SOONERS SEASON GOES WIDE LEFT IN 31-30 LOSS TO 'CATS

#11 OKLAHOMA 30 #15 KANSAS STATE 31

OU-KSU:

19 Thought Shot From the Lip

“To: Denzel, Merry F****** Christmas” –Trevor Knight

1: On first down, with the ball inside their own one yard line, Trevor Knight attempts to throw a four yard out-route to the wide-side of the field.  Playing in a cover-2 defense, KSU defensive back Denzel McDaniel simply steps in front of intended receiver Durron Neal, picks the ball off and waltzes into the end-zone for a touchdown.  It was McDaniel’s first career interception, first career touchdown and probably the last time either will ever be that easy. 

I was in such a state of disbelief by what I’d just witnessed, that I just sat there in stunned silence…which could be a first for me.  Believe me, my sudden newfound composure wasn’t due to a lack of being pissed off, because I was definitely that and more…I just didn’t know who to dog cuss first, QB Trevor Knight or offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. So I did the only logical thing…I cussed ‘em both.

 "Just when I think you couldn't be any dumber"

-Harry from Dumb & Dumber

2. Before the first snap of the second quarter, the Sooners get flagged for delay of game.  Seriously?  How the hell does a team get a delay of game penalty after an end of the quarter television time out break?  So you’re telling me that in the time it takes for ABC to air two sit-com promos, a Ford F-150 commercial and tout a suggestion for erectile dysfunction, that we can’t get an f-ing play called and in position to run it? 

Hell, I could’ve borrowed a piece of paper, whittled a pencil, made up a play, named it, walked it down to the third string punter, introduced myself, taught him how to signal it in to the QB and then called an audible in the amount of time allocated to sponsors during those breaks. That has to be some sort of pathetic new low in game/clock management.

3. Remember when the Sooners were seemingly invincible at home?  Yah, me neither.  With the loss to KSU on Saturday, OU has now lost three of their last thirteen home games dating back to 2012.

“Four score and seven points ago”

4: The Sooner defense continues to give up too many big plays as evidenced by the fact that half of the Wildcats 385 total yards came from only four plays.

"It's like Deja vu all over again" - Yogi Berra

5: The game on Saturday was a match-up of two very similar football teams. #11 OU and #15 K-State both came into the game with identical 5-1 records and nearly identical numbers in 5 major statistical categories:  scoring average, offensive rushing yards, offensive passing yards, time of possession and points allowed.  When you have a match-up of this nature, the team that usually wins the game, is the one that makes the fewest mistakes.  Mistakes: OU 3 KSU 0. 

The game was very reminiscent of the one these two team played the last time the Wildcats came to Norman.  In that 2012 contest, Oklahoma QB Landry Jones gift wrapped a touchdown to the Wildcats when he fumbled near his own goal line while attempting to scramble...a big swing that KSU would eventually win 24-19.

6:  By putting seven and sometimes eight defenders ‘in the box’, the Wildcat defensive strategy was obvious: take away the Sooners running game and force QB Trevor Knight to try and beat us through the air.  If not for the one horrific throw that resulted in a pick six, Knight would’ve done just that. Against the ‘Cats on Saturday, Trevor was 26 of 32 for 318 yards and three touchdowns…an awesome game by anyone’s standards.

If OU had pulled this game out, the Sooner Nation would be talking about how Knight shook off the early injury; how he was able to bounce back from the early INT to lead the Sooners to a hard fought, come from behind win.

And If  I was six foot eight….then I’d be the perfect size for my weight…but I’m not…and the Sooners didn’t…which means I’m fat…and everyone in Crimson & Cream will be focusing on the pick six and how it’s the main reason for the loss.

“Eight will have to wait another year”

7: The loss to K-State on Saturday was a crushing blow to this teams pre-season goals. Not only does the loss eliminate the Sooners from playoff contention and shot at an 8^th national championship…it may’ve also made winning the Big 12 extremely difficult if not impossible.

“Sterling Shepard and the 7 Dwarfs”

8: Eight different Sooners caught passes on Saturday, including Miciah Quick & Austin Bennett…each of whom made their first career catch.

9: While Alex Ross has been a game changer on special teams, he has struggled to find his grove when in the game at running back.  Saturday, Ross was better, carrying the ball 8 times for 75 yards, an average of 9.1 yards a tote.

10: Samaje Perine scored his 10^th touchdown of the year on Saturday.  He’s the ninth freshman in OU history to score 10 or more touchdowns as a freshman.

11:  The Sooners had to play the final 11:00 minutes of the game with only one time out.  OU burns way too many time-outs trying to avoid delay of game penalties on offense…and trying to catch a frickin’ clue on defense.  I seriously think they would burn all 6 of their time-outs in the first-half if that was an option.

