Football question

[WTSooner]

All I'll say on the depth chart is if you paid attention to them last year, they are pretty much worthless.

Again, you don't have to like how OU treats the depth charts, but they are pretty consistent in using them in a way that isn't all that reflective of the actual depth chart going into a game.

So let's see how it all shakes out before we make it a bigger deal than it needs to be.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

You'll need to admit you were straight up wrong in your assessment.

lol don't hold your breath

 

[daqman]

i'm going to predict 9-3. and they better look competent on both sides of the ball or i'm good with chucking brent in the dumpster and moving on.
i'm sick of watching the clown show (south carolina last year).
i have high confidence in arbuckle ( and mateer)... hence my 9 win prediction. and i think the defense will be pretty good assuming key players stay healthy.

 

[daqman]

I will lose it if Barnes is really rb1

yup....barnes better be 3rd team by week 2.

 

[daqman]

With game week here, maybe it would be worth doing a season W/L prediction? I'd set the O/U at 7.5 wins, which is (I think) where most books currently have it. Since I think that is spot on, I won't be putting any money on it this season because I don't have a strong feel.

I think I will have a much better feel after Michigan. If we win that game and look really good doing it, I may allow myself to get somewhat optimistic. But if we struggle at home against a good-but-not-great team starting a true freshman QB in his first road game, that will be a bad sign.

I think we have upgraded our offense from last year, mainly at QB, OC, and RB1 if Ott stays healthy and DeMarco doesn't mess things up. But I think our overall roster is still not nearly as stacked as some people think. I heard some of the OU pods label it a top-10 roster last week. Then you see that draft experts at ESPN and The Athletic only have one Sooner in their top 100 for next season's draft, and it makes it pretty clear that we still have a long way to go.

the 2000 team probly didn't have many top 100 draft prospects on it either..
it sounds like the o-line will be a lot better than last year....and i think mateer/ott/robinson/ are good enough to win a bunch of games.
of course a couple receivers need to step up ...

 

[WichitaSooner]

What big road games?

This will be their first road game against an SEC team in their program's history.

They generally play a pretty weak OOC schedule, thus their roster's big road games would be playing @tOSU and @Penn State twice each over a 4 season stretch.

They play at the Shoe every other year and play in a league with Penn State and Nebraska. I am confident that’s a little tougher than what Tulane is used to. Plus, there is no question Michigan has more talent than Tulane. I didn’t think it was that controversial to suggest that Michigan is a tougher test than Tulane.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Do you really expect BV to be honest to the media and the fans about injuries? You think Nick Saban was out there giving detailed, accurate injury news on his players?

You don't have to like BV and what he's done at OU, but that's an unreasonable expectation.

Then just say no comment. Don’t flat out lie. People hated how tight lipped Riley was but I’d rather a coach just say they aren’t going to talk as opposed to someone like Brent, who pretends like he gives so much access, but doesn’t give honest answers to any meaningful questions.

As for Saban, first, he didn’t have mandatory injury reports. Now that those exist, I don’t see the need to lie to the media when the whole world will find out well before the game, anyway. And second, I’ll be more than happy to let Brent say whatever he wants when he has to start using his second hand to wear all his national championship rings as a head coach

 

[WichitaSooner]

the 2000 team probly didn't have many top 100 draft prospects on it either..
it sounds like the o-line will be a lot better than last year....and i think mateer/ott/robinson/ are good enough to win a bunch of games.
of course a couple receivers need to step up ...

The 2000 team isn’t a bad analogy from that standpoint because you’re right, that wasn’t nearly our most talented roster. But … that team has a brilliant, aggressive young head coach. His coaching won us games. Now … our coaching loses us games. I truly think that all the other stuff can be true … better line, better quarterback, better (third string) running back, better OC. But I have such a low opinion of Brent as a head coach that I can’t see us getting over the hump.

 

[Boom Soon]

The RB room is very concerning. I don’t mind Barnes getting the 1, but the room is one twisted ankle from being a disaster.

Also, RB has to pass block too. And Barnes is very good at that. So I think that has something to do with him getting the start.

 

[WTSooner]

The RB room is very concerning. I don’t mind Barnes getting the 1, but the room is one twisted ankle from being a disaster.

Also, RB has to pass block too. And Barnes is very good at that. So I think that has something to do with him getting the start.

BV and Nagy literally addressed this yesterday. They said every running back except Barnes and Blaylock missed substantial time this Spring/Summer. It's a depth chart to reward the guys that were at practice EVERY day.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

[SoonerMagic]

I like Barns. He has been injured most the time. He averaged close to 5 yards a carry with a bad offense and offensive line last year. If he stays healthy I bet he averages over 6 per carry this year. Just my opinion.

 

[WichitaSooner]

BV and Nagy literally addressed this yesterday. They said every running back except Barnes and Blaylock missed substantial time this Spring/Summer. It's a depth chart to reward the guys that were at practice EVERY day.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Then why is Simmons listed as a potential starter on the O-line, when he also missed a ton of camp? Seems like if you're going to hand out starting spots as "rewards" for practice time rather than simply starting the best players, that would apply at every position, not just running back. Again, it seems like DeMarco focuses so much on stuff other than getting the best player on the field.

