Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeff Johnson

Sam Bradford’s Second Chance Comes Against Texas Tech

Jeff Johnson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:39:05 -0500

Oklahoma’s contest against Texas Tech is a second chance for Oklahoma in multiple ways.

With the loss earlier this season against Texas, the Sooners looked to be out of both the Big 12 and BCS championships. During last season's OU-TTU matchup, a concussion in the first quarter took quarterback Sam Bradford out of the game. OU lost the game 34-27, ruining what had been a perfect season up to that point.

This Saturday, both the Sooners and Sam Bradford get a second chance against Texas Tech.

If Oklahoma is to come out on top, Sam Bradford is going to be the key. Sports fans saw it last season. After Bradford left the game in the first quarter, the Oklahoma offense sputtered for two quarters while backup quarterback Joey Halzle worked to get his rhythm. Texas Tech is the only team in the Big 12 conference that Sam Bradford has not notched a win against.

This season Sam Bradford has managed not only to stay healthy, but also to put up more impressive numbers. He is currently completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 3,406 yards and 38 touchdowns. According to ESPN, these numbers put him at No. 3 in the Heisman polling. Beat Texas Tech, and he will move up even further.

A victory over Texas Tech depends not only on Bradford, but on his entire offense as well. Bradford has hit 17 different targets so far this season for completed passes. But those same receivers will need to concentrate on not only getting open, but also making the catch. Receiver Manuel Johnson in particular has had an issue the past few games with missed catches.

It’s a rare occurrence that Bradford throws a pass that is uncatchable. It’s more likely that a receiver will get distracted by thinking about yards after catch and miss the pass. While yards after catch can make a big difference, actually making the catch first helps out a lot more in the long run.

Oklahoma’s rushing attack needs to give Bradford some breathing room as well. During the past two games the ground game has improved immensely after a midseason slump.

Against Texas A&M, the Sooners gained more yards on the ground than through the air (328 to 325 yards). RB Chris Brown came on strong, and DeMarco Murray came out with a vengeance, rushing for 123 yards on seven carries.

Being able to run the ball will help open up Texas Tech’s defense for Bradford. It should also take some of the pressure off the receivers, giving them more time to make those catches.

Last, the Sooners offensive line needs to protect Bradford at all costs. They have allowed him to be sacked seven times so far this season. Both TCU and Texas in particular did a good job of getting through the offensive line, each sacking Bradford three times.

Being able to read the stats as well as anyone, the Sooners offensive line should be expecting a lot of blitzes on Bradford from Texas Tech's defense. While Bradford is still good even when a defense flushes him from the pocket, he’s no good either flat on his back or on the sidelines.

Offensive line—consider this your second chance.

No matter what is said, this will all be decided on the field. But most people have a way of taking advantage of second chances, and Sam Bradford and company have been no different this season.

Oklahoma’s Seven Keys to Beating Texas Tech

Jeff Johnson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:59:25 -0500

Even this late in the season, a top-ranked team can be shown to be vulnerable. Iowa proved it last weekend against No. 3 Penn State. Virginia Tech proved it against No. 23 Maryland. No. 2 Texas Tech proved it against No. 9 Oklahoma State.

Next weekend Oklahoma is hoping to prove it, and themselves, against that same Texas Tech team in Norman.

To do so, the Sooners need to remember seven things—their keys to the game.

1) Shut down the Tech run game. It might sound odd at first considering that Texas Tech doesn’t have much of a ground offense, but they typically run just enough to keep defenses honest. Forcing QB Graham Harrell to pass exclusively will force him to make mistakes over time.

2) Disrupt Harrell’s rhythm. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said that his team was never able to disrupt their rhythm in their loss last weekend. The problem was, OSU’s defense gave him plenty of time to find an open receiver. Deny him that and he’ll make mistakes.

Chances are very good that Harrell won’t attempt to run the ball himself when a play starts to break down. He has only 28 carries on the year for -5 yards.

3) Cover the Tech receivers through the end of the play. One of the reasons that Harrell looks so good is that his receivers are in sync with him. When he gets flushed from the pocket, they continue moving with him until coverage breaks down. Oklahoma’s secondary needs to stay in step with coverage throughout the play, and not just until the offense is scrambling.

When coverage starts to break, keep an eye on Michael Crabtree. He’s been Harrell’s favorite target this season, going to him an average of 23 percent of the time.

4) On the other side of the ball, the offensive line must protect OU quarterback Sam Bradford. A sack on Bradford in the first quarter of this contest last year took him out of the game with a concussion. Backup QB Joey Halzle, while good, just couldn’t get enough going to win in the end. Offensive line—no one wants a reminder of that game, least of all Sam Bradford’s skull.

5) With the rushing facet of the offense back in fine fashion thanks to stellar performances by both Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray against Texas A&M, more will be asked of them against Texas Tech. Mix up the play calling, and the Texas Tech defense won’t stand a chance.

6) The last question about Oklahoma’s performance on the field is special teams play. They have given up more big yardage plays on kickoff returns this season than almost any other time in the school’s history. Most of it comes down to defenders not staying in their lanes on returns.

Take note—go where you are supposed to. Trust that the guy next to you will do his job.

7) Try to keep the kicker and punter off the field as much as possible. Oklahoma has been blessed by a great leg in Garrett Hartley the past few years, and no one in the stable is at that level yet. Finishing the plays in the red zone with a touchdown, rather than going for three, will help a lot in the long run.

Oklahoma's Run Game Comes Out to Play

Jeff Johnson — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:36:23 -0500

Every week, we see something new out of Oklahoma. Against most teams, Sam Bradford shines.

Last week against Nebraska, the defense stepped up. This Saturday at Texas A&M, the ground game went into overdrive.

Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray set the tone on the second play of the game with a commanding 70-yard run down the sideline. In just the first half, Murray had 120 offensive yards.

Between Murray and RB Chris Brown, they racked up 240 offensive yards, with Moses Madu and Sam Bradford making up the remaining 88 yards on the ground.

This game should be viewed as DeMarco Murray's true return to greatness. While he's been quoted as saying that he'll feel he's back as soon as he gets a rushing touchdown, the tone he set for this game is worth more. The explosiveness of Murray pushed Texas A&M's defense beyond its limits.

In this game it was needed. During the first few offensive series, the Oklahoma wide receivers were at times too well covered for quarterback Sam Bradford to risk a pass.

Because of this, even he accounted for 23 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

The success of the running game in the first quarter allowed Bradford to start his now-legendary air attack in the second quarter. Bradford threw for 320 yards, going 22-for-33 with four touchdowns, all to different receivers.

Oklahoma improves to 9-1 on the season. Next week they rest at home, getting some recovery time before facing No. 2 Texas Tech on Nov. 22.

Oklahoma's Defense Key to Sooner Win Over Nebraska

Jeff Johnson — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:26:43 -0500

Oklahoma’s slaughter of Nebraska this last weekend is proof that the defense reads their own press. With so much being said about the Oklahoma defense not being a contender after the loss of Ryan Reynolds earlier this season, it looked as if they were tired of hearing it. The defense set the tone for this contest and did it in style.

On Nebraska’s first play of the game, cornerback Dominique Franks intercepted Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz for an 18-yard touchdown return. Nebraska’s second drive ended abruptly with a fumble that Oklahoma recovered. Their third possession ended like the first, with DB Lendy Holmes returning an interception 26 yards to the nine-yard line.

This is how most of Nebraska’s day went. Their average starting field position was at their own 22-yard line, and it wasn’t until their sixth possession that the defense allowed them into the end zone.

What negative things can we say about this newly retooled and invigorated Oklahoma defense? Granted, Nebraska’s offense is not all-world right now. But that does not negate the fact that the Oklahoma defense came out and did their job very well.

The defense might have given up 418 yards, but when they are able to give the offense great field position throughout the game, it can be excused.

With big games still left against Texas A&M, No. 1 Texas Tech, and No. 9 Oklahoma State, the defense knows it still has its work cut out. But everyone is glad to see that they are not giving up this season.

Oklahoma’s Four Keys to the Rest of 2008

Jeff Johnson — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:52:35 -0400

The Oklahoma juggernaut fell apart this last weekend versus Texas. It was a hard-fought game, but in another big game the Sooners came out with a loss.

This is not to say they are losers, as those on the field played hard and kept the game close even as time ran out. But in the interest of learning from this loss, certain changes must be made.

1) Find a replacement for Ryan Reynolds.

After Reynolds tore his ACL and left the game, Texas went on a 25-point tear to clinch the win. The middle linebacker was the heart of the defense. Seeing as he’s out for the season (if not finished with football for good), someone on the defense needs to step up and fill his shoes. If not, then the defense as a whole just went from stellar to average.

2) Give Sam Bradford his legs back.

Not once during the OU-Texas game did Bradford change the play from the line of scrimmage. Normally this is a good thing, but Bradford has a knack for making the right call at the right moment. Only once this season has a play he’s called failed to produce yardage. Coaches take note—if you kept him from making calls in this game, then you failed.

3) Improve special teams play.

Special teams play has been the weak link in the Sooners’ play all season. Giving the opposing team excellent field position off a punt or allowing them to score is a momentum changer. It loses games in the end. Find a solution to this problem. Now.

4) Use the entire playbook.

Defenses are getting too many looks at the same plays. There are only so many times that you can line RB Chris Brown up in the backfield without the defensive line knowing exactly where he is headed.

Will these four suggestions get Oklahoma back into the hunt for the National Championship? It’s possible. This year anything is possible.

Luckily for Oklahoma they have a whole team of players who not only know the game, but also play hard. No one is quitting. Now it’s up to the coaches to follow that example.

Oklahoma-Texas: Sooner Offense Can't Keep Up Against Longhorns

Jeff Johnson — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:23:16 -0400

On paper, it looks like it could be an instant classic. Sam Bradford throws for more yards than any other Oklahoma quarterback in the 104-year history of the Red River Rivalry with 387 yards. He goes for five touchdowns through the air and keeps the offense afloat when the rushing game falls flat.

But while one man might be able to keep an offense going, it would be impossible for him to keep the entire team from losing. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened against Texas this weekend.

While Bradford and the offense might have done well, the defense and special teams let them down.

Bradford could have used some help though. Granted, Oklahoma was facing the fourth-best rush defense in the country. But their scheme is not that dissimilar from TCU’s, whom Oklahoma faced two weeks ago.

Adjustments should have been made to revitalize the run game. Still, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown combined for only 48 rushing yards.

It didn’t help that we saw the same uninspired play calling in the second half. It seems like a simple deduction: If something isn’t working, quit trying it over and over. Case in point—rushing the ball up the middle failed miserably every single time. Yet in the second half we saw that play called time and again.

Sam Bradford was almost unstoppable in this game. Texas did a good job of trying to make his life miserable.

The Longhorns covered receivers well almost every play. They rushed Bradford and made him throw on the run. We even saw a designed run play for Bradford near the end of the fourth quarter. They were even able to pick him off twice (though one was very questionable).

But one thing we didn’t see was Bradford making the decision to change the play at the line of scrimmage. With any quarterback this is usually a good thing, but Bradford seems to have a knack for making the right call at the right moment. It’s as if the coaches told him not to take it upon himself and make the calls. In the end, it hurt the offense.

What have we learned from this game? One, Oklahoma’s running game is not nearly as good as it has been in past years. DeMarco Murray isn’t back to full strength (his numbers prove this), and Chris Brown can’t produce against a defensive line that holds their ground.

Second, Sam Bradford is a great quarterback, but uninspired play calling from upstairs will negate that advantage every time.

Third, the offensive playbook should be just that—a book. Trying the same three plays time and again will get an offense beat after the second quarter.

Oklahoma-Texas: Sooners’ Backfield Ready to Explode

Jeff Johnson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:01:04 -0400

While the Oklahoma Sooners juggernaut continues to roll, adjustments continue to take place. Through Oklahoma’s first three games it appeared their rushing attack was unstoppable, averaging over 217 yards per game. But along came the TCU defense, holding the Sooners’ rushing game to only 25 yards.

What should make Sooner fans nervous is that the Texas defense is very similar to TCU’s against the run. But don’t count Oklahoma’s running backs out just yet.

After the TCU game (the Sooners still won 35-10 on the arm of QB Sam Bradford), the running backs put up 217 yards against Baylor. All three running backs—Chris Brown, DeMarco Murray, and Mossis Madu—contributed to the resurgence.

This Saturday will give them their biggest test to date, going up against one of the nation’s top defensive lines in Texas.

The Texas defense so far this season has been spectacular against the run, only allowing their opponents 259 yards total this season. Through five games that is an average of 51.8 yards per game.

Their weak point up to now has been their pass defense, allowing their opponents an average of 244 yards per game. But Texas coach Mack Brown and company are planning on changing that, focusing more on pressuring Sam Bradford.

Since there are only 11 players on the field for the defense, what does that leave? More chances for the Oklahoma running backs.

While Texas attempts to change its game plan on the fly, Oklahoma already did and has had a chance to test it out. Using TCU as the catalyst and Baylor as the guinea pig, Oklahoma’s offensive line and running backs have already made the adjustments that we will need to see against Texas.

In running back Mossis Madu’s opinion, "I think we are definitely headed in the right direction. TCU kind of woke us up and made us realize that we can't just run against any team we want to. We have to go out there and earn every yard and work hard for it. We are preparing this week and we are going to go out there and do what we can. We will have our minds right and be ready to get out there and run."

Here’s the most likely scenario for Saturday’s battle. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy will attempt to carry his offense, either with his arm or on the ground. But as proven last week against Colorado, he isn’t infallible.

McCoy threw for two interceptions last Saturday, and we can expect him to throw at least one (if not more) against Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s defense will give up short yardage plays, but red zone defense will beat the Longhorns back.

On the other side of the ball, watch as Sam Bradford is flushed from the pocket multiple times. Texas’ defense will try to depend on making Bradford as uncomfortable as possible, as they know that the matchup between Oklahoma’s excellent receiving corps and their lackluster secondary will be no contest.

With Oklahoma’s passing game slightly dampened, the running backs will be given more opportunities. Chris Brown will probably get the majority of the carries, as he’s been the short yardage workhorse this season. Mossis Madu will also get a few good carries. Expect at least one from him to be a breakout.

That leaves only DeMarco Murray. Murray always has the possibility to go the distance when he has the ball. At last year's Red River Rivalry, Murray had a run that will forever live in Red River Rivalry history when he bolted to his left, hurdled fallen Oklahoma tight end Joe Jon Finley, and raced 65 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.

But since dislocating his kneecap against Texas Tech late last year, Murray hasn’t quite looked the same. While he continues to say that he’s back to 100 percent physically, his performance on the field hasn’t shown that yet.

His performance—or lack thereof—could be the game-changing factor of the week. If Murray comes back out looking like the player we saw in the Cotton Bowl last year, the Sooners will get a huge leg up in the contest.

If he is a non-factor in the running game, however, the Sooners will have to find some other weapon to beat Texas.

Luckily, the Sooners are all about weapons this season.

Texas-Oklahoma: Longhorns' Case for BCS Supremacy Runs Sooner Red

Jeff Johnson — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:34:11 -0400

Understand this: I am Sooner-born and Sooner-bred. It’s this way with my entire family. Even before my nephew’s first birthday he could drop the 'Horns. As Oklahoma Sooner fans, we learn to dislike the Texas Longhorns from birth.

So know that I mean it when I say that I believe the Texas Longhorns should be ranked higher than fifth place in both the Coaches' and AP Polls going into the AT&T Red River Rivalry game this Saturday.

The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas will play host this Saturday to the 103rd matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns. This will mark the fourth time since 2001 that both teams have entered that stadium undefeated, and the 10th time since 1950 that both teams have been in the top five of the Associated Press Poll.

Texas fans might be asking themselves this week where the love is.

Both Oklahoma and Texas are 5-0. Both have similar numbers in almost every category. Indeed, both QB Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Colt McCoy of Texas have almost identical numbers coming into this weekend. But Texas is four places below their Big 12 rival.

Has Texas been able to play this season so far under the radar? Or do the pollsters know something we fans do not?

So far strength of schedule has been the one factor that has made the difference between contender and pretender. Texas has yet to play a ranked team. On Sept. 27 Oklahoma played then-No. 24 TCU and showed that they can continue to dominate even against a tough opponent. Texas’ first real challenge is this weekend against Oklahoma.

While I believe that Texas can compete on Oklahoma’s level based on their performances so far, we won’t know until this Saturday.

As a fan, I hope that the poll situation causes the Longhorns to play like they are contenders. Can Oklahoma compete with Texas in that situation?

If Oklahoma wins, then the Sooners have shown that they do deserve to be number one in the land. They will have survived this Big 12 Clash of the Titans. They will have beaten a Texas squad that came ready to play. After that, their next real test will be the Big 12 Championship and hopefully the BCS Championship game.

If Texas wins, then they deserve no less than the number one spot. They will represent the Big 12 South in Kansas City in December. They will have leaped into the limelight and thrown their 10-gallon hat into the BCS ring.

With half of the Big 12 Conference ranked in the top 25, chances are good that the winner of the AT&T Red River Rivalry will be playing in Miami in January. Whichever team emerges victorious will have the benefit of a much stronger strength of schedule than most. While that might not matter to the BCS computers, it still matters to the pollsters.

Hopefully in the end, both teams play like they are trying to prove that they deserve to play for the BCS title. In the end, one of them probably will be.

Five Heisman Hopefuls After Week Five

Jeff Johnson — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:34:59 -0400

While the final balloting for this year's Heisman Trophy award is still two months away, the race is already shaping up. With five weeks of football past, certain candidates are moving towards the front of the pack, while other preseason hopefuls have fallen off the radar.

For those that do not have time to comb through all the records each week, here is a listing of who you should be watching as the season progresses.

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

The Sooners have played four games so far and are currently ranked number one in the nation. This feat in no small way rests on the arm of quarterback Sam Bradford. Oklahoma’s offense with Bradford at the helm has amassed 199 points so far this season.

While not a rushing threat, his ability to make big plays in the air when it counts has kept Oklahoma together this season. He is currently the third most efficient quarterback in college football.

One unofficial criterion for the Heisman Trophy has been the leadership ability of the candidate. Can the player take control of a game where the plan has fallen apart? After Oklahoma’s win again TCU, you can answer in the affirmative for Sam Bradford.

TCU’s defense shut down Oklahoma’s potent run game, but Bradford answered with 411 yards through the air for four touchdowns.

If Oklahoma continues its success through Big 12 play, expect to see Sam Bradford come out as the man to beat for the Heisman trophy this year.

Chase Daniel, Missouri

Chase Daniel has been a machine for the Missouri Tigers so far this season. Throwing for 12 touchdowns with only one interception through four games, Daniel is nipping on Bradford’s heels for the Heisman. The senior quarterback has gone for 1,412 yards so far with a completion rate of almost 76 percent.

The Tigers have yet to see a real test against their offense this season, but one is coming in three weeks versus No. 5 Texas. If the Tigers come out of October unscathed, expect the Heisman balloting to be very close indeed.

Colt McCoy, Texas

It’s been surprising that the press in general has ignored Colt McCoy as a Heisman candidate this season. The junior quarterback from Texas has done nothing but be a leader for his team.

While his numbers haven’t been as impressive as either Sam Bradford’s or Chase Daniel’s, they have been good enough that in most seasons we’d have already called this race. His passing yards are projected to be down from last year, but that is only because he has more weapons around him now.

Texas still has a tough road through the rest of the season, playing three ranked teams in October (No. 1 Oklahoma in Dallas, No. 4 Missouri in Austin, and No. 21 Oklahoma State in Austin). Only if Texas comes out of October with three wins will we still be discussing Colt McCoy in November.

Tim Tebow, Florida

With Florida’s loss to Ole Miss this last weekend, quarterback Tim Tebow can almost kiss his second Heisman trophy goodbye. He was already going to have a harder time this year as Florida’s ground game has improved since last year. But the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was still making waves.

Granted, he posted his best numbers of the season again Ole Miss (319 yards and one touchdown). But if one can’t make the plays that chalk up the win for your team, then it hurts your chances greatly.

Florida still has a long way to go through the SEC this season. If Tebow can get his team through what is possibly the best conference in the nation, he will be right back in the hunt. Conversely, another loss will keep him out of it completely.

Jahvid Best, California

The running back out of California has been the best Pac-10 player to watch this season. He has run for 421 yards through four games and is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. However, he had to leave the game versus Colorado State in the third with a dislocated elbow. Preliminary X-rays didn’t show a break, but MRI results are still forthcoming.

If Best comes back this season, his chances are still hurting considering the sorry state of the Pac-10 this season. The only ranked opponent that Cal still faces this year is USC. Best will have to play his “best” game ever against USC’s defense to stay in the running.

If I had to fill out a Heisman ballot today, Sam Bradford would be my first choice. His performance through the first four games has exemplified what a Heisman trophy winner should be.

With so many strong quarterbacks in the Big 12 conference, this is still going to be a difficult year to choose. Luckily, there is still a lot of football left to play.

Oklahoma and the Curse of the HorsePig

Jeff Johnson — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:47:30 -0400

Oklahoma football has always had odd mascots. From the Boston Terrier Mex (who is buried somewhere under the stadium) to Little Red to the Sooner Schooner, Sooner fans have always had something out there for them.

Most have been well received. In fact, when Mex died in 1928, the campus was closed on the day of his funeral in mourning. The new mascots, the plush Boomer and Sooner, will upon their retirement probably close down the campus as well.

But in their case, it will be in celebration.

Created in August of 2004 and introduced to the public in 2005, the plush Boomer and Sooner are a good idea. They are named and created in the likeness of the two crème white ponies that pull the Sooner Schooner around the field at Oklahoma football games.

But for situations where the Schooner would not be appropriate, a group of students took it upon themselves to create a mascot that was not only rooted in Sooner tradition but could be used at any collegiate sporting event.

The result—while approved by a committee of donors, administrators, students, and athletics staff—was a horrible monstrosity. Boomer and Sooner came out with snarling mouths to scare little children, flaming red hair, and enormous eyes.

Even Lori Kemmet, OU Spirit Director, said of the two, "That first season, I thought they looked a little bit like a cross between Porky Pig and a donkey or something. They did have an image issue that first season.”

The fan reaction was even more negative. Erik Gransberg, the student who originally wore one of the plush costumes, started receiving death threats via his Facebook page within two months. Fans took to calling the two "HorsePigs" as the long snout and eyes made them look more like pigs than horses.

While fans have slowly started to accept these two at sporting events, I believe that the plushy Boomer and Sooner have actually cursed the Oklahoma football program.

Let's take a look at the numbers. In the Bob Stoops era, only one home opener has been lost. That loss, in September 2005 to a much weaker TCU team, was also the introduction of the HorsePigs at Oklahoma football.

Since those two were introduced, Bob Stoops has amassed 12 of his 22 losses. Oklahoma has also not won a BCS bowl game since the HorsePigs were allowed on the field.

Is this simply idle speculation, or an attempt to justify a dislike of something new and different? Probably.

But it still doesn't change my opinion that the HorsePig costumes should be dragged out and burned in a funeral pyre.

Just make sure to close the campus in celebration when it's done.

Five Keys to Oklahoma's Season

Jeff Johnson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:29:58 -0400

There’s still a lot of football left to play. We’re now in the middle of Week Four, and I couldn’t be happier.

During the fall, my Saturdays are spent watching all the college football games. Most people know not even to attempt to contact me on Saturdays unless it’s to discuss one of the games—and even then it's best left until a commercial.

Being an Oklahoma fan, the Sooners are of course my number one priority on Saturdays, either in person or on television.

After last season ended, my enthusiasm waned a bit. Oklahoma had lost to Colorado and Texas Tech during the regular season. Then in the Fiesta Bowl they were outplayed and outcoached by West Virginia. After that debacle I made five observations on the state of Oklahoma football. I believe now is a good time to revisit those.

My first observation was the difference between the 2000 Bob Stoops and the 2007 Bob Stoops. It would seem that the play calling has gotten more timid over the past eight years. While some of that can be blamed on the assistant coaches, the fault lies directly with head coach Bob Stoops.

So far this year, though, I’m seeing a glimmer of hope. The introduction of the “no-huddle” offense has breathed some life back into the offense. While it’s not run every play, they are using it just enough to throw the defenses off balance.

My second observation leads directly from the first. I want to applaud Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson and new Assistant Offense Coordinator Jay Norvell for bringing in the “no-huddle” offense.

One of my major complaints with Kevin Wilson last season was his reluctance to try anything new. Even in situations where the rushing game was getting nowhere, he still kept calling it. I know he was just hoping for a big play, but sometimes a dream has to give way to reality.

So far this season I’ve seen enough variety in the play calling to make me hope that trend is changing.

Special teams play was another area I identified that needed help. When Bob Stoops started at Oklahoma, this was one of the stronger areas his teams had. But in recent years we’ve seen the quality of special teams play go downhill. Unfortunately, I have seen nothing yet this season to give me hope in this area.

I firmly believe that if Oklahoma is to compete for not only the Big 12 Championship but also the BCS title game, special teams play must improve by leaps and bounds. Yes, Special Teams coach Chris Wilson, I’m calling you out.

My fourth observation was on the mentoring of coaches over student athletes. This point is more of an offseason deal, and we won’t see much until then. Football season is a time when the student athletes are the focus as they are the ones out there on the field.

Fifth, who are those student athletes out there playing for? Is it the school, the coaches, or the glory? In the end, it’s none of those. It’s each other.

While having a superstar like Adrian Peterson on the team is great, it also takes away from the cohesion of the team itself. I believe that Oklahoma may have suffered an “AD hangover” last season. It’s taken them time to start playing as a team again and not as the supporting cast of a superstar.

So far this season we haven’t seen one great standout. Instead, we’ve seen a team effort.

Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray have split the rushing duties. Quarterback Sam Bradford has stepped aside during each game and allowed Joey Halzle to get more experience. Those quarterbacks have gone to 16 different players in only three games.

The defense has done an impressive job as well as a unit, allowing only 40 points so far.

I don’t think I’ve suggested anything that is out of the ordinary. Oklahoma as a team has looked good over its first three games. I believe that is the key: “as a team.”

With the exception of special teams, all the pieces are in place. We’ve seen glimpses of what could be the most balanced team in the Bob Stoops era. If they can keep it all together, the future is bright indeed.

But that choice is in their collective hands. Do they have the drive and desire to make it happen?

The first real test of that will be against Texas on Oct. 11. After that, there’s still a lot of football to play.

Could the Oklahoma Sooners Beat the USC Trojans?

Jeff Johnson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:10:49 -0400

With three weeks of college football under our belts, we’ve started to see glimpses of how this season will turn out. We know the Georgia is not as good as advertised and that ECU is this seasons Appalachian State. Ohio State is not going to compete for a national title this year and the USC Trojans are as good a football team as we’ve seen in a long time.

However, if the BCS title game were held today, could current number two Oklahoma compete or even beat the Trojans? Oklahoma so far has played three games, scoring at least 52 points per game. Granted, one of those wins was again I-AA University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

However, the other two wins came against decent opponents, namely Cincinnati and the University of Washington. In all three contests, the Sooners picked their opponents apart. In fact, in all three outings the second and third string players were in for Oklahoma by the third quarter.

Sam Bradford is on schedule to shatter his records from last year. He currently has 12 touchdowns with 882 yards and only two interceptions. Both the running back and the receivers have been spot on so far this season, combining for 23 touchdowns. The defense and special teams have given up only 42 points this season while allowing the offense to amass 164.
In contrast, USC has been able to display the athletic talent that they have at every position. Their big question before the season, QB Mark Sanchez has thrown for seven touchdowns and 510 yards over two games. Their receiving core has been impressive, making catches no mortal man should have a chance at.

Their defense has so far allowed only ten points, including limiting then #5 Ohio State’s offense to a single field goal. Frankly, this entire team scares me a bit. Looking down their schedule, I have a hard time finding where their challenge might be. For Oklahoma, that might be a good thing.

While USC probably won’t be challenged until a BCS bowl game, Oklahoma will have plenty of difficult games. They play Texas, Kansas State, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State all in the regular season. Three of those teams are currently ranked in the top 20.

If the season plays out the way we believe it will, Oklahoma will face Chase Daniels and the Missouri Tigers in the Big 12 Championship. That would be six big games before facing down USC in the BCS Championship Bowl. To answer the question, I believe that Oklahoma has a great chance to beat USC at the end of the season.

Barring the “BCS curse,” that Oklahoma has been under the past few seasons, I expect them to become a much stronger team throughout the regular season. They should then take all that experience into the championship bowl game and not only compete but beat the Trojans.

Open Mic: Your Favorite Oklahoma Football Moments

Jeff Johnson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:31:01 -0400

With the Oklahoma Sooners starting their 114^th football season on Aug. 30, there are a plethora of great moments for us to look back on. Compiled here are the top three moments in Oklahoma football that I have been blessed enough to experience.

While these are by no means the only great moments of the past 30 years; I leave it to you, the learned reader, to fill in more.

1) 2001 Red River Shootout, October 6, 2001

No one can argue that this entire game should not be on this list. Oklahoma won this contest against Texas the previous year (63-14), but had lost the previous three. For Oklahoma, there was still some payback.

After a scoreless first quarter, starting quarterback Nate Hybl left the game due to injury. Backup quarterback Jason White picked up where Hybl left off, running the offense for an 11-play, 61-yard drive to the end zone.

But the play that will forever be remembered by Oklahoma and Texas fans alike came in the fourth quarter. With the Texas offense starting at their own 3-yard line Roy Williams went airborne on Texas quarterback Chris Simms, catching his throwing arm and flipping the ball directly into the hands of Oklahoma sophomore Teddy Lehman for a Sooner score.

2) Oklahoma vs. Nebraska, October 28, 2000

This game marked the resurgence of my love affair with Oklahoma football. With Nebraska ranked No. 1 and Oklahoma No. 2 in the BCS before the game, this one had contest written all over it.

Indeed, even ESPN’s College Game Day was here. Hours before the game started the city of Norman, Okla. was already electric. Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and a one block radius around it became the third largest city in Oklahoma.

But the first 10 minutes of the contest almost dashed the hopes of the Crimson and Cream. Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch came out with two impressive drives, making it 14-0 Cornhuskers. The rest of the game was to become a nightmare for Nebraska, though.

Starting the second quarter, Oklahoma’s offense behind Josh Heupel engineered a stunning rout of the “Blackshirts”, blistering them for 24 points before halftime. The Sooners defense took that queue and made their statement starting on Nebraska’s first possession of the second half with defensive back Derrick Strait returning an interception for a touchdown.

3) Jason White’s 2003 season

Nothing bad can be said for Jason White. Both in 2001 and 2002, he had season-ending injuries to his knees. For most people, these would have been career-ending injuries. Instead, he returns to the field in 2003 for his best season to date.

With Jason White at the helm in 2003, the Sooners complete an undefeated regular season. White won the Heisman Trophy after throwing 40 touchdown passes and eight interceptions that season.

White was also the recipient of the Associated Press Player of the Year, consensus All-American, consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the Davey O'Brien Award and the Jim Thorpe Courage Award.

In 2004, he returned to lead the Sooners to another Big 12 championship. He also finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

Dismissed LSU Lineman Jarvis Jones Transfers to Oklahoma

Jeff Johnson — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:32:22 -0400

Former LSU offensive lineman Jarvis Jones has transferred to Oklahoma.

The 6'7", 294-pound offensive lineman played as a backup at left tackle and right guard on last year’s national champion LSU Tigers but was dismissed after breaking team rules. Under NCAA transfer rules he must sit out this season and will be eligible to play in 2009.

"Jarvis is a talented guy who we recruited when he was in high school," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "We're excited that he has joined the team.“

As all of Oklahoma’s starting offensive line are in their senior year, this move could give Oklahoma some depth at the position next year.

Is DeMarco Murray Better Than Adrian Peterson?

Jeff Johnson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:13:05 -0400

Take a moment and let that question sink in. Can one even entertain the thought that running back DeMarco Murray could be better than Adrian Peterson?

We are talking about THE Adrian Peterson here. The man they called “All Day”. Adrian Peterson, the man who not only set the NCAA freshman rushing record of 1,925 yards as a true freshman (not a redshirt), but after his three year college career left with a total of 4,045 yards. That’s only 74 yards short of Oklahoma’s leading rusher, Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims.

Can we really compare anyone to this man? Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops says yes. When interviewed by Barry Tramel of The Oklahoman, Bob Stoops said, “It's hard to say who's more talented.”

Murray, whose next start will be his second all-time, is easily in a class not only with Adrian Peterson, but with Oklahoma great Marcus Dupree. While running backs coach Cale Gundy states that Murray may never be a “30-carries-a-game” player, they are still going to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

"Using him in different ways gives him a chance to make big plays,” Gundy said.

Stoops says, "He's such a good athlete. It's fun to watch him. He's got great hands. He's a guy who could be an all-American at corner, receiver, or running back. “

In his freshman year, DeMarco Murray wowed fans, analysts and opposing defenses alike. In his debut again North Texas, he ran for 201 yards and five touchdowns. Against Texas he carried the ball 17 times for 128 yards and one touchdown.

According to Gundy, he’s going to be everywhere: running back, tailback, flanker, flanker in motion. They’re going to make him look like he’s bilocating and give him every opportunity to flash down the field. Given that Stoops believes he can catch and run routes better than Adrian Peterson could, we could also see him as a wide receiver.

If DeMacro Murray can stay healthy this season (he suffered a dislocated knee cap again Texas Tech last season), he could become one of the most powerful weapons of the Bob Stoops era.

Understanding Oklahoma Football: Part One

Jeff Johnson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:43:48 -0400

If you’ve ever met an Oklahoma football fan, you will have noticed a few things. There would appear to be a number of esoteric memories and heroes that each fan has that change with the generations.

While this article cannot cover every memory or hero that Oklahoma has produced (a set of books would be needed for that), what is offered here is the start of a quick list. It will at least enable you to carry on an intelligent conversation with a Sooner—and maybe even understand him.

The Situation: Sooner football history

The Facts: The program has been around since 1895, 12 years longer than Oklahoma has been a state.

Why We Care: The 2008 season will be the 114th for Oklahoma football. While not the longest-running program in college football, it is one of the most storied and revered.

The Situation: “The Three B's”

The Facts: “The Three B's” stands for three Oklahoma football coaching greats—Bud Wilkinson (1947-1963), Barry Switzer (1973-1988), and Bob Stoops (1999-present).

Why We Care: Bud Wilkinson is the man credited for making Oklahoma the powerhouse it has become in the modern era. His 47-game win streak from 1953 to 1957 stands to this day. He coached the Sooners to their first three national titles and 14 conference titles.

Barry Switzer brought a new feel to Oklahoma football, perfecting the Wishbone Offense and averaging 472 rushing yards per game in his first season. During his tenure the Sooners brought home three more national titles and 13 conference titles.

After coaches such as Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger, and John Blake turned Oklahoma into the doormat of the conference, Bob Stoops revived the program and won a national championship in his second year. That season also saw the most lopsided victory over Texas in the history of the “Red River Rivalry” (63-14). Bob Stoops has also added five more conference titles to the resume.

The Situation: Heisman Trophy Winners

The Facts: Oklahoma has four—Billy Vessels in 1952, Steve Owens in 1969, Billy Sims in 1978, and Jason White in 2003.

Why We Care: The Heisman Trophy is given each year to the most outstanding college football player of that season. To receive the Heisman in the modern era is a reflection not only on one’s personal skills, but the quality of the program one represents. Each player from Oklahoma that has won the Heisman has been revered not only as a football player but also as a leader.

The Situation: Red River Rivalry

The Facts: The “Red River Rivalry” (or “Red River Shootout” as it was known for over a century) is the annual game between Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Arlington. The games began in 1900 and since 1929 have been held in the Cotton bowl in Dallas on the first weekend of October during the State Fair of Texas.

Why We Care: The OU-Texas game is almost always the first big game of the season for each team. Texas is Oklahoma’s most bitter rival. The success of a coach, while not officially, is based on his record against the opposing team.

The history of this game is spoken of in revered tones and the games are where legends are born. 60 of the past 65 contests have had national championship consequences.

Texas currently leads the series 57-40-5, but the Sooners have won six of the past eight meetings. In 2005 the Red River Rivalry was ranked the third best rivalry game in college football by NCAA Division I-A coaches.

The Situation: Bedlam

The Facts: Originally named after the atmosphere during a heated wrestling match between the two universities (a newspaper writer emerged exclaiming "It's bedlam in there!"), “Bedlam” is the name now given to any sporting contest between the Sooners and in-state rival Oklahoma State University.

Why We Care: Like any rivalry game, the football contest between these two schools gets heated. This game is played more for bragging rights in the state than any championship stake, as OSU has yet to win a national or even Big 12 championship. Starting with the first game in 1904 (which OU won 75-0), OU leads the series 78-16-7.

Next week's article will include "What is a 'Sooner,'" "Red October," "Crimson and Cream," and "Greatest Defeats of Texas by Oklahoma."

Why I'm an Oklahoma Sooner Fan

Jeff Johnson — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:41:25 -0400

"I want a university the football team can be proud of." — George Lynn Cross, OU President, 1943-1968

Welcome to Oklahoma Football. Welcome to the program that John A. Harts started in 1895. Welcome to the program that Bennie Owen started in earnest. Welcome to the program that Jim Tatum abandoned and Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson turned into a legend.

Welcome to the program where the son of a bootlegger, Barry Switzer, perfected the Wishbone Offense and made it into the most prolific rushing offense in college football history. Welcome to the program that Robert "Bob" Anthony Stoops resurrected. Welcome to the football team that an entire state can be proud of.

As the saying goes, I am Sooner-born and Sooner-bred. Both sides of my family are die-hard Sooner fans. Some of my first clothes were crimson and cream. My father has the same season tickets that his father had. I was destined to be a Sooner fan from the moment of birth.

But that's not the only reason I am a fan—far from it, in fact. There are many reasons that I am proud to call myself an Oklahoma Sooner football fan.

Tradition

Started in 1895 by John A. Harts, the program has seen its share of history over the past 114 seasons. It has seen its share of victories (779 wins to date) and its share of defeats (295).

It has created records, such as the 47-game win streak from 1953 to 1957. It has had 21 different men at the helm, some good and some we'd rather forget.

It has created winners (four Heisman trophy, five Outland trophy, four Butkus award, three Lombardi award, and three Thorpe award winners). It has become the No. 1 program in the modern era of college football (535-163-13).

History

The football program at Oklahoma is not just important to the university. Over the decades it has become important to the entire state.

Begun before there even was a state of Oklahoma (the state was created in 1907), the university was only minimally supported until after 1945. Part of the reason for that was the constant run of bad luck that the residents of Oklahoma had had.

Between the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent Great Depression, the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and then World War II, the then-agricultural communities of Oklahoma had begun to lose all hope in the future.

Many left for the West Coast in search of better lives. Many young men never returned from war. But at the end of that war, the University of Oklahoma promoted Bud Wilkinson to the post of head football coach and began to rebuild the program.

Under his leadership from 1947 to 1963, he not only created some of the most enduring records in college football—he gave the residents of the great state of Oklahoma something to believe in. Now these beleaguered people had a reason to feel pride.

At times, "their warriors" were unstoppable. There was money flowing back into the state. Good recruits were coming in from all over the nation. Oklahoma football not only created history—it created hope.

That feeling still lives on today. Especially in the Bob Stoops era, Oklahoma football gives us one more reason to be proud of the state of Oklahoma.

Pride

Sometimes it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Granted, there are moments in the history of Oklahoma football that fans would rather forget.

There are players who have been better off in jail than on the football field. There are incidents swept under the rug for the sake of winning games.

While these things happen at every program around the nation, one thing that all Sooner fans can take pride in is that those things are highly discouraged at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops.

One has only to look at the Rhett Bomar/J.D. Quinn incident in 2006 to see that, or the situation with Josh Jarboe this season. The players are expected to follow the team and NCAA rules and regulations without fail if they wish to play for the team.

When players follow those rules, they can play. The situation with Dusty Dvoracek in 2004 and 2005 is a great example. The football program at Oklahoma is like a person who is always honest—you can always hold your head up high knowing that you have nothing to hide.

The Future

These are just some of the reasons that one can be proud of being called an Oklahoma Sooner fan. Given everything there is about Oklahoma football, it is hard not to be proud. While the program is not perfect, they strive each season towards that goal—just as we all strive to do in our daily lives.