12: I thought OU back-up QB Cody Thomas did well in the limited time he played.  Thomas entered the game when Knight got dinged up in the first quarter. Thomas manned the offensive reigns for the final 8 plays of a 12 play, 79 yard touchdown drive that gave the Sooners a temporary 7-0 lead.  Thomas, who was 2 for 2 passing and made a nice play on an errant snap, didn’t seem overwhelmed by the moment.

13:  Sooner Safety Ahmad Thomas (#13) looks more like Marlo Thomas right now on defense.  I’m sorry, I hate to be critical of a kid…and I’m sure he’s trying, but he just isn’t good.  I’m sure that Ahmad is a great kid who loves his momma, says please and thank you when he’s supposed to and would no doubt stop to help a little old lady cross the street if need be…but we don’t need an f-ing boy scout in our secondary, we need a safety.  Thomas, who looks completely lost out there, has proven time and time again that he couldn’t cover a fence post.  Why aren’t Byrd or Parker getting a shot at playing time?  They were supposed to be the greatest things to come along since soap-on-a-rope and the snuggie…but they can’t beat out Thomas?

14:  The number of feet KSU defensive back Denzel McDaniel had to carry the football he’d just been thrown for a touchdown.

“Simply the best”

15: Sterling Shepard caught a career high 15 passes (197 yards and a touchdown) on Saturday, tying a school record. (Brown 2012, Broyles 2010, Saunders 2012)

  

16: This is Bob Stoops 16^th season as head coach, and in those 16 years I can’t think of an offensive play call worse than the one that Heupel made on when the Sooners were at their own 1 yard line to start the second quarter.

For the most part, I’m a fan of Josh Heupel, but I haven’t seem a decision that bad in Norman since John Blake was hired.

“Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is usually from the noblest motives” – Oscar Wilde

17: On 2^nd and 8 from the KSU seventeen yard line, offensive coordinator Josh Heupel called for a wide-receiver-reverse pass.  Hmmm.  Interesting.  I’ll be the first to admit, if the play had worked, I’d probably be trumpeting it as genius.  But when you make this kind of call and your wide receiver throws a wounded duck into triple coverage that is subsequently intercepted in the end-zone, well, you look like a huge moron.

18: Despite have 1^st and goal from the 4 yard line, and 2^nd a goal from the 2, the Sooners were unable to get into the end-zone.  Trailing 31-30 with only 4:00 to play, the Sooners decided to play it safe and kick the field goal.

It would be an 18 yard attempt, with the ball being spotted between the hash marks.  It’s was the equivalent of an extra point.  A gimme.  It’s a kick that a Lou Groza Award finalist like Michael Hunnicutt makes 99.9 times out of 100 times.  Hell, it’s a kick that some guy dressed in a Members Only Jacket, camo shorts and tassel loafers was able to make about 90 minutes ago during halftime to win free hamburgers from Carl Jr’s for a year.

There was no way that the kicker who holds the record for most made field goals in Big 12 history was going to miss this.  For the all-time leading scorer in OU history and one of only 20 player to score 400-points in their career, things like 18 yard field goals are automatic, right?

Well, not so much.  For the second time in the game, Michael Hunnicutt was wide left on an easy field goal attempt.  With OU having only one timeout left, all KSU had to do to run out the clock, was pick up one first down…which they did.

Obviously, Hunnicutt is devastated.  I can’t imagine what he has been going through the last couple day…but while his misses no doubt played a big part, Hunnicutt is not the only one to blame for the loss…because there were plenty of other Sooner players and coaches who were off the mark this past Saturday.

With both of the two lofty pre-season goals off the table, it will be interesting to see how this team responds.  With Baylor, OSU, a trip to Lubbock and a pesky Iowa State still left on the schedule, if they don't pull it together it could get ugly....like Texas Bowl ugly

19.  ….looks like I came up 1 short as well

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

SOONERS SOMEHOW SURVIVE HORNS 31-26

OKLAHOMA 31 TEXAS 26

Yes, a win is a win and the Sooner Nation will gladly take it, especially when that victory comes against the University of Texas.  But that being said, don’t let the final score of the 109^th annual OU-Texas game fool you...the Oklahoma Sooners got out played and flat-out kicked around in the Cotton Bowl last Saturday by an undermanned, below average Texas Longhorn football team.

OU-Texas for the 109th Time

"Won't you take it, to the limit, one more time" - The Eagles

As was the case against West Virginia, Alex Ross’ kickoff return for a touchdown not only changed the momentum of the game, but most likely, the outcome of it as well.

 Alex Ross Kickoff Return

"Deep Fried Thoughts"...by The OAS

It May Sound Corny but...

Fletcher's says that during an average 24-day fair season, their stands sell nearly 630,000 corny dogs. If you laid all those dogs end to end, they would stretch from Big Tex all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

If you laid three of those dogs from end to end, they would stretch to approximately three feet...which is the amount of total offense the Sooners were able to accumulate in the first quarter.

