Tilting at Windmills

Rich is the history of the Oklahoma Sooners in Miami, Florida – scene of some of our greatest triumphs and greatest failures .  Usually, MNC’s are on the line when the Sooners are in the 305.  Such is not literally the case on Saturday night, primetime on ABC, but one could argue that it is.  As we stand, we are amazingly still firmly entrenched in the NC picture – lose Saturday night and that is probably gone, again.   The wackiness of this college football season so far has afforded us this chance, now it’s time to seize it.  There are no more Idaho St.’s or Tulsa’s on the schedule – it’s go time now.

Back in the glorious year that was 2000 – Bob Stoops emphatically stated that Oklahoma belongs in Miami, that we’ve had a lot of success there and after the dregs of the post Switzer era it sure did feel good to be going back.  Truth is we do have a glorious past in Miami, as long as we’re not playing the team that calls that city home.  OU is  1-2 all time against them in Miami, that win coming in 1975 while the 2 losses  in 86 and in the 87 orange bowl cost us a national championship.  All part of a 3 year run where Jimmy Johnson’s Canes were the 1 team that could hang with the Sooners and they did more than hang, they dominated and changed the landscape of college football in the process.  On the defensive side of the ball, when it became in vogue to put some of your best athletes over there,  the raw speed and power displayed by the ‘Canes overwhelmed opponents and thus Thug U was born.

On to present day, where every time the BCS championship game turns up in Miami the Sooners are present.   Memories fondly turn to the aforementioned 2000 and the dream season it was that concluded in Pro Player Stadium on 1/3/01.  Heupel, Q, the Rock, Torrance “I’m gonna get my boy’s trophy back” Marshall, Ontei “GO HOME MIAMI!” Jones were given no shot against the aged balding Heisman winner of the ‘Noles.  All they did was pitch a shutout and put # 7 in the Switzer center. 

Torrance backed it up, too.

2004 and 2008 at Dolphin Stadium as we all know was a much different story.  Saturday night at Landshark stadium (seriously?) needs to reverse the trend.  While this will be a tough game, we have every reason to be optimistic headed into this one.  Besides requesting a registered sex offender search to be conducted by the Miami Dade county police department, which would coincidentally render half their roster suspended- here’s what we have to do to win.  (That’s harsh - Shannon has cleaned that thing up, but couldn’t resist…)

Just don’t ask for directions to Landshark.

 

Defense.  We have an elite defense ranked #1 in a bunch of categories.  Guess what wins championships? Defense.  Guess what wins tough road games against quality opponents in charged atmospheres? Defense.  Miami has athletes at the skill positions and OC Whipple will do his best to put them in a position to succeed.  We need consistent pressure with our front 4 without having to sell out on risky blitzes.  When we do blitz, they must be properly disguised, mixed up and must work.  Bud Foster of VT did a nice job of this and Harris was flustered for the 1st time all year.  He also obviously had trouble throwing a wet ball in the downpour in Blacksburg.  A chance of rain is in the forecast for sat. night, but don’t be fooled into that being a significant factor for Miami in a home game.  I’m not worried at all about stuffing their run game – their OL is OK but not great.  They won’t beat us running the ball.  We are vulnerable, as we all know on the short stuff over the middle picking on Reynolds. With their athletes they’ll get some of that stuff but sure tackling is a cure for that.  I sure would love to see an LB (namely Reynolds) come off the field in obvious passing situations for a DB but I just don’t know if that’s ever gonna happen.  Brent likes his 3 lb’s on the field at all times and that’s what it’s gonna be. Expect a big game from Clayton and TLewis in space.  They also have a big TE basketball player that could cause trouble if he doesn’t Ratteree every pass thrown his way.  Not really worried about our 2ndary,  I think we are starting to see a significant upgrade in our safety play, especially athletically in the speed department, over last year.  FSU is bad on defense, Georgia Tech is average and they had no depth on the DL causing their front 4 to be gassed midway through the 1st quarter,  VT dominated these guys.  OUr D is better than all 3.

