Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas Jayhawks

 Good morning, Sooner fans. Our 7-0 Sooners had themselves a good ole fashioned wake-up call last week against UCF at home, but they bowed up when it mattered and hopefully it was a good learning experience because this week it's a real trap game. The Sooners head up to Lawrence to face the Jayhawks, a team with a legit rushing attack and a desire to show the country they the program is trending in the positive.

OFFENSE

The Sooner offense is obviously good enough to win any game. Dillon Gabriel has taken a step up this year, to say the least. They have receivers who can do some damage. But, at some point, the Sooners need to figure out how to get the run game going from the jump. Last week DG took the reigns, and that's fine. But the running-back-by-committee is still clunky and weird. In defense of last week, Tawee Walker didn't play because of reasons and supposedly he's back today. Gavin Sawchuk looked good in the 2nd half. 

Last week I picked Walker and look what happened. Today I'm picking Sawchuk and hopefully I don't fuck up his day.

DEFENSE

Don't be surprised if Danny Stutsman gets 15 tackles today. The Jayhawks are going to try to rush the ball. They have a running back that averages 7+ yards per carry. Ridiculous. The Sooners need to shut that down double quick and avoid stupid penalties while doing it. 

If they can avoid stomping on their own dicks for a minute, the Jayhawks shouldn't score more than 17-24. If they let the Jayhawks stay on the field, it'll be hard to keep them under 30.

I think the D might have learned more from last week than the O. In that vein, I think they respond and put on a clinic. Stutsman is the MVP, but Kansas native Jaren Kanek, chief offender of boneheaded penalties last week, is my DPOG.

SCORE

This one scares me more than just about any other on the schedule for some reason. I was worried about Jalon Daniels at QB, but it doesn't look like he'll be playing. However, the Jayhawks will have a chip on their shoulder. The Sooners will get their best game. It's time for the Sooners to show they can match that level of energy and preparedness. History has shown that this is tough for OU. It doesn't have to be today. This one is an opportunity to take another step towards being a bona fide contender.

I like the Sooners to win but I'm not sure they'll cover the spread (-9). I like the Sooners 31-24.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Kansas Jayhawks

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners take on the Jayhawks today in Norman in a contest that hopefully will be called faster than the Oklahoma presidential race this past week. Kansas is atrocious. Owasso High might be able to give them a game. 

The Sooners, for their part, are coming off arguably their most complete football game against Texas Tech, a game where the Red Raiders were shellacked by a feisty and opportunistic Sooner defense, run over by Rhamondre Stevenson and smoked by Spencer Rattler who was doing his best Pat Mahomes impersonation. 

OFFENSE

It's crazy but the Sooners return to Norman for the first time since the K-State loss on September 26th. The group taking the field today is much further along and should cruise on friendly territory against the hapless Jayhawks. 

Rhamondre Stevenson looked fresh last week and should be a proverbial bull in a china shop. He'll be my OPOG today but don't sleep on Seth MacGowan. Lincoln Riley is finding news ways to get him the ball every week. He could be devastating in the passing game today by being a check down for Spencer Rattler. Rattler, for his part, can continue to progress by going through his reads. 

The Jayhawks are target practice and it's going to be devastating.

DEFENSE

There was a lot to be excited about last week with the performance of the D. The return of two-time PRCA gold buckle winner Ronnie Perkins injected some much lacking fire and snarl. Better yet, that attitude persisted for four quarters and was rewarded with more batted balls, INT's and loose balls than I can recall in years. 

Again, today provides an opportunity to build on that performance and continue to add depth everywhere. The Sooners will throw the kitchen sink at the Jayhawks both in terms of scheme and personnel. This game at this point of the schedule is a gift on a par with what the SEC does with mid-season Division II games.

Out of an abundance of caution I will not pick a DPOG this week.

THE SCORE

The newspaper today said the over/under on this game was 63 which seems ludicrous as the Sooners will have to stop themselves from scoring 70. While a shutout would be capital, it's hard to see a mistake free game from the D.

The Sooners obviously win easily and take this one 70-7.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma vs. Kansas

Sorry for the stinkfest 3000 last weekend, fans and loyal readers. In all the hundreds of posts here I've never lost my work until last week. Trust me, I nailed it. My best work and all for naught. I now try to make it up to you.

The Sooners (4-0, 1-0) head to Lawrence to take on the (checks notes) hapless Kansas Jayhawks. Les Miles is back and I'm glad for him and his inability to correctly size a hat.

OFFENSE

Here's something I came up with last week but it got lost in the ether. How lethal would it be if the Sooners ran some old school triple option with Jalen Hurts, Trey Sermon, Kennedy Brooks and even some Jeremiah Hall mixed in? Deadly. You won't see it this week for sure, and possible not at all, but the idea of unleashing it against Texas has me giddy.