"I Get a Kick Out of You" - Frank Sinatra

Michael Hunnicutt nailed a long field goal in the first half that gave the Sooners a 10-3 lead.  Hunnicutt, who has now made a field goal in 23 consecutive games for the Sooners, now has over 400-points in his career…only the 20^th player in NCAA history to reach that mark.

Punter Jed Barnett, was very good last Saturday.  Barnett averaged 43.8 yards on his nine kicks, one of which was a 66 yarder that changed the field position advantage back to the Sooners. 

      "Deep Fried Thoughts"...by The OAS

"Colonel Mustard, in the Midway....with 10 coupons"

 The State Fair reports that corny dog connoisseurs consume over 1500 gallons of mustard during the average 24 day fair session.   

Sanchez & Wilson

One week after watching our two starting cornerbacks get beat more often than an NFL wife, Sanchez and Wilson rebounded and played pretty well against the Longhorns. Sanchez couldn't tackle me, but he is a ball hawk.  His pick six, along with Ross' kickoff return, were the reasons the Sooners were able to win.

Sanchez Pick Six

The Weather

Cloudy, slight wind out of the NW at 11mph with a game time temperature of 58 degree’s?  That’s like fat guy heaven. Thank you Mother Nature,

"Another Deep Fried Thought"...by The OAS

Batter Up

The State Fair reports that it takes 50,000 lbs. of mix to make  enough corny dog batter for the 24-day fair session. 

The Sooners Plead: Not Guilty 

The Sooners were wrongly penalized three times for 20 yards in the game...while the Longhorns were caught cheating 11 times for 85 yards.  The Charlie Strong plan for discipline is having a tough start in Austin.

The Name's Bond.  Devante Bond.

Devonte Bond made his first appearance of the year for the Sooners and seemed to bring a little energy to the defense.  He came into the game for Geno Grissom who is still struggling with the read option run game.  If Geno doesn't have an ah-ha moment this week and suddenly figure it out, look for Bond to get an increased amount of playing time against K-State...since the read option is their specialty.

Offensive Knight-Mares

I thought this was the game that the Sooners coaching staff would finally turn Trevor Knight loose and let him run the football.  I was wrong.  
I understand they don't want to risk him getting hurt, but by not letting him run the football, they have already lost one game...and almost another.  Not letting Knight play to his strengths has train-wrecked this offense to the point that it has no identity.
Knight's strengths are running the football and throwing while rolling out or on the run.  Those strengths were the basis of why the Sooners implemented the zone-read option offense.
But the only option that Knight ever chooses is option 1, which is to hand-off to the running back.  He never fakes the handoff to run with it...and wouldn't you know it...somehow the defensive coordinators for the other teams have noticed that.  
If Knight doesn't ever run with it, it's no longer a zone-read option.  What it is, is a delayed handoff, 5 yards deep in your own backfield...that the opposing defense can tee-off on without hesitation.  Asking your offensive line to hold their blocks that long, when the opposition doesn't have to worry about being faked out, is like asking a security guard to break up the Mexican drug cartel.

"Another Deep Fried Thought"...by The OAS

Grease is the Word

The State Fair reports that the food vendors at the State Fair go through roughly 21,000 gallons of oil during the fair session.

Jordan Evans

14 tackles (7 solo) including a couple that left a mark.  I love this guy.

Knight-Mares II

Trevor Knight is NOT a pocket QB.  I went back last week and watched a replay of the Sugar Bowl (insert your own I need to get a life joke here).  Against Alabama, the Sooners had him rolling out to both sides to throw the ball.  They didn't ask him to stand in the pocket.
When Knight tries to be a pocket passer, he is like a brown shoe at a formal...very uncomfortable and out of place.  He likes to tap dance with his feet and lock his eyes in on his first option, which is usually Sterling Shepard.

"Another Deep Fried Thought"...by The OAS

Grease is the Word

Did you know that a corny dog only has about 225 calories each?  No wonder I feel so good, I only had 900 calories on Saturday.

Tunnel Vision...Incomplete Pass

Trevor has got to learn to go through his progressions. To often he locks in on his first option and never looks for anyone else.
Trevor, you're in college, so let me explain it to you like this....it's like making a booty call.  If the first girl doesn't answer or isn't available, you don't wait...you call another girl...and then another...until you finally find an available girl. 

Third Downs to First Downs 

First Downs:  Texas  24   Oklahoma  11

Want to know why we got beat against TCU and couldn't put away a bad Texas team?  Third down conversions.  This is the most important down in football...it extends drives when you have the ball on offense...and it stops an opponent's drive and keeps your defense fresh when you don't have the ball.

The Longhorns converted their first six 3rd down attempts and went 7 for 11 in the first half and 10 of 18 for the game. The Sooners converted 1 out of their 11 chances on 3rd down.
One.  Uno.  Less than two and only slightly better than none. That means I had more corny dogs than the Sooners had converted 3rd downs on Saturday.

