New O coord

[ObiKaTony]

http://m.newson6.com/story.aspx?story=27822934&catId=112042

[Soonerjeepman]

interesting...

[ObiKaTony]

5 years experience, and broke records at east Carolina. I'll buy in.

[ouduckhunter]

Very interesting. Now I wish we had driven the 30 miles to ECU to see one of their games.

[Eielson]

Faked us out. Still no announcement.

[Eielson]

Faked us out. Still no announcement.

I do like Riley, though. I don't LOVE him, but I really like him. I could say the same about most of our candidates, though. I don't know how well he'd fit with our current group of players, and I don't know that he's the quick fix that we want, but we could do worse.

[blacktop]

No word from the school, must be waiting to fly him in. Other than News On 6, I see nothing else.

[8timechamps]

If this turns out to be true, I really like the hire.

The fact that he has no previous connection to Bob is a bonus in my view, as he will truly bring in a new perspective. He's on the younger side, which is always good for player connection, and he's proven (maybe not decades, but he has more experience than JH had).

[Therealsouthsider]

.....WKRG reporting it as well.... Mobile, Alabama station

.....never mind....'according to 9 news'


.....should have known better, Dean is a dumazz


ss

[ObiKaTony]

If this turns out to be true, I really like the hire.

The fact that he has no previous connection to Bob is a bonus in my view, as he will truly bring in a new perspective. He's on the younger side, which is always good for player connection, and he's proven (maybe not decades, but he has more experience than JH had).

Yep

[NorthernIowaSooner]

Jake Trotter says he hasn't been offered the position https://twitter.com/Jake_Trotter/status/554446536114200576

Given that Ch. 9 reported that Mike was going to be interviewed and offered the DC job at LSU and that meeting may or may not have even taken place, I'll take their report with a grain of salt.

For the record I'm a little underwhelmed if this is the hire but mostly because I don't know very much about him. Hopefully he's a good recruiter and can develop a consistent and potent offense. I'd still like to see Cumbie come aboard as well.

[ouduckhunter]

Every source Google pulls up quotes Dean as the source.

[Eielson]

Jake Trotter says he hasn't been offered the position https://twitter.com/Jake_Trotter/status/554446536114200576

Given that Ch. 9 reported that Mike was going to be interviewed and offered the DC job at LSU and that meeting may or may not have even taken place, I'll take their report with a grain of salt.

For the record I'm a little underwhelmed if this is the hire but mostly because I don't know very much about him. Hopefully he's a good recruiter and can develop a consistent and potent offense. I'd still like to see Cumbie come aboard as well.

I don't think it takes much to get highly-sought QB's at OU. Heupel did it, and after meeting him in person, I don't think it had much to do with him. Lisps and man-boobs aren't the best qualities for recruiters.

[rock on sooner]

Welp, Ima gonna run over to the poll and vote fer 'im so's I kin say
"I tolt all ya" -:)...

[blacktop]

Crimson & Cream is also debunking story. http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/1/11/7529501/false-alarm-lincoln-riley-to-oklahoma-sooners-not-a-reality Thanks Dean.

[8timechamps]

I hope this is true, but the real story is how Blevins still has a job and why we continue to trust anything he says.

You'd think we would have learned by now.

[TheUnnamedSooner]

I still don't understand why he is allowed to keep reporting

[TheUnnamedSooner]

Beat me to it 8time ;)

[soonercastor]

I don't mind this from purely an OC standpoint. But how good is he recruiting and developing players?

[birddog]

I moved onto bball season for now. All this speckalatin about an OC is getting played out at this point. I'm starting to think the refresh option on phones has taken away nearly all the credibility of journalists. Well, it IS Dean so I shouldn't be surprised, especially when al and Jim are baggin on him everyday on the radio.

[SoonerMarkVA]

I don't know how Stoops can still deal with him on the coach's show, knowing all the stupid crap he puts in Stoops' mouth with these rumors. Sure miss Steve Neumann.

[birddog]

Dude, it's very clear deans not an insider at all if he's putting this bs about bs out there. Dean is acting like he's got a tmz crew digging through stoops toilets n trash for info. It's been kept under wraps sooo long now that people are gun jumpin...BOOOOMER!

[Sooner70]

If true, wonder what that says to OU's fine stable of running backs-Perine, Ross, Ford, and the recruiting of Texas (Katy) HS star Rodney Anderson? Might they opt for another venue that emphasizes the running game more?

[CK Sooner]

Ehhh

[Eielson]

If true, wonder what that says to OU's fine stable of running backs-Perine, Ross, Ford, and the recruiting of Texas (Katy) HS star Rodney Anderson? Might they opt for another venue that emphasizes the running game more?

It's entirely possible to rush for 2,000 yards as a team in the air raid offense with individuals running for over 1,000, and that's about what Riley was getting at ECU. That's similar to our numbers from 2009-2012, as well as several other years. I think we'd get good RB's, but perhaps not as many pro prospects, and we'd probably scare away any RB's that have bad hands.

[Eielson]

http://thefootballbrainiacs.com/coaching-search-notes


– I’ve been checking with some sources, and we have not been able to confirm Blevins’ report.

– I have confirmed that OU has interviewed Lincoln Riley.

– I have confirmed that OU is definitely interested in Riley. I was told that “they like him…other than that there is nothing that is 100%.”

– I have also been told that if an offer is made, it will be made as a co-offensive coordinator and that OU would want to pair Riley with someone more of a high profile name.

– A source also told me that he didn’t think the offer would be as a play caller, but that may have just been the source’s opinion and not necessarily a certainty.

It would be interesting if we brought him on as co-offensive coordinator along with a more experienced guy. I think a lot of the intrigue with Riley would come from him calling the plays, so it would be weird not to have him involved, and I don't think he would be interested, either. Perhaps he's a great QB developer?

[graphster]

The only non-pass oriented OC that has been mentioned is Frost, and even that offense is more pass oriented than some other forms of spread option (i.e. Auburn or Ohio State). Seems clear that we are moving in the direction of an up-tempo spread offense that emphasizes the passing game. If we do, I just hope that Bob is willing to commit to it completely. Otherwise we're going to end up running some bastardized version of a spread offense that wants to also be pro-style and incorporate a power run game, which is where we've been off and on since Mangino left.

