Let's face it...

[Okie35]

It's really the overall talent. I give Bob credit out of the top programs he does a lot with less. When was the last time we actually had a top class? When we play teams that are perceived to have the same amount of talent it really shows that we are outmatched... Earlier today it showed big time.

Didn't really expect much this year so 11-2 was good but not good enough.

[ObiKaTony]

It's really the overall talent. I give Bob credit out of the top programs he does a lot with less. When was the last time we actually had a top class? When we play teams that are perceived to have the same amount of talent it really shows that we are outmatched... Earlier today it showed big time.

Didn't really expect much this year so 11-2 was good but not good enough.


Well we beat a Baylor team (with a better qb) that beat a nc team which gave Clemson a better game. Does NC have more talent than us? It's about bowl perpetration, stoops isn't that good at it...

[winout]

I agree. Bob is just not a recruiter, doesn't have that personality. If we win then we start getting recruits but it will be up and down.

BTW, this is reason enough to keep Houston out of the XII. We don't need more competition in Texas.

[Okie35]

Well we beat a Baylor team (with a better qb) that beat a nc team which gave Clemson a better game. Does NC have more talent than us? It's about bowl perpetration, stoops isn't that good at it...

You can't compare teams we don't play. The players said we prepared well, especially Shepard who was on the sugar bowl team... It's the talent. The offensive line was outmatched... And it really showed. The receivers other than Sterling and Westbrook couldn't get open. Mead was in the game for goodness sake lol...

[ObiKaTony]

You can't compare teams we don't play. The players said we prepared well, especially Shepard who was on the sugar bowl team... It's the talent. The offensive line was outmatched... And it really showed. The receivers other than Sterling and Westbrook couldn't get open. Mead was in the game for goodness sake lol...

I'll compare when there is so much to compare to. Clemson had several close games

[ObiKaTony]

We were out coached by a mile. The game plan was screwed from the beginning and we didn't play to our strengths. It's coaching, pure and simple.

[ObiKaTony]

Our Oline does suck, so we decide to run fades and long routes? Ridiculous...

[SicEmBaylor]

Well we beat a Baylor team (with a better qb) that beat a nc team which gave Clemson a better game. Does NC have more talent than us? It's about bowl perpetration, stoops isn't that good at it...

The transitive property of college football is not valid.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Transitive schmansitive. Happy New Year to all who are still with us.

[yermom]

i think Venables knew what was coming. it sure seemed like he coached to Baker's tendencies

times in other games where he gets away from pressure because one side is overloaded, he ran right into other guys tonight

they jammed us up at the line, and there was nowhere to go

again, we should have been spreading them out, and going to the edges more. that's when things were working, and opens up more options. heaving it deep just wasn't working with their coverage.

we couldn't do anything in the trenches, and that tricky direct snap might have worked if Perine runs to the right. it looked like he ran right into where extra guys were

[CatfishSooner]

They were better tonight; superior talent and more physical... felt very lucky to be up 1 at half... 2nd half was a disaster - frickin kidding me we get out-scored 21-0 in 2nd half?!? Very, very disappointing.

[Okie35]

i think Venables knew what was coming. it sure seemed like he coached to Baker's tendencies

times in other games where he gets away from pressure because one side is overloaded, he ran right into other guys tonight

they jammed us up at the line, and there was nowhere to go

again, we should have been spreading them out, and going to the edges more. that's when things were working, and opens up more options. heaving it deep just wasn't working with their coverage.

we couldn't do anything in the trenches, and that tricky direct snap might have worked if Perine runs to the right. it looked like he ran right into where extra guys were

because they had a better line than us.. talent wise ... but yea the underneath and sideline screens or throws to the edges were working

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

because they had a better line than us.. talent wise ... but yea the underneath and sideline screens or throws to the edges were working

I thought Riley gave up on the run too early. Our defense wore down in part because we didn't have Walker and they were on the field a lot with it being hot and humid. I think it we could have committed more to the run than Clemson might have worn down in the 4th quarter. unsportsmanlike penalty when we were driving to go up 14-3 was a killer and we didn't get a couple obvious pass interference calls.

That said I do think Clemson was better up front and they had a good game plan.

After witnessing the Texas game in October if you would have told me that OU was going to win out and make the playoff I would have said I would take it.

Hopefully we can get better up front. Schedule is pretty brutal next year but after I get over this loss in a day or two I am pretty excited about next year.

[dwarthog]

Hell of a season particularly after last years stinker.

