Emails in on OU-Miami

The new emails are in, and the fallout from OU-Miami is mighty. We’ll group them by the Venables posse, the Wilson posse, the Stoops posse, the fire-everyone posse and the fans who aren’t quite so crazy. Heck, let’s start with Stoops.

Mike: “You hit it on the head on ‘No Defense.’ I would like someone to ask Bob why we have gone from a dime or nickel package on third downs when we know the opponent is going to pass. When Mike Stoops was here we could expect five or six defensive backs on third down. With Venables, we leave our linebackers in where the MLB has trouble covering tight ends or crossing patterns in the middle. This goes back to Texas last year with Shipley, BYU and Miami. It appears to be the defensive scheme is killing us as much as anything. With regard to Kevin, I really wonder who is calling the plays in the fourth quarter, Bob or Wilson. We have had a number of offensive coordinators and our play calling in big games on the road has been the same since Leach left. Conservative. Let’s play not to lose the game rather than being aggressive and going all out to win. The one common denominator has been Bob Stoops.”

Anyone know OU’s record away from Owen Field the year Leach was coordinator? 2-5. Scored 25 points on Ole Miss, 28 on Tech, 31 on Iowa State, 24 on Colorado, 28 on Texas, 30 on Notre Dame and 42 on Louisville. Not bad, really, but not nearly as impressive as in Norman. Sort of like now. OU doesn’t use as much nickel now because Keenan Clayton is a hybrid. He’s a safety who can play linebacker. Which can lead to problems against the run, which is the killer that no one seems to want to talk about.

Tom: “I was reading the Oklahoman interview script with Stoops this morning and was really shocked by his reaction to criticism. I learned in my business that criticism, I had to learn to accept it. These days I usually agree with many of their comments. I am much better because of the criticism. I don’t think Bob can handle criticism at all. He locked the press out of practice since 2006 mostly from criticism. No question, the data says that his teams have dropped off since that fateful game with USC. Honestly, since 1999, OU has become more conservative every single year depending more on talent than coaching effort. You can’t do that with the 85 scholarship rule. I will never forget Leach lighting up A&M in Norman with the Ninja Offense. I think sometimes you get so close to a situation that you can’t see what is happening. In 2000, when OU won it all, I remember the coaching staff scouted themselves during the open week and game planned against themselves to make sure they didn’t have any specific tendencies that other teams could pick up on. I don’t think they do that anymore and they sure need to. All you have to do is look at the formation and you know what is coming. It is not rocket science when watching OU, and there is little deception.”

Tom is right. Stoops doesn’t handle criticism very well. Actually, it’s not really criticism. Stoops doesn’t suffer fools gladly, which is lamentable. That’s a wonderful trait to have. Anyway, I don’t buy this conservative talk. Sure, OU was conservative against Miami. No Bradford, no Gresham, no Broyles. They had to go into a bunker and try to scrape out a victory, and they almost did it. But conservative in recent years? No way. That’s ridiculous. The no-huddle. The multiple formations, from power-I to shotgun spread. There’s nothing conservative about that.

William, an OU critic: “It’s such a relief that we won’t have to hear the word ‘national championship’ anymore this year in connection with OU football. As you can see, the spoiled fans will be satisfied with nothing less. Other coaches are just as smart and recruit just as well or better. I think Bob is in for a rough ride. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Stoops. He is a good coach. Unfortunately for him he won the whole thing in his second year, a hard standard to maintain, and yet the fans expect it. Blake left Stoops a ton of talent, especially on defense. They’ve never been as good on defense as they were in 2001 and 2002. I love OU and wish the academics and great cultural elements of the university were showcased more. Bob MIGHT win another Big 12 championship, but it will get harder. Other teams are recruiting so well. What he’s done is in the past. His glory days are in the past. Just wait and see.

Well, yes, what Bob Stoops has done is in the past. And just exactly how is that different from every person walking the Earth? Stoops MIGHT win another Big 12 title? OK, let’s trot it out again. The all-time standings in terms of coaches winning Big 12 titles. John Mackovic 1, Tom Osborne 1, R.C. Slocum 1, Frank Solich 1, Gary Barnett 1, Bill Snyder 1, Mack Brown 1, Bob Stoops 6. Yes, I would say he has a chance to win another Big 12 title.

Now, on to Venables. Gary: “What keeps hurting us year after year is the drag pattern and tight ends down the middle. I guess these are linebackers’ responsibility. What will Shipley and Texas do to these linebackers? Here are a list of teams with pro-coaches experience or coordinators Alabama, USC, LSU, Washington, Nebraska and offense coordinator for Miami who just came from Philadelphia Eagles ( I’m sure I left others out of the mix). Our offensive coordinator has Northwestern background and our defensive coordinator has Kansas State, two powerhouses with winning traditions. Stoops needs major upgrade to his coaching staff. Same old problem. Sooners can’t run and Murray and Brown won’t be playing on Sundays as running backs. Oklahoma has major injuries this year and were only favored by seven points for the Miami game. They scored three TDs and no field goal; we got two TDs and two field goals If we get four touchdowns and no field goals we win by seven. I just hope we don’t get hyped up by the media again next year. One of these years they will have to prove themselves first. Hey, it still beats the John Blake years.”

