Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Tech Red Raiders

 Hello Sooners fans and welcome to a rainy Saturday in Oklahoma. The Sooners, fresh off a curious Bedlam win, find themselves bowl eligible and looking to finish the regular season on a high note today in Lubbock Texas against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

Against the Cowboys the Sooners played a first quarter on both sides of the ball that looked like quality football. From there, the offense was anemic while putting on a clinic on how not to manage the clock. The Sooners played hurry up and punt while the defense, to their credit, played like what you might hope and expect a Brent Venables football team to play like. 

Today the Sooners need to clean up a lot on offense and continue to build on defense.

OFFENSE

This offense is 8 for 33 on third down over the last two games. Everyone has been responsible. Jeff Lebby, Dillon Gabriel, WR's dropping passes, penalties, you name it. But you have to start with Jeff Lebby today. He has to be able to adjust and someone has to help him manage the clock and timeouts. 

From there, Dillon Gabriel needs to chill the fuck out. In the first quarter last week he looked in rhythm. He was light on his feet and he had confidence. You can sense his tension and see it on the field in the last three quarters when he fires laser beams on short routes or takes dumb sacks.

He needs to relax, give his playmakers a chance and run every now and then. Jalil Farooq and Marvin Mims need to step up. They have about 10 drops between them in the last month. When they get a chance at a catchable ball, they need to step up. 

I'm taking Dillon Gabriel today who has to be pleased with some of what he saw on film. Build on it. 

DEFENSE

I did not see last week coming. One could argue that this is not the Oklahoma State offense of years past and you would be right. But the Sooners have been letting mediocre offenses embarass them all season. It was a huge boost to be able to turn the ball over, hassle Spencer Sanders and hang on for the victory. 

Notably, the line looked better. Isaiah Coe, Jaylen Redmond and Jeffrey Johnson have been getting some pressure. Ethan Downs and Jonah Laulu have been visible. Laulu, in particular, shows some promise. 

CJ Coldon has arrived on the scene at DB. He seems to have taken over for a much maligned and often abused Jaden Davis. Billy Bowman has been solid since he came back. 

Look. None of these guys are all Big 12. But over the last month they've played well enough to keep the Sooners in the game. 

Tonight they need to keep it up because Lubbock is always a tough place for the Sooners to play and the odds of DG not shitting himself are slim.

For shits and grins I'll take my man Laulu for DPOG. Fuck it.

THE SCORE

I get the sense that the wide receivers of the Sooners are going to put it together today. And I think Jeff Lebby learned something from tape before he strapped on a feedbag at his Thanksgiving dinner. These two developments are key for the Sooners as they have to score probably 38 points to make sure they win. 

It's a tall order. Still, you know me, I'm taking the Sooners here 38-31.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Tech Red Raiders

 Good afternoon Sooner fans it's a glorious day in Oklahoma. A fine afternoon for a football game. Today our 8-0 Oklahoma Sooners take on the Red Raiders in what on most days might be considered a trap game. Fortunately or no, the Sooners had their trap game last week against Kansas. It was a butt puckering affair that required Caleb Williams to invent a new football play on a 4th down conversion to pull the Sooner asses out of the proverbial fire. 

It's hard to polish a turd that wet but I'm here for it. It's good the Sooners got tested and who cares what it did to them in the rankings. They are still in the drivers seat. Now they have a home game against a team with a brand new coach, then a bye, then they run the gauntlet. It's all out there for the taking. If you break the season up into parts this might be the third act. The Sooners have two weeks to start playing their best ball and then it's six games to glory.

Let's get it going today.

OFFENSE

It's Caleb Williams world and we're just living in it. If I can pick some knits I'd like to see him distribute the ball a little more but it's tough to argue his going to where he's comfortable early and often to Jaden Haselwood. Frankly, he could probably run a smidge more too although the threat of his running is probably enough to keep linebackers in place. 

Today I look for lots of short passes with big plays by receivers. I like Haselwood to have another big day.

DEFENSE

Good Lord, these guys. They have to get their shit together and today everything is set up on a platter for them. They have the home crowd, a terrible team, a new coach and they should have a Quasimodo sized chip on their shoulder. 

