Comments on: Oklahoma football: What happens to uptempo offense?

By: Wino

Wino — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:24:10 +0000

No more converted TEs and QBs playing on the offensive line. Give me a meat eater that has fought in the trenches since Junior High. There is an attitude that can’t be faked or taught by the coaches. Also, how about we stop with the ridiculous excuse that we need smaller, lighter LBs in this offensive-minded conference. ND has big LBs, they had no problem taking away virtually everything OU needed to do to win the game. Get some 240+ guys that know how to smear someone. Off topic a bit here, but I also want to point out to everyone that wants to see the “super-offense” of the Big 12 vs. the “super-defense” of the NDs and Bamas of the world, well, we have seen it, and it doesn’t work out well for the spread teams. Oregon-LSU last year? LSU-WV last year? OU-ND this year? Anybody watch Mizzou this year? Defense wins. Period.

By: LXXIV

LXXIV — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:00:28 +0000

Here is the thought on running more: the more you attempt, the more likely that at some point a defender will make a mistake and you will break a big one. That is exactly what ND did that eventually resulted in their long run for a td. I think that is what Stoops was infering, when he said we might have needed to run more than we did. But, Monday morning (or Tuesday) coaching and quarterbacking is much easier than it is on the field.

By: johnny

johnny — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:41:41 +0000

I’m no expert by far, but possibly installing an option package when the db’s start to sink, it will bring them back up…..just saying.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:55:31 +0000

Daniel you are right on. Plus if ND has their safeties
playing back 20 or 30 yards why would our receivers be
running 40 or 50 yards downfield. Landry could have completed underneath passes all night if need be. If Stoops
thinks we should have ran more he’s lost his mind. Saunders could have caught 30 passes if we would have ran less.

By: jeff

jeff — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:03:16 +0000

The Trotter article hits a home run. No wonder OU wanted nothing to do with the SEC during the conference mess last year. Imagine being in the SEC West with LSU, Alabama, Arkansas coming to Norman? ESPN Gameday once a year guaranteed! Now its all about protecting the money machine(easy victories).

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:03:17 +0000

I see a nice difference since Coach Mike’s arrival. He doesn’t have the material on D in both DL and linebackers to make a huge difference at this point…

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:18:42 +0000

I think Mike Stoops has made a bit of a difference. This season the defense looks like they are more in position than the last few years. However, recruiting is where I see OU’s biggest problems. They’re strong at receiver, running backs, defensive backs, but they have to get some Tommy Harris’, Roy Williams’, Jamal Browns’, Torrence Marshalls’, ect. if they want to be competitive with Top 10 caliber opponents. I see the offensive and defensive lines as OU’s biggest lack of physicality against K-State and Notre Dame. Those teams manhandle OU upfront. We used to be the team, especially on defense that everyone was scared to face. We have to start finding these guys and getting them to commit to OU. We can’t keep letting these guys flood to Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, and LSU. It looks like Brian Kelly, Chip Kelly, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Les Miles know how to do it. Bob’s getting paid the same amount or more to land guys like that. There’s no excuse for the Sooners to not be competitive with the best.

One recruiting suggestion I have would be to do something flashy with the uni’s. It seems like OSU and Oregon got better recruits when they changed up the uniforms. Don’t get me wrong, I love the crimson and cream traditional uniforms, but we could add some flash to these uni’s and I guarantee recruits would notice. It’s all about how you market the program.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:50:03 +0000

I understand the recievers getting winded after a few pass plays in a row, but shouldn’t the db’s (who aren’t used to the tempo) be winded even more? That would seem to give Sooner recievers and edge even if they have lost a step or two due to being “gassed”.

By: Stillwater Bob

Stillwater Bob — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:32:59 +0000

OU will be alright they just were caught off guard by the Notre Dame buzz saw defense. ND was on a mission. I have to admit that the Belldozer would not be denied though. Next year OU may win it all with Blake Bell, unless the lose at Stillwater again……

By: Galileo, Houston

Galileo, Houston — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:51:57 +0000

Great coverage the past week Berry and all the Oklahoman writers. We could sit here and second-guess the in-game tactics and play calling all day long. What interests (and concerns) me more is the strategic philosophy that OU has embraced. OU has gone a different direction the past few years and turned its back on the hard-nosed identity that has brought the school all of its national championships. Coach Stoops needs to get back to basics and bring back the same physical brand of football that Notre Dame used to smash us in the mouth last Saturday night.

Every Sooner fan needs to read this excellent article by former beat writer Jake Trotter. He lays it out perfectly: http://espn.go.com/colleges/oklahoma/football/story/_/id/8567870/can-oklahoma-sooners-contend-national-championships-future-currently-constructed