The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Arkansas
Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Texas 52, Arkansas 10
Our football team is getting better by leaps and bounds, and the first play from scrimmage yesterday exemplified one major reason why. On that play, Arkansas attempted a little reverse, and Brian Orakpo, rather than following the initial fake and running himself out of the play as defensive ends at The University of Texas have been doing almost unfailingly for the last ten years, stayed at home and made the tackle for a five yard loss. That play set the tone for this entire football game, which, if the people who run our athletics department have the sense God gave a donut, will be the last in the Texas/Arkansas “rivalry” for a long, long time.
One the thing that irritates me about how the sports media portrays this rivalry is the myth that it is actually a “rivalry” in the same sense that Texas/OU is a rivalry, or Ohio State/Michigan is a rivalry, or Alabama/Auburn is a rivalry. The rivalries named above are some of the greatest, most closely-fought series in the history of sport, with each program going through periods of real dominance over the other, only to see the other program come back to establish its own dominance for a period of years.
This is simply not the case with Texas/Arkansas, which is a “rivalry” in the same sense that Texas/Texas A&M is a rivalry. Ron Franklin, who I admire and respect as a game announcer, went on and on yesterday about how the Texas/Arkansas rivalry was one of the most tightly contested anywhere in the country, and how Darrell Royal and Frank Broyles went toe-to-toe with one another for 20 years with no clear winner between them at the end of the day.
Folks, our all-time record against Arkansas, dating back to 1894, is 56-21. Darrell K. Royal’s teams whipped Frank Broyles’s teams 15 times in 20 games. The closest Arkansas has ever come to dominating this rivalry came when they won three straight from 1964-1966, corresponding to the one down time in Royal’s tenure at Texas. Otherwise, this series has been a long litany of dominance by one program,
That’s the truth, and we must never, ever allow the pigs to the northeast to forget it. And that is why yesterday’s game deserves to serve as a very fitting end to a long and very one-sided series.
Let’s go to the GB and U.
First, the UGLY:
Georgia’s “blackout” between the hedges. I’m guessing this will be the last time Mark Richt tries those goofy-assed black jerseys in a big game against a key SEC opponent. I’ve believed Georgia was overrated all year, and Alabama was underrated, and am guessing that both situations will now resolve themselves after ‘Bama rushed out to an amazing 31-0 halftime lead before coasting to their easiest win of the season in the last two quarters. - Ol’ Army – or, in the context of yesterday’s game with the real Army, Fake Army. How bad must the Aggies really be to have now beaten
New Mexico and Army only thanks to big turnovers by their opponents, both of whom dominated the Ags physically? Looking at A&M’s remaining schedule, it is entirely possible that yesterday’s win could well have been the last in the Shermanator’s inaugural season. Only games with Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor appear remotely winnable for the Ags, and if they win one of those three, their fans should be grateful. Personally, I think Baylor will whip them by two touchdowns or more, because Baylor actually made a good coaching hire in the off-season, a guy the Aggies couldn’t be bothered to interview.
The BAD:
- Officiating in the Texas/Arkansas game – I’m still trying to figure out what constitutes pass interference in college football today, and it’s obvious the game’s officials are still trying to figure it out as well. Yesterday’s SEC crew of officials did a pretty ok job for the most part, but the bad PI calls and no-calls were just maddening. They cut both ways, so I’m not complaining that they gave the Pigs some sort of advantage; it’s just that I’d like to see some semblance of consistency here. I’m no fan of instant replay in general, but I’m almost to the point of thinking the NCAA should make PI a reviewable call, especially where the “uncatchable” part of the mythical “rule” is concerned, since officials all over the country appear to have forgotten that even exists.
- Notre Dame 38, Purdue 21 – It’s always bad when the Domers win.
