Breaking down the OU offensive calls in first half.

[jkjsooner]

Possession 1

1st and 10 at OKLA 23 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
2nd and 10 at OKLA 23 Samaje Perine run for 8 yds to the Okla 31
3rd and 2 at OKLA 31 Samaje Perine run for 10 yds to the Okla 41 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at OKLA 41 Samaje Perine run for 2 yds to the Okla 43
2nd and 8 at OKLA 43 Cody Thomas pass complete to Durron Neal for 5 yds to the Okla 48
3rd and 3 at OKLA 48 Cody Thomas pass complete to Aaron Ripkowski for 6 yds to the TexTc 46 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at TTU 46 Samaje Perine run for no gain to the TexTc 46
2nd and 10 at TTU 46 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
3rd and 10 at TTU 46 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
4th and 10 at TTU 46 Jed Barnett punt for 33 yds, downed at the TexTc 13

We did start out throwing the ball but then went heavy run. Then completed a couple of passes. Only after a run of no gain did we feel the need to pass. (Sure, on this possession we could have run on 2nd and 10.)

Possession 2

1st and 10 at OKLA 25 Keith Ford run for 2 yds to the Okla 27 OKLAHOMA Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the Okla 17
1st and 18 at OKLA 17 Keith Ford run for 1 yd to the Okla 18
2nd and 17 at OKLA 18 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
3rd and 17 at OKLA 18 OKLAHOMA Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the Okla 13
3rd and 22 at OKLA 13 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
4th and 22 at OKLA 13 Jed Barnett punt for 33 yds, downed at the Okla 46

Possession starts with an ineffective run and holding. We try to run again and it is not effective. Then we're stuck at 2 and 17 and are forced to pass.

Possession 3

1st and 10 at OKLA 7 Keith Ford run for 7 yds to the Okla 14 0 7
2nd and 3 at OKLA 14 Ford, Keith rush for 1 yard to the OKLAHOMA15, PENALTY OKLAHOMA holding 7 yards to the OKLAHOMA7, NO PLAY.
2nd and 10 at OKLA 7 Alex Ross run for 9 yds to the Okla 16 0 7
3rd and 1 at OKLA 16 Aaron Ripkowski run for 3 yds to the Okla 19 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at OKLA 19 Cody Thomas pass complete to K.J. Young for 24 yds to the Okla 43 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at OKLA 43 Cody Thomas pass complete to Durron Neal for 45 yds to the TexTc 12 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at TTU 12 Cody Thomas pass intercepted Sam Eguavoen return for 5 yds to the TexTc 8

Can possible criticize the play calling here. The INT was terrible. However, it was the passing that moved the ball down the field.

Possession 4

I'm not going to list the plays as we scored a TD. We did rush the ball five times for a total of 12 yards. We scored despite ineffective running.

Possession 5

1st and 10 at OKLA 27 Keith Ford run for 4 yds to the Okla 31
2nd and 6 at OKLA 31 TEAM run for a loss of 4 yards to the Okla 27 TEAM fumbled, recovered by Okla Keith Ford
Timeout OKLAHOMA, clock 01:49
3rd and 10 at OKLA 27 Cody Thomas pass intercepted Tevin Madison return for no gain to the Okla 49

We only passed after the previous two plays left us at 3rd and 10.

Possession 6

1st and 10 at OKLA 31 Cody Thomas pass incomplete 7 14
2nd and 10 at OKLA 31 Samaje Perine run for 1 yd to the Okla 32
3rd and 9 at OKLA 32 Cody Thomas pass intercepted Keenon Ward return for 37 yds to the Okla 21

This one was a desperation throw. Could have backfired but didn't. I probably wouldn't do this with a new QB but not a big deal.



So, anyway, I think all of this criticism is misguided. We did run the ball a lot. As often happens early in games it was not nearly as effective as it was later. I don't see a lot of changes that could have been made to the offensive gameplan here. Lots of our passes were called because the down and distance dictated it. Thank goodness we're not in a the 'bone where a 3rd and 15 was an automatic stop and punt.


I'm only posting this to provide perspective. I thought Heupel called a pretty darn good game considering what he was given. I've been critical of him at times but I think he got it done this week.

I think it's foolish to believe we would have run the ball as well in the first half as we did in the second. That didn't happen with Peterson and it isn't going to happen with Perine.

