OU 65, Texas A&M 10: Thoughts and observations
Beat Tech, and suddenly Bedlam Thanksgiving Weekend becomes a game with the Cotton Bowl on the line. But lose to Tech, and OU could be headed to El Paso, Texas, and the Sun Bowl.
The key will be the offense. The defense has been great everywhere. But the offense, while great in Norman, has stunk it up away from home.
13 points against BYU in Dallas.
20 at Miami.
13 against Texas in Dallas.
35 at Kansas.
3 at Nebraska.
OU will probably have to put up more than 20 points to beat Tech on the road. Can they do it?
“Until we can show that we can play with some composure and play smarter it will still be a test,” said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. “It will be a test to show if we have matured through the year or are we the same cast of characters.
“So it will be a big challenge and an opportunity to see where we are at as a team next week against Texas Tech.”
Quick hits
* More about walk-on kicker Patrick O’Hara coming in Monday’s paper. O’Hara has a great story of how he ended up in Norman. Time will tell if O’Hara, who made a FG and a couple of extra points, will be the answer at kicker.
* Too bad this defense will be part of a mediocre season. This defense is one of the school’s all-time greats. The only two TDs OU has allowed the last two weeks have come off turnovers returned inside the Sooner 5.
* OU red zone offense, 6 of 7. The only miss was a Tress Way missed FG.
* Freshman RB Jermie Calhoun looked sharp in mop-up duty with 94 yards rushing on 18 carries. It’s the most work Calhoun has gotten in his young career and he did well with it.
* Adron Tennell played poorly last weekend at Nebraska, but going back to the start of Big 12 play, Tennell quietly has been solid. Against A&M, he had five catches for 76 yards and 2 TDs.
* At home this year, Landry Jones has thrown 18 TDs to just 4 picks.
* Ryan Broyles is so good. He had eight catches for 79 yards and a TD. Pencil in Broyles as on the All-Big 12 first team offense.
* Speaking of which, has DeMarco Murray done enough to make that team? He didn’t hurt his cause, with 223 all-purpose yards.
* Jeremy Beal, Travis Lewis, Brian Jackson and Frank Alexander all had big games for the defense.
* TE Eric Mensik got some work at right tackle. Not a bad move, considering the Sooners have no more tackles to turn to if Trent Williams or Cory Brandon get hurt.
* The Wildcat can be a good set for the Sooners. Murray and Broyles seem to possess suitable skill sets for that kind of offense. Both players are savvy and can make people miss in 1-on-1 situations.
They said it
Coach Bob Stoops: “DeMarco (Murray) is a really special talent in that he is not just a running back. I have said it a lot, he would be a great corner. He’s just a guy that is really athletic. He catches the ball well, runs pretty good routes, is good out of the backfield and also is a strong, powerful runner. He had another big night and it is good to see him get out and make some big plays.”