- The use of John Chiles – this Q package is the most useless feature of our offense. I have no idea why we continue to even try to use it. We’re not fooling anyone, the offense does not execute the plays well, and every time we split Colt out wide I just burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all. Plus, it’s becoming increasingly obvious to anyone really paying attention that Colt McCoy has developed into a far more effective running threat than Chiles now is. Isn’t it really time to retire this bit of nonsense before someone gets hurt?
Other than those minor points, I couldn’t find anything to bitch about in a 52-10 shellacking of the Hogs, so it’s on to…
The GOOD:
My goodness, where to begin?
- Defense staying at home – it wasn’t just Orakpo, folks, it’s all the ends and outside LBs. Real coaching teaching real players to really play their positions. Ain’t it great?
- Defensive week-on-week improvement – this was the first game in which our defense, especially the back 7, came out ready to play with confidence and fire from the opening kickoff. It’s not surprising that it’s taking time for the players to adjust to a new system and set of coaches, but it sure is gratifying to watch it happen. We were every bit as dominant and efficient in dismantling poor Casey Dick and the
Arkansas offense as Alabama was last week. After watching Alabama demolish Georgia last night, any favorable comparison to that defense ought to be pleasing to Texas fans. - Seven sacks, ELEVEN tackles for loss. When was the last time a
Texas defense recorded anything remotely resembling those stats? - The secondary is beginning to figure it out. Earl Thomas, after being the critcs’ whipping post the last few weeks, started making plays with authority yesterday. That was fun. The lack of a first half Keystone Cops routine was funner (is that a word?). It’s still a work in progress, but it’s obviously getting better each week.
- Dominant players on defense – Orakpo just owned that poor OT. If the referee and umpire knew how to throw a flag for holding,
Arkansas would have had negative net yardage at halftime. Sergio Kindle has, like the DBs, improved every week, and yesterday was all over the damn place. It was a hell of a lot of fun watching him run that WR down about 30 yards downfield. Keenan Robinson came in in the second half and quickly recorded two tfls and four unassisted tackles. The cornerbacks just played much better in general, and Roy Miller was a stud in the middle. - On offense, Cody Johnson needs more carries.
Franklin kept saying the coaches are concerned about his conditioning, so I guess that must be true. But I think he can handle more than 9 carries, even if he is a little on the heavy side. He just adds so much to the running game that it’s becoming critical that he see the field more. It is incredibly frustrating, though, watching him being handed the ball from a standing start. Toss sweep, anyone? - Jordan Shipley is becoming a real difference-maker at WR. He and Quan have done a great job of alleviating pre-season concerns about that part of the offense. They are just fine. I’d love to see James Kirkendoll get more involved – he only had one catch yesterday, but he sure did a hell of a lot with it.
- Colt McCoy is the best QB in college football. Say what you want about Tebow, Sanchez and Daniel, Colt is a more complete package than any of them. Lord, let him stay healthy.
- Special teams continue to be special. It’s been a long, long time since we had a punter on campus like John Gold. Great, great find.
- Defensive Player of the Game – lots of candidates, but I’d have to call it a tie between Orakpo and Kindle.
- Special Teams Player of the Game – John Gold, just because.
- Offensive Player of the Game – Colt McCoy.
One other little vignette that illustrates the true one-sided nature of the hopefully defunct Texas/Arkansas rivalry…
In my never-ending quest to acquire a copy of every publication ever issued by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, last week I bought a set of five of the weekly newsmagazines they used to publish during football season, these being from 1970. The December 2 edition is largely focused on previewing what ABC had hoped would turn into the second Big Shootout between top-ranked
Reading the predictions from the great sportswriters of the day, you’d have expected another thrilling slugfest to the end, just like the game from 1969.
Mickey Herkowitz called it 31-28, Texas.
Jack Gallagher forecast a 17-10 Texas win.
Burle Pettitt had it
Denne Freeman didn’t call a score, but said “Arkansas will win because of its balance.”
Blackie Sherrod also shied away from calling an outright score, saying “…
On and on it went, with reporters from all over Texas and across the nation predicting another firebreathing, hard-fought encounter between the two bitter rivals.
