Having neither attended nor seen the Oklahoma game on TV, it’s hard to make any credible judgements about our performance. Of course, getting beat 56-14 doesn’t sound very good. However, listening on the radio, we apparently played Oklahoma even for the first ten minutes or so and were competitive for the first 20 minutes. We were truly outmanned, however. Oklahoma’s 2nd and 3rd string players are probably bigger, stronger, and faster than many of our starters. Of course that doesn’t always determine who wins, but as Damon Runyon wrote many years ago, “that’s the way to bet.” Our chances were “slim and none.”
According to Graf on the radio, our line pushed theirs around for most of the first half. Hilliard, Badie, and Bradwell all had success and apparently ran hard. Brantley also had success running and pitching, at least for a while. The “pick six” obviously turned the game around but we didn’t quit, at least not initially, if ever. Even after the interception, we drove the ball deep into Oklahoma territory before a sack and “pooch kick.” From then on, we couldn’t move the ball. In the next ten possessions, we only earned five first downs.
Defense was a different story. After recovering a fumble on the Okie’s first series, our defense was shredded for the remainder of the game. We did recover two fumbles and forced two punts, but allowed over 10 yards per play for the entire game. We had 74 offensive plays to their 62, so I can’t blame our failures on our defense being tired. Our defensive backfield, self-proclaimed as the best in the conference, if not the country, allowed five passing TD’s and over 400 yards through the air to the likely Heisman Trophy winner. Graf commented several times that Nickerson was having a great game, so the problems must have been elsewhere. We had one sack but it didn’t sound like we pressured Mayfield much at all. Most of his incompletions were what Graf described as “going for it all.” To throw the ball 65 yards in the air requires time and space to step up. Mayfield apparently had that all night. Without seeing the game or tape, I have no idea how well we covered, though Graf, again, called many receivers “wide open.” The 82 yard TD in the first quarter was evidently 30 yards in the clear. How did this happen? Was it miscommunications, poor reads, or just getting beat? Graf made a lot of Teamer’s absence and I don’t discount the loss of his experience. On the other hand, Teamer’s strength is closer to the line of scrimmage and against the run. Over the past two years, his cover skills have not been a positive.
On special teams, we didn’t have much chance to return punts or kicks and our own punting and kicking was fine. Block was credited with a 44.8 yard average and his one 22 yard punt was credited to “team.” Was it partially blocked? Graf didn’t mention that. And, sad that it is, we finally had someone kick extra points—two in fact.
I was a little surprised to hear Ledford come in at wide receiver; I thought he’d probably redshirt. I was less surprised at McLain playing. As much as I’d like to redshirt him, with Banks a question mark for the next couple of weeks, getting him some playing time before facing Army could be important. I was also surprised when looking at the “participation stats” that Robert Kennedy apparently saw action, Graf didn’t mention it to my knowledge but I take his presence (if true) as a positive.
Anyway, I’d be interested in hearing the views of someone who actually attended the game. Mine are more guesses and suppositions based on listening to the game and reviewing game states.
On to Army.
Roll Wave!!!
According to Graf on the radio, our line pushed theirs around for most of the first half. Hilliard, Badie, and Bradwell all had success and apparently ran hard. Brantley also had success running and pitching, at least for a while. The “pick six” obviously turned the game around but we didn’t quit, at least not initially, if ever. Even after the interception, we drove the ball deep into Oklahoma territory before a sack and “pooch kick.” From then on, we couldn’t move the ball. In the next ten possessions, we only earned five first downs.
Defense was a different story. After recovering a fumble on the Okie’s first series, our defense was shredded for the remainder of the game. We did recover two fumbles and forced two punts, but allowed over 10 yards per play for the entire game. We had 74 offensive plays to their 62, so I can’t blame our failures on our defense being tired. Our defensive backfield, self-proclaimed as the best in the conference, if not the country, allowed five passing TD’s and over 400 yards through the air to the likely Heisman Trophy winner. Graf commented several times that Nickerson was having a great game, so the problems must have been elsewhere. We had one sack but it didn’t sound like we pressured Mayfield much at all. Most of his incompletions were what Graf described as “going for it all.” To throw the ball 65 yards in the air requires time and space to step up. Mayfield apparently had that all night. Without seeing the game or tape, I have no idea how well we covered, though Graf, again, called many receivers “wide open.” The 82 yard TD in the first quarter was evidently 30 yards in the clear. How did this happen? Was it miscommunications, poor reads, or just getting beat? Graf made a lot of Teamer’s absence and I don’t discount the loss of his experience. On the other hand, Teamer’s strength is closer to the line of scrimmage and against the run. Over the past two years, his cover skills have not been a positive.
On special teams, we didn’t have much chance to return punts or kicks and our own punting and kicking was fine. Block was credited with a 44.8 yard average and his one 22 yard punt was credited to “team.” Was it partially blocked? Graf didn’t mention that. And, sad that it is, we finally had someone kick extra points—two in fact.
I was a little surprised to hear Ledford come in at wide receiver; I thought he’d probably redshirt. I was less surprised at McLain playing. As much as I’d like to redshirt him, with Banks a question mark for the next couple of weeks, getting him some playing time before facing Army could be important. I was also surprised when looking at the “participation stats” that Robert Kennedy apparently saw action, Graf didn’t mention it to my knowledge but I take his presence (if true) as a positive.
Anyway, I’d be interested in hearing the views of someone who actually attended the game. Mine are more guesses and suppositions based on listening to the game and reviewing game states.
On to Army.
Roll Wave!!!