- 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
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