An ugly win is still a win.

[8timechamps]

Obviously, all of the talk will be about the QB position this week, and there is definitely some things to think about. Before I give my thoughts on that, I want to talk about the defense. I know it's still early, but this defense is night and day from last year. The pressure the defensive front put on the WVU QB was fun to watch, and did a lot to keep him off balance almost all night. The run defense was stout, minus one head scratching play. Even on that play, OU had guys in position to make the tackle, they just didn't execute. Regardless of what the stat sheet shows, the defense played an excellent game. It will get tougher for them, but so far, so good.

Now the offense; I'm not ready to throw in the towel on Knight. It's very clear that he's got a lot of improving to do, but a lot of things added to his performance tonight. There is no defending the two interceptions. He'll just have to learn from those, and move on. He also had his share of over/under thrown balls tonight, but the dropped passes/fumbles did him no favors. I also noticed that we struggled at picking up WVU blitzes tonight, and that led to some pretty errant throws. Tough night for the kid, but I continue to believe he will get better.

I don't knock coaches, but I will say that I was scratching my head with some of the offensive play-calling. Where was the zone read? Where was ANY of the option? That seemed to work really well right from the start, but then we never saw it again. I never felt like our offense was put in a position to attack the WVU defense. At one point, I thought our offense became extremely predictable as was verified by WVU's 8 and 9 men in the box scheme. Just overall an odd game plan.

Here's the bottom line; We appear to have a pretty good defense this year. Our special teams appear to be good as well. The offense is a big question mark. But, we knew it was going to take some time for either QB, so I suppose patience is in order. The good news is that we have a week until Tulsa rolls in, and Tulsa is not very good. Then, we have two full weeks to prepare for ND. So, the offense has 3 weeks to fix the issues before the Sooners face a real test. That's a long time, and I hope things come together over that period. But, one thing is certain, there is going to be growing pains this year.

[Sabanball]

One positive for a win like this---More motivation for Bob to work them harder in practice and the team gets better and makes real improvements.

[agoo758]

Not the best of wins, but certainly much better than the early wins in 2010.....almost 500 rushing yards and a much improved defense (even against not the best offenses?) I am optimistic that we can be successful this year keeping it on the ground with the majority of our plays from the diamond formation...... we've got the most talented backfield sans the QB in the country.....I think we have a very good chance of winning the conference this year provided out play calling isn't as atrociousin spots as it was tonight.

[Curly Bill]

And hey! Had we been playing Saxet and with our inability to throw we might have run for 1,000 yards against the Whorns! ;)

[8timechamps]

Not the best of wins, but certainly much better than the early wins in 2010.....almost 500 rushing yards and a much improved defense (even against not the best offenses?) I am optimistic that we can be successful this year keeping it on the ground with the majority of our plays from the diamond formation...... we've got the most talented backfield sans the QB in the country.....I think we have a very good chance of winning the conference this year provided out play calling isn't as atrociousin spots as it was tonight.

Agreed.

We still don't really know anything about Baylor or Oklahoma State (I guess we know more about OSU, since they played a semi-decent team), but based on what I've seen out of the rest, there's no reason to throw in the towel.

I can live with 16-7 games, if we're running the ball like we did tonight.

[agoo758]

Another question I would like to pose is what is the purpose of the pistol formation at this point? Our offensive line is at its best when trey millard is lined up in the back field to help them block for the runner.... why use a formation that takes any extra backfield blocker out of the equation?

[8timechamps]

Another question I would like to pose is what is the purpose of the pistol formation at this point? Our offensive line is at its best when trey millard is lined up in the back field to help them block for the runner.... why use a formation that takes any extra backfield blocker out of the equation?

I'd like to know the answer to that too. If we're running a bunch of zone read out of it, then I get it, but that wasn't the case tonight. Also, in the future, if there is a 4th and 1, maybe Millard is the guy that should be running for it...just a thought.

[Therealsouthsider]

...I can't remember the last time I felt this confused after a win

...sometimes OU wins and I feel like we were lucky, sometimes fortunate, other times arrogant or justified...tonight, I don't know, it was like watching a really ugly girl getting laid

ss

[agoo758]

Millard is the best player on our offense, and the most underutilized......for the third year in a row. :/

[8timechamps]

...I can't remember the last time I felt this confused after a win

...sometimes OU wins and I feel like we were lucky, sometimes fortunate, other times arrogant or justified...tonight, I don't know, it was like watching a really ugly girl getting laid

ss

Yep, that's how I feel.

I think it's because after a game like that, you'd usually know what to expect going forward. However, I feel like I know less about our offense than I did before the ULM game. Just weird.

[bluedogok]

Agreed.

We still don't really know anything about Baylor or Oklahoma State (I guess we know more about OSU, since they played a semi-decent team), but based on what I've seen out of the rest, there's no reason to throw in the towel.

I can live with 16-7 games, if we're running the ball like we did tonight.
Yep, Baylor pounded a bad I-AA team and one of the worst I-A teams today. They might as well been playing Waco University High School.