Go back and read that email again. This is a textbook case of a psychotic fan who is sitting in a room, his brain scrambled, trying to make sense of it all. Where to start, where to start? Year after year on tight end drags? Texas in 2008 and Miami a little bit last Saturday. That is year after year? OU lost to Miami because it allowed the Hurricanes to run the ball. Period. Here is a list of coaches with no pro experience: Mike Leach, Mike Stoops, Mark Mangino. All the guys OU fans lament losing. And I love the math lesson. Yes, turn one of those field goals into a touchdown, and OU beats Miami. Heck, get a safety and OU beats Miami.

Brent: “Has anyone looked at the results of Mike Stoops leaving? Venables is a great technique teacher but a mediocre (at best) defensive coordinator. My background is a Sooner fan since 1970 and a high school and NCAA Division II football official of 24 years experience. I’ve seen a few games in my lifetime. Since Mike Stoops left (November 2003), the defensive plays ‘bend don’t break,’ gives up more points (more games over 20+ points), more yards passing, more first downs. The numbers don’t lie and they are all trending the wrong way! OU wins when they out talent people now. Equal talent means a high chance of a loss. Our blitz packages are now predictable and non-effective for the most part. When we start in a 5-man front, we’re highly successful. Four-man fronts with linebackers 6-8 yards off the ball means giving up yards. If I can chart this, why can’t they? Mike Stoops was the aggressive coach. Venables is still at OU because no one else wants him. Leach, Mangino, Stoops, Long – all got head coaching jobs. Venables couldn’t even get the job back where he came from; KSU went back to Snyder. Until Venables goes, OU will win very few big games. Defensive wins championships. It allows your offense to play on a shorter field. Few teams can drive 80 yards, with near mistake free football, to score on a regular basis. The data doesn’t lie. If you write this, just give me a little credit.”

Here’s the funny part. This guy signed off with “grace and peace.” He’s leading a lynch mob and leaving behind a card that says “grace and peace.” Now that’s funny. But not as funny as wanting credit for saying OU gives up more points and yards the last five years than it did the previous five years. I guess I have to keep saying this, but you know Big 12 football and college football has changed. Teams are scoring more all over the country. Comparing 2001 defenses to 2009 defenses is like comparing baseball offense in 1961 to baseball offense in 1968, when scoring was so down they had to change the rules.

Steve: “Why is it the whenever the Sooners face a decent passing team, they are so open to passes across the middle? This goes back for several seasons. A&M game a few years ago, OSU and continues this season with BYU and now Miami. Sure, Tulsa didn’t do much, but Tulsa really doesn’t have much. I have been on the Venables-must-go bandwagon for years. And if Stoops keeps defending him, then let’s start the Stoops chant as well. Just sick of another overrated defensive team. Rockies canned Hurdle and they rolled.

The best example you can come up with is a different sport, different level and different culture? That’s what you want to risk the status of OU football on? By the way, those A&M and OSU games you referenced were the Mike Stoops era. And again, OU lost to Miami not because of free-roaming receivers, but because James gained 150 yards on 15 carries.

Chad: “I always enjoy reading your columns, even when I disagree. I find myself in agreement with you in defense of the offensive play calling. The Sooners have an amazing dearth of speed and play-makers on offense, and the line is too porous. Anything but the safe approach is foolhardy. But I still believe Venables needs to move on. His failures in too many big games presents a healthy amount of examples. He is not a bad coach, given his successes against Missouri and Texas Tech. But he is also not an exceptional coach in any way. If I remember correctly, when Texas was in a tad of a funk (as much a funk as 10 wins every year can be) a few years back, Mack Brown changed coordinators. He recognized that he needed a good coordinator more than he needed a good buddy on his staff.”

You know, I think it would be a fascinating poll of disgruntled fans. You can only fire one coach. Is it Wilson or is it Venables? I’m guessing Venables would win the election, but it might be close.

Bill: “Pretty good column on Wilson, although he’s building a resume’ of turning into Woody Hayes whenever the chips are down: three yards and a cloud of dust. Pretty obvious when we’re sitting at the Miami 20 with five minutes to play that Wilson has zero trust in Landry Jones, based on the plays called in that series. In tight spots, Kevin drifts back to Big Ten football, but I suspect he’ll figure that out soon enough this year when it becomes obvious he’s going to have to win games with his group, injuries or not. Think about this, though: When was the last time a Brent Venables defense got a stop to win a key, tight football game? The answer rolls all the way back to 2006. Three years. Was there anyone on Earth not wearing a headset who didn’t expect a drag route from the tight end on 3rd-and-6 with two minutes left? Instead, we get Ryan Reynolds, who is a proven liability in the passing game, and Keenan Clayton, who had a tough night all around, inexplicably in the ballgame. We’ve seen it before. Reynolds goes down against Texas last year and Venables tries to match back up with Brandon Crow and Lamont Robinson. No Sam Proctor, or no other DB. No Austin Box, either. Shipley goes nuts. Right now, I can see Shipley and Dan Buckner combining for at least 250 against this exercise in hubris we call the Cover Two. I’d like to read your thoughts about a defensive coordinator and a head coach who continue to throw ballgames away because they steadfastly refuse to match up with receivers in passing situations. There are some growing systemic patterns in the OU football program that look like corporate arrogance to me, not good football preparation or execution.”

