OU played great on offense Saturday and tied a school record of 55 points in the first half to beat KSU. The problem was they needed almost all of those points. The Sooner defense allowed 35 points against the Wildcats, final score 58-35.
The Sooners offense racked up 528 yards and were able to keep up the momentum from last week in running the ball. DeMarco Murray totaled four touchdowns, two catches and two runs. Murray rushed for 104 yards and Chris Brown rushed for 142. Brown and Murray are starting to hit a stride now and have turned into the lethal one-two punch everyone knew they could be.
Sam Bradford had a relatively quiet day, although for many QBs it would be a career day. Bradford finished with 255 passing yards and three TDs. He also added a rushing TD on a sneak. Bradford had another solid performance which should keep him at #2 on this week's Heisman board.
As the Sooner offense mowed through the Kansas State defense, the Sooner defense continued to struggle. This makes the third week in a row the defense has allowed 30+ points. Brent V's defense is allowing an average of 32 points this year against Big 12 opponents. The only bright spot on defense was the five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles).
Austin Box started at middle linebacker for the first time this year. Box got burned on a few plays over the middle and was out of position other times. He did, however, finish with 9 tackles. Let's hope he's learning from his mistakes. On the flip side, Travis Lewis continued his outstanding freshman year with 2 interceptions and a team-leading 15 tackles.
The coaches need to stop the bleeding on defense and figure out how to get back to early season form. Giving up 35 points to a team that scored 13 on Colorado is unacceptable.
Sooners Roll at K-State, 58-35...soonersports.com
Even in victory, OU defense has fans in despair...newsok.com
OU offense a scoring machine; defense lags...newsok.com
Sooners put it to Wildcats...tulsaworld.com
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sooner Offense Lights Up Kansas State
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sooners bounce back against Jayhawks.
The Sooners got back in the win column Saturday against the Kansas, beating the Jayhawks 45-31. The OU offense went off on Kansas, lighting up their defense for 674 yards of total offense while setting several records along the way.
Sam Bradford continued to assault the OU record books by breaking the school record for passing yards in a game with 468 yards, just a few yards shy of KU's total offensive output. The record broke Josh Heupel's old mark of 429. WR Juaquin Iglesias also set a record for catches in a game, 12, and receiving yards in a half, 178. This, after WR Manuel Johnson left the game after an elbow injury.
OU's rushing attack came back to life with the resurgence of DeMarco Murray who had many nice runs to finish with 89 yards and two scores. Chris Brown added 92 yards and one touchdown. All together, the Sooners rushed for 209 yards.
Defensively, the Sooners held their ground when they needed to. Nic Harris was moved to middle linebacker in place of Ryan Reynolds. I would have expected to see Sam Proctor take Harris' spot at safety, but it was Quinton Carter who filled in and led the team with 10 total tackles.
Lendy Holmes undoubtedly had the best game on defense and maybe his best game ever as a Sooner. Holmes made several critical goal line plays as Kansas was threatening to score. On one drive, Holmes had a goal line interception. Then later made a tackle for loss and tipped pass on consecutive plays to limit KU to a field goal. Holmes finished with 8 total tackles and 2 interceptions.
The Sooners get a good win against a very good offensive KU team, who set many records of their own on Saturday. There are still holes on defense, specifically in pass coverage. OU will need to work on these weakness to stay undefeated the rest of the way. The Sooner offense can score with any team in the nation, but you can't rely on winning shoot-outs every week, especially in the Big 12.
Bradford, OU Scorch Kansas, 45-31...soonersports.com
Murray revived in OU win...newsok.com
Tramel: Sam, Sooners simply amazing...newsok.com
OU blasts off...tulsaworld.com
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Oklahoma vs. Kansas 2008
The Sooners return to the field this Saturday against Kansas after losing their #1 ranking to the Longhorns last week. This will hopefully be a good bounce-back game for the Sooners who are looking to regain national respect after a 10-point loss. OU is a 20-point favorite at home against the #16 ranked Jayhawks.
OU will be trying to find a capable replacement for star linebacker Ryan Reynolds who was lost for the season by injury. It looks like Austin Box will be the starter at the middle linebacker position. Box is a former high school safety and has much better speed and cover skills than Brandon Crow, who got torched on the pass last week after Reynold's injury.
Also, look for the Sooners to establish a running game that has been in hibernation of late. The offensive line needs to step up their game and DeMarco Murray is slumping badly. The Sooners need to get back to a balanced offense in order run the table in their remaining Big 12 schedule, which features three ranked opponents.
The Jayhawks are no push-over. The Fighting Manginos have a tough defense with very good linebackers and an explosive offense much like OU's. Currently, the Jayhawk passing offense is rated #7. The Sooners need to win big over this Kansas team and prove they are still dominant.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45 - Kansas 24.
Stoops, Sooners Keyed in on Kansas...soonersports.com
OU football: Sooners seek answers to running game woes...newsok.com
OU football notebook: Bradford will run, if needed...newsok.com
CBSSports.com 2008 Midseason All-America Team...sportsline.com
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sooners Fall to Longhorns 45-35
Saturday, the Sooners played well enough to beat the Longhorns, but came up short in the final quarter leading to their first loss of the season. There were numerous plays in the game you can point to that were turning points which lost the Red River Rivalry for the Sooners. Penalties, injuries, blown calls, failed fakes, you name it. For me, it came down to two plays: the Shipley kickoff return (OU is absolutely horrible on KOs) & the Lamont Robinson interception that was called incomplete.
The loss hurts, especially after OU was built up as unbeatable. But there is still hope. The Sooners dropped to only #4 in the latest coaches poll. I think the Longhorns will drop some games themselves and open the door for the Sooners in the Big 12 South. The Longhorns played on emotion Saturday. I am not convinced that their team is as good as they played against the Sooners. Their defense is tough, but they have an average offense. They could easily lose to Mizzou this week or OSU and Texas Tech down the road.
The Sooners have to move on from this loss. The season is still early and crazy things can happen in the polls, just look at OSU! The BCS Champion will more than likely NOT be undefeated. OU can still back into the Big 12 Championship. They just can't lose another one.
A Heartbreaker for the Sooners...soonersports.com
OU needs help to return to top...tulsaworld.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Red River Rivalry: OU vs. Texas 2008
It's OU/Texas time again and you can't ask for a better match-up. Two Heisman candidates going head to head and two top-five teams playing for national title hopes. It's no wonder the Gameday crew is going to be at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.
Both teams come into the Red River Rivalry with a lot of momentum. Oklahoma, however, has the edge in almost every facet of the game and is a 7-point favorite. The game will definitely be decided in the trenches and OU will have to move the ball on the ground to be effective and I believe they will. This will open up the passing opportunities which will definitely favor OU since Texas is ranked 109th nationally in pass defense.
Defensively, the Sooners will need to stop an effective Longhorn offense ranked 6th in scoring. OU lines up better against Texas' offense. The Sooners have the nation's best pass defense and Texas' leading rusher is Colt McCoy. Look for the Sooner D to disrupt the Longhorn's offensive plans.
It doesn't get much better than OU/Texas each year. What makes it even better is when both teams are playing at the top of their game. That's what we have again in '08. College football in October, ya gotta love it! Sit back and watch the fireworks.
Stoops, OU Players Discuss Texas...soonersports.com
A tale of two coaches...newsok.com
Tales from the Cotton Bowl tunnel...tulsaworld.com
Breaking the huddle on the Red River Rivalry...espn.com
Sunday, October 5, 2008
#1 Sooners Blowout Baylor 49-17
The Sam Bradford-led Sooners took care of business Saturday against unranked Baylor, beating the Bears 49-17. OU scored 28 points in the first quarter and certainly looked like a #1 ranked team should look.
Bradford had another Heisman-esque performance, with 372 passing yards and two TDs. DeMarco Murray added 96 yards on the ground with a pair of TDs. Defensively, the Sooners again looked impressive led by linebacker Keenan Clayton with a career-high 14 tackles.
The blowout was a good warm-up for the Big 12 schedule, especially for next week's showdown with Texas. The game every Sooner fan looks forward to each year has finally arrived. Every year they say it, and just about every year it is true: the winner of this game will have a great chance at the national title. The Sooners will put their #1 ranking on the line this week against the #5 ranked Longhorns.
Lee Corso and the crew will be in Dallas this weekend, let OU/Texas Week begin!
Sooners Win Big 12 Opener, 49-17...soonersports.com
No. 1 OU bewilders Bears...newsok.com
Sooners grin and Bear it...tulsaworld.com
Friday, October 3, 2008
OU vs. Baylor 2008
The Sooners will take the field in Waco against Baylor for the first time this year as the #1 team in the nation. There is a lot of pressure that comes with this ranking and the Sooners will have to play at an extra level each and every week. OU now has an even bigger target on their back.
The Sooners open up their conference schedule with a team that has consistently taken up residence in the cellar of the Big 12 South. But the Baylor Bears are seemingly improved from previous years with the help of their phenomenal freshman QB Robert Griffin.
Sam Bradford should continue his stellar statistics as his Heisman campaign really gets underway. The Sooners should also be able to run the ball much better this week, giving them a balanced attack.
OU has never lost to Baylor and it looks like that trend will no doubt continue on Saturday. OU is favored by 25 points.
Prediction: Oklahoma 55 - Baylor 17.
It's a 1-derful world for OU...newsok.com
Game Notes: Oklahoma at Baylor...soonersports.com
Looking out for No. 1...tulsaworld.com