[CatfishSooner]

I'm not too discouraged like others seem to be...

We have a great lookin D...reallly just gave up one bad play *(the td)

We have a great running game and a bunch of options there...

Our passing game is suspect\, but we have a slew of great receivers!!!

I like this team...

[agoo758]

Our passing game is suspect\, but we have a slew of great receivers!!!

I like this team...

I honestly believe that if Knight (or bell) continue to operate successfully out of a run heavy offense, all they would really need to do in the passing game is to lean heavily on Saunders the same way Jones relied on Broyles and we could be a very good offense.

[Pricetag]

Yep. This team shouldn't be favored by 21 over anybody, but I think they're starting to do some things right that some of our teams from the past few years have done wrong. They're feeling like the 2006 squad to me so far. That team was my favorite Stoops team besides the 2000 team.

[CatfishSooner]

Why do we not run play action more and throw bombs? Can the oline not give enough time?

[Curly Bill]

Why do we not run play action more and throw bombs? Can the oline not give enough time?

My feeling is they don't trust either QB enough to throw the ball down the field.

[CatfishSooner]

Is our running game sustainable against better competition?

[Pricetag]

Not without a passing threat (against the other team), IMO.

[Curly Bill]

Is our running game sustainable against better competition?

Not even remotely. With little to no threat of us passing they'll put 8 guys in the box and stuff us.

[CatfishSooner]

Wasn't WV doing so tonight??

[Curly Bill]

Wasn't WV doing so tonight??

I didn't watch close enough to say how much they did it. With no threat of us passing they surely should have.

[SouthFortySooner]

SOONERS WIN! However, they played, to use a word from the tv announcers, 'disjointed'.

[sendbaht]

Not many will remember this game but us Sooner fans. It will look like a normal win, but what a crapy game but a crapy game we won....:)) thanks goodness....

[CatfishSooner]

Lotta btiching going on when we Won, played great D, and dominated most of the game...besides that long td run their O didn't do much; we ran all over them; Man Clay was rippin' them off!

[BoulderSooner79]

Wasn't WV doing so tonight??

Yes they were and it was working in the first half pretty well. But WVU was one of the worst defensive teams in the country last year and returned many of the same players. We'll get stiffer resistance from many future foes. And teams like Baylor and OSU will not be held to so few points.

[BoulderSooner79]

Lotta btiching going on when we Won, played great D, and dominated most of the game...besides that long td run their O didn't do much; we ran all over them; Man Clay was rippin' them off!

I don't really see a lot of bitchin'- just analyzing . I'm sure folks are disappointed (as I am) that TK looks so far from being ready and the reality of what that could mean going forward. I guess on the bright side, we have a lot of tight, exciting games to look forward to. Just the sort of thing all you guys that don't take care of your hearts seem to fear :friendly_wink:

[SanJoaquinSooner]

It's a conference win. At this stage, that fact is 20 times more important than how we looked.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Millard is the best player on our offense, and the most underutilized......for the third year in a row. :/agreed, and I would like to add that Clay is the most overutilized.

[OkieThunderLion]

Here's the bottom line; We appear to have a pretty good defense this year.

That's what we thought about 1/3 of the way thru the last couple years, too.

I'm not sold on anything yet. That WVU offense played downright pathetically. Wide open misses/drops. And we only held them to 20 yards less than Wm. & Mary did.

[SicEmBaylor]

Yep, Baylor pounded a bad I-AA team and one of the worst I-A teams today. They might as well been playing Waco University High School. Uh, they're a highly ranked I-AA team that almost beat the team that won the national championship last year in the playoffs. Furthermore, we beat the ever loving **** out of them while more than a dozen FBS and BCS teams were losing to worse I-AA teams. As for the I-A team, they played it close with the supposed #3 team in the country just last week.

Meanwhile, you don't have a QB on your roster who knows how to throw a pass. Good luck with all that.

[8timechamps]

Millard is the best player on our offense, and the most underutilized......for the third year in a row. :/agreed, and I would like to add that Clay is the most overutilized.

I asked this in another thread, but you can answer here; Clay rushed for 188 yards (averaging 8+ yards per carry), what the hell are you talking about? Seriously?

[SoonerLB]

His thought process must work like the real Rush Limbaugh, on a VERY slanted plane of thought! ;)

[sendbaht]

Thinking over the game again I'd rather be OU with a ugly win the texas with a ugly loss...you agree?

[stoopified]

Get better and move on

[cherokeebrewer]

One thing is certain, an ugly win beats a pretty loss every time!

Feel bad for TK...rough night.

Brennan Clay saved the night...he was a warrior.

4 turnovers sucks and could have easily cost us the game.

One question, who starts against Tulsa?

[S.PadreIsl.Sooner]

agreed, and I would like to add that Clay is the most overutilized.

When a back runs for 8 yds per carry, he's not being overused.

[S.PadreIsl.Sooner]

One thing is certain, an ugly win beats a pretty loss every time!

Feel bad for TK...rough night.

