually agree with you Liberty. You have a great attitude and it’s rare you say anything negative. But Sanchez. He’s got some strengths, but covering and tackling aren’t one of them. He played a little better after the Texas game, but that was basically one game. I guess give him a shot. But the first time he throws a half hearted shoulder tackle or whiffs big on a double move. Come on in Mr. Austin.
Don’t forget the men’s BB game tonight. Last exhibition game before regular season starts next week. Game starts at 7 on FSOK.
Nice work as always. Your view of the OL seems encouraging and realistic. The “nice thing” about TWO freshman O-linemen is that by the end of the season they are not making as many experience errors.
Charles and Charles, Inc., is one beastly combo. Sooners win big this Saturday. Defensive recruits take note.
JY,
I thought the biggest difference was inserting Samia at rt. He should of started from day one like they did Brown. With both tackle spots now being manned by freshmen this is going to be an advantage for us for years. Coach B has done an excellent job getting guys in the right spots. It took longer than he wanted be I think he has got the right guys in there now.
Thanks JY, always enjoy reading your analysis. As someone who spends time watching the skill guys, it’s nice to read some descriptions of what is going on in the trenches.
Good to hear from you, JY. It’s been far too long.
One thing I have noticed about the OL since the Texsa game, beside Samia at RT, is they are playing more aggressively and are much more physical. They seem to have taken ownership as a unit and it pleases me to see that. Also, the blocking by the receivers and RBs has been superlative.
As for the adjustments in the secondary, Johnson was too good not to be on the field and Parker belonged at safety. A subtle and effective move by the coaches.
This team has been playing at a high level for the past 4 weeks and seems to be peaking at the right time of the year.
I agree with you, I was excited about facing bama in the Sugar and I am excited about the game with baylor.
The focus and urgency this team has shown the past 4 weeks has been fun to watch.
Thank you for your analysis JY. Always appreciated & respected as it always has depth to it.
I’d love to see, if we win, the entire team put helmets on, not celebrate….& walk off field in a military style march. Complete show of discipline & all business.
Stoops & all. Right past a glaring Briles. It’d be a statement.