What a confusing team this is. You have to hand it to them for playing with heart. I mean, they've shown real guts on the road this year against the Buckeyes, Longhorns and now the Wildcats. They legit could have three losses by now. Baker Mayfield deservedly gets a lot of credit for being the heart and soul of this squad. Where would this team be without him? Holy smokes this guy is a legend in the making.
On the other hand, what in the ever holy shit is it going to take to get some halfway decent defense? The average scoring difference between the Sooners and their opponents is less than a touchdown over the last four games. They are 60th in total scoring defense. Meanwhile, the offense is top 3 in total offense.
I try to be all namaste' and, "winning by 1 point is all that matters" (which is true) but this is bullshit. The offense needs some help stat. This is not a championship team with this defense. It's not a Playoff team with this defense. It's probably not a Big 12 champion with this defense. Texas Tech put up approximately 4,653 yards against this D last year and TCU, West Virginny and OSU are all still on the slate.
OFFENSE
Let's scrap the wildcat formation. It's a gimmick that does this offense a complete disservice. With Baker Mayfield you have a guy who can run play action, run himself, scramble to buy time, look off defenders and throw laserbeams. On any given play he can do any thing. When you run the wildcat you are taking the ball out of the hands of the most difficult player in college football to defend. As a play caller you are doing the one thing that makes life easier on the defense. So why?
End rant.
Interesting story from the camping trip and sitting around watching the game with a bunch of dads. One guy played in a golf tournament with Lincoln Riley a couple years ago. Riley told this guy that Rodney Anderson had more skill and potential than either Joe Mixon or Semaje Perine. Anderson demonstrated said skill against K-State. What a run for the game winner. I had no idea he was a four star recruit.
Meanwhile this offense is rounding into form. Mykel Brown and Marquise Brown really stepped up last week and have the wide receiving crew looking like a four or five deep machine. Abdul Adams should be back this week too which will be nice.
My official new strategy for OPOG is going to be pick someone besides Baker. Just for fun. I'm going to ride the Rod Anderson train.
DEFENSE
I will begin positively by noting that in the second half of last Saturday's game and late against Texas, the D stepped up when it needed to. But let's not over polish this turd. The tackling is (broken record alert) atrocious. Jordan Thomas is getting worked. The inconsistency is so frustrating.
Kansas State had scored something ludicrous like six total points in their prior three games before us. Texas, likewise, was having difficulty scoring. Iowa State trotted out a QB who had never played in live action before. They all put up boucoup points It's a trainwreck and is going to ruin any chance at glory.
So I'll put on my crimson colored glasses and pick Caleb Kelly this week. Out of the people who kind of disappear in games he seemed to get the most fire lit under him in the second half last week.
THE GAME
I can't imagine 9,000 combined yards happening again since Pat Mahomes moved on to the NFL. But as mentioned earlier any QB that can fog a mirror can put up points against this D. Having Abdul Adams back will help the Sooners. Baker will be Baker. I think it will be another shootout.
Sooners 49 Red Raiders 42
Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner
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