This sounds like a call to play without a middle linebacker, which is truly revolutionary football. No one’s ever done it, so far as I know, but it would be interesting. And by the way, OU lost to Miami because it couldn’t stop the run.

Mark: “Is it just me or do we just get outcoached every time we play a ranked opponent outside the big 12? Shouldn’t Venables be encouraged to take another job at the end of the year or am I off base?”

It’s not just you. But you are off base. Could OU find a couple of better coordinators? Probably. But the chances of falling are much better than the chances of improving. If there is a problem, and I would agree that there is, the far better method is working through it. OU has won three straight Big 12 titles and is very close to being the nation’s most elite program. It is NOT the most elite program, but it is close, and throwing the baby out with the bathwater is not prudent.

James: “The problem is not with Kevin Wilson, although everyone in the football universe knew that with one successful draw play he’d call another one in the same situation. The problem is with Brent Venables. I know. Handsome, nice, capable, should be head coach. Lousy with one critical aspect of OU’s defense: Give ‘em the crossing route passes all night, but don’t get burned on the long one. So, opposing coaches simply recognize
OU’s soft underbelly, instruct the QB to throw over the linebackers and Voila! there goes 4, 6, 9, 13 yards on each play. End of story. Even that nitwit Brent Musburger recognized that flaw in OU’s vaunted defense when Jacory Harris began picking OU to pieces. Funny how coaches attain certain lofty (and other) heights. It seems like heresy to be critical of Venables. But if I’m wrong, I know you’ll correct me. Simply reply and say “James, you’re wrong.”
From you, I’ll buy it.”

James, you’re wrong. But plenty of people believe you’re wrong because they see Kevin Wilson as the absolute problem.

Jerry: “Needless to say I was so very upset with the Miami game. I understand that injuries hurt any team, but that is why you have good recruits, to fill in. We do not play enough of our players, so if we do have problems we can count on other people other than the starters. Each time we have this problem, Kevin Wilson gets too conservative! I am not a fan of Mr. Wilson at all. It is time to promote Josh Heupel to call the offensive plays. He has a really sharp mind and a good coach. I love Brent Venables, the only problem I have with him is that he always uses the same defense each game no matter who we are playing. One of the best ways to beat Oklahoma is just throw the ball in the middle a lot, because they cannot defend it at all. I realize that we cannot win every game and we got spoiled because of last year, but we need to change things up a little and find some people that can step up when we have injuries!”

Actually, this has happened before, and Wilson was anything but conservative. In 2007,. Bradford goes down at Texas Tech, and OU sends in Joey Halzle and throws the ball all over the place, when it should have run more. Stoops even admitted it. And again, OU’s defensive problems were run-related. Why do fans get so irrational after a defeat?

Richard quoted from my Sunday column: “‘But just exactly what was Wilson supposed to call with Bradford, Gresham and Broyles out?’ Well, Berry, he could not be so predictable; I mean running on first down most of the time. What is wrong with a first down pass play? Has Wilson never heard of play action? Just think, during the times that the Sooners were running well, what could a play action pass play do? Pick up a first down maybe? Have a long gain for a change? Yes, I know, the receivers have to get open, but with play action, it would probably give them more time to shake defenders and give Landry Jones more time to find the open man. I don’t claim to be an expert, but tell me where I am wrong.”

OK. I’ll tell you. Wilson wasn’t predictable. Like I said, 1st-and-10, OU ran 17 running plays and 11 pass plays. Seems pretty unpredictable to me. I meant what I said. What was Wilson supposed to do? Now, I think a little more first-down passing would have been better, and more third-down runs. But the truth is, Miami’s defense was better than OU’s offense, and there’s not much you can do about it from that standpoint.

Len: “There is a large group of us season ticketholders and donors wondering when somebody, namely the press, is going to quit being intimidated by Bob Stoops and start reporting OU football as it should be. OU has as much or more talent than anybody in the country. OU was ready to come out tonight and attack Miami and take the game under control. But Kevin Wilson wants to run on first and second down and then put pressure on Jones to throw for a first on 3rd-and-10. This guy is worse than Chuck Long, who we finally got rid of and who has proved to be a flop. But nobody will call Stoops on it because they are afraid of him. I pay a ton of money to buy my tickets and I have the right to go to the games or not go to the games. Why do I want to spend my Saturdays going to see this? And why do you continue to report senseless articles about who were the greatest second-team team quarterbacks, or what was the history of OU-Miami games or all of this silly stuff that you guys dream up that nobody reads or cares about. Why don’t you report about what happened tonight? It was a coaching debacle and somebody needs to have the balls to report it. You need to speak for the public. They are your readers and they pay the money for Stoops to get his outrageous salary and hire people like Kevin Wilson who I guarantee you tonight is looking in the mirror and doesn’t have a clue what happened.”

I love this email, for this reason. Here’s what I wrote back to the guy – “Please. Settle down. When you say that OU has as much talent as anyone in the country, you are embarrassing yourself. OU’s receivers, without Broyles and Gresham, are not elite. OU’s offensive line is just OK. And the Sooners are playing with a young quarterback who looks good against Tulsa and Idaho State, but Miami is a whole different deal. OU had 28 1st-and-10′s. It ran 17 times and passed 11 times. Sounds like someone doesn’t have a clue as to what happened.’ And Len wrote me back: “You are right. We were so upset last night, we were throwing chairs. Best.’”