Like most people, I wouldn't care about this very much if not for how badly that position has been mishandled the past three years. DeMarco and Brent have done a terrible job putting the best guy on the field, and their desire to rotate 1,200 guys has made it impossible for anyone to get in a groove. They make things way too complicated. NFL teams get by with two guys and maybe an occasional third guy gets snaps. Just because college teams have bigger rosters doesn't mean you have to actually play four or five guys.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Then why is Simmons listed as a potential starter on the O-line, when he also missed a ton of camp? Seems like if you're going to hand out starting spots as "rewards" for practice time rather than simply starting the best players, that would apply at every position, not just running back. Again, it seems like DeMarco focuses so much on stuff other than getting the best player on the field.

Like most people, I wouldn't care about this very much if not for how badly that position has been mishandled the past three years. DeMarco and Brent have done a terrible job putting the best guy on the field, and their desire to rotate 1,200 guys has made it impossible for anyone to get in a groove. They make things way too complicated. NFL teams get by with two guys and maybe an occasional third guy gets snaps. Just because college teams have bigger rosters doesn't mean you have to actually play four or five guys.

because the other 2 guys missed time as well

 

[WichitaSooner]

because the other 2 guys missed time as well

Fasusi missed what, two or three days? He clearly practiced far more than Simmons, so if there is any consistency to Brent's thinking, the same rationale should apply.

I hope the people who are confident that Ott will start week two are right. I hope he and Balylock and/or Robinson are the guys who play, and that Barnes is nothing more than a third down back who rarely sees the field. I wouldn't bet on it, though.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Fasusi missed what, two or three days? He clearly practiced far more than Simmons, so if there is any consistency to Brent's thinking, the same rationale should apply.

I hope the people who are confident that Ott will start week two are right. I hope he and Balylock and/or Robinson are the guys who play, and that Barnes is nothing more than a third down back who rarely sees the field. I wouldn't bet on it, though.

that is the other side ... LT .. all 3 RT missed time ..

Ott is the starting Kick returner in week 1 .. he is good to go

 

[WichitaSooner]

that is the other side ... LT .. all 3 RT missed time ..

Ott is the starting Kick returner in week 1 .. he is good to go

You're right, it is Sexton who is the OR at LT, and he also missed way more time than Fasusi, correct? I guess I forgot that Howland also missed time at RT -- hard to keep up with all the people who missed time on our supposedly healthy team.

What's the word on RSJ not being the clear starter? Also injury related?

 

[WTSooner]

Fasusi missed what, two or three days? He clearly practiced far more than Simmons, so if there is any consistency to Brent's thinking, the same rationale should apply.

I hope the people who are confident that Ott will start week two are right. I hope he and Balylock and/or Robinson are the guys who play, and that Barnes is nothing more than a third down back who rarely sees the field. I wouldn't bet on it, though.

Fasusi missed more than that. After he overheated, they kept him out pretty much all week. And he plays LT, not RT.

Howland is the other guy at RT and he missed time with a concussion (I believe) as well. So both of those guys on the right side missed about equal time.

 

[Boom Soon]

Then why is Simmons listed as a potential starter on the O-line, when he also missed a ton of camp? Seems like if you're going to hand out starting spots as "rewards" for practice time rather than simply starting the best players, that would apply at every position, not just running back. Again, it seems like DeMarco focuses so much on stuff other than getting the best player on the field.

Like most people, I wouldn't care about this very much if not for how badly that position has been mishandled the past three years. DeMarco and Brent have done a terrible job putting the best guy on the field, and their desire to rotate 1,200 guys has made it impossible for anyone to get in a groove. They make things way too complicated. NFL teams get by with two guys and maybe an occasional third guy gets snaps. Just because college teams have bigger rosters doesn't mean you have to actually play four or five guys.

According to Gabe and Teddy, Nagy also said Barnes is the best college blocking back he’s ever seen. I think that has a huge weight when choosing a starting running back.

 

[WichitaSooner]

According to Gabe and Teddy, Nagy also said Barnes is the best college blocking back he’s ever seen. I think that has a huge weight when choosing a starting running back.

Oh I have heard them talk for years about his pass blocking. But he has been a good blocker for three years, and we have all seen how bad/mediocre our running game has been. And if you weigh pass blocking that much, then why go out and spend so much on Ott? Other than Mateer, he is the best/most expensive guy we brought in, and we have heard for months that he is a game changer. If he is truly healthy, then he needs to be the man, even if Barnes has an edge in that one area of his game.

 

[Sooner04]

I shouldn't be as bothered by the bowl loss as I am, but there were so many coaching mistakes made that afternoon that it just jades the hell out of me. I don't know if this group can put together all the variables required to get us back to where we want to be. Up 14-0 with a chance to take a three-possession lead against a ball-control squad? No, let's pass on the chip-shot field goal. 27 different wideouts are unavailable due to various circumstances? Let's have Hawkins attempt 43 passes.

I'm a big fan of Brent Venables. I want him to be successful here. I dread starting over. OK, so we go 8-4......then what? Yikes.
And I've been posting on boards alongside WTSooner for at least 20 years, so color me SHOCKED at his positive slant as to the trajectory of the program.
Awesome! Hope he's right!