Offense.  Ahh, the big question on everyone’s mind..will Sam be able to go?  Who knows and we’re not going to know until possibly game time so in my opinion we should stop worrying about it.  Why? I’m of the belief that we can get this thing done with the Stache and I certainly think it’s ludicrous to put Sam out there and risk further injury if he’s not 100%.  As mentioned before, save him for the big 12 – get him a half against a depleted Baylor squad next week and have him 100% for Dallas.  He will be needed in the Cotton Bowl.  Our developing OL needs to show their improvement in this game.  They need to open holes early and often in the running game to help out the Stache and allow for timely play action.  FSU, GT and VT have all run the ball effectively on these guys, we need to do the same. The OL  also must competently protect whomever is standing back there at qb.  A very real scenario exists where we are 1 play away from seeing Drew Allen.  Hopefully, if it is the Stache he has used the off week to continue to familiarize with the receivers and the offense.  Locking onto a primary target and not going through his progressions, while OK against Idaho St. and TU, will not be good enough against the athletic Canes.  They have a competent front 7 and are led from the back by experienced safety Kenny Phillips.  If Landry can go through his progressions look for that 3rd receiver to possibly emerge.  Kenney? Reynolds? Miller? Tennell?  Any of you are welcome to step up..Also, look for a big game from Murray on the flare and check down plays - he didn’t get to go on this field last year and will be ready to make a statement.

Special teams – continue to be solid – Marcus Trice, DeMontre Hurst – keep doing what you do.  Moreland – a couple touchbacks would be great – though not likely in the muggy Miami air so we will have to cover.  Overall, feel pretty confident about this game if we execute and avoid mistakes.  The U is not all the way back as evidenced by the washout in Blacksburg but overall is a much improved outfit.   They will be hungry to prove themselves worthy of the praise they received in the opening couple weeks of the season and that last week was an aberration.  Their 4 game opening gauntlet was one of the more brutal in recent history, going 2-2 is nothing to be ashamed of at all and that is what I expect.  3rd try’s a charm – right?

Boomer!

H/T – atlas, pong, others..you know who you be.

I’m just going to link to the stats, rankings, and accomplishments from the OU official site instead of rehashing them in the wrapup.

SoonerSports Signing Day Coverage

Instead I’ll try and add more commentary to how the recruiting at each position went.

QB:

Drew Allen 6-5, 200, 4.6 (Alamo Heights HS – SA, TX)

Heupel has a unique way of doing QB recruiting. He only offers one kid at a time and only until he’s absolutely sure that the QB is the one he wants. Heupel is presuming that he’s only going to offer one QB a year.  After losing out on a California QB that he loved, Josh went back to Jacob Karam (who had been close to an offer before the Cali kid). Karam stayed with his Tech commitment. Allen was the next QB that OU offered. He chose OU over Ole Miss which seemed kind of silly preseason, but now considering Ole Miss’s big year with Snead that seems like a bigger recruiting win. Allen is a big kid (6-5) with a huge arm and is very mobile. Like Sam’s senior year, Allen was kind of a one man gang and everyone knew it. The only knock with Allen is probably accuracy and forcing the ball too often. He’s already on campus and I would expect that he will be force fed a bunch of reps in spring along with Landry Jones. I mean really, what does Sam have to prove? One last thing, OU had several opportunities in the fall to go back to some of their QB recruits, but after getting Allen they never once made inquiries back to those recruits.

Quality Grade: B+ (Max Emfinger who has clearly lost his ability to keep up to date nationally, but still knows the Houston/San Antonio/Louisiana areas very well thinks that Allen is the 3^rd best passing QB he saw all year, just behind UT’s Gilbert and USC’s Barkley)

Quantity Grade: A (We needed a QB, and we got one who enrolled early)

RB:

Jonathon Miller 6-1, 190, 4.5

After signing two five star type power backs last year, OU only had room for one RB. That RB probably would have been David Oku save for him turning OU off with his attitude.  Oku is now on his 2^nd ignored verbal commitment and he still hasn’t signed with anyone. OU does not need that kind of drama. Miller is a pretty damned good RB, and OU stopped recruiting higher ranked names after his verbal – names like Michael Christine and Ronnie Wingo, for instance. Miller had back to back huge years, and personally I think he is badly underrated by the various services. OU coaches compare him to Allen Patrick physically, but I think he’s also a much more instinctive natural RB.

Quality Grade: A-

Quantity Grade: A (I really don’t think that OU needed to sign 2 RBs, and the RB class for 2010 looks awesome)

WR:

Jaz Reynolds 6-3, 185, 4.5

Cameron Kenney 6-2, 195, 4.5

Okay, here’s where all the teeth gnashing and character assassination begins. First, though, let’s review the actual facts. OU signed three blue chips WRs in 2008, and it wasn’t until August that OU was left with two of them, long after initial offers had gone out. It was a down year for WRs in Texas and Oklahoma. In fact, OU didn’t even offer UT’s top WR recruit, Timmons. OU got their best WR target in July with Eric Ward, so WR was kind of quiet with OU potentially looking at a JUCO WR. Jarboe gets bounced and OU finds themselves needing another blue chip WR. Norvell went looking nationwide and in November he nearly landed NC WR Jhay Boyd, who eventually goes with UNC (a home school trend that will plague OU recruiting at WR the next 3 months). OU offers Jaz Reynolds from Houston, who they actually prefer over Timmons, but he’s not a year one impact guy. Looking to add some immediate punch, OU offers JUCO WR Tyrese Gaines believing that he will be a mid term graduate. Eric Ward goes into hiding during December and instead of enrolling early at OU is now attending Texas Tech. Out of all the “defections” this year, losing Ward really hurt the most. The early graduation dream ends for Gaines in December and OU backs off Gaines considerably, changing their attention to JUCO WR Cameron Kenney who is now back on the market after ditching Auburn. Kenney is a big time WR and a great athlete who should be in the WR rotation in the fall. Finally, Sooner fans barely got to see Jameel Owens or Dejuan Miller during the season, so after the BCS game fans went a little crazy panicking about OU’s WR situation. OU came really close on a number of big time WRs, but in the end proximity won out.

Quality Grade B (Kenny is big time, but Reynolds had an injury plagued year and looks about two years away)

Quantity Grade: B (Really needed one more blue chip WR)

OL:

Josh Aladenoye 6-5, 330, 5.2

Tyler Evans 6-5, 290, 5.1

Jeff Vinson 6-8, 340, 5.3

Tavaris Jefferies 6-4,320, 5.3

It was not a great year for OL recruiting anywhere. OU really didn’t have many offers out early at all. The two high school  OL that OU got were both at their summer camps where OU really got to evaluate them. OU’s focusing on these known quantities grabbed both by the end of summer. After those verbals, OU decided to look for one JUCO to add depth and competition. OU targeted Vinson and a JUCO OL from Kansas who ended up signing with Alabama. OU got Vinson, but he’s not an early enrollee. OU eventually offered the in state guard twosome of Michael Bowie and Brandon Webb. They lost Webb early to OSU, and then later Bowie would commit for the 3^rd time to OSU. Looking for another OL to add depth, OU ended up offering Mississippi JUCO Tavaries Jefferies. This kid literally came out of nowhere but seems to have good flexibility and can play center as well.

Quality Grade B (Vinson is the best name here. The HS guys were not highly rated, but again OU had in depth scouting on them and offered them early)

Quantity Grade A (OU added 4 OL total, and two JUCOs who can add depth and competition in the fall to the OL battle)

TE/FB/H-Back:

Gabe Ikard 6-4, 245, 4.8

Marshall Musil 6-3, 220, 4.6

Here’s where the rankings sometimes really annoy me. Musil had an unreal senior year at FB, but his rankings never changed. Musil dominated OU’s summer camp (this theme will continue, under ranked recruit had a great OU camp receives OU offer and then verbals), but mainly because of his position HBack/FB won’t receive a higher ranking. Ikard kind of fell into the same problem. Ikard will replace Brody Eldridge as the blocking TE in OU formations, but he has much better receiving skills than Eldridge. He’s not the stretch the field TE like Jermaine, but he will easily find holes in coverage for easy move the chains type catches (think of former ND TE John Carlson, and ND really wanted Ikard).

Quality Grade A (screw the rankings, OU needed two Hback/FB types and got the best guys in the Big 12 region)

Quantity Grade A (direct replacements for Clapp and Eldridge just in time to get a redshirt year in to increase strength)

DL:

Jamarkus McFarland 6-3, 285, 4.8

Justin Chaisson, 6-5, 275, 4.7

Terry Franklin 6-4, 215, 4.6

Jarrett Brown 6-4, 245, 4.6

Okay, I’m not really sure where Chaisson is going to play but I think that the OU coaches are going to move him to DT due to frame and build. He can easily carry 290+. So, I’m ranking the DL collectively. OU’s five-star DT hauls in the past several years have included Tommie Harris, Gerald McCoy, Demarcus Granger and now Jamarkus McFarland,  Jamarkus was easily the top DT in Texas which, with UT’s desparate need for DTs, makes him signing with OU the biggest recruiting blow for UT this year. For reasons never explained, McFarland was dropped in some rankings despite clearly outplaying other guys in the Army game. Chaisson just destroyed the OLine all day in the ESPN all-star game.  Franklin again was not rated as high, but offered by OU early.  He has amazing athleticism, but the jury is out on if he can add weight and strength without sacrificing speed.  The last recruit Brown was a very late addition. Brown has only really been playing football two years after concentrating on basketball. He had an awesome senior year and was attracting attention from a bunch of schools. OU coaches compare him to Frank Alexander, which is pretty high praise.

Quality Grade A- (Chaisson and McFarland are A+ talents)

Quantity Grade A (McFarland is expected to replace McCoy and just in time. I think Chaisson adds to OU’s DT depth while Brown and Franklin redshirt and add depth to OU’s most talented position, DE)

LB:

Gus Jones 6-2, 225, 4.7

Ronnell Lewis 6-3, 220, 4.5

Tom Wort, 6-1, 210, 4.5 (New Braunfels, TX HS)

Jayden Bird 6-3, 225, 4.6

This is the one area where OU badly need to add numbers. OU missed on LBs last year due to a number of weird circumstances. Not signing Lynn Katoa looks like a wise move and the Brown brothers appear to be nothing but drama as well. OU added four LBs for depth and easily signed the best LB duo in the nation in Lewis and Wort. In addition, three of the LBs are already on campus and will get a lot of instruction and attention with Box and Reynolds both out for spring. I honestly think that Ronnell Lewis might be the best player OU signed. He just dominated the ESPN game and looks like the perfect sideline-to-sideline LB to defend the spread. He’s just so physical and fast. The only reason he’s not a five star recruit is due to his level of HS competition. Venables is already raving about the kid in radio interviews. Wort is other half of his duo and again might have been even higher rated if not for an injury his senior. He has awesome speed and just smashes folks in his highlight reel.  Finally, Bird was a dominating performer at OU summer camp and had an awesome senior year where he was his team’s RB. Sounds like he’s even more athletic and faster than the OU coaches thought and could play any of the LB positions. Don’t be surprised if at least two of these guys don’t redshirt and reinforce/repair our special teams. Jones is the final kid, and will obviously have to play catchup with the rest. He’s a big physical kid who Venables offered early. He’s a pure MLB. There are some concerns if he has the speed to stay on the field with the current spread attacks. He just seems like more of a 6-2, 245, 4 .7 stop the I-formation type MLB. Jones also could end up at FB. Also, he was his HS team’s leading rusher.

