By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:47:55 +0000

The play calling on both sides of the ball in the Cotton Bowl was terrible. Terrible and unrealistic game plans going in and no changes made during the game. Deep handoffs on delayed draws that never worked? Coaches should have known going in they wouldn’t work. The weakness of the OU offense was run blocking by the offensive line. The strength of the A&M defense was the run stopping by the defensive line. So you call plays that highlight your weakness and play to the other teams strength. Real bright. If you aren’t as good as the other team up front run the Texas Tech offense. The OU strenght is wide receiver. Line up wide up front and 5 wide outs. Pass for 4-5 yards a play on quick passes. You don’t need a powerful offensive line as the ball is out quicker than the defense can get to the QB. On defense going in OU knew the one offensive player A&M had is Manziel. They also knew he liked to reverse outside and run outside. OU really thought their defensive line could control the A&M offensive line and keep Manziel in the pocket and put pressure on him? They didn’t keep a spy on him all night and never kept contain. And never made a change on defense. Again, just stupid. Allowed A&M to take advantage of the OU weaknesses and did nothing to counter it. On both sides of the ball this shows an arrogance that is misplaced. There may have been a time when OU could line up and beat the other team because OU had better players but that time has come and gone. Why has the Belldozer not been successful? It is because the offensive line cannot get any kind of push in the run blocking. Nobody across the front is beating their man. With the talent level at offensive line that will continue. If OU still thinks they can run the ball look for more of the same next year. With this offensive line they had better look to run a lot of quick passes next year or have a lot more 3 and outs.

By: Fanatic

Fanatic — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:30:06 +0000

When the fans can call plays before the ball is snapped and they are nothing but novices of the game, when they see receivers who are lined up with no coverage and still call the play…short slant pass over the middle…into the teeth of the defense trying to catch a ball moving at warp speed, there is something wrong with our offensive play calling….especially against elite teams…we do have a problem or two on the o-line….one…injuries….too many of them year after year….the other, no run blocking. We have not had an o-line that could run the ball effectively since Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray….and an o-line with no tight ends….disaster in the type of offense OU runs. This years O-line over performed for their talent…we got everything we could out of them which still wasn’t enough to run the ball on ND or A$M. As far as the D is concerned…we did the best we could with what we had…OU could have easily lost 2-4 more games…BU, WVU, TCU, OSU. we have much to be thankful for…just not enough to compete with the elite. Depth was a huge issue this year …especially on the D-line, O-line, LBs, and even the secondary (which thank heaven did not have many injuries). Until OU decides to build its lines with the best talent in America and realize that the best skilled players in the country can’t do much without having greatness playing on the lines, OU will not compete with the like of Bama or even ND who certainly was no match. I love winning the Big 12… But what I love more is a good brand of sound football….knowing that when OU takes the field against an elite team we can compete….didn’t see that in the 3 biggest games of the year…and A$M embarrassed us…we are going down the road of Gary Gibbs if Stoops doesn’t make adjustments in recruiting and the kind of offense we run. Soon we won’t beat teams like ISU and OSU has become very competitive. I don’t want to hear parity….that doesn’t explain Bama or Oregon. Switzer was a smart coach…he knew the definition of insanity…doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results….he changed OU’s offense when it was apparent defenses had caught up and we couldn’t get the skilled players we needed to stay elite. It’s called smash mouth football…built on the lines on both sides of the ball. 3 returning starters on defense….it’s a rebuilding year next year…we will be lucky to win 8 games…the only thing that could save us is the loss at QB for several Big 12 teams. The Oklahoman’s article which showed the Big 12 leaders in various categories just validates thatnthismhears OU team was an average team that played above its level….not an elite team…and not likely to be one next year either.

Comments on: Oklahoma football: More from fans

By: Jerry

By: Fanatic