OU-texas

Another year has passed and we are on the cusp of another OU texas game. It is simultaneously the game that gets me the most pumped up and the most nervous. While I do appreciate being in the position of the favorite and what that means, I hate the pressure being on us with them having something to prove. Luckily, this isn't usually a game that either team looks past, regardless of ranking.

If you're reading this, you know the stories. Throw the rankings out, etc. Though the Oklahoman went to great lengths to illustrate that the rankings DO matter, I still call bullshit. This game is always close regardless of rankings, and close plays come down to momentum shifts and turnovers, and rankings don't mean shit for those two things.

texas is greatly improved this year. Although, they were pure shit last year, so that isn't terribly monumental. Maybe it would be more appropriate to say they are more like teams of the past. However, they are quite young, notably at the skill positions and in the secondary. To me this is the huge advantage for us. Experience goes a long way in this game and in this atmosphere. That said, I think it will be a close game.

I know last week I made a point of Ikard getting tested at center. In hindsight, I probably brought that out a week early as this week he looks to face some legit division I tackles. texas is big and fast up front, our line will be tested. Additionally, by all accounts, they like to blitz a lot. The biggest question I have in this one is how Lonnie will react to the blitz and being under duress. If it's anything like he's reacted in the first four games, it will go a long way toward keeping texas in this. He has, I repeat, HAS to handle pressure better. There has been a fair amount of talk about how he's only been sacked once. Credit the O-line certainly, but I could avoid sacks too if I took a snap and blindly threw off my back foot at the first sign of a blitz (read: 5 Int's). Lonnie has to give his O-line a chance to protect against the blitz, furthermore he needs to utilize that time to go through a progression and actually find an open receiver. If that means getting sacked or throwing one out of bounds on occasion that's cool. I think our defense can be trusted, so it's OK to punt if it means avoiding a pick.

That's the other side of the coin. I think our defense comes in ready. Sure, they (their offensive coordinator particularly) have a reputation for trick plays and lots of shifting and motion plays to fuck with the D's heads. However, a key element is they have two first year starters running that shit, so if we can see through all of the movement, my guess is the plays get more simple after the snap. In that vein, I expect to see a healthy dose of all-world freshman Malcolm Brown along with the veteran muppet. We will definitely be fooled a few times, and expect to see them try for a home run at LEAST once in the first quarter (second drive I think) to try to give them momentum/confidence. We need to avoid a slow start and, unlike last year, put them away.

I'm nervous about this one for sure, but I think it stacks up fairly well for us. If we can avoid giving up the big plays and avoid turning it over it bodes very well for us. Those are two big "if's", but I think our defense will be ready and ultimately that will be the key. We have to keep their drives short in order to get our offense (and their defense) back on the field, as I'm guessing they will desire to do precisely the opposite.

Offense

Last week was pretty unbelievable, admittedly against inferior competition, nearly everyone had a huge day. I don't expect that again, but I think we can move the ball on them. I hope Whaley continues his excellent start and has a huge day. I think he can for sure, although it will get tougher now as I'm sure teams have started to notice him. I have sort of a gut feeling that we might see a little of Brandon Williams in some meaningful minutes. However, my pick this week is James Hanna. Big and athletic, and has stepped in big games before. With all of our weapons, he seems easy to lose and I think this week he capitalizes.

Defense

I love Frank Alexander and Tony Jefferson here. I think both will have big days, but I'm going with Old Steady this week. It's his last OU-texas game, he's wearing Soggy's number, and his foot is supposed to be fully healed (not that it's slowed him down much). My guess is he's had one of those emergency boners you hear about on the Viagra commercials (...an erection lasting longer than 4 hours) all week in anticipation of this one. I think he's all over the field, and makes the most of his last go at these fucks.

Finally, the score pick. I think this one will be close (our D + Lonnie's pant shitting = close game, it's simple math really), I think Texas will make some big plays, but I think we will do enough to pull it out. It goes down to the end, but I think the Sooners take it 24-17. I've been the definition of anti-flaccid all week with thoughts on this game. I can't wait for the action. Let's roll heads on these rotten motherfuckers.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Really?

Quit with the stupid fucking poker references.

