Surprises and Underachievers: The best and worst of Oklahoma against TCU
Head coach Bob Stoops waves to the crowd after OU defeated TCU to capture their share of the title of Big 12 Champions on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
The Sooners claimed their eighth conference title in 14 years with Stoops at the helm.
That means Oklahoma now has 44 overall conference titles.
However, this title will forever be shared with Kansas State – co-champions with co-championship rings and co-champion banners.
It’s 10:28 p.m on December 1, 2012. We are Big 12 Co-Champs and Texas still sucks. #Boomer ☝
— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) December 2, 2012
Surprises
Lane Johnson’s blocks. The guard started off the day just going head to head with TCU’s Devonte Fields. Johnson wasn’t always winning. Credit Johnson for turning his game around, though. When Damien Williams talked about his 66-yard touchdown run, the first thing he said was to give the o-line its due for the blocks it made. Johnson’s block of Fields is a main reason why Williams made it to the end zone.
The shifting of the offensive line. Lane Johnson said yesterday that the offensive line is the definition of versatility. It’s also the definition of the cliche “plagued by injury.” Oklahoma’s o-line made more switches yesterday due to Adam Shead suffering from some back and ankle issues. Shead did play some but when he wasn’t playing, offensive coordinator Josh Heupel shifted center Gabe Ikard out to right guard and placed Ty Darlington in at center.
Oklahoma’s Frank Shannon (20) and Stacy McGee (92) combine to bring down TCU’s Trevone Boykin (2) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Playing against the wind. Wind isn’t something you can see. We all learned that in about kindergarten. But the effects of the wind? Well, that was evident when Michael Hunnicutt’s field goal got a nice boot but rotated backwards in the air as the wind pushed it back from the goal posts and the kick fell short into the end zone. The wind also made it difficult for Landry Jones’ spiral.
The 4-3 defense. Let’s just leave it at this: play seven DBs and give up 49 points one week. Play the 4-3 and give up 17.
Underachievers
Landry Jones’ Heisman production. Compared to the last two weeks, this wasn’t stellar. Landry Jones was starting to be talked about among Heisman voters, not to outright win the greatest trophy in college football, but to be put on lots of voters’ ballots at least. Saturday, he was average while Kansas State’s Collin Klein had another stand-out performance.
The veteran wide receivers ‘butterfingers’. Fort Worth was Drop City for Oklahoma’s two best wide receivers Kenny Stills and Justin Brown. Not every game is an on-game and it just so happened that TCU was Stills’ and Brown’s first off-game of the season. Stills didn’t make a reception until the second half. Brown finished with four receptions for 27 yards and Stills ended with two receptions for 16 yards. On a windy day, their incompletions contributed to a tight game that should not have been a one-score decision.
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