I like Riley better than Cumbie or Spavital, if we're talking about an offensive playcaller. He has a lot of experience already running an offense. Not sure how he compares to some of the other candidates as a recruiter, or what would happen with the WRs. Riley coached WRs at Tech, so it's possible he could do that and then they bring in one of these other guys to coach the QBs.

[Breadburner]

If this turns out to be true, I really like the hire.

The fact that he has no previous connection to Bob is a bonus in my view, as he will truly bring in a new perspective. He's on the younger side, which is always good for player connection, and he's proven (maybe not decades, but he has more experience than JH had).

Dont you think working for Mike Leach is a connection to bob......???

[BoulderSooner79]

Dont you think working for Mike Leach is a connection to bob......???

Yep, working for a guy that worked for Bob for 1 year 16 years ago is practically like being brothers.

[cherokeebrewer]

“The last two years, we’ve recruited well and gotten the depth where we want it,” Riley said. “We just try hard to fit it to our personnel. As an offensive staff, we don’t have an ego on this deal. We don’t say we have to run it this many times or throw it this many times. We just want to score points and do what we can to help win.”...Lincoln Riley

[SicEmBaylor]

I'm absolutely astounded that Stoops wants to move to an Air Raid style offense. It's antiquated and every team in the Big XII has seen so much of it that there isn't a DC in the league that doesn't know how to deal with it. This isn't the mid 2000s anymore.

[cherokeebrewer]

I'm absolutely astounded that Stoops wants to move to an Air Raid style offense.

I don't believe he has. Riley tutored under Leach, but he's modified the offense and put in his own wrinkles & style. And yes that means a run game. You should not concern yourself with it...

[cherokeebrewer]

“From Day 1, the one thing I talked to Lincoln about was putting his own flavor on this offense,” said McNeill, noting that he uses his background as a defensive coach to help out Riley in meeting rooms. “Lincoln does a great job of being innovative, but at the same time, one of our overall rules is keeping it simple. But we still have the ability to spread the football, and the offense is still the same as far as distribution and all five guys touching the football.”

If there was a peak year of the McNeill and Riley era, it was last season. Everything came together for ECU’s offensive staff, which helped amass the most yards of its tenure (6,086) and best average per play (5.9) on the way to the second 10-win season in program history.

In perhaps the most effective display of offensive balance, ECU was the only FBS program to have a 4,000-yard passer (Shane Carden), a 1,000-yard receiver (Justin Hardy) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Vintavious Cooper

[OU Adonis]

ECU ranked 61 in the country in the rush.This offense is Texas Tech with only slightly more rushing. It will never win a NC.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Would that be a 64 to 36% chance... ;)

[BoulderSooner79]

ECU ranked 61 in the country in the rush.This offense is Texas Tech with only slightly more rushing. It will never win a NC.

I'd be happy if we could just win the conference again. sigh.

[Whet]

http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/01/09/lincoln-riley-oklahoma-offensive-coordinator-east-carolina

Oklahoma hires East Carolina's Lincoln Riley as offensive coordinator

[swardboy]

Deals done. Let's try out this hot rod Lincoln. He doesn't have man boobs, I'm good with it.

[OU Adonis]

Well Looks like we settled on just winning the conference. Very disappointed.I will just leave this here. List of last 10 NC'sYear Team Rush Att Pass Att Run Ratio Pass Ratio2013 FSU 505 442 53.33% 46.67%2012 Alabama 570 328 63.47% 36.53%2011 Alabama 508 357 58.73% 41.27%2010 Auburn 652 296 68.78% 31.22%2009 Alabama 601 346 63.46% 36.54%2008 Florida 545 329 62.36% 37.64%2007 LSU 612 442 58.06% 41.94%2006 Florida 476 399 54.40% 45.60%2005 Texas 605 336 64.29% 35.71%2004 USC 493 429 53.47% 46.53% 10 Year Average 60.04% 39.96%

[BoulderSooner79]

Is SI more reliable than Dean as a source? Or are they just parroting Dean?

Assuming this is true, looks like a good hire to me. Young, upcoming guy with early success who has to view OU as a fantastic opportunity. We'll find out real soon whether we have a real talent problem at QB or if it was just inadequate coaching.

[OU Adonis]

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10934074_10152970891818449_784095836611332424_n.jp g?oh=c04327760e146a18dfed334c33c2e965&oe=5529792E

[yankee]

Good job to all the Dean haterz in this thread, you done good.

Pumped about this hire. Just as interested to see who is brought in as the other CO-OC and WR's coach. Cumbie???

[SoonerForLife92]

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10934074_10152970891818449_784095836611332424_n.jp g?oh=c04327760e146a18dfed334c33c2e965&oe=5529792E

Very telling stat in my opinion. Why we would want to pass the majority of the time is beyond me... especially with all our runningbacks.

[Sooner in Tampa]

Pumped about this hire. Just as interested to see who is brought in as the other CO-OC and WR's coach. Cumbie???

Nope...not Cumbie


The Football Brainiacs~UPDATE (12:47 pm): Our guy Brandon (@TheDrakeTFB) has spoken to his source close to Sonnie Cumbie and has been told that if the Lincoln Riley news is true, then Cumbie is not interested in a move for a co-OC position as a non-playcaller.

[Sooner91ATL]

watched ECU vs V Tech offensive highlights from 2013 on You tube. Unimpressed. No meerkat, but I did see some swing passes and pistol. Lots of pro back sets and empty backfield. No TE use. not much vertical. Just one game but...didn't look very dynamic. Looked kinda like a big ten team decided to pass a lot.

[yankee]

watched ECU vs V Tech offensive highlights from 2013 on You tube. Unimpressed. No meerkat, but I did see some swing passes and pistol. Lots of pro back sets and empty backfield. No TE use. not much vertical. Just one game but...didn't look very dynamic. Looked kinda like a big ten team decided to pass a lot.

ECU broke a ton of offensive records with Riley, so I'm not sure the Big 10 offense is an apt comparison TBH.

[yankee]

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10934074_10152970891818449_784095836611332424_n.jp g?oh=c04327760e146a18dfed334c33c2e965&oe=5529792E

Very interesting. Anyone know what our run/pass ratio was in '08? Had a 4,000 yard passer and two 1,000 yard rushers.

