X-Factors for contenders

[The Maestro]

Interesting read from Stewart Mandel. He says the five keys for a national title team in the BCS era are as follows:

--a dominant run defense
--positive turnover margin
--superior O and D lines
--efficient QB
--at least one gamebreaker

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/08/21/title.contenders.xfactors/index.html

He says we are as close as any team comes to having all five categories, but need to shore up the run defense. Agreed. Also interesting to see he says USC has NO gamebreakers as of now.

And now, for something completely different...saw this video on Extra Mustard and just reminds me of OSU leading up to the OU game in football and OU would be portrayed by "the other guy"...classic!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1827416

[JLEW1818]

I'm sick of hearing about Dirty Sanchez.

[Oldnslo]

Interesting read from Stewart Mandel. He says the five keys for a national title team in the BCS era are as follows:

--a dominant run defense
--positive turnover margin
--superior O and D lines
--efficient QB
--at least one gamebreaker

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/08/21/title.contenders.xfactors/index.html

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1827416

Has there been an era when these 5 factors haven't been critical?

I hate the preseason.

[The Maestro]

Has there been an era when these 5 factors haven't been critical?

I hate the preseason.

Well said...yeah, I am just bored to tears, too...waiting sucks!

[St. Louis Sooner]

All the preseason does is make me anxious and give me gas, but I do need something to talk about ... sooo:

I read the article and I believe - in spite of the statistics to the contrary - a very good secondary is a must too. An opposing QB needs to feel uncertainty about finding the open receiver ... even thinking twice about throwing into tight coverage for fear of being intercepted. At stake is that QB's confidence because if you can weaken and/or destroy it, then the other team's offense becomes that less effective.

In response to our subpar Pass Defense rankings the last four years: Bro' Mike's secondary scheme had it's occasional problems too. I remember our beloved team getting torched in the secondary one day in Stillwater. It seemed our safeties were caught out of position play after play. Soo, in all fairness, I wonder if we've ever had (stoops era) a statistically excellent Pass Defense?

Even more: Is that what we need to go undefeated? (just askin')

[garland sooner]

Interesting read from Stewart Mandel. He says the five keys for a national title team in the BCS era are as follows:

--a dominant run defense
--positive turnover margin
--superior O and D lines
--efficient QB
--at least one gamebreaker

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/08/21/title.contenders.xfactors/index.html

He says we are as close as any team comes to having all five categories, but need to shore up the run defense. Agreed. Also interesting to see he says USC has NO gamebreakers as of now.

And now, for something completely different...saw this video on Extra Mustard and just reminds me of OSU leading up to the OU game in football and OU would be portrayed by "the other guy"...classic!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1827416

That extra mustard video is hilarious and quite accurate.

[BornandBred]

All the preseason does is make me anxious and give me gas, but I do need something to talk about ... sooo:

I read the article and I believe - in spite of the statistics to the contrary - a very good secondary is a must too. An opposing QB needs to feel uncertainty about finding the open receiver ... even thinking twice about throwing into tight coverage for fear of being intercepted. At stake is that QB's confidence because if you can weaken and/or destroy it, then the other team's offense becomes that less effective.

In response to our subpar Pass Defense rankings the last four years: Bro' Mike's secondary scheme had it's occasional problems too. I remember our beloved team getting torched in the secondary one day in Stillwater. It seemed our safeties were caught out of position play after play. Soo, in all fairness, I wonder if we've ever had (stoops era) a statistically excellent Pass Defense?

Even more: Is that what we need to go undefeated? (just askin')

With the emergence of these prolific passing offenses, I'd say that a strong Pass Defense will become as important, if not more than, a strong Run D.

BTW: Less than a week 'till college football starts. I can taste it.

[soonerloyal]

Before the WVU game we held teams to under 94 YPG rushing. I think we will be OK.

[OU_Sooners75]

Why isnt a good pass defense part of it? Especially the pass rush? How good was the spread offense with OU's pass rush on Booger?

[Crucifax Autumn]

This whole deal is silly. While it may be true that the BCS champs the last 10 years shared these traits, so did a crapload of teams that didn't win the championship. Stats are fun...you can "prove" anything.