                               Time of possession:
                    Texas 37:58  Oklahoma 22:02
See above.

"Another Deep Fried Thought"...by The OAS

That's a lot of Weiner

The corny dog stands use over 60,000 lbs. of hot dogs during the 24-day fair session.

Ahmad Thomas

The Oklahoma safety may have had ten tackles, but when it comes to pass coverage, he couldn't cover a man-hole.  Mike Stoops says it's a lack of communication.  Really?  Well, since all the yelling you do at him every time he comes off the field isn't getting through to him, maybe you ought to play someone who can hear.

The Final Score 

Oklahoma 31- Texas 26

Oh, by the way….the Sooners did win the game.

Going Forward...
The Sooners find themselves in much the same position after six games as they did in 2013.
- 5-1 record. (2-1 Conference)
- Big home game against a ranked opponent looming
- Questions surrounding the QB and offensive direction 
- A defense that gives up to many 3rd down conversions, big plays and has trouble with running QB's
- But this team still has everything to play for, since all the goals they set for the season are still seemingly obtainable.

College Football...you just got to love it...with or without the mustard.

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

GREAT BOB STOOPS IMPERSONATION

This guy's impersonation of Bob Stoops is amazing

SOONERS SURVIVE MOUNTAINEERS IN MO-TOWN 44-33

PFLUGERVILLE FRESHMAN PHENON SAMAJE PERINE PUTS

ON PRIME-TIME PERFORMANCE AT PUSKER STADIUM

Samaje Perine, Pflugerville, TX.

34 Carries for 242 yards / 4 Touchdowns

“Going back and watching film, there were times that we opened the holes for him, but getting to the second level and people were just bouncing off of him. I don’t even know what to compare him to, but he runs the ball hard and he’s hard to bring down. We love that as offensive linemen.” – Sooner center, Ty Darlington

Turns out, the only thing harder than trying to pronouncing this true freshman running backs name and home town…is tackling him.

Samaje Perine, pronounced Sam-ah-jay Pee-Rhine, is 5’-11” tall and weighs a biscuit shy of 250...a description that, in and of itself, doesn’t mean much.  Hell, if being 5’-11” /250 lbs., having a strange name and hailing from a funny sounding hometown made you a college football star, then I should’ve been a Heisman winner.

(…And this year’s Heisman Trophy goes to, Buddy Putty! Pronounced Bud-dee Put-tee, this short, overweight senior from Antlers, Oklahoma led the nation in fast food drive trough’s after 2AM and total

YAC’s per game (Yack’s after Crown.))

But size and weight are obviously where the comparisons between Perine and Putty end.  Perine possesses amazing athleticism for someone his size. Samaje has quick feet, tremendous balance, deceptive speed, the power to break tackles and has shown terrific hands when catching the ball out of the backfield.  Perine reminds me of former Notre Dame and NFL star Jerome ‘The Bus’ Bettis...only with better speed.  ‘The Baby Bus’ may be 245 lbs., but he runs the forty in 4.41 seconds.  For me, if it’s 40 yards away then I need to find my car keys.   It’s only been four games, but Samaje Perine looks to be something special.  How special?  Many more games like the one he had in Mo-town Saturday night and by the end of the year you might see his name on an award list…it’s pronounced All-A-mer-i-can.

“Take it, to the limit, one more time” –The Eagles

As impressive as Perine was, the play of the game was provided courtesy of a different Sooner running back.  The 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Alex Ross with 1:08 remaining before halftime completely changed the momentum and quite possibly the outcome of the game.  The Mountaineers, aided by two 15 yard penalties on the Sooners defense, had just gone 55 yards in 5 plays to take a 24-17 lead.  But before you could say, ‘West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, down country roads,’ Alex Ross was standing in the W. Va. end-zone.  This was the second kick this year that Ross has returned at least 80 yards, the first coming against La Tech.

The Ross kickoff return underscores a point I mentioned in my last blog and the reason why I called Sooner kickoff specialist Nick Hodgson a weapon.  Hodgson kicked off 7 times Saturday night…all 7 resulted in touchbacks.  Over the years I’ve noticed that the chances of the opposing team returning a kickoff for a touchdown are greatly reduced when they don’t even get a chance to try.  Just sayin’. 

Not a Good Knight…

OU QB Trevor Knight was average at best Saturday night. I say average, only because OU won the game.  Still, much too often, Knight is not going through his progressions, instead locking in on one receiver…which is usually Sterling Shepard.  There were several plays last Saturday night where replays showed Knight throwing into coverage when other OU receivers were more open than a Jerry Jones marriage.  Even when Trevor found the open man Saturday night, his throws were high, short or horribly off the mark.

