Random thoughts on Oklahoma-North Texas
Finally got around to watching the first half of this game last night. While Texas fans might have something to worry about, let’s walk away from the edge for now.
North Texas is bad. Really bad. OU was bigger, faster and stronger. If North Texas had a player that could play for OU, they held him out. And when you compound the talent deficit with some questionable coaching moves, well, you lose by 69 points.
UNT played man the entire first half and repeatedly got burned.
My conservative estimate is that the OU receivers got at least 200 yards after the catch. You can’t expect a 5′8″ white corner to be able to cover Malcolm Kelly. You just can’t. It was like watching a kid chase an ice cream truck. UNT did nothing to take advantage of a quarterback making his first collegiate start. Try disguising your coverages. Try playing zone. Anything. I’m convinced Carl Reese hijacked the feed from the pressbox and was calling the defense.
UNT’s offensive line consists of 4 guard types and one freshman tackle. These guys were recruited for a smash mouth running game and struggle in pass protection. And yet North Texas stayed in their 4 receiver set the entire first half. They never once changed the formation from what I saw. They could have decided to change formations and run the ball or at least run the ball out of their base, but they never did. Run the clock. Stop the bleeding. Make it respectable. I guess this will help the Dodge narrative. ‘In his first game at North Texas, Dodge lost by 69 points. Four years later he won the Sun Belt!’
“History will judge you favorably.”
So what did I learn about OU? Not much that we didn’t know already. Malcolm Kelly is good. Joaquin Iglesias is a solid 2nd receiver. Bob Stoops yells a lot. OU’s defensive backs are quick and like to jump routes.
We learned some new things. Sam Bradford can throw hitch passes. When Ryan Reynolds blitzes, he looks like a woman attacking a rack of clothes at a sale. Left tackle Phil Loadholt has never seen a spin move. And they couldn’t run the ball worth shit.
But Demarco Murray averaged 5 yards per carry and scored 5 touchdowns?! Take away his 44 yard touchdown run on a reverse (where he lined up at WR), and he went 16-43. OU had a first and goal on the 4 yard line, and it took the first offense 4 rushes to score. They later had a first and goal on the 2, and it took them 3 rushes to score. Not Texas bad, but not good either.
Now comes Miami.
September 6, 2007 at 11:34 am
Interesting breakdown of Murray’s rushing performance.
If they couldn’t run on NT, they won’t run on Miami’s D, which may be the best run D in the nation.
I think the Miami QB will ultimately give OU the game but if Miami can eliminate TOs and run the ball with any success, it will be a close one.
OU will come in dramatically overconfident and Miami will come in like the program’s future depends on the outcome of the game.
September 6, 2007 at 11:48 am
All true. Trust me, we are as concerned about the run blocking…we were terrible against an opponent that quite simply…sucks.
Bradford throwing the bubble screens and hitch routes I thought was designed well before the game to boost his confidence (and I think in large part some of that is true). However, when they saw the mean green bringing the safeties further in and watching them get sucked out of the play the first few screens…I think Kevin Wilson thought we would just keep working that. No need in giving to much away if it is working.
I thought Bradford looked really good from the standpoint that the balls thrown vertically to stretch the field were never underthrown and put only where the receiver could make plays on them (something Thompson still cannot do).
All true about Murray…that didnt escape my attention either. But A. Patrick and C. Brown are much more physical runners and I felt as though Murray showed a lack of patience finding the holes and waiting for blocks (when they were there).
Miami will be a much better indication of where the offensive line is in blocking assignments (run and pass). Bradford will see pressure and have to deliver. Our backs will have to grind out the 3-4 hard yards when it counts. With Miami having a much better O-line (some have even played before!!!) we will see how OU’s defensive front does.
September 6, 2007 at 11:54 am
You’re correct about Bradford and the playbook. Get him some easy throws to boost his confidence and get him in a rhythm. OU didn’t have to show anything, and I think they might have been surprised at just how easy they scored.
September 7, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Fair assessment… The Ryan Renolds comment was comedy. Phil Loadholt must have been playing drunk b/c he was nothing like he was in his scrimmages, but whatever. He’ll either make money against that 6′8 DE miami has or he’ll lose it due to his performance.
Can’t believe you didn’t mention that white CB doing something with his electrically shocked hair, like… cut it?!