SOONERS SACKED IN THE 'SIP

    Oklahoma 14 Ole Miss 26

Saturday, October 26th, 2024

Vaught Hemingway Stadium

Oxford, Mississippi

 

The Sooners were better last Saturday against the Ole Miss Rebels …

THE FIRST HALF … 

Reason for Optimism - Defense: After giving up a touchdown on the Rebels opening drive, the OU defense seemed to settle down. Yes, the Rebels were still able to move the ball, but the OU defense made some critical stops on 3^rd and 4^th down. The “bend but don’t break” defensive effort was enough to hold the high-powered Rebels offense to only a field goal through the remainder of the first half. 

Reason for Caution: More than once the Rebels had receivers running uncovered through the OU secondary, only to have Ole Miss QB Jaxon Dart, normally a very accurate passer, miss the mark. To think that would continue would be unrealistic at best.

Reason for Optimism - Offense: On offense, the play calling looked to be improved. Interim OC, Joe Jon Finley, was creative in finding ways to put QB Jackson Arnold in a position to be effective with both his arm and his feet. While still not good, the offensive line was at least able to occasionally open some nice running lanes. RB Jovante Barnes was effective both on the ground (12 carries for 53 yards) and as a receiver out of the backfield (3 catches for 38 yards). Hell, the junior from Las Vegas even broke a couple tackles … What next? An OU tight end catching the ball? Well, actually, yes. OU tight end, Bauer Sharp had 4 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, all in the first quarter. It was a combination that culminated in the Sooners offense putting together three impressive first half drives, two of which resulted in points and another that ended on downs inside the Ole Miss 5-yard line. The most notable of the three was a 13-play 92-yard drive in the final 2:36 of the first half. Not only was the drive the most impressive one of the year it also enabled the Sooners to go to the locker room with a 14-10 lead. 

Reason for Caution: 3-Ole Miss personal foul penalties extended two OU scoring drives while also allowing the Sooners to overcome 2 holding penalties and three sacks. The Sooners also converted 7 of 9 first down attempts - which doesn't seem sustainable since OU came into the game 129th in the country in 3rd down conversion percentage. 

First Half: It marked the first time since week 3 vs. Tulane that the Sooners had led at intermission.  Yes, the sky was blue, the birds were singing, and there wasn’t a single piece of outdoor furniture holding its breath in the deep end of my pool … Could the Sooners, who came into the game as 20.5-point underdogs, really pull this off? Well, …

Yes, the Sooners were better last Saturday against the Ole Miss Rebels … and then the second half started.

THE SECOND HALF

In the second half, the Rebels started executing, the Sooners lost starting left tackle Jacob Sexton to injury, and the OU offense quickly reverted back to the inept 2024 version of themselves. It was a combination that resulted in things getting very ugly, very quickly. When I say ugly, I mean … Steve Buscemi ugly, fat girl in a leotard ugly, dare I say … a sack full of anuses ugly.

The Sooners first four offensive possessions of the second half were the definition of futility.  In their first 15 plays the Sooners had two penalties, gave up a sack, and witnessed their TE lose his mind and 8-yards on a screen play. Unfortunately, it was a stretch of ineptness not solely owned by the offense. 

On defense, the Sooner defensive backs mixed up their coverage scheme by alternating between Busted Coverage, Cover Burnt Deep, Cover Hold or Interfere, and my personal favorite, Man-on-No-Man. The result? Ole Miss receivers were like a Waffle House – Easy to Find & Always Open. Last but not least, we witnessed yet another poor in game decision – or in this case, indecision, from the head coach.  Using a valuable timeout so you can decide you’re going to punt is indefensible. That would be like me pouring out a bottle of whiskey so I could decided not to drink.

But there was a sign of life on the Sooners fifth drive, which started from their own 1-yard line. 10-plays and another Rebels personal foul penalty later, the Sooners found themselves with first and 10 at the Ole Miss 13-yard line. A touchdown – and the Sooners would be back in the ballgame.  

Instead, the Sooners ran what might arguably be the worst 4-play sequence by an OU offense in last quarter century. On 1^st down – the Sooners ran a poorly designed, slow to develop gadget play that resulted in TE Bauer Sharp being sacked for a 1-yard loss. Sadly, it would turn out to be the best play of the four.  The next three plays, including 4^th and a cab ride – all ended the same … with Jackson Arnold and the football under a mass of Rebels somewhere behind the line of scrimmage. Three of a kind is a sack-trick. Four sacks in a row - is a Golden Sombrero. 4-plays, 4-sacks, made by 4-different Rebels. OU’s chance to pull off the upset while wearing a Golden Sombrero? 4-get about it.

On Saturday, Jackson Arnold was sacked a mind dumbing 7 times in the second half, and 10 times overall. For those keeping score at home, the Sooners o-line has now given up 24 sacks in the last three games and 39 sacks through the first 8-games this season – a pace which would have them allowing 55 sacks this season. Sadly, that number might actually be conservative considering the competition that lies ahead on the Sooners schedule. To put this sack saga in perspective, in 2023, Dillon Gabriel was sacked 17 times all year. There is just no sugar coating it – the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is historically horrible.

The Sooners are now 4-4 on the season, and 1-4 in conference play, which is 13^th in the SEC. They have Maine up next, which it wouldn’t be a stretch to say is their last realistic chance at a win (maybe a shot at winning at Missouri?) … Like I said last week, this might get worse before it gets better.

Yes, for one half of football in the SIP on Saturday, the Sooners were better. But the problem is … at Oklahoma, you’re not measured by deceptive halftime leads or improved play in a half of football. At the University of Oklahoma, you are measure by championships and victories … none of which are of the moral variety.

