Looking forward to Basketball

[skyvue]

Two games in a row they've gone up 14-0 within the first 10 minutes and then Mike Stoops has just not gotten stops on the defensive end.

Hard for Mike to get stops from up in the booth. And he's lost most of his foot speed, anyway, from what I hear.

The nation's top offense scored seven points in the second half. Siebert missed a much-needed field goal. We had a number of back-breaking (and mostly stupid) penalties.

There's plenty of blame to go around (and some bad luck too, in the form of a long string of injuries during the game). Placing it all on Mike Stoops' shoulders doesn't begin to tell the whole story.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Hard for Mike to get stops from up in the booth. And he's lost most of his foot speed, anyway, from what I hear.

The nation's top offense scored seven points in the second half. Siebert missed a much-needed field goal. We had a number of back-breaking (and mostly stupid) penalties.

There's plenty of blame to go around (and some bad luck too, in the form of a long string of injuries during the game). Placing it all on Mike Stoops' shoulders doesn't begin to tell the whole story.

5* post!

 

[Stikboy]

OU's football team has played soft the last 3 games. But, OU's offense before the ISU game was #1 in the nation in total offense. I haven't checked lately but if they're not still they're close. They aren't completely without blame, but to suggest that most of OU's issues aren't with the defense is beyond ridiculous. This isn't anything new since Stoops came back for his second OU tenure.

 

[skyvue]

OU's football team has played soft the last 3 games. But, OU's offense before the ISU game was #1 in the nation in total offense. I haven't checked lately but if they're not still they're close. They aren't completely without blame, but to suggest that most of OU's issues aren't with the defense is beyond ridiculous. This isn't anything new since Stoops came back for his second OU tenure.

I don't think I suggested anything of the kind, but fans were screaming for Venables to be sent packing too. The fact is -- and it's been true for years -- the Big 12 is a very talented offensive league. When fans were screaming for Mike's return on the football boards, I warned them to be careful what they wished for. He returned to a VERY different league, offensively, than the one he left. I had my doubts he would succeed in his second go-around and voiced them at the time.

But I've watched football for too many years to think for one second that Saturday's loss was solely Mike's fault. We lost that game in just about every way possible. I had already mentioned that our offense was the nation's best entering the game, but they did not play like it on Saturday. The penalties were killer, the injuries played a huge role (on both sides of the ball). It was one of those nightmarish perfect-storm kind of upsets.

Oh, and lest we forget, ISU played its collective ass off. They're a very talented offense, even with a backup senior QB, and their defense played very solidly--that Baker spent a good portion of the game scrambling, desperately looking for someone to throw to (and too often in vain), proves that. So maybe we should have run more, and maybe, just maybe, Riley gets some of the blame for the defeat.

 

[skyvue]

(I'm probably going to get chewed out -- and rightfully so -- for talking football on a basketball board, so my apologies. I'll hush now.)

 

[WaymanFan]

(I'm probably going to get chewed out -- and rightfully so -- for talking football on a basketball board, so my apologies. I'll hush now.)

Nah...still not quite basketball season. Obviously, there is a lot of interest in this thread, not to mention a lot of good posts.

While I wasn't one of the fans in "meltdown mode" a few days back, it's hard to view the football fans as "unrealistic" for expecting the Sooners to roll when they're 31-point favorites...gotta find a way to win those games. We'll find out this weekend if we're an 8-5 team or an 11-2 team. I never thought we were a title contender with that defense until we could slow down a passing QB.

Also, to the original poster's point, I'm also excited for the start of college basketball!

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Hard for Mike to get stops from up in the booth. And he's lost most of his foot speed, anyway, from what I hear.

The nation's top offense scored seven points in the second half. Siebert missed a much-needed field goal. We had a number of back-breaking (and mostly stupid) penalties.

There's plenty of blame to go around (and some bad luck too, in the form of a long string of injuries during the game). Placing it all on Mike Stoops' shoulders doesn't begin to tell the whole story.

Offense was fine.
I believe they had 9 posessions. Punted once. Missed field goal once. Fumble inside the 10.

They didn't get many chances in the second half. They extended drives to keep the defense off the field and ISU did a good job of eating clock. Our offense got out of rhythm b/c they weren't playing their normal gameplan.

You score 31 points at home against ISU and you should win easily.

