The Kruger Show

[cowboysooner]

Watched the Sooner Sports Talk show last night with Lon. Not sure that most or all of you agree with this assessment, but he very clearly thinks this is a much better team than last years team and much better prepared for conference play. I guess we will see.

As far as the board debate regarding who should be playing, although I think there is certainly room for debate, there isn't any clear cut case to be made that Lon is not playing the kids he thinks gives him the most up side and best chance to win. For example, the grooms v. Cousins issue. I can understand everyone's position, but it is far from clear cut either way.

Personally, I just think Lon thinks he is playing his best players. I don't think he is building for the future, I think he is trying his best to win now. After listening to Lon numerous times this year, right or wrong, I think he is rotating the kids in order to see and assist him determine what his best rotations are, and plans on ultimately settling in on some rotations.

The problem is that outside of Ro, everyone has been very inconsistent. Good one moment, one game, and then absent the next. I bet Lon is pulling his hair out trying to get the kids to bring it every game and also pulling his hair out trying to figure out who to play.

Bottom line for me, I just don't know what to think about this team yet. We could have won every game but the Gonzo game and we also could have lost another couple games. Fortunately, there is only one really great team in the conference, Kansas, and we should be competitive with the others, at least at home. So, we will see. I still like Lon, the kids he is bringing in, and the direction of the team. I never thought he could rebuild this team from the ashes in 2 years and don't intend to hold him to that just because the team shows improvement.

 

[AdaSooner]

Excellent post, cowboysooner! You made a lot of good points in everything you had to say, but this part really caught my attention.

The problem is that outside of Ro, everyone has been very inconsistent. Good one moment, one game, and then absent the next. I bet Lon is pulling his hair out trying to get the kids to bring it every game and also pulling his hair out trying to figure out who to play.

As you correctedly pointed out, Ro is the only player who has performed well in every game. Pledger and Hield have been as close to consistent as anyone else I can think of. But even those two have been up and down all season, whether it's from one game to the next, or they are good one half and disappear the next.

A case could have been made to start any one of three or four players at some point this year. That is, until you consider the entire body of work and realize that no one has stood out as a clear cut favorite to win a spot in the starting lineup.

I have questioned LK's decision to stick with the same starting five through three losses myself. But, until someone else steps up to the plate to take those spots or demand more playing time, it's easy to see why he has to go with his gut.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

... I still like Lon, the kids he is bringing in, and the direction of the team.

Excellent post!! I agree 100% with the quoted sentence.

 

[boutaroust]

Me, too.