…But There is Good News

The news handed down by the NCAA yesterday that Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield has been ruled eligible, is huge for both Knight and the Sooners. With no experienced back-up QB available, the OU coaches have practically forbidden Knight to run the ball this year…obviously not wanting to risk him getting injured.  While that made sense, it also took away a big part of what makes Trevor effective.  The luxury of having a quality back-up like Mayfield, will hopefully allow the Sooners to take off Knight’s training wheels…so he can be more effective in running the zone read.

‘They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself” –Andy Warhol

I’ve often been critical of the OU coaching staff’s inability to make successful halftime adjustments and changes…but that was not the case this past Saturday night in Morgantown.  After getting torched for 286 yards and 24 points by the Mountaineers in the first half, Mike Stoops was able to make some changes defensively that helped hold West Virginia to 9 second half points.

After Further Review…

I like West Virginia head coach, Dana Holgerson. I think he’s an excellent offensive minded football coach…But that being said, I thought he really helped the Sooners out with his play calling.  The Mountaineers ran 81 plays from scrimmage Saturday night, 40 rushing & 41 passing.  While the play calling was balanced, the productivity was anything but.  Almost 80% of the Mountaineer’s 513 yards of total offense came through the air. I can appreciate their desire to try and control the clock and keep their tired worn-out defense off the field, but at some point doesn’t it seem counterproductive to do so at the sacrifice of productivity?  The way Mountaineer QB Clint Trickett was carving up the Sooner secondary, I think I would’ve gone more with what was working versus what wasn’t, but hey, what do I know.

Scary that is took a 100 yard kickoff and a trick play just to keep the Sooners from being behind at half.

Might be time to review having Sterling Shepard returning punts.  First of all, it scares me having our best player perform the most dangerous job in football.  But it’s a risk the coaches are usually willing to take if the possible reward is the kind of game changing production Jalen Saunders gave the Sooners last year.  Sterling has shown flashes of having that type ability, but right now he’s struggling to even make the proper decision on when to call for a fair catch.  I guess at minimum, the coaches know that Shepard can be relied on to catch the ball…a trust that dynamic true freshman Michiah Quick has yet to earn.

Time of possession: OU 33:25 West Virginia 26:35.  Nice

Not sure what to think of the defensive performance.  The aggressive nature in which the Sooner defense has been rushing the QB this season wasn’t as evident.  All I know is this, I’m glad that wasn’t Baylor we were playing last Saturday night, because it would’ve been ugly.

Do you know when the last time the Sooners tried an on-side kick that wasn’t at the end of a game and expected by the opponent? Yah, me neither.

I was worried about this game.  On the road, at night, rowdy crowd, the week after a big game…it had all the makings of being a trap.  Many nationally predicted West Virginia would win this game….but they didn’t.  Bottom line, this was a very nice road win for the Sooners.  They faced some adversity, battled though it…and played well enough to win…which is what it’s all about.  Great win boys!

The bye week comes at a good time.  The Sooners are 4-0 and get two weeks in which to prepare for Gary Patterson and the TCU Horned Frogs. 

Boomer Sooner…come see me in Fort Worth when the Sooners play TCU in two weeks!

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

OKLAHOMA 34 TENNESSEE 10

 I woke up Sunday morning thinking the following positive thoughts:

• This was a nice win over a young but very athletic SEC team that is on the rise. 
•  I survived sleeping on a twin bed at the Postal Center without falling off of it.  Twin beds there are the size of postage stamps…and not near big enough for a ‘male’ my size.  Truth is, I could've slept face down on a pickett fence by the time I went to bed, but the beds are still small nonetheless.
• Even though the score said otherwise at times, this game was never really in doubt. 
•  The Sooner defense was dominant.  They totally nullified the Vols running game while also applying relentless pressure on Tennessee’s gutsy Senior QB.
• The Sooners linebackers are, in my opinion, the best starting group in the Stoops era.  Which is no small statement considering there were two groups that included Butkus Award winners.
• Why can I make the above statement? Because it’s my blog, but also because of LB Eric Striker.  If Striker isn’t an All American, then they should stop giving out the award.  When he isn’t making the play, he’s disrupting it so that someone else can.  The opposing offense must account for him on every play.
• LB Jordan Evans made back to back plays that allowed the Sooners to put Tennessee away in the second half.  His stop of Vols QB Worley short of a first down was followed by a great read and deflection of a pass at the goal line, which Julian Wilson picked and returned 100 yards for the game clincher.
•  In the span of 5 or 6 games, Geno Grissom has transformed from being a third team tight end to an All Big 12 defensive player. His versatility of being able to play both DE or outside linebacker in a 3-4 may just make him a first round NFL pick.
• Trevor Knight continued to improve, passing for 300+ yards and a TD and rushed for another. Equally important = no turnovers.
• Knight showed great touch on the deep throw to Shepard in the first drive of the second half.
• Sterling Shepard = Mark Clayton
• Nick Hodgson, our kickoff specialist is a nice weapon.  His touchback ratio is very high, which keeps my blood pressure very low. Lord, I just called a kicker a weapon. I must be getting soft.
• The interception that Sanchez made in the south end-zone was impressive on several levels.  To start with, he didn’t bite on the pump fake and his position on the coverage was text book…then the concentration to make the acrobatic catch while keeping his feet in bounds was beautiful. Reminds me of that time at the Cotton Bowl when I had a pork chop sandwich in one hand and a cocktail in the other and was still able to walk a tight rope between two rows of people while screaming at a referee’s bad call…all without spilling a drop of my cocktail. 
•  Love the way we came out of the locker room again.  Points on the opening drives of each half are great ways to break the other teams will and medicate my Tourette's. 
• Tennessee’s QB is a tough son of a gun.  Watched the replay of the game and he took some shots!  After the game, Stoops went straight up to the kid and shook his hand.  Either Bob admired the kid’s grit, or didn’t want to be the only guy in Crimson who hadn’t gotten his hands on him.  Kind of glad that kid graduates and won't be around for the rematch in Knoxville next year