So help me if they can't get off the field. They all need to answer the bell. It's exasperating as hell. I'm not picking anyone this week although I like the spirit that Key Lawrence plays with. 

THE SCORE

This damn well better be a total ass beat. If the Sooners can't come out crisp and fired up on both sides of the ball then you really will have to doubt this is the year and this is the team. I'm serious. Today is a fresh start and lots of people have something to prove a play for. 

I'm going Sooners 28, Red Raiders 7 and it better not be that close.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Tech Red Raiders

Good evening, Sooner fans. I am begging your forgiveness for the tardiness and brevity of this puff piece. The Oklahoma bureau of Sooner Steamroller has been without power since Tuesday on account of an apocalyptic ice storm. 2020 is relentless in its commitment to being the worst. 

Alas we press on.

OFFENSE

Spencer Rattler did a fine job of game management last week and he found his playmaker in Marvin Mims, Jr. This week I'd like to see Rattler continue to build and a key to his development is Austin Stogner. He had a nice game against Texas but last week dropped at least three balls that were heavily defended. His mission in life is to catch balls in traffic that are heavily defended. Stogner is my OPOG today.

DEFENSE

These guys are almost decent. I was but much pleased to see intensity and speed for the entire game. The Red Raiders offer another great opportunity to take a step forward. A night road game against a shit team is a recipe for heady vibes and PlayStation type numbers.

I am not picking a DPOG today. However, there are a couple of candidates who, if they don't watch themselves, could find themselves getting called out in a great way on this platform.

As an aside, it is patently ridiculous that country music legend, PRCA bronco rider and Sooner defensive end Ronnie Perkins is still not eligible to play as a result of a positive marijuana test last year. What in the actual shit. Can someone pull the stick out of the NCAA's asshole, please? This defense improves dramatically with him on the field.

SCORE

The Sooners cruise on the road and look and feel good doing it. I like the Sooners big time today. 

Sooners 49 Red Raider 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. Things have really fallen in to place for the Sooners following the firing of Mike Stoops. First a bye week then back to back hum drum offenses to adjust to new leadership. And now it's time to put that new D to the test on the road, at night, in Prime Time. It's hard to overstate how big this is for the Sooners to prove to themselves and the college football world that they have some semblance of a D.

OFFENSE

The key for the Sooners here is to get Kyler Murray settled down as quickly as possible. The only chance Texas Tech has on defense is to get Murray to make bad decisions. They should do anything to get him scrambling 50 yards in the backfield and taking 12 yard losses. Of course if the O-Line picks up the blitz, he'll feast.

Speaking of offensive lines, the Sooners have a good one and I think they'll use it to bludgeon the Red Raider D and pound the crowd into submission. The Sooners are clicking so well on offense this year that they can score whenever and however they want. They know as well as anyone that their offense is also their best defense. I expect to see a lot of play calling designed to milk the clock.

For my OPOG I'm going Kyler Murray. This game means everything for the Sooners. Your best player has to step up.

DEFENSE

All I want in the world today is to be able to say, in an evil genius type of voice, it looks like the Sooners have a defense. The D has been playing well under Ruffin McNeil but the TCU and K-State offenses are nothing like what they'll face tonight. I'm not convinced the Red Raiders are a juggernaut, either. The Sooners, quite literally, only have to stop them four times to win.

There are so many new faces now I have no idea who to pick for DPOG. I have a vision of Bookie running around like a demon and being a blitzer making life miserable for the Red Raiders. I hope he's playing today. Apparently he's a game time decision. If he plays, he's my guy.

THE SCORE

I think this could be a tight, low scoring (by these teams standards) affair. The Sooners offense will be content to control the ball so they may be a little self limiting and the defense will hopefully get some stops.
If you can believe it, I have faith that they'll do it. I like the Sooners here 35-21.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Texas Tech

Welcome back to another week of the Steamroller. The Sooners go down to Lubbock for a tilt with Kliff Kingsbury and the Red Raiders. The Sooners D looked halfway decent last week. I'm not sure if this due to the new system paying dividends or a really putrid K State offense, but I'm inclined (read: negatively conditioned) to think the latter. Regardless, it was nice to see the defense get stops and keep the OU offense on the field. Let's remember, with the OU offense, the '85 Bears aren't needed, just something other than paper cutouts of football men. 

This week will certainly provide a tougher test. I read an article on Thursday talking about the 2016 matchup. At the time I was incredibly irritated (hope you were sitting down) by the horrid defense, but it was pretty amazing to watch the offensive exhibition by both teams. I'm grossly paraphrasing but, the article quoted Bob Stoops as telling Riley to keep his foot on the gas because, essentially, he had zero faith that the defense could stop Tech. I think that says a lot about his faith in brother,Mikey's D.

The Tech offense is going to be tough. It's going to score fast against the D and it's going to score more than any Sooner fan would like. Fortunately, I believe the OU offense will score a good bit too. The atmosphere will be intense; Tech is solid and a Saturday night home tilt against a top 10 team will bring out the crowd. There are a slew of huge games this Saturday, OU can't get caught scoreboard watching (as I will be doing), just beat Tech and keep the train rolling.

Offense

Another week, another surprise at RB. After writing off Trey Sermon last week, he came out and put both of his cleats squarely up the collective Wildcat ass. Which is tough because kicking with both feet is physically impossible, but humor me. I temper my excitement again because it was a dreadful K State team, but it looked like the running game may finally be rolling again after a long adjustment of missing Rod Anderson. Kyler Murray is so fun to watch too and CeeDee Lamb is breaking out as a dominant receiver. With all of those weapons, it makes zero sense that I'm picking Kennedy Brooks this week. He runs so hard, and I have visions of him catching a screen or short dump off and taking it all the way to the house.

Defense

I think the defense gets exposed again this week for the first time since that godawful texas game. My hope is that it isn't that bad again. The OU secondary hasn't been good, which does not bode well for this matchup. And while the lack of pressure sans blitz has been demoralizing, I think that's the difference today in that Amani Bledsoe come up with at least one huge sack/forced fumble that turns the momentum to OU for good.

Score

OU was -13.5 last I looked and the O/U is 78, so the pros agree that this will be high scoring. I like the offense to move the ball well and I think the defense does enough in a tough road test. I'm taking the over (barely) and OU to cover (barely), Sooners take it 48-31. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner. 

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech

Well it looks like the doom and gloom was a bit premature. The Sooners looked like they were launched out of a cannon last week and very little of their performance bore a resemblance to the product that was fielded against Texas. I cannot believe such a drastic change was possible. Now of course there's the woulda coulda shoulda's and why-for's wasn't this how they played against Texas. Texas is done. It's over. As the Tulsa World beat writer Guerin Emig said on Twitter during the game (I'm paraphrasing here) Sooner fans should be relieved the same team didn't show up against K-State, not confused or upset. 5-1 looks a hell of a lot better than 4-2 at this point.

Seriously though, the offense looked dynamic. It was fast getting to the line, the ball was going somewhere quickly and the K-State defense was continually on its heels. They had 30 first downs. This was the offense everyone was hoping for when Lincoln Riley came to town.

Defensively the Sooners held K-State to 110 yards. That's PlayStation Rookie level stuff. They tackled. They forced three turnovers.

Now the Sooners have some nice momentum going again, they're back at home and they've got some built in motivation with the Baker Mayfield - Texas Tech revenge factor. I'm back in baby and I just got a big whiff of some Red Raider ass beat.

OFFENSE

Obviously, more of same from last week here. Move your playmakers around, get the ball to them quickly in space and let them go to work. Baker Mayfield needs to stay calm. The Red Raiders give up yards in chunks so let's take them. The O-Line got a shake up and they looked good. They need to build on last week as well.

You know who I really want to pick? Mark Andrews. But it's not his time yet. Here in a few weeks we'll figure out good things happen the more he's on the football field. But for now, I'm going Joe Mixon. I just have that good old feeling today that he's going to do something awesome.

