Only a few more days until the Red River Shootout in Dallas. I'll personally be heading up to the game with a few friends on Friday afternoon and going to the game on Saturday. I think this year's game will be a good one, and Texas wins 31-17 but the game is closer than the score. Anyone going to Dallas this weekend/going to the game/have any thoughts on the game?
I won't be going this weekend. Planning to bbq and watch it at my apt. It should be a good game. I also think that it will be a close game. I am anxious to see how Colt has progressed since the Ohio State game.
i think this years may be somewhat close, but i think its time now for texas to reel off a few wins in a row. at least 3 maybe 4. funny how things change. mack couldnt get a win against stoops but by the time this little run is finished there records should be about even against each other. maybe about 5 to 5.
i agree that it should be a close game. i hope Texas wins, but their defense better not hurt adrian peterson. the Texans will be needing his services next summer in preparation for another 3-13 season.
I haven't seen much of OU this year, how is their passing game with Paul Thompson (instead of Bomar)? Will Texas be able to put 9 in the box to stop AP without Thompson hurting them? If so, I say Texas by double-digits.
i would not do that man. both teams QBs are very average. but i think texas win in ALL the other catagories in the game. even the running game. jamal charles isnt that far behind peterson and with a better OL its even a bit better on UT's side in my opinion.
Thompson has looked better this year than he did last year. If he had started off like this last year we could be saying Bomar who? In Thompsons first game against UAB this year he went 14-24 for 227 yards and threw for 2 TD's but was picked off twice. In his 2nd game against Washington he was 21-33 for 272 yards and threw 2 more TD's and only 1 INT. Then the famous game against Oregon he went 13-23 and only had 174 yards in the air and threw for 1 TD pass and wasn't picked off. He also ran for a TD in that game but it was just a 1 yd run. In his last game against Middle Tennessee State he was 13-18 and threw for 257 yards with 3 TDs and 0 INTs. He's completed 62.2% of his passes, thrown for 8 TD's and has been picked off 3 times so far this season. He's only been sacked 5 times also. Some players to keep an eye on for the OU offense is Soph. WR Malcolm Kelly(#4), Jr. TE Joe Jon Finley (#19), and of course Adrian Peterson. Special teams could be the key in this game and OU has a good punt returner in Reggie Smith (#3). He returned a punt 61 yards last game for a TD.
Here's my Position Breakdown: QB: Advantage OU Paul Thompson is a 5th year senior, and while Colt may have the more physical tools, like escapabilty (which isn't really PT's strong point, usually on ly runs on designed plays if at all), Colt still is fairly young and inexperienced, having yet to start in a RRS or in a hostile environment. PT has been one of the most effecient QB's this year, and he has as good as if not better stats than tOSU's Troy Smith. However we have yet to face a decent secondary all year, and PT continues to at times overthrow on the shorter passes and underthrow on the deep passes, but he has shown that if he gets time he can put the ball where it needs to be. Our OC has done a great job of using roll outs and play action to help PT get in a rhythm, which has seemed to be the key. RB: Advantage OU Don't get me wrong, Charles is a great back, and this time next year he will definately be one of the top 3 backs in the nation, but it's hard to argue with Adrian Peterson; He's on top right now. While he has put up great numbers, the majority of them have come in the second half of games, alot in the fourth quarter. This is mainly due to the fact that early teams stuff the box but eventually back out due to the play action, and eventually tire later in games while AD still has much left in the tank. UT has by far better running back depth, with Selvin Young in the mix as well, but if I'm correct isn't he hurt, and even when in doesn't he have a fumbling problem? (it may only be minor) WR: Advantage Texas Two Words, One Name: Limas Sweed. This guy has the ability to take it to the house everytime he touches the ball. And while he may not have Ted Ginn's numbers or even Malcolm Kelly's, OU's leading reciever, he is bigger than most corners and faster than most safeties, which makes him a huge threat and a big advantage for UT. I think the depth at WR is about equal with mabye a little bit of the edge going to UT. Im not sure about the TE situation, but OU's have been mediocre at best, displaying sub-par blocking and somewhat reliable hands. OL: Advantage Texas This is where it all starts for the Longhorns, and it's not even close. OU's line has been dissapointing, failing to open up any holes early in games as well as providing shady protection for PT. The experience on the OU line comes for Chris Messner, but individually he has been dissapointing as well. Blaylock is a monster, along with the rest of the UT line. DL: Even On any other weekend, I would probably give the edge to Texas here, but since Robison is banged up, the DL seems even to me. Texas has very good defensive tackles, unlike OU who's tackles rarely get any push, mainly against the run (where our defense has been horrible). However at DE OU rotates a group of guys who are very talented and are usually always putting pressure on the QB. Robison is a beast, and although his injury may be minor, he may be setback. Crowder on the other end is a good rusher, but from what I've seen he isn't very good against the run (All i remember is his multiple whiffs at trying to tackle AD). OU's DLine looked to be in bad shape (like I said especially against the run early on in the year) but over the past couple weeks they have played well as a unit. LB: Advantage OU Rufus Alexander should be a finalist for the Butkus award, and Zach Latimer isn't to shabby either. However this group has to learn to wrap up better on tackles to be great IMO. I don't know much about UT's LB core, but I'm sure they are very athletic however inexperienced; I know Kindle hasn't been able to crack the field yet. CB: Texas The truth is neither