[panhandlesooner]

well said!

[yankee]

You can break it down all you want, but asking a Freshman QB making his first career start that is also on the road to attempt 17 passes in one half? While we only run it 18 times in said half? In that West Texas wind against that awful run defense? Nah. Heupel did a good job in the 2nd half, but asked way too much of Thomas in the first.

Props to Cody for not backing down and being mentally tough.

[Tear Down This Wall]

It was stupid. Two consecutive possession without Perrine after he ran for 20 yards in the first possession is stupid.

I'm not sure how they expect any back to establish a rhythm jerking them around the way they do with their crappy game plans.

Perine is a signature back, like the kid up at Wisconsin.


Texas Tech is former Southwest Conference dog vomit and should be run into the ground at will. Way too many passes thrown in the first half against that sh*t bag of an excuse for a football program.

And, that smug dufus Kingsbury...if you only lived down here in Texas and endured all of the fawning they did over him at the beginning of last season. So stupid. He's a fraud coach who doesn't understand football also includes defense and special teams.

[Soonerjeepman]

glad you posted this...I am one that was thinking we threw too early too often.

My question, just trying to understand, what changes did we make at half, that allowed us to run more effective (early of our 22 plays 20 were runs)? Did tt change their D?

I do know we actually ran Thomas more, had some GREAT fakes...would that have worked in the first half as well? (OU won, game over...but just speculation at this point.)

[Breadburner]

Possession 1

1st and 10 at OKLA 23 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
2nd and 10 at OKLA 23 Samaje Perine run for 8 yds to the Okla 31
3rd and 2 at OKLA 31 Samaje Perine run for 10 yds to the Okla 41 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at OKLA 41 Samaje Perine run for 2 yds to the Okla 43
2nd and 8 at OKLA 43 Cody Thomas pass complete to Durron Neal for 5 yds to the Okla 48
3rd and 3 at OKLA 48 Cody Thomas pass complete to Aaron Ripkowski for 6 yds to the TexTc 46 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at TTU 46 Samaje Perine run for no gain to the TexTc 46
2nd and 10 at TTU 46 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
3rd and 10 at TTU 46 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
4th and 10 at TTU 46 Jed Barnett punt for 33 yds, downed at the TexTc 13

We did start out throwing the ball but then went heavy run. Then completed a couple of passes. Only after a run of no gain did we feel the need to pass. (Sure, on this possession we could have run on 2nd and 10.)

Possession 2

1st and 10 at OKLA 25 Keith Ford run for 2 yds to the Okla 27 OKLAHOMA Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the Okla 17
1st and 18 at OKLA 17 Keith Ford run for 1 yd to the Okla 18
2nd and 17 at OKLA 18 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
3rd and 17 at OKLA 18 OKLAHOMA Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the Okla 13
3rd and 22 at OKLA 13 Cody Thomas pass incomplete
4th and 22 at OKLA 13 Jed Barnett punt for 33 yds, downed at the Okla 46

Possession starts with an ineffective run and holding. We try to run again and it is not effective. Then we're stuck at 2 and 17 and are forced to pass.

Possession 3

1st and 10 at OKLA 7 Keith Ford run for 7 yds to the Okla 14 0 7
2nd and 3 at OKLA 14 Ford, Keith rush for 1 yard to the OKLAHOMA15, PENALTY OKLAHOMA holding 7 yards to the OKLAHOMA7, NO PLAY.
2nd and 10 at OKLA 7 Alex Ross run for 9 yds to the Okla 16 0 7
3rd and 1 at OKLA 16 Aaron Ripkowski run for 3 yds to the Okla 19 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at OKLA 19 Cody Thomas pass complete to K.J. Young for 24 yds to the Okla 43 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at OKLA 43 Cody Thomas pass complete to Durron Neal for 45 yds to the TexTc 12 for a 1ST down
1st and 10 at TTU 12 Cody Thomas pass intercepted Sam Eguavoen return for 5 yds to the TexTc 8

Can possible criticize the play calling here. The INT was terrible. However, it was the passing that moved the ball down the field.

Possession 4

I'm not going to list the plays as we scored a TD. We did rush the ball five times for a total of 12 yards. We scored despite ineffective running.

