goingoneight
10/5/2007, 12:43 AM
Well, what's obvious is we need a stronger showing offensively. Hopefully Colorado didn't steal our mojo (momentum) and we can bounce back. This is a freakish series between the Sooners and the Schlonghorns.
Too many people want to say "hey we have a better defense than you, we have a better quarterback than you... what's your running back got on ours? etc."
Colt McCoy will not be in a deathmatch with Sam Bradford and Allen Patrick will not be putting his dukes up against Jamaal Charles. However, Limas Sweed is a pretty good receiver and I'm not so sold on Reggie Smith at corner yet. I know it's his first full season and he's learning, but it seems most of our big plays we bust on are his coverages deep.
UT WR corps found a way to out-hustle us last year, so that could be a problem as every single one of OUr DB's and their WRs are back for another round.
The LOS (on offense for the good guys):
With OUr size and athleticism, even last week we had some big holes open up and got a good puch out of OUr OL. Sam Bradford had about four full seconds no pressure, untouched in the pocket on his TD pass to Iglesias over the middle. That's a huge positive going into this game. Texas' strength on defense is their DL. They've still got some monsters who were a part of outlasting and stuffing USC late in the 4th of the Rose Bowl. I don't care if they're Hook 'em or not... that's impressive to have on your resume.
The quarterback (for the good guys):
Sam Bradford has shown so far he is not only capable of driving the bus like Paul Thompson did, he is more accurate and is better with his mechanics (play-fakes, footwork). When Stoops said the quarterback was an improved position, we were right to be skeptical, but we now know he was right. No excuse for passes sailing off target or fumbled snaps. No excuses for throwing the ball right into a Hook 'em's hands. Sam better be on his A-game. Which even in last week's loss, he was still very accurate and composed. In fact, he was probably one of only two bright spots in the game last week... him and AP. Did anyone really think after five weeks we'd have a better passing game than USC, LSU, Texas and Floriduh with a n00b? Sam's the man... believe it.
Did I say AP??? I did, didn't I? Running backs:
Fresh legs and an embarassment of riches in the talent department on every snap. If OUr guys can attack the outside and stay away from the Chuck Long "up the gut" stuff effectively, we're sitting pretty. If AP establishes himself at all like he did against CU and Tulsa, :mack: is going to get caught with his pants down when he stacks the box and Kelly is ten yards ahead of his secondary. Look for a surprise game from DeMarco Murray.
Wide receiver corps (good guys):
Could we be anymore excited about these matchups? If we torched a defending National Champion (one on one speed routes) last year, we can definitely ice this secondary. Provided the OL and running game are doing their part (because it is a group effort to make the pro-style offense work), we're going to hit some nice pass plays. Tight ends will re-emerge in this game, look for Gresham out wide again.
LOS (defense for the good guys):
I have to say it... this is probably the slowest pass-rush I've seen under Stoops. What one defense has, the other one seems to lack. We're an extremely solid tackling group (when we're not dog-tired), but the DL could definitely use a fired lit up underneath them getting through that line. It's easy for Paul Smith and Cody Hawkins to hit their receivers when we fart around like we do. Still, we've shown flashes of the head-hunting pass-rush from time to time so far, hopefully it's no longer a work in progress and we can have Colt McCoy running for his life, knowing the feeling well now and fearing another concussion. We've seen it with our own eyes now, folks... if you can get McCoy to throw on the run, he gets rid of it, throws way off target or tosses interceptions. IMHO, the number of turnovers we can expect will have nothing to do with the talent of OUr secondary. We can expect them as soon as we get after McCoy. It helps if the secondary stays on their guys tight.
Secondary:
We have speed and some very fun to watch DBs. Reggie is as stated above, a work in progress at corner, and might be a liability, might not be. Sort of hot-and-cold so far... the Rex Grossman factor. Reggie, when healthy and on his A-game is top-notch. When he's on fire, he's a regular Derrick Strait. When he's frustrated or worn down, look out Chijoke.
I feel like Nic Harris is in for one of those freakish circus interceptions again. He's come so close in the last three weeks to making one of those Sportscenter-caliber eye-popping picks like he had in the BIG 12 CCG last year. If anyone has as insane a vertical as Malcom Kelly, it's this guy. Time for him to haul one in like MK does. Wild prediction: Nic Harris gets a pick-6.
Linebackers:
While not deep, we have looked awesome in the hard-hitting guys like Lewis Baker, and the sure-tacklers like Ryan Reynolds. Lofton is a good cover guy and never gives up on a play. Again, so long as they're not fatigued, OUr lack of depth won't kill us unless God forbid, an injury occurs. here's hoping we have another clean game. Chris Brown and John Williams aside, we're still pretty lucky to be virtually in one piece 5 games into it all. And of course, no one with a heart wants injuries to happen to anyone, red or orange.
Special Teams:
As disappointed as I was in Reggie's muffed punt, I feel bad for the guy. He was just flat out gassed and over-thinking everything he did last week. The picture of him screaming his heart out after the game-winning FG says it all. The guy gives it all he's got. Through his nervousness and fatigue, it is now pretty clear to me he's not ready to leave early, unless he really needs the money. If he's going to learn from anyone better thn Bob Stoops how to be a good DB and Special Teamer, I'd love to know who it will be.
Reggie can take comfort and learn a lot about trust in knowing he has quality guys to help him out with all of OUr talent at DB and all of the guys foaming at the mouth waiting to get in on some punt and kick return action. DeMarco Murray, (hopefully a more level-headed) Juaqin Iglesias and even TGAP add options. If we need to make a catch to seal the game on a punt... let Malcom in. :D
We need to block better, Reggie fair-catches a lot because guys are coming right at him. If we don't block better than we have, we're in danger of another special teams turnover, no matter who is in to return. It is the highest speed impact of the game and much like I stated about the pass rush, this is probably the worst I've seen OUr return blocking in a long time. Hopefully the wrinkles are out after last week's reality check, and we whip Texas arse en route to another BIG 12 crown.
:mack: OUR NEW SEASON STARTS THIS WEEK!!!!111!!!1
Too many people want to say "hey we have a better defense than you, we have a better quarterback than you... what's your running back got on ours? etc."
Colt McCoy will not be in a deathmatch with Sam Bradford and Allen Patrick will not be putting his dukes up against Jamaal Charles. However, Limas Sweed is a pretty good receiver and I'm not so sold on Reggie Smith at corner yet. I know it's his first full season and he's learning, but it seems most of our big plays we bust on are his coverages deep.
UT WR corps found a way to out-hustle us last year, so that could be a problem as every single one of OUr DB's and their WRs are back for another round.
The LOS (on offense for the good guys):
With OUr size and athleticism, even last week we had some big holes open up and got a good puch out of OUr OL. Sam Bradford had about four full seconds no pressure, untouched in the pocket on his TD pass to Iglesias over the middle. That's a huge positive going into this game. Texas' strength on defense is their DL. They've still got some monsters who were a part of outlasting and stuffing USC late in the 4th of the Rose Bowl. I don't care if they're Hook 'em or not... that's impressive to have on your resume.
The quarterback (for the good guys):
Sam Bradford has shown so far he is not only capable of driving the bus like Paul Thompson did, he is more accurate and is better with his mechanics (play-fakes, footwork). When Stoops said the quarterback was an improved position, we were right to be skeptical, but we now know he was right. No excuse for passes sailing off target or fumbled snaps. No excuses for throwing the ball right into a Hook 'em's hands. Sam better be on his A-game. Which even in last week's loss, he was still very accurate and composed. In fact, he was probably one of only two bright spots in the game last week... him and AP. Did anyone really think after five weeks we'd have a better passing game than USC, LSU, Texas and Floriduh with a n00b? Sam's the man... believe it.
