Could This Be Bob's Best Team to Date?

[SoonerNate]

Of course it's very early and none of us are predicting anything but we can't hide the fact that this team is ranked #1 and it was supposed to be 'next year's team.'

What if the pieces continue to fall for the next two years?

(Note: If you are a player please don't read this thread)

It just seems that this young team has chemistry and Bob's ear.

[ChickenStrips!]

Fun fact: No player on the current team has ever started 6-0. :)

I think we'll find out a lot about them in the coming weeks. I'm pretty excited. :D

[Okie35]

Right now its not beating 2000 but I love where the team is heading.

[hotshot13422]

2000's D was really, really good.

2010 has a way to go.

PS. It would be really cool to win the first national championship for the last two decades..

[olevetonahill]

Any Yall dumasses , Gonna say The 2K team was the BEST at this point in the season /

[oudavid1]

it could be the best fully recruited Bob Stoops team.

[Soonermagik]

The 2000 team had a lot of heart. They played D with a toughness that I haven't seen from this team. I believe defense gets teams to championship games and the offense wins them.

We will see what this defense can do starting this weekend.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Some of those hits Saturday had some heart behind them!

[prrriiide]

The potential of the Sooners for the next couple of years is astounding.

[Soonermagik]

Some of those hits Saturday had some heart behind them!

No offense, but that Iowa State team looks really weak. If they go down to Missouri and knock this team out then I will agree. They need to rise up in a big game and win by double digit points. They did it to FSU, but some think that was a fluke. I'm talking about doing it on the road with game day there. More importantly, the defense needs to allow very few points and yards. We all know that defense i.e. Florida, Bama & LSU won their titles off solid D. Same holds true with the 2000 team.

A lot of people have the perception that this OU team is a finesse team. They believe they have gotten lucky. They need to show people that they are really good in big games, not just lucky.

[KantoSooner]

This thread invites the wrath of Odo, pitiless God of College Football.

Beware his wrath.

[Boomer.....]

The 2003 and 2008 teams were more explosive.

[primetime43]

Its almost scary to think what this freshmen class will look like in a year or two.

[Crucifax Autumn]

This thread invites the wrath of Odo, pitiless God of College Football.

Beware his wrath.

I thought he was on Deep Space 9.

[swardboy]

Unfortunately for any Stoops team to be his "best" team, the mark HAS to be a national championship...I am hopeful that our win over Stanford put our players in the mindset that anything is possible.

And really, all we can say about the next Stoops team to win it all is "hey, they're up there with the 2000 team!" But this bunch sure has me pumped!!

[PLaw]

Of course it's very early and none of us are predicting anything but we can't hide the fact that this team is ranked #1 and it was supposed to be 'next year's team.'

What if the pieces continue to fall for the next two years?

(Note: If you are a player please don't read this thread)

It just seems that this young team has chemistry and Bob's ear.

I'm just going to enjoy the ride this year. I thought we would be good, but not 'bama good. After the last couple of weeks, we may just be just good enough to hang No. 8 and require a scoreboard makeover.

Next year, though, should be outstanding and that team has the potential of being Bob's Best.

Boomer

[BoulderSooner79]

I love this team's potential, but not even close to the best Stoops team after 6 games. I'd say similar in power rating to the '07 team -- kind of funny that '07 was also the year there were no super dominant teams out there and a 2 loss team won it all. The '07 team could well have made the title game if AP doesn't fumble the first hand-off against TT and get Sam concussed. That was a "next year" squad too.

[jkjsooner]

If this team starts finishing games instead of folding in the 4th quarter then I think they would rank up there with the top 3 or 4 Stoops teams. What people don't realize is that many of our close games only became close in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter counts, obviously, but finishing games is something that is correctible.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

no

[oudavid1]

no

alright were done.

[Sooner_Tuf]

I think this team is good and is getting better. I am excited every year about the team we field. But this team is not one of the better teams since Stoops has been here.

We need better line play on both sides of the ball. In college ball a great offense is wonderful but super stingy defenses are the ones that win the title more years than not. This defense is fast and physical but still gives up to many big plays. It is also does not have a dominate tackle/noseguard like we have had in the past and need.

