Power Lunch: Chat with OU writer Travis Haney
Mizzou view of how it exploited Sooners D early
CAMPUS CORNER — Some interesting thoughts today from Columbia Daily Tribune writer Dave Matter‘s Mizzou notebook. Here’s what caused the Sooners D some headaches Saturday, at least from the Tigers’ perspective.
“Bravo performance drawing up and calling plays for offensive coordinator David Yost. Here’s why: The Tigers unveiled a several plays that Moe said they’ve never used, catching the Sooners off guard with some new wrinkles.
Yost put receivers in motion more often than usual, giving (James) Franklin a chance to identify man coverages before the snap. He added some play-action passes that kept Franklin in the pocket and gave him the entire field to scan for open receivers — rather than play-action rollouts that cut the field in half. Play-action works well against an aggressive defense like Oklahoma’s because it gets defenders lunging forward to respect the run and gives receivers a split-second to release downfield. Franklin took advantage of that separation again and again.
Man coverages bedeviled the Tigers last year, but against a heavy dose of man Saturday, Yost countered with deeper routes that gave his receivers time to run free. Franklin and his slot receivers routinely abused nickelback Gabe Lynn, beating him on some corner routes to Moe and later on the 45-yard touchdown to Washington. Yost deserves credit, too, for preparing Franklin for the blitz. The same OU pressure packages that led to six sacks and three interceptions at Florida State were picked up by MU’s offensive line and picked apart by Franklin.
“We were taking advantage of the blitz,” Franklin said. “They were bringing guys and leaving downfield open. We took advantage of that. Then they backed out of that, and that’s when we needed to go through the progressions — I needed to go through the progressions.”
Here’s the link.
Listening now to Brent Venables‘ take. He said teams always do new things against the Sooners, so that does not solely explain it. He was disappointed that on multiple occasions guys were simply not where they should be and it created leverage and matchup problems. OU fixed those issues, only to have them resurface in the fourth quarter when the Sooners appeared to check out mentally.
Venables said he showed his unit 15-17 plays in which corrections needed to be made. That’s not to say all those were big plays, he pointed out. Some might have been a 3-yard gain, but the play contained mistakes that could have allowed for a 30-yard gain or more. Story for tomorrow’s paper is about the defense and where it goes from here …
= Trav
OU review: Mizzou video session
CAMPUS CORNER — Getting a late start on this, so I’ll get in as much as I can before I tire.
It’s nice to be back with Gus Johnson and the FX crew this week. (Sorry, Musburger.) (Sorry I’m not sorry.)
**
Sometimes the fast-paced offense works against OU. Fourth-and-inches, and literally 1:03 is off the clock. If you go three-and-out that fast, you give the other team momentum – home or away. Actually, it’d be much more in an away environment – or even a neutral-field game like Texas.
You’ve seen some of this backfiring in the red zone. You only get three (mostly three) offensive downs. You can run through them quickly when you don’t go very far.
Certainly not the way OU wanted to start.
**
That’s three procedure penalties on the punt team in the past two weeks. What’s going on there? It was on Corey Nelson? Negated a nice Tress Way punt in this case. His second effort was pedestrian, comparatively.
Why did FX’s crew say this was the first false start this season on the OU offense? Guys, it’s the punt team. Different personnel. A linebacker jumped there. C’mon. I think there was a false start for the offense later, but not there.
**
Two snaps, two bad snaps for Missouri’s Travis Ruth. That improved, I guess.
**
Watching T.J. Moe block some Sooners on second-and-3 run to Josey to the left. He pushes back Tony Jefferson and then takes on Tom Wort. Salty one, that Moe. Henry Josey can hit that corner. His first run, for 14 yards, gave him more yards on the ground than FSU’s running backs had all night last week.
**
Holy crap. Just realized how small Josey was. Is. It takes two Joseys to make a James Franklin.
**
Moe flat-out beat Jefferson on the corner route. Just beat him.
**
Josey’s has gigantic holes through which to run. Just imagine if the snaps from Ruth were better.
**
Landry Jones’ first pass attempt on the next drive was deflected at the line. Man, if that were intercepted …
Landry makes a savvy play here and bats the ball to the ground. Quarterbacks and linemen always try to catch this, for some reason.
