Football question

[BoulderSooner]

I agree that Mateer is a good bit shy of Baker and Kyler. That means he will likely make some critical mistakes and have some poor games, which makes it even more important that they figure out the run game and eliminate the boneheaded mistakes. I chuckled listening to some of the postgame talk, which was along the lines of “think how good we’ll be when we clean up the mistakes and don’t beat ourselves.” Um … it’s been 41 games (and counting) of sloppy plays and beating ourselves. The stuff that happened last night would probably lead to a one-sided loss against some of the teams on our schedule, especially on the road.

the michigan front 7 is as good as OU will see this season ..

 

[WichitaSooner]

the michigan front 7 is as good as OU will see this season ..

I didn't say otherwise, although I think that remains to be seen. But we will absolutely play better TEAMS than Michigan. My point is simply this: if we muff a punt, muff a kickoff, rough the punter, lose the TO battle by two, miss a short FG, drop a TD pass, and get zero production from our RBS, how confident are you that we will beat Texas or win some of our tougher road games? If we had a history of playing clean games and Saturday was a fluke, I would agree with the people saying that we will be scary when we eliminate those mistakes. But we have lots of losses the past three years that should have/would have been wins if not for the same kinds of things we saw Saturday, We are definitely better this year than last. But if we want to have a special season, we need to clean that up, quickly.

 

[SoonerDutch]

I didn't say otherwise, although I think that remains to be seen. But we will absolutely play better TEAMS than Michigan. My point is simply this: if we muff a punt, muff a kickoff, rough the punter, lose the TO battle by two, miss a short FG, drop a TD pass, and get zero production from our RBS, how confident are you that we will beat Texas or win some of our tougher road games? If we had a history of playing clean games and Saturday was a fluke, I would agree with the people saying that we will be scary when we eliminate those mistakes. But we have lots of losses the past three years that should have/would have been wins if not for the same kinds of things we saw Saturday, We are definitely better this year than last. But if we want to have a special season, we need to clean that up, quickly.

If your general point is that OU could play better, no disagreement from me lol but some of the specific criticism are stretching it a bit - namely the FG, zero production from the RBs, and dropping a TD pass.

40 yard plus kicks are not automatic, Blaylock looks solid, Kanak is wildly exceeding expectations. I still think 8/9 wins is most likely because of the schedule but the team looked impressive on Saturday.

 

[Soonerguy06]

I watched the entire game against Michigan and was so very pleasantly surprised by our offense! I'm optimistic about this team this season, which I could never say last season. Mateer is a dawg, that's for sure!

 

[hoopsaustin]

I watched the entire game against Michigan and was so very pleasantly surprised by our offense! I'm optimistic about this team this season, which I could never say last season. Mateer is a dawg, that's for sure!

He has a rocket for an arm. Almost too much. He can get the ball out of hands so fast and effortlessly too. Just needs to work on touch. I dont like running him so much, we need a RB to establish themself. I hate a 2 QB system, but I wonder about a Hawkins package (throws up in mouth)..

 

[BCSooners]

Stop exaggerting.

We did not get ZERO production from our RB's. They ran for over 100 yards. Blaylock ran for nearly 70 at 4 ypc. We had the threat of running the ball all game long, and when the game was on the line and Michigan KNEW we were running it, we ran it down their throats.

Yes, the running game needs to continue to improve. How about we don't poo poo on it in it's first game with the starting OL, first game with Ott, and against one of the best run defenses in the country in recent years?

Blaylock ran for 70? RBs had 57 yards on 19 carries. Barnes looked much better & hopefully Ott gets going, but they leaned heavily on Mateer.

 

[WichitaSooner]

If your general point is that OU could play better, no disagreement from me lol but some of the specific criticism are stretching it a bit - namely the FG, zero production from the RBs, and dropping a TD pass.

40 yard plus kicks are not automatic, Blaylock looks solid, Kanak is wildly exceeding expectations. I still think 8/9 wins is most likely because of the schedule but the team looked impressive on Saturday.

We have to be able to hit 42 yarders. Have to. Those should be made, what, 85 percent of the time in college? And it’s a fact that we didn’t get production from the backs. Regardless of how you think someone looks, the numbers show that we are averaging under 3 yards per carry from the RBs. How much of it is them? How much of it is scheme? How much is due to the defense? That’s up for debate but the results are the results. That’s why Mateer had to run so often Saturday. I think Arbuckle even said after the game that the plan wasn’t to use him that much going into the game, but it was what was working.