[OU_Sooners75]

No offense, but that Iowa State team looks really weak. If they go down to Missouri and knock this team out then I will agree. They need to rise up in a big game and win by double digit points. They did it to FSU, but some think that was a fluke. I'm talking about doing it on the road with game day there. More importantly, the defense needs to allow very few points and yards. We all know that defense i.e. Florida, Bama & LSU won their titles off solid D. Same holds true with the 2000 team.

A lot of people have the perception that this OU team is a finesse team. They believe they have gotten lucky. They need to show people that they are really good in big games, not just lucky.


We dont need to win by double digit points against anyone. All we have to do is win! Everything else will take care of itself.

When Style points are allowed back into the BCS equation, then let me know. it is the lack thereof that is cause for OU being #1 in the BCS right now.

As long as we keep winning we control our destiny. We lose, it will hurt us.

The human polls may not admire us, but they are not totally hating us like the media is doing!

Again, all we can ask our team to do is win...and they are doing that.

[ThinMan]

The 2003 and 2008 teams were more explosive.


Of Bob Stoops teams, here's how I'd rank them currently ... of course it's only 6 games in so they have time to impress me more.

1. 2000
2. 2008
3. 2003
4. 2004
5. 2007
6. 2002
7. 2010
8. 2006
9. 2001
10. 1999
11. 2009
12. 2005

[Wishboned]

I don't think so.

The talent is incredible. The potential is amazing. But I think they need more maturity, and more big game pressure experience.

[NormanPride]

Better than 2002 right now, but not as good as 2007. We'll see at the end of the season.

[OU_Sooners75]

People that like to mention that we have to win by double digits to prove anything....

Well, 2 loss LSU didnt have to worry about that in 2007:
28-24 W vs. Florida (8-5)
30-24 W vs. Auburn (9-4)
41-34 W vs. Alabama (2-6, had 5 wins vacated)
21-14 W vs. Tennessee (10-4)
37-43 L vs. Kentucky (8-5)
48-50 L vs. Arkansas (8-5)

LSU went 11-2, so over half their games were close calls or losses.

2001 Ohio State had 7 of their 14 games were close games.

What does both of these teams have in common? They were both BCS National Champions that won the bulk of their games by very close margins (within 10 points).

Sure, the media may not be slobbering all over our junk, but I kind of like it that way. Some in the media could show some more class (Bayless and Schlambach, sp?), but who cares!

If OU wins, they are BCS Championship Bound...they may not be #1 in the BCS if they win out and they are all close games, but they will remain in the top 2. How?

1. Boise State's SOS will continue to drop them in the computer rankings. The media will still love them, the only way they leap frog OU in the BCS now is by OU losing.
2. LSU still has to play Auburn and Alabama and Arkansas, with their offense they aren't making out of that undefeated.
3. Auburn still has to play Alabama and LSU, with their defense they are not making it through that undefeated.
4. TCU, their schedule is a complete joke from start to finish. They may be highly ranked, but they aren't going to leap frog OU unless we lose.
5. We get to play two of the 11 teams undefeated at this point in the season. Missouri and Oklahoma State. We win against both, we only solidify our spot among the top 2 in the BCS, especially if their only losses are to Oklahoma!
6. Utah, their schedule is even worse than TCU's. No way in hell they jump OU, hell maybe wont if OU has one loss.

That really only leaves us with Oregon and Michigan State.

Michigan State did not start the season ranked, that hurts them. They are likely out of the equation because of that and they do not have that game against Ohio State to help them this year.

Oregon: They are really the only ones standing if they win out. They are #1 in the human polls, but their weak schedule hurts them in the computer polls, and it really does not get much better for them from here on out. They have perhaps the easiest road of the BCS-AQ's to win out.

Now, the only way I can see OU getting jumped is by an SEC undefeated team. That said, I can see OU jumping Oregon thanks to the Big 12 CCG and a lot better SOS.

Just my 2 cents. You may now go back to your regular programming.

[OU_Sooners75]

Of Bob Stoops teams, here's how I'd rank them currently ... of course it's only 6 games in so they have time to impress me more.

1. 2000
2. 2008
3. 2003
4. 2004
5. 2007
6. 2002
7. 2010
8. 2006
9. 2001
10. 1999
11. 2009
12. 2005


maybe so...but this is probably one of the best Stoops has coached...but also the youngest he has coached in one season.

Right now, I would rank them above 2002 but below any team that actually made it to the national championship game.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Of Bob Stoops teams, here's how I'd rank them currently ... of course it's only 6 games in so they have time to impress me more.

