Good morning, Sooner fans. Would you agree that it's always a better feeling coming off a win against Texas? The Sooners won a classic by coming up big on defense in overtime but it shouldn't have had to come to that. Predictably and regrettably, that same Sooner D allowed Sam Ehlinger to run roughshod in the final minutes to tie the game up. Alas, a win is a win and it represents a step forward for the D.
Today it's TCU and a perfect trap game for the Sooners. Gary Patterson is a crafty sumbitch and will no doubt have gleaned some key data points from the Sooners game tape. The key for the Sooners is, like always, can they bring the same mentality and effort level they had against Texas into Fort Worth today? History says it's doubtful.
OFFENSE
Spencer Rattler got benched in the first half which may have knocked him off a few Heisman ballots. More important, it exposed what seems to be his biggest weakness which is his trying to do too much. His arm is incredible and clearly people have told him as much. He believes that it's not only okay to throw back across his body into double coverage but that, unlike anyone else in the history of high level football, that it will work. Does he watch other football games? He needs to chill out and I think that's essentially what Lincoln Riley told him. To his credit, he came back out in the second half and played really well and made some nice throws when he had to.
Importantly, he found his safety blanket in Austin Stogner. The next step is to find that wide receiver who makes things happen one on one or in space. That person is Marvin Mims. The O-line needs to provide enough push that the Sooners average 4.5 yards per carry. If they can do that it's ballgame.
Today I look for a ball control game with easy throws and reads from Rattler to continue to build up his game management skills. I'll pick him for my OPOG.
DEFENSE
Even if his defense has not turned it around as quickly as anyone would like, Alex Grinch is a breath of fresh air from an honesty perspective. His transparency with the media offers actual insight. For instance, he admitted that, like everyone, he had no idea what to expect with the pandemic and in hindsight believes he may have fucked his planning up tremendously. He said he tried to get young guys college ready and, before he knew it, they had to be game ready. Hence, the initial lack of fresh faces on the field, particularly in the secondary. Now some of those young guys are finding the field and hopefully they will be able to stay there. Also, it is my most sincere hope that there is someone coming up behind Patrick Fields who is just brutally awful this year. He sticks out in a bad way on an average at best defense. Grinch jokingly warned his team that if the play more consistently like they did against Texas they may find themselves being accused of being decent.
Today I fear the Sooners will not have the same mentality as they brought to the table last week. If they do bring it that's a win on a number of levels but none more important than it may signify Grinch's attitude shift is starting to gain traction.
I also worry that Gary Patterson has some bullshit up his sleeve and we as fans are to be subjected to long sustained drives with back breaking third down conversions. Maybe I just have PTSD from watching it week in and week out for the last 12 years it feels like.
In any case, I'm still not ready to pick a DPOG.
THE SCORE
I am optimistic that Spencer Rattler is going to take a step forward after having been benched and that the Sooner D is unwilling to take two steps back in their quest to be decent. I think if the Sooners can average 4.5 yards per rush it's ball game.
Sooners 38 TCU 24
Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner
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