**
Second-down throw was off his back foot, to Ryan Broyles. Floated a little bit. Not a good throw. (Disclaimer: I’m not picking Jones, or anyone, apart. Just saying what I’m seeing. Note my commentary today about Jones, who I think gets dogged too much for his play. If you have 448 passing yards, you’ve obviously done something right. So, again, don’t think I’m killing the guy. He does more positive than negative; I’ll point out the high notes, as well.)
**
Jones has no time on third down. Lane Johnson whiffs on Mizzou’s Jacquies Smith. The Tigers bail out OU with a pass interference call in which someone just lays on Dejuan Miller for some reason.
**
Dom Whaley’s first carry goes for 30 yards. Imagine that. Play the kid more. He’s your best back. Does special things when he has the ball. (See the later possession in which he has the tip-toe play on a screen pass and then runs in a TD on the next play.)
Key events on Whaley’s run: James Hanna, who came in motion to the right side, threw the initial springing block; Mizzou DB Trey Hobson takes a bad, bad angle; Miller had a decent block; Whaley nearly broke it.
**
Jones gives back the momentum with the pick. Was telegraphing deep to Miller. Wouldn’t have mattered if this were Kenny Stills. Landry just didn’t see the safety, for some reason. Got greedy, presuming the play would be there. Appeared underthrown but, more than anything, just missed the safety. Bad read.
**
Half the time I watched James Franklin, I thought he acted in the pocket like there was a whistle. He just moved so mechanically. Like, in slo-mo. In a good way.
**
Good pressure on third down from David King. Very late grounding call – where was the flag? – but looked like right call. I guess. Josey was right there. Whatever. Punt’s a punt.
**
Sooners’ home unis really pop for night games, don’t they? Don’t change, OU. Don’t change.
**
See, this is what I mean. Miller makes a nice catch to make it second-and-3 at the 9-yard line. Quick to the line, Brennan Clay goes nowhere. Third-and-3, an incompletion to Broyles on good coverage.
FX graphic says 6 TDs, 5 FGs in 13 possessions for Sooners. This is another FG drive, too.
My question on this particular possession is: Whaley had a 30-yard carry on the previous drive. Where’s he for second- and third-and 3 inside the 10?
**
Mike Hunnicutt’s kick was a good one. Not sure what to make of Jimmy Stevens and his quad. Or is it “quad?”
**
Getting beaten on second Mizzou TD. Live, it looked like it’s Gabe Lynn’s fault. It’s a delayed safety blitz from Javon Harris, but I don’t know how that pressure is supposed to get home on a guy like Franklin, because Harris breaks so late.
As a result, Lynn gets caught up in traffic. Heck, the MU receiver, L’Damian Washington, nearly falls down himself. But he doesn’t and it’s a 45-yard score. It’s another three-down-lineman deal. But Harris blitzing. So is Wort from the left side and Travis Lewis from the right. The middle of the field is left open, and that’s where Washington heads. Lynn does get turned around one-on-one, too.
Empty backfield, I think OU is anticipating QB draw here. It’s not.
**
Not to belabor this, but, again, what does a delayed blitz against Franklin do? Even if Harris gets there, Franklin will leave the pocket.
**
Gus said Roy Finch would be more involved. What do you know, Gus, you soothsayer? Finch did get a touch there. And a first down.
**
Whaley takes a little swing there and absorbs a hit and stays on his feet.
**
Charles Davis is talking too much about the loss of Trey Franks. Stills, yes. Franks, no. Franks had no catches at FSU, Charles.
**
Hey, it’s James Hanna. This is like offensive bingo, this drive, for Bob Stoops. A Finch touch and a Hanna catch? Wow!
Seriously, get them the ball more. Trey Millard, too.
**
Broyles just does what Broyles does. How did he make that catch for the 24-yard touchdown? 30th time in their careers, FX tells us.
**
Broyles might be the most underrated player in college football history. I’m going to put that out there. Seriously, who catches 12 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns and we barely talk about it?
Broyles.
When OU needed a drive, and a TD, it was Broyles. No shock there.