Quality Grade A (Wort and Lewis are elite talents. Bird is badly under rated)

Quantity Grade A (Lost Mahoney to grades late, but getting three of them enrolling early is a big boost to the depth at LB)

DB:

Kevin Brent 6-0, 195, 4.5

Gabe Lynn 6-1, 180, 4.5

Marcus Trice 5-8, 170, 4.4

Javon Harris 5-11, 195, 4.5

Demontre Hurst 5-10, 170, 4.4

This is a great DB class for OU. The highlights are the All-American pair of Lynn and Brent. Both are threats for playing time this fall. Lynn arguably was a five star CB, and Brent is very close at FS. Javon Harris is already on campus and with some uncertainty around Desmond Jackson (suspended for the bowl game) and Jameel Fleming (at a JUCO, allegedly) may see more reps than previously thought during spring. Bob has never signed a CB under 5-10. Marcus Trice is 5-8, so he has to be something special. In my mind, Trice is the perfect Nickel/Dime CB to matchup with slot WRs in 4-WR looks. Trice is also a great special teams performer/return specialist. Finally right before signing day, OU recruited Hurst away from OSU. Hurst takes some of the sting out of losing Steve Williams to Cal. Mike Stoops really wanted Hurst, feeling like he was an ideal cover 2 CB.

Quality Grade A+ (2 Elite talents, and 3 four star talents to go with them)

Quantity Grade A (with the ever increasing spread attacks, OU badly needs to have quality depth to put 5 or 6 DBs out on the field)

K

Bryce Easly 6-1, 190

Not an official signing, but quite possibly the most important one. Special teams, FG kicking, kickoff distance and accuracy … all were a total abomination last year. Stevens rallied a little bit end of year, but his BCS bowl game attempt really highlighted that without some huge improvement, he’s just not a Div 1 kicker. On kickoffs, Moreland made some progress, but often consistently kicked short without much hang time. If Easly along with Tress Way can eliminate these weaknesses it would help OU greatly.

Grades?? Incomplete, let’s see the kid kick.

Overall Class.

OU signed perhaps their best defensive class ever. OU had six All Americans on defense, two on each level, so it’s also a class with depth at every position. Add in the fact that OU has four early enrollees on the defensive side of the ball, and this defensive class could start having an impact this year. OU reloaded at LB and DB and added the kind of players needed to defense the spread. OU has again added DTs who can both stop the run and rush the passer and speed rush ends. It’s a defensive class without a weakness. Offensively, this was more of a depth class to build upon the stars signed last year (Landry Jones, Jermie Calhoun, James Hanna, Jameel Owens, DaJuan Miller, Stephen Good). OU found key replacements at FB/Hback/TE which was huge considering how often OU uses those positions in the no huddle for both run and pass plays with the same personnel groupings. Also, those two kids, Ikard and Musil, might be better athletes and bring more big play potential in the passing game to those positions. OU added depth at QB, RB and OL. Again, they’re not the elite kids that OU added last year at those positions, but players that have high upsides that OU evaluated in person at camps and offered early by OU.  These were not second or third tier guys that OU offered late in the year after losing out on all their top targets.  There has been some hand wringing over the fact that OU got zero five star players. This is really just ridiculous. OU signed at least three 5 star players

Ronnell Lewis completely dominated the ESPN All Star game at LB and was not a 5 star simply due to playing small school Oklahoma HS football.

Justin Chaissson  did same thing from his DE position. He was dropped because of concern over whether he was a DT or DE. He easily has the frame and athleticism to play both.

Jamarkus McFarland played a high level at the Army game and no one had any in season evidence for dropping him other than the fact that he dumped UT.

Overall Grades

Quality A- (Only a HS blue chip WR away from an A grade)

Quantity A- (Again, only one more WR away from an A grade)