Ole Miss

 As I was out of the country in a remote part of the world, I was unable to watch the first game of the Jason Witten OC era. But by all accounts it was an improvement. The 2015 Denver Broncos they are not, but simply being competent enough to sustain drives and keep our defense off the field as much as possible should be enough to win most games. And from what I read that is exactly what happened. Including a soul crushing, clock sapping close out drive that was (if memory serves) the longest in terms of clock time used, in 54 years. This was basically what salted it away and sent Florida fans to the exits. I can get behind that. I also see, from the box score and recap that, unlike Arbuckle, Witten was willing to lean on the ground attack and be content to grind it and win ugly. In short, I’m cautiously optimistic that maybe we were going with what was working instead of square peg/round holing it as we were so intent on doing previously. Time will tell but it’s an encouraging start. 

Ole miss comes to town and while not what they were last year, they still feature Chambliss* and a solid offense. Somehow the Sooners are 1.5 point favorites here which seems more optimistic than I am. But it is a home game and we have mostly hung around even in losses. It will be an interesting test and more opportunity for the offense to find itself. Hopefully the D shows up unlike the South Carolina game where me made LaNorris Sellers look like prime Steve Young. 

*I am writing this offline, so no fact checking has been possible, which is a nice excuse since I probably wouldn’t have anyway. For all I know chambliss has moved to Tijuana and no longer even plays football. 

Offense 

I’m still loathe to choose Matteer and I simply won’t at this point. But I read he looked much more comfortable and confident last week which is nice. I’ll go with Tory Blaylock this week for no good reason other than Witten seemed to have remembered that he is on the team and can play football. 

Defense

I’m going to go with David Stone today. I think he’s due for a statement game and what better time than against a top QB and at home. I think he gets 2 sacks today and is a force in the middle. 

Score

I really don’t know what to think here. I think Ole Miss will be hard to really shut down on offense. But our D is tough and the home crowd should help disrupt their rhythm. That said we’ll have to put up some points to win this and I’m not sure we can. All of that to say that I’m all aboard the Witten train and I think we play grind it out football again and win another one ugly, Sooners take it 25-22. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida Gators

 Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. This evening the Sooners will face off against the Florida Gators in The Swamp and it's a game that features two incredibly underachieving football teams. The Sooners got shellacked at home last week against South Carolina, a performance so bad it cost Ben Arbuckle his job. 

Brent Venables now turns to first ballot NFL Hall of Famer Jason Witten, a first year college coach who was calling plays at a Texas high school last year. We'll find out today if play calling or quarterback play is the primary driver of an offense that is historically inept. 

My suspicion is that John Mateer will be on a pretty short leash and we are likely to see if things can actually be worse. 

I do think the Sooners will meet with some success running the ball. I'll take Lloyd Avant for my OPOG.

Defensively, the Sooners will be up against a new QB at Florida in Trammell Jones, Jr. The Sooners will have their hands full and, again, will have to overcome the Sooner offense.

For my DPOG I'll take Kip Lewis. No reason, just like his vibe today.

I am skeptical but hopeful the offense will take a step forward and will play with a little more of an adjust and attack mentality. The Sooners can win this one 27-21, if they play their best ball. 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Florida

 At long last, and way too late, the Sooners finally closed the book on the Ben Arbuckle experiment disaster. I've gone over the why's quite a lot here so I'll skip that, but suffice to say I'm pleased with the move. What I am not pleased with is the abysmal performance by the defense against south carolina. What an ass kicking we got at the hands of a pretty mediocre team. The arbuckle firing will buy some time, as will the massive contract extension and its buyout, but the seat is getting a little warm now for old Venables. 

The Sooners travel to Florida this week and normally I'd be hand wringing about a game that would be very tough on the road, but is winnable if the team plays well. As it stands, I have no delusions of winning. I full expect to get trounced. The silver linings of being bad. I am going to be out of the country and remote, so I won't get to see any of it. This is only disappointing in that I'd like to see how the offense looks/changes with Witten in charge. 

Offense

I have no idea what to expect here. But surely Witten is smart enough to try and get the ball to good players (other than Sategna). And as a former TE I am going to go with Rocky Beers this week. Why the hell not.

Defense

I'll rest on old Taylor Wein this week. The D got embarrassed last week and Wein is the type of high energy guy that could make some great plays when he's got something to prove. 

Score

This will likely not be fun, but I will be optimistic that the offense will improve some. Alas, it's not enough to overcome the Mateer factor. Sooners lose 27-20. Prove me wrong!

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

South Carolina Gamecock vs. Oklahoma Sooners

 Hello Sooner fans. Last week in a victory against Mississippi State, the Sooners found a little something in the run game. The return of Michael Fasusi at left tackle was a big reason why. Today it'll be rainy in Norman and effective, ugly offense could win the day. Thankfully, nobody does ugly like Ben Arbuckle. 