The final score?
And that’s the real continuing theme of this 114 year-old and hopefully defunct “rivalry”.
Hook ‘em!!!
September 28, 2008 at 7:35 am
Enjoyed it as always Eyes.
Ship and Quan are the two most sure-handed receivers we have ever had.
I sure would like to see our offense with a healthy Fozzy.
I sure wish we had recruited Kendall Hunter, who went to Okie Lite. He would be a perfect fit.
September 28, 2008 at 7:47 am
This team is really exciting to watch. The scary thing is they are VERY young. I’ll wait until after Missouri, but this season feels a lot like 2004.
September 28, 2008 at 8:47 am
It was a decade long rivalry. There was no better in the 60’s. For perspective, Bo v.Woody was only a decade long.
You’re right though. Except for the great DKR-Broyles decade, there’s but a one-sided fervor.
September 28, 2008 at 8:49 am
Great write up! It was super fun to watch a complete game of domination. If we can be consistent with that performance, look out.
You should do yourself a favor and edit your post with comments about Aaron Williams, which I predict to be our next Thorpe winner before he leaves.
September 28, 2008 at 9:29 am
Once again, a fantastic read. Thanks, Eyes. It always makes my Sunday morning.
September 28, 2008 at 9:44 am
Fine summary, as usual, Eyes.
Ditto your comment re: “Real coaching teaching real players to really play their positions. Ain’t it great?”
Knowing their fundamentals are solid frees the defenders up to play with abandon. So, not only are they positioned where they are supposed to be, they can let it all out and just hit. I like this team’s nasty attitude and think coaching fundamentals enables it.
It isn’t all technique, though. The main item I would add to your long list of GOOD is this team’s mantra of playing all-out for four quarters regardless of the opponent or the score. Did you notice how the sideline went nuts when Aaron Williams took that pick to the house in the fourth quarter? That is a celebration penalty I will gladly take.
September 28, 2008 at 9:50 am
hopefulhorn: your points about fundamentals and conditioning are spot on. Derry and Killebrew took a huge ration of shit last year, some of it from me. But the reality is they weren’t bad athletes or necessarily poor players - they just were horribly coached, and simply never put in a position to succeed by their coaches. Derry was never going to be an all-conference player, but he could have been pretty solid with decent coaching, something he never received.
These kids are obviously getting it, and it shows.
September 28, 2008 at 10:46 am
I have no problem with playing Arkansas. It is good to pound an SEC team. UT has dominated the series but (IIRC) Arkansas cost UT a national championship one year.
Great point about the refereeing. Arkansas was holding so blatantly it was infuriating that the SEC crew would not call it.
I used to like Ron Franklin’s play by play but in recent years he has become really irritating. I am pretty sure he is an Aggie or Aggie lover. For one thing, he calls the Aggies the “Texas Aggies”, WTF!?! I believe that Aggieness is affecting his performance when he calls a UT game.
I’m glad that the UT coaching staff is finally getting concerned with Cody’s conditioning. For a while Mack seemed fine with Cody being 255 pounds (WTF!?!). I was amazed. Cody ran a 4.4 40 at 225 pounds. Wasn’t Maddog paying attention while Cody was putting on all this weight? Cody has put on 30 pounds at UT.
We discussed the contain problem last week. You were quite concerned and said that this contain problem has been a problem for years at UT. I thought it was a simple problem to fix. I used to play some DE and did not find it difficult to maintain contain so I figured the UT DEs and LBs with that responsibility could figure it out pretty easily. Fortunately it did turn out to be a simple problem to fix (good on Muschamp).
Man, it is getting lonely being a Chiles supporter.
I kind of feel sorry for UT runners. Last year the running back coach got sick and their was little effective running coaching. This year Major is the RB coach but he has little direct experience as a runner. That must make it really tough to help vondrell and Chiles with their problems running.