First things first and this week it's more of same because Kansas is a turd. I'm picking Jalen because he's playing out of his gourd. Any one is poised for a breakout in a given week and you could throw darts (in a great way) with picking an OPOG but it starts with him.

On that note, this feels like a Trey Sermon bust out. So mark that down.

DEFENSE

We've found Gasrag McGee and his name is Patrick Fields. Alex Grinch said in the preseason that there was a lack of competition at Safety and that Fields and Delarrin Turner-Yell had locked down the spots. In a crimson colored universe this was taken by me to mean they were so clearly ahead that the position was in good hands. Fast forward and Grinch has recruited 5 star wide receiver Trejan Bridges to move over to safety to try and shore up what is proving to be the weak link on D.

Fields sticks out on tape like a sore thumb in this revamped defense. Every time look up he's somewhere trailing the play and taking a bad angle. The good news is that he's the only one who I notice consistently.

Please don't confuse this rant with displeasure for the defense overall. It is night and day so far from the previous three plus years.

Today depends on stopping the run game. Last year the Pookah Williams ran for 250 yards. It's stops today with my DPOG Neville Gallimore wreaking havoc up front. Gallimore has been awesome so far this season.

THE SCORE

This one lacks a lot of intrigue. I'm not buying the Les Miles knows how to shock the Sooners narrative. The spread is 32 and that seems low.

Sooners 63 Jayhawks 14

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas Jayhawks

Here's the crux of this one. The Sooners have one more chance to tune up before West Virginia. It's taking every ounce of my being to avoid using this space to explain how it's going to go down the rest of the way.

Fuck it.

The Sooners will win unconvincingly today. They will get their shit together next week. They have a really good shot at winning the Big 12 title game but if it's Iowa State I could see them losing it. For reasons that can only be attributed to television ratings, the Sooners will be selected to The Playoffs.  They will get beat. It is bizarre how year after year the same scenario unfolds.

Alas, Kansas.

OFFENSE

As per yoozsh, the Sooners can only stop themselves. At this point that means they get a little too cute on offense. For instance, when they average 10+ yards per carry they will throw in some razzle dazzle, get behind the chains then do some kind of draw play.

I can't really blame them. When you have a garage full of luxury vehicles you want to drive them all. Today though they really just need to make it short, clean and injury free. I realize I just got done describing the gaudy run game but since there are only two healthy backs the best way to go about keeping folks injury free is to use the run game sparingly.

Therefore, Marquise Brown, now fully healthy, should have a field day.

DEFENSE

It is quite something to be told week after week that you stink and, yet, be unable to do anything the next week to change anyone's opinion. Even by recent Oklahoma defensive standards this team is historically bad. They do not deserve to be in the playoffs. They will sadly do nothing to change the opinion today. It's lose-lose for them. If they play well who cares? They should kick Kansas' ass. Nothing short of six turnovers would make me feel anything close to warm and fuzzy entering next week.

I'll take Kenneth Murray. He at least tackles a lot.

THE SCORE

OU runs rough shod but Kansas gets 24.

OU 70 Kansas 28

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Sooners vs. Jayhawks

The Sooners do their best SEC impersonation this week when they simulate a late season bye week by playing a patsy. The Kansas Jayhawks are losers of 9 straight. It's hard to imagine a team that has raced faster back to the bottom after having made an appearance in a BCS bowl.

The Sooners need to stay healthy and "TCB". It would be a bonus if they could leave the outcome so little in doubt that as many players as possible get some "quality reps". The defensive backfield in particular needs to take this one quite seriously. Today could be the springboard towards galvanizing a very young secondary for the rest of the season.

OFFENSE

Is there a good way to describe being aggressively on cruise control? Whatever that is, is what the Sooners need to be today. They need to put the hammer down and be sharp. Motivation could be tough and they need to get on the board early. It'd be nice to see Baker get his arm loosened up by making some easy throws to some different targets. Maybe the offensive line can set the tone. Orlando Brown has spoken highly of the KU d-line in the past so I assume he'll be ready to play.

For my OPOG I'll go Rodney Anderson. Going into the season he would not have been in my top 7 list of difference makers on offense and he has been absolutely incredible. I'm real happy for this young man what with overcoming multiple years lost to injury. I think he'll run rough-shod over a discombobulated and overwhelmed Jayhawk defense.

DEFENSE

This D needs a break but that should not be confused with rest or complacency. It's actually the opposite. They need a break from looking like hammered dog shit and hanging on for dear life. They need to be crisp. They need to figure out what they have going forward and they, above all, need some confidence.

This is an opportunity to do all of that and more. As mentioned previously there are guys up front like Amani Bledsoe that they are still trying to work into the rotation. The secondary could see three freshmen starting. They need reps, reps and more reps. It's regrettable that, at some point, this team will need Jordan Thomas to step up and be ready. So if/when he gets a chance maybe he can have some success. The Ghost of Parnell Motley might want another chance.

