Mike Leach vs Lincoln Riley

[thebigabd]

Baker Mayfield--- 6'1'' 209 junior
108-163 (66.3%) for 1,593 yards with 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Luke Falk-- 6'4'' 205 sophomore
196-275 (71.3%) for 1,964 yards with 15 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Falk throws it 55 times per game, and Mayfield throws it 32 times per game.

Maybe OU just doesn't have the personnel but I was hoping for more of a pure Mike Leach offense, and we aren't even close to it. I know there are other things to consider like Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, etc who are very talented, but it seems like OU is still stuck between offenses.

OU is not doing the "Air Raid" at all this year, which was supposed to be a big part of the hype coming in.

For 2016 OU has 1 wide receiver signed up, a juco transfer named Ryan Parker. Maybe they will sign some more but it seems like they need to bring in 3-4 more WR's and start getting that stable stacked up if they are going to Air Raid.

I'd like to see Mayfield have a game like Falk had against Oregon... he threw the ball 74 times, and of course a lot of their passes are kind of like run plays.

Is OU running the offense you expected them to run this year?

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Baker Mayfield--- 6'1'' 209 junior
108-163 (66.3%) for 1,593 yards with 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Luke Falk-- 6'4'' 205 sophomore
196-275 (71.3%) for 1,964 yards with 15 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Falk throws it 55 times per game, and Mayfield throws it 32 times per game.

Maybe OU just doesn't have the personnel but I was hoping for more of a pure Mike Leach offense, and we aren't even close to it. I know there are other things to consider like Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, etc who are very talented, but it seems like OU is still stuck between offenses.

OU is not doing the "Air Raid" at all this year, which was supposed to be a big part of the hype coming in.

For 2016 OU has 1 wide receiver signed up, a juco transfer named Ryan Parker. Maybe they will sign some more but it seems like they need to bring in 3-4 more WR's and start getting that stable stacked up if they are going to Air Raid.

I'd like to see Mayfield have a game like Falk had against Oregon... he threw the ball 74 times, and of course a lot of their passes are kind of like run plays.

Is OU running the offense you expected them to run this year?

sorry but i can't see why anybody that is a fan of winning wants a pure air raid. Especially with the backs OU has.

I'm very happy with how lincoln has not abandoned the run. It's obvious that the oline is holding back the potential of this offense.

I know you are a fan of all things Tech, but a pure air raid is not conducive to a winning program

 

[thebigabd]

sorry but i can't see why anybody that is a fan of winning wants a pure air raid. Especially with the backs OU has.

I'm very happy with how lincoln has not abandoned the run. It's obvious that the oline is holding back the potential of this offense.

I know you are a fan of all things Tech, but a pure air raid is not conducive to a winning program

In 1999 OU threw it 47 times a game... in 2000 they threw it 38 times per game. Obviously the talent and what not was different from year one to year two, but they did stop throwing it as much from 1999 to 2000...

As for Texas Tech.... They are throwing it 44 times per game (12 more times per game than OU) and are playing a MORE Leach-like offense, which makes sense with Kingsbury, and are averaging 53 points per game. They average 631 yards per game.

• Texas Tech has the #1 passing offense in the country
• Texas Tech's QB is the #3 passer in the country
• Tech is #2 in the country in total offense

The system works, so I wouldn't say the Air Raid doesn't work.... we know it works. Traditionally though, teams who use the Air Raid never play good defense.

Passing attempts need to go from 32 to 42... this could actually open up the run a little more. But again, they don't really look like Tech, Cal, or Washington State out there. I think/hope it's talent related. These guys weren't recruited for this offense, and it's their first year in it.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

• Texas Tech has the #1 passing offense in the country
• Texas Tech's QB is the #3 passer in the country
• Tech is #2 in the country in total offense

they always are. and guess what....they are still tech

 

[thebigabd]

they always are. and guess what....they are still tech

We live in a day and age where Baylor and Texas Christian are ruling the Big 12, and OSU/OU/UT are equals... The same tired argument that "we are OU" doesnt hold up anymore.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

We live in a day and age where Baylor and Texas Christian are ruling the Big 12, and OSU/OU/UT are equals... The same tired argument that "we are OU" doesnt hold up anymore.

missing the point.

Baylor and tcu are not running a true air raid. they can run the ball.

a true air raid is an effective offense to winning championships

 

[WTSooner]

I think you guys are splitting hairs. OU needs to be able to drop back and throw the ball 40+ times a game if needed, and do so effectively. We also need to be able to run the ball effectively within our passing offense if we want to be a legit NC threat.

I think we'll get there, but I'm not sure it'll be this year.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I think you guys are splitting hairs. OU needs to be able to drop back and throw the ball 40+ times a game if needed, and do so effectively. We also need to be able to run the ball effectively within our passing offense if we want to be a legit NC threat.

I think we'll get there, but I'm not sure it'll be this year.

I'm not so sure. We had a first & goal at the 4 yard line Saturday. LR never even put Perine in the game. He ran Mixon once, then passed (incomplete) 2 times, then gave up and kicked a field goal. That says 3 things:

1. He does not believe in the run game.
2. He does not understand how to score in the red zone.
3. He is NOT committed to establishing a run game.

Anyone who does not see the red flags raised by that is not paying attention. Everyone in the Sooner half of the stadium was surprised and many assumed SP had gotten injured. In fact it turned out he was just placed in the "Witness Protection" program - on the sideline. The person who holds the all time rushing record is not in the game in that situation? Are you kidding me?

 

[Max Power]

I'm not so sure. We had a first & goal at the 4 yard line Saturday. LR never even put Perine in the game. He ran Mixon once, then passed (incomplete) 2 times, then gave up and kicked a field goal. That says 3 things:

1. He does not believe in the run game.
2. He does not understand how to score in the red zone.
3. He is NOT committed to establishing a run game.