DEFENSE

Shutting anyone out is a big deal. The Sooner D made the K-State offense look Class B. The best thing to say, I guess, is they were ready willing and able to try new looks and personnel and it paid off. Getting Hatari Byrd off the football field to make way for Steven Parker full time worked. Someone named Will Johnson stepped in at the Nickel and looked pretty darn good.

What's coming this week is a different class of quarterback, however. It was dumb for Klifford Kingsbury to not give Baker Mayfield a scholarship but Patrick Mahomes is pretty solid. He, like Mayfield, seems to have "it".

I wish I could figure these guys out. They are trash one week, treasure the next. No one seems to epitomize this more than Zack Sanchez. Last week he was great. I hope he is this week also so I'm picking him. Don't sleep on Charles Walker though. It seems like that guy has been stepping up of late which, if true, is huge.

THE SCORE

The Red Raiders are easy to hate. They have a super inflated sense of self worth based on a history of mediocrity and tortilla tossing. Klifford K Kingsbury is an A-hole. The Sooners are going to be pumped. The home crowd is going to jacked up. It's going to be a fun game.

The Sooners pull it out going away 49-28.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

OU vs. Texas Tech

OU vs. Texas Tech

I had no idea before the season started that this would be a game I'd be skeered of. It was an afterthought, an assumption. But I'm a little nervous about a potential butt whoopin. It's not even that I think Texas Tech is even as good as their number 10 ranking. I think the Sooners are just that bad. Texas Tech has played nobody and that's the best news. The worst news is doesn't matter because Klifford K. Kingsbury and co. probably think mighty high of themselves and this is a showcase game for them.

It raises my favorite question to ask year after year. Can the Sooners match the intensity of an opponent not named Texas or Oklahoma State? They better.

OFFENSE

Josh Heupel had some unused razzle dazzle from the texas game that he showed off last week and the result was LaColtan Bester throwing the best ball of anyone this whole season. I kid but it was a nice ball and why the fuck was a handoff to Trey Millard the Sooners most exotic wrinkle against Texas?

Anyways there's always today. This game is right in our wheelhouse offensively. We have to control the game clock and plod along and keep those Red Raiders off the football field. That means we gotta run around em and through em and over em.

This could be another game to highlight the wunderkind Keith Ford but he fumbled last week so he'll probably sit the rest of the year, be out with a leg and ask for a medical redshirt. So I'm going Brennan Clay today. The old war horse is ready for action.

DEFENSE

This is where I'm scared shitless. It's not that the Sooners are inept, it's that they're decimated and apparently have no depth. Things could get real ugly here. The saving grace is that Texas Tech, unlike OU, likes the forward pass and stopping that is what our defense does best.

That said if we don't have our head on straight this Texas Tech team could score more points than our offense could in a wet dream. In short, we need to bring it.

Having said all that you'd think I'd go defensive back here but nah. I'm going Ass Tapper. He's going to get some good rushes on the quarterback today.

THE SCORE

Oh boy. We really have to play well on D today. Flawless. I still think they'll score 21 so I'm going 27-21 in a "As close as the score would indicate" type of game.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

OU vs. Texas Tech

I'm skeered. I am Chicken Little to my rotten core this week. The Sooners are pretty much terrible in Lubbock. The Red Raiders went to work in Norman last year. Obviously the Sooners got exposed last week. So on and so forth.

(Mumbling to myself: I will believe that nothing carries over week to week. Years past do not matter. Revenge has nothing to do with anything and Saturday is a new day.)

There truly is very little on paper to lead a Sooner fan to believe that victory is in sight. The Red Raiders are one of a handful of teams in the country who rank in the top 10 both offensively and defensively. Tech has had success through the air and on the ground as well. I predict the Sooners call a defensive timeout during the first series.

The Sooners, on the other hand, were their own worst nightmare against K-State. One can only hope they value the football on the road. With any luck Landry's obilgatory INT will come early, be on a deep toss on 3rd down (essentially making it a punt) and Tech goes three and out.

OFFENSE

This offense isn't exactly anemic. Take away the turnovers and there were some positives against K-State. Sterling Shepard "arrived" for instance. So let's put all that crap behind us and choose an Offensive POG from one of the following athletes. Dom Whaley (solid but underwhelming so far - due for a breakout?), DD Williams (possible home run with any touch), Kenny Fuckin Shitbag (Gets his hands on a lot of balls), Justin Brown (Just been delightfully good) and Sterling Shepard (See: "Arrived").

