Quarterback Sam Bradford leaves the field after the college football game between Oklahoma (OU) and Baylor University at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas, Saturday, October 4, 2008.
BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
But cornerback Brian Jackson closed quick and slammed Wright to the turf for a 6-yard loss.
The Sooner defensive backfield delivered another strong performance Saturday as top-ranked Oklahoma hammered the Bears 49-17, setting the stage for next weekend's Red River showdown with No. 5-ranked Texas.
“Our coverage was outstanding,” coach Bob Stoops said. “We couldn't be more pleased.”
The Sooner defense held Griffin to just 75 yards on 11 of 26 passing, coming off a game at Connecticut in which he passed for 208 yards.
The Bears tried to throw long. They tried to throw short. They even tried to throw off a reverse.
But the Sooner coverage never cracked.
“Up to this point, they're playing pretty good,” secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright said of his unit. “We're happy with the way they're playing, we're happy with the way they played today.”
In the past, pass coverage has been the Achilles heel of this team.
In losses to Colorado, Texas Tech and West Virginia last year, OU surrendered a combined 816 yards and six touchdowns through the air.
Last season, OU finished with the No. 59th-ranked pass defense, allowing 228 yards a game.
But so far this year, the Sooners are giving up just 159 passing yards per outing.
The swing can be credited to better tackling by the secondary in space and the fact that Jackson and Dominique Franks, in their first season as starting cornerbacks, have yet to be beaten deep.
“Those two things have been a big improvement,” free safety Lendy Holmes said.
The dependability of the cornerbacks has also allowed Holmes and strong safety Nic Harris to focus more at stopping the run.
And both Holmes and Harris are superb tacklers.
“If we know the wideout is going to get sewed up by the cornerback on our side,” Harris said, “we can focus more on the run game and watch the eyes of the quarterback.”
Next up is Texas, which will reveal the true mettle of this defensive backfield.
The Longhorns boast one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Colt McCoy, a revamped offensive line that specializes in protecting its quarterback and a pair of reliable senior wide receivers in Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley.
And with nary a run game to speak of, the Longhorns will try and burn OU with the pass.
“We've been looking to this challenge,” Holmes said. “It's what we've been waiting for.
“We're going to find out what we're about.”
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James, I agree with you whole-heartedly. I think OU has ran much of its hurry-up offense, purposefully. I think we'll get a much larger dose of it, and see them take advantage of the mis-matches you so well described. I look for Gresham to have a HUGE HUGE game, maybe the biggest ever for an OU tight end.
Definitely, and if you remember all those illegal substitution penalties TCU had last week, those were all because of the quick snap. Look for some more of that next Saturday.
James, great and thorough explanation about the no-huddle offense. I guess I was in fact adding "hurry up" to my presumptions about it. It seems, then, that in the same way that teams have to establish the running game so that passing is effective, teams have to quick-snap from the no-huddle every now and then so as to keep the defense guessing.
Regarding the no huddle offense, don't confuse it with a "hurry up" offense. While a "hurry up" offense pretty much has to be no huddle, the reverse is not necessarily so. Speeding things up isn't the primary purpose of going no huddle. Rather, the concept is that you limit defensive substitutions; create personnel mismatches when Gresham and sometimes Murray line up in the slot as a receiver, so that you'll end up with a linebacker trying to cover them; and once you line up, you can see the defensive alignment before calling the play. That you can snap the ball quickly to change the pace, keep the defense off balance, and in some cases catch them in the middle of a substitution, drawing a penalty flag, is merely gravy.
James is one of those special ed aggies that have to talk about somebody else beating the Sooners last year or years before. So what if Colorado beat OU in Boulder last year while Texas beat them there this year? These are different teams; it's just like all I heard before we played Miami last year or TCU this year how the Sooner had lost to those teams when they previously met. James can't talk up his plowboys because they live in a giant shadow of OU and have little to no football tradition compared to the Sooners. The aggies will get back to reality this Saturday when Daniel and Co. put 'half a hundred' on the goat humpers and we'll start hearing "wait till next year" again.
Albert, Albert, Albert... Sometimes you really ought to know what you're talking about before you say it. Quality opponents, eh? Hmmm, well, the conference is what is. But I doubt anyone would argue the Mizzou, Texas and maybe even Tech are 'quality opponents' given their top 10 ranking. A&M, ISU, and Colorado all stink, that's the way it goes. And all the rest, meh. But non-conference you can only play those that will CHOOSE to play you, and when you're OU, that's not VERY easy to find opponents willing to do so. Even so, check out these future opponents for OU: At Miami, At Cinicinnati, Home/Away v Notre Dame, Home/Away v Fla State, Home/Away v Tennessee. I don't have any knowledge of OSU's future non-conference, I kind of presume they have to beg/borrow/steal from year to year, but looking back at the last four years shows the following 'stellar' opponents: Kudos to playing GA and getting your asses handed to you, Houston, Troy, Missouri State, WA State, FL Atlantic, Sam Houston State, Arkansas State, Montana State. Wow. I can see where you are used to challenging games against teams more along your own skill level, stadium size, attendance level, and general interest. It's okay to admit you're a 'special' school. Hey, whenever you have the occasional five or six or maybe even seven win season, and then go get blown out by a 'quality' opponent like Ohio State in a bowl game, we all applaud your effort. That's just what you do. Good effort OSU. Good try.
Why do you people argue about this stuff? I understand being passionate about your team, but I don't understand being hateful and childish. Let the teams play, and cheer for your teams. All the ignorant ranting here won't change the outcome of any game. If either team doesn't have what it takes, we'll know soon enough. OU will have their hands full with Texas, and OSU will certainly have a challenge against Missouri. Let's let the season shake out a little. Then we can fire up the malicious taunting again. Whaddaya say?
Probably the reason for so many OSU post on this article is that Ou fans are bored with the puff games they have played so far this year that they have to find something entertaining to do such as pose as OSU posters. It must get boring to watch the boring blow out games against puff teams week end and week out. A good close game against a quality opponent is more exciting and worth the money paid to watch, Ou ought to try it once and a while. USC quality opponents = Ou quality opponents.
Always a green-eyed frustrated wanna-be backwards stepchild....
Don't worry. Some day the league will reform, and the ugly orange aggies can try to join a real powerhouse, like the USA conference. Something more they're speed. Of course, all the little Dexter Manley's may not pass the reading test, but that never stopped them in the past.
The no huddle the way it was run may have SEEMED boring, because the team was waiting, etc, but what you may fail to realize is that the defense has to be prepared for the offense to go. The Sooners HAVE gone through the 'quick-snap' plays in a few series, they just haven't done it very consistently AS OF YET. But if the offense doesn't substitute out players, the defense can't sub in. That still has a significant impact on the game whether you realize it or not. Suffice to say that the first quarter scoring might be some evidence of this.
Eudell makes a great point. OU hasn't thrown the Gresham down the seam since the first quarter against TCU. Look for that at least three times against Texas. Sammy only went to him in checkdown yesterday. Jermaine has a passion against the shorthorns, and I think he'll be a big game-breaker. As for the pathetic ugly-orange-north people (I hesitate to call them even fans, since they're more green with envy about another school rather than talk about their own). Ignore them.
OU's going to feature Jermaine Gresham right up the middle of the field. Colt McCoy is playing his a*& off. He runs alot but doesn't avoid contact. Should be interesting. DeMarco's breakout game.
First off I am an OU fan..that is an OU fan first and an Oklahoma fan second. I for one hope OSU smacks the crap out of Chase dipstick Daniels. In fact I hope OSU puts a beat down on them so bad that we will be able to hear Daniels cry all the way out here in California. I hate Mizzou ever since they whined last year about beating themselves (in the first match-up) ans tehsn saying just about the same thing the second time they got their arse handed to them ....and to think the final polls STILL had them ranked over OU!!?? SO OSU fans go talk it up on your site for god's sake you sound like someone's little brother trying to prove you belong in the game and let the OU fans talk it up about Texas...then we will tend you sometime in November.
It's the same on the OSU articles OU fans hating on OSU fan neither team has played anyone Cincy ok TCU both teams sound like good teams but who have they beat no one OSU played Troy and Houston no real test yet OU isn't great at running the ball and you can't really say OSU cant pass well because they haven't really needed to as of yet and no Paul in well over 6 years it's been two close calls no win over Texas but they beat OU in 2002.
It's pretty pathetic that the lOSUr fans have to come on here and act like their team has any kind of a shot at winning the Big XII. James in Edmond, I've heard you on the radio and all you ever talk about is the GOONERS. I think you secretly have a man-crush on Bob Stoops and Sam Bradford and deep down inside you keep asking yourself why you subject yourself to being a fan of lOSUr, who will always be the bridesmaid and never the bride, which will be proven this week when Mizzou will beat the crap out of the 3rd best college football team in Oklahoma.
Get a grip Okis State fans. You better worry about Mizzou, instead of Baylor. Or wait didnt Baylor beat ya'll a few years ago? You better hope you can score on every Mizzou kickoff that is the only way you are going to keep it close. God knows they will never punt to you. This time this week we are all going to wonder of Mizzou is still scoring points. OU/Texas, big D, the state fair. Cant beat it no matter how much pokes try. It is time for another blowout. Write it down... 63, 65, prob 60 0r so this time. PS Pokes 2008 Big 12 champs... in what Fall wrestling? Womens wrestling? Pig judging? Cause it aint going to be in Football, Texas tech has better odds, you are going to be lucky to wind up more than a game or 2 ahead of that school for the blind baptists in Waco.
Chase Daniels will show OSU where they are weak and that's on defense. OU on the other hand shows no weakness in any position offense or defense. That's why they are the Number One Team in the nation.
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Don't worry. Some day the league will reform, and the ugly orange aggies can try to join a real powerhouse, like the USA conference. Something more they're speed. Of course, all the little Dexter Manley's may not pass the reading test, but that never stopped them in the past.