Comments on: Gabe Ikard’s biggest concern with the 2012 offensive line

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:20:26 +0000

Lee, you’re the only Sooner fan I know who will make it through this year without an ulcer. Can I watch the game at your house?

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:02:30 +0000

I agree with Patrick, up to a point. USC does not have a good d or they wouldn’t have given up 29 to Syracuse. I do believe OU’s D has shown indications it can be good. Its a little difficult to ask defenders to keep up 100% concentration in ablowouts like FA@M and Ou held UTEP to about 250 yards. That isn’t bad since 30% of UTEP’s O came on one running play. OU simply needs to use what it has, a good stock of power runers, especilly Millard, and start grinding down opponents instead of playig like BYU.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:34:38 +0000

The last great o-line we had was in 2008. We played the same offense then. Check out when Patton came on board. That line was a Kevin Wilson coached and recruited line. He may not have been the line coach that year, but he was the one that coached them previously and recruited them. OU even had its share of injuries on o-line when KW was its coach…seems like the center was usually hurt and missed games almost every season. That happens on the lines. We even had a few that quit…but something apparently went South with the recruiting classes from 2008-2010. Those two classes are killing us right now.

It is hard to win when there are problems of any kind on the lines. The o-line looked like a strength a mere 3 months ago. Those boys have to grow up fast and stay healthy. If McGee somehow weasels his way back on the team, and TJ stays well (pray he is nit seriously hurt), the D should be OK.
Injuries will be key. the coaches seem to be high on the freshman class. If they rise to the top, OU will be very good for a while. If they are more hype than substance, the future looks troubled. Look for more JUCO players…which our coaches seem to be great at recruiting.

IF the freshmen grow up, if the injury bug doesn’t strike, if leadership emerges and a bit of the swagger returns, OU will survive a season that is in question right now. Should there be concerns, yes….should we already give a verdict on the season…NO. It is the 3rd week of the season. Most have waited in great anticipation for 8 months. It seems to me the fans struggle dealing with adversity more than the players do. This team needs the fans unconditional support more than any since Too Tall Paul was the QB, since Stoops first season at OU. What it doesn’t need are fans piling on, sports writers writing epitaphs, and an air of negativity descending on this team or staff.

It is what it is….there are obstacles…how we handle them says more about what kind of person we are than how good the competition is. The only ones that seem to understand that are the coaches and players. Bet they would like to have a few more folks in the pews with them. We need to change the karma…let’s start with the fans…why watch if you have no hope and have already decided what our record is? Why anticipate one of the greatest times of the year for 8 months. Thank heaven our players and coaches believe in themselves….what is missing is that same kind of commitment from some fans who couldn’t hold one of these players shoestrings.

Grow up and help our players grow….one game at a time….play by play….

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 13:46:32 +0000

Sorry Lee, but I’m not putting USC’s defense in the same category as those others. The jury’s still out on them as much as it is on ours.

As for the OL issues, these problems won’t be going away until our offense stops running 90+ plays a game. The OL attrition rate is not far below 50%. The OL recruiting is lacking, and the primary reason for both is our style of offense.

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:51:04 +0000

So, OU fan here 30 years, OU grad…you can call ‘Willie’ names or whatev… fact remains: OU overall is not the team that went 10-3 last year. Both lines are very thin, receivers extremely green, we do have quality depth at RB, TEs are inexperienced. Defensively, I think we’ll be OK but not in the category of an Alabama, USC, or LSU. Even Texas will have a better defense than we will, given all of their experience and depth.

Don’t meltdown if we go 8-4 or worse

By: willie

willie — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:09:14 +0000

Willie’s not feel’in any love.

By: John

John — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:43:34 +0000

The QBs have been holding on to the ball too long, it’s not the lines fault.

By: way

way — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:45:02 +0000

Suck a lemon willie

By: Little Red

Little Red — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:09:08 +0000

If the offensive line can not protect the QB when playing UTEP and Florida A&M it is going to be a long painful fall. But on the other hand these QB’s need to get rid of the ball more quickly cause no offensive line can hold off the pass rush forever. Old “happy feet” should know this. The next game should be real tellng of what kind of team the Sooners will be this season. The running game as of late has put on a lot of yards..but is that because Sooners are better or the competition is outmatched. It will be interesting to see how the offensive line and backs perform when playing good competition.

By: Ride Schooner, Ride » Oklahoma Sooners Bye Week Linkage

Ride Schooner, Ride » Oklahoma Sooners Bye Week Linkage — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:05:55 +0000

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