Football question

[WichitaSooner]

Quick question: what free OU board(s) do you find have good info? I have no desire to pay for the sunshine pumping stuff that guys like Drumm and Thune put out (I mean, they are comparing backups to Gerald McCoy and suggesting we have the best collection of RBs in the country). I'd like to be able to find some (somewhat) reliable info about things like injuries and who actually looks good in practice and other insider info, etc. Is there any good content out there? Anything similar to this board?

 

[MJSooner]

Quick question: what free OU board(s) do you find have good info? I have no desire to pay for the sunshine pumping stuff that guys like Drumm and Thune put out (I mean, they are comparing backups to Gerald McCoy and suggesting we have the best collection of RBs in the country). I'd like to be able to find some (somewhat) reliable info about things like injuries and who actually looks good in practice and other insider info, etc. Is there any good content out there? Anything similar to this board?

Wichita- I don't know about free boards, as I get my content on SoonerScoop and OUInsider, and Drumm/Thune's board. But it seems like there are reporters (George Stoia) and OU beat writers who report the same info on Twitter that they put on the pay sites. It's actually a common complaint from the members on those sites.

And all compliments to @BoulderSooner and all the regular participants on this board, nothing free compares to this site.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Wichita- I don't know about free boards, as I get my content on SoonerScoop and OUInsider, and Drumm/Thune's board. But it seems like there are reporters (George Stoia) and OU beat writers who report the same info on Twitter that they put on the pay sites. It's actually a common complaint from the members on those sites.

And all compliments to @BoulderSooner and all the regular participants on this board, nothing free compares to this site.

Thanks, and I agree on the props for Boulder and everyone who created and maintains this site.

On the football side -- what sense do you get about the injuries? The reporters seem to be downplaying them, but I think they also believed Brent last summer when he acted like the injuries were minor. My personal feeling is that as obsessed as football coaches are with practice and reps, they wouldn't hold guys out for a week of camp with truly minor injuries. I suspect at least some of these guys won't play the opener, and perhaps beyond. If Ott or any starting O-linemen are out, I think it's huge trouble. Barnes has been mediocre to poor for two seasons now, and it sounds like he is second on the depth chart -- not sure why, but the media members keep expecting him to be good.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Soonerscoop is really good ... those guys don't really sunshine pump .. and there is a good collection over there ..

not free of course ..


and also thank you both for the kind words ..

Ott would play if we had a game tomorrow ... and the only player i would say for sure is out for the opener (other then the truly injured guys at WR) is Eli bowen ..

 

[WichitaSooner]

Soonerscoop is really good ... those guys don't really sunshine pump .. and there is a good collection over there ..

not free of course ..


and also thank you both for the kind words ..

Ott would play if we had a game tomorrow ... and the only player i would say for sure is out for the opener (other then the truly injured guys at WR) is Eli bowen ..

I can't even keep track of the specifics -- remind me what Bowen's injury is?

As for the receivers, I don't have much faith that Jaden Gibson will be a factor. What's the word on the new, hopefully better Gibson? Brent has been as vague as possible about him. I have no idea if we see him early in the season, midway through, or if it turns into a situation like last year with some of our guys and he barely touches the field all season.

 

[MJSooner]

I would agree with Boulder that Soonerscoop does not sunshine pump. A couple of their guys are actually quite cynical. Almost like they've been burned by the hopium and aren't buying it anymore. Kind of like most of us, I suppose.

I also agree there should be a bit of concern with injuries, IMO. But I think most of them are just nagging injuries, as Boulder said, most would be playing. Bowen has an ankle/lower leg injury. Missed all of camp so far, IIRC, and started in a boot. Some speculation week 3-4, earliest to return. Jayden Gibson is still coming back. George Stoia thinks he won't be a factor anytime soon.

I don't think injuries are anywhere near last year but still have positions where depth is not there to overcome injuries where guys are not consistently there.

 

[cbertus6]

I am a member on the TFB (the football brainiacs) donor site. I personally like their info and feel like they shoot it pretty straight from their vantage point. They can get a little bit of tunnel vision on stuff but I’ve always felt like they present things as they are. I generally don’t engage in the comments section as it can feel a bit cultish at times.

They have a free site that they post all of their updates to once weekly. I’d avoid that comment section like the plague though because it is a true cesspool. The donor side is at least somewhat civil

 

[BoulderSooner]

I can't even keep track of the specifics -- remind me what Bowen's injury is?

As for the receivers, I don't have much faith that Jaden Gibson will be a factor. What's the word on the new, hopefully better Gibson? Brent has been as vague as possible about him. I have no idea if we see him early in the season, midway through, or if it turns into a situation like last year with some of our guys and he barely touches the field all season.

doubt jaden plays at all this season .. the new Gibson is now cleared to run and should be back in sept ..

eli bowen hurt his ankle bad in the spring and is still not practicing ..

i think the sexton and simmons injuries at OT are actually a blessing ..

fasusi is the most talented player on the entire roster .. and he is taking all the 1st team reps at LT and i don't think he is going to give up the spot ..

at RT howland (who is a giant) is now getting all the first team reps and he has a higher upside IMHO then simmons .

 

[WichitaSooner]

doubt jaden plays at all this season .. the new Gibson is now cleared to run and should be back in sept ..

eli bowen hurt his ankle bad in the spring and is still not practicing ..

i think the sexton and simmons injuries at OT are actually a blessing ..

fasusi is the most talented player on the entire roster .. and he is taking all the 1st team reps at LT and i don't think he is going to give up the spot ..

at RT howland (who is a giant) is now getting all the first team reps and he has a higher upside IMHO then simmons .

I really hope BB figures out/plays the right five guys. I hate how much he rotates guys, especially early in the season. That’s the position group that benefits most from continuity, and you never see NFL teams rotate guys in and out constantly throughout individual games unless it’s due to injury. I mean, if we actually manage to blow someone out, sure, put the backups in in the second half, but otherwise, play your best dudes. And I hope they don’t shy away from playing the two freshmen just because they are young. Outside of Michigan, the noncon is easy enough that you can live with whatever growing pains they experience early.

 

[daqman]

teddy and gabe had a pretty good breakdown on their podcast yesterday(i think). might have been tuesday.

 

[cmdsooner]

Gracen Halton is another one that seems iffy on the injury front to me. Maybe just being careful with the hammy though.

 

[CMSOONER]

Teddy and Gabe's podcast The Oklahoma Breakdown is pretty good. They obviously know football and give their honest takes.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Teddy and Gabe's podcast The Oklahoma Breakdown is pretty good. They obviously know football and give their honest takes.

I love Teddy. Gabe talks too much about his own career and life for my liking lol.

They both obviously really know football and I enjoy when they break down the game. But I think they are too closely tied to Brent to really be critical or question things in advance. They are critical of play calling and overall approach in hindsight, but going into each season, they really hype up our roster. Even last year, when there were all sorts of rumors that Arnold and the rest of the offense looked bad in the spring and summer, they downplayed it. Gabe also has a long list of players he gushes about in the spring and summer who never end up seeing the field. But all that said, I listen to all of their episodes and enjoy it. Just wish they didn’t make all our guys sound like future stars!

 

[WichitaSooner]

Gracen Halton is another one that seems iffy on the injury front to me. Maybe just being careful with the hammy though.

Good call, forgot that he was also mentioned as a guy who has missed time. Hamstrings can be especially tricky for big dudes, so let’s hope it is very minor.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Gracen Halton is another one that seems iffy on the injury front to me. Maybe just being careful with the hammy though.

he is ok and would play if michigan game was tomorrow .. .. I have a connection to his family

 

[SoonerBounce13]

If you are not wanting to pay, I'd say just follow the scoop guys and other ou peeps on X and listen to the free podcasts

 

[SoonerDutch]

Scoop is the gold standard for FB but as others have pointed out, most of their content is available for free on YT and the podcasts. They are pretty nonbiased, both in terms of recruiting & team stuff. The board is worth it if you like reading the content, also like general dumbassery with the member antics.

Of the mentioned injuries, would say Bowen’s is most concerning. Not implying he is seriously injured, just that it seems to be lingering & more impactful from returning to practice/games.

I am also assuming that Jayden Gibson will not play/contribute meaningfully this season but that’s not necessarily new.

 

[mict085]

I think we’re gonna be a lot better this year. Offense will be good and defense is gonna be really good. They’ve changed the approach to fall camp this year, being a lot more careful not to overwork guys and being careful with injuries. A lot of guys are being held back for precaution to make sure they’re ready for the season.

I can’t stand most of the pay sites because they’re full of **** most of the time and like to blow smoke to sell subscriptions. No thanks. I don’t ever pay for info. Most of the free sites have just as good info.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I think we’re gonna be a lot better this year. Offense will be good and defense is gonna be really good. They’ve changed the approach to fall camp this year, being a lot more careful not to overwork guys and being careful with injuries. A lot of guys are being held back for precaution to make sure they’re ready for the season.

I can’t stand most of the pay sites because they’re full of **** most of the time and like to blow smoke to sell subscriptions. No thanks. I don’t ever pay for info. Most of the free sites have just as good info.

I’m sure the offense will be much better. It would be hard not to be. But my concern is this: other than the three bad teams in noncon, I don’t expect us to be good enough to comfortably beat anyone on the schedule. There will be nine tough, competitive games. Those are the games that make me terrified when thinking about how bad Brent is with his in-game coaching.

Coaching makes or breaks you in a lot of close games. Wasting timeouts, being slow to decide whether to go for it or kick, not having the right personnel on the field, committing sloppy penalties and turnovers … we have seen those things happen so many times the past three years. I don’t see any of that changing. The dude just isn’t good at a lot of the things that head coaches need to do on Saturdays. I fully expect his decision making to cost us at least a couple games, likely more. And two games can be the difference between a good/great season, or playing a Wednesday afternoon bowl game in front of 25,000 people.