September 28, 2008 at 10:49 am
Nicely done, Eyes.
What fired me up more than anything was seeing the plays being made by true freshman and redshirt freshman all over the field. For so long we’d operated on the premise that these guys were incapable of receiving coaching or contributing.
September 28, 2008 at 11:07 am
Well, the team is 4-0, but all the gimme games have been concluded. Defensively, Texas has more talent than any team in the conference except Oklahoma. Whether or not Muschamp can transform the athleticism into a successful unit within the next 2 to 3 weeks is the question.
Offensively, the conference is awash in talent. Texas, OU, OSU, Tech, and Missouri are ahead of the field, but Kansas, Colorado, and even Baylor can move the football. If Whittaker gets healthy by the time the game in Dallas come, I think we have a fair chance.
I like our punter. He had some really nice long kicks with great hang time. The kickoff coverage isn’t what it should be. That needs further improvement. Enjoyed your piece.
September 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
How long until Robinson becomes a starter? He is now what we all wanted Kindle to be.
September 28, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Colt McCoy is the best QB in college football…who has yet to have faced a defense with a pulse.
McCoy looks to be back in form. Good decision making, sharp passing, and legitimately dangerous on the move. Then again, I think even Jason White post-bionic-knees would look like a fast runner against Rice, Arkansas, FIU, and UTEP.
September 28, 2008 at 12:15 pm
You keep telling yourself that, Nate, and be sure to pass it along to the OU coaches so they believe it, too.
September 28, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Well done as always, Eyes.
I agree with Becker that there was a rivalry, and that it primarily began and ended in teh ’60s. I suspect Ron Franklin is somewhat grounded in that era, in the same way that Earl Campbell will always be the best RB in college football for me. I also agree with all rational Texas fans who pray we never play the hillbillies again.
Kafka, there is no such animal as a ‘Texas aggy’ and if Ron Franklin is misguidedly using that phrase then someone needs to have a private chat with the man and put that shit to an end.
Black unis for UGA worked about as well as the ones we wore in hoops against Duke. Not good.
Nate, ha ha ha - we played FAU, not FIU. Joke’s on you.
If this team can rise to the occasion(s), could Colt win Vince’s Heisman? It’s odd that he was a regular on the leader board two years ago, but no mention on a list that includes some fairly random names.
September 28, 2008 at 3:28 pm
You can’t have a rivalry unless you play every year. It’s a pre-requisite, which is why OU and Nebraska don’t have a “rivalry” anymore either. I still love playing them and their fans are great, but not playing every year, it simply isn’t a rivalry anymore. Obviously, Texas-Arkansas even more so.
Maybe Franklin went on and on because he’s an old school SWC type (lives in Austin) who remembers when it was a rivalry and still regrets that Arkie left the conference and isn’t now in the Big XII, which some believe should be the case. Arkansas isn’t a natural fit in the SEC and never really will be, but the dough is too good for them to ever leave.
Anyway..I didn’t see the game. Is Arkansas truly that bad?
How good is UT? You’re putting up a bunch of points, and even though the opponents have been on the lighter side, you guys must be at least a little surprised.
On the Colt thing, I’ve always thought he was really good and thought you guys were too tough on him last year. I do think those rushing yards are going to be a bit tougher in conference play…
And, yes, A&M is clearly the worst team in the Big XII. They’re freaking BAD. It’s almost unbelievable. Kinda reminds me of ‘96-’98 OU. Watch OSU stick 55 on them Saturday.
Beat Colorado this week. I want a two teams in the top 5 matchup. Still bitter it’s at 11AM. It’s hard to drink beer at 7!
September 28, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Q: Is Arkansas truly that bad?
A: Yes, definitely. If Texas doesn’t essentially call off the dogs midway through the 3rd quarter, this game could easily have ended up 66-3. It’s actually stunning how bad Arkansas really is.
Q: How good is UT?
A: Probably not as good as OU, but getting better every week. Our OL is excellent, but we’re having trouble finding a workable tailback, so going with a committee back there. If Fozzy Whittaker can get well by OU, then you should be worried. On defense, we are very young in the secondary, but the kids are beginning to figure it out and play on instinct rather than having to think about things. We have outstanding athleticism back there and will ultimately be very good. Maybe not in time for the OU game, though. Our special teams are as good as they have been in Mack’s tenure here. In short, we deserve to be ranked in the top five, just as OU deserves its #1 ranking.
When the season began, I had little hope we could be competitive with OU in Dallas. As of now, I have little doubt. This will be a fun game.
“A&M is clearly the worst team in the Big XII…Watch OSU stick 55 on them Saturday.”
55 may be an underestimate.
September 28, 2008 at 4:43 pm
In addition to his great run after the catch, Kirkendol also was the receiver being thrown to on one of Ark. pass interference plays.
September 28, 2008 at 4:57 pm
A&M is clearly the worst team in the Big XII…
Sad but true, I’m afraid. I starting watching the game, but it became too painful after the first half. A&M seems to be imploding.
Aggies need to give Sherman time to build his own program, but some of the play Saturday was just horrible. I attribute some of this to bad coaching. That string of personal fouls… they gave Army a touchdown.
September 28, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Eyes, I’m not saying Colt McCoy isn’t back in the “Big 12’s Best QB” discussion (which is the nation’s top QB by default). Far from it, he’s got to be in the top three. But calling him, or anyone else, definitively the best QB in the Big 12 is very premature considering the best defense he’s faced is UTEP, who is ranked 101st in scoring D. Arky is ranked 65th in total defense if yards matter to you more than points.
If Fozzy Whittaker can get well by OU, then you should be worried.
Why? He’s not an elite RB by any measure. El Ced worried me. Jamaal Charles worried me. That said, UT is a team I’m worried about regardless of whether or not Fozzy comes back. Colt McCoy is a better running threat anyway.
September 28, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Don’t know this for sure, since we haven’t seen much of Fozzy, but chances are high that Fozzy is a better back than Benson or Charles, especially on just the collegiate level. I know, I know, the stats and the awards and all, but the test of a truly great back is how he performs in the big games and against good defenses when he has to be the one pulling the load. Benson failed on this standard. Charles was very good, but I just gotta a feeling Fozzy is gonna be better.
Fozzy is just the perfect back to carve up a dominant and oversized OU line, alot like the Jizz did to USC. Plus, I think Fozzy probably hits the hole faster and has a better initial burst then any back at UT in recent memory. You may have to go all the way back to Metcalf to find one better, if even he was at that.
September 28, 2008 at 6:13 pm
As far as the QB position is concerned, I’d certainly take McCoy over Bradford, any day. Bradford stats and performance maybe better over the season, but Texas would be for worse, if the teams ever switched QBs. With that physically dominating line of OU’s (more physically dominating than any line I have ever seen Texas field), Bradford has to deal with much less pressure than Colt and much less is demanded of him.
The debate on who is the best QB in the B12 is really between Chase Daniel and Colt. I haven’t seen enough of CD to say, but Colt definitely seems to be the better runner. I’m really looking forward to seeing how well the zone read works with both Colt and Fozzy running it. It has all the marks of being a deadly combination, along with Colt’s excellent passing abilities.
September 28, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I think we are continuing to use the Q package to keep Chiles interested in staying at Texas.
September 29, 2008 at 3:17 am
I think that’s probably right, and I further think that if running 10 meaningless, non-productive plays every week is what it takes to keep him in Austin on the pretense he might someday develop into a workable QB, then that’s a fool’s game we’re playing.
September 29, 2008 at 5:21 am
The PI calls were absolutely baffling yesterday, but our DBs could probably avoid some of the penalties by simply turning to look for the ball.