Anyone who does not see the red flags raised by that is not paying attention. Everyone in the Sooner half of the stadium was surprised and many assumed SP had gotten injured. In fact it turned out he was just placed in the "Witness Protection" program - on the sideline. The person who holds the all time rushing record is not in the game in that situation? Are you kidding me?

Or #4. He doesn't believe in our offenisive line which has been bad this year

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I'm not so sure. We had a first & goal at the 4 yard line Saturday. LR never even put Perine in the game. He ran Mixon once, then passed (incomplete) 2 times, then gave up and kicked a field goal. That says 3 things:

1. He does not believe in the run game.
2. He does not understand how to score in the red zone.
3. He is NOT committed to establishing a run game.

Anyone who does not see the red flags raised by that is not paying attention. Everyone in the Sooner half of the stadium was surprised and many assumed SP had gotten injured. In fact it turned out he was just placed in the "Witness Protection" program - on the sideline. The person who holds the all time rushing record is not in the game in that situation? Are you kidding me?

I think this is extremely unfair. He has shown he believes in the run game when we ran it multiple times in the fourth quarter down big vs tennessee. We should have scored on one of those passes if not for a highly thrown ball. the receiver, westbrook i believe, was open. He tries to run and we can't do it well.

As for SP not being in the game, he was not effect at all. He isn't quick enough to hit the holes and he missed several key blocks. He deserved to be on the bench

 

[WTSooner]

I'm not so sure. We had a first & goal at the 4 yard line Saturday. LR never even put Perine in the game. He ran Mixon once, then passed (incomplete) 2 times, then gave up and kicked a field goal. That says 3 things:

1. He does not believe in the run game.
2. He does not understand how to score in the red zone.
3. He is NOT committed to establishing a run game.

Anyone who does not see the red flags raised by that is not paying attention. Everyone in the Sooner half of the stadium was surprised and many assumed SP had gotten injured. In fact it turned out he was just placed in the "Witness Protection" program - on the sideline. The person who holds the all time rushing record is not in the game in that situation? Are you kidding me?

A lot of emotional talk there, but I don't agree with much you said.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

A lot of emotional talk there, but I don't agree with much you said.

You think?

Bob Stoops admitted "it was probably a mistake". If you go look we did use Perine in a similar situation later in the game ---- and scored.

Too bad we didn't do the same earlier.

 

[stormspencer]

The biggest problem in 2015 for this team is that the offensive line sucks....well, they are at least are below average. Even in our wins, they have been multiple red flags (missed assignments, bad communications, flat-out getting whipped by the man in front of you, etc.) in every game that we've played. Unfortunately, there isn't a short-term fix for this besides a few wrinkles that we could add in WR routes (stop routes, quick passes in the flat, etc.). In the long term, this fundamental flaw can only get better through recruiting and development. As much as we want to run the ball with the great backs that we have....we simply can't because the line is so bad. And they're not too good at pass blocking at certain times either. Baker has had to run for his life to make plays in every game this year. We are incredibly soft....

If we want to be a "playoff" type of team, we have to get better in the trenches and control the line of scrimmage in order to win the knockdown/dragout types of games.

 

[thebigabd]

Baker Mayfield vs K-State (and T. Knight and C. Thompson)
25-32 for 336 yards and 5 touchdowns

Luke Falk vs Oregon State
39-50 for 407 and 6 touchdowns

OU must have it pre-planned to throw it 32 times. In my original post I stated OU throws it 32 times per game, and against KSU they threw it exactly 32 times.

WSU also rushed for 111 yards, and OU rushed for 232...

Will be interesting to see how this develops in the next couple of years.

 

[MsProudSooner]

It's way, way to early to be making final evaluations about Lincoln Riley and his offense. No matter what offense you are running, if the offensive line doesn't execute, you are not going to be successful.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

saturday was intriguing. You saw the oline play better but still not great and our production was great. Also showed lincoln call some plays that are quick reads. great game

 

[WTSooner]

Will be interesting to see how this develops in the next couple of years.

I think it will depend on a lot of things, but mostly personnel.

OU's offense has never looked the same over a 3-4 year stretch. Usually, as the QB, or WR's, or line changes, so has the offense. Some of that probably had to do with changes in OC's too.

I think you start with the spread, and if you get a really good QB and really good oline, you can run something closer to what we ran in 2008. But this offense will look different every year or two just based on personnel.

 

[stormspencer]

saturday was intriguing. You saw the oline play better but still not great and our production was great. Also showed lincoln call some plays that are quick reads. great game

I agree....I was encouraged with what I saw Saturday. There were several changes made along the offensive line and they seemed to be more cohesive. The only sack they gave up wasn't their fault (KSU brought 7 while they blocked with 6....Mayfield should've gotten rid of the ball). They have an opportunity to clean up and improve fundamentals over the next three weeks (Tech, @KU, ISU) before murderer's row begins.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I agree....I was encouraged with what I saw Saturday. There were several changes made along the offensive line and they seemed to be more cohesive. The only sack they gave up wasn't their fault (KSU brought 7 while they blocked with 6....Mayfield should've gotten rid of the ball). They have an opportunity to clean up and improve fundamentals over the next three weeks (Tech, @KU, ISU) before murderer's row begins.

only sack they gave up? I think we gave up like 6 sacks

 

[stormspencer]

only sack they gave up? I think we gave up like 6 sacks

Actually, K-State somehow ended up with 3 sacks. I remember one in particular early in the game. Another was a Mayfield run (short loss) on a pass play that broke down. I simply don't remember the other one. But the line did play better and Mayfield didn't hold onto the ball as much as he did vs. Texas.