Did I say AP??? I did, didn't I? Running backs:
Fresh legs and an embarassment of riches in the talent department on every snap. If OUr guys can attack the outside and stay away from the Chuck Long "up the gut" stuff effectively, we're sitting pretty. If AP establishes himself at all like he did against CU and Tulsa, :mack: is going to get caught with his pants down when he stacks the box and Kelly is ten yards ahead of his secondary. Look for a surprise game from DeMarco Murray.
Wide receiver corps (good guys):
Could we be anymore excited about these matchups? If we torched a defending National Champion (one on one speed routes) last year, we can definitely ice this secondary. Provided the OL and running game are doing their part (because it is a group effort to make the pro-style offense work), we're going to hit some nice pass plays. Tight ends will re-emerge in this game, look for Gresham out wide again.
LOS (defense for the good guys):
I have to say it... this is probably the slowest pass-rush I've seen under Stoops. What one defense has, the other one seems to lack. We're an extremely solid tackling group (when we're not dog-tired), but the DL could definitely use a fired lit up underneath them getting through that line. It's easy for Paul Smith and Cody Hawkins to hit their receivers when we fart around like we do. Still, we've shown flashes of the head-hunting pass-rush from time to time so far, hopefully it's no longer a work in progress and we can have Colt McCoy running for his life, knowing the feeling well now and fearing another concussion. We've seen it with our own eyes now, folks... if you can get McCoy to throw on the run, he gets rid of it, throws way off target or tosses interceptions. IMHO, the number of turnovers we can expect will have nothing to do with the talent of OUr secondary. We can expect them as soon as we get after McCoy. It helps if the secondary stays on their guys tight.
Secondary:
We have speed and some very fun to watch DBs. Reggie is as stated above, a work in progress at corner, and might be a liability, might not be. Sort of hot-and-cold so far... the Rex Grossman factor. Reggie, when healthy and on his A-game is top-notch. When he's on fire, he's a regular Derrick Strait. When he's frustrated or worn down, look out Chijoke.
I feel like Nic Harris is in for one of those freakish circus interceptions again. He's come so close in the last three weeks to making one of those Sportscenter-caliber eye-popping picks like he had in the BIG 12 CCG last year. If anyone has as insane a vertical as Malcom Kelly, it's this guy. Time for him to haul one in like MK does. Wild prediction: Nic Harris gets a pick-6.
Linebackers:
While not deep, we have looked awesome in the hard-hitting guys like Lewis Baker, and the sure-tacklers like Ryan Reynolds. Lofton is a good cover guy and never gives up on a play. Again, so long as they're not fatigued, OUr lack of depth won't kill us unless God forbid, an injury occurs. here's hoping we have another clean game. Chris Brown and John Williams aside, we're still pretty lucky to be virtually in one piece 5 games into it all. And of course, no one with a heart wants injuries to happen to anyone, red or orange.
Special Teams:
As disappointed as I was in Reggie's muffed punt, I feel bad for the guy. He was just flat out gassed and over-thinking everything he did last week. The picture of him screaming his heart out after the game-winning FG says it all. The guy gives it all he's got. Through his nervousness and fatigue, it is now pretty clear to me he's not ready to leave early, unless he really needs the money. If he's going to learn from anyone better thn Bob Stoops how to be a good DB and Special Teamer, I'd love to know who it will be.
Reggie can take comfort and learn a lot about trust in knowing he has quality guys to help him out with all of OUr talent at DB and all of the guys foaming at the mouth waiting to get in on some punt and kick return action. DeMarco Murray, (hopefully a more level-headed) Juaqin Iglesias and even TGAP add options. If we need to make a catch to seal the game on a punt... let Malcom in. :D
We need to block better, Reggie fair-catches a lot because guys are coming right at him. If we don't block better than we have, we're in danger of another special teams turnover, no matter who is in to return. It is the highest speed impact of the game and much like I stated about the pass rush, this is probably the worst I've seen OUr return blocking in a long time. Hopefully the wrinkles are out after last week's reality check, and we whip Texas arse en route to another BIG 12 crown.
:mack: OUR NEW SEASON STARTS THIS WEEK!!!!111!!!1