**
So many trains in Norman. No one told me about this when I moved here.
**
A more conservative blitz on third-and-8 on the next Mizzou possession. Wort drops back. No Harris blitzing. Travis Lewis brings enough heat to cause Franklin to get rid of the ball.
**
One of Landry’s best throws in the game. Third-and-8 at his own 29 – it’s always third down, isn’t it? – and he steps up in the pocket to find Broyles on a crossing route. Unreal throw. The kind of throw that makes him a top-five NFL prospect.
He completely misread the D earlier, but this kind of throw makes up for it. He’s very capable. What a strike. It’s a 29-yard gain; field-changer.
**
Just heard former Minny coach/FX sideline guy Tim Brewster and Davis say Millard changes the way defenses have to play, literally.
Without him in game, nickel personnel. When he’s in, base personnel. He dictates defenses. He’s that important. Just a sophomore, OU is still figuring out when and how to use him.
On the play prior to that discussion, Millard ran all the way out wide, leaving Jones in an empty set. I know our Jenni Carlson discussed Millard as a potential solution in goal-line sets, just because of how tough he runs, how big he is. I’m not as smart as OU’s coaches – not by a long shot – but he’s a special player. Get him involved.
**
Great pressure on next Missouri possession. Alexander has been a beast. I thought that was more of intentional grounding than the one that was actually called earlier.
**
Thanks to MU DC Dave Steckel for dressing up for the game. Nice T-shirt.
**
I know I’ve been complimentary of Whaley, but he did have plays in which he went backward – not that it was his fault. Just watched a 6-yard loss on second-and-1. Donald Stephenson and Millard missed blocks and/or fell down and Whaley was swallowed up.
It’s not always going to go in the right direction, but a 6-yard loss on second-and-short?
**
Demontre Hurst’s name has not been called an awful lot this year. That’s a positive.
**
Fourth-and-1 at midfield. You’re up 14-10. Your quarterback, who is huge, just ran for 8 yards on second down.
Don’t you have to go for it here? I really didn’t understand this. To win on the road vs the No. 1 team in the country, where that team never, ever loses … you have to take chances. Smart chances. This was a shot for Gary Pinkel. He didn’t take it.
Think he’d go for it now? This isn’t hindsight’s 20-20. This seemed fairly obvious to me, when you run a spread offense with so much deception.
**
Landry changed the third-and-7 play at his own 24 to a go pattern to Jaz Reynolds. He saw one-on-one and went for it. Mizzou dared him to throw it, Reynolds to catch. Anyone but Broyles, right?
This was absolutely Jones’ best throw of the night. It was breathtaking, quite honestly. Just gorgeous, beating Hobson over the top. Reynolds did his part, as well. Stills had to have been proud, if he wasn’t pacing and looking for his helmet …
I thought this play is where the game changed. Confidence.
**
I love this clear-out screen to Hanna. It’s a corner blitz from Kip Edwards, but the entire MU defense starts shifting to its left, with the play, when Jones dumps off to Hanna underneath. Smart play and executed well.
Hanna’s in red zone by time Tigers can adjust.
**
Sometimes, it’s OK to be lucky. Jones wanted Reynolds on a little out route. He overthrows the pass and, how about that, Broyles is open where the ball is.
That’s one the Sooners could laugh about. Helps OU avoid another field goal. We wondered who it was for. Jones admitted later Reynolds was the target. He was open. So was Broyles, fortunately for the Sooners.
**
Hunnicutt’s PAT wasn’t all that impressive, hugging the right upright. Just saying. Let’s not pile on Stevens and then ignore when Hunnicutt doesn’t split the posts.
**
Kameel Jackson is still learning, but he was really close to making two plays down the field. He sure looks like the next “one” of the receivers going forward.
He’ll get there. Needs more time. This Franks suspension might help him more than anyone, along with Reynolds.
**
I forgot about that Whaley 25-yard reception. Stiff arm. Picks up a first down. This guy’s amazing. Nifty, even.
**
Reynolds with another nice grab in opening in zone. 27 more for OU.
**
The Sooners save themselves from more goal-line woes with Jones’ QB sneak for a score. Like Stoops has said, the ability to run gives you more confidence about OU in the red zone. Still got to execute, though.
**
All right, it’s nearly 1:30. I’m going to pull the plug on this. Some sloppy play late from the Sooners’ D, but this half has essentially told the story of the game, good and bad.
Early meeting(s) tomorrow, so I’m going to rest up.
= Trav
Sooners drop to No. 2 in AP; a breakdown of votes
CAMPUS CORNER — There’s a new AP No. 1, and it’s LSU. The Tigers just might be deserving after convincing victories in September against Oregon (neutral field) and at West Virginia.
Oklahoma played well enough to win last week at Florida State, but even that victory was sullied Saturday by the fact the Seminoles went on the road and lost at Clemson.
Look, I know, the AP poll doesn’t matter more than it matters. But it’s something to talk about. And it takes the temperature of how the Sooners are playing at this point.
What surprised me was how much the votes shifted from OU to LSU in the course of one week.
Last week’s first-place votes: Oklahoma 37 – LSU 14
This week: LSU 42 – Oklahoma 12
And for those presuming some sort of East Coast or Southern bias toward LSU and/or Alabama, consider the fact that 1) those teams probably have played better so far this season and 2) the voters are located all over the country. It’s not as if Southern media types stuff the ballot box or something.
Take a look at who voted Oklahoma and LSU No. 1 this week*. You’ll see the voters dot the map.
Oklahoma 1 – LSU 2
Austin Meek – Topeka
David Just – Lubbock
Desmond Conner – Hartford
Ira Schoffel – Tallahassee
John Werner – Waco
Matt Markey – Toledo
Oklahoma 1 – Alabama 2
Bob Asmussen – Champaign (LSU 4?)
Dave Reardon – Honolulu (LSU 3)
Keith Sargeant – Gannett NJ (LSU 3)
Mike DiRocco – Jacksonville (LSU 3)
Mike Herndon – Mobile (LSU 3)
Robert Cessna – Bryan/College Station (LSU 3)
LSU 1 – Alabama 2 – Oklahoma 3
Andy Staples – SI
Bill Cole – Winston-Salem
Bob Condotta – Seattle
Chris Fowler – ESPN
Craig James – ESPN
Dave Matter – Columbia (Mo.)
David Teel – Hampton Roads (Va.)
Doug Lesmerises – Cleveland
Eric Schmoldt – Casper
Erik Gee – Albuquerque
Garland Gillen – New Orleans
Greg Auman – St. Pete
Joe Giglio – Raleigh
Joe Medley – Anniston, Ala.
Josh Kendall – Columbia (S.C.)
Kirk Bohls – Austin
Mitch Vingle – Charleston, W.Va.
Sam McKewon – Omaha
Seth Emerson – Macon, Ga.
Tom Mulhern – Madison, Wisc.
LSU 1 – Oklahoma 2
Anthony Gimino – Tucson
Brett McMurphy – CBS
Chadd Cripe – Boise
Dirk Facer – Salt Lake
Jeremy Sampson – Lansing, Mich.
Jim Wogan – Knoxville
John Clay – Lexington, Ky.
John Hunt – Portland, Ore.
John Niyo – Detroit
John Shinn – Norman
Mark Anderson – Las Vegas
Mike Hlas – Cedar Rapids
Patrick Magee – Hattiesburg, Miss.
Phil Miller – Minneapolis
Randy Rosetta – Baton Rouge
Ron Higgins – Memphis
Sal Interdonato – Middletown, N.Y.
Steve Conroy – Boston
LSU 1 – OK State 2 – Oklahoma 3
Jon Wilner – San Jose
LSU 1 – Boise 2 – Oklahoma 3
Pete DiPrimio – Fort Wayne
LSU 1 – Alabama 2 – Boise 3 – Oklahoma 4
Ray Ratto – San Fran
Tom Murphy – Little Rock
Morning-after blog: Wha’ happened vs Mizzou?
CAMPUS CORNER — OU’s players and coaches resisted the idea that playing Missouri provided a “revenge” angle, because of last year’s loss in Columbia. Likewise, they rejected the notion late last night that Florida State had left them with a “hangover” in last night’s 38-28 victory against the Tigers.
But, you know, something was up with the Sooners much of the night – particularly the first few minutes, when a hangover would be most evident. Call it whatever you’d like – and linebacker Travis Lewis and defensive coordinator Brent Venables pretty much did in the aftermath.
Embarrassing. Disappointing. Those were the words they circled back to most. They talked about the game like a 10-point loss — and maybe that’s the mark of a very good team. This game was never in doubt, not even down 14-3 nine minutes in, and yet Lewis and Venables felt as if they’d lost. Probably because they knew the Sooners would have lost to a better team.
Will OU hold onto the No. 1 ranking? I suspect not, because media folks I know are rather enamored with LSU (and perhaps rightfully so), but maybe. If OU drops, who cares? It’s September, still. Win games, play better and it won’t matter. A 12-0 OU team would play for the national title. Winning is all that matters.
There were positives from last night. Let’s hit those.
THREE STARS
Offensive star, Jaz Reynolds – The Sooners needed someone to emerge with the suspension of Trey Franks and lingering concussion issues for Kenny Stills. Enter, Reynolds. Had a drop early and didn’t appear in sync with Landry Jones and then, all of a sudden, he was open and making catches on key OU drives. You will not see a better ball thrown than Jones to Reynolds down the right sideline for 39 yards – on third down. Perfect touch. Good route. Got that drive going. Got the team going.
Give the Sooners credit. They can’t seem to get Ryan Broyles and Stills on the field at the same time. When they do, they’re not 100 percent. And yet others continue to step forward. It was Franks in the opener. Reynolds had five catches for 93 yards against the Tigers. That can only help down the line. (Honorable mention: Dominique Whaley continues to be one of OU’s best players. Say that out loud: Dominique Whaley continues to be one of OU’s best players. Wild, right? That tip-toe down the sideline, followed on the next play by the toss-left touchdown? An exceptional series for the walk-on. He continues to shine. Just give him a scholarship now, so we can start calling him former walk-on.)
Defensive star: Frank Alexander — As Venables said, the guys with solid efforts could be counted on one hand. But make sure and save a digit (or two) for Alexander. Before the season, ends coach Bobby Jack Wright challenged Alexander to play more consistently. He has. Some others mentioned Demontre Hurst, who has been good, but I would say Alexander has been OU’s most consistent defender. He’s always in the backfield, creating pressure. He’s forced turnovers repeatedly. He’s managed to outshine Ronnell Lewis more often than not, and I don’t think many people would have bet on that prior to the year. He’s been good. Has to keep it up. (Honorable mention: Hurst. On a night of lapses, I don’t recall seeing No. 6 getting beaten. I’ll watch the video, and maybe I’ll see differently, but all the busts this season have not involved Hurst to my knowledge. Even the great Jamell Fleming has been susceptible to losing one-on-one battles – I recall one last night down the left sideline – but not Hurst. So far.)
Misc. star, Jones – In a news conference before the FSU game, Bob Stoops talked about the microscope on his starting quarterback. When you play at such a high level, he suggested, more is expected of you. Yeah, that’s the way it goes. So, I’m offering today that perhaps we, as a viewing public, are too tough on Jones. Yeah, he made some mistakes against Missouri, and a couple of times those mistakes resulted in turnovers. But when you’re throwing the ball 70 times a game, it’s only natural that you’re not going to be perfect. What’s Jones’ good-to-bad ratio? Still squarely in the good category, right? I saw some terrific throws from Jones, and you don’t rack up 448 yards by accident. I noticed Brandon Weeden set an OSU record with 430-something yards in the victory at Texas A&M. Jones goes for 448 and has an off night? Only by his standards. When he was on, and he was at times, he led an offense that prevented this from actually being a close game. And that happened without Stills, who fueled the offense a week ago at FSU.
What we learned: Jimmy Stevens, statistically one of the most decorated kickers in OU history, just might have lost his job. Stoops said after the game that he’s been dealing with a quad injury. Said maybe he shouldn’t have kicked that low line drive last week at FSU. OK, well, then why make the kid a punchline at the Tuesday presser? How Stoops has juggled his kickers – and talked about Stevens – has been one of the more baffling things since I’ve been here. Maybe Mike Hunnicutt sticks and just becomes the kicker going forward. He looked good to me. Then again, that might be too easy, to just have it settled. To be continued.
What we learned: Ben Habern is hurt. That’s no bueno. He’s a captain, a team leader and, as Jones said, just a good dude. One thing I know: Going from starting center to backup center can be problematic. I’m sure Gabe Ikard will be fine, and it’s nothing against him, but I’m sure he’s no Habern at this stage in his career. I’m told Habern could miss between a month and two months with a broken forearm or a crack in his forearm. I heard something about surgery this morning, although OU has not confirmed that. Listen to Jones’ comments: Habern will be out for some time. You’ve got to wonder what that means for, most immediately, the Texas game. As someone mentioned to me, with Ikard moving over, at least guard is a deep position. A senior, Stephen Good, came in with Ikard at center.
What we learned: OU does not like winning close at home. Can’t say it enough: This game was not close. No one felt at any point as if the Sooners would lose. But this team likes its style points and it had very few Saturday. It was a 38-21 game with 3:35 to play. And then Mizzou went straight down the field, causing Lewis and Venables to fume afterward. I think they would have been upset with 38-21, too, but that last drive really bothered them. It’s all about how you close games. Great close at FSU. And Saturday? Eh.
I haven’t been here long, but I’ve been here long enough to understand teams simply do not punch OU in the mouth at Owen Field. They’re expected to come in, lay down and let everyone leave by the fourth quarter. OU seemed to expect that, but it didn’t happen. Fans, streaming out in the fourth quarter anyway, seemed to expect it. The Tigers were not all that cooperative early and late in the game. As Stoops said, give MU credit for that. James Franklin was more poised than I expected. He was very calm in operating all night. Henry Josey‘s got legit wheels. Those guys are sophomores. If the defense comes together, Gary Pinkel could have an eight- or nine-win team by year’s end. The Tigers are probably the best 2-2 team in the country, after losses at OU and Arizona State (in overtime). But don’t tell OU that. Not after giving up 500-plus yards, including 260 on the ground, to the Tigers.
= Trav
Halftime thoughts: Sooners 24, Mizzou 14
CAMPUS CORNER — We heard all week that OU would not have any sort of hangover from last week’s draining victory in Florida State. Not so, it appeared.
Missouri came out and kicked the Sooners in the teeth, causing a three-and-out and then going on a quick seven-play drive. The Tigers grabbed a quick 7-0 lead – and they went up 14-3 after another long TD. The life was sucked out of Owen Field.
A couple of exceptional drives for the Sooners got the offense going, and the defense has played better – at least without as many errors on deep balls. OU now leads 24-14 at the break.
** You can tell the Sooners are missing Kenny Stills and/or Trey Franks. Stills missed the opener, and it was Franks who emerged. In this game, Landry Jones has worked to get the ball to receivers such as Jaz Reynolds and Kameel Jackson, with mixed results. Reynolds has emerged as the No. 2. He has three catches for 75 yards, including a 39-yard catch on the second TD drive and a 27-yard reception on the third TD drive.
** Roy Finch has been somewhat involved in the offense, though he hasn’t done anything exceptional. But the fact he’s being incorporated is noteworthy.
** Jimmy Stevens has been demoted for the night, it seems. Michael Hunnicutt has been in for every field goal and extra point. Patty O’Hara has been working on the kickoffs. Hunnicutt’s kicks have been good. No Stevens drama. Still, that’s a surprise.
** Jones looked on and off late in the game. He’s been a lot more consistent as the game’s gone along. His throw to Reynolds on third down down the right side was exceptional. To Reynolds’ outside shoulder, perfect height and distance. Just perfect. For the fans that want to get down on Jones, he provides that moment of sheer brilliance from time to time.
** Again, the defense has picked it up after a meh start. James Franklin is a load at QB for Mizzou. He’s big and can be accurate, as he was to start the game. I think OU might have been surprised, too, by Henry Josey’s speed at running back. It’s figured things out, seemingly.