The Sooners will be forced to commit to the run. By virtue of the hopeful success, Isaiah Sategna will find his spots and have yet another high quality performance. He's my OPOG today.

In a rainy game, the team that can run most effectively is probably going to win the football game. I don't like South Carolina's chances of meeting with success in this regard against the Sooner defense. 

I'll take Owen Heinecke for my DPOG and about 13 tackles, please. Lanorris Sellers is one of the few quarterbacks in the SEC that I would choose after John Mateer.

Mateer today will hopefully build on what wound up being pretty gaudy numbers last week and probably a performance that was on a par with what he did against Texas.

The name of the game today is to build on last week. The weather will force their commitment to running the ball and using the tight end game. If they can be effective, I like the Sooners to win by two touchdown.

OU 27, South Carolina 13.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

South Carolina

 Well, the Sooners have gotten to the good side of the win loss column again with a glittering 4-3 record. The team just isn't very good. It's the same refrain week in week out, good defense, anemic/inept offense. Frankly, it's not very entertaining football. My excitement is no doubt reflected in these half assed posts. I know nothing about South Carolina except that I fear we are becoming them. A mediocre SEC team that will get a flashy upset every year or two, contend once or twice a decade, but never really threaten the big powers and never really be anything more than an also-ran. Man, that's depressing. I would very  much like to be wrong about this. Until we get someone else running the offense, and maybe the team, things don't seem ripe for change. 

Offense

I watched none of the game last week, but the team did manage to put up a few points. I have no idea how much of this was bullshit and how much was actually capable offense. I'm going with Isaiah Sategna III today for no reason other than we forcefeed him the ball like no other.

Defense

I'm going to go with Jayden Jackson again today. He's quietly solid and always seems to be making solid plays. He's not the biggest headline grabber of this unit, but feels like a guy that will be a steal for some NFL team eventually.

Score

I've gone with the Sooners every week this season, channeling my colleague with blind optimism. It's been a real role reversal here at the Steamroller this season, but I'm not breaking precedent now. Sooners win this one 34-28.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Mississippi State

 We stink. That's really the crux of it. Defense is quite good, but we are never going to win games with any sort of consistency with this putrid offense. They can't sustain drives, they can't manage the clock, they have nothing they can go to when they need a play. It's all just cute fakes, qb sneaks and nonsense that never moves the ball. So, without the ability to score points on offense, it's nearly impossible to win. I'm increasingly convinced that Ben Arbuckle is the problem here. Mateer has not been good, but he's not exactly set up for success. Anyway, that kentucky game was a total debacle. I'm about 95% checked out on this team at this point. It's just brutal.

Offense

I don't know what else to say here. I'll go with Lloyd Avant. Again. For no reason. Again.

Defense

I'll go with Jake Kruel. Mostly out of a hope he continues to develop. He certainly looks the part of our next star on that unit. I think he really stands out today in a limited roll and continues to press for more playing time.

Score

Mississippi State is perpetually overrated. But, we are also awful. Just to keep my streak going of idiotic optimism. I think Sooners win this one today. 17-14. Why not?

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooner vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

 Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners are fresh off a disappointing loss to Kentucky. A loss in which the Sooners were, yet again, their own worst nightmare. Now, a stretch of winnable games looks like a week-to-week potential disaster. The most fascinating aspect of which is that the Sooners coaching staff are defiant in their belief that everything is fine and there is literally nothing more that can be done, except execute.

As each week passes, however, the pressure gets tighter and tighter. John Mateer is obviously gone after this season. Ben Arbuckle is, presumably, a dead man walking. Will these two take down Brent Venables on their way out? It's certainly possible.

Anyway, that's the most intriguing thing about this season at this point, because there isn't anything to indicate dramatic improvment or change is on the horizon.

OFFENSE

Ben Arbuckle insists that John Mateer gives the Sooners their best chance to win. He turns the ball over multiple times a game. Can anyone do worse? We may never know. I think Arbuckle is probably right. But if the Sooners continue to lose with Mateer and they don't become bowl eligible, don't you have to see what's in the stable for next year? That's a question for a few more losses down the road. 

I'm not picking an OPOG this game. Ben Arbuckle ensures that no one stands out. 

Oh, and also, the damning indictment of the week is that yet another offensive lineman went down in practice. This time a backup who had to go to the hospital. 

DEFENSE

I feel so bad for these guys. They'll hold the Bulldogs under 24 and it won't be enough. I'll take that freshman, number 98, Jake Kreul for my DPOG. I don't know from under which rock the Sooners had him squirreled away, but he's a menace at defensive end, leading the team in sacks with three.

THE SCORE

I mean, for shits and giggles let's say Sooners 27, Bulldogs 24. But my heart isn't in it. I think Jeff Lebby will run it up if he gets the chance. We know Mateer is capable of fucking anything up. Ben Arbuckle is inept. I haven't been this disappointed since the late 90's.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.