The point is this could be chance to reset, regroup and lock it in for the rest of the season for this group. It's a big day for them.

For DPOG I'll go dartboard style and take Kenneth Mann. I hear his name every now and then. I'm not even sure if he'll play today. Sounds perfect.

THE SCORE

This just needs to be a business trip. TCB on offense, reset on defense. It would be a total waste to come out flat, uninterested and leave Lawrence less prepared for West Virginny next week.

I'll take the Sooners 56-10

KU

The Sooners travel up the road to Lawrence today to take on the Jayhawks. On paper this looks like a sizable mismatch. Hopefully the results on the field look the same. In the interest of covering all angles, this has major letdown written all over it. After two weeks of playing top 10 opponents, and preceding another 2 huge games in top 25 West Virginia and the conference championship, this doormat in the middle must look like a bye to the Sooners. While KU is certainly a massive mismatch in terms of talent (in the good way), sleepwalking against a conference opponent is never a good idea.

The sooners need to come in to this game looking at it as a task that simply needs to be done, don't over think it, and most of all don't get hurt. If things go the way OU wants, Mayfield and company will be sipping gatorades and wearing ill fitting OU baseball caps by halftime. In other words, TCB.

Offense

As Mitchy made mention of last week, the WR corps has, almost without exception, stepped up and dominated this season. That has to be a nightmare for defenses. What started out as take Mark Andrews away, has quickly become a matchup nightmare at almost every spot. The dart throw of a nightmare that picking a defensive player of the game has become, is beautiful opposite on the offensive side of the ball. I think today the Mayfield plays his usual game, the offense hums and the ground game comes in and salts away a nice tune-up win in preparation for the big finish of the season. With that in mind I'm going with Trey Sermon today. I've liked him all year, and though Rod Anderson has been an absolute man child of late, I'm probably out thinking myself and going with Sermon.

Defense

This is the broken record section of the "piece". It's really bad over here for the most part. For no particular reason I'm going with Kenneth Murray today. That is all.

Score

While this is certainly a trap and has all of the makings of a let down game, I think the Sooners are too talented in this one. I don't necessarily think this will be the ridiculous blowout that it projects to be. But, the Sooners get it done doing the yeoman's work today, 36-20. Stay the course, 1000 points of light etc.


Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Kansas

Well, one week after a scathing tear down of the man Bob Stoops, the Sooners went out and proved me wrong winning on the road in Manhattan against normally feisty KState team. I still stand by my comments until things start changing, but no matter what, I always enjoy the Sooners winning and playing good ball.

(side note, apologies for the lack of fresh drivel last week, had some things going on and was preoccupied with my beloved Royals making the World Series for the second time in as many years. Never say never, but I don't intend on missing any more of these)

This week brings us to KU. A team yet to tally a mark on the win side of the ledger. Unlike in some cases, this really isn't misleading. They're bad. The Crimson and Cream should bury their proverbial swords to the hilt, and come away smiling in this one. Lets hope the demons of texas and the tremendous let down there, don't rear their ugly heads.

Offense

Samaje Perine took on KU last year at home, and made Melvin Gordon's reign as single game rushing king, the shortest ever. I suspect KU will try very hard to avoid this happening again. Frankly, it's unlikely to due to the fact that OU has more than one dimension these days. I think today it's all about that other dimension, specifically Sterling Shepard. I think he gets open early and often and hauls in 3 scores on the field, and as many co-eds to his dorm room tonight (boy-yoy-yoy-yoing)

Defense

It seems the defense came to play last as well. Beating a solid Texas Tech squad, or at least containing them as best they could. I think more of the same this week against a more or less helpless Jayhawk club. I like Dominique Alexander again this week. I think he racks up tackles into the teens, and forces a TO. Big day for the talented 'backer with a unisex name.

Score

Sooners roll up to the lovely state of Kansas for the second time in three weeks and come home just as happy. This isn't a site seeing trip to see the house of mud (you see kids...), it's all business. Sooners roll again in the land of wheat, 57-3.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas Jayhawks

We're gonna run around em. We're gonna run through em. We're gonna run around em and through em! We're gonna fight. We're gonna win. We're gonna Go! Fight! Win! Now let's get out there and kick some ass!

There is no worse football team on the planet than the Kansas Jayhawks. This is the scheduling Gods equivalent of that horseshit maneuver that the SEC pulls with their SW Lafayette games eight weeks into the season. This is a working bye week.

OFFENSE

The Sooners have found a rushing attack and it's glorious. Look for a lot of it today. As nice as it will be, Sterling Sheperd is going to have a field day. I bet he goes for 175 and two scores in about 3 Quarters of work.