Jerry: “After the Miami disaster tonight, I’m still a loyal Sooner fan, but the Sooner Nation may need your help. Hopefully you will question Kevin Wilson’s playcalling in big games (BCS bowls, national championship game and now Miami). Where was the play action pass, when even the broadcasters were saying it was a perfect time for it? He seems to call free wheeling, up tempo, games until the pressure is on, then he goes conservative and seems to over think it and choke. In golf we all call it the yips. I know Broyles injury hurt in this game but we still had a chance on that last drive (like we did against BYU but settled for a field goal instead of a game sealing TD), but he called what he usually calls at critical times when the pressure is on in big games. A run, then another, etc. I think opposing coaches can be heard in preparing for big games with OU what Tom Hanks said in the movie Cast Away, ‘I know you Wilson.’ Maybe it’s time for some new blood. Could Josh Heupel do worse? He is probably too young to have the yips.”

I loved Cast Away. What a great movie. There’s like a 25-minute sequence with no talking, or maybe just Tom Hanks talking to himself. Loved it. Anyway, all this red-zone talk boils down to Florida, where OU failed twice. Once when it ran and once when it threw. Then the BYU deal was a clock problem (which was indeed a coaching issue, I’ll grant you). In Miami, OU was just trying to get out of their with its head, after Broyles was hurt.

Gerry: “It’s apparent the defense is either lacking in ability or there’s a problem with the coaching. And the offensive line is average at best. If the line had protected better, the Sooners would have probably scored two more touchdowns. After the first drive of the game, Kevin Wilson got too conservative. There’s still a truckload of talent on offense, and with some imaginative play-calling, the Sooners would have scored more points. With the erratic play of the offensive line, the Bradford family has a difficult decision. Sam wants to play, but exposing him to Texas and other opponents might place his future at risk. I think the Sooners need to let Landry Jones improvise on offense with more rollouts and designed scrambles.”

Let’s be clear about something. There is NOT a truckload of talent on offense. Where is it? Not at receiver. Not on the line. Not at quarterback. OU has two good running backs. Outside of that, where is the talent? Standing on the sideline. Everyone wants to believe that play-calling makes a huge difference in games. But the truth is, gameplanning makes a bigger difference. And blocking and throwing and running and catching make the biggest difference of all. But I do like the idea of more rollouts.

Some fans don’t want heads to roll, but they’re not crazy about what they see. Steven: “What are your thoughts on the Sooners’ offensive scheme of looking to the sideline? It seems like they would do that to get in a better play and I am sure it works more times than not, but I saw a couple on Saturday where it didn’t appear to. On a 3rd-and-3 Cameron Kenney was lined up outside and the corner was at least eight yards off him. Landry never looked that way and his pass fell incomplete to the other side. Even Herbstreit saw Kenney would’ve been open. It seems like they would have a call for the receiver to go to the first down, turn around, and catch the ball. Also on OU’s last possession it was 2nd-and-11 or so and on TV you could see all 11 Miami players in the screen. I would consider that loading the box. You would think the obvious call would be to give one of your receivers a chance with man to man coverage. I don’t know if those plays would have made a difference, but I just wonder how often they change the call.”

Well, you’re probably right about those two plays in question. Any play that doesn’t work is subject to scrutiny. But the notion that OU’s offense suddenly doesn’t work, that turning around looking to the sidelines somehow impedes the Sooners, well, that’s ridiculous. It worked to fabulous heights just a year ago.

Tony: “You’re being too tough on the OU defense; 35 points in two games against two ranked teams on the road? C’mon man, I never bought these claims of ‘best Stoops defense’ at the beginning of the year. Absurd; better than a defense with Calmus, Harris, Williams, Dvoracek, Strait? However, they have improved. The problem with our defense is not the players, it’s the scheme. OU plays a 4-3 soft zone, with the concept of stop the run, force the pass, don’t get beat deep. Corners play way too safe, that’s why 10 yard outs/slants are wide open all the time. If Jackson and Franks are supposed to be such great corners, why can they not press off the line? Bottom line is this: Stoops/Venables play a system defense, and you either play the system or sit the bench. Those coaches have no tolerance for any player who does anything that is different than they are taught. As with the offense, it is way too predictable what we do on defense. It’s not a talent issue, it’s a ‘we got better players than most teams, so we aren’t gonna change our scheme for anybody’ issue. For about the last seven years, and especially after Mike Stoops and Mike Leach have left, we keep beating the crap out of average teams and can’t win a game against a team who either has a) more than two weeks to plan for us or b) can match us with talent. Sure, there might be one or two exceptions over that seven-year period, but against ranked teams outside the conference, it’s only getting uglier each year. That Miami team had speed, but talent was no better, and they were beat up. OU plays them in Norman, and they crush them. You’re wrong on the defense. They are playing much better than 2008. If I told you before each game that BYU would get 13 points and Miami 20, you would have bet the house OU wins both games by a bunch.”

BYU, yes. OU, no. I picked OU to beat Miami 19-14. No way was OU going to score much more than the low 20s on Miami. But let me get this straight. Which one of us likes the OU defense? I’m confused. You keep talking about soft zones and coverages, but OU lost to Miami – I’ll keep repeating this until the cows come home – because the Hurricanes ran the football so well.

