Postgame thoughts on BYU-OU: Andre Ware was right
The smartest man in America right now seems to be Andre Ware. The former Houston Heisman winner turned ESPN analyst said not only will OU lose 4 games this year, one of them would be to BYU. Right about the latter, time will tell if he’s also correct on the former. But Ware was on target about why there should be cause for concern: an untested offensive line.
OU’s new offensive line was tested Saturday and flunked. Numerous penalties. Mental mistakes, including a protection call blunder that ultimately led to Sam Bradford’s injury. Right tackle Cory Brandon had an especially rough night with six penalties all on his own.
Going forward, this line faces major questions. Leave Brody Eldridge at center? Or move him to tight end where they desperately missed his blocking? Keep Brandon on the field? Or insert Ben Habern or Stephen Good to guard and kick Jarvis Jones to right tackle? Whatever the answer is, it has to be something different than what was put on the field against BYU. Or Ware will be right again.
Other thoughts:
* The kicking game is much improved. Jimmy Stevens was 2 of 2 on FGs, though no one noticed the first because Sam Bradford had just been knocked out of the game. Tress Way had a nice day punting, averaging about 44 yards a punt. Matt Moreland did a nice job kicking the ball downfield, and the coverage unit was terrific, led by true freshman Demontre Hurst who had a couple of nice tackles. Had Brandon not been called with a false start at the end, Way may have squeezed through a 49-yard attempt.
* DeMarco Murray not going through contact drills in the fall came back to haunt him. He clearly wasn’t used to the contact and coughed up the ball twice.
* Where was Stephen Good? Word is, he missed a couple days of practice two weeks ago from being sick. A month ago, he was the starter at right guard. Now, he barely is in the rotation. He can help this team up front, but he wasn’t given the chance Saturday for whatever reason.
* Can you think of a moment when OU took a chance deep? I can’t. Throughout, the Sooners didn’t test BYU’s secondary, which was supposedly decimated by injury. Wasn’t that Adron Tennell’s forte? OU didn’t stretch the field by taking chances downfield. Instead, BYU was allowed to play close to the line of scrimmage and contain OU’s run game. OU’s longest play of the day was 18 yards.
* Brandon Caleb was one of the bright spots at receiver. He had 4 catches for 57 yards. Jay Norvell knew what he was doing by starting Caleb.
* But where was Cam Kenney? Or Mossis Madu in the slot? Norvell basically went with Caleb, Tennell and Broyles throughout, with a touch of Dejuan Miller. The wideouts had problems getting open, or making plays when they got the ball. Neither Kenney nor Madu had the chance to show they could do better.
* Ryan Reynolds looked pretty good. I’m not sure he’s as fast or quick as he was last year. But he’s still very effective in the middle at linebacker.
* Quinton Carter and Sam Proctor, the two new faces in the lineup on defense at safety, both had decent games. They combined for 14 tackles.
-JT
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Comments
Why didn’t we take more shots downfield? Because the coaches knew that our line couldn’t provide protection long enough to let deep routes develop.
Let’s see, where to start. Basically out coached…O-line inept play(which is as kind as one can say it)… no imagination on the offensive play calling… NOBODY with a red jersey or coaches shirt having enough wits about them to call time out on that 3rd down play on the goal line… and for putting Brandon back in on the last series. I am not sure what else a guy has to do to prove to all that he can not play. Okay who was worse… Crow against Texas or Brandon vs. BYU.
I realized the offense line was important, but my thoughts were that they were not as important with these new fast paced offenses.
I will not make that mistake again on how important o-line play is. After getting back to the game after throwing up watching the OU O-line, you may have noticed that BYU had a new line and had problems as well. BYU just outcoached and outplayed us with 1st and goal from the 2. We kick a field goal, BYU scores a TD.
Ryan Reynolds was ATROCIOUS in coverage. His stat line looks great, but we was targeted and abused the entire night. Huge bullseye. Not his fault, it was the staff’s fault. Austin Box needs to play on 3rd downs.
Kevin Wilson has all the imagination of a bucket full of hammers and Brent Venables has even less than that….OU will continue to lose the big games until there are new faces in the coordinator coaching slots.
The play calling system caused confusion. At least twice OU was penalized for delay of game, including down at the goal line on 4th down. It’clear the team wasn’t ready for that system.
haha seattle, you guys make me smile, go watch the mariners for the few remaining games left or watch the Seahawks not make the playoffs! I know it must be hard being a football fan in seattle but please rag on your own pathetic teams, atleast you have the apple cup to look forward to or whatever you call it up there!
Safety’s had a decent game? They had a lot of tackles because they were tackleing after the receivers caught passes on them. We are in trouble at these positions unless they get a lot better. We are weak over the middle and will be exploited in the short passing game all year.
Reynolds…
Watch the big fourth down play on the last drive for BYU. Reynolds hobbled down the field and barely got there in time for the next play.
No wonder the Sooners are trying so hard to slip Balogun past the NCAA.
The Sooner coaching staff deserves a grade of F-. The team was totally unprepared to play, and made no in-game adjustments that anyone could see.
Adron Tennell dropped every pass thrown his way but one, I believe. How is it that he is the Sooners’ #1 wide receiver?
Kevin Wilson is a liability as offensive coordinator. His big contribution has been the hurry-up, which produced record scoring last year, but also put our defense on the field a lot. And it didn’t work in cruch time against Texas or Florida–the only two teams we played with talent comparable to ours.
Some critical self-examination needs to be taking place in Norman right now, but I doubt that it is. It’s easier for the coaches to blame the players for not being motivated or not executing than to look at themselves and try to understand what they are doing wrong.
Agreed that the play calling system is worse than awful!
The players line up and then stand there looking to the
sidelines for the call and time is called…..just get
up there and start playing…..total confusion! Plus, we
need to get a new offensive coach.
I don`t know what game you guys were watching but I thought OU won that game.I went to the game and with a 3rd down and goal in the fourth quarter with just over 12 minutes left the score should have been 17-7 OU.Long scored on the Q-back sneak from the one yard line, and nobody seems to want to review and see that play.He surged at least to the white stripe if not well over it.I seen it live then came home to watch it on dvr and it was confirmed that I was right,If you have any doubts watch it for yourself in slow motion.Thanks.
I will not post anything negative about OU even though I am a UT grad. I will, however, post something negative about ESPN and the Koolaid machine they seem to lead. Last year I laughed while Switzer and Johnson raved about how Alabama was going to kill Utah. What a joke. They were completely wrong on every count of their in-depth analysis. Additionally, they resoundingly said OU deserved to be in NC game over UT despite UT beating OU. ESPM seems to have a b***er over some teams, and it is refreshing to see someone speak from intelligence and insight (Andre Ware) instead of merely repeating an exercise of their own mental masturbation. Yes OU has a completely new offensive line. How can anyone be ranked #3 in the nation with a new offensive line – especially when you consider it is a program that can’t seem to win a bowl game and seems to consistently lose to UT? Remarkable!
Are you aware of the numerous positive comments from BYU fans in the Salt Lake newspapers about the graciousness and classy behavior of OU fans before, during, and after the game. My son commented that after the game he was congratulated over and over again by departing Sooners.
current offensive and defensive coaches guarantee a long season,
whatever they are doing has been figured out by the other teams.
time for a fresh look
Seattle what? Seatle, Texas? Seatle, Florida? Or maybe Seatle, California? Surely someone from Seattle washed-out Washington is not laughing at the sooners. Are you serious? We got f#@% on Sayurday, but you’ve been f#@% for decades. Is all that rain clouding your melon? Do they even televise the Huskies or cougers? Oklahoma has high school teams that would give them a good game. I feel stupid responding to someone from washington. Turn around man, you’re still getting f#@%. There’s something you shouldn’t forget!
Well, it’s 4:31 and ou still suxs! What cha think if that Big Blame Bob! Didn’t you have the same problem in Adrian Petersons sophmore year? Yea…you had to run the score last year so you didn’t play the subs. When are you gonna learn? You know how to make an ou cookie? Put em in a bowl and beat them for 3 hours! I love it. Don’t even THINK the beatings will stop. Maybe Sammie will be game ready for the Pokes! That should be fun. I think he prolly lost about $30 millon on that hit. Typical dirt burglar!
I think my Agges will beat em this year! SWEEEEEEET!!!!
Maybe not $30 mil….but $25 mil for sure! What a goofball!
GIG ‘EM!!!!!!!
Scott,
You need to go back to school. because you can’t spell anything right. You must be from Oklahoma State.
Paul,
The Aggies only won because the beat a high school team. And you need to go back school because you can not spell either.
Please use spell check!!!! before posting.
Thanks and BOOMER SOONER TOT SCOTT AND PAUL
[...] the spectacular and much-awaited return of our much-beloved Sam Bradford to the field after he was almost killed by the Mormons in the season opener and sacrificed to their god, or eaten so they could imbue themselves with his strength, or whatever [...]
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha go f#@% yourselfs sooners fans, we shall never forget