Brennan Clay saved the night...he was a warrior.

4 turnovers sucks and could have easily cost us the game.

One question, who starts against Tulsa?

I want Bell with a full week to prepare with the first team.

[dwarthog]

Rush....

Geez man, Clay **** on your boots or something? Dude had some serious runs last night and a hell of a game. Plus he's been a solid kid in the program. Not sure I get why your on his case here.

[cleller]

The playcalling was frustrating at times. On 3-4 occasions we were beating their brains out at the line of scrimmage, and then called some short pass plays. One turned out great, hitting Millard for the TD, the others killed drives and momentum.

Sure, it's gambles like that they pay big dividends when they work, and look like genius. When they don't work, we talk about them.

It was like the alter ego of some of Kevin Wilson's head scratchers. He'd have the pass game going wild, then get stubborn with run plays. Josh had the run game going wild and switched to pass plays. Just an observation, still like both those guys, and think they are (were) fine coordinators.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

That's what we thought about 1/3 of the way thru the last couple years, too.

I'm not sold on anything yet. That WVU offense played downright pathetically. Wide open misses/drops. And we only held them to 20 yards less than Wm. & Mary did.WVU DID drop the ball(literally) A LOT last night, making our defensive play look A LOT better than it should have.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Rush....

Geez man, Clay **** on your boots or something? Dude had some serious runs last night and a hell of a game. Plus he's been a solid kid in the program. Not sure I get why your on his case here.He is brought down far too easily, and drops the ball at the worst times. I realize he's fast, but I would have 3 guys ahead of him.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

His thought process must work like the real Rush Limbaugh, on a VERY slanted plane of thought! ;)If you still think authoritarian socialism is legitimately a reasonable way to run a government, then you are the one throwing rocks from a glass house.

[Okie35]

Not even remotely. With little to no threat of us passing they'll put 8 guys in the box and stuff us.

Same as WVU tried to do but we're quicker on the edges and we should be still against everyone else we face... may stumble a bit against Baylor and Ok State but everyone else will be ran on.

[Curly Bill]

I asked this in another thread, but you can answer here; Clay rushed for 188 yards (averaging 8+ yards per carry), what the hell are you talking about? Seriously?

Totally agree! Clay was the best offensive player on the field by a long shot last night.

[Curly Bill]

Same as WVU tried to do but we're quicker on the edges and we should be still against everyone else we face... may stumble a bit against Baylor and Ok State but everyone else will be ran on.

Uhhhhh, no!

[BoulderSooner79]

WVU DID drop the ball(literally) A LOT last night, making our defensive play look A LOT better than it should have.

Yep. Including a sure TD - can't count on that kind of help.

[BoulderSooner79]

Totally agree! Clay was the best offensive player on the field by a long shot last night.

Agreed. You could tell he was seeing the whole field the second he got the ball.

[OU_Sooners75]

Well there were zero sacks against WVU.

The DL did a good job of collapsing the pocket but the pressure really wasnt all that.

They did a heck of a job making the QB get happy feet and throw errant passes though!

[8timechamps]

He is brought down far too easily, and drops the ball at the worst times. I realize he's fast, but I would have 3 guys ahead of him.

Please elaborate...

I'm not sure you know what you're looking at.

[8timechamps]

Well there were zero sacks against WVU.

The DL did a good job of collapsing the pocket but the pressure really wasnt all that.

They did a heck of a job making the QB get happy feet and throw errant passes though!

No sacks, but a crap load of pressure all night.

WVU played a TE all night, which they have never done under Holgerson. The sole reason was to keep Striker out of the backfield. I think the pressure was very good most of the night.

[8timechamps]

WVU DID drop the ball(literally) A LOT last night, making our defensive play look A LOT better than it should have.

This logic is ridiculous.

You could also say that (by that logic), OU should have scored at least three more TD's had there been no turnovers.

Things happen in every game that COULD HAVE changed the game. In the end, it's only the things that actually happened that matter.

Playing the "woulda, coulda, shoulda" game is an exercise in futility.

[OU_Sooners75]

Yes there was plenty of pressure, but there was also a lot of times the WVU had all day to throw as well.

[8timechamps]

Yes there was plenty of pressure, but there was also a lot of times the WVU had all day to throw as well.

True. I noticed a significant drop off when Peterson was in for Phillips. I think that's because Peterson isn't in the same class as Phillips (in terms of his ability to penetrate).

Also, there were quite a few times that Mike did bring more than 5, and the WVU line (and backs) were able to pick it up. I think the addition of a TE kind of threw Mike off, because he never really seemed to find a way to get to Millard.

I'm no fan of Holgerson, but the guy does possess an excellent offensive mind.

[OU_Sooners75]

Both of us know, you don't have to hit the QB to disrupt him.

Millard isn't a mobile QB. Therefore you get him out of his comfort zone he will make mistakes. Kind of like what happened with Landry Jones.

Good passer, but can't stand it when his pocket collasped

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Please elaborate...

I'm not sure you know what you're looking at.haha. let it go.