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interest Guy

Buddy Putty

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

'Cocks in a Cakewalk

 South Carolina 35 Oklahoma 9 

I made a pledge going into this season, the Sooners first in the SEC, that I wasn’t going to be so negative and critical with my posts this year.  I was going to do a better job of remembering that the student athletes that I am living vicariously through have exponentially more talent than I ever had and are doing the best they can. Yes, OAS 2.o would be a kinder, gentler, more understanding version than the nutjob I've been in the past. If I can't say anything nice, I just wouldn't say anything at all - which is why I've posted zero blogs this year. But it hasn't been easy being mute ... like game 1 for example ...

Temple -It would’ve been easy to dwell on the fact that the Sooners were 1 for 13 on third down, or that the last time someone spent a Friday night being harassed, pressured, and sacked by a Temple Owl the way Jackson Arnold was – they were on a date with Bill Cosby. But I bit my tongue. 

But that vow is now over. I’m moving my ‘only gonna be positive’ vow over to my New Years resolution list, which is where I keep all my other unrealistic proclamations, because I can’t let the South Carolina game go without saying something.

 “I have the right to remain silent – just not the ability” – Comedian, Ron White

 I sat down with my bloody-mary at 11:47 AM as South Carolina kicked off.  First play - Michael Hawkins throws an interception, which wasn’t even the worst part of the play. The most egregious part was that someone on the OU coaching staff thought it would be a good idea to have tight end Baur Sharp, who couldn’t block a man hole cover, try to block South Carolina’s All-SEC and future first round draft pick – defensive end, Kyle Kennard. Why not also ask Sharp to cure cancer and balance the budget while he's at it? The block went as expected – Kennard went by Sharp like sh** through a goose, which flushed Hawkins out of the pocket, at which time he threw the kind of pass freshman QB’s throw when being pressured – late, underthrown and picked off by a Gamecock defensive back with a lot of vowels in his last name.  28 seconds, two or three missed tackles and a chair launched into the pool later … 7-0 Gamecocks.

After I’m told that Ford is the best in Texas, and Coach Saban, Deion, and a duck try to sell me some insurance, USC (no, not that one) kicks off again. After a couple of false hope first downs, it’s time for OU tight end Jake Roberts to try his blocking skills on a different USC (no, again, not that one) defensive end.  Shockingly (sarcasm), the result was the same. The pressure causes Hawkins to tiptoe to his right - where he is rammed by a ‘Cock defensive back (insert joke here). Of course, Hawkins fumbles … at which point USC’s (still not that one) Tonka Hemingway (no relation) scoops it up on a bounce. Despite Tonka “Truck” Hemingway (still no relation) being on the same diet I am, he runs untouched 38-yards for the score. Chair 2 launched into the pool. Score … 14-0 Gamecocks.

After an emu and a guy with a toothpick in his mouth promise me ‘I would only pay for what I need’ and ironically, an infomercial for erectile disfunction, the ‘Cocks kick it deep again. After a couple decent running plays got the Sooners a first down, OU offensive coordinator decided he was tired of his job and called an poorly-designed pass play. While Hawkins dropped back to pass, OU left tackle Michael Tarquin, who evidently learned to pass block from one of our tight ends, whiffs in a pitiful attempt to block USC (sigh, no –still the other one) defensive end Dylan Stewart. Stewart hits Hawkins as he’s throwing, but Hawkins was still able to complete the pass, hitting his new favorite target – the Gamecock defensive back with a lot of vowels in his last name - on the dead run.  In addition to not being able to enunciate his name, I guess no one thought they could tackle him either … because the only thing worse than the pass protection and throw, was the effort made by the entire OU offense to tackle Vowel Guy. There is now an entire outdoor dining set in the deep end of my pool, but at least I’m accurate with my throws … Score: 21-0 Gamecocks.

At this point, the positive OAS.2 is thinking … It's only 6 minutes into the game, so there is lots of time left. The Sooners are at home, they have an above average defense (that is well rested, ha), you’d like to think there is hope that they could come back to win the game. 

The OAS.1 is thinking … It’s only 6 minutes into the game, so there is a lot of time left for this to get a lot worse. The Sooners are at home – but by now, so is the entire student section. The Sooners defense will need to score – a lot, for OU to come back and win this game … plus … Unless Michael Phelps shows up and gets one of my chairs out of my pool, I’m going to have to stand the rest of the game.

But it's hard to have hope when…

• Your offensive line could be confused for turnstiles at an amusement park – giving up 9-sacks on Saturday and 14 in the last two games.
• You have two quarterback who are handing out turnovers like they own a non-profit bakery.
• 8 of your 15 offensive possessions result in turnovers or turnover on downs, and three others drives result in 3 and outs.
• When you rush for a net 57 yards, fumble 6 times, and your tight ends catch about as well as they block
• When a receiver breaks open deep for an easy TD, but your QB overthrows him by 10 yards
• When two players on the defense jump off-sides on 4^th and 4 when the whole stadium knows the other team is just trying to pull someone offsides.

Bottom line – and this is where I’m gonna be positive … I’m positive about the fact that this Oklahoma Sooners football team is a poorly coached, below average to bad football team. Through 7 games OU has shown itself to be light years away from competing at a level necessary to be in the top tier of the SEC. The Sooners currently sit at 4-3 … which means they need two wins to be bowl eligible. But that won't happen - not with 4-top 15 ranked opponents on the schedule, three of which are on the road. This team is headed for 5-7 at best, and that is assuming they beat Maine. A record of 5-7 means that for the first time since the John Blake era a quarter century ago (1998), the Sooners won’t be in a bowl game. They would also enter the offseason with a long list of questions, none more pressing than whether or not Brent Venables is the right man for this job. 

My advice - Buckle up Sooner Nation – because in my opinion, this is gonna get worse before it gets better … which is not good news for my pool guy.

 Boomer -

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty