Texas Tech 41, OU 13: Thoughts and observations
The biggest surprise from OU’s 41-13 head-kicking courtesy of Texas Tech was not the offense struggling. The offense struggles on the road. It’s what they do.
The surprise was Tech basically moving the ball at will against OU’s previously vaunted defense. And how did Tech move the ball? Yeah, Taylor Potts threw for 388 yards, which is actually fairly pedestrian for a Mike Leach team.
Tech actually moved the ball by running it. Running wide. Running up the middle. Big runs, short runs. In all, Tech ran for 161 yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry. And that includes the 21 yards Potts lost on being sacked.
The scary part for OU, if there’s anything left to be scared about, is that the Sooners’ next opponent is Oklahoma State.
OU just got done facing THE WORST rush offense in the Big 12 in Tech.
The Sooners are now getting ready to play THE BEST rush offense in the league in OSU.
Even after the OU win, Tech is still averaging less than 80 yards rushing a game.
OSU is averaging 204.
If the Pokes are able to run the ball as well as Tech did against OU, expect the Sooners to fall to 6-6.
Quick hits
* Ryan Broyles’ showboating into the end zone down 34-6 was downright embarrassing. I think you can sum up the lack of focus and discipline with this team on that play alone.
* There really wasn’t one person to blame defensively. Everyone took turns getting beat. Keenan Clayton, Brian Jackson, Dom Franks, Travis Lewis all had their moments. I can’t fault the defense too much. After being lights out the whole year, they were due for a poor game. Not surprisingly, the offense couldn’t bail them out.
* The great thing about Sam Bradford was that he could find the open guy every time. Landry Jones had guys open at times. He just missed them and threw the other direction, often into traffic.
* Center Ben Habern’s injury is unfortunate. Ben seems to be a really good kid, and a potential leader for this team down the road. Very similar to Jon Cooper that way. But with a broken fibula, we may not see him for another 5 months. The last thing this line needs is guys missing spring drills. OU will be without Jarvis Jones, at this point the 2010 starting LT, as well. Walk-on Brian Lepak will start at center the rest of the way.
* RBs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown were total non-factors in this game, combining for 51 yards rushing on less than 3.0 yards per carry. Murray and Brown, each 1,000 yard rushers last year, will probably each finish with 700 yards apiece this season.
* OU really needs Brandon Caleb to get healthy. For whatever reason, he played special teams, but not WR. Adron Tennell really struggled. Tennell has been good against the bad teams. But they’ve needed him to shine in big spots, and he has disappeared.
* Freshman Jaz Reynolds had a nice 57-yard grab. Is it not time to get him more PT to get ready for 2010?
* At least penalties and FG kicker were not the reasons for this loss. OU only committed six penalties for 66 yards. And Pat O’Hara nailed both of his FG attempts, including a 47-yarder.
* OU is going to finish 4th in the South. In 2005, a down year, OU finished 3rd.
* Bowl game options now appear to now be Alamo, Sun and Insight. Beat OSU, and it’s either Alamo or Sun, though probably Sun at this point. Lose, and it’s Sun or Insight.
* The all-white uniforms were terrible. Looked like a more boring version of Stanford. Good thing is, after that loss, we’ll never see them again.