Possession 5

1st and 10 at OKLA 27 Keith Ford run for 4 yds to the Okla 31
2nd and 6 at OKLA 31 TEAM run for a loss of 4 yards to the Okla 27 TEAM fumbled, recovered by Okla Keith Ford
Timeout OKLAHOMA, clock 01:49
3rd and 10 at OKLA 27 Cody Thomas pass intercepted Tevin Madison return for no gain to the Okla 49

We only passed after the previous two plays left us at 3rd and 10.

Possession 6

1st and 10 at OKLA 31 Cody Thomas pass incomplete 7 14
2nd and 10 at OKLA 31 Samaje Perine run for 1 yd to the Okla 32
3rd and 9 at OKLA 32 Cody Thomas pass intercepted Keenon Ward return for 37 yds to the Okla 21

This one was a desperation throw. Could have backfired but didn't. I probably wouldn't do this with a new QB but not a big deal.



So, anyway, I think all of this criticism is misguided. We did run the ball a lot. As often happens early in games it was not nearly as effective as it was later. I don't see a lot of changes that could have been made to the offensive gameplan here. Lots of our passes were called because the down and distance dictated it. Thank goodness we're not in a the 'bone where a 3rd and 15 was an automatic stop and punt.


I'm only posting this to provide perspective. I thought Heupel called a pretty darn good game considering what he was given. I've been critical of him at times but I think he got it done this week.

I think it's foolish to believe we would have run the ball as well in the first half as we did in the second. That didn't happen with Peterson and it isn't going to happen with Perine.


That was great....Now only if you could get all the idiots to understand this......

[Tear Down This Wall]

Also, you shouldn't ignore the 4th possession because it was our first score of the game...courtesy of Perine.

After that drive, he'd run eight times for 30 yards and a touchdown with no negative plays. So, what did they do after that drive? They come out in drive #5 with Ford...and the kid threw an interception. He then threw an interception on the next possession as well.

They need to quit f*cking around and lead with Perine, beat the holy hell out of the opposing front seven all day long, forcing them to creep up their safeties, which will help the pass game.

[Tear Down This Wall]

And, here's what's terrible about the whole situation: next year, they'll be throwing Mixon in their as well. They'll be screwing around trying to get four backs playing time instead of choosing a lead dog and letting the chips fall where they may.

[SoonerorLater]

And, here's what's terrible about the whole situation: next year, they'll be throwing Mixon in their as well

That's terrible? How do you know that Mixon isn't an even better RB than Perine?

[BoulderSooner79]

Play calling didn't bother me. The goal may have been to get Cody the widest range of experience possible vs. just maximize odds of winning the game. The last play of the half with time expiring would indicate that was true. I wouldn't have asked Cody to do quite as much as they did, but that's splitting hairs. The run game always works better in the 2nd half anyway after the defense has 30+ plays in their legs (and we stop holding). Switching to a heavier run scheme in the 2nd half may well have been the plan all along, not any kind of chance of heart. We got to see plenty of Perine.

[cccasooner2]

Possession 1

This one was a desperation throw. Could have backfired but didn't. I probably wouldn't do this with a new QB but not a big deal

Stupid is stupid period. It does not matter that it did not backfire. The play had no purpose. The odds of a backfire were > 0 no matter how small. If it had gone for a pick 6, I would hope Josh (our hero) would have been fired on the spot.

[BoulderSooner79]

Stupid is stupid period. It does not matter that it did not backfire. The play had no purpose. The odds of a backfire were > 0 no matter how small. If it had gone for a pick 6, I would hope Josh (our hero) would have been fired on the spot.

The play clearly had a purpose, you just don't know what it was.

[yankee]

Throwing the ball from where we were on the field with 3 seconds left in the half is as big dumb football as it gets. Luckily our backup QB made the tackle to stop the guy from potentially scoring and going up by 14 points.

[cccasooner2]

The play clearly had a purpose, you just don't know what it was.

That call was sub-human, I don't want to know what its divine purpose was.

[BoulderSooner79]

That call was sub-human, I don't want to know what its divine purpose was.

Just your opinion, no matter how you try to state it as fact.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

So are we complaining about the Norvell/Heupel play calling?
Or are we complaining about Gundy's rotations?
Or both?

Can we also add to the list - Why does Thomas do that whole Tony Romo throw off the back foot thing?

