K State

I didn't get to sit down and watch last week's game start to finish, but I did catch a good majority of it in bits and pieces. I'm most likely far from correct, but it looked to me like the defense did a little better. They're certainly far from elite, but with the offense the Sooners possess they don't have to be either. If they can just tackle and not give up 10 home runs every week, they should win. The blitzing looked to be far less frequent and certainly less predictable. In short, it seemed to be an improvement. But I temper my expectation as Mitch made a good point last week in that, we'll really know what's going on in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of tackling and not giving up home runs, the Wildcats of K State come to Norman this fine Saturday. Bill Snyder has carved out a legendary career based almost exclusively on fundamentals and not beating himself. Though his national relevance has certainly waned in correlation with his years of life, the Wildcats are still a sound team. Once a perennial thorn in OU's side, recent years have proven to be less of a test, but OU still needs to come strong today. With a tough road test against high-flying Tech next week, this could be a bit of a trap game. The Sooners still have everything they want in front of them, but not if they lose another game.

Offense

Another week and another significant injury. After losing Rod Anderson for the season earlier this year, RB was already a bit thin. Now Trey Sermon is likely out, though his injury seems to be of a mystery (at least to me) for the most part. The lack of a definite report from Lincoln Riley doesn't scream minor or that he'll be out there this week. Kennedy Brooks looked very good stepping in, but as with Anderson, it's impossible that loss isn't felt. In better news, it appears Hollywood Brown is good to go and that speed on the outside is huge. All of that is a lot of fluff in me getting to CeeDee Lamb as my player of the game. That guy is always making big plays, whether it's a long TD or a clutch 3rd down catch. I like more of it today against K State.

Defense

As I alluded to before, I have cautious optimism around this D now. It's classic addition by subtraction here. K State employs the dreaded running quarterback, long the checkpoint to the Sooners night of partying. texas' own Sam Ehrlinger looked like Jamelle Holieway circa '85, which was a lot of fun to watch for Sooners fans. Hopefully OU can play some disciplined defense today, stay in position, and not give up huge gains. I like Kenneth Murray today to make a bunch of tackles and force at least one turnover.

Score

This does feel a bit like one the Sooners could be looking ahead on. They got back on track against TCU last week, have a tough road test next week, and have nothing K State this week. Against a disciplined football team, that can be dangerous. But I think OU will have too much offense against them, despite them hanging around a little longer than the home faithful would care for. OU TCBs but just misses the cover and hits the over (OU -24.5, o/u 64.5) today 47-24.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

TCU

Over the years the Sooners have lost to texas far more than I would like (read: more than once), but of all of the losses that one had the sweetest after taste, the Mike Stoops firing. I (halfway) joked to Mitch a few weeks ago that my phone had wear spots on the screen over the letters I use to type Fire Mike Stoops, now that dream has become a reality. I don't know how he maintained employment for this long, and as of almost two weeks ago, I no longer care. I do not think that the defense will magically be dominant now, but I will be happy if they do basic things like tackle and adjust to what offenses are doing during the game.

Now on to more pressing business. TCU started out this season ranked in the top 25 (I'm 60% sure of that, and 100% sure I don't really care either way) and played themselves impressively far out of it. Some bad losses and generally poor play is the fast track to doing that. However, as any Sooner fan knows, Gary Patterson has always been a thorn in the side of OU. I do carry some optimism though because most of the time they've beaten or at least made a close game of it, it's been 59-58 type of affair. Hopefully, those days are coming to a close (no pressure Ruffin McNeil, Sooner nation only demands a miracle).

Offense

That texas game was the most frustrating affair on offense of the season by a good stretch. Until that late barrage of points at the end, the vaunted Lincoln Riley's were largely held in check. Credit Tom Herman, he's done that repeatedly so far. But, in spite of the good plan by texas, Kyler Murray still had a tremendous game and I think he does it again today against TCU. It's a pretty thick limb I'm on going with the Heisman candidate for OPG. That's the kind of insight one comes to the Steamroller for.


Defense

While watching the game with Mitch and our friend Mark a couple of weeks ago, Mitch threw the term Gas Rag on Parnell Motley. It's been a couple of seasons since that award (?) has been used. But I think he's right, the Matt McCoy Memorial Gas Rag award goes to Parnell Motley. What a fall from grace after the Ohio State game last year where some other friends of ours were saying he should be MFer.... um no. Enough rambling diatribe on the shortcomings of Parnell Motley. I'm going with Amani Bledsoe today, Bledsoe is receiving his first official kiss of death from me.

Score

This is the biggest crapshoot of the season, I have no idea what to expect on the defensive side of the ball. I'm hopeful, but doubtful (naturally). Still, I think the Sooners keep their eye on the prize and with two weeks to prepare the Sooners do enough today to win it 44-31.


Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Christian

Two weeks ago, at halftime of the OU-texas train wreck, the writers of this blog and its most loyal reader openly speculated, nee pleaded, for Mike Stoops to get fired at halftime. We hoped Lincoln Riley would hand the playbook and play calling duties  to Ruffin McNeil and allow Mikey to scream up in the booth to his heart's content whist causing no further damage to the Sooners.

Turns out it may have happened. Stoops was gone by Monday. Now the most intriguing part of this is not that Ruffin McNeil will be calling plays. That will be improvement enough. No, it's this Bob Diaco fellow. He's had a bit of a winding road at Notre Dame, UConn, Nebraska and now here. But, at OU he's been a "defensive analyst". The job description sounds a lot like any other asshole watching games except he got to meet with coaches and help conceive game plans (get turnovers, tackle, etc.). He couldn't go to practices, he couldn't interact with players and he couldn't be near the field on game days.

Now he can. So he can be an actual breath of fresh air for the players while Ruffin McNeil provides some transitional stability. Given that Mike should have been let go when Lincoln Riley came on board but was let go mid-season a year and a half too late, I guess this is as good an outcome as we could hope for.

OFFENSE

I'm running out of superlatives for Kyler Murray. You can watch any other game and see quarterbacks who look like they are in quicksand when the pocket collapses. Murray's ability to not only escape but be at full speed in two steps is a game changer. His 60 yard run against texas probably would have vaulted him to the top of the Heisman heap had the Sooners had an inkling of a defense.

The best news for this offense coming into this week is that the running game is rounding into form. The Sooners averaged seven yards per carry against texas. I'm not buying what TCU is selling this year. These numbers should continue for the Sooners.

Out of sheer vanity I don't like Kyler Murray leading in rushing. However, that's moronic. If it works do it.

That said, I'm going with my guy Hollywood this week. I just want to see him shred the Horned Frogs.

DEFENSE

We all know the D is going to look like baby eaters this week. They played so bad they got their coach fired. Now they have a new voice, a fresh start, open positions and they are facing a quarterback who, in 100% honesty, I have never seen make such poor decisions at the position.

Have you ever seen a razzle dazzle play where a non-quarterback is throwing the ball, the play unravels, he shits his pants and makes the worst decision of all time to throw across the field into triple coverage? The TCU quarterback does it five times a game. No shit, I cannot imagine how bare the cupboard is behind him. He has no business being on the field.

So, the Sooners will likely force more turnovers on Saturday than they have up to this point this season combined (5).

For my DPOG I'll go Curtis Bolton. He apparently was the most fired up about the D's woeful showing. He's been as good as anyone all year. He's a senior. He should step up.

I'd also like to say for the record that while a solid defensive showing is so predictable that Vegas isn't taking bets on it, the real thing to watch for is two or three weeks from now. What the D looks like then will determine the fate of this football team. Literally anything looking like competence could give the Sooners a sporting chance to make the Playoff.

THE SCORE

This is the perfect situation for the Sooners. A coaching change coming off a loss and a bye week. They play against what might be the worst starting quarterback in the Big 12 (saying something). The Sooners are going to cruise.

Sooners 56 Horned Frogs 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

texas

This is a big one today. No matter the stakes as they pertain to the national picture, this game gets me more fired up than any non-playoff game. I'm guessing that's true for most of Sooner nation. For the first time in a while (a more definite time frame would require 3 seconds of effort) both teams are ranked in the top 20. After stumbling to a respectable Maryland team, texas has rattled off nothing but wins. But as I was discussing this with my friends Mark and Mitchy, neither of them were too impressed with the opponents. "Who the fuck is T C U?" was asked incredulously. Nonetheless, I'm predictably nervous in this one.

texas always plays OU tough and last season they were about the only defense to really contain Riley's high-flying offense. Expect more of the same today. The O/U is 60.5, I think given the competitiveness of this game I would take the under there. Yes, that's probably giving undue credit to the Mike Stoops powder puffs, but I'm optimistic they'll do something resembling a defense. Either way, I'm hoping the OU can do enough to get out of this game with a win.


Offense

This is Kyler Murray's first and, likely, only Red River game. Everything I've read about him (read: very little) indicates he won't be the least bit intimidated. Up to now he's basically duplicated Mayfield's Heisman winning season from last year; the numbers are pretty uncanny. But, I think the atmosphere gets to him some and he has, by his own standards, an off day today. Even though I still like him to make several improv plays that delights OU and infuriates the texas faithful. That rambling diatribe somehow leads me to my pick, Trey Sermon. I think this game is more of a slugfest, and even though it's a timeshare backfield, I still like Sermon to do most of the heavy lifting in this one.

Defense

While the OU defense has been embarrassingly soft this year, particularly up front, the linebackers have done a pretty respectable job. Both Kenneth Murray and Curtis Bolton have been tackling machines. I think texas hits a few big plays on the secondary, but I think when it comes to crunch time that the LB's step up, and I like Curtis Bolton as my dpg today.

