OU VS. Texas Tech: Quick Recap

 Oklahoma            vs               Texas Tech

 

                  (7-1, 4-1)                                                                                            (7-1, 4-1)

       

The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 38-30 last Saturday in a nail biter! After almost a two hour delay, weather did not seem to effect either team. Tech continued to sling the ball all over the field, and the Sooners attempted to do the same. All jokes aside, Oklahoma actually had a pretty good game through the air. As for the defense, there wasn't much of it for either team. The highlight of the season thus far for the Sooners has been special teams. However, the special teams had a horrible outing last Saturday. Let's take a look at each:

OFFENSE: A+
The offense looked the best it has since the Notre Dame game earlier this season. Blake Bell looked calm and collected and delivered some beautiful passes. Jalen Saunders seemed to catch everything that came his way Saturday. Lacoltan Bester becomes the first Sooner to catch, receive, and throw for a touchdown in the same season since 1961. This kid has a very bright future here at Oklahoma. Though the offense did get a win this week, they also received a loss. Fullback Trey Millard tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. His presence will be missed in much more areas than just at fullback. Millard brings great experience and leadership to this team. This is a awful and sad loss for the program in general. No doubt in my mind he will recover and have a very successful career in the NFL.

DEFENSE: B-
The Oklahoma defense played pretty well last week, despite giving up almost 400 yards passing through the air. Though we did struggle to stop the pass, we came up with a pair of interceptions. The rush defense was fantastic as opposed to the way it has been the past two weeks. The Sooners defense definitely came out ready to play, and proved to be one of the best in the Big 12. It will be interesting to see how well they can play next week against the number one offense in the Nation.

Special Teams: D-
Special Teams has been one of the Sooners stronger sides during this 2013 season. However, this was not the case last Saturday. Oklahoma had one field goal blocked and was never successful at covering punts. The blocked field goal was simply a missed block by Trey Millard off of the left end that gave the defensive player a clear shot at the ball. A fake return was the cause of the horrible coverage by the Sooners punt team. As we get deeper into the season it is very important that the Sooners pick it back up of the Special Teams.

Blake Bell - A tale of two Quarterbacks.

Oklahoma starting quarterback has had an interesting start to his career. Bell was used primarily his first two seasons as a short yardage running quarterback in the famous "BellDozer" package. During that span, Bell was a master of third and short conversions, and red zone, goal line scores. Blake accounted for numerous third down conversions and scored 24 touchdowns over two season in the Belldozer package. Over the two year period Blake rushed 104 times for 372 yards. Opposing teams knew it was coming and still couldn't stop it.

Entering the 2013 season Bell was expected to replace four year starter, Landry Jones, as the Sooner starter. However, just weeks before the season opener Head coach Bob Stoops named redshirt freshman Trevor Knight as the Sooner starting quarterback. The announcement was a shock to most fans and local talking heads. But, Bell took the news in stride. he supported Knight as a starter but kept himself prepared in the event he was called upon to play.


Trevor Knight was obviously a superior running quarterback. Knight led the Sooners with 103 rushing yards on only 13 carries in his first start. However, Knight struggled in the passing game hitting on 43% of his passes in the first two games, and his misses were horrible. He had thrown 3 interceptions in the first two games. Knight suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season against West Virginia. Bell played in the second half but only attempted one pass. The following week against Tulsa, Bell would get his first official start. Against Tulsa Bell was superb passing for a Sooner record 413 yards hitting 27 of the 37 passes he threw. Bell also rushed for 24 yards on 10 carries. After the game the obvious questions began to surface. Why was Bell not tabbed as the starter, he looked far better than Knight passing and he could run a little. Stoops brushed off the questions, but named Bell the starter going forward. The Sooners had a bye week coming up and then, a trip to South Bend Indiana and a date with Notre Dame. We would know a lot more about Bell in two weeks.

Bell again played a brilliant game against the Fighting Irish. Bell completed 22 of 30 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 59 yards, good for second on the team. The most important stat, Bell had not turned the ball over since becoming the starter. The decision to start Knight over Bell was becoming increasingly difficult to understand. On the field, Bell looked like a top ten quarterback. He was mobile, accurate and took care of the football. In two games Bell had a completion rate of 73% on 49-67 passing. He had thrown for 645 yards, 6 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran 22 times for 83 yards, a 3.77 average. Stout numbers for a backup quarterback. What were we missing? What did the coaching staff see that the fans and talking heads didn't?

The answer came quickly. By the second half of the TCU game Bell looked appeared to be a shell of the player that defeated a good Notre Dame team on the road. Bell only threw for 152 yards and no touchdowns in a 20-17 win over TCU. Granted, TCU was playing a stout man to man coverage but Bell looked uncomfortable and indecisive for the first time since putting on an Oklahoma uniform. Bell's next outing against Texas was even worse. He managed only 133 yards against a defense that had been beaten horribly on two previous occasions earlier this season. Bell's completion percentage dropped to 46% and he threw his first two interceptions of the season. In addition to an inept passing game, Bell ran 7 times for -27 yards. The Kansas game was better but not enough to keep the fans and talking heads to start serious conversations about replacing Bell with Trevor Knight or the fully recovered, Kendall Thompson. In both games against Texas and Kansas, Bell looked uncomfortable, indecisive and frantic at times. Against Texas Tech, Bell started the first quarter in much the same fashion as he had played the previous two and a half games. Late in the first, Trevor Knight was seen warming up on the sidelines. Was a switch coming? It didn't and we may never know if it was planned because Bell snapped out of his funk on the next series and ended the game with 249 yards, 2 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 64%.



Blake Bell has started 6 games for Oklahoma this season. Three great starts and three clunkers. In his three starts against Tulsa, Notre Dame and Texas Tech,  Bell was 63-89 for 894 yards with 8 touchdowns and no interceptions. His completion rate in those starts was an astounding 71%. In those games Bell also rushed 31 times for 127 yards, a 5.06 average. In his clunkers against TCU, Texas and Kansas, Bell was 47-83 for 416 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His completion percentage dropped to 54%. In those games he rushed 33 times for 108 yards dropping his average to 3.27 yards per carry. How could two sets of games, three in each set, have such opposite stats from the same player?

Is Bell simply inconsistent? I hope not. Inconsistency at this level will not win championships. Is it a confidence issue? Possibly, but with who. Is Bell lacking confidence or are his coaches lacking confidence in him. Could it also be a lack of consistency in play calling. Could the blame fall on the shoulders of Josh Heupel. I think it's a combination of all of these factors.

It would be difficult for me to believe that a player of Bell's caliber and pedigree can be that inconsistent. He obviously is a capable runner and passer. At times he looks exceptional. Most inconsistent quarterbacks are at least as bad as they are good, in other words, average. Blake Bell is not average. Nor is he completely developed mentally or physically. He has a great upside.