[BoulderSooner79]

Can we also add to the list - Why does Thomas do that whole Tony Romo throw off the back foot thing?

Tony Romo makes millions of $$ every year to do that and had plenty of hot wimmin to date.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Tony Romo makes millions of $$ every year to do that and had plenty of hot wimmin to date.

Yes, but as a fan, every time he puts it in the air it looks like he's just throwing it up for grabs.

[BoulderSooner79]

Yes, but as a fan, every time he puts it in the air it looks like he's just throwing it up for grabs.

Obviously, I was kidding. Your point about mechanics is a good one. It's easy to understand a young man with little game experience having a shaky first start. But he has been in the program for almost 2 years, so he should have mechanics drilled into his head by many reps in practice.

[rock on sooner]

glad you posted this...I am one that was thinking we threw too early too often.

My question, just trying to understand, what changes did we make at half, that allowed us to run more effective (early of our 22 plays 20 were runs)? Did tt change their D?

I do know we actually ran Thomas more, had some GREAT fakes...would that have worked in the first half as well? (OU won, game over...but just speculation at this point.)

Jeep, if I were to guess, I'd guess the difference was the defense was
getting tired of trying to tackle a 243# runner, following a 248# blocker.
As the 2nd half progressed, one could see the hesitations before taking
on Perine and, to a certain extent, Ross and Ford, too. Tech's defense
late in the game reminded me of the gassed LSU run defense in the 03
Sugar Bowl....you know the one, where Long called 4 pass plays with an
injured QB and 1st and goal, after we'd run the ball down their throats.

[Soonerjeepman]

Jeep, if I were to guess, I'd guess the difference was the defense was
getting tired of trying to tackle a 243# runner, following a 248# blocker.
As the 2nd half progressed, one could see the hesitations before taking
on Perine and, to a certain extent, Ross and Ford, too. Tech's defense
late in the game reminded me of the gassed LSU run defense in the 03
Sugar Bowl....you know the one, where Long called 4 pass plays with an
injured QB and 1st and goal, after we'd run the ball down their throats.

lol...yes I do...I was there. I was SCREAMING RUN THE FRICKIN BALL!!!!! lol

and yes, you're probably right...about 2nd half

[ObiKaTony]

You can break it down all you want, but asking a Freshman QB making his first career start that is also on the road to attempt 17 passes in one half? While we only run it 18 times in said half? In that West Texas wind against that awful run defense? Nah. Heupel did a good job in the 2nd half, but asked way too much of Thomas in the first.

Props to Cody for not backing down and being mentally tough.

That is awesome, and on point. While I applaud the effort of the post it is all for not. It's like saying 'we cut the budget!' yeah, but didn't you oversee 9 trillion more in debt? Josh was forced to run the ball, he wins despite himself, and we won't sniff a championship with him running the offensive show. I don't know what the hell we are on offense with a supposed great o-line. Tired of the excuses, get rid of him, as anyone who disagrees needs to get their football IQ checked. He is gone after this year...

[Tear Down This Wall]

It was stupid. Two consecutive possession without Perrine after he ran for 20 yards in the first possession is stupid.

I'm not sure how they expect any back to establish a rhythm jerking them around the way they do with their crappy game plans.

Perine is a signature back, like the kid up at Wisconsin.


Texas Tech is former Southwest Conference dog vomit and should be run into the ground at will. Way too many passes thrown in the first half against that sh*t bag of an excuse for a football program.

And, that smug dufus Kingsbury...if you only lived down here in Texas and endured all of the fawning they did over him at the beginning of last season. So stupid. He's a fraud coach who doesn't understand football also includes defense and special teams.

:victorious:

[8timechamps]

That is awesome, and on point. While I applaud the effort of the post it is all for not. It's like saying 'we cut the budget!' yeah, but didn't you oversee 9 trillion more in debt? Josh was forced to run the ball, he wins despite himself, and we won't sniff a championship with him running the offensive show. I don't know what the hell we are on offense with a supposed great o-line. Tired of the excuses, get rid of him, as anyone who disagrees needs to get their football IQ checked. He is gone after this year...

Have you called Bob and informed him of that? He clearly has no clue what he's doing...

[Tear Down This Wall]

Ford started the game and had more carries than Perine in the first quarter.