So, if I was thinking all of the above…why was I driving home thinking that maybe we aren’t as good as I thought we were?  This is why:

•  If Tennessee’s goal was to hang around and stay close enough to give themselves a chance to win…then mission accomplished.  The Sooners defense was just too good on this night for the Vols to win, but they weren't out of it until the Wilson pic-6.
• My friend Styx has been of the opinion since week one that this team lacks the killer instinct that some of the early era Stoops teams possessed. After watching the Sooners let the Vols hang around on Saturday night, I’m starting to agree with him.  Offensive play calling may have been as much a part of that happening as the players mentality however.
• The egg rolls that are sold at the concession stand located at the South end of the stadium…suck.  Yes, that probably should’ve been a given, but 5 hours of pregame beer and a stadium cup of straight crown had me feeling optimistic and adventurous.  My fortune cookie should’ve read: “Conficious say: Only a dumb ass would eat a frozen microwaved egg roll at Owen Field.”
• Why can’t I get my entire fat ass onto the Trevor Knight bandwagon? He throws for 300 yards and a score and runs for another TD all without turning the ball over and still my first tendency is to be speculative.  My reactions this week: his passing yards were mostly yards after catch, he still has happy feet, he’s locking in on Shepard and by doing so, he is often missing other open receivers. But that’s clearly being overly critical….because bottom line...he's playing well and getting better every week.  So if that’s the case why is it that if Monty Hall offered me the chance to take Knight or whatever is behind door number two…I be so tempted to make the swap? Because I’m a spoiled Sooner fan would be my guess…just ask any QB starved Longhorn fan.
• J. Thomas getting burned for the Tennessee touchdown did nothing to diminish the worry I have about the safety position.
• Sooners were only 3 of 12 on third down, including 0-5 in the second half.  Not good.  Was predictable, conservative play calling part of it? Or poor execution?  Will have to be better on the road against West Virginia next week.
• Why was our vaunted offensive line getting abused in the second half? Some will point to the fact OU was in obvious running situations and the Vols were acting accordingly…but our center, Darlington, who I really think will be a good one, was getting whipped pretty consistently. That or the blocking scheme was to let the nose-guard penetrate 4 yards deep on running plays.
• The team intro video is not as good as it has been in the past, in my opinion.  Over the years, I have developed an unofficial rating system for each video based on my physical and emotional reaction. If the video gave me chicken skin that means I thought it was pretty good.  If I got chicken skin and had to fight back tears like I’d just had my flask of Crown taken away by security, then it was very good. If I got chicken skin and had tears running down my face like I’d just left a Beaches/Old Yeller double feature, then I’d call it a great video. My reaction last Saturday night? “Was that the intro video?”
• The protection scheme in the kicking game obviously needs to be reexamined.  The Vols coaches obviously saw something they felt they could exploit…blocking a field goal while somehow not blocking two punts. Need to fix that...and quick.

OU @ West Virginia

As I type this at 5:00 on Saturday afternoon....I’ll be honest, this game bothers me…big time.  It’s a classic trap game.  The game is at night…on the road in Morgantown…against a team that has nothing to lose…with the Sooners coming off a big game the previous week.

My hope is that the embarrassment that Mike suffered the last time OU was there will be the motivation needed for him to come up with one of those prefect type game plans he and Venables occasionally produced in years past.  Surely he hasn’t forgotten the 778 yards of offense that the Sooners surrendered in Morgantown in 2012?  Let’s hope not.

OU 37 West Virginia 24….I hope

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

SCATTERSHOOTING...& MAKE MINE A DOUBLE

Did you know?

Oklahoma’s first bowl game was the 1939 Orange Bowl.

Their opponent? Tennessee

Scattershooting while wondering whatever happened to the sacred principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty?’  If you run into that belief, tell ‘em that Frank Shannon is looking for ‘em. 

Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: 

"He treats us like men.  He lets us wear earrings."