[Curly Bill]

If this turns out to be true, I really like the hire.

The fact that he has no previous connection to Bob is a bonus in my view, as he will truly bring in a new perspective. He's on the younger side, which is always good for player connection, and he's proven (maybe not decades, but he has more experience than JH had).

AMEN brother!

[EatLeadCommie]

On the face of it, this hire doesn't make a lot of sense. We just spent Heupel's tenure trying to toughen up our OL and introduce more balance to the offense. Josh may have been a boneheaded playcaller, but we did do just that. And now we want to go back the spread?

[OU Adonis]

Very interesting. Anyone know what our run/pass ratio was in '08? Had a 4,000 yard passer and two 1,000 yard rushers.

589 Rushes / 517 Passes


53.25% rush / 46.75% Pass

http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/year/2008

[BoulderSooner79]

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10934074_10152970891818449_784095836611332424_n.jp g?oh=c04327760e146a18dfed334c33c2e965&oe=5529792E

Never too early to start the cynicism.

[SicEmBaylor]

Never too early to start the cynicism.

Truth

[SoonerorLater]

Truth

I might as well go ahead and start this......Fire Lincoln Riley. He's been on the job over an hour and I'm not impressed.:drunk:

[BoulderSooner79]

I might as well go ahead and start this......Fire Lincoln Riley. He's been on the job over an hour and I'm not impressed.:drunk:

You can be a cynic, but it *is* too early to call for his job. You can't do that until we get the details of his contract. Then you can ask "what are we get for our $XXX from this guy? Fire LR!". Protocol, man.

[OU Adonis]

You can be a cynic, but it *is* too early to call for his job. You can't do that until we get the details of his contract. Then you can ask "what are we get for our $XXX from this guy? Fire LR!". Protocol, man.

I am not saying we won't win some games with him. I just don't think we will ever win a NC throwing the ball 60% of the time. We have a better chance winning a NC with the triple option.

[BoulderSooner79]

I am not saying we won't win some games with him. I just don't think we will ever win a NC throwing the ball 60% of the time. We have a better chance winning a NC with the triple option.

Could be, but it's way too early to know what he will run here. Young guys tend to be more open minded than older guys and from what I've read, he has morphed his scheme to fit the players available during his stint at ECU. Hard to argue with that, IMO. What will be most interesting for me to watch in year one will be the development of existing players. Will we see guys that were considered under achievers step up to their recruiting hype? Could go the other way as well. I think that will be more telling of his long term success than the short term Xs and Os.

[OU Adonis]

Could be, but it's way too early to know what he will run here. Young guys tend to be more open minded than older guys and from what I've read, he has morphed his scheme to fit the players available during his stint at ECU. Hard to argue with that, IMO. What will be most interesting for me to watch in year one will be the development of existing players. Will we see guys that were considered under achievers step up to their recruiting hype? Could go the other way as well. I think that will be more telling of his long term success than the short term Xs and Os.

This is Bobs last gasp. If we have a couple more 8-5 or 9-4 seasons in the next 3-4 years then he will be gone. Better hope your right for Bobby's sake.

[Sooner91ATL]

ECU broke a ton of offensive records with Riley, so I'm not sure the Big 10 offense is an apt comparison TBH.

were they school records, conference records, NCAA records, what?


i guess it looked like a plain vanilla air raid, for lack of a better term.

[BoulderSooner79]

This is Bobs last gasp. If we have a couple more 8-5 or 9-4 seasons in the next 3-4 years then he will be gone. Better hope your right for Bobby's sake.

As it should be. 3-4 years is a long time in CFB. But one year for a new OC is not a lot of time to make a call unless the results are extreme (positive or negative). Also need to see how his first year of recruiting turns out and I'm not counting the last couple weeks of this year, although he could try to help keep the commits on board.

[vtsooner21]

I might as well go ahead and start this......Fire Lincoln Riley. He's been on the job over an hour and I'm not impressed.:drunk:

Yeah, but he's already gotten a few commitments in line...lol
Boomer

[SicEmBaylor]

I might as well go ahead and start this......Fire Lincoln Riley. He's been on the job over an hour and I'm not impressed.:drunk:

His name is 'Lincoln.' Don't want.

[cherokeebrewer]

Nope...not Cumbie

Then maybe Spavital and he can bring Murray with him...Hey, it could happen.

[Eielson]

You can be a cynic, but it *is* too early to call for his job. You can't do that until we get the details of his contract. Then you can ask "what are we get for our $XXX from this guy? Fire LR!". Protocol, man.

Not true! There's still a "Fire Garrick McGee" thread floating out there somewhere.

[Eielson]

If we're so concerned about ESPN showing us as running the ball more than we throw it, we can just arrange for our QB to get sacked a few more times. I'm sure that would win us a NC.

It's obvious that Air-Raid offenses have had success, so why do you guys act like it can't win us a NC? If Leach didn't run into the best OU team since Switzer, he'd have been playing in the NC game at Tech, and that's with half the resources we have here at OU. Sure, there are far more conference and national champions that don't run the Air-Raid offense, but what do you expect? There's usually 5 or less teams running the Air-Raid offense vs 100+ that aren't, so it's not a fair statistic at all. Furthermore, how many of those teams running the Air-Raid offense are top-level schools like OU? TCU passed the ball similar to 60-40 (don't you dare use statistics that include QB scrambles and sacks against me), and was one of the top 2 football teams in the country this year. In the NFL, only two teams ran the ball more than they passed it, and there was only one in 2013.

It's not about WHAT you run. It's about HOW you run it.

[KantoSooner]

His name is 'Lincoln.' Don't want.
I wondered how long it would take.
What? The name of our greatest president (outside of Big George, of course)?

[SicEmBaylor]

I wondered how long it would take.
What? The name of our greatest president (outside of Big George, of course)?

I only count Washington as our greatest because of the positive precedents he set. He was a tad too Federalist for me.

[KantoSooner]

Indeed. I'm biased towards preservation of the endeavor. Try to walk off with a chunk? I'm all for killin' to keep it whole. Hopefully Mr. Riley will share that attitude as concerns things that serve or don't serve the interests of the OU football team.

[8timechamps]

Dont you think working for Mike Leach is a connection to bob......???