Oklahoma - Ball State Highlights

Here is a nice highlight package via some great Sooner fan goes by HolaKyle

(hairy) Ball State

Good, nee GREAT title. So the Fighting Somethings (probably) of Ball State come into Norman tonight to defender the honor of The (insert mid-major conference here). I personally think that OU is going to handle this one. In fact, you might say I think we'll come out with a mind to do a little Ball busting. Even though they may have inspirations of being Cinderella tonight, I don't think they're going to enjoy the Ball. However, their offense isn't terrible and so our defense will really need to be on the Ball. Personally, I hope they everyone of them runs out like they just snorted an eight Ball. It won't hurt that Still and Broyles will (probably) be on the field and feeling well together for the first time all season, just to get the Ball rolling. Also, I think Dom Whaley is going to go out today and straight Ball. In short, I look for OU to have a Ball in this one.

Wow, I simultaneously embarrassed and impressed myself with that montage (by the way, what is the over/under on Berry Tramel making a similar pun, only in seriousness, at some point in regard to this game?). The fellows from Ball State may have fallen into a bad week to come to Norman. Allegedly everyone is pretty pissed at how they played last week on our defense and my guess is they'll look to make a statement and get the confidence going again a bit in anticipation of next Saturday's showdown.

Keith made some nice points in his mid-week bullets. However, he buffed out the scratches a bit for my taste. Let's be honest, Landry has looked terrible all year. Yeah, he has put up gaudy numbers but I can't think of one time where a drive looked great because he made excellent throws. He constantly over and under throws players, he makes at least 3 or 4 plays a game that make you say out loud the words "What the FUCK was he doing?", and he rarely (if ever) seems to go through a progression. Don't believe me? Watch him and where he is looking on pass plays, he almost never goes to a second or third option. Mark my words, if/when we lose this season it won't be in spite of him.

Second, the defense looked bad. What the fuck is all of this three man rush shit? More importantly, where are the alternatives when it doesn't work. The first two drives against Mizzou, we had three down linemen generate zero pressure on their QB. It was that or bring 8. Can we get some 4 or 5 man rushes on occasion? However, I'm not nearly as worried about the defensive situation as I am with Lonnie. I think (hope) last week was an aberration and a wake-up call for the D. I can see how they might have been patting their backs a little after the effort at FSU and let up some. Hopefully they learned that it doesn't work that way and it didn't cost us a loss last week.

Finally, it's probably deserving of at least a mention on here that Habern is out for several weeks. The O-line has been a bit of a patchwork job already thanks to injuries. We are getting some guys back, as Jarvis Jones looks to return to more regular duty this week. But, losing our center and arguably our best lineman is tough. We will definitely miss him, but hopefully Ikard can fill in adequately. Watch for some bobbled snaps in the gun possibly today. Hopefully not though.

OK, enough pessimism. That probably should've been it's own column last week but I never got it done. Anyway, I don't know a ton about Ball State. I know the basic stuff that's been in the papers (None of the Homework!). They evidently have a decent offense, and one that has been perfect in the red-zone. I don't think they turn it over much, maybe even no picks by their QB yet (what that must be like). But, apart from an Indiana team... er, scratch that, they've played no one.  I think we'll, handle them pretty well today on both sides of the Ball (keep 'em coming). Zing!

Offense

Well, I'll save the suspense of telling you who I'm not (ever) going to pick. Instead, let's talk about who I think it will be. I know I've not mixed up the players of the game too much this season, but nonetheless I'm going with my gut again. I think it's going to be Dom Whaley. I just love that guy and, let's be real, Brennan Clay is a good player but he shouldn't be starting or taking carries away from this guy. Whaley is great in all aspects of running the ball. I haven't paid much attention to his blocking, but I don't remember him getting beat specifically, at least not consistently and he seems to catch the ball pretty well although that sample size is pretty small. Let's start to feature him I say. Anyway, I think he breaks 100 this week for the first time and scores twice.

Defense

Somebody is going to have to step up and impress this week. I know Old Steady will be out there being, well, steady. He's vocal and he'll have the boys fired up. Also, I think we're due for a Tony Motherfuckin' Jefferson break out game. He's been solid but quiet so far this year. Don't make us regret the Motherfuckin' award. I'm keeping with my repeats theme for defense today and going with Frank Alexander. I don't think it's even a close race as to who has been our defensive MVP thus far and overall most improved player. He's been an absolute beast, and that Mizzou game last week fucking impressive. I think big Frank gets to the QB at least once and continues to be the disruptive force he's been all year.