Have to agree with the OP. We are going to need some skill upgrades in some key places if we are going to compete at the playoff level particularly with Alabama apparently able to get away with "live well sorting" to build their team every year now.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

i think Venables knew what was coming. it sure seemed like he coached to Baker's tendencies

times in other games where he gets away from pressure because one side is overloaded, he ran right into other guys tonight

they jammed us up at the line, and there was nowhere to go

again, we should have been spreading them out, and going to the edges more. that's when things were working, and opens up more options. heaving it deep just wasn't working with their coverage.

we couldn't do anything in the trenches, and that tricky direct snap might have worked if Perine runs to the right. it looked like he ran right into where extra guys were

You beat Venables over the middle, which we did in the first half. Heaving it deep is 100% on Mayfield, we don't normally run 1 man routes.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

because they had a better line than us.. talent wise ... but yea the underneath and sideline screens or throws to the edges were working

You keep saying this.

"talent" on the offensive line mainly has to do with age. We had 3 underclassmen there. At some point, there film was going to catch up with them. You combine this with some lackadaisical pass blocking from our running backs and you have lots and lots of pressure.

"talent" on the defensive line is a lot more complicated. There you have specialists that you have to protect with other specialists. So if you have a good pass rushing end, you have to protect him with a good run stopping linebacker. Guys who do both things well don't come along very often.

[Sooner70]

Shades of the Texas game surfaced with some poor tackling, but overall, Mayfield didn't have much protection to work his magic. I thought D was credible 1 H, but when they came out 3rd Q and drove 75 yds pretty much at will for TD, knew it was going to be long night. Lets face it....Clemson is a good team....good, well coached athletes. Certainly the better team last night won. The matchup with Alabama should make for a good game. Bama may have trouble with some of Clemson's tendencies, but think they'll prevail. Dang, if so that would be 4 NC's in 7 years, right?

[FaninAma]

It's really the overall talent. I give Bob credit out of the top programs he does a lot with less. When was the last time we actually had a top class? When we play teams that are perceived to have the same amount of talent it really shows that we are outmatched... Earlier today it showed big time.

Didn't really expect much this year so 11-2 was good but not good enough.
I disagree. OU coaches got out-schemed. There's a reason the only 2 teams that ran running QBs gave us fits and there's a reason that opposing teams with former Sooner assistants understand our tendencies and are able to scheme for them.

[Mookie91]

I don't think talent is an issue, OU players get drafted and get drafted high all the time. Problem lately has been lack of discipline. You'd think with the way Sanchez acts he's Charles Woodson. Baker reminds me eerily of Johnny Manziel and Orlando Brown Jr has a horrible attitude that often causes back breaking penalties. It is the difficulty when you recruit 4 star guys but I have felt if more guys acted like Perine and less like Sanchez this team would be a lot more successful.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

I don't think talent is an issue, OU players get drafted and get drafted high all the time. Problem lately has been lack of discipline. You'd think with the way Sanchez acts he's Charles Woodson. Baker reminds me eerily of Johnny Manziel and Orlando Brown Jr has a horrible attitude that often causes back breaking penalties. It is the difficulty when you recruit 4 star guys but I have felt if more guys acted like Perine and less like Sanchez this team would be a lot more successful.

Holy crap dude. We know you hate him, but seriously, he was our best defender last night. What is always the problem at a top tier school is lack of effort. I'll screen cap Jordan Thomas in action and you can see what that looks like. That guy may take more plays off than Travis Lewis.

[Okie35]

You keep saying this.

"talent" on the offensive line mainly has to do with age. We had 3 underclassmen there. At some point, there film was going to catch up with them. You combine this with some lackadaisical pass blocking from our running backs and you have lots and lots of pressure.

"talent" on the defensive line is a lot more complicated. There you have specialists that you have to protect with other specialists. So if you have a good pass rushing end, you have to protect him with a good run stopping linebacker. Guys who do both things well don't come along very often.

They don't but we don't get them when they do. Bama or other top programs do.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

They don't but we don't get them when they do. Bama or other top programs do.

JJ Watt? Central Michigan
Ziggy Ansah? BYU
Jason Piere-Paul? South Florida
Suh? Nebraska
Dontari Poe? Memphis
Aaron Donald? Pitt

As I keep saying, it isn't the guys that other high profile programs get. It is the ones that we don't evaluate and end up at small schools (and yes i put nebraska in as a small school ;) )

[FaninAma]

You beat Venables over the middle, which we did in the first half. Heaving it deep is 100% on Mayfield, we don't normally run 1 man routes.
I thought Baker was trying too hard to make the big play instead of taking what Clemson was giving him. The second half was his worst half of football since the first half of the Tennessee game.

[Mookie91]

Holy crap dude. We know you hate him, but seriously, he was our best defender last night. What is always the problem at a top tier school is lack of effort. I'll screen cap Jordan Thomas in action and you can see what that looks like. That guy may take more plays off than Travis Lewis.

Don't hate any of them at all just don't like the swagger when you haven't won anything. I prefer the celebrations to happen after the game, like this year at OK St, not after every play. And saying someone was a best defender last night isn't a total compliment.