Really?

He played/coached under Leach at Tech. So, No, I don't think that is a connection to Bob.

[8timechamps]

ECU ranked 61 in the country in the rush.This offense is Texas Tech with only slightly more rushing. It will never win a NC.

Where did we rank in run offense this year? How did that work out for us?

[8timechamps]

Why doesn't it surprise me that there are already fans complaining about this hire before the guy has even spent one night in Norman?

Stoops really should read message boards, because clearly there are football geniuses that are so much smarter than he is, and they're all posting on message boards!

[OU Adonis]

Where did we rank in run offense this year? How did that work out for us?

How many Pass happy NCs do we have? Or you just prefer to win 9 or 10 games a year?

[SoonerForLife92]

If Leach didn't run into the best OU team since Switzer, he'd have been playing in the NC game at Tech, and that's with half the resources we have here at OU.

And then they would have lost worse than we did.

Hopefully it will work out for us though

[cherokeebrewer]

"We just try hard to fit it to our personnel. As an offensive staff, we don’t have an ego on this deal. We don’t say we have to run it this many times or throw it this many times. We just want to score points and do what we can to help win.”...Lincoln Riley

[OU Adonis]

Why doesn't it surprise me that there are already fans complaining about this hire before the guy has even spent one night in Norman?

Stoops really should read message boards, because clearly there are football geniuses that are so much smarter than he is, and they're all posting on message boards!

You are just taking the easy way out.

If you are critical your not supportive.

If you are supportive then if it doesn't work out in 3-4 years you can say "Well at least we gave him a shot". Keep clapping for the hire. I hope you are right. I just think finesse football won't win on the big stage.

[SoonerForLife92]

ignore this

[SicEmBaylor]

ignore this

You can't tell me what to do, sir.

[SoonerForLife92]

You can't tell me what to do, sir.

Lol well I accidentally posted a bunch of random letters I can change it back to that if you'd like

[8timechamps]

How many Pass happy NCs do we have? Or you just prefer to win 9 or 10 games a year?

You do realize that you have to win the conference to have a shot at the playoffs, right?!

How do you know he's only going to win 9 or 10 games a year? How do you know he won't incorporate the run effectively? You don't.

Can the guy actually call a game before being considered horrible?

[8timechamps]

You are just taking the easy way out.

If you are critical your not supportive.

If you are supportive then if it doesn't work out in 3-4 years you can say "Well at least we gave him a shot". Keep clapping for the hire. I hope you are right. I just think finesse football won't win on the big stage.

I have no problem with being critical of a coach's performance, but shouldn't he actually have a chance to preform? I want OU to win, I could care less what I "can say" 3-4 years from now. Riley is considered one of the best young coordinators out there, and I'm sure Bob did his due diligence. Can we at least let him do his job before being critical of how he does his job?

[birddog]

I'm sure Bob just looked at t the ecu 2014 football highlights and made a phone call right away. Bob's been around for 25+ years. He's got a pantload of connections and did his homework. If it doesn't pan out, oh well. This season was too frustrating so I'll give this guy a chance. He's built connections with high school coaches and players since he was 19. Lets get through the summer first. Edit....Dang it, 8x beat me to it.

[SoCalBigRed]

I have no problem with being critical of a coach's performance, but shouldn't he actually have a chance to preform? I want OU to win, I could care less what I "can say" 3-4 years from now. Riley is considered one of the best young coordinators out there, and I'm sure Bob did his due diligence. Can we at least let him do his job before being critical of how he does his job?

No, they can't.. because obviously Adonis has won his fair share of National Titles and knows what it takes.

I was right there with most, on changes needed to be made. And you know what? Bob did it. Still going to do more. And he threw everyone a curve ball again.

I like the hire. Young, motivated, fresh ideas, willing to work around his personnel.

The Boo Birds would cry about anything, other than 3 NC quality HCs, one for offense, one for D and the other putting it all together and taking all the heat, if it didn't work.

[olevetonahill]

Im gettin mighty sick of Message Board Heros that Know moren any coach alive.

Its gotten to where a FAN cant even enjoy the Prospect of a new season and a New day before all the ****ing Debbie Downers come crawling out the woodwork

Im a ****in Sunshine Pumper and those that dont like it can kiss my ***!

[Pricetag]

Didn't we have more than one game where we finished with negative rushing yards when we won the NC in 2000?

I hate the idea of wasting Perine as much as anyone else, but weren't we finesse as a mofo in 2000?

[KantoSooner]

Don't you go bringing facts and logic into this!

[OU Adonis]

Didn't we have more than one game where we finished with negative rushing yards when we won the NC in 2000?

I hate the idea of wasting Perine as much as anyone else, but weren't we finesse as a mofo in 2000?

We also threw it 53% of the time while running it 47% of the time. Hardly an "air raid" style of offense.

[olevetonahill]

Didn't we have more than one game where we finished with negative rushing yards when we won the NC in 2000?

I hate the idea of wasting Perine as much as anyone else, but weren't we finesse as a mofo in 2000?

Dont think we hit Negative rushing but a few we dint Gain alot !

http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/stats_team.cfm?seasonid=2000#.VLRRUcmGVKo

[OU Adonis]

You do realize that you have to win the conference to have a shot at the playoffs, right?!

How do you know he's only going to win 9 or 10 games a year? How do you know he won't incorporate the run effectively? You don't.

Can the guy actually call a game before being considered horrible?

I am not critical of Riley. I am critical of Bobs decision to hire him.

[blacktop]

1. Dean I apologize - you scooped everyone.
2. Good luck Lincoln Riley.
3. This doesn't fix the defense.

[SoonerorLater]

Well, I guess we can give Lincoln a chance if he can give us some assurances that our offensive game plan will have a proper run/pass ratio.

[graphster]

I do not have a problem with the hire or the offense. In theory. I don't buy that you can't win with this style of offense at the national level, for a few reasons. First, we did just that back in 2000. Second, people used to say the same thing about the spread option offenses that Chip Kelley/Urban Meyer/Gus Malzahn run. Third, while this is definitely an offense that leans on the pass more than the run, it's not as extreme in that regard as the earlier versions of this scheme. Riley, like most of the other coaches from the Leech coaching tree (aside from Leech himself), has updated the offense to include more runs, particularly in the redzone or in short yardage situations.