Overall, I think we'll handle these guys. They'll no doubt score a bit, but I don't think they really threaten us at all in this one. I think the Defense come out fired up, and I think the offense clicks well. I hope Ikard gets enough reps. under center this week to be comfortable going into next week. I think we score early, I think we score often, and I don't think they do too much at all. Drew Allen gets some completions this week and Roy Finch gets plenty of touches as the Sooners win going away 48-14.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner!

OU vs. Ball State

One pair of OU football season tickets costs no less than $800.00. Your $800 gets you six games. In Oklahoma, the year is measured by the first game of the football season and the BCS Championship game. We'd just as soon not have January through July. So, to me, the idea of not going to a home game is ludicrous. But Oklahoma football fans are pretty spoiled and, believe it or not, this incoming Ball State football team has not captured the imaginations of the Sooner faithful. The result is the easiest, cheapest ticket you can imagine for a top-5 football team. I swear I saw Sooner fans giving tickets instead of coin to local panhandlers this week.

It doesn't help that last week's performance against Mizzou was marked by a pretty heartless effort by the Sooners. For whatever reason no one in Sooner nation seemed real fired up.

This Ball State ball game should serve as a perfect opportunity to correct last week's mistakes and get sharp in some areas because next week is a damn big one.

Things to work on:

• Pass Defense. The Sooner D was gashed last week and so far this season this unit either gets tackles for losses or gives up yards in massive chunks.
• Sustained aggressiveness on the Offensive Line. The Sooners can score fast and look like a machine when the O-Line is nasty. This unit needs to prove they can keep their heads out of their asses and keep their focus for a full game. It will be hard for them to do today.
• The Backup QB situation. Lonnie's jersey has been kept pretty clean this year but all it takes is one play for your whole season to ride on someone untested. The Stoops era has been marked by a stubborn unwillingness to give backup QB's any meaningful game reps. It's never made sense to me but maybe Bobby learned something from Sam Bradford's Senior season. There's no better time to strengthen the depth chart than today.
• The 3rd and 4th Wide Receivers. See the Backup QB Situation. Besides the emergence of Dom Whaley the most intriguing story on the Sooners Offense, to me, is who ultimately wins that 3rd spot out of Trey Franks (who won't play today), Dejuan Miller, Jaz Reynolds and Kameel Jackson. Franks, Miller and Reynolds have all made cases while Jackson is the darkhorse but is being given every chance. 
• Spreading the ball around. I really don't see this happening because Texas is next week but Lonnie could benefit by practicing checking down his receivers, working on reading progressions and distributing the ball to as many people as possible. 

OFFENSE


I'm stepping out on a precarious limb here but I'm going to go with Roy Finch today. In a perfect scenario Dominique Whaley's day is done after the first or second series of the 3rd Quarter. Finch or possibly even Freshman wunderkind Brandon Williams should see a good number of touches. If Finch is to have any kind of meaningful impact for the Sooners this year he needs to make the most of his chances today. So I believe (stupidly) in the good of humanity and I enjoy seeing the triumph of the human spirit so I believe Finch will rise to whatever occasion might be presented. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see him try too hard and fumble which would be devastating for him from a future PT (now that's Playing Time - Football Lingo) perspective.


DEFENSE


If I had to select a defensive MVP for the Sooners so far this season it would have to be Frank Alexander. He is a one man wrecking crew. Any Sooner opponent watching film has to be making plans to avoid this man whenever possible. I would even hope an opponent as hapless as Ball State is aware of this. That means, like a pack of lions working the hunt in tandem, Ronnell Lewis is going to have a lot of opportunities to make plays. If all goes according to my plans, he might break someone in half today. I'd be all for it. So The Hammer is my defensive pick.


THE PICK


Ball State are 40 point underdogs. The only real question is can the Sooners cover it. I know they can but I don't think they will. Josh Heupel seems pretty content to run whatever kind of offense he needs to keep the opponent at arms length. He'll have the Sooners going on long, boring methodical drives and it will be as vanilla as possible given the Red River Rivalry is coming up.


Maybe I should try to give away my tickets after all. Nah.


Sooners 42, Ball State 7

Edited to add: Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner! Tip them PBR's

OU - Mizzou Game Tape Review

This article is sponsored by the American Pigeon Museum and Library in Oklahoma City - When you have a message that you want delivered slow or maybe not at all, choose pigeon's, choose the World of Wings. 

Some quick thoughts after watching the tape (Presented in bullet points for my man TFrye who, "doesn't have time for paragraphs"):

• There is no real good excuse anymore for Dominque Whaley not being the feature back. The carries between he and Brennan Clay were nearly even. No disrespect to Clay, who really is a solid player, but he doesn't have the "missability" of Whaley (as Emmitt Smith might say). There was a series in the 3rd Quarter where Whaley had a hole close and he made himself small and, "squirted through the line" for a 1st down. The next play he caught a short pass, delivered a hit, stayed in bounds then used a spin move and a leap to get inside the 5. The next play he outran the defense to gain the corner and score. In short, he can do just about anything.
• The Sooners Offense is at it's best when the ball is getting spread around. Any offense is but I mean the Sooners really need to get Trey Millard and James Hanna involved every now and again. Those guys are under-utilized weapons.
• Jaz Reynolds did a nice job stepping up in Kenny Fuckin Shitbag and Trey Franks's stead.
• At the game I felt like Lonnie is a System Quarterback. I believe it more and more. His numbers are gaudy but his pant shitting robs him of real greatness. By pant shitting I mean anytime the pocket may collapse.
• In person I was disappointed in Josh Heupel's play calling. On tape it wasn't so bad. I think it was the fact that the "hurry up to the line play" was beyond predictable. When half-drunk homers in the last row of the upper deck are calling the plays, chances are good your opponent's Defensive Coordinator is dialed in as well.
• The Sooners D-Line is badass and Frank Alexander in particular is a damn beast.
• Gabe Lynn still looks lost on Defense.

OU vs. The Mizz

When the schedules were released this game looked like a marquee matchup. Sure, former Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert left school a year too early to go to the NFL but, like all recruits, Gabbert's replacement is even better than Gabbert (who was the greatest of all times!).

Today, thanks in large part to a pedestrian victory over Miami (OH) and a loss to the only other D-1 team they've faced, Mizzou finds themselves nearly 30 point 'dogs. The GameDay crew didn't even bother with a score prediction. That's how little anyone cares for Mizzou's chances. As an aside, it's this college football irrelevency which inexplicably has given Mizzou reason to believe it belongs in the SEC.

Meanwhile, our Sooners, by virtue of a hard fought victory over a top five ranked Florida State squad on national television, has earned it's 30-point favorite status. Today they return to Owen Field where, lest we forget, the Sooners don't lose and where they shall be greeted as conquering heroes.

Oh, throw in the fact that the Mizz beat OU last year and revenge will be on the mind. Motivation plus confidence plus home field advantage equals an ass beat. It's true.

OFFENSE

Kenny Fuckin Shitbag Stills really pulled the Sooners ass out of the fire last week. Whilst doing it, he established himself as a bonafide threat and more than Robin to Ryan Broyles Batman. Trey Franks has also run afoul of some team rules and finds himself in street clothes today. I think this all means big things for Kenny. I mean, he's pretty much a badass. So I'm picking him.

In other offensive news I'm looking forward to Lonnie settling down (again) and the O-Line dominating consistently.

Also, my big question is will Roy Finch touch the football? Does it matter?

DEFENSE

Last week the Sooner D was vicious. I can't remember hitting like that since Mike Stoops was here. I shat my trousers when I saw Old Steady on the field.

This is a good time to mention that I was way off on who would sport the #12. My source said it would be Tony Jefferson. Full confession: My source was my grundle. I also thought Old Steady would wear 12 when he came back. So of course Frank Alexander wore it.

Today the key is stopping the run. Mizzou has some kid that averages 38 yards per carry. We can't let that happen.

I'm excited to see which Javon Harris shows up. On that note, I'm picking him as my defensive POG.

THE SCORE

I think Mizzou is a fraud. I'm wary about a possible letdown from the Sooners after an emotional victory. I'm hopeful the home crowd elevates the Sooners to greater emotional heights.

OU 42 Mizzou 17

My PBR's been cracked. Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.