Richard: “I probably need to stop reading all these Oklahoma publications because I start believing all the hype they print. Oklahoma’s defense is good but it is not great. Gerald McCoy is a good college player but will never be in the same class as Harris, Casillas, Bryan or the Selmons. I was surprised the announcers never said Gerald McCoy’s name during the Miami game. He never made a great stop in the backfield or hurried the QB into making a bad toss. The half of dozen times I focused on him he was being blocked by just one guy, with a second in the wings in case help was needed but it never was. Oklahoma is not a top 20 team and if I was Bradford ‘s parents I would think long and hard about allowing my son to put his NFL riches on the line behind that offensive line. Don’t misunderstand me, I still love and support the Sooners, but this season has taken a very dramatic turn. I’m no longer thinking about a national championship but whether or not Oklahoma can beat Nebraska and Oklahoma State ? A Texas loss is a foregone conclusion.”

I think McCoy was double-teamed a bunch against Miami. I think he’s pretty good. Maybe not Selmon or Harris or Casillas good, but just below them.

James didn’t like kicking the field goal late, even though it was 4th-and-9. “The field goal strategy is ‘too utopian.’ Success is predicated on the assumption that several things in a row will work out well. I know that odds were long in a 4th-and-9, but I think that the odds in making a first down are better than are the odds in making two successive field goals and for hoping also that X, Y, and Z will happen. If they do not make a first down, then at least they know where they stand. They would have to make an defensive stop, either way.”

You have to kick a field goal unless you’re convinced your defense can’t stop Miami. And while the defense had struggled, that’s where Stoops had to put his faith.

Jeff: “I am hoping someone can explain this to me. Why is it that every single team we play, their receivers are wide open and ours are always covered? We seem to play a soft zone and never make adjustments. Can someone also explain to me why when we have 3rd-and-long we always seem to throw a two- or three-yard pass? All the other teams we play throw the yardage they need for the first down. It just seems to me that once we get in the lead, we go very conservative and we don’t play to win, we just play not to lose. I would love to ask Stoops or any of the coaches these questions. I just don’t understand it. I mean, every time whoever we are playing can throw the ball to a receiver and we are 10 yards or farther away. Are we scared? Our coaches can’t seem to make adjustments during the game. Every other team does, but not the Sooners. Landry Jones played well. Defense needs to quit looking at the cheerleaders and get their head in the game. Offense just needs to play with their eyes open.”

Easy explanation. OU’s receivers aren’t any good. They can’t get open. And Miami’s receivers weren’t running wide open all night. They had three nice touchdown passes, but Harris wasn’t consistently successful.

Sixto: “Disturbing trend, losses against ranked teams and victories at home over lower, over-matched opponents. Sooner Nation is suddenly staring at a five- or six-loss season. Losing to Texas is, in my honest opinion, a foregone conclusion and the rest of the Big 12 schedule now looks daunting. I don’t want to be an alarmist and go off the rails here, but is it time for Stoops to take a long, hard look at his coordinators with an eye towards making some changes? Mack Brown didn’t start succeeding consistently until he changed coordinators; there are numerous examples of head coaches who made changes and saw their fortunes turn for the better. I know Kevin Wilson is considered an eminent offensive mind, and he did coordinate the most prolific offense in college football history last year. And, I know that injuries this season have decimated OU, so Wilson doesn’t have near the arsenal he has enjoyed in the past. So maybe Wilson ought to get a pass, although his playcalling is at times very puzzling. But, I see a consistent pattern of Venables defenses breaking down at critical times and failing to make game adjustments. How many times does OU’s soft zone need to be burned over the middle for Venables to readjust and reassess? How many times must we see Ryan Reynolds, he of the reconstructed knees, mismatched over the middle against a speedy tight end? How many times must we see busted assignments at the most inconvenient times? Are Venables’ schemes too complex for these kids to absorb? Does he need to simplify and let talent make plays? Does Stoops need to be more hands-on with the defense? I know Stoops has won a national title, six Big 12 titles, four title game appearances, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. But, if OU begins to consistently lose to Texas, and if OU continues to consistently lose to sturdier competition than Tulsa or Idaho State, then Stoops will eventually have to answer for this trend. With each passing year, that 2000 title looks more and more distant.”

The reason the 2000 national title looks more and more distant is because it is. As is 1989-98. But that can alleviated by coaching changes, too. Mack Brown won a national title with offense; 41-38 over USC. He won the Rose Bowl the year before, which some credit with jump-starting the title run, 38-37 over Michigan. And he’s got the same offensive coordinator he’s always had. Mack has fired one defensive coordinator, Carl Reese, who produced no championship defenses.

Alvey: “I am a diehard OU football fan and I have been following them for over 60 years. I have never seen such play calls in all those years. The BYU game was a continuation of the championship game last January against Florida. Almost every analyst has criticized the unorthodox formation of the quarterback and half the offensive linemen, getting set and than raising and staring at the sidelines, waiting for a play or whatever in hell they are looking for, and then resetting for the actual play. If you have ever played any sport that requires you to create intensity, you know that it is a big distraction to fluctuate your intensity. You’re intense and now you are relaxed and then become intense again. Anyhow, it did not work for Oklahoma against Florida and it didn’t work against BYU. But no, Kevin Wilson, went right back to the well just as if in contempt for the critics. He seems to have mastered the old one-point loss. He gets down there in the critical moments, knowing damn well, or at least he should know, that if you don’t score a touchdown, this game is over. I have just covered my rage of the offense. The defense requires even more criticism. They hold for the first two downs and they give up the third down no matter how many yards the opposition needs. I don’t believe that they had one three and out last night. That has been going on for at least the last three years. OU’s coaching must change.”