In practice, I am a bit frustrated. If Stoops wanted to go in this direction, it's unclear what we've been doing for the past 4 seasons. Heupel is, himself, more experienced with this style of offense than the pro/option schemes that we used the past several years. Our recruiting over the past several years has also emphasized things that are not great fits for this scheme (mobile QBs, big powerful RBs), so it is unclear whether we have the personnel to run it right now. Of course you could have said the same thing about us back in 1999. Even still, I feel like an offense similar to Oregon, Ohio State, or Auburn is more closely suited to our current roster, and would have been an easier transition given that we were already using some of those concepts in our offense last year. I am unclear why we have emphasized physicality and the running game so much the past few years if Stoops ultimately wanted to take the offense in this direction.

It also kind of feels like Josh got screwed here. He was asked to coordinate an offense that he wasn't all that comfortable with, without even having previous experience as a playcaller. Then we fire him and hire a guy to bring in the exact type of offense that Josh would have been most successful with.

[BoulderSooner79]

Didn't we have more than one game where we finished with negative rushing yards when we won the NC in 2000?

I hate the idea of wasting Perine as much as anyone else, but weren't we finesse as a mofo in 2000?

I'm know this is going way out on a limb, but I predict Perine will be a star for OU again in '15.

[SicEmBaylor]

You do realize that you have to win the conference to have a shot at the playoffs, right?!
...or not even then.

[BoulderSooner79]

...or not even then.

So SicEM', what's going to happen when HC Briles has to fire his OC? A really awkward Thanksgiving dinner?

[SicEmBaylor]

So SicEM', what's going to happen when HC Briles has to fire his OC? A really awkward Thanksgiving dinner?

I don't see any reason to fire Kendal. I don't put the blame on him. Next season will tell a lot.

[cherokeebrewer]

We also threw it 53% of the time while running it 47% of the time. Hardly an "air raid" style of offense.

Riley’s offenses have taken claim of the ECU record books. Four of his five seasons are the four best in program history in terms of total yardage, including 6,086 yards in 2013 and 6,929 yards in 2014.

59-to-41 pass-run ratio

his philosophy is to put the ball in his best players hands as often as possible and in ways that stress the defense the most

[SoonerMarkVA]

I do not have a problem with the hire or the offense. In theory. I don't buy that you can't win with this style of offense at the national level, for a few reasons. First, we did just that back in 2000. Second, people used to say the same thing about the spread option offenses that Chip Kelley/Urban Meyer/Gus Malzahn run. Third, while this is definitely an offense that leans on the pass more than the run, it's not as extreme in that regard as the earlier versions of this scheme. Riley, like most of the other coaches from the Leech coaching tree (aside from Leech himself), has updated the offense to include more runs, particularly in the redzone or in short yardage situations.

In practice, I am a bit frustrated. If Stoops wanted to go in this direction, it's unclear what we've been doing for the past 4 seasons. Heupel is, himself, more experienced with this style of offense than the pro/option schemes that we used the past several years. Our recruiting over the past several years has also emphasized things that are not great fits for this scheme (mobile QBs, big powerful RBs), so it is unclear whether we have the personnel to run it right now. Of course you could have said the same thing about us back in 1999. Even still, I feel like an offense similar to Oregon, Ohio State, or Auburn is more closely suited to our current roster, and would have been an easier transition given that we were already using some of those concepts in our offense last year. I am unclear why we have emphasized physicality and the running game so much the past few years if Stoops ultimately wanted to take the offense in this direction.

It also kind of feels like Josh got screwed here. He was asked to coordinate an offense that he wasn't all that comfortable with, without even having previous experience as a playcaller. Then we fire him and hire a guy to bring in the exact type of offense that Josh would have been most successful with.

My first thoughts on this, too. It's hard to believe that what we saw from Heupel was really what Heupel wanted to do. That seemed to clearly be the continuation of the type of offense that (as far as I can tell) B. Stoops had pushed onto every coordinator since Chuck Long. I think what we saw in 2000 was exactly the kind of offense Heupel would choose to run. So we get rid of Heupel to "go in another direction", and it turns out the direction we're going is the offense Heupel almost certainly would promote?

Maybe we're all blind, looking at this from the outside with no idea. But I have to wonder what Josh Heupel is sitting there, thinking, with the hiring of a Leach protege after being let go, likely having been constrained into the offense we've seen from him.

[swardboy]

his philosophy is to put the ball in his best players hands as often as possible and in ways that stress the defense the most

Get that groin healed Mr. Shepard!!!

[SoonerKnight]

i beleive that Riley will be fine. we need a qb guru someone who can develop our QB's. Knight can throw he proved that against Alabama but the plays called all season had no rythem and were just ill timed. imthink Knight or Mayfield gets the start. Knight has the experience we need a coach that can call to his strengths. Watch ECU highlights they did not have the athletes we had all year and yet they put up some good stats runing and throwing. As for Heupel he should have told Stoops he was not the right guy for the whatever the hell he was calling the last two years. If he did not know that system you speak up. Yes men fall quicker than those that actually speak up.

[Mookie91]

I can't believe he doesn't run Perrine more and for god sake, throw it down field...oh wait I have to wait 9 months to join the crowd

[Eielson]

We also threw it 53% of the time while running it 47% of the time. Hardly an "air raid" style of offense.

Yup, we ran the ball! I'm sure that it was our 35 carries for 56 yards that helped us beat FSU, and our 36 carries for 11 yards that helped us beat KSU.

I learned my lesson today. It's all about how many times you carry the ball. The yards don't matter.

We ran for 1671 yards that year (which leaves us with a 69-31 ratio), which is LESS than Riley's ECU ran for last year.

[Eielson]

I am not critical of Riley. I am critical of Bobs decision to hire him.

You're critical of Bob's decision to hire a coach that you aren't critical of?

[Eielson]

And then they would have lost worse than we did.

Hopefully it will work out for us though

We lost a very close game, and Florida was loaded, so that's not a wild idea, but it is a guess. I suppose this means that the ceiling for Air Raid teams is #2 in the country?