DEFENSE

I'm becoming a yooge fan of Charles Walker. Look for him to wreak havoc today. Also, that new Nickleback Will Johnson is playing well. I like him to get an INT as a reward for his good efforts.

SCORE

There will probably be a terrible turnover that give KU an opportunity to score some points. The rest should be PlayStation cruise control.

Sooner 56 Jayhawks 7

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Sorry for the brevity. It's Halloween and nobody cares about this game anyway.

OU vs. Kansas

There's not enough fingers to point to all the blame from last week. I mean, what a pathetic performance. [Air quote] Props [Un-Air Quote] to Texas for executing well. But you want to talk about poor football? You want to talk about being your own worst nightmare? Egads. What a miserable day. Terrible run defense, terrible 3rd down defense. Nothing resembling flow on offense. Stupid penalties. Fucking hell.

Now we turn from that spanking to what, on paper, should be the reverse. Perennial doormat Kansas comes a calling. This should be a salve on the wound of the Sooners but the Sooners have no freaking idea what to do on offense and the defense is shredded by injury. Piling on, this is lose-lose. Win big and you did what you were supposed to do. Win by a little and you haven't solved anything. Lose and a mushroom cloud appears over Norman this week.

OFFENSE

This is how bad the offense has gotten. This week on the same day in the Oklahoman, there was a story about how the running game has to step up. Right next to that was a story about how Jalen Saunders and Sterling Sheperd need to pick it up. Jenni Carlson dusted off the Sorry Landry Jones love letter she wrote this past offseason. Berry Tramel wrote an article explaining the benefits of the forward pass in modern football.  The top two quarterbacks are pretty bad. This thing is a train wreck and the only person who seems to be coming out unscathed is Josh Heupel. What the hell?

Today I'm going with Keith Ford because he's A) A bright shining star in a sea of average and B) it seems clear that if any change is going to happen offensively it's going to be giving him more reps.

Maybe the passing game looks decent today. Maybe Saunders or Sheperd do get a lot of catches. It will be a damn miracle. I am very bearish on this offense. Woe is me and the sky is falling, etc.

DEFENSE

The story here is injuries obviously. This is a different unit with Jordan Phillips missing up front. When he was lost the D looked an awful lot like it did late last year. Co. Nelson hurts even worse. I don't know if Aaron Colvin is playing or not. That's three of the top four players on your defense (Ass Tapper obvs) "dinged" up. Tough to overcome. But overcome they must.

I haven't gone back and watched the tape. I rarely do on losses because I'm a sore loser. I know the longhorns went after the youngin' Dominique Alexander but 19 tackles is insane. He and Franky Shannon had almost 40 between them. Pretty hard on paper.

That said I'm not picking either of them today. I'm going out of the box here and going Quentin Hayes. Sure, why not. He seems like he's been relatively solid.

THE SCORE

Well, it's blowout or bust. Even though I don't think Josh Heupel likes "scoring points" or "routs" the Sooners have to have it. I don't know how they'll do it if Kansas doesn't go tits up. I wear crimson colored glasses and believe it will happen.

OU 31, Kansas 17 in a not as close as the score would indicate type game.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

OU vs. Kansas

Boy this one stacks up pretty one-sided. I don't think Kansas is good at anything. I wasted a few minutes of my life watching them early in the season and the KU Defense looked like they dressed out part of the KU marching band.

For OU this one is about two things. First, no texas hangover. The good news (and I am vigorously knocking on wood as I type) is that Bobby Stoops's Sooner teams have never lost the game after texas.

Second, keep everyone healthy. There will be no good excuse for Landry Jones playing more than a series in the second half if this one goes as expected.

This game is not appealing at all. That said, how bout them Sooners last week? Damn they looked good. And, as of this writing, those same longhorns who got taken behind the woodshed last week gave OSU a bit of a game. So, I think that makes what the Sooners did look a tad better.

As previously reported on this website early on in the season, our defense is fucking hard. They are running all over the football like a bunch of scald ass apes. They really managed to "get their hands on a lot of balls" didn't they?

OFFENSE

Because this game is expected to be a snooze I'm going on a limb here. No, I won't be picking Roy damn Finch. That limb snapped mercifully. No I'm taking Brandon Williams. He should get 20 carries and I'd like to see some razzle dazzle. "Feel me"?

Also, I'm going to go ahead and pencil in Ryan Broyles for 7 catches, 159 yards.

DEFENSE

Hmmm. This really could be anybody. Everyone should have some success today. I guess I'll go ahead and say Ronnell "The Hammer". I don't think I've picked him yet and he seems due.

This needs to look like PlayStation set on Rookie

THE RESULT

I guess what I am most looking forward to see is how the O-Line works the running game. The run game is the weakest link so far so let's get that shored up.

I don't guess I've got much else to say this week.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner y'all.