A change of players would be better.

Kent: “2-2, headed to 6-6 and maybe the Independence bowl.”

Say it ain’t so. Not the Independence Bowl.

Gerry: “Stoops’ Sooners haven’t overcome a fourth-quarter deficit of more than three points since they beat Texas A&M 35-31 in 2000 after trailing by 11.”

Now that’s interesting information, and that’s an indictment of the Stoops era. Gerry didn’t add “and won the game” but that’s what he meant. Sure, OU hasn’t had too many deficits, and some of those bowl losses (and losses to Texas) were blowouts, but still. I think the answer is apparent. Sooner magic has gone AWOL.

Bob: “Your article Sunday hit the nail on the head. DEFENSE. If we had the defense that we were supposed to have we would be undefeated. OU had plenty of time to hold UM and kick a field goal. The bad thing was they ran the football on us. That is unacceptable with our front line. We have a good defense. We have a good offense. We are a good team. We are not a team that can beat a great team or a good team on the road. I understand that you can’t win them all, but it has been a long time since I’ve looked forward to read the paper the next morning. I have accepted that we will not beat Texas and probably one other team on the road this year. So, so sad that this is what our program has become this year.”

Sad? Sad is a marriage breakup. Sad is a loved one dying. Sad is not the points on a scoreboard.

Derek: “At this point, why would anyone advise Bradford to play … unless the NFL has informed them that he needs to play to assuage injury concerns on draft status? As you have noted, Bradford can’t conjure up a better O-line or receivers. And he doesn’t play defense. The injuries have been crazy bad this year, but I am struck by the seeming lack of depth at so many positions this year. In the end, though, that’s now 16-14 away from home since ’05 orange bowl. And that bit about 4th-quarter comebacks, or lack thereof, was equally depressing. It seems there are two settings in the Stoops system: dominance or defeat. Fortunately, the dominance plays out 85 percent of the time. I still can’t shake the feeling though that Stoops is becoming the Lloyd Carr of his generation.”

I guess that’s bad. Quick history lesson. Lloyd Carr coached Michigan from 1995-2007. He went 122-40 in those 13 years and won a national title in Year No. 3. But his records the final 10 years never matched the magical 1997 season: 10-3, 10-2, 9-3, 8-4, 10-3, 10-3, 9-3, 7-5, 11-2, 9-4. The Wolverines went to three Rose Bowls and one Orange Bowl those final 10 years, and a bunch of Outback and Citrus bowls. His bowl record those final 10 years: 5-5. Then Michigan decided it had enough of Carr and urged him to retire. It hired Rich Rodriguez and went 3-9.

Alberto had a host of statements and questions: “1. Stoops is in the top 3-4 paid coaches but he is not one of the top 3-4 coaches. 2. I have said this for over four years, Venables should be replaced. The only game we have played good defense is against overrated Missouri last two years. Look at our record in big games and what is the average number of points we allow? 3. We only have two players who have played well on defense this year. Those players are McCoy (not against Miami) and Beal. 4. Why does Auston English start? Alexander would play every down for me. He offers more and gets to the quarterback. English has not been impressive at all since he got hurt two years ago. 5. We haven’t had a true all-American middle linebacker since Bosworth. 6. Our outside linebackers have not played to level of expectation. 7. Franks played 10-14 yards off his man against Miami. And he is suppose to be all-Big 12. Are you kidding me! 8. Our offensive play calling is mind boggling. In the first quarter we moved by passing. When Broyles got hurt we decided that we couldn’t pass! Every long yardage was a delayed draw that fooled no one. 9. Do we have an overrated receiving group? Or do the coaches do not give them a chance to perform? 10. When was the last time we had a true all-American receiver that scared the defense? I can’t remember a receiver that made defenses be scared in decades. Yes Bruce and Clayton were very good receivers but not great. When was the last time we had a receiver go in the first round? Clayton did, but he has not been a world beater in the NFL. 11. Our offensive line is mediocre at best, especially the right side. When USC or Florida lose a player, they put another in and do not change their game plan.”

First question, who the heck is Bruce? Anyway, this is a wonderful exercise. I hope every radical OU fans reads this email and understands how goofy you can sound when you just start babbling. I’ll hit the highlights: 1. If someone wants to put Carroll, Saban, Meyer and Tressel ahead of Stoops, OK. And even Miles. But that makes Stoops no worse than sixth. So if you’re saying Stoops isn’t in the top five, I won’t argue. 2. Tech doesn’t count? Florida doesn’t count? Someone has to tell which are the big games. 3. I doubt that’s true but I don’t feel like arguing. 4. I agree. Play Frank Alexander. 5. So what? OU has had excellent middle linebacker play, and just because no one like Boz has been found is no reason to trash the guys you’ve got. 6. Disagree. Travis Lewis has played well. 7. No, Franks didn’t play 10-14 yards off his man vs. Miami. I wish everyone would quit saying that OU doesn’t mix up its defenses or that OU plays too soft. OU’s pass coverage was just fine vs. Miami. 8. When Broyles went down, OU’s offense was in terrible shape. No Gresham, no Bradford, no Broyles. And yet Wilson called 33 pass plays. Doesn’t seem conservative to me. 9. Overrated is one way of putting it. A better way of putting it is this: OU’s receivers stink. 10. If you’re saying Mark Clayton didn’t scare defenses or wasn’t a great ballplayer, you belong on the funny farm. 11. Oh yeah? When USC loses a great player, they just reload? Then why did it lose to Washington 16-13?

Corbin: “As the Sooner Nation brain trust begins their assault on Kevin Wilson – never mind they sung his praises 300 days ago as he tied NCAA records with 60 points or more – I’m so glad someone points out the obvious. We are minus Tom Brady, Tony Gonzalez, our offensive line and now Broyles. Scoring 20 points against Miami with that problem shouldn’t be the discussion. Three key drives against our all healthy all returning defense should be.”

Ah, well said.

Brad: Some questions to ponder. 1. Did Stoops consider going for two to cut lead to three? 2. Why did OU run consecutive plays to the right on its final drive? OU was having success to the left. 3. After Canes converted 3rd-and-6, why didn’t OU just let Miami score on next play and get the ball back down eight? 4.When is the last big game OU won on the road or neutral site? 5. Any thoughts to moving a player like Franks to offense as well?”

Last things first. I LOVE the idea of putting Franks on offense. Leave him at cornerback, but teach him a couple of deep plays on offense, insert him at the opportune time and surprise Texas with it. Now, back to the questions. 1. I’m sure he thought about it, but that’s a coin flip. When you’re down five after a TD, you have to gamble on whether the other team or your team is more likely to kick a field goal. If Miami had found another field goal and gotten to 24, OU would have been in bad shape at 16 (with a missed 2-pointer). But if Miami stays at 21, then there’s no real difference between 16 and 17, so go for two, because there is a big difference at 18. I can’t criticize not going for two there, but I think it’s the better call. Look at it this way. If you get to 18, and Miami did kick a field goal, you still win with a TD. 3. My brother said the same thing, let Miami score. I never thought of it so I can’t call out Stoops for not doing it. It’s the ultimate act of desperation, and I’m not sure the time would have worked out, anyway. 4. OU’s last big road win was OSU in 2008. Last big neutral-turf win was the Big 12 title game in 2008. Those are big games, and if you say otherwise you’re just being silly.

Steven: “Agree with your observations about the defense needing to make plays. A lot of what ifs like the Dom holding on to the interception and taking it to the house. My two cents is recommending taking the wraps off Landry, pass on first down occasionally, and minimize calling delayed draws like that play is fooling anybody. I hear that Sam and Landry like similar plays, so let us see what Landry can do by letting the reins loose, and let him create positive plays to include first down. I also recommend that the receivers on third down go past the sticks to give us a shot at converting. I support our Sooners and like Kevin Wilson; however, I just believe Kevin should give Landry a few more shots to make plays. He’s proved he can play.”

OU had 28 first-and-tens. OU ran 17 times and passed 11. That’s pretty good balance in my book.

Some fans took exception to my statement that OU surely would have won with Bradford. Mac: “You really think OU could have won Saturday night with a healthy or semi-healthy Bradford? Troy Aikman, Jim Kelly nor Terry Bradshaw at quarterback could have won Saturday night. You must have missed how terrible, penalty prone and ineffective the offensive line and receivers were in Miami. It was one of the worst coached and execution by talented players that I have seen since Blake or Schnellenberger. I totally disagree with you on this point. The rest of the article is good and I agree. Bradford is great, but without an effective offensive line and receiver that can run routes and catch passes he is not going to win the game.”

So you’re saying that Sam Bradford and Landry Jones are equals. Interesting. Very interesting.

Tom: “I was struck by your certainty that OU would have won the game with a healthy Bradford. OU might have won the game with Bradford, but no way is it a certainty. Bradford does not play D and the OU defense never really stopped Miami. The truth is OU was largely in the game because of bad officiating and Miami mistakes. The first pick was like a handoff to the OU defender. The second pick was an underthrown ball that would have been a TD had Harris heaved it into the end zone. The roughing the kicker penalty was a joke. Even the punter realized he had gotten away with an acting job deserving of an Oscar. So it might have been a different outcome, but we will never know and your comment just wreaks of sour grapes.”

All very interesting points, none of which addressed Sam Bradford or Landry Jones. Maybe you’re right. Maybe Miami gets all the calls if Bradford plays. Maybe Miami gets all the breaks if Bradford plays. But I’ll stay with what I wrote. I rode up the elevator after the game with a couple of Miami people. Some employees of the athletic department, who were marveling at Miami’s 3-1 start. One asked the other, would we have won if they had Bradford? The other guy said, “No way.”

Bob: “I believe you do a good job of hiding any personal biases and reporting objectively. However, I was taken back with your statement that OU would have won with Bradford. Pretty bold!?!? Considering how Mr. Bradford performed (sub-par) in his last high profile game (Florida), how can you be that confident? It is not like Jones had a terrible day (18-of-30 and 188 yards, 1 TD with no picks). OK, he fumbled the ball deep in their territory caused by a blitz, but all in all, not bad. I believe the Heisman award is too targeted toward high statistics and that is why you see primarily QBs and running backs win it. I believe Manuel Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias, a healthy Gresham, last years O-Line and the running backs played a large role in Bradford’s ability to win the Heisman last year. For these reasons I am not convinced Bradford could have made even a one point difference. Again, Jones did not play a bad game. ”

You’re kidding, right? You’re pulling my leg. You’re arguing that Sam Bradford would have been about the same as Landry Jones in that game? That the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback isn’t worth one or two points in a big game, compared to a redshirt freshman whose greatest trophy was beating Tulsa? Throw out the Heisman. I’m not here to argue the merits of the Heisman Trophy. But I will defend the merits of a great, experienced, accurate, heady quarterback. I don’t know what one of those is worth. But I know it’s a heck of a lot more than one or two points.

But some fans don’t see the forest on fire. Greg: “Yes, Miami is good and OU has its problems. But, let’s all take a deep breath. OU’s offensive line is improving. Wilson is inept in big games, OU’s biggest malady. The OL opened plenty of holes to win that game. Jones is improving. I sat next to Bernie Kosar on Saturday night. He continually commented, and not on anyone’s prodding, that Jones was the better QB in this game and possesses a bunch of credibility. Not as much as Bradford right now, but Kosar liked Jones’ willingness to maintain his composure and keep moving in the pocket until he found someone. There will be another WR besides Caleb surface. Brown, Murray and even Madu were about three slip and falls from three long jaunts for TDs. OU’s punt game is better than UT’s right now. Our field goal game is becoming dependable. That is enough to win games. Miami has the best running back OU will face all season, including UT and OSU. Miami has the best O-line OU will face. Texas, in contrast, sucks in the running back department. And now, the perspective no one has evened mentioned. With all of their maladies, with Landry learning on the job, with all of its problems, OU could have easily won. Mark this down. OU can beat Texas with Landry Jones regardless of how good or bad he looks against Baylor. OU can smoke UT with Bradford by double digits, and any OU win will totally deflate the Horns and their fans for the rest of the season, and possibly the rest of the decade. They are so crazy as to put this very above average team on the pedestal they now reside. Yes, the dream of a national championship is gone. But OU can win every remaining game, including a BCS bowl game as the Big 12 champion. With two one-point losses, but the return of Slingin’ Sam to lead the team to victory in 10 games, beating Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, OSU and some bowl foe, even the ESPN OU-haters will have to admit how good would have OU been had Bradford not gone down. In all of this, Landry will just get better and Drew Allen/Blake Bell will be around to ensure he will not get complacent.”

I figure the overly-optimistic deserve their say, too.

Douglas: “I saw a stat on ESPN.com that listed win-loss records for the following three coaches in games decided by three points or less: Stoops 4-8, Carroll 5-8, Mack Brown 17-3, including 14 straight dating back to the ’01 Big 12 title game. After hearing questions like ‘Where has the Sooner Magic gone?’, I did some additional research. Barry Switzer’s record in games decided by a field goal or less? 17-1-4, with the lone loss coming in the Lincoln fumblerama in ’78. 17-1-4 games decided by a field goal or less in 16 years. Sooner Magic indeed. It’s clear to me that OU needs to recapture that feeling and confidence that in tight games, no matter the circumstances, OU will find a way to prevail. Rather than looking around waiting for someone else to make a play, be that person. Sooner Magic seems to be largely MIA since the 2000 season of magic.”

You know, OU played no games within three points in 2000. The magic moment in that season was Torrance Marshall’s interception return at A&M, creating a 35-31 final. Two things are interesting to me about this data. 1. Not just Brown’s record in such games, but the total number of games he’s played. Twenty, compared to just 12 for Stoops. I guess it’s explainable by so many OU blowouts; Sooners don’t play too many people close. 2. Switzer’s record and Brown’s record are virtually identical. If you give Switzer a half-win and a half-loss for ties, his record is 19-3 compared to Brown’s 17-3. Yet no one ever talks about Brown’s magic.

Don: “My grades. Quarterback: C. O-line: C-minus. D-line: C. Receivers: C-minus. Running backs: C-minus. An average team. Some pro player, when learning that OU had lost all of last year’s O-line except one, said they could, would, should lose four games. He is proving prophetic. I have watched OU through all of the Wilkinson years. Stoops’ teams are much more exciting to watch. I love college football.”

Yes indeed, Andre Ware deserves some love. And I would agree that Stoops football is probably more exciting than Wilkinson football. But Switzer football was more exciting than them both.

David: “Why not write about the inexact science of this whole stars-given-to-recruits. These are all taken from Scout.com. Jeremy Beal two star defensive tackle. Trent Williams three star. Frank Alexander a three star but only ranked as a tight end. Austin Box four star. Jameel Owens four star. Dejuan Miller four star. I could go on and on, but I find it fascinating – I understand the whiffs in football. You have no metrics to judge guys.”

Excellent points, David. OU’s biggest problems in 2009, other than injuries, are recruiting mistakes. No standout wide receivers. Not enough offensive linemen. Think about this. OU’s only difference-maker at receiver is Ryan Broyles, who got the last scholarship three years ago. Until the midnight hour, the Sooner staff didn’t think he was good enough. That points to recruiting mistakes.

-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.

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