[SoonerForLife92]

Dang and here some of you were talking about people on Landthieves being negatively ripped for their opinion

[SoonerForLife92]

We lost a very close game, and Florida was loaded, so that's not a wild idea, but it is a guess. I suppose this means that the ceiling for Air Raid teams is #2 in the country?

Did you miss the part where I said hopefully it will work out for us?

[OU Adonis]

Yup, we ran the ball! I'm sure that it was our 35 carries for 56 yards that helped us beat FSU, and our 36 carries for 11 yards that helped us beat KSU.I learned my lesson today. It's all about how many times you carry the ball. The yards don't matter.We ran for 1671 yards that year (which leaves us with a 69-31 ratio), which is LESS than Riley's ECU ran for last year.Your right.. That blistering O that put up 13 points and 0 passing TDS.We didn't win the NC because of our O.The last 10 NC's were all won by teams that ran more than passed...

[BoulderSooner79]

Dang and here some of you were talking about people on Landthieves being negatively ripped for their opinion

Shutup, stupid head.

[OU Adonis]

Here is a Youtube video of one of ECU's games. It shows all the offensive plays only for ECU. This will probably give you an idea of what ECU ran.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5-yQ_6aQeQVa Tech was 16th against the pass that year. (2013)

[Eielson]

Your right.. That blistering O that put up 13 points and 0 passing TDS.We didn't win the NC because of our O.The last 10 NC's were all won by teams that ran more than passed...

You skipped the KSU game where we scored 41 points, and had 374 passing yards to go with our 11 rushing yards. You also ignored that our ratio of yards was 69-31 for that year. I don't see the point of carrying the ball just for the sake of carrying it. The goal is to gain yards.

I'm glad you mentioned that the offense ran is of little importance when it's the defense that is winning games, as that will make it even easier to pick apart your flawed stats.

First off, your statistics imply that you believe FSU called 57 running plays for Winston last year, and that OU called 42 running plays for Sam Bradford in 2008. I'm here to inform you they didn't. Those were, with only a few exceptions, QB pass plays that resulted in sacks or unintentional QB scrambles. Take those 42 and 57 plays out of the passing column, and put them in the running column, and you'll see that FSU and OU both called more passing plays than runs.

Secondly, as you so elegantly stated, the offense doesn't matter when it's the defense winning games, so let's go ahead and get rid of the Alabama's defensive-oriented teams, as well as LSU's.

The last flaw we need to address is that several of those teams had running QB's, which severely changes the ratio, and makes it almost impossible to actually throw more than you run. Unless you're advocating us using running QB's, we need to eliminate those as well (goodbye Vince Young, Tim Tebow, and Cam Newton)

Here's what we're left with:

2004: USC passed more than they ran (Leinart did not have 49 designed runs)
2005 Florida passed more than they ran (Leak did not have 77 designed runs)
2013: FSU passed more than they ran (Winston did not have 57 designed runs)

Additionally, you're basing your stats off of the LAST 10 years. That doesn't matter. What matters is what will happen over the NEXT 10 years. Like I said earlier, 30 out of 32 NFL teams pass more than they throw. That's a fairly recent development.

[Eielson]

Here is a Youtube video of one of ECU's games. It shows all the offensive plays only for ECU. This will probably give you an idea of what ECU ran.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5-yQ_6aQeQVa Tech was 16th against the pass that year. (2013)

I'd like to think we have better athletes than ECU.

And since we're talking about ECU vs. VT, I'd like to mention that ECU scored 28 points and beat VT this year. This was one week after VT held tOSU (the one playing in the NC game tonight) to 21 points, and beat them. Those 28 points mark the 3rd highest total any team put up against VT all year.

[8timechamps]

...or not even then.

Well played.

[bluedogok]

Why doesn't it surprise me that there are already fans complaining about this hire before the guy has even spent one night in Norman?

Stoops really should read message boards, because clearly there are football geniuses that are so much smarter than he is, and they're all posting on message boards!
Most of them probably stayed in a Holiday Inn Express recently.....

[BoulderSooner79]

Most of them probably stayed in a Holiday Inn Express recently.....

Maybe we could put Riley up at the Holiday Inn Express for a few days so he can catch up with the fans.

[OkieThunderLion]

I'm not thrilled going back to the Leach offense but I just knew Bob wouldn't go to an option attack. He hates having his QBs run.

[OkieThunderLion]

2008 definitely wasn't an Air Raid playbook.

I'd say you'd have to back before Kevin Wilson's days to call OU an Air Raid team. '99-'01.

[TrophyCollector]

2008 definitely wasn't an Air Raid playbook.

I'd say you'd have to back before Kevin Wilson's days to call OU an Air Raid team. '99-'01.

Wilson didn't show up until 2002. 99 was the law pirate followed by the big guy.

[olevetonahill]

You're critical of Bob's decision to hire a coach that you aren't critical of?

Heh

[Tear Down This Wall]

ECU ranked 61 in the country in the rush.This offense is Texas Tech with only slightly more rushing. It will never win a NC.

Why would it? In five years at ECU, they couldn't even win the C-USA title.

Yeah, I know...C-USA is crawling with top competition. Tulsa. SMU. Houston. Tulane. A veritable Murderer's Row of college football powers.

That was the top notch competition the kid helped ECU set so many school records against. Can't wait to see that tricky, Leach-inspired C-USA offense against the Big 12.

[SicEmBaylor]

Why would it? In five years at ECU, they couldn't even win the C-USA title.

Yeah, I know...C-USA is crawling with top competition. Tulsa. SMU. Houston. Tulane. A veritable Murderer's Row of college football powers.

That was the top notch competition the kid helped ECU set so many school records against. Can't wait to see that tricky, Leach-inspired C-USA offense against the Big 12.

Tulsa just got a 4* dual-threat QB.

[Sooner in Tampa]

HAHA...LOVE IT...the guy hasn't called ONE freakin play and he is already a miserable SOB and a horrible hire!!

Petulant OU fans at their finest!!!!!

[dwarthog]

It's plain for all to see that Bob has consulted with the wrong people with regards to the hiring of this gent.

I'm hopeful all these experts made themselves available for consultation on this matter.

If not, well names are being written down for purposes of accountability in a future "our OC sucks" thread.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

2008 definitely wasn't an Air Raid playbook.

I'd say you'd have to back before Kevin Wilson's days to call OU an Air Raid team. '99-'01.