Score

Not to go all Lee Corso on you (I don't know how to type slurring), but I think this one is closer than the experts think. OU is giving 7.5 and I already mentioned that I would take the under. In spite of the Sooners juggernaut offense, I think they struggle to score against a texas team with plenty to prove. While I struggle to stay conscious during this one due to 80% of my blood flow diverted to my O-ring, OU wins a squeaker 19-17.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears

You won't see the fanbase of a 4-0 team much more glum than this one. Sooner nation is gearing up for the defensive let down that feels inevitable. I don't know if the Army game was an embarrassment but it was beyond frustrating. It's tough to prepare for an offense you will only see once and aren't conceived of to defend. In the end the Sooners made some plays and hung on.

With that tepid butt patt for the D I welcome the Baylor Bears, the very offense the Sooners are conceived to defend. Feelings of doom will be justified if the Bears put up more than 28 today. The Bears are maybe the 5th best team in the Big 12 running this offense and the first on the slate.

OFFENSE

Marquise Brown was inexplicably quiet last week. He gets back on track this week as Lincoln starts to flex the offense. Related, the running game is likely to look different this week too. The Sooners need to get that aspect rolling and fast. Kyler as the leading rusher is not going to cut it.

DEFENSE

It's not every day you get 24 tackles and find yourself completely overshadowed. That's what happened to Curtis Bolton when Kenneth Murray racked up 28 tackles. I wouldn't be surprised if those two were reflexively tackling bicyclists on campus this week.

I don't think they'll get quite that level of action this week. The secondary might though. I was going to take Parnell Motley for DPOG but I don't want to jinx him. I'll take Bookie instead. I honestly can't name the other starting safety.

THE SCORE

Hopefully the game will be less disjointed than this blog post. The Sooners should get to run more than 15 plays on offense and will have ample opportunity on D to create some turnovers.

I'm not sure the Sooners can hold the Bears under 28. I'll go 42-35 Sooners. People are going to be antsy again.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Baylor

Army. Wow. That is a piece of shit effort by the defense. I didn't watch the game, and it's just as well. LITERALLY a one dimensional team could not be stopped. I guess I'll just resign myself to the fact that Mike Stoops will have to ruin a season (again) in order to get himself fired.

Baylor is up next on the slate. I don't know much about them except that their back to being the beatable doormat that they once were. But, none of that really matters because OU possesses a defense capable of keeping even the most laughable opponents in a game (Army et al, 2018 Vol. 1). So who knows in this one. I do know that if I'm gambling for the rest of the season I'm betting on the Sooners opponent to cover.

Offense

Kyler Murray had a great game last week, he really is kind of a badass. A little partial to running for my taste, but he gets it done. I think in this one that CeeDee Lamb blows up. I have no clue why, but that dude is awesome and I think he gets a couple of big TDs today. Can you tell I'm rushing to get this done?

Defense

Man, for the first time in recent memory I didn't put the kiss of death on. In fact I think Kenneth Murray set (or possibly tied) the FBS record for tackles in a game. I'm riding the snake this week and going with Murray again. Basically, I'm trying me best to jinx the shit out of him.

Score

I don't know the spread but again, taking Baylor to cover. I like OU in this one 41-31.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Army Black Knights

The Sooners are 3-0 and while last week wasn’t exactly pretty, a win is a win. The Defense took an inevitable step back. I’m still cautiously optimistic this unit has what it takes. In the end they made a play to seal the deal.

This week represents what might be the best test all season for the d. Army’s run spread throwback bullshit whatever it is will require discipline (often lacking) and patience. The Black Knights are bringing a knife to a gun fight which is unfortunate for them.

OFFENSE

The Sooners will gladly use today to continue looking for some rhthym in the running game. Last week Kyler Murray was the leading rusher. While Murray is special and you want to utilize his athleticism I highly doubt Lincoln Riley would like him to be the leading rusher. I imagine today you will see the full complement of running backs.

While the Sooners are figuring that out I imagine they will be looking to go deep early and often. No freaking way Army can cover these wideouts. I’m going Marquise Brown today. He might get 200 receiving yards.

DEFENSE

Mind the gap. Don’t break contain. Play assignment football. Mind the gap. Don’t break contain. Play assignment football. Mind the gap. Don’t break contain. Play assignment football. Mind the gap. Don’t break contain. Play assignment football.

This is what it boils down to. I think the key is up front and I’m going with Kenneth Mann. This is pure gut instinct but I think he’s going to soak up some blockers and let the linebackers feast.

SCORE

The Sooners will score early and often. I think a good result for the D would be giving up less than 250 on the ground. I think a miracle would be keeping Army under 300.

Sooners 63 Army 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner