Big 12 Spring Thoughts
by Beergut on Apr 13, 2010 1:59 AM CDT
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Print- The biggest concern for Oklahoma shouldn't be whether their offensive line can gel into a competent unit after being hit with injuries in 2009, or whether Landry Jones can become an adequate replacement for Sam Bradford. Oklahoma's biggest concern should be whether they will regain the mental toughness and edge they had over the last few years that allowed them to continually beat texas and win Big 12 championships. I don't know if it was because with Bradford and Jermaine Greshman injured, OU lacked the senior leadership to keep the team going in tough times, but the Sooner squad completely quit in their final game of the regular season last year, in Lubbock. They got down to Tech by 11 at the half, let the lead grow to 21 by the end of the third quarter, and then just gave up, letting Tech roll to a 41-13 win. Most amazing about the loss was the attitude of the Sooner players, who really didn't seem to care. They weren't even trying by the end of the game, and it made you question their competitive spirit; it was like they had no pride in their effort. Although OU went on to beat Oklahoma State in their final home game in a 27-0 shutout, and won their bowl game over Stanford, but that killer instinct, that attitude that they were going to come out and break your will and hang half a hundred on you was missing. OU needs to see if they can get that confidence and that attitude back going into the 2010 season.
- With texas' decision to go under center more this season and try to use 21 and 12 personnel more to improve their running game, the 'sips are becoming more and more like your typical SEC team. Their spring game did nothing to dissuade this view, as they showed a low-scoring offense and a solid defense. The emphasis on improving the running game is coming at the expense of taking advantage of Garrett Gilbert's skills and letting him spread the field and distribute the ball; that is also an SEC offense trait; make the QB a manager and not a difference-maker. On SEC teams, though, the best playmaker on offense is usually the starting tailback; texas doesn't have the luxury of a difference-maker at that position.
- Texas Tech gave up over 900 yards in their latest scrimmage, with both QBs passing for over 300 yards each, despite completing just over half of their passes. I know the 3-4 scheme James Willis is installing in Lubbock is new, but to let a redshirt sophomore (Seth Doege) and a redshirt freshman (Jacob Karam) tear you up like that has to be disconcerting. The scrimmage was 117 plays long, so even if you round up to 120 plays, and split it in half since an offense averages at least 60 plays a game, you've still given up over 450 yds for a game. If Willis is like Nick Saban, he wants to stop the running game and passing game in the middle of the field first, and force the offense to go out wide to make their yards; the problem is, Tech's offense is designed to stretch the field and take advantage of wide seams, so that kind of a defensive scheme doesn't work. add in attempts by the defense to man-up the Tech receivers, and you have the disaster that happened. Regardless of how bad their defense may be, though, I still am picking Tech to upset texas in Lubbock this year. I think texas' offense will simply be unable to keep up with Tech's scoring, and will be outscored in a shootout.
- They may be trying to pump sunshine over in Lawrence, but I still think the staff hires for the Jayhawks were bad. The new coach always comes into Spring undefeated, and everyone is smiles, but I think KU and their fans are n for a rude awakening when the season starts. Kansas' biggest weakness in 2009 was their defense, and new head coach Turner Gill addresses this weakness by hiring.....Carl Torbush? Gill brings in Buddy Wyatt to coach their defensive line? A&M's defensive line underachieved the last two seasons, and Gill sees this and hires Wyatt away? Add in J.B. Wyatt as their offensive line coach, and Kansas is looking at a trio of former A&M coaches who crashed and burned in College Station. Given their past production as coaches, I don't think anyone in the Big 12 North needs to worry about Kansas for the next two seasons. Discussing who the starting point guard on the basketball team will be will again be the big conversation in the stadium stands during the Fall as poor football makes its return to Lawrence.
- Oklahoma State may have one of the best returning RBs in the conference in senior Kendall Hunter, but I wonder just how he'll fit into the new Air Raid scheme Dana Holgerson is installing in Stillwater. Holgerson had two backs go for over 600 yards rushing last season Charles Sims, 698; Bryce Beall, 670), so it isn't like running the ball is anathema to him, as it sometimes appeared to be for other Air Raid coaches, like Mike Leach. However, I don't expect to see Hunter get more than 160 carries this coming season, so I expect his rushing numbers to go down. Hunter should be used more in the passing game, however, so that drop in rushing stats is all relative.
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I think Tech will be a 7-5 team and will lose to tu. Have a hard time seeing them as a high scoring team with Tuberville at the helm.
OU definitely has lost its swagger.
Gilbert is probably better than every QB in the SEC save Brantley and McElroy.
Swagger...and...Gilbert...
I don’t believe Gilbert is that good…I’m not saying he’s bad, but I don’t believe he’ll have the kind of success he’s being hyped for until later.
Oh, and OU hasn’t lost its swagger…it just turned into more of a limp for a minute…I would try and defend ‘em blindly, but that post was right…it DID look as if OU gave up on that game. I think there’s some new, and intense energy being tapped into in Norman, and it’ll show come October.
I do agree with Tuberville’s predicted ability, or lack thereof, 2 put up points though…
by Crimson0nslaught on Apr 13, 2010 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions
I’m cautiously optimistic about Gilbert’s first season as starter, not because of him but just because of the receivers and OLine… plenty of talent at the receiver position, no one who has really stepped it up. the oline is shaky at best right now.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 13, 2010 12:29 PM CDT reply actions
So no one has stepped up at WR and the OL play is poor, but you are optimistic because of that? So your eyes tell you that there is nothing to be excited about but your brain gets excited anyways?
i’m optimistic because i know the talent that is there, the ability of our coaches to field quality teams every year, and the weakness due to turnover that alot of the conference is seeing.
i’m cautious because the team hasn’t solidified as much as it needs to be at the start of the the season, and until I see it happen, I’m not going to say “yeah OLine is fine, yeah WR is fine, yeah RB is fine”.
i know we can smack around every team on our schedule next year, it’s simply a matter of putting the pieces in the right places.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 13, 2010 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I think pretty much every team could say that
by miketag on Apr 14, 2010 6:21 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Boise St. pretty much knows the state of their team.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 14, 2010 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions
tech upsets a&m
i dont think a&m has the defense to stop tech. As for texas offense moving the spread ha s been figured out by pelini,stoops,saban,muschamp.
What makes you think Tech has the defense to stop A&M? They allowed A&M to jam the ball down their throats in Lubbock last year. What makes you think that has changed. Muschamp gave up over 400 yds to Tech last year. How is that figuring it out? Deruyter had better numbers vs the spread last year than any of the guys you mentioned.
by miketag on Apr 13, 2010 5:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Save Saban. Stoops got blasted by Tech last year
by miketag on Apr 13, 2010 5:46 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
You didn't exactly stop Tech's offense last year.
I thought the yardage was almost the same……
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
and actually, we did
you scored 14 points in the first quarter, then scored 0, 8, and 8 in the next three quarters
the only offensive teams Deruyter defended that were any “good” (top 60?) were BYU (who put up 500 on AirForce, 377 passing) and TCU (400, 198 passing)… oh and Houston in your bowl game, lets look at the stats, AF held the ball for 41 minutes.. that’ll happen when you throw 6 interceptions, did the secondary get freakishly good, or did Keenum have the worst game of his career?
I just don’t see the defensive genius of Deruyter, or his “better numbers against the spread” when the disparity in talent between the Big12 conference and the MWC/AirForce/their whole schedule.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 13, 2010 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Secondary still has to Be in position to make those interceptions. I still think that to be the best passing defense in the country in a passing conference, with Air Force talent really says something.
by miketag on Apr 14, 2010 6:24 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
TCU was better. The “passing offenses” AF played were laughable at best.
TCU #59
BYU #17(torched for 377)
Utah #44 (held to 167)
Wyoming #103
UNLV #50 (held to 135)
San Diego St #30 (gave up 284)
N.Mexico #63
Colorado St. #76
Nicolls St (D2? D1-AA? what’re we calling these teams these days? 3-8 overall, held to 60 passing yards, average 100 yds/g)
Minn. #75
Navy #119
Army #120
Houston #1 (held to 222, by far the defenses best showing against passing, 6 turnovers and holding onto the ball the entire game will kind of limit how much their offense can do)
It’s not like he had a schedule full of even decent teams.
Whatever, think Deruyter is a great defensive coach for putting up impressive pass defense stats against a schedule of the worst passing teams. Just like Kines was going to bring back the wrecking crew because he was an SEC defensive coordinator.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 14, 2010 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions
I always love this argument. I would argue that one of the reasons their passing rank was so low was b/c they faced a defense like Air Force. Kinda like how McCoy got a hypesman boost b/c he faced the A&M defense.
I still never saw anyone claim that Kines would bring back the WC.
by miketag on Apr 14, 2010 4:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
yes, 1/12th (and sometimes 1/13th) of most of their statistics are made up by what happened when they played Air Force which made the majority of these teams have terrible passing offenses.
While we’re not anywhere close to Wrecking Crew standards yet (latest has A&M ranked 11th in the Big 12 in total defense), I believe Kines will get us there.
Can you guess where the quote came from? I’ll give you a hint, he’s pretty much the only other one to post content on this blog.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 15, 2010 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions
A&M runs the spread
and we had 532 yards and put 39 points on Muschamp
that is ‘figuring it out’?
Pellini and Nebraska were smacked by Tech and the Air Raid, 31-10
What exactly are you basing your opinions on?
A bit of a Husker Pride issue here
But no one who watched the Tech-Husker game last year would say Tech’s offense had anything to do with their victory. Our offense self destructed, gave them a scoop and score, and gave their offense outstanding field position all day (in fairness, Tech’s defense played outstanding).
NU held Tech to 259 yards of total offense….I’d hardly call that “getting smacked around by the Air Raid.”
With that said, I actually agree with you. A&M should have the advantage on Tech this year imo.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
We rushed for 300 yds and won by 20. What makes you think they will be able to slow us down this year at home?
he doesn’t think A&Ms defense will be any better, but Tech’s defense with Tuberville will slow you down. I doubt it, but that looks to be his thoughts.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 13, 2010 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I would think that the simple fact that we will likely not start any true freshmen on defense would indicate we will be better.
by miketag on Apr 14, 2010 6:26 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I’d place more faith in Kines than Deruyter, but yeah, kids starting young will certainly help.
by Displaced Longhorn on Apr 14, 2010 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions
I have no idea what happened at Texas Tech
Everyone (journalists, fans) thought Stoops had lost control of his team when Ryan Broyles got the celebration penalty.
The teams’ take on the game was really interesting.
Broyles didn’t even think his celebration penalty was strange. He said I’m passionate and competitive and it was the natural reaction. Now he’s talking about being a leader. I honestly think Broyles is the most competitive receiver we’ve had in the past 10 years.
Q Carter (safety) said guys just made mistakes. They prepared normally, but the D was due for an ugly game and the O couldn’t bail them out. There was little hope after Broyles was intercepted on the trick play.
Stoops has had a rough season and gained a lot of weight (really the weight gain started around 2008). It seems like the stress has really grown over 2008/2009. I know ’Horns fans slammed him for visiting with Saban but he truly needs/needed fresh advice, esp regarding mental preparation.
Finally, the team said they prepared better and more thoroughly for the Sun Bowl than last year’s NCG, and their effort in El Paso was outstanding.
You got my boy's trophy; he want it back. - Torrance Marshall
quite simply
I thought your team quit competing in the Tech game. You have to want to compete every down and every play, and the Sooners just decided they didn’t want to do it anymore.
I think thr loss of Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham really, really hurt y’all last year, especially in the leadership and confidence area. I think if those two were healthy, you have two players you know there is no equal for in college football; Gresham also gives Bradford another weapon to throw to besides Broyles, so I tihnk your passing game might have improved over the season. There is nothing you can do about the freak injuries y’all had on the OL, though.
Credit should also be given to Tech
They were (much) better at every offensive position except running back. Our defense still disappointed, though.
Yeah, there’s no such thing as what might have been. I missed Gresham the most because he meant to our offense what Randy Moss means to the Pats.
You got my boy's trophy; he want it back. - Torrance Marshall
We're fine at running back it's the o-line that needed help.
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
I’d take DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown over Baron Batch, but Tech’s offensive roster was more impressive than OU’s at every other position. Our OL woes were pretty significant.
You got my boy's trophy; he want it back. - Torrance Marshall
Well of course you would. I'm only saying that our oline is the problem, not our backs.
Furthermore, I’d take Batch, Jeffer, Crawford, and Stevens over your backs.
See what I did there?
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
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