The first thirty minutes of football the Sooners played against La. Tech and Tulsa were very impressive.  I know, I know…OU is supposed to dominate those type early season, non-conference opponents; but that hasn’t always been the case in recent years.  Examples?  I didn't think you'd ever ask. 2009: The tone of the evening was set right before kickoff when both of the Sooner Schooner Shetland’s took pre-game pony dumps on the new turf at Jerry’s World.  Before a Roughneck could even spray Resolve on the stain, the OU players took a dump of their own. OU was flagged for illegal procedure on 4 of their first 5 plays, lost a Heisman QB to a shoulder injury and eventually the game to BYU…Oh, and beers were $14.99 each.  2010: For the second consecutive year, the Sooners opened the season against a team from the Beehive State.  Despite being a 30 point home favorite, the Sooners bumbled their way past Utah State 31-24.  2012: The #4 ranked Sooners were a Chiclet away from getting upset by UTEP out in the west Texas town of El Paso. 2013: OU sleep-walked their way to victory over the double-directional Louisiana Un-huh’s.  Nobody will give a shit if we lose to the Vols…but it was nice to see this team have some focus.

New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: 

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.”

Hey, I’d love to have Adrian Peterson lined up seven yards deep in the backfield every year, but since AD’s come along about as often as I exercise, it’s not a realistic expectation. But you know what they say…If you can’t have a Peterson, then have a Perine.  Okay, okay…so maybe that has never ever been said by anyone…but Keith Ford, Alex Ross and freshman Samaje Perine look like they might be a three headed running back monster that will have OU fans smiling All Day long nonetheless.  

In my opinion, this is the best collection of running backs the Sooners have had since pet rocks, bell-bottoms and the Bee Gee’s were all the rage back in the 70’s.  But in the name of full disclosure, I also thought disco was cool, so there you go. Add into the mix true freshman fullback Dimitri Flowers, who looks like a Trey Millard starter kit…and I would argue that running back, which what was thought to be an area of concern coming into the season, now looks to be a strength.  What is scary…is the fact that quite possibly the best running back the Sooners have on campus, Joe Mixon….is sitting in the student section. 

Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver

"I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that."

Sterling Shepard is a stud…I just hope QB Trevor Knight doesn’t become a one WR guy.  Much like RB, the WR position seems to be a very deep and talented position.  My breakout player for this season: Durron Neal. 

Lee Corso, College Football Analyst

"Hawaii doesn't win many games in the United States."

Ironic that we finally have a talented and deep offensive line and yet…I’m not sure I could tell you who the starters are.  This might be splitting hairs, but a couple of our lineman might want to think about making a trip to Sport Clips for a cut and color soon.

Greg Norman, Famous Australian Golfer

"I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."

Things that make you go….uh, why? Death Metal.  Soap-on-a-rope. Calling a Flea-flickers up 30 points in the second half. Real Housewife’s of anywhere.  Having your 1^st team QB throwing the ball in the fourth quarter behind a third string offensive line.  People at Wal-Mart.  Title IX.  Quincy Russell.

Alan Minter, Boxer

“Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing—but none of them serious.”

Things I want to believe in…Geno Grissom, no injuries, World Peace, running more than passing, Julian Wilson = shut-down corner, Santa Claus, that our youth at safety won’t cost us a game, that Crown Royal – Cigars – and Gravy add years to your life…and that the Longhorns won’t figure it out before October 13^th.

Doug Collins

“Any time Detroit scores more than 100 points and holds the other team below 100 points, they almost always win.”

Oklahoma 41 Tennessee 13

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

ONE HELL OF A 'KNIGHT' IN THE BIG EASY & 2014 FORECAST

SUGAR WITH A SIDE OF BOURBON STREET

I'll be honest, even after the comeback win against OSU, the thought of OU going to the Sugar Bowl, or any BCS Bowl for the matter, never crossed my mind. And why would it?  This isn't official, but I'm pretty sure some combination of the following had to occur for the Sooners to end up on Bourbon Street:

OU had to rally to beat OSU in final 1:47 with their 3rd string QB ● Peace had to break out in the Middle East ● Unbeaten Ohio State had to lose to Michigan State ● Democrats had to agree to reduce taxes ● Unbeaten Northern Illinois had to lose to whoever the hell they were playing ● The SEC had to admit that they aren't the best football conference ● Baylor had to beat Texas and the Kardashian’s had to announce they are boycotting publicity.

But sure enough, there is was on ESPN: 

2013-2014 All State Sugar Bowl: 

Alabama vs Oklahoma

Gulp.  Come on....Admit it.  You were thinking the same thing I was.  Mixed emotions...like watching an ex-spouse drive off a cliff in your brand new Porsche 911. 
Yes, it was nice to be in a BCS Bowl, but now there is a pretty good chance we might get our ass kicked in front of the entire nation.  

No one gave us a chance. No one. I didn't and you didn't either.  If you're reading this and saying to yourself...that's not true, I thought OU would beat Alabama! Then please email me as to what kind of meds you were on because I need to get me some of that.  
Your optimism was based on what?  

• Stoops track record in BCS games (3-5 only because you have to count UConn)?  
• OU's recent success against SEC teams in Bowl Games (1-4)? 
• All the experts thought we were going to win?  
• You thought we matched up well with the Tide?  
• Our stable QB situation? 
• You just had a feeling?  
• You have a fortune teller?
• You flew over a corn field in Iowa that formed the word Trevor?

The fact is, not many, if any outside of the OU locker room thought we had an ice cubes chance in hell of winning that game.  
But the players and coaches believed.  When Alabama took the opening kickoff and methodically shoved the ball down our Schooner for a touchdown, nobody on the OU sideline dropped their heads or pouted....like the entire team did when Mark Bradley muffed the punt against USC in the 2004-05 Orange Bowl.  The Sooners went three and out...but still no panic. They KNEW they were going to win.

Obviously, Trevor Knight had one hell of a game.  In my opinion, it was the best performance by a Sooner QB that I've seen in the Stoops era...An era that includes two Heisman Trophy QB's in the last ten years.  Jason White's game in College Station against the Aggies in '04 was very good and maybe great, but still a distant second.  The back to back games that Landry Jones had in 2013 against WVa and OSU were great and worth mentioning, but both of those were against defenses that had more holes than the back end of a shooting gallery.  

I don't think it's a stretch to say that going into the Sugar Bowl, the opinion on who should be the Sooners starting QB was divided.  After a record breaking, MVP Sugar Bowl performance by Trevor Knight: 32 of 44 for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns...that opinion has been united...especially since Thompson is a Utah Ute and Bell is a tight-end.  But don't we need to tap the breaks just a bit on our expectations when it comes to this red-shirt sophomore QB?

Look, I'll admit, there is much to be excited about with Knight.  Yes, the way he played that night was unbelievable, especially when considering who was on the other side of the ball.  Just the confidence he gained from the Sugar Bowl, which is everything for a QB, that alone will make him better in 2014.  He also played well in the KSU game and was holding his own against OSU before he got hurt as well.  It's also the opinion of those considered experts on such, that the largest amount of growth and improvement for QB's occurs in their second year.  Sam Bradford has a Heisman that would give that some validity.

But I'm not going to lie, there's so much optimism that the expectations on Trevor Knight seem a little over the top. FOUR quarters ago, the entire Sooner Nation thought our choices at QB consisted of Larry, Moe or Curley.  Thirty-two completions later and Trevor Knight is being mentioned as a Heisman candidate.  Whoa, shouldn't we slow down there just a bit.  That GED is nice, but it don't necessarily mean that you're ready for Stanford.

First of all, he's started only 5 games. Of those five games

• 2 he left because of injury (OSU/WVa)
• 2 he played well (Bama/KSU)
• 1  he was marginal at best (La-Monroe)                        

Our offensive line should be a strength this year, which will help, but it's not when he's in the pocket that he gets hurt, it's when he's running around that shit goes foul for him.  When you have a QB that hasn't finished 40% of the games he started due to injury...and your back up is either a tight-end or someone who's never been on the field...that makes me nervous.   

Then, what if his Sugar Bowl performance was the QB version being the 4 Non Blondes?  It's not like he is going to get a month to prepare for anyone on our schedule. What if he's an injury prone one hit wonder?  I don't think he is, but it was a fun way to work the 4 Non Blondes into the conversation.

The most encouraging thing to me when it comes to Knight, is the fact that he doesn't have to be a Heisman candidate for this team to be really, really good.  Yes, he needs to be good and maybe real good...but not Heisman good.  Our defense should be much improved...that is as long as our linebackers don't suffer any injuries or try to take anymore girls home to the dorms. 
Our special teams will miss Jalen Saunders, but there are a lot of talented people that will get a shot to replace him.  
I don't really have anything concrete to offer as to why I feel this way, but I get a sense that the coaches seem a little more into it than they have been in a while...like maybe they sense something special.  It's just a feeling...could just be gas, but until otherwise corrected, I'm going with 'the coaches are focused.'

Last...our schedule sets up very well.  It has some tricky moments: We get a little early test with Tennessee, but we should take care of them at home.  We have to go to Fort Worth the week before Texas, which is a Gary Patterson trap waiting to happen.  The week before TCU is a trip to Morgantown that I think could be scary.  Since Knight will be making his first OU-Texas start you never know what could happen there.  Blake Bell proved that you can have success in other bright lights, but those at the Cotton Bowl are just different.  But we get OSU, K-State and most importantly, Baylor at home.

My thoughts on 2014?
Knight and LB's stay healthy: Final Four at Jerry's World.
Knight gets hurt...and this time next year I might be talking about how well Cody Thomas played against the Purdue Boilermakers in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty