| 19 October 2010
ISU Game Recap
What was Awesome?
Pretty much everything but Tress Way's punting (is he hurt?). A dominant performance by OU against an ISU team that did nothing on offense to make it easy for OU (no turnovers, few penalties, huge punt game from Matt Fish Sticks), and OU was finally able to empty the bench again.
Other thoughts on OU
How ridiculous is OU's depth and talent at RB? Finch looks as advertised by the OU coaches, and Clay after a drop looked great running the ball in his extended opportunity. Despite the obvious comparisons to Q, Finch to me seems to have faster acceleration and perhaps more homerun speed. It's going to be fun to see how he compares against a great Sooner RB.
The return of DE Frank Alexander was great to see. Alexander basically got called out in Bob's news conference earlier in the week. Apparently that was all the motivation Alexander needed as he looked like the impact DE Sooner fans have been expecting. In addition, it was also nice to see reps for RJ Washington at DE. Too many Sooner fans are quick to write off guys like RJ, sometimes patience is needed. OU's going to need those two players to step up in 2011 after Beal leaves to provide a real pass rush.
It might have been ISU, but OU seemed to be getting more plays from DT in a healthier Adrian Taylor, Stacey McGee (who ISU couldn't block without holding), and Jamarkus McFarland. If that trend continues, the Sooner D could be very good.
Now Demarco Murray is certainly breaking Steve Owens record in a different era of football, 12 to 14 game seasons, much higher scoring. One thing to consider though is that Murray scored 58 TDs while sharing time with Chris Brown for 3 seasons and Allen Patrick for one season. During those 3 seasons, Brown and Patrick scored over 44 TDs. Owens never had to share the ball with anyone to that degree. Murray's total, while sharing time with two other RBs, is a pretty amazing accomplishment.
Again, it was ISU, but it was hard to tell if that was Sam Bradford or Landry Jones quarterbacking OU. 89% completion stats are just absurd. Landry may not be ever be as good as Sam (and that appears to be NFL franchise QB good which sets the bar impossibly high), but he's improving this year and take advantage of all the weapons OU has available.
Other thoughts on football from Saturday
What a colossal choke job by the AggieHuskers on Saturday. At home, with all the momentum and a mentally shaky whorn team coming into town, the AggieHuskers laid a massive egg. Horrible game plan by NU on offense, and NU's D had to be prepared for some QB running game from UT. Add in the terrible game from the pitch fork like hands of the NU WRs, and you have a crushing loss for the AggieHuskers.
Jerrod Johnson, preseason All Big 12 QB? Johnson in the two games that I have watched, looks just awful. Bleeding turnovers against OSU, or incapable of completing passes against Missouri, you have to wonder when Sherman will bench him. Speaking of ATM, their home performance against Missouri makes you wonder why anyone continues to talk about the home field advantage of Kyle Field. Anyone can walk in there and beat the Aggies.
For the last 3 years all we've heard is about SEC quality defenses. Well when Auburn versus Arkansas is 44-43 heading into the 4th quarter, you have to ditch all conversation about SEC defenses this year. That's a Pig team that only scored 24 on a terrible ATM defense last week. In addition, you have South Carolina and Kentucky in a 31-28 shootout. Now, SEC defense do appear to get one huge break this year, that's playing Urban Meyer and the inept UF defense. UF has now lost two games at home to LSU and Miss State. OU fell off last year due to injuries and inexperience, but OU didn't drop two games at home. Brantley for all the hype looks terrible and UF has no playmakers at all.
If I had a Heisman vote, right now it's going to Cam Newton at Auburn. He's almost single handedly beating teams. If the Heisman is about value to the team, Newton is the most valuable player in the nation. Auburn probably has 3 losses without him.
