Better OU offense: 2008 or 1971?
By Berry Tramel
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9
Published: January 5, 2009
Is the 2008 Oklahoma offense better than the 1971 Oklahoma offense? The '71 Sooners averaged 44.5 points and an NCAA-record 472 yards rushing per game.
Hard to compare offenses 37 years apart and from such wide-ranging eras. The wishbone was young in 1971;
Texas had implemented it only in 1968, and OU adopted it in mid-season 1970.
This Sooner offense has scored 94 touchdowns and kicked eight field goals in 175 possessions. That's a success rate of 56 percent, giving a full credit for a TD and half credit for a field goal.
Using the available data from '71, those Sooners performed at a 51 percent rate.
But the biggest difference in the two offenses is not in scoring. It's in ball security.
The '71 Sooners committed 32 turnovers. That's three interceptions and 29 lost fumbles in 12 games.
Bob Stoops would blow a gasket.
The '08 Sooners have committed nine turnovers. Seven interceptions and two lost fumbles in 13 games.
Considering the rule changes and developments in football, the '71 Sooners were about as productive as the current Sooners. But ball protection wasn't close.
OU tight end
Jermaine Gresham said offensive coordinator's
Kevin Wilson's philosophy on turnovers is “don't have 'em. Don't have 'em in our offense. He talks about ball security.”
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tougher conference than Big 12.
win. Wonder what that % would be if a local station or paper ran a poll for the local opinion?
Stats. don't lie, Defense wins Championships, Offense fills the Stadium. OU didn't win the
Big 12 outright, they were given the title according to computers.
win. Wonder what that % would be if a local station or paper ran a poll for the local opinion?
Stats. don't lie, Defense wins Championships, Offense fills the Stadium. OU didn't win the
Big 12 outright, they were given the title according to computers.
You can't compare eras because today's kids are bigger, faster, stronger. The game has changed. This year's OU offense, as configured, would have scored 1,000 points back in 1971 because of the many options and the no-huddle aggressive pressure.