You are expecting the offense to be perfect...against isu....to make up for the defense. That should tell you something

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I don't think I suggested anything of the kind, but fans were screaming for Venables to be sent packing too. The fact is -- and it's been true for years -- the Big 12 is a very talented offensive league. When fans were screaming for Mike's return on the football boards, I warned them to be careful what they wished for. He returned to a VERY different league, offensively, than the one he left. I had my doubts he would succeed in his second go-around and voiced them at the time.

But I've watched football for too many years to think for one second that Saturday's loss was solely Mike's fault. We lost that game in just about every way possible. I had already mentioned that our offense was the nation's best entering the game, but they did not play like it on Saturday. The penalties were killer, the injuries played a huge role (on both sides of the ball). It was one of those nightmarish perfect-storm kind of upsets.

Oh, and lest we forget, ISU played its collective ass off. They're a very talented offense, even with a backup senior QB, and their defense played very solidly--that Baker spent a good portion of the game scrambling, desperately looking for someone to throw to (and too often in vain), proves that. So maybe we should have run more, and maybe, just maybe, Riley gets some of the blame for the defeat.

what penalties did the offense have that were killer?
I'm all for sharing blame...but not with the offense. They put up over 500 yards. Scored 31 points. Lost its best receiver and starting running back.
There is one play that put on the offense...the fumble. There are about 15 plays I put on the defense.

The problem with Mike is he is stuck in his ways. He won't change his game plan after it hasn't worked game after game. He won't send pressure. He drops obo back in coverage, and hope the other team will make a mistake. Theres a reason we are nearly last in college football in turnovers. His scheme is crap and he won't admit it. It may have worked in his first stint but not now.

I put the blame on the other coaches as well b/c they are either agreeing with his plan or not man enough to tell him they have to try something different.

I guarentee you though...if we stick to rushing 3 or 4 guys this weekend, we will lose again.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I wouldn't be too upset if this is the first time we have seen this. There are several games every year, and there will be more and more as we go along like this until somebody cans Mike or makes him change.

 

[inoref]

I wouldn't be too upset if this is the first time we have seen this. There are several games every year, and there will be more and more as we go along like this until somebody cans Mike or makes him change.

Mike is only part of the problem..

 

[SoonerTraveler]

That's probably a good strategy. Others (definitely not me ) use it to vent.

I now vent by calling my brother-in-law on the phone after a football loss. He immediately "goes off" and listening to his rant (and how silly it sounds) reminds me that any rant I may have will likely sound just as silly, or irrational.

In my younger days, I was Mr. Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda. Now, I cannot stand to hear someone do that.

***

Like many OU football fans, I am ready for a new defensive coordinator.

Regarding why I like sports, I admire the fight and determination shown on game day by the Iowa State football team. They came to compete. They came to play. They played to win. Good on them.

I am not fond of trash talk and am not impressed when OU players exhibit that "skill." I wonder if someone asked "who's your daddy" after the game.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I now vent by calling my brother-in-law on the phone after a football loss. He immediately "goes off" and listening to his rant (and how silly it sounds) reminds me that any rant I may have will likely sound just as silly, or irrational.

In my younger days, I was Mr. Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda. Now, I cannot stand to hear someone do that.

***

Like many OU football fans, I am ready for a new defensive coordinator.

Regarding why I like sports, I admire the fight and determination shown on game day by the Iowa State football team. They came to compete. They came to play. They played to win. Good on them.

I am not fond of trash talk and am not impressed when OU players exhibit that "skill." I wonder if someone asked "who's your daddy" after the game.

Agreed.

Except an edge in attitude is needed. Baker takes it to the extreme. But you know those early stoops team had that swagger and trash talk going on.
Its awesome when its backed up. It looks stupid when you lose. I'd still rather have a baker than an attitude of a Landry.

And yes, I did hear someone after the game on the field yell whose your daddy now...you could hear it on the broadcast

 

[OUsky]

I wouldn't be too upset if this is the first time we have seen this. There are several games every year, and there will be more and more as we go along like this until somebody cans Mike or makes him change.

23 times over 30 points to be exact. 8 of those over 40 and the one time of 59 just last year. Yikes. He needs to go.

 

[AdaSooner]

Yes, OU football fans are spoiled. And why not? Fans have a right to expect a lot from our coaching staff. Bob Stoops was among the highest paid coaches in the country, number four to be exact, at a cool $5.5 million annually. He was paid well to hire the best coaches available to (hopefully) play for national championships, not to be content with competing for Big 12 titles.

