goingoneight
1/17/2012, 07:59 PM
Feel free to update your opinions as news develops (signing day surprises, injuries, coaching news, etc.).
I don't think Mike Stoops is going to wave a magic wand and make us magically shut down opposing offenses we've struggled with in recent years. As much as I defend BV, I am one who noticed the immediate difference between the fundamentals of the 2000-2003 defenses and the 2004 and beyond defenses. I'd like more than anything to see us become a great fundamental football team again, at least defensively with what is perceived to be the end-all cure-all band-aid for OU.
Another reason I'm not sure if we're in for a rough year or not is the talent our staff is left to work with. Yeah, yeah... we've got a bunch of "star" guys as far as recruiting services are concerned... but if that was the end-all answer to success, Mark Clayton, Sam Bradford, Dominique Whaley, etc. would have never performed at such a high level. It's kind of like a report card. Just because your son has straight A's doesn't mean he's not a dumbass. We had reason to believe OUr headliner guys last year could help absorb the losses to graduation from 2010 to 2011. Ronnell was coming on strong to close out 2010, and looked like the next Jeremy Beal if not better. All Frank needed to do was stay healthy.
Now, we have a couple good, but not spectacular yet-- LBs, a couple good guys for Mike to work with in the secondary. Nothing is proven up front other than we have a little experience to lean on in the middle.
Maybe a little Sooner magic will give us an immediate boost, defensively. Here's hoping.
Offensively... ugh. We have Landry Jones and a bunch of either injured, inexperienced or inconsistent guys to go along with a questionable scheme. I thought to begin the year that Heupel and Norvell were doing great. Personnel does wonders for playcallers. But as the going got tough (injuries to key playmakers began to pile up), I found myself asking what the hell we were doing scheme-wise in some of those games. We need either a healthy Whaley back or a lot more dominant player to step up somewhere. We need TEs and WRs to command attention or the season is going to rest on Landry Jones bailing us out. He does very well most of the time, but we all know how putting a season on his shoulders is a tough thing to expect him to do.
I think we could either be a surprise MNC contender, or another three, maybe four loss team right now. Obviously winter conditioning hasn't even finished yet; so I'm asking what fans think about how things look right now on paper, so to say. Anywho... discuss.
I don't think Mike Stoops is going to wave a magic wand and make us magically shut down opposing offenses we've struggled with in recent years. As much as I defend BV, I am one who noticed the immediate difference between the fundamentals of the 2000-2003 defenses and the 2004 and beyond defenses. I'd like more than anything to see us become a great fundamental football team again, at least defensively with what is perceived to be the end-all cure-all band-aid for OU.
Another reason I'm not sure if we're in for a rough year or not is the talent our staff is left to work with. Yeah, yeah... we've got a bunch of "star" guys as far as recruiting services are concerned... but if that was the end-all answer to success, Mark Clayton, Sam Bradford, Dominique Whaley, etc. would have never performed at such a high level. It's kind of like a report card. Just because your son has straight A's doesn't mean he's not a dumbass. We had reason to believe OUr headliner guys last year could help absorb the losses to graduation from 2010 to 2011. Ronnell was coming on strong to close out 2010, and looked like the next Jeremy Beal if not better. All Frank needed to do was stay healthy.
Now, we have a couple good, but not spectacular yet-- LBs, a couple good guys for Mike to work with in the secondary. Nothing is proven up front other than we have a little experience to lean on in the middle.
Maybe a little Sooner magic will give us an immediate boost, defensively. Here's hoping.
Offensively... ugh. We have Landry Jones and a bunch of either injured, inexperienced or inconsistent guys to go along with a questionable scheme. I thought to begin the year that Heupel and Norvell were doing great. Personnel does wonders for playcallers. But as the going got tough (injuries to key playmakers began to pile up), I found myself asking what the hell we were doing scheme-wise in some of those games. We need either a healthy Whaley back or a lot more dominant player to step up somewhere. We need TEs and WRs to command attention or the season is going to rest on Landry Jones bailing us out. He does very well most of the time, but we all know how putting a season on his shoulders is a tough thing to expect him to do.
I think we could either be a surprise MNC contender, or another three, maybe four loss team right now. Obviously winter conditioning hasn't even finished yet; so I'm asking what fans think about how things look right now on paper, so to say. Anywho... discuss.