I'll mention Roy Finch for fun just once, the same number of times Toby Rowland probably will. He averages 10 yards per carry if you're keeping score at home.

I'm going with Justin Brown. I've just been real impressed by this youth thus far and I think he's ready to go beyond solid to making some game changing plays.

DEFENSE

According to my crack statistician, Gene Morgan, the Sooners have force one turnover so far. Not exactly the ball hawks we all looked forward to. This unexpected turn also makes selecting a Defensive POG something akin to throwing darts.

In that vein I can only choose by process of elimination. I probably can't pick an interior lineman. Tom Wort made me look like an asshole when I picked him for K-State. Nobody has exactly looked like a man amongst boys.

I guess I'll say Aaron Colvin just for grins. I mean, what the hell?

THE SCORE

In spite of my fear and doom and gloom I do realize that someone needs to knock the smirk of Tommy Tuberville's face. He's so smug. I think he feels like he's playing chess vs. checkers having come from the SEC. Screw him.

If anyone should do it it should be our Sooners, damnit. And they will do it. The defense plays just well enough and the offense exposes a defense that's played nobody.

Sooners 31, Texas Tech 27

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Schedule Preview

It's opening week and the nadir of hope and optimism.  Time to foist the crimson-est of crimson colored glasses onto your chubby happy cheeks.

On the eve of their epic quest for glory, let us take a walk through this rainbow filled glen and look ahead at each opponent the Sooners will annihilate.

September 1st, 2012 at University of Texas - El Paso
The last time the Sooners played a Mike Price coached team it was a PlayStation performance for the defense in the Rose Bowl against Washington State. Virtually every unit on offense and defense needs to work the kinks out. I, like everyone else, am keenly interested to see how the defense looks.

September 8th, 2012 Florida A&M
I heard tell that the famous Florida A&M band was not making the trip to Norman for this one. Hopefully it's an ugly, vicious rumor. Else, why schedule this one? I suppose it will satisfy the blood thirst. Also, it will make me pop a vein in my forehead to see the empty seats in the student section.

September 22nd, 2012 Kansas State
This will be a decent test I suppose. If nothing else the Sooners should be tuned up by this point and good and healthy.

October 6th, 2012 at Texas Tech
Revenge Game. Tech always is a tough place to play. There's something about that Tommy Tuberville I just don't like. He's got an arrogance like he's playing chess vs. checkers since he came from the SEC. In short, he's a jerkoff and I hope we shit down their throats.

October 13th, 2012 Texas, at Dallas
Not worried. As long as Mack is suckling on the teat of some pre-Madonna QB's Mama and promising playing time for her blond-hair blue-eyed kiddo the Sooners have this in the bag.

October 20th, 2012 Kansas
Charlie Weis inherits what might possibly be the largest dearth of talent in Division 1 (or whatever it's called today). A perfect tune-up for Notre Dame.

October 27th, 2012 Notre Dame
This is one of the most highly anticipated non-conference games that I can remember. Every one and their dog has this date circled on the calendar as the "game they are going to". I hate giving any credit to Notre Dame (backhanded compliment alert!) because they are so overrated but the name still does carry massive cache'. Also, the Sooners have a hard time against them. Sooner Magic has historically been trumped by the Luck of the Irish. There are only two (!) home games worth a shit this year and this is the first.

November 3rd, 2012 at Iowa State
Potential letdown game after the whipping of the Irish. One thing Iowa State does is play hard. The Sooners will be a battle-tested fine tuned machine by now though. This is also the point in the season where, in recent years, the Sooners have been undefeated but still manage to come out flat. It is the bane of my existence and I do not want to see it this year.

November 10th, 2012 Baylor
Revenge game. I also have to believe that a Robert Griffin the 3rd-less Baylor team is a neutered Baylor team. Also, the defense can not be nearly as porous as last year. Plus it's at home. Plus it's a revenge game. Also, it's at this point in the season when I start thinking Brent Venables needs to be fired. Looking forward to not worrying about that.