So, even after his big day last week, the idiots of this coaching staff were still convinced that Ford was their starter.

You really do have to wonder whether or not they understand - even now - what they have in Perine. I still doubt that they do. If any of them had a lick of sense, Perine would have rushed for 2,000 this season.

Billy Sims was right in his assessment of Perine earlier in the year - he's like Earl Campbell. So, what do we do with our Earl Campbell-like back with this set of coaches? We start other players in front of him, and rotate him in.

[Soonerjeepman]

Ford started the game and had more carries than Perine in the first quarter.

So, even after his big day last week, the idiots of this coaching staff were still convinced that Ford was their starter.

You really do have to wonder whether or not they understand - even now - what they have in Perine. I still doubt that they do. If any of them had a lick of sense, Perine would have rushed for 2,000 this season.

Billy Sims was right in his assessment of Perine earlier in the year - he's like Earl Campbell. So, what do we do with our Earl Campbell-like back with this set of coaches? We start other players in front of him, and rotate him in.

well, we'll see for the osu game..who starts. IF Ford starts over Pernine...wow...just wow.

[BoulderSooner79]

I was absolutely shocked when Ford return the next series after fumbling. I've been critical of the coaches for over punishing a player for fumbling as he often disappears for many games. Now I have to reverse that because I do think he should sit at least for a few series. But I'll look on the bright side because if Ford didn't have fumblitis, then Perine probably doesn't set the record because there would have been more rotation. And now I'll bet real money that Perine starts against OSU.

[Tear Down This Wall]

I was absolutely shocked when Ford return the next series after fumbling. I've been critical of the coaches for over punishing a player for fumbling as he often disappears for many games. Now I have to reverse that because I do think he should sit at least for a few series. But I'll look on the bright side because if Ford didn't have fumblitis, then Perine probably doesn't set the record because there would have been more rotation. And now I'll bet real money that Perine starts against OSU.

Pretty crazy that it took that to get the ball into Perine's hand more often, eh? Wonder what it is the coaches have missed in Perine to make them believe he is not a starter.

[BoulderSooner79]

Pretty crazy that it took that to get the ball into Perine's hand more often, eh? Wonder what it is the coaches have missed in Perine to make them believe he is not a starter.

Perine would have still dominated and gotten the most carries. He just may not have gotten records out of it. I think the coaches really wanted to get Ford some carries to get him back up to game speed. I can't imagine he would have gotten more than 10-12 carries w/o the fumbles. It will be interesting to see if Ford sees the field against OSU. I actually hope he does, but as the 2nd back with 8-10 touches. Perine should get his 25.

[ObiKaTony]

Have you called Bob and informed him of that? He clearly has no clue what he's doing...

No need to call Bob, doesn't take a dentist to decipher whether or not a tooth is missing. This analogy is so lame, you are not a coach! How can you even comment or have an opinion! I guess that means you have to be a politician to make a judgment on another politician? Not everyone lives in your PC world 8time, I've seen your posts for years and perhaps you should run for an elected office, you are an expert at circular logic.

To your point specifically, I don't have to, josh will be gone in a couple months, and you will sit here and say 'he got a better job' making less money...

[8timechamps]

No need to call Bob, doesn't take a dentist to decipher whether or not a tooth is missing. This analogy is so lame, you are not a coach! How can you even comment or have an opinion! I guess that means you have to be a politician to make a judgment on another politician? Not everyone lives in your PC world 8time, I've seen your posts for years and perhaps you should run for an elected office, you are an expert at circular logic.

To your point specifically, I don't have to, josh will be gone in a couple months, and you will sit here and say 'he got a better job' making less money...

You don't know **** about me. For the third time, please find any of my posts over the past 15 years that are so circular in logic. I'm still waiting. You are a fly by poster, only show your face when you have something to bitch about, and seek other's approval. You crowed and crowed about how BV was horrible and Mike would save us. You can't even admit that you were clueless. Our defense has been the worst part of our team this year, yet you continue to act like you have all the answers. I've tried to have debates with you, but you take everything so damn personal and immediate start with the "idiot" name calling and pretend to know what I'm all about, or what I do and do not know. If you can have a debate without acting like my kids when they were toddlers, then I'm game. Otherwise, take it elsewhere.