Sooners' offense should flourish tonight, allowing OU to survive against Missouri
Sooners' offense should flourish

By John Rohde

Published: October 13, 2007

NORMAN — Presumably, Oklahoma fans have paid attention all week.

They've heard the incessant chatter about Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and the Tigers' offense, which averages 199.0 yards by land and 357.6 by air.

They're well aware Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman are two imposing tight ends who often impose their will as split ends.

They're ready to hold their breath whenever Jeremy Maclin touches the ball, seeing how he averages 22.4 yards per kickoff return, 16.0 per punt return, 12.2 per reception and an astounding 10.9 per rush on 16 carries.

They fully expect wideout William Franklin to be playing on Sundays next year.

They know Missouri's offensive line has allowed just five sacks in 237 pass attempts.

They have figured out these are no paper Tigers.

A paper defense? Perhaps.

Despite being a 10-point underdog for today's 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Owen Field, Missouri could present serious matchup problems for the OU defense.

What the Tigers do well (pass), the Sooners do not do well (pass defend).

OU has surrendered 898 passing yards the last three games.

The Sooners will have to nickel and dime their way against the pass, using five and six cover defenders.

Daniel could become a point guard, with ally-oop passes to salivating receivers like Rucker, Coffman and Franklin.

Good passing teams become even better when they're able to run the ball, and Missouri most certainly can run, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt.

Special teams will be huge, particularly with Maclin center stage.

There is an air of uneasiness with tonight's game, which is odd, seeing how the Sooners have won 16 of their last 17 and 28 of their last 31 games against Missouri.

The last time the Tigers won in Norman was 1966, when future Heisman winner Steve Owens was a freshman and Barry Switzer arrived as an assistant coach.

There have been some ugly blowouts since then.

Under Switzer, OU won by counts of 49-7, 51-6 and 77-0 back-to-back-to-back from 1984-86.

There also have been games far too close for comfort, when the Sooners were good and the Tigers were not:

• A 21-17 survival in 1977 at Columbia, when OU was ranked No. 7 and Missouri finished 4-7 that year.

• A 17-13 survival in 1987 at Norman, when the Sooners were ranked No. 1 and the Tigers came in with a 4-5 record.

• A 31-24 survival in 2002 at Columbia, when OU was ranked No. 2 and Missouri finished the season 5-7.

But that's old news.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops said he only deals in the present, and he is presently 4-0 against the Tigers.

Whenever an offensive extravaganza seems imminent, defense often jumps to the forefront.

That's not likely tonight.

OU's offense vs. MU's defense appears to be a far bigger mismatch than MU's offense vs. OU's defense.

That's why the Sooners should survive. Barely.

OU 35, MU 31.

John Rohde: 475-3099, jrohde@oklahoman.com; John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. on New JOX 930 (AM).

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