1. 2000
2. 2008
3. 2003
4. 2004
5. 2007
6. 2002
7. 2010
8. 2006
9. 2001
10. 1999
11. 2009
12. 2005

at this stage of the season, the 2001 team was dominant. unfortunately, injuries crippled that team soon after.

[NormanPride]

The same could be said of 2003. Without Jason getting killed in the Big12 CCG that team was almost unstoppable.

[BoulderSooner79]

And I would rate the '08 as the very best at the end of the season right up until the kick-off of the CCG when we lost DM. But the '08 team was still reeling from the loss of RR after game 6 and took the rest of the season for the D to come around.

[ThinMan]

at this stage of the season, the 2001 team was dominant. unfortunately, injuries crippled that team soon after.

That's fair.


My all-time favorite Stoops team was probably the 2006 team because of what we did with what we had.

[pweitkem]

the '03 team up until the CCG was the best team Stoops ever fielded. Injuries plagued OU down the stretch.... but up until the close of the season most of the nation were putting the GOAT title on us.

[NormanPride]

2008 with DeMarco and Reynolds was unfair.

[tooslow]

I'm not sure. I will say that to this day, this looks nowhere close to some of his teams in the past. I've seen numerous posts here about the team finally putting it all together after the Iowa State game. I think Iowa State has a really bad football team. I will feel much better if we go in and bitch slap Mizzou. :)

As always, my worthless opinions will change as the season goes on.

[TahoeSOONER]

Potential

[FirstandGoal]

Potential

This.

Its really hard to judge after only 6 games. If we win out, I say yes because we truly have more talent than the '00 team and were able to overcome obstacles that more talented teams were unable to hurdle.

[Cornfed]

I would put it about 11th right above the 99 team.

[CatfishSooner]

best team evar...easy

[soonergirlNeugene]

I'd much rather see threads like this after the season.

[Soonermagik]

We dont need to win by double digit points against anyone. All we have to do is win! Everything else will take care of itself.

When Style points are allowed back into the BCS equation, then let me know. it is the lack thereof that is cause for OU being #1 in the BCS right now.

As long as we keep winning we control our destiny. We lose, it will hurt us.

The human polls may not admire us, but they are not totally hating us like the media is doing!

Again, all we can ask our team to do is win...and they are doing that.

Trust me, I understand that all they have to do is win to control their destiny. I was talking about for the players' confidence. I think it's vital that they know they can win and win big on the large stage. There are a lot of young kids on this team who need a big road victory, IMHO. I'm not talking to the point of arrogance, but a solid win where they have confidence in the schemes and their abilities against good teams away from home.

[OU_Sooners75]

Trust me, I understand that all they have to do is win to control their destiny. I was talking about for the players' confidence. I think it's vital that they know they can win and win big on the large stage. There are a lot of young kids on this team who need a big road victory, IMHO. I'm not talking to the point of arrogance, but a solid win where they have confidence in the schemes and their abilities against good teams away from home.

See this is where I think you are incorrect. The close tough games build more confidence than blow out wins do. Blow out wins start making one think they are unbeatable. Close wins makes them realize that they must continue to play their best no matter who they play.

[SoonerAtKU]

I wouldn't want to date any of them, much less the whole team. I'm sure they're nice and all, but...

[cccasooner2]

1. 2008
2. 2003
3. 2000
4. 2010 hopefully, we'll see

Just my http://www.bowersandmerena.com/images/inventory/44/t//63560_02.jpg

[SouthCarolinaSooner]

Definitely not better than 2000, maybe not as good as 2001-2004 or 2008?

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

See this is where I think you are incorrect. The close tough games build more confidence than blow out wins do. Blow out wins start making one think they are unbeatable. Close wins makes them realize that they must continue to play their best no matter who they play.

teams that know HOW to win close ballgames are a frickin nightmare to play. take kelvin's teams, it didn't matter what the opponents talent level was, if he got them into a 2 point game he quite often came away with the win.

[Soonermagik]

See this is where I think you are incorrect. The close tough games build more confidence than blow out wins do. Blow out wins start making one think they are unbeatable. Close wins makes them realize that they must continue to play their best no matter who they play.

They already know they can win the close games.They need a big win away from home to show other teams how good they are. If they can win big, it will give them a lot of confidence and make other teams question if they can really beat OU.