Confidence is the reason for the inconsistency. Not just Bell's lack of confidence but the coaches as well. It would appear that Stoops and Heupel have him on a rather short leash. I believe that the offensive coaches are concerned that if he shows any weakness in the passing game that they shut it down. When Bell senses a lack of confidence in his ability from the coaching staff, it has to affect his own confidence. I believe the coaches thought Trevor Knight gave them the best chance to win. With Knight out, they seem to want Bell to manage the game not to lose. The relationship came to a break point in the first quarter against Texas Tech. It would appear Heupel decided to let him play and let the chips fall where they may. Most of us like where they fell.


You must have tough skin if you are going to play or coach at OU. One week you're a King that can't be challenged, a week later you're a skunk that shouldn't be allowed to wear the coveted Sooner jersey. Perhaps Blake listened to a little too much public opinion over the first few games. He believed he was a King after Notre Dame and couldn't believe the same fans were calling for his head after the Texas game. Such is life as a Sooner. Better get used to it or leave because it will not change. Remember, these same fans wanted Stoops to replace Heisman winner Jason White with converted wide receiver Paul Thompson in the National title game vs LSU in 2004. A game that the Sooners and White almost tied in the fourth quarter.

Blake Bells overall numbers are not bad and he is 5-1 as a starter. He has a completion rate of 64% and has 10 touchdowns and only 3 picks. His yards per carry average is a respectable 4.14 yards. He has young receivers and the play calling has been very suspect at critical times this season. Bell seems to play better when he is allowed to play. He seems to have the respect of his team mates and hopefully proved to the coaching staff that he belongs the starter with the impressive manner in which he played against Texas Tech. Bell also seems to play better against strong competition. He played his best games against ranked opponents Notre Dame and Texas Tech.

The Sooners travel to Waco Texas next week to take on the 5th ranked Baylor Bears. This should be Bells toughest test yet. If the right plays are called and the coaches let Bell play, a win is a very real possibility. The statistics back up that theory. Let's hope they are right.

CMan's OU Pregame - Kansas

Oklahoma Sooners (5-1, 2-1)

Kansas Jayhawks (2-3, 0-2)











The Sooners travel to Lawrence Kansas today to take on the Jayhawks in a game that should help OU put to sleep the reminders of the  loss suffered at the hands of Rival Texas last week in Dallas.

The Sooner OU gets back to winning football the better and if you have to do it on the road there are far worse places to do it than Lawrence Kansas. The Sooners are 69-22-6 in 97 games against KU. That includes a 33-13-4 record in Lawrence. If the Sooners are frustrated, the Jayhawks can be a very comforting punching bag.

When people hear The Kansas Jayhawks they automatically think college Basketball. Oh, KU does play in almost all sports but the rumor is that the game of Basketball was created in Lawrence. When talk of Jayhawk football enters a conversation, the subject usually turns to Gale Sayers. Sayers, the Kansas Comet, is about the best thing to come out playing football at KU. Sure, Glen Mason won a couple of game and Mark Mangino did come within a whisper of a Big 12 title but few remember them. Kansas fans have always paid homage to Basketball first and, until the start of the basketball season, used the football games as a place to meet, eat and drink.

The 2013 Jayhawk team, coached by oft traveled Charlie Weis, have played good football in spurts this season. Most notably in the first quarter. In week 6 the Jayhawks led Texas Tech 10-0 after the first quarter, and lost 54-16. A week later, the Hawks were tied with TCU 10-10 at the half and lost 27-17. KU can start, but they struggle to finish. Once their opponent takes the lead, the Jayhawks tend to fold. I have a hard time imagining a different game today.

Bob Stoops Sooners are 14-0 following the Texas game. Seven of those games have come against KU. After a loss to Texas the Sooners are typically in a bad mood and are refocused. OU has outscored all opponents 37-12 following the Texas game.  In three games against the Jayhawks following a loss to Texas, the Sooners have beaten KU by and average score of 33-16. Today is not likely to be any different.

The biggest question going in to today's game is whether or not Trevor Knight or Kendall Thompson will see any time at quarterback for the Sooners. Blake Bell has struggled to lead this offense in the last two games against Texas and TCU. His throwing has not been very good and his lumbering runs are easily sniffed out by opposing defenses. The Sooners are still in position to win the Big 12 but they will have to score 30 to 50 points to beat the likes of Baylor and Texas Tech. Bell has not shown that he can do that. TCU and Texas took away the run and dared the Sooners to beat them in the air. TCU almost beat OU and Texas did. A one dimensional OU team will not win games against equal opponents. Blake Bells inability to run effectively makes OU one dimensional.

Bell has also not played well coming from behind. If Texas does not take a 10-3 lead on the pick 6 thrown by Bell early, the Texas game might have ended differently. After the last two weeks, I wonder how the Notre Dame game would have gone had the OU defense not given Bell and the offense a 14 point lead. After all, the defensive scores and the two point conversion were the difference in that game.

I am not advocating a quarterback change by any stretch. Bell has proven to be a solid gamer. And, this is only his fifth start. It would be interesting to see what the added dimension of a running quarterback like Knight or Thompson would bring. OU is still in the hunt for a Big 12 Championship, I just think this is a good time to take a look at all of our options.

The Sooners should win this game even if the Jayhawks jump on them early. But I don't see the Bell led offense putting up more than 28 points unless OU establishes the run effectively and early. If not, It could be a long day for the Sooners. However, with the 14-0 record they are bringing in following the Texas game I am hard pressed to pick against the Sooners.

Somewhere I can hear Barry Switzer saying "Run baby Run"!

CMan's pic:  OU  24 - 14

Buster' pick: OU 31-17

OU Sooner's Post Game Analysis - TCU

 OKLAHOMA SOONERS:20


TCU HORNED FROGS: 17




The Sooners defeated TCU 23-20 last Saturday in what looked like it was going to be a shutout for the Sooners. Oklahoma lead 13-0 at the end of the first half. The Sooners did not give up a single first down until the third quarter. TCU clearly proved to be a second half team as they came out and put up 17 points in the second half. Before we get upset about only beating the Horned Frogs by 3, lets remember this team almost beat LSU a few weeks ago. TCU is a solid team, and will be moving up in the Big 12. Having one of the best secondaries in the Nation, and a great quarterback in Trevone Boykin, the Horned Frogs are far from a pushover team.

Lets take a look at the defense: A

The Sooner defense was looking outstanding in the first half. As I stated earlier, TCU did not get a first down until the third quarter. The defense gave up only 210 total yards. Run defense proved to be the stronghold last weekend as the Sooners only gave up 44 total yards rushing. They say defense wins championships, and with the lack of offense this year it is going to have to do just that.

*Injury: Corey Nelson out for season with torn pectoral muscle.

Offense: B

The offense was not what anyone expected it to be last Saturday. I don't think anyone expected an outstanding performance, but scoring only one touchdown in the second half just ins't what this offense is about. Lets keep in mind that TCU has one of the best secondaries in the Nation, and definitely the best in the Big 12. Blake Bell did not play horrible, TCU just simply shut down our receivers. The Sooners will not play a defense that good in the Big 12 again this season. So look out for Bell to come out slinging against Texas this weekend.

Special Teams: A+

The kick off team again looked spectacular last weekend. TCU came in the game averaging over 30 yards per return. The Sooners held the Horned Frogs to just 18 yards. Jed Barnett averaged a low 37 yards on four punts against TCU. Michael Hunnicutt again proved to be one of the best kickers in the nation going 2-2 with a long of 39 yards.

Overall the Sooners played a great game in my opinion. They came out and took care of business to stay at a perfect record of 5-0. Now it is time to focus on the Longhorns.

CMan's Big 12 Power Rankings - Week 6

POWER RANKINGS

#1. Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 2-0)

Last Week - Beat TCU 20-17

The Sooners defeated TCU Saturday in a game that reminded fans of the Pre Big 12 Horned Frogs. The defense that was the Horned Frogs identity in the late half of the 2000's returned to Owen Field. However, The Sooners made enough plays, when they needed them, to win the game. The OU defense was stout all game but especially in the first half allowing only 16 yards to TCU including zero first downs and negative rushing yards. As for the offense, it sputtered most of the day under the TCU pressure and stingy secondary but Blake Bell proved again that he is a gamer using his feet to secure two first downs late and secure victory for OU.

Up next: Texas

#2. Baylor Bears (4-0, 1-0)

Last Week - Defeated WVU 73-42

Baylor is good. The Bears finally played a team that, on paper, should give them a game. West Virginia gave them a game of sorts scoring 42 points, but Baylor still scored 73 on them and gained over 850 total yards. Baylor's offense is scary good and scary fast. In the first quarter alone last night they had scoring drives of 32, 4 and 8 seconds. The bears had identical 28-7 scores in the first and second quarters to lead 56-14 at half. If that's not enough, Baylor has given up 65 total points in four games, albeit most of them yesterday. Giving up points matters little when you can score 70 per game.

Up next: At Kansas State

#3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0)

Last Week - Defeated Kansas 54-16

Reality looked as if it was going to rear its ugly head for the Red Raiders on Saturday. They were on the road in Lawrence and the Jayhawks had just ended the first quartet with a 10 - 0 lead. As it turns out, Texas Tech was just not awake yet. Kansas would not score again till late in the 4th and the Red Raiders would score 56 in between. Texas Tech may not be a premier team but they are a good team. They play good enough offense to score and their defense is much better than it was during the Leach era. The more I watch this team, the more convinced I am that their first challenge will come in three weeks when they face OU in Norman.

Up next: At Iowa State

#4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1, 1-1)

Last Week - Defeated Kansas State 33-29

The Pokes are falling fast. The loss at West Virginia seemed to most, a fluke. Most were convinced that the Cowboys would bounce back big at home against the average Wildcats. The only bounces came in the form of KSU turnovers. The Pokes needed the 5 turnovers and the fourth quarter to put away the Wildcats in Stillwater. KSU was in position to win the game and effectively gave the game to OSU. The Cowboys played well enough defensively but the stout, quick strike offense that has been the standard at OSU for the last few years apparently graduated. Had this game been in Manhattan, the Pokes might be 0-2 in conference. The loss to West Virginia looks worse considering what Baylor did to the Mountaineers last night. TCU looms in two weeks. The Cowboys better get some things figured out in a hurry.

Up Next: Bye week

#5. TCU Horned Frogs (2-3, 0-2)

Last week - Lost to Oklahoma 20-17

TCU played about as well as anyone has in Norman Saturday. The old Horned Frog defense showed up again and Gary Patterson pulled a couple of trick plays on the Sooners that changed the flow of the game in the second half. Still, a loss is a loss. I doubt the Horned Frogs are celebrating any moral victories this morning. The good news is that, despite the 0-2 conference start, TCU will probably finish with a winning conference record. If the Horned Frogs can figure out how to play the first half with the same intensity as they do the second half, they will be hard to beat. However, as long as they play in the Big 12, the 12-1 seasons they used to enjoy aren't likely to return.

Up next: Kansas

#6. Texas Longhorns (3-2, 2-0)

Last Week - Defeated Iowa State 31-30

The Longhorns needed a hail Mary at the end of the first half and the referees in the fourth quarter to pull out a 1 point victory in Ames Iowa Thursday night. The Longhorns 2-0 conference record is built on the backs of two bottom tier Big 12 teams that, frankly, they were lucky to beat. Texas is an average football team at best and really lacks any identity or energy. Texas and Oklahoma enter the Red River Rivalry with wins. However, OU is not happy with the level of play in their win against TCU at home, Texas was just glad to get out of Iowa with a win. The Longhorns look like a .500 team. I'd be surprised if they didn't finish the season with a .500 record.

Up next: Oklahoma

#7. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3, 1-2)

Last Week: Lost to Baylor 73-42

I don't know what is worse, the WVU loss to Baylor giving up 73 points or the fact that Maryland, who beat WVU 30-0,  lost to Florida State 63-0. Either way, the Mountaineers have got to be one of the most inconsistent teams in college football. The only positive that WVU can take out of the loss to Baylor is that they scored 42 points which will win most games, just not against Baylor. The Mountaineers are tough to figure out. They play good teams tough but falter against average teams. The good news for the Mountaineers is they don't have to play next week. West Virginia will likely end the season with a losing record, and without Dana Holgerson. They, like TCU, probably regret joining the Big 12.

Up next: Bye week

#8. Kansas State Wildcats (2-3, 0-2)

Last Week - Lost to Oklahoma State 33-29

The Wildcats are not a good team but they could easily be 2-0 in the conference. The losses to Texas and Oklahoma State, both on the road, were winnable. In fact, they led late in both games. unfortunately this probably says more about the state of Texas and OSU. The Wildcats will likely have problems against better teams. The game against Baylor will tell us a lot. This Wildcats squad is lacking the discipline and key skill players that they have had in the past. They likely belong in the lower half of the Big 12 and will probably spend the rest of the season there.