This... I'd say 99 and then tapering off in 2000 and pretty much going away.

Spread offense and Air Raid are not the same.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

I would tend t agree with SoonerMarkVA, how soon does Stoops handcuff Riley on play calling? Stoops has been dictating this offense since just before Magino left, IMO. We have been playing Iowa ball for years. Now the hope I have, sionce Riley is new, he will have a free hand to install plays outside of Stoops comfort level. Perhaps this years and last year's poor O playcalling at times has opened his eyes to more agressive calls. I can only hope...

[Tear Down This Wall]

Tulsa just got a 4* dual-threat QB.

Really? Tell me all about this 4* quarterback for Tulsa: https://rivals.yahoo.com/al/football/recruiting/player-Shavodrick-Beaver-69828

[Scott D]

I find that I neither dislike or like the hire.

[Tear Down This Wall]

It's plain for all to see that Bob has consulted with the wrong people with regards to the hiring of this gent.

I'm hopeful all these experts made themselves available for consultation on this matter.

If not, well names are being written down for purposes of accountability in a future "our OC sucks" thread.

Make a special column for those who were clamoring for Scott Frost before last night's game.

[rock on sooner]

Make a special column for those who were clamoring for Scott Frost before last night's game.

Heh....

[yankee]

I am excited about the hire because it's not Josh Heupel and it's someone that appears to have a system, and a system that appears to work very well.

All these annoying debbie downers in this thread appear to have watched a lot of East Carolina football the last few years and have come away unimpressed with their offense. Had no idea we had so many experts. Why didn't Bob defer to them for their vast knowledge? He's clearly losing it. Damn you Bob.

[KantoSooner]

I remember citing 'personal correspondence' as a source in a high school paper I was writing on Henry Kissinger. I, too, was an expert.


BTW, my history teacher didn't buy into the concept.

[dwarthog]

Make a special column for those who were clamoring for Scott Frost before last night's game.

He was so yesterday....

[winout]

We don't need a dual threat qb... just one that can throw and scramble occasionally. Stoops should be preparing these guys for the NFL and "run and gun" offense isn't it.

[yankee]

We don't need a dual threat qb... just one that can throw and scramble occasionally. Stoops should be preparing these guys for the NFL and "run and gun" offense isn't it.

Baker is that guy.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

My guess is that Bob was looking for an OC that has proved that he can call plays and coach up his QBs at the same time.

[winout]

Baker is that guy.

Great. I hope so.

Yet "the King" would be running what UO and Auburn run.... interesting. I guess he just can't shake his wishbone past.

[cherokeebrewer]

I really like this hire and don't understand the criticism before he's even called his first play as a Sooner. He's a good recruiter, young, smart, intense and experienced. If not us, another major program was sure to hire him at some point.

[BoulderSooner79]

I really like this hire and don't understand the criticism before he's even called his first play as a Sooner. He's a good recruiter, young, smart, intense and experienced. If not us, another major program was sure to hire him at some point.

Because he hasn't run whatever pet scheme each criticizer wants.

[OUmillenium]

I'd be happy if we could just win the conference again. sigh.

Welcome to the board Coach Stoops!

[Tear Down This Wall]

I really like this hire and don't understand the criticism before he's even called his first play as a Sooner. He's a good recruiter, young, smart, intense and experienced. If not us, another major program was sure to hire him at some point.

This is a Sinking Mack Brown-esque hire.

Mack hired Bryan Harsin from Boise State. Riley is Harsin...without the conference titles and major bowl wins.

Where is Mack now? Not on a college sideline.
Where did Harsin go? After a brief step down at Arkansas State, he tucked his tail between his legs and went back to Boise. He quickly figured out he was nothing but G5 material.

Like I said weeks ago, Stoops doesn't want anyone with original ideas rocking his sinking ship. So, he goes for another, younger version of Heupel - a Leach disciple with no conference titles to his name.

In that regard, Leach must be extra pround - the kid's offenses set school records, but don't help win conference titles. Just like Mike at Texas Tech and now Wazzu.

The dumbing down of the OU coaching staff continues.

[Tear Down This Wall]

Here's my guess at young Lincoln's innovation:

Instead of throwing the ball four yards behind or past the line of scrimmage sideways, he has the OU QBs only throw three yards behind or past the line of scrimmage.

Also, Perine's gets 5-10 less touches per game. Hard to set school passing and receiving records when you are handing the ball off to your best player. Don't want to mess up the kid's resume/history of setting school passing and receiving records. That's what's important in the scheme of things.

[KantoSooner]

What could we do? Belichek was busy.

[Breadburner]

It's going to be more like what Baylor runs.....If it gets executed properly...Running backs will thrive in this system......

[BoulderSooner79]

I'm glad TDTW is here to give us a preview of the '15 season. Don't have to wait or wonder about it and waste all that mental energy. It's uncommon to get that kind of service for free.

[SoonerorLater]

Here's my guess at young Lincoln's innovation:

Instead of throwing the ball four yards behind or past the line of scrimmage sideways, he has the OU QBs only throw three yards behind or past the line of scrimmage.

Also, Perine's gets 5-10 less touches per game. Hard to set school passing and receiving records when you are handing the ball off to your best player. Don't want to mess up the kid's resume/history of setting school passing and receiving records. That's what's important in the scheme of things.

Don't you think you may just be borrowing trouble by dwelling on scenarios which may never come to fruition? At a minimum maybe we should at least wait a couple of offensive series next year just to see.

[cherokeebrewer]

This is a Sinking Mack Brown-esque hire.

Mack hired Bryan Harsin from Boise State. Riley is Harsin...without the conference titles and major bowl wins.

Where is Mack now? Not on a college sideline.
Where did Harsin go? After a brief step down at Arkansas State, he tucked his tail between his legs and went back to Boise. He quickly figured out he was nothing but G5 material.

Like I said weeks ago, Stoops doesn't want anyone with original ideas rocking his sinking ship. So, he goes for another, younger version of Heupel - a Leach disciple with no conference titles to his name.

In that regard, Leach must be extra pround - the kid's offenses set school records, but don't help win conference titles. Just like Mike at Texas Tech and now Wazzu.

The dumbing down of the OU coaching staff continues.

