The First TX/OU Preview

Assuming exceptional play from the OU OL (which has not been the case), the Sooners must also solve 2 other deficiencies to beat UT.
1. Catching the ball (11 drops vs. Baylor)
2. Covering TE and RB with LB’s

UT by 14-20

I can’t predict anything anymore. Last week, I didn’t think even Greg Davis could blow this one. He proved me wrong.

“Saving something”. Oh, you bet we are — a li’l something that GD likes to call “Zone Runs”, where Colt gets the ball in the shotgun and hands it to a RB who runs sideways until he sees a hole and then rushes into it while it’s being filled with a linebacker.

Occasional twists including pulling the non-playside tackle and guard so that the DE away from the playside can run the play down from behind when the RB has to cut upfield to avoid playside penetration by the DE.

And don’t get me started on the Wild Horn — we’ve barely shown that AT ALL. Just wait’ll next week, baby!!

Huck, do you have the Over/Under on the following words coming through a headset sometime during the game?—

“Greg. Why don’t you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?”

UT opens up -3 over OU. Would have been -7.5 a week ago.
 
Heavily influenced by Bradford’s play against Baylor and our offense against CU.

I told the fans around me we were playing like shit to get the line down against OU…

How many catches will Malcolm Williams have against Missouri? And how many touches will D.J. Monroe have against Missouri? It should be a great display.

So ou loses its best te, its best receiver, and has a cripple at qb, and we are so inept that the line is UT by 3? If I was Mack I would be embarassed. Of course, he will clap his way right thru it.

And if Mack Brown were you, we’d be coached by a depressed alcoholic, that likes to read 19th century Russian literature by candle light and to stroll through pet stores punching puppies. Basically we’d be coached by even older, crazier Lou Holtz.

Thank God you’re not Mack Brown.

Texas -3? Fuck it, we WILL cover that. Muschamp’s asshole puckering alone is worth +5. And sure, last year the week before blowU we ran the ball to the tune of a gaudy 3.6 YPC (as opposed to half that this year), but I’m convinced that GD will somehow pull something out of his ass (a la Shipley at flex) that we score enough to win by 10.

I don’t know why I’m convinced of that — some unholy blend of a ransomstoddard post and my general loathing for the land thieves — but convinced I am. 27-17 Texas.

I would love to see OU pull out an upset here, but, frankly, I don’t think this group has it in them. The defense was supposed to be good enough to win games if the offense was slumping. It’s not. Norvell was supposed to b have our young talent ready to be at least decent. They’re not. Bradford now has exactly no one reliable to throw to, an OL that can’t run block (or pass protect), and an offensive coordinator who tends to get cute with his play calling at inappropriate time.

Awesome.

This game sure hasn’t turned into a clash between two great teams playing at their highest level. Instead neither side has much faith in their offenses to score a point.

In four of five games, Texas has turned the ball over deep in their own field five times (counting punt miscues) allowing 27 points. A sixth turnover was turned around by Earl Thomas. This is not a good trend.
Another bad trend is the offense’s very slow starts in three of five games.

Even special teams have been a mixed bag for Texas, in spite of the TD returns.

On the other hand…

Rate the matchup: Greg Davis vs Brent Venables
No real hope there.

Rate the matchup: Will Muschamp vs Kevin Wilson
OK. I feel a little better.

I like the Horns, 16-9 in one of those SEC-esque unwatchable crap fests where one team gets a ST or Defensive touchdown and both teams spend the rest of the game exchanging punts and kicking long field goals.

Here’s a stat for everyone to chew on.

Through five games in 2008 Colt McCoy had 45 rushes for 317 yards, which is an average of 7.04 yards. He also had 4 TDs

Through five games in 2009 Colt McCoy had 34 rushes for 58 yards, which is an average of 1.70 yards. He has 1 TD.

I believe these stats include sacks, which are as follows.

In 2008 there were 7 sacks for -56 yards.
In 2009 there are 5 sacks for -32 yards.

Here were the 2008 opponents vs 2009 opponents.
2008- Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Rice, Arkansas, CU
2009- ULM, Wyoming, T Tech, UTEP, CU

Opponents got a lot tougher later in the season and Colt finished with 136 rushes for 561 yards with 11 TDS.

Other tidbits. Against ULM and CU Colt had negative yards rushing, both were -3. Last season Colt only had one game with negative yardage and that was against Ohio State (-15).

Also, looking at last season’s game by game stats it seems obvious we showed Colt’s running ability in the first game against Florida Atlantic (12 rushes for 103 yards), but then pulled back until Big 12 play. He averaged 11.7 rushes per game against Big 12 teams vs 8.4 against non-Big 12.

Conclusions? Expect a lot more rushing from Colt. And probably more playing time from Gilbert because Colt will get dinged up.

Clearly the line reflects Mack’s dominating performance in games within 3 points. Since Mack doesn’t win by 5, 6, or 7 points, a line of 3 is almost the same as a line of 7, ergo a slip from 7.5 to 7 is almost the same as a slip from 7.5 to 3.

Three things can happen when you run the ball and two of them are bad!!!!
Interpretation for all who will listen: Screw the run and the “wildfrickinhorn”. Just pass the ball!

Why run Colt if you don’t have to? The UT running game appears to be further along than it was at this point last year. If UT can run effectively without Colt running a lot they will be better for it.

“If UT can run effectively without Colt running a lot they will be better for it.”
Oh, that’s rich.

“The UT running game appears to be further along than it was at this point last year.”

You’re on crack.

Those positive posts re: running game HAVE to be sarcasm, right?

"The UT running game appears to be further along than it was at this point last year."

You’re on crack.

That’s because you forgot the negative coefficient in:

Running game versus OU = (-5)*Running game pre-OU.

That’s because you forgot the negative coefficient in:

Running game versus OU = (-5)*Running game pre-OU.

This wasn’t the case last year. The Horns struggled early then rolled OU up on the ground.

“This wasn’t the case last year. The Horns struggled early then rolled OU up on the ground.”

It had nothing to do with UT having a competent running game. UT played a complete game and when OU’s 2 minute offense had thoroughly worn out the defense, Greg Davis got smart and started running stretch plays to take advantage of OU’s utter inability to pursue laterally.

I just love the fact that a week ago on this site most of you guys were predicting “prison poundings”, “gang rapes”, bludgeonings, and the like. Now, after Sam comes back and looks pretty good and you guys look like shit in the CU game, you guys are pissing down your legs with fear and self doubt.

Your D is better than last year, our D is better than last year, your special teams are still good, our special teams are much better than last year (don’t count on any return TDs this year) your running games sucks, our receiving game sucks, you have a douche for an OC, we have a douche for an OC.

This game will be a war. Pick ’em

BTW, Flamingmonkeyass, is that your screen name? Or is that your pet name you got from your new “friends” while spending some time in the hole?

Actually it’s part of a quote. From what? You figure it out.

Why would be pissing down our legs with fear? Are we worried we’ll win for the fourth time in five years?

Oh and phi gam90, was your collar properly popped when you posted that?

I say it here, it comes out there.

We are going to win big, big I tell you. There I said it. Guys, relax. Mack and crew will unleash hell come Sat.

It had nothing to do with UT having a competent running game. UT played a complete game and when OU’s 2 minute offense had thoroughly worn out the defense, Greg Davis got smart and started running stretch plays to take advantage of OU’s utter inability to pursue laterally.

Two things. I think you mean when UT’s 2 minute offense wore their ass down. And second, you mean your gonna admit you got rolled without a competent running game ’cause they rolled ya.

You sooners crack me up. You brag on your depth on defense and then use getting tired as an excuse. Texas is a pass first team and then and we still ran up the rushing yards because you were too tired to run latterazlly??? BWAAAHHAAAAHAAA!!! Weak shit.

Who is pissing down their crimson coverall clad legs?