Up next: Baylor

#9. Iowa State Cyclones (1-3, 0-1)

Last Week - Lost to Texas 31-30

Iowa State played hard on Thursday night in Ames and, by all rights, deserved a victory over Texas. The Cyclones led late in the fourth and though they had stopped the Longhorns with a goal lie fumble. The only people that didn't see the fumble were the referees. The Cyclones have played hard during Paul Rhodes tenure and will win more than one game this year. This team has the ability and the energy to upset teams. They have done it the last few years and should again this year. This coming Saturday might be their chance.

Up next: at Texas Tech

#10. Kansas Jayhawks (2-2, 0-1)

Last Week - Lost to Texas Tech 56-16

The Jayhawks played real college football Saturday for about 1 quarter. Kansas jumped out to a 10-0 lead over Tech in the first quarter and then realized who they were. The subsequently gave up 56 points before they got back on the board by then, the game was over. On a positive note, the Jayhawks scheduled the game at 11:00 Am so that their fans could get some rest so they could attend the Kansas Jayhawks annual midnight start to the Basketball season. Kansas will play the remainder of the football schedule, very few will notice.

Up next: at TCU

OU Sooner post game analysis - Notre Dame

           Oklahoma Sooners                   35


           Notre Dame Fighting Irish       21



Oklahoma defeated the University of Notre Dame Saturday, in South Bend, 35-21. The win was only the second for OU against the fighting Irish in 11 games. For Bob Stoops, it marks the third time his teams have played Notre Dame and the second time in South Bend. Stoops is now 1-2 against Notre Dame. Very few schools have a winning record against Stoops or, for that matter, Oklahoma.

On this Saturday though, the Sooners owned the game from the start. Oklahoma scored 14 points inside the first three minutes of the game converting two Tommy Reese interceptions in to points. From that point, the Sooners and Irish traded punches but the Irish could never get closer than 7 points. The defense set the tone and the offense, led by Blake Bell, continued the efficient play they established in Norman, two weeks ago, against Tulsa. The Sooners capped an impressive victory in front of a capacity crowd in South Bend in which the Irish honored the 1957 team that ended the Sooners record 47 game win streak. The impact of the victory was evident on the faces of the players, coaches, fans and especially, Bob Stoops. It was a big win in an important game and the faithful Sooner Nation  fully recognized its significance.

The Grades:

Defense - A.

The defense would have rated an A+ if not for the running game of Notre Dame and especially Greg Atkinson. The Irish rushed for 220 yards and Atkinson ran for 148 by himself. The Notre Dame offensive line opened holes big enough for Atkinson to get through, his elusive running style and speed did the rest. The A is a result of the defensive pressure and pass defense. The Sooners kept adequate pressure on Reese and Backup Andrew Hendrix to allow the secondary to keep pace with the Irish receivers. Had Atkinson not scored on a 80 yard run in the 3rd quarter, this might have been a 35-14 blowout.

Blake Bell - A+.

Any fear that Blake Bell would fold under pressure in his first road start was forgotten after the first offensive series. Bell was in command of the Offense from the start and despite throwing a couple of errant passes in the first half,  looked as good as he did at home against Tulsa. Bell solidified his claim as starting quarterback and proved that he was indeed a gamer. Bell left the game late in the third with muscle cramps but returned to finish after, as Stoops put it, getting "gassed up". It was evident when Bell returned to the Sooner sidelines that it would take a lot more than muscle cramps to keep him out of the game. If Blake remains healthy, the Sooners have tremendous upside going forward.

Offense - A.

The offense was efficient and stingy with the ball. The Sooners gained 450 total yards, 238 passing and 212 on the ground. The Sooners had no turnovers for the second straight game and only 4 penalties, two of which were intentional delay of game penalties to gain extra punting room. Three running backs saw time and eight different receivers caught passes. Sterling Sheppard had his second standout game and it would appear that he is becoming Blake Bell's favorite target. There were several missed scoring opportunities that would have widened the score. All are correctable and can be blamed on youth and experience.

Special Teams - A.

Michael Hunnicutt was perfect again with PAT's and kicking 2 field goals. The punting game was not as fluid as it has been to start the season though as Barnett punted 5 times but failed to pin the Irish inside the 20 on any of them. The biggest surprise on special teams came as the Sooners executed a two point conversion late to keep the Irish behind by 14. Overall, the special teams played well and remain a huge asset to the team.

Attitude - A+

Perhaps the most evident improvement by the Sooners this year is attitude. It was clear on the first offensive series by Notre Dame that these were not the same Sooners that lost to Notre Dame in Norman last fall. Oklahoma has regained the swagger and intensity that defined them early in Bob Stoops career. They have the look of a team that can be potentially dangerous and dominant going forward.

Overall it was the most complete road victory that the Sooners have played in a long time. The scary thing for upcoming opponents is that this team is not yet mature. There are a lot of young, first year starters on this team and this was clearly supposed to be a rebuilding year. It looks like Stoops and his staff didn't want to wait.

It was clearly a big game win for Big game Bob. Welcome back!

Up next: TCU

CMan's Big 12 Power Rankings - Week 5

POWER RANKINGS

#1. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0, 1-0)

Last week: Defeated Notre Dame 35-21

Oklahoma secured the top spot this week based, not only on the win in South Bend, but the way they won. The swagger that the Sooners have missed the last few seasons has returned and the Sooners look like a potentially dominant football team again. The defense set an early tone Saturday with two interceptions that resulted in a 14 point lead for OU inside the first three minutes of the game. On offense, it's safe to say that Blake Bell solidified his hold on the starting QB position. There are still a few areas that the Sooners can improve on the field, however, the OU mental game is as strong as it has been since Bob Stoops arrived in Norman. Up next, TCU.

#2. Baylor Bears (3-0, 0-0)

Last week: Bye

Baylor entered it's bye week as one of the most prolific scoring teams in college football this year. While it would appear that the Bears are firing on all cylinders they should be concerned about what happened to OSU in Morgantown. The Bears opponents have all been sub-par and all three victories have come in the comfortable confines of Waco. Baylor host the Mountaineers next Saturday and, while its not a road test,  it will be the first real competition the Bears have faced this year. We should know a lot more about Baylor after the game next Saturday. Up next, West Virginia.

#3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-0, 1-0)

Last Week: Bye

The Red Raiders enjoyed a well deserved bye week. After a 4-0 start, the rest came at a good time. The victory over then ranked TCU, remains Techs biggest win although the Horned frogs are not who we thought they were. The road ahead looks winnable for the Red Raiders as they sweep through the bottom of the big 12. Tech doesn't look to have a real hurdle until they take on OU in Norman on October 26th. Up next, at Kansas.

#4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1, 0-1)

Last week: Lost to West Virginia 30-21

It has been said that you can't play a Kansas State non-conference schedule and be prepared for the Big 12. That caught up with the Pokes Saturday and should haunt Baylor, for at least a week. Losing to the Mountaineers on the road is bad enough but the Cowboys really beat themselves. Poor special teams play and a lack of the stout defense that has defined their early season. The Cowboys have three winnable games upcoming before they visit Texas Tech on the first weekend of November. we'll find out how they respond next week in Stillwater. Up next, Kansas State.