OK, second half time …
= Trav
Two home games for OU, no Stills for either
CAMPUS CORNER — Kenny Stills sure looked like someone who was going to play tonight, when he leaped up and down with his OU teammates in the Owen Field tunnel.
But the Sooners will be without their vertical receiving threat, the school confirmed, because of a head injury sustained during practice this week.
Stills missed the opener at Memorial Stadium because of a January DUI arrest. Maybe next week against Ball State?
Without Stills, stunning start here for Mizzou. Quick three-and-out for OU, followed by seven-play, 76-yard scoring drive for the Tigers. MU has a 7-0 lead. Where’d that come from?
= Trav
The Tailgate Blog: Sam “The British Sooner” Deakin
CAMPUS CORNER — Surveying the sea of tents, fans and crimson Saturday afternoon at Lindsey and Asp streets, Sam Deakin‘s eyes shined and the smile could not be erased from his face. That’s been the norm this week for the 26-year-old who calls himself on Twitter the “British Sooner.”
He’s visiting Norman for the first time. Saturday night’s OU game, against Missouri, was his first at Owen Field.
“It’s not like this at home,” he said, pointing toward the pregame scene. “We don’t have the tailgating, the BBQ. We don’t have people setting up the day before games.
“And, the best part, when you walk up, people are so inviting. They want you to come hang out and tailgate with them.”
Yes, Deakin is from England. Yes, he’s a Sooners fan.
How’d that happen? Just did, really. Deakin was on vacation in Florida watching the 2004 OU-Texas game. He needed a team for which to cheer. Texas was the proven product to him, even across the Atlantic Ocean. He was curious about the Sooners, who had a running back named Adrian Peterson who caught his eye. Peterson rushed for 225 yards in a 12-0 OU win, and the Sooners had a new fan.
This trip – pilgrimage, if you will – came about because of a chance conversation last year on an English Premier League soccer message board. Deakin noticed an Oklahoma resident talking about Arsenal. He started talking to the Okie about the Sooners. Deakin suggested a trade-off: Come to England to see Arsenal play and let me visit America to see the Sooners.
That was it. Deakin welcomed Scott Mossman, the son of OU sports information director Kenny Mossman, in November. Now he’s on the return end of the football-futbol home-and-home. Deakin and girlfriend Stacie Ridley arrived in the States last week, in time to see OU’s big road victory at Florida State.
In Tallahassee, they met coach Bob Stoops and several members of the team, including Tom Wort, who was born in England. Teammates and team officials were stunned by how quickly Wort slipped into his native tongue, slang and all.
Deakin didn’t mind taking a little credit for Wort’s outstanding game against the Seminoles. Wort also had family from England at the game.
“Travis (Lewis) being back helped, I’m sure,” Deakin said, “but I’ve got to think the British Invasion helped.”
Deakin and Ridley, 24, got to Norman this week and attended practice Thursday, catching up with Stoops, Wort and others at OU’s practice. Deakin was astonished that Stoops, “with 120 players and plays and all he has to remember,” instantly recalled their names.
But, c’mon, how many English dudes show up to practice?
Deakin talked about how great it would be to play a little on the practice field, so OU went and grabbed a football. He ran pass patterns with no signs of fatigue.
“He would have stayed out there for hours,” said David Bassity, another member of OU’s sports information department. “Finally we were like, ‘Hey man, we’ve got to go.’”
Deakin and Ridley walked through the tunnel, onto Owen Field, after practice. Even without 85,000 in place, Deakin called the experience “monumental” and “epic.” Ridley, an accomplished gymnast, has spent time working out this week at Bart Conner’s facility in north Norman. They chatted for an hour with him Friday, since both Conner and Ridley have great passion for autistic gymnasts.
It’s all felt like a dream this week for Deakin and Ridley. Deakin said he’ll likely need to get home before he really absorbs the experience.
“It’s kind of been like a week at Disney World for them,” said Kenny Mossman, their Oklahoma host. “Every time he encounters something new, it’s absolutely the greatest thing.
“He’s seeing things we take for granted. It’s refreshing. It makes you want to do more for them.”
Deakin literally struggled to explain Saturday afternoon what he had seen this week.