September 29, 2008 at 6:22 am
Don’t know this for sure, since we haven’t seen much of Fozzy, but chances are high that Fozzy is a better back than Benson or Charles, especially on just the collegiate level. I know, I know, the stats and the awards and all, but the test of a truly great back is how he performs in the big games and against good defenses when he has to be the one pulling the load. Benson failed on this standard. Charles was very good, but I just gotta a feeling Fozzy is gonna be better.
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Holy Shit. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. Dude doesn’t have 100 yds rushing in college and he’s better than the #2 and #3 leading rushers in school history? He’s better than the #6 all time NCAA leading rusher? Get the fuck out.
September 29, 2008 at 6:36 am
Ouch.
September 29, 2008 at 6:40 am
Since NateHeupel is unlikely to point this out I would also argue that OU’s current O-line is not as good as the best Texas line we’ve seen in the Mack Brown era. I rate the Texas 2005 unit second to none.
Let’s see OU’s line this year against Texas and whomever they play in their bowl game before we let OU fans start licking each other’s popsicles about this offensive line being the greatest thing ever. I think West Virginia would argue that it is not.
September 29, 2008 at 6:46 am
OU’s running backs went 30-61 against TCU. The Sooner offensive line is much better at pass blocking than they are at run blocking.
September 29, 2008 at 10:34 am
I rate the Texas 2005 unit second to none.
Must not have seen the Rose Bowl then, cause USC’s lines were clearly better than our own. I also believe that they had more players drafted and higher than the Texas O-line. USC blew our D-line off the ball all night long. Something that I thought could not be done. That is the main reason why USC gave our defense so much trouble in that game. If our highly touted D-tackles could have held their ground, we would have won that game walking away.
Don’t know if this current OU line if better than the 05 Texas line, but I do believe that they seem to be more physical and it shows primarily in the push they get in their run blocking. OU has always given Texas fits cause they have been simply more physical than us. You can debate as to why that has always been the case, but I think it is safe to say that this has been a plain jane fact.
September 29, 2008 at 10:55 am
Holy Shit. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. Dude doesn’t have 100 yds rushing in college and he’s better than the #2 and #3 leading rushers in school history? He’s better than the #6 all time NCAA leading rusher? Get the fuck out.
What is the point and the fun of prognosticating if you wait until the deed is done? For it to be worth a damn, you do have to sort of go out on a limb. Maybe not out to the limb I have gone, but you get the general point.
Stats are stats and while important, I have never been too impressed with them. The game has changed from the past, and it is not surprising that most of the runners high up on that list are recent tail backs. It’s cause teams in the past just did not rack up the yards like they do now. Any modern RB we have, if he is decent, is going to just rocket up that list of UT runners, if he plays for all four years, much like all the other offensive skill positions. So Fozzy is not competing, so much, with all the backs in UT history, but mainly the ones from the past ten years or so. I do not believe that Campbell had the most yards rushing in UT history (he just played in a different era), but I doubt if anyone would question that he was our best back by far and probably the best player to ever play at UT. To me, Campbell was one of the ten best running backs to ever play the game, period. He was just a man among boys, more so than Ricky, and Ced does even come close. So stats while important, ain’t all that.
Anyway, Fozzy like you said is just starting out. Give the man a chance. After four years in the program, you don’t think he will be high up on that list? I gotta say I am a believer from what I have seen so far. I could be wrong, but I suspect that this is far from “the dumbest thing you have ever read”. If anything, try rereading some of your own posts.
September 29, 2008 at 11:53 am
steven,
care to address the flaws in our financial system while you’re at it? I have a congressmen on hold looking for answers and he’s looking for some deeply flawed opinions on just about anything.
Thanks!
September 29, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Wall St. bailout plan is on par with the Cluster Flux.
September 29, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Anyway, Fozzy like you said is just starting out. Give the man a chance. After four years in the program, you don’t think he will be high up on that list? I gotta say I am a believer from what I have seen so far. I could be wrong, but I suspect that this is far from “the dumbest thing you have ever read”. If anything, try rereading some of your own posts.
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Who knows? That’s like saying that Aaron Williams is clearly a better corner than say… Nathan Vasher or Cedric Griffin. Yeah, he’s got a chance, but so does that “Ford” kid. I mean, who knows, maybe EVERY other corner on our team breaks a leg, and the every QB we play against starts throwing it to him, over and over. Hey, it COULD HAPPEN! I mean, he’s had pretty good coverage so far when tested….
Good Lord.
September 29, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I know, the stats and the awards and all, but the test of a truly great back is how he performs in the big games and against good defenses when he has to be the one pulling the load. Benson failed on this standard. Charles was very good, but I just gotta a feeling Fozzy is gonna be better.
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I had to go back and read your first post again to see if I missed anything… It turns out I DID! This… honestly. Fozzy is better than Benson, because Benson never turned in big games in Big Games? Since WHEN has Fozzy done this? HS playoffs? Fozzy has already missed nearly as many games in his career as Benson did… and Benson was suspended for 2.
DURABILITY is part of the package when it comes to “great” players. I don’t care what sort of super athlete you are… if you aren’t on the field, then you cannot affect the outcome of the game.
September 29, 2008 at 9:03 pm
“a dominant and oversized OU line”
Sweet Lord. Oversized? The biggest DL is 298. We’ve had this discussion before. You were thinking about the OL, not the DL.
“I just gotta a feeling Fozzy is gonna be better”
By “better”, do you mean healthy enough to play in more than one game?
“Since NateHeupel is unlikely to point this out I would also argue that OU’s current O-line is not as good as the best Texas line we’ve seen in the Mack Brown era. I rate the Texas 2005 unit second to none.”
Vince Young made those boys look better than they were more than once in pass protection. That said, I concur that the 2005 UT unit is superior to 2008’s OU OL. 2008’s OU OL might (and I emphasize might) be more talented, but UT’s ‘05 O-line unit came to play EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Just because I won’t point it out, doesn’t mean I disagree.
“OU’s running backs went 30-61 against TCU. The Sooner offensive line is much better at pass blocking than they are at run blocking.”
Agreed, but it’s very important to mention that TCU’s game plan against OU this year was the exact same game plan they brought to Norman in 2005, but Patterson put a sticky note on it about a big, fast TE. TCU loaded 8 in the box and blitzed with reckless abandon.
“Bradford has to deal with much less pressure than Colt and much less is demanded of him.”
This is why I told you to stop posting about OU as if you knew what you were talking about. TCU was the first team to go after Bradford since WVU. They came up with 3 sacks and several hits on the QB. All Bradford did was throw for 4 TDs and 400+ yards. All he’s asked to do is lead the fastest paced no-huddle offense in D1.
The last time Colt McCoy faced any significant pressure, he threw 22 TDs and 18 INTs in a season. In short, it’s a wee bit premature for the coronation.
I said this back at the end of 2006. I’ll say it again. Give Rhett Bomar the 2006 UT offensive line, and he’s an All American. Give Colt McCoy the 2005 OU offensive line, and you get his 2007 performance.
September 30, 2008 at 2:56 am
“I said this back at the end of 2006. I’ll say it again. Give Rhett Bomar the 2006 UT offensive line, and he’s an All American. Give Colt McCoy the 2005 OU offensive line, and you get his 2007 performance.”
Wow. I’ve agreed with everything you’ve said but this. Colt was under constant pressure in 07 because of a young o-line. Give him the 2005 o-line, and he would not have thrown nearly as many picks. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have been in a slump, but saying you’d have seen the exact same performance behind a surperior o-line is a bit much. I think very, very few QBs would have done much better than McCoy in a similar situation, Bradford and Bomar included.
For the record, I think last year’s “slump” taught him a LOT and helped to develop him into the running threat that he has become.
Yes, Bradford is talented, but so is McCoy. Of course, who has more talent in your view depends primarily on which school you support.