#5. Texas Longhorns (2-2, 1-0)

Last week: Bye

The best thing about the bye week for Texas is that they won their last game and Mack Brown didn't have to answer any really tough questions. There have been a slew of conversations out side of Texas about the future of the Longhorns coaching staff. Will Mack stay or ascend to the AD chair at the end of the season. time will tell. Oklahoma and the Red River Rivalry loom in two weeks so the answer could come quickly. A tune-up with the Cyclones in Austin comes first. Win, lose or draw the next couple of weeks, I still believe a new coach will be stalking the Texas sidelines in 2014. Up next, Iowa State.

#6. TCU Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1)

Last week: Beat SMU 48-17

Despite the drubbing of SMU at home last week, I no longer believe TCU belongs in the top 5 of the Big 12. The Horned Frogs will have to earn their way back in. Two of their next three games are against the top tier of the conference....on the road. If they finish these next three at 1-2, my instincts will  be correct. TCU looks to be a decent football team, just in the wrong conference. The days of 10-1 seasons for TCU appear to be long gone. Up next, at Oklahoma.

#7. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-2, 1-1)

Last week: Beat Oklahoma State 30-21

After a big win Saturday against the Cowboys, the Mountaineers probably wish their bye week was this week not next week. The reality is they have to travel to Waco and take on the undefeated Bears next Saturday. However, coming in after a big win gives West Virginia renewed confidence and the Bears wins, all blowouts, have come against some very bad teams. The victory over OSU is not enough to be considered a turning point. A victory in Waco would. If the Mountaineers play a near perfect game they could win. If they don't, the victory over Oklahoma State will just be a high point in a very long season for West Virginia. Up next, at Baylor.

#8. Kansas State Wildcats (2-2, 0-1)

Last week: Bye

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Wildcats. A loss to Texas punctuated what has been a disappointing season thus far for Bill Snyder. The Wildcats next two games come against top tier Big 12 competition and they cannot afford to fall to 0-3 in conference. If they do, it would appear that Snyder's magic is running out. The fans in Manhattan have become accustomed to winning. A bad season for KSU might not be enough to save one of the best coaches the college game has seen. Up next, at Oklahoma State.

#9. Iowa State Cyclones (1-2, 0-0)

Last week: Beat Tulsa 38-21

I said last week that a win would get the Cyclones out of the cellar. Beating the Hurricane in Tulsa was a big win for Iowa State. The first one always is. However, it was Tulsa. Reality now stares at the Cyclones as they start the Big 12 conference schedule. Their move up to #9 may be short lived but, then again, they are trying to stay ahead of the Kansas Jayhawks. Up next, Texas.

#10. Kansas Jayhawks (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: Bye

The Jayhawks come in at #10 because.....that's where they belong. Kansas had a bye week so that their fans could attend the Jayhawks first basketball practice. The good news for Kansas, they didn't lose last week. The bad news, there is more football to play. The Jayhawks will be hard pressed to win again until they host the Wildcats in week 14. By then the basketball season will be in full swing and no one in Lawrence will care what happens at memorial stadium. Up next, Texas Tech.

CMan's OU Pregame - Notre Dame

                                             OKLAHOMA SOONERS (3-0)

                                                    

                                    NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (3-1)





Two of the most storied college football programs meet on the field this Saturday. The Sooners of Oklahoma and the fighting Irish of Notre Dame. As prominent as these two programs are they have only played 10 times and Notre Dame has won 9 of them. Perhaps the most famous was November 16, 1947 in Norman Oklahoma. A 7-0 loss to Notre Dame ended the Sooners record 47 game winning streak. Ironically, the streak started in 1953 and the Sooners first game that season was a 28-21 loss to the Irish. The streak also included Oklahoma's lone victory against Notre Dame, a 40-0 win in 1956.

Notre Dame has certainly had the Sooners number. Bob Stoops is 0-2 against the Irish losing in South Bend in 1999, Stoops first at OU, and losing last year in Norman. Few teams have a winning record against Stoops.

Today's game is in South Bend. The Irish are typically tough to beat at home as are the Sooners. These two teams are not quite the same as the two that met in Norman last year. Both will be playing different quarterbacks and the Irish are missing several key members on both sides of the ball including star linebacker Manti Te'o.

For the Sooners, quarterback Blake Bell starts his second game. His first on the road. Bell played well in his first start but it was in Norman, against a Tulsa team that managed to lose to winless Iowa State team Thursday, at home. How well Blake Bell plays may well determine the outcome of the game.

The Sooner defense has played well to start the season but against much weaker offenses. They gave up 20 to Tulsa who only managed to score 21 to a much weaker Iowa State defense. How they play against a pass happy Irish offense will also go along way to determining the final score. The positive for the Sooner defense is that they are pretty solid at defending the run and Notre Dame is struggling in the run game. If OU can make the Irish offense one dimensional, a win in South Bend is likely.

The Irish have ho-hum wins against Temple, Purdue and Michigan State and a 41-30 loss at Michigan. The Irish had to rally late to beat Purdue 31-24 and only beat Michigan State at home 17-13 in a game that the Spartans tied 10-10 late in the third. Notre Dame has only exceeded 100 yards rushing in one game. They have survived on the strength of their passing game.

The Irish offense is not nearly as efficient as it was in 2012 and the defense is not as dominant. The Irish running backs are unproven and the offensive line seems to have some holes. The Irish defense is still strong up front but has a little softer secondary.  It is safe to say the Irish are not as confident a team as they were last season when every break seemed to go their way.

The game looks pretty even on both sides of the ball. It's difficult to say who has the edge at any position, especially this early in the season. The Sooners have played all three at home and the only loss for Notre Dame was on the road. I usually get a feel for a game one way or the other. Not this one. The Odds makers favor OU by a field goal. The game looks like a pick-em to me.

I think the game will come down to a combination of the play in the Sooner secondary and how Blake Bell leads the offense. If the Sooner defense can stifle the Irish air attack and stuff the run, Notre Dame will struggle to score. I also believe we saw the real Blake Bell last week. He was given an opportunity to prove he was the guy against Tulsa and he knows a win in South Bend will solidify his hold as the starter. Bell is a gamer and the defense will feed off of his play. If the game plays out in that manner, the only advantage the Irish will have is home field. It won't be enough.

Sooners win 24-17.

QB...or not QB? A Sooner controversy.

Blake Bell

Trevor Knight



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There has been a firestorm of controversy surrounding Bob Stoops and his staff with respect to the choice of, red shirt freshman, Trevor Knight as starting quarterback for the 2013 season. Almost everyone assumed that 3rd year quarterback and "BellDozer" front man Blake Bell would get the nod. Bell had displayed big game skills at running in short yardage situations over the last few seasons and most assumed that he take full command of the offense when four year starter Landry Jones had exhausted is eligibility.

 

Bob Stoops policy of closed practices does not lend itself to learning much about any player that has not seen substantial game time. As a result, little was known about Trevor Knight or, sophomore Kendal Thompson. Glimpses of all three were available during open scrimmages but they were protected from hits and, as a result, were only moving at half speed. We were told by the coaches that the competition was tight and, up to Thompson's foot injury, the job was wide open. However, limited visibility and very little information from players and coaches led to guesses and pure speculation.

 

Kendal Thompson's injury came at a bad time. There was even speculation that Thompson had the upper hand till that point. However, it was now a two man race. The fall practices had just about completed and Stoops made his decision known. It would be Trevor Knight under center for the home opener against Louisiana-Monroe.

 

Knight played well at times in the opener. His running ability stood out as he gained team high 103 yards on 13 carries. His passing was a different story. He displayed a strong arm but his accuracy was a huge question mark. He completed only 11 of 28 attempts for a meager 86 yards. He did connect for 3 touchdowns and only 1 interception but most of his passes were to high or to low. Was it freshman jitters? First start butterflies? Only time would tell. Little did we know the answer would come a week later against big 12 foe West Virginia.

Trevor Knight passed for more yards (119) than he ran for (47) against West Virginia but he only threw 1 touchdown. Knight was hurried all day and tossed two interceptions on drives that would have put the game out of reach. Had this game been played in Morgantown, the Sooners would have likely lost. As it was, the 16-7 victory provided little comfort to those in Norman. The passing issues that Knight displayed in the first game continued to plague him against the Mountaineers. Fan patience was running out and the coaches were not pleased either. Blake Bell entered the game in the 4th quarter and, while he only attempted one pass, he moved the offense on the ground efficiently. Conventional wisdom dictated that the Sooners kill the clock and "run" out the game.

It was revealed after the game that Knight had suffered a slight knee injury and would not play in the third game of the season. Blake Bell was slated to start his first game at Quarterback for the Sooners. Bell did start and was very successful throwing, running and directing the offense. He looked calm, collected and poised. Bell threw for 413 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 51-20 victory over Tulsa. Now, before you get to excited, me and my bad knees could probably thrown for 250 against the weak Tulsa secondary. Having said that, Bell had complete control over the offense and looked like he belonged under center. The offense moved in much the same fashion as it had under Landry Jones and Sam Bradford. In fact, Bell threw for more yards in his first start than either Jones or Bradford. After the game, speculation exploded.

Did Stoops and company make a mistake? Should Bell have been the starter from game 1? Why does the disparity between the two quarterbacks look so wide? These are all reasonable questions and I believe they are easily answered.

Trevor Knight may well be a superior quarterback in many respects. He can certainly run better than Bell and it appeared, at least in the first two games, that OU was moving towards an offense that featured a running quarterback (See Kendal Thompson). Knight may even have better range and a deeper long ball than Bell. Blake may be more accurate. Take out West Virginia, and both quarterbacks face similar defensive backfields. But, Blake threw only one (incomplete) pass in the West Virginia game and only a couple in mop up roles over the last two seasons. We really didn't know what he was capable of and frankly, I'm not sure anyone did.

The difference between the two boils down to speed, experience and comfort. Trevor Knight had never played in a division 1 college game prior to his first start. The speed at this level does not compare to high school and can't really be simulated on the practice field. Hitting receivers in practice while being chased at half speed is just not the same a real time game speed. Prior to his first start, Blake Bell had played in two dozen games at this level. He had hours of practice throwing pass drills to the wide receivers. He had a comfort level with the offense, the players and the speed of the game. Bottom line, Bell was more experienced and, by default, more comfortable in a game setting. As it turns out, he's not a bad passer either.

Trevor Knight is only going to get better. He will get stronger, smarter and more comfortable. That is the reward of experience. If Bell has a good game against Notre Dame next week, look for him to remain the starter. If Bell succeeds, the job will be his until he uses up his eligibility or gets injured. Knight will likely get the backup snaps and he will get another shot to start in the spring.

Whether Trevor Knight ever cracks the starting lineup at OU again is unknown. Nothing is given in college football. He will have to work at it and work hard. Blake Bell will leave, eventually. But Kendal Thompson remains and I guarantee that Bob Stoops will never stop recruiting quality quarterbacks.

Buster's OU Sooners Game Analysis: Week 3

Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-2)







The Oklahoma Sooners won their third home game of the season on Saturday against Tulsa by a score of 51-20. Blake Bell was named the starter at the beginning of the week and had a lot to prove during his first career start. The offense finally came out putting up points like the Sooners usually do, and special teams rolled right along with them. The defense did look a bit shaky, but without the captain of the defense, Aaron Colvin, that was expected.

First, lets take a look at the offense: A

Quarterback: A+
Blake Bell had already proven to the world that he can beat almost any defense on his feet (with the exception of Kansas St.). Being named the starter after a poor first two games by freshman quarterback Trevor Knight, he also had a lot of pressure to throw the ball. Bell passed for 413 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. This performance set a record for a first start at quarterback at OU. Bell was also named Big 12 offensive player of the week. I do believe that we have found a solid quarterback option, but lets remember it was against Tulsa. Regardless, a performance like this earns an A+.

Running Backs: B+
The running back core for Oklahoma did not play bad, they just didn't put up the numbers that were recorded the past two weeks. Yes, I know that is because of the extreme success we were having through the air. Roy Finch was the leading rusher for the Sooners as he rushed for 68 yards on 8 carries. Brennan Clay will continue to get the majority of the touches for the Sooners, despite his below average performance on Saturday. True freshman Keith Ford is looking like he could be the next big time back for the Sooners. I love the way he runs with such power and speed at the same time, much like a young Adrian Peterson. The future is looking bright for the running back position at OU.

Wide Receivers: A+
Sterling Shepard was the leading receiver for the Sooners with 123 yards on 8 catches, and two touchdowns. He was followed by Jaz Reynolds with 109 yards, and one touchdown. Much like his father, Shepard is going to have a very successful career at Oklahoma. It is nice to have more than one target to throw to this season, unlike last year when all we had was Stills, and the season before, Broyles. The receiving core is looking solid thus far, with great route running, and few dropped passes.

Lets take a look at Special Teams: A
Jed Barnett is looking every bit as good as Tress Way was for the Sooners (Now punting for the Redskins). He is averaging over 40 yards per punt, and giving up little to no return. You got to love what the punt return team is doing this year as we have already almost seen several taken back. Kickoffs are still looking excellent, sending most of them through the endzone.

Finally, the defense!: B+

Defensive Line: B+
The defensive line is looking as solid as ever! The only thing that worries me is the amount of big gain plays we allowed Tulsa to have. Those big gain plays lead to the majority of their scoring. I know that is not all the lines fault, but with no push up front, it is hard for those linebackers to fill the gaps. Tapper is looking to be a solid threat for our defensive line, and should only continue to get better with age and experience.

Linebackers: A-
Frank Shannon and Corey Nelson have already shown that they have improved greatly from last season. The defense only gave up a total of 95 rushing yards against Tulsa. I know this is not all credited to them, but the linebacker performance was again outstanding. The only thing I would like to see improvement on is our linebackers in coverage. Anything coming across the middle should be like target practice for these boys. Coverage is something the linebackers at Oklahoma have always struggled with (ask Tom Wort).

Defensive Backs: B-
Gabe Lynn has to be the most improved player for this defense. I do not think that it was the talent wasn't there until this season, I just think he was in the wrong position on the field. Lynn got beat play after play for three seasons play cornerback. Finally moving him to safety as a senior and he has caused at least one turnover in every game thus far. Having Aaron Colvin out (concussion) killed our secondary giving up 226 yards, and contributing majorly to the 20 points scored by the Tulsa offense. I understand that Cortez Johnson has to step up in this situation, but after all, he is just a sophomore playing in his first career start.

Overall the Oklahoma Sooners get a grade of A-. The Sooners looked fantastic and fun to watch, and the defense showed much potential in the younger guys getting to start for the first time. It may have not been the best performance outside of the offense, but a win is a win. At the end of the day, the Sooners are 3-0!

C'Mans Big 12 power rankings - Week 3

POWER RANKINGS

#1. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0, 0-0)

The Cowboys finally played a game in the comfortable confines of Stillwater after spending the first two weeks of the season in Texas. Oklahoma State took on a decent Lamar squad and dominated the game on both sides of the ball winning big 59-3. The Cowboys look as strong as ever on offense but their defense is the story thus far in 2013. I'm going to have to see the 'Pokes beaten, or at least challenged, before they lose their hold on the top spot. Oklahoma State will enjoy a bye week before heading to West Virginia in two weeks.

#2. Baylor Bears (2-0, 0-0)

A bye week has proven to be the only thing that can stop the Bears offense this year. Baylor remains #2 despite not playing this week. Baylor takes on Lamar next week and then enjoys a second bye week in three weeks. We won't get a real glimpse of the Bears ability until they face West Virginia at home in week six.

#3. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0, 1-0)

Oklahoma moves up this week based on the performance of quarterback Blake Bell. In his first ever start, Bell threw for a record 413 yards and 4 touchdowns. Bell's on field performance surpassed that of both Sam Bradford and Landry Jones in their respective first starts. The question is, how different would the first two games have been with Bell calling the signals. The Sooners dispatched in-state foe Tulsa 51-20 playing well on both sides of the ball. The Sooner defense missed Aaron Colvin in the secondary and Gabe Lynn was injured during the game, but OU defended well until the fourth quarter as they subbed most of the starters out. If they both return for Notre Dame we should have a good game in South Bend in two weeks.

#4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0, 1-0)

The Red Raiders beat TCU 20-10 in Lubbock Saturday but needed back-up quarterback David Webb to seal the deal. TCU is reeling and probably did not deserve the preseason pub they received. However, Texas Tech and first year head coach Kliff Kingsbury are undefeated and have a quality conference win. Texas Techs next three opponents are Texas State, Kansas and Iowa State with a bye week included, All game Tech should win. The first real test comes in week 8 when they travel to Morgantown and take on West Virginia. A win against the Mountaineers and they likely come in to Norman 7-0.

#5. Kansas State Wildcats (2-1, 0-0)

The Wildcats have recovered from their opening day loss to NDSU by beating two "lesser" opponents. After beating Louisiana-Lafayette two weeks ago they downed UMass 37-7 Saturday in Manhattan. Kansas State travels to Austin next weekend to face Texas, where winning is not what it used to be. KSU has won the last 5 against the Longhorns and should win Saturday. We may have to wait until week 7, when Baylor pays a visit to Manhattan, to find out how "real" the Wildcats are.

#6. TCU Horned Frogs (1-2, 0-1)

I am not ready to write off the Horned Frogs season despite two losses in their first three games. An opening week loss to #6 LSU and a week three loss to Texas Tech, who should be ranked this week, sting but TCU has been in bigger holes. Having said that, TCU looked confused on offense at Tech and they need to get the wrinkles ironed out with a bye week and a game at home against SMU coming up. After that they face tough road games at OU and OSU with a home date against Kansas in the middle. If they don't,  they could find themselves in a huge hole going in to the second half of the season.

#7. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1, 0-1)

The Mountaineers have had a tough season and its only week 3. A weak win at home against William and Mary, a devastating early conference loss at OU and a blowout win against a ho-hum Georgia State team. The Mountaineers are a tough group to figure out. They face an undefeated Maryland squad next week on the road and then return to Morgantown to host OSU. We could be looking at a 2-3 West Virginia team when the roll in to Baylor in week 6. If they start 0-3 in the Big 12, it will be a long winter for Dana Holgerson.

#8. Texas Longhorns (1-2, 0-0)

Wow. How quickly  things have fallen apart in Austin Texas. The Longhorns lose in consecutive weeks on the road at BYU and at home against  Mississippi. The Longhorns gave up 40 to BYU and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was shown the door in favor of Greg Robinson. Texas then gives up 43 to Mississippi at home. Different coordinator, same old Texas defense. The Longhorn offense might be worse than the defense. They look as rattled and confused and are playing with zero confidence. Texas host KSU and travels to ISU before the Red River Rivalry. Perhaps it's time for Mack Brown to start planning his retirement.

#9. Kansas Jayhawks (1-1, 0-0)

After a solid 31-14 victory over South Dakota in their opener, the Jayhawks fall this week, 23-14, to Rice. It's difficult to follow up that first sentence without mentioning Bill Self and the Jayhawk basketball team. The Jayhawk fans would trade almost anything (except Bill Self) for Mark Mangino. Say what you will about Mangino, he could coach football. Kansas may never have another winning season in football, and certainly not if it takes away from basketball. Mangino did both. Charlie Weiss will do neither.

