OKLAHOMA 38
TEXAS TECH 30
"It was only six yards, a mere eighteen feet...but in my opinion it was the most important 216 inches of the 2013 Season."
-The OAS
-The OAS
The score was 7-0 Tech with a couple minutes gone in the second quarter when the Sooners took over at their own 3 yard line following a Red Raider punt. First and second down had only netted four yards, leaving the struggling OU offense facing third down and 6 from their own 7 yard line.
In my opinion, the next play was the most important play of the season. Not only could it be the difference in winning or losing this game against Tech, it might be the difference between still having a shot at winning the Big 12 and spending the bowl season in Shreveport, La. A bit overdramatic? Maybe...but then again maybe not.
In my opinion, the next play was the most important play of the season. Not only could it be the difference in winning or losing this game against Tech, it might be the difference between still having a shot at winning the Big 12 and spending the bowl season in Shreveport, La. A bit overdramatic? Maybe...but then again maybe not.
If the Sooners don't pick up a first down on this next play, they will be forced to punt the ball back to Tech from the back of their own end-zone. Giving Tech back the ball inside the fifty, already down 7-0 would almost guarantee being down a minimum of 10 points the next time you get the football back. In my opinion, that was something I'm not sure this team could mentally overcome.
But if you're offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, what play do you call? Running the ball for six yards, when the previous two carries only netted the Sooners four, would seem optimistic at best. Sure running the ball might get you an extra yard or two for your punter, but it will also show that you have no confidence in your QB...as well as get you booed out of Owen Field.
But it was only a couple weeks ago that Heupel was faced with a very similar situation at the Cotton Bowl. The Sooners were facing third and long from their own 20, when Heupel called for Blake Bell to throw the football. Bell throw the ball all right...right into the arms of Longhorn defensive lineman Chris Whaley, who returned the gift for a Texas touchdown. The interception gave Texas a lead it would never relinquish.
So you are Josh Heupel. You know that this play is big. You know that punting the ball back to Tech from here almost guarantees that your team will be down double digits when you get the ball back. You know you are probably not going to be able to run the ball for a first down and history tells you that passing it might be a risk that could be very costly. And....oh by the way...you have about eight seconds to make a decision because the play has to be relayed first to the bench, then to the offense on the field.
Heupel's decision was to have Bell throw the football and as we all know...Bell delivered. His 20 yard completion to Jalen Saunders over the middle gave the Sooners a first down and allowed them to move out of the shadow of their own goal post. The play also seemed to inspire Bell, who would connect with Saunders to convert two more third downs on the drive.
On the 13th play of the drive, the Sooners faced 4th and two from the Tech 24. Running with authority from the BellDozier formation, Blake was able to give the Sooners a fresh set of downs inside the Tech 20 yard line. Three plays later, Bell hit Saunders over the middle for 16 yards and a touchdown. The play was successful because of a good play action fake by Bell which froze the linebackers and opened up the deep middle.
The 16 play, 97 yard drive took over 7:00 off the clock and tied the score at 7-7. In route to the end-zone, the Sooners convert three crucial third downs and a fourth down; their QB and offense coordinator gained an enormous amount of confidence, they put themselves in a much better position to win the game...and by winning the game...they may very well have saved the season.
A home loss to Tech would have made the Sooners 3-2 in Big 12 play. With road games at #5 Baylor, an improving K-State team in Manhattan and OSU in Stillwater...it is not inconceivable that the Sooners finish 4-5 in the conference. In beating Tech, the Sooners are 4-1 and have twelve days to prepare for the high powered Bears in Waco.
Is this team good enough to beat Baylor or win the Big 12? My guess is probably not. Too many injuries and too inconsistent on offense to pull off either would be my guess. If this team can go 3-1 from here they would be looking at a Cotton or Holiday bowl berth...and I would consider that a success. But if they get crushed by Baylor and play poorly on the road against K-State and OSU then they are looking at a middle of the pack finish in the Big 12. If that happens...call (318) 742-0711. An operator at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana will be glad to help you with accommodations.
Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
But if you're offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, what play do you call? Running the ball for six yards, when the previous two carries only netted the Sooners four, would seem optimistic at best. Sure running the ball might get you an extra yard or two for your punter, but it will also show that you have no confidence in your QB...as well as get you booed out of Owen Field.
But it was only a couple weeks ago that Heupel was faced with a very similar situation at the Cotton Bowl. The Sooners were facing third and long from their own 20, when Heupel called for Blake Bell to throw the football. Bell throw the ball all right...right into the arms of Longhorn defensive lineman Chris Whaley, who returned the gift for a Texas touchdown. The interception gave Texas a lead it would never relinquish.
So you are Josh Heupel. You know that this play is big. You know that punting the ball back to Tech from here almost guarantees that your team will be down double digits when you get the ball back. You know you are probably not going to be able to run the ball for a first down and history tells you that passing it might be a risk that could be very costly. And....oh by the way...you have about eight seconds to make a decision because the play has to be relayed first to the bench, then to the offense on the field.
Heupel's decision was to have Bell throw the football and as we all know...Bell delivered. His 20 yard completion to Jalen Saunders over the middle gave the Sooners a first down and allowed them to move out of the shadow of their own goal post. The play also seemed to inspire Bell, who would connect with Saunders to convert two more third downs on the drive.
On the 13th play of the drive, the Sooners faced 4th and two from the Tech 24. Running with authority from the BellDozier formation, Blake was able to give the Sooners a fresh set of downs inside the Tech 20 yard line. Three plays later, Bell hit Saunders over the middle for 16 yards and a touchdown. The play was successful because of a good play action fake by Bell which froze the linebackers and opened up the deep middle.
The 16 play, 97 yard drive took over 7:00 off the clock and tied the score at 7-7. In route to the end-zone, the Sooners convert three crucial third downs and a fourth down; their QB and offense coordinator gained an enormous amount of confidence, they put themselves in a much better position to win the game...and by winning the game...they may very well have saved the season.
A home loss to Tech would have made the Sooners 3-2 in Big 12 play. With road games at #5 Baylor, an improving K-State team in Manhattan and OSU in Stillwater...it is not inconceivable that the Sooners finish 4-5 in the conference. In beating Tech, the Sooners are 4-1 and have twelve days to prepare for the high powered Bears in Waco.
Is this team good enough to beat Baylor or win the Big 12? My guess is probably not. Too many injuries and too inconsistent on offense to pull off either would be my guess. If this team can go 3-1 from here they would be looking at a Cotton or Holiday bowl berth...and I would consider that a success. But if they get crushed by Baylor and play poorly on the road against K-State and OSU then they are looking at a middle of the pack finish in the Big 12. If that happens...call (318) 742-0711. An operator at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana will be glad to help you with accommodations.
Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
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