team has a set of really good corners, although both have shown improvement in that area as the season has gone along. For Texas, the corners played horrible against tOSU, but with Ginn and that recieving core which is obviously above average that may have been expected. Getting Harris back definately helped. For OU, it has been a shuffle at that position most of the year, however the past few weeks with the play of Marcus Walker and the re-insertion of DJ Wolfe to the starting line-up, this group has improved. Wolfe however still worries me, there is a reason he was yanked at the start of the year, and just because he played well against Midd Tenn St. doesn't mean much. S: Even OU has recently moved Reggie Smith back to S from CB, and while that may be of some concern, Rggie has proved to be the best cover guy for OU this year, and the way our safeties were playing early in the season this move was a no brainer. From what I've seen UT's safeties play undisciplined at times, blowing several coverages, but unlike OU's (who seem simply nable to tackle very well) , they are talented enough to make a difference versus the running game. Special Teams: Even I'll give credit where cradit is due, Mack Brown always coaches up his SPT very well. They have great coverage and blocking on kick and punt returns year in and year out. OU has Reggie Smith handling punts, who has proved to be deadly back there, and they have one of the best place kickers in the nation. This is a wash to me. Coaching: Texas As much as it pains me, I'm going to give the edge here to the longhorns. While Stoops has the better head to head record (Stoops vs. Brown), Mack is the winningest coach since 98', and he's coming off a Chamionship year. How much was that VY? only time will tell, but for now you have to give him his props. Plus Stoops has been trying to get his D to tackle better, but it doesn't seem to be working that great. I'm so excited about the weekend. It's my first OU/TX game and while I don't have tickets right now, I'm sure I'll still have a blast just soaking up the atmospere. (plus ill have plenty of opportunities to go to the game) I'll be staying in the Hampton on the West side and while I've been told by Sooners to stay away from the west because it's been overrun by Longhorns, it should be fun because I'm staying with a bunch of my UT friends and I don't mind a little trash talk here and there. I won'tsay a score because I don't want to jinx my sooners but It should be a very close game, predicated mainly on our ability to stop the Texas running game and keep the defense off balanced. Boomer Sooner!
I will be there, travelling up after work friday, got extra tickets too if anyone is interested...let me know Hook em
Nice write up tiger bait, the only issues I have are thus: 1. you give the QB edge to Paul Thompson because of experience - correct me if I'm wrong but Colt has 5 career starts at QB, doesn't Thompson have only 5 or 6 also? Likewise, though Thompson is a senior when Colt was in QB meetings last year - Thompson was in WR meetings. Sure it's Colt's first RRS, but it's Thompson's first start at QB in one too, and quite frankly it is only the second biggest game on Colt's agenda (with the first having been Ohio State last month) while it is easily the biggest game of Thompson's QB'ing career. 2. Sure Robison is banged up but Brian Orakpo has been destroying things as well this year, I wouldn't expect much dropoff at all when he is in the game. And your take on Crowder is completely backwards. He has always been solid against the run, it is pass rushing where he is not so strong, although he has been a monster against the pass this year. Really it's hard to say taht any Texas players are weak against the run given the results this year (giving up 1.something YPC, lowest in the country). 3. OU's OL hasn't been as bad as expected this year given the youth and the losses, I don't know if disappointing would be the label for that. 4. Kindle has been able to crack the field - he played most of the game last week and was apparently all over the place and made lots of tackles. Granted it was SHSU, but he did what he was expected: make plays.
What's with the civility folks? Thirteen posts without a single crack at sooner nation. Fine I'll get the ball rolling.
Section 123, row 6. Leaving Friday afternoon at around 1:30P. This will be my 8th straight game. As far as the game goes, I'm pretty confident in Texas' chances, but you have to throw everything out for this game. TigerBait put together a fair assessment, but there's a few things that I'd like to point out: QB -> Will Greg take the reigns off of Colt and let him throw the deep ball? Pass Defense -> has been average to poor all year long. Our DBs have had trouble covering receivers. We need to get physical.
section 21 row 27 on saturday I totally agree with you Baqui99- the more confidence Davis has in Colt "The Boy Wonder" McCoy, the better off Texas' offense will be- there's only so many screen passes to Sweed you can call in one game. I think that the defense will be more than up to the challenge of stopping AP and OU's offense as a whole. I have confidence because Texas' special teams (fg kicking and kick blocking ability) is far superior to OU's. OU had a off week last week, and Texas did too (sorry SHSU)... Mack and Stoops should have a serious gameplan for Sat... can't wait to see the game.
Anybody need an extra ticket (or two)? I've got a couple of extra tickets in Section 20, Row 2...yeah, Row 2
I can jump in on this. Originally posted on OrangePower.com: TODAY we salute you, Mr. never-seen-a-classroom OU Fan Guy. (Real men of genius in the background) Only you could tuck that mullet perfectly in that hat. (Party's flowing out the back "echo") Some people would buy a home on their factory worker salary, but not you... OH NO! You own season tickets and live in a trailer. (Run like hell tornado's coming "echo") ONLY YOU can say you've been a life-long fan when you bought your first OU gear on Jan. 5, 2000. (Jumpin on that bandwagon "echo") So crack open an ice cold bud light (more like Milwaukees best, but whatever) Mr. King of the Trailer park.. cause only can pull of the wifebeater-mullet-OU hat combo. (Mr. never seen a classroom OU Fan guy "echo")