On the whole, Coach Stoops surrounded himself with coaches who did their job well. His record speaks for its self; nine conference titles or shared titles in eighteen years. Not bad if you're satisfied with Big 12 championships. But if you want more than one NC in the past seventeen seasons, you're not going to be happy if our defense is the weak link in the team's efforts to add another natty to our trophy case.

That's not to suggest our offense didn't play a role in the loss to ISU. A fumble on the seven yard line, dropped passes and receivers failing to get open in running their routes are just a few of the miscues that contributed to the final outcome. I'll be the first to admit that an elite offense should score more than seven points in the second half.

By the same token, thirty one points should be enough to beat any team OU plays on their own field, especially when the opponent is a multi-touchdown underdog. As OUsky pointed out earlier, blowing big leads or giving up easy scores has been a Mike Stoops coached trademark far too often.

If this had been the first time OU lost in a similar fashion, it might be different. Problem is, it's not. OU's offense is good enough to compete for a national title this season. It's a shame they may never get that chance. But, I was more upset with the obvious lack of preparation, as well as the defense's failure to adjust to the same plays, over and over and over until I was ready to scream in frustration. Makes me wonder what our coaches were doing during the bye week?

Mike is not to blame for all of our flaws on defense. But when you're the chief architect of a defensive game plan, the results are on you. Preparation, player development, and above all recruiting are among your many responsibilities. Mike has had more than enough time to prove himself. One more stinker like the last two and he needs to go when the season is over.

 

[Sooner04]

I think the win in Columbus caused a big shift in expectations. They certainly did in mine. I saw consistent pass rush up front and ball hawking in the back end. With an all-world QB at #6, it felt like the sky was the limit. We looked like the third-best team in the country (I don't think anybody is in the same league as Alabamuh and Clemson).

But then we reverted back to form. I've taken to calling it the "Texas Tech-ization" of the program. Seems to me like it's become OK to just say, "that's life in the Big 12" and we're going to have to outscore people. I don't like it. The game in Lubbock last year was one of the most pitiful performances I've ever seen from a Sooners unit.

When you score 31 points at Oklahoma, that should be enough to win. The defense was terrible. And it was terrible the time out before that as well. We're miles better than Texas, but I have no idea if we'll prove that on the field Saturday afternoon.

Mike makes a million or so a year. Cash those checks and deal with the heat. He's earned the blowback.

 

[stormspencer]

what penalties did the offense have that were killer?
I'm all for sharing blame...but not with the offense. They put up over 500 yards. Scored 31 points. Lost its best receiver and starting running back.
There is one play that put on the offense...the fumble. There are about 15 plays I put on the defense.

The problem with Mike is he is stuck in his ways. He won't change his game plan after it hasn't worked game after game. He won't send pressure. He drops obo back in coverage, and hope the other team will make a mistake. Theres a reason we are nearly last in college football in turnovers. His scheme is crap and he won't admit it. It may have worked in his first stint but not now.

I put the blame on the other coaches as well b/c they are either agreeing with his plan or not man enough to tell him they have to try something different.

I guarentee you though...if we stick to rushing 3 or 4 guys this weekend, we will lose again.

I tend to agree with most of this post. I don't think Mike's scheme creates enough pressure or havoc....thus, when you make the opposing QB uncomfortable, then it can lead to turnovers and other good things happening. IMO, I think that this reluctance to bring pressure/stunt/blitz is due in part to not having trust in certain players to keep their assignments when we do decide to actually mix it up. Unfortunately, I also believe there are other components to our latest defensive deficiencies: we don't tackle all that well, we lack quality depth at key positions, and I think there could be some leadership issues on that side of the ball. So it's on the coaches AND the players.

Having said that, if the "mis-handoff" isn't fumbled when we are going into score in the 3rd quarter, I think we probably win the game. But we can't rely on the offense to win virtually every game either. On occasion, we need the defense that played against Ohio State to show back up at certain points in time.

I think it's too early to be that alarmed.....as we've seen this same movie the last two seasons. We righted the ship in both '15 and '16 after bad losses....and I think we can do it again.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

While Bob Stoops was head coach, it was amazing how the OU football team would bounce back after a loss. I cannot remember the last time OU lost two-in-a-row during the regular season. This is one reason Bob had such a high winning percentage.

It will be very interesting to see how this Lincoln Riley coached team bounces back after losing at home to a 30-point underdog. In many ways, a team is a reflection of its coach. We will get a good glimpse of that reflection in Dallas on Saturday.