Longhorns casting wary eye northward at dominant Sooners

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By Jim Vertuno
Published: September 13, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas — They hate to admit it, but the Texas Longhorns have taken notice of happenings north of the Red River.
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While the No. 6 Longhorns struggled to put away Arkansas State and didn't score in the first half against a good TCU team, No. 5 Oklahoma steamrolled North Texas and Miami.

The Sooner Schooner looks more like an Abrams tank after two games. Longhorns fans take comfort in winning the last two games against Oklahoma in Dallas, but memories of the five-game losing streak before that linger like a queasy hangover.

Beating North Texas, which essentially played like a high school team under first-year coach Todd Dodge, was one thing. The 51-13 pasting of once-proud Miami grabbed Texas' attention.

If anything, it told the Longhorns they've got some work to do before playing the Sooners on Oct. 6.

Until then, Texas goes to Central Florida before hosting Rice and Kansas State.

"They're impressive right now. It's early, but it's impressive,” senior defensive tackle Derek Lokey said of the Sooners. "But that's not anything we're focused on right now.”

Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford is challenging Colt McCoy's great freshman season with eight touchdowns passes already.

McCoy is struggling and hasn't quite been the QB the Longhorns expected after throwing for 29 TD passes last season.

He already has four interceptions after two games. That's as many as he had in the first 10 games last year.

It was last season against Oklahoma when McCoy grew up. He built some big numbers against creampuffs early in the season, but two touchdown passes in the third quarter against the Sooners rallied Texas for a 28-10 win.

Bradford hasn't played in Dallas, where Texas and Oklahoma quarterbacks are measured. North Texas's defensive coordinator was a high school coach last season, and as much as Miami-Oklahoma conjured memories of great games in the 1980s, the Hurricanes played like a confused team under new head coach Randy Shannon.

The Longhorns have time to get better. McCoy has time to shake out the kinks.

They have 24 days until kickoff in Big D. Will they be ready for OU?

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Comments

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I agree with Matt. It starts with the O-line and D-line. Any QB with time can pick you apart, even I could. OU has a big edge, as in Robinson and Loadholt! The rest of the line arn't someone to stick your nose up at either. They play as a well polished unit, even the rotation players. They could start anywhere else. OU might even hang 50 on the horns. It's good to be a sooner fan!! BOOMER SOONER!
Brian, Okemah - Sep 14, 2007 8:19 AM
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It appears to me that Stoops has slowly but surely closed the recruting gap with Mack Brown. He's gotten some guys the last 2-3 years that would have gone to UT earlier. I don't think it is wise to ever predict victory in the OU - UT game, but I believe OU matches them talentwise and may even have the edge now.
Tom, Overland Park - Sep 14, 2007 7:38 AM
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Guys, this article was written by an AP writer from Asstin.
Louis, Oklahoma City - Sep 14, 2007 7:34 AM
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That's the Daily Oklahoman for you.. ignoring facts
Scott, Tyler - Sep 13, 2007 10:37 AM
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Its interesting to me that when people talk about these two QB's they completely ignore offensive line play. McCoy had it last year and was good, Bradford has it this year and is good. Inexperience at the O-line could make Peyton Manning look average.
matt, Moore - Sep 13, 2007 8:36 AM
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