I’m not trying to downplay the win. It’s a very big win that sets us up to possibly do some really good things. But I always try to take a big picture view when I watch games. When we beat Big 12 teams 63-42 under Riley, I was realistic enough to know we were going to have a very hard time winning playoff games. A team’s warts generally show up even in wins, if you are willing to acknowledge them.

 

[WTSooner]

Blaylock ran for 70? RBs had 57 yards on 19 carries. Barnes looked much better & hopefully Ott gets going, but they leaned heavily on Mateer.

That's my bad, I was looking at one thing and posting about another.

I still think the running game showed a lot of promise considering who we were playing. Good defenses can shut down run games. Michigan has a good running offense, and take away the one 75 yard bust, and we completely shut them down.

 

[WTSooner]

That's my bad, I was looking at one thing and posting abut another.

I still think the running game showed a lot of promise considering who we were playing. Good defenses can shut down run games. Michigan has a good running offense, and take away the one 75 yard bust, and we completely shut them down.

Like I said before the Michigan game, some of you are going to have to be patient with the run game. Arbuckle is going to have to figure out what works. He didn't come to OU with some finally tuned playbook that integrated the run game well. Neither did Riley when he first got to OU, but they figured it out. Arbuckle will too, but it won't be overnight. It'll be gradual.

 

[SoonerDutch]

it’s a fact that we didn’t get production from the backs. Regardless of how you think someone looks, the numbers show that we are averaging under 3 yards per carry from the RBs.

Guess we’ll just have to disagree that it’s a “fact” because we’re averaging 3 YPC lol. Your opinion that they’re not producing, for sure. Ok to disagree haha.

Blaylock is averaging 4 YPC, does that meet a production threshold lol. He’s the best back right now and is more than serviceable IMO. Barnes had some of the biggest plays on the night (block on Burks’ TD and that third down checkdown). Something to build on going forward. Hopefully Ott gets it going.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Guess we’ll just have to disagree that it’s a “fact” because we’re averaging 3 YPC lol. Your opinion that they’re not producing, for sure. Ok to disagree haha.

Blaylock is averaging 4 YPC, does that meet a production threshold lol. He’s the best back right now and is more than serviceable IMO. Barnes had some of the biggest plays on the night (block on Burks’ TD and that third down checkdown). Something to build on going forward. Hopefully Ott gets it going.

I will stand by the statement that averaging 3 yards per carry as a group, when one of those games was against an FCS, is, in fact, poor production. I would guess that would be the worst output in modern OU history if it holds up over the season, and stats are facts. The other fact is that they more or less abandoned even trying to give them the ball for most of the game. The final drive is the one time they got back to it.

 

[SoonerDutch]

I will stand by the statement that averaging 3 yards per carry as a group, when one of those games was against an FCS, is, in fact, poor production. I would guess that would be the worst output in modern OU history if it holds up over the season, and stats are facts. The other fact is that they more or less abandoned even trying to give them the ball for most of the game. The final drive is the one time they got back to it.

Haha, like I said fine to have difference of opinions.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Guess we’ll just have to disagree that it’s a “fact” because we’re averaging 3 YPC lol. Your opinion that they’re not producing, for sure. Ok to disagree haha.

Blaylock is averaging 4 YPC, does that meet a production threshold lol. He’s the best back right now and is more than serviceable IMO. Barnes had some of the biggest plays on the night (block on Burks’ TD and that third down checkdown). Something to build on going forward. Hopefully Ott gets it going.

Sawchuck and Eric gray were 6.0+ YPC.. Kennedy Brooks (our last really good RB imo - criminally underrated) was 8.9, 6.5, & 6.3. For a career avg of 7.0

 

[SoonerDutch]

Sawchuck and Eric gray were 6.0+ YPC.. Kennedy Brooks (our last really good RB imo - criminally underrated) was 8.9, 6.5, & 6.3. For a career avg of 7.0

Nice, those are all more than 3.

 

[daqman]

He has a rocket for an arm. Almost too much. He can get the ball out of hands so fast and effortlessly too. Just needs to work on touch. I dont like running him so much, we need a RB to establish themself. I hate a 2 QB system, but I wonder about a Hawkins package (throws up in mouth)..

has anyone heard if hawkins plans to redshirt?
seems like the coaches would want to put another year between him and mateer if they can.

 

[hoopsaustin]

has anyone heard if hawkins plans to redshirt?
seems like the coaches would want to put another year between him and mateer if they can.

No, but I'm sure he is/would, bc why wouldn't he? He can even throw in his 4 games if he so chooses

 

[CoachTalk]

has anyone heard if hawkins plans to redshirt?
seems like the coaches would want to put another year between him and mateer if they can.

Mateer is gone after this year:

Hawkins or portal!