November 17th, 2012 at West Virginia
Well everyone thinks this one will be huge. It will almost certainly have a deep conference impact. Of course there is also the novelty of West Virginia's entrance into the Big 12. You couldn't pay me to travel to Morgantown as a fan of the visiting team. As an Oklahoman we can make fun of about 5 states. West Virginia tops the list.

November 24th, 2012 Oklahoma State
All roads to glory lead home. Revenge game. Cowboys fans are drinking the Kool-Aid hard by already trying to convince themselves that their true Freshman Quarterback has all the skills (plus he's a better athlete) than 28 year old Brandon Weeden. I also overhead someone trying to seriously assert that some WR (really the name is irrelevant) is better in all phases of the game than Justin Blackmon. Puff Puff Give you HIGH motherfucker.

PS this is the other home game that's worth pissing on.

December 1st, 2012 at Texas Christian 
TCU's roster got decimated by some hard working Christians on the roster had their highly profitable pot-ring busted. But they need to be taken seriously. Especially when they are the only thing standing in the way of perfection.

Up next we'll discuss the 2012 MFer award and we'll throw a few team oriented predictions out there as well.

OU vs. Tech

This rabid Sooner fan went to a costume ball last week instead of watching the game. Then, I fat fingered (technical term) my DVR so I pretty much got to see dick of the contest last week. I was able to make it home in time to see the second half thanks in large part to a terribly timed closing of the bar. (Note to future party planners: If you want the party to end just close the bar. It's fool-proof)  It sucked that I missed seeing Ryan Broyles smash the FBS receiving record. But, Navin offered some small measure of consolation by pointing out that, "It'll probably happen again next year".

Praise Jehovah Jireh forYouTube

I'm glad I missed the defense's uninspired first half. Lazy dumb crap wears me out more than anything anyways. The second half was where it was at on that side of the ball. 

So this week offers up a mysterious Texas Tech squad. I still have yet to figure out their identity now that Tommy Tuberville has taken over. I guess they still rack up the yards. I heard their QB is leading the league (maybe nation) in total offense. I'd look it up but it's Texas Tech. Those are 10 seconds I might not get back.

I do know Tech has lost two games in a row, presumably to the only decent competition they've faced. Those two teams are K-State and A&M which OU has not played. So, tough to compare.

All of my confidence derives from the fact that this game is at home. It's been a while since the boys played at Owen Field. It will be nice to see them again in person and I'm sure my feelings are reciprocated by the squad. Also note: Texas Tech does not play the Sooners well in Norman.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down here? These are all glad tidings.

OFFENSE

I was a great date at the costume ball. I grabbed a beer and a chair and proceeded to watch ESPN Gamecast on my phone. I was able to keep up with what has to be one of the statistically poorer games of Lonnie's career. He started off 0-4. That never happens. System QB's don't go 0-4 during any stretch in this OU offense. Quoth Charles Barkley, "That's Turrible".

A home game is the tonic for Lonnie's game. I'm not picking him though. Hell no. Navin and I are now seeing things eye to eye on Lonnie.

 You can also mark it down that whomever I pick will play sparingly, if at all, and will have little to no impact on the outcome of the football game.

So I'm picking Ryan Broyles. He's a can't miss. If he catches less than 10 balls and goes for less than 150 then I'll just yank my telegraph right out of the wall fling my iPad 2 like a frisbee and give up this weblog business. I kid. My public needs me.

DEFENSE

Jamell Fleming is out. Not that I would pick him anyways but I wanted to prove I could read the scrolling ribbon on ESPNNews. I'm happy to let Navin have dibs on Franky Alexander.

I'll go with Tony Motherfuckin Jefferson. He nearly had 4 INT's the last time the Sooners were at home. A spread attack is where he makes hay. He's a gentleman, a scholar and hell of a guy. Works for me.

THE PICK

On paper last week was business as usual and expected. Everyone knows better. The Sooners have to be more consistent and have better execution. That's bad news for Tech.

It's not as close as the score would indicate but the Sooners come out on top 42-21.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner. Tip them PBR's