“I’m losing my voice,” he said, “and the game hasn’t even started yet.”
= Trav
The Tailgate Blog: The Missouri perspective
CAMPUS CORNER — Dave Matter of the Columbia Daily Tribune was kind enough to field some questions about Missouri. We’ll all learn more about the Tigers as a result.
1. A lot of people, myself included, see that eye-popping game and those stats for Henry Josey and wonder if he is the real deal. (Important question: I picked him up on my college fantasy team.)
A. First, Western Illinois was really bad. Josey was rarely breathed on, much less touched on most of those runs. He could have gone for 600 had the coaches not sat him the second half. I took more away from his game at Arizona State (94 rushing yards on nine carries, 51 yards on two catches) against a pretty good Pac-12 defense. He’s the fastest back Missouri’s had in years and, from the coaches say, has great timing on zone-read option runs. He’s not very big, so Missouri doesn’t want to expose him to too many hits, but he’s really their only healthy scholarship back with extensive experience.
2. What was it like to cover a game in which the opponent picked up ONE first down? Seriously, is there a point to even playing games like that? Just don’t get hurt?
A. That game became more meaningless by the minute. First quarter, it just looked like Missouri was playing pretty well on both sides of the ball. By the third quarter, it was obvious how overmatched Western Illinois was. It’s one of those games where you guard against drawing any conclusions. The Missouri players and coaches almost seemed embarrassed that the score got so out of hand. Missouri could have easily scored 120 points if it tried. I hate the concept of playing FCS teams. I understand why teams do it, but it’s such a farce.
3. Give us the scouting report on James Franklin. He did a little bit in the game a year ago. Where is he now as a sophomore? What’s he do well? What’s he need to do better? What’s this offense look like with Franklin, compared to Blaine Gabbert?
A. Franklin doesn’t seem to do any one thing particularly well, but he doesn’t have an obvious weakness either. Not very fast but he’s quick and physical when he runs. He has a good feel for running in traffic. As a thrower, he doesn’t put a lot of velocity on the ball like Gabbert, but he’s got a nice touch on the shorter, more intermediate passes. He’s still developing confidence in his arm and his accuracy is still a work in progress. I’ve been impressed with his poise. He’s kind of a goofy kid, easily the most polite and bubbly college player I’ve ever covered – to the point where you initially wonder if he’s got a killer instinct. But he was the toughest player on the field for Missouri at Arizona State and didn’t seem to let a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter in a hostile environment ever rattle him. Plus, he took a beating from the ASU defense.
As for the offense being different, the zone-read is more of a weapon now and MU seems content to be more balanced in the run-pass ratio. Gabbert was actually faster in a 40-yard dash than Franklin, but he was never comfortable running some of the option plays they called for him. With Franklin, it’s a more useful option, no pun. If anything, he might be able to keep defenses honest because they’ll have to respect his running ability more than they did Gabbert.
4. Not to delve into conference stuff, but I’m curious what fans at Missouri want. I don’t think I’ve heard much about that. At OU, fans would like the SEC, even though Stoops and the administration are not all that interested and never have been. What’s the attitude there?
A. Fans here have embraced the SEC, at least when given the choice between the SEC and the Big 12. About two weeks ago I put a poll on Twitter and asked people to vote between the Big Ten, SEC and Big East for their preferred conference for Missouri. The Big Ten won overwhelmingly, with about 75 percent of the vote. SEC picked up about 20 percent, with a few stragglers going with the Big East. I’m not convinced Missouri fans want the SEC as much as they want out of the Big 12. I think they realize how grueling the SEC schedule will be – at least I hope they’re prepared for that reality – but it’s not like Missouri is winning championships in the Big 12. I think fans here would gladly take the tougher schedule and the more appealing opponents and road trips over the Big 12′s bickering and endless drama.
Dave’s Prediction: OU 34, Missouri 17. I’m not sold on Missouri’s defense. The effort at Arizona State didn’t inspire much confidence that MU can keep the Sooners within striking distance. And I think OU’s front seven takes away MU’s running game and makes the offense too one-dimensional for its own good.
= Trav
Power Lunch: Chat with OU writer Travis Haney