#10. Iowa State Cyclones (0-2, 0-0) 

Someone has to be last, might as well be Iowa State. After an opening week loss to Northern Iowa and a bye week to lick their wounds, the Cyclones welcomed in-state rival Iowa and promptly lost 27-21 to the team that lost to Northern Illinois in week 1. The good news for Iowa State, they get another bye week. The bad news, they have to travel to Oklahoma in two weeks and play a decent Tulsa team. Cyclones head coach Paul Rhodes has done some good things in Ames. Unfortunately he's done some really bad things too. The Iowa State Cyclones will win this year, although they might have to wait for basketball season to do it.

CMan's OU Pregame - Week 3

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-1)

Oklahoma Sooners (2-0, 1-0)


The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in Norman Saturday at 11:00 A.M. The biggest question on the mind of Sooner fans is how will Blake Bell do in his first official start. The Sooner offense has proven two things in the first two games of the 2013 campaign. First, they can run. The Sooners have averaged over 300 yards per game thus far. Second, the passing game that has been the hallmark of recent OU teams apparently went to Pittsburgh with Landry Jones.

The lack of a passing attack would render the Sooners one dimensional. One dimensional offenses have a tendency to make an average defense drool. Tulsa would qualify as an average defense. The Golden Hurricane have been less than stellar in two games this season suffering an opening week loss to Bowling Green 34-7 and escaping at home last week against Colorado state 30-27,  kicking a field goal with no time remaining.

On paper and in Norman, this game should be a blowout win for OU. However, with a huge question mark at quarterback and the anticipated continued progress of the renewed Sooner defense, this could be a very low scoring affair. Oklahoma clearly wins at every position in this contest even with the question at quarterback. But, a weak defense will look good if the opposing offense struggles to move the ball. OU will need to score to win the game.

There is good news. It is my contention that Trevor Knight struggled in the passing game due to a lack of experience in real time college football. The speed of defenses in the college game is far superior to the defenses he faced in high school and, frankly, at practice the last two years. While Knight practiced against the number one Sooner defense he was still in a blue jersey. It's just not the same as real time game speed facing a defense that has, as it's sole purpose, stopping you. Blake Bell has that game experience and not just in mop up roles. The Bell Dozer package was used a lot, and against some of the best defenses in the FBS. Bell excelled in that package and was effective moving the ball. But, can he pass effectively. We'll find out on Saturday.

All questions aside, the reality is this, Oklahoma has better athletes. The Sooners are bigger, faster and deeper than Tulsa. Oklahoma has better coaching, better facilities and a stronger tradition. OU should win this game and they should win going away. At the very least, the Sooner defense will make it very difficult for Tulsa to move the ball effectively and should apply more pressure on the skill players than The Golden Hurricane have seen this year. Points for Tulsa will be hard to come by.

I predict Blake Bell will be fine. He might start slow but once he gets in a rhythm,  I have confidence that he will move the offense on the ground and in the air. At the end of the day, the Sooners will score and the defense will do their job. Oklahoma wins 31-7.


BUSTER UPDATE: The Destiny Christian Wildcat football team scored a 74-40 victory over the OKC Patriots on Friday night. Buster, the DCS quarterback, continued his torrid senior season passing for 339 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, The game ended on a somber note with a serious injury to a Patriot player. Prayers for a positive outcome and speedy recovery are in order and would certainly be appreciated.



Buster's OU Sooners Game Analysis: Week 2

Sooners: 16

Mountaineers: 7










After a dominating performance against ULM, the Sooners were still doubted by many (including myself) on both sides of the ball. Giving up only 15 yards rushing against ULM, many doubted their ability to do the same against a stronger and faster offense. With the exception of the single touchdown given up in two games, the defensive performance has been solid. However, fans had no reason to doubt the offense ran by freshman Trevor Knight, who proved to be shaky in every aspect of the game besides running the ball himself. Special teams still proved to be one of OU's stronger aspects of the game. Lets take a look at how each faired against a stronger and faster Mountaineers team.

Offense: C+
The only thing saving this Sooner offense from receiving a lesser grade is senior running back Brennan Clay. Clay rushed for 170 yards. This hasn't been done since DeMarco Murray in 2010. Brennan Clay seemed to pick up positive yards with every touch. Stoops has said that with all three backs competing so well this year, the one who finds a rhythm will stay in the game. Clay proved to be that guy this weekend against West Virginia. Damien Williams didn't show much expect for his ability to pick up short yardage. He hasn't seemed to ever recover from that leg injury last season.

Through the air, the Sooners had a very below average performance. Oklahoma has a very strong receiving core this season, but simply no one to throw them the ball. Trevor Knight again came out throwing the ball poorly. Being his second game in Norman we can no longer blame his nerves for these awful passes. Throwing into triple coverage and to the wrong area could just be freshman mistakes, but they are mistakes the Sooners cannot afford.

Quarterbacks: D+
Trevor Knight has some serious work to do in order to keep his starting job (That is if he is even healthy). Knight had 119 yards on 20 attempts. Not to terrible if you can take away the two interceptions with only one touchdown. Knight is a guy who has tremendous talent running the ball, but the passing just isn't there. He did rush for 42 yards on 7 carries.
Do to what I think is an injury, Blake Bell got the call to start in the fourth quarter. Bell came in and ignited the crowd (The student section at least). Bell was 0-1 passing and 21 yards rushing on 2 carries.

Say what you will about the quarterback situation, but neither of these guys compare to what we had last season. The Sooners need to find a solution soon, because only running the ball will not get a W in three weeks against Notre Dame.

Defense: A+
We can sit back and look at the fact that the defense allowed a 65 yard rushing touchdown, or we can chose to be non ignorant Oklahoma fans and realize the defense has only given up 7 points in two games. The Oklahoma defense has been playing outstanding thus far. They say defense wins championships, but in this case the defense is going to have to win every game. If the Sooners want a championship run the defense will have to lead the way.

Secondary: A+
The defensive backs for the Sooners seem to have come out looking to prove something. Gabe Lynn was moved to a safety this season and is fitting in perfectly. Lynn caught an interception and picked up a fumble for the defense this week. We know what Aaron Colvin can do, and what he will do. Colvin went out with a cracked tooth and jaw pain, but will be ready to go next week.

Special Teams: A-
I really wanted to give the special teams an A+ this week, but anytime you miss a field goal it has to knock off points. Hunnicut has been great these past two seasons (the best since Garrett Hartley) and I have full confidence he will continue to do so. The Sooners didn't lose much in the aspect of punting as Jed Barnett averaged 44.6 yards on 5 punts. The kickoff team has been great sending the majority of the kicks through the endzone, and giving almost no gain on the returnable kicks.

The Sooners get an overall rating of a B- this week due to the lack of offense. Maybe that is the plan this season, score a few points then take over field position and dominate the game on defense. Whatever it is, I feel the Sooners have a great season in store, maybe even getting back to that championship swagger.

Next week: @Tulsa 11:00 AM