Until more evidence surfaces, I'm marking this down as total nonsense...

[stoops the eternal pimp]

I just read that Bobby Jack went up against Sam Houston State in recruiting Quentin Griffin and Tear Down said he didn't want him.

[graphster]

This is a Sinking Mack Brown-esque hire.

Mack hired Bryan Harsin from Boise State. Riley is Harsin...without the conference titles and major bowl wins.

Where is Mack now? Not on a college sideline.
Where did Harsin go? After a brief step down at Arkansas State, he tucked his tail between his legs and went back to Boise. He quickly figured out he was nothing but G5 material.

Like I said weeks ago, Stoops doesn't want anyone with original ideas rocking his sinking ship. So, he goes for another, younger version of Heupel - a Leach disciple with no conference titles to his name.

In that regard, Leach must be extra pround - the kid's offenses set school records, but don't help win conference titles. Just like Mike at Texas Tech and now Wazzu.

The dumbing down of the OU coaching staff continues.

LOL.

Harsin was a pro-style guy who was going to come in and make Texas a power offense with lots of runs from under center. So in other words, he's exactly the kind of coach you want Stoops to hire!

BTW, Cumbie and Meacham are running a modified version of Leech's offense (and are largely similar to Riley in terms of what they try to do) at TCU, and they just finished as co-Champions and with a top 5 finish. But you can't win with it, right?

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Now I may be old school here, but the one play I saw ECU run that I want back here at least once per game is the shovel pass. Why we ever ditched that thing is beyond me.

[EatLeadCommie]

LOL. While I am a bit confused at to why Stoops is going in this direction with his offense, he made the right hire if this is the direction he wants to go in. A young guy, highly thought of, and still motivated to succeed and be innovative. It's a good hire, but Bob does seem to be grasping for straws.

[SoonerorLater]

If I had to speculate I would say there will likely be some growing pains with an offense like Riley runs.

[Eielson]

If I had to speculate I would say there will likely be some growing pains with an offense like Riley runs.

No need to speculate. TDTW is here.

[Pricetag]

Now I may be old school here, but the one play I saw ECU run that I want back here at least once per game is the shovel pass. Why we ever ditched that thing is beyond me.
Amen. Josh ran that play so many times as a player--I never got why we never tried it, either.

[Eielson]

Spread offense and Air Raid are not the same.

Doesn't a "modified" Air Raid offense turn into a spread offense pretty quickly? ECU ran for 2000 yards, which is similar to our totals in a lot of Bob Stoops years.

[Breadburner]

He's going to open up the run with the offense hes installing....The D is going to be so spread out they wont know what to do.....

[8timechamps]

I really like this hire and don't understand the criticism before he's even called his first play as a Sooner. He's a good recruiter, young, smart, intense and experienced. If not us, another major program was sure to hire him at some point.

The criticism comes from people that wanted a different hire, or from people that wanted a specific system installed. That's the only reason there is criticism, Otherwise, Lincoln is considered one of the top young OCs in the country. There's nothing (realistically) to dislike about him.

I could understand if he had completed a season in Norman, and the offense didn't play well (not that I would agree with calling him out, but I could at least undertand). The criticism right now comes from not getting that that specific person wanted.

[bluedogok]

HAHA...LOVE IT...the guy hasn't called ONE freakin play and he is already a miserable SOB and a horrible hire!!

Petulant OU fans at their finest!!!!!
Some people won't be happy unless Mahlzan or Urban Meyer are brought in as coordinators.

[8timechamps]

If I had to speculate I would say there will likely be some growing pains with an offense like Riley runs.

Could be, but is it going to be any worse than what we've seen recently? Probably not.

[Sooner in Tampa]

Some people won't be happy unless Mahlzan or Urban Meyer are brought in as coordinators.Count TDTW in that category. Simply the most negative poster in the history of SF.

[aurorasooner]

The criticism comes from people that wanted a different hire, or from people that wanted a specific system installed. That's the only reason there is criticism, Otherwise, Lincoln is considered one of the top young OCs in the country. There's nothing (realistically) to dislike about him.

I could understand if he had completed a season in Norman, and the offense didn't play well (not that I would agree with calling him out, but I could at least understand). The criticism right now comes from not getting that that specific person wanted. On the surface this guy looks pretty good to me, fwiw. I think it's somewhat asinine to criticize Riley unless we see more of the same, constant 3 and outs, getting the play into the game in the last possible second, constantly being out brain-panned and being constantly one step behind opposing DCs (btw, that last one goes for our current DC against opposing OCs, too. Any more of this crap of hands behind the neck while the opposing team moves painfully right down the field for a TD, he should be fired immediately after the game, HC too. That's reminiscent of the Blake years.)

I think Riley's biggest roadblock to offensive success might be getting the older Sooner coaches (including our HC and our acting HC, the DC) the hell out of his way to do what he was brought here to do. Hopefully he got assurances that they would.

BTW, I thought I saw us run the shovel-pass once in the bowl game. Could be wrong though or it may not have even been us. If it was us, it was probably just our QB fumbling forward and the back just happened to be there.

[cherokeebrewer]

The criticism comes from people that wanted a different hire, or from people that wanted a specific system installed. That's the only reason there is criticism, Otherwise, Lincoln is considered one of the top young OCs in the country. There's nothing (realistically) to dislike about him.

I could understand if he had completed a season in Norman, and the offense didn't play well (not that I would agree with calling him out, but I could at least undertand). The criticism right now comes from not getting that that specific person wanted.

I was never enamored with Scott Frost like many were. He might have been a good fit but we don't know that for sure. Riley has 3 more years experience as an OC than Frost. Some people wouldn't be happy if they were hung with a new rope...

[SoonerMarkVA]

Now I may be old school here, but the one play I saw ECU run that I want back here at least once per game is the shovel pass. Why we ever ditched that thing is beyond me.

YES! In fact, this is one of the main reasons I have speculated Heupel didn't really have control over the offense he ran. That dude feasted on the shovel pass as a QB, and he never called it once as a coach?

[ouduckhunter]

Could be, but is it going to be any worse than what we've seen recently? Probably not.

Those were death throes.

[EatLeadCommie]

Is this hire even official yet?

[Salt City Sooner]

Is this hire even official yet?
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209846548