Your resident BBQ lovin’ Sooner fan has never spent any significant time with any Dr. Phil types and I have never been diagnosed as being paranoid.
However, this week’s long road trip for the Sooners to the state of Washington to play a team that is wounded and playing in front of their Mom’s and Dad’s doesn’t provide me with that “peaceful easy feeling.”
After being on the sideline last year in Ames, Boulder and Glendale where the Sooners had forgettable road games I would love to see a victory away from Norman for me to breath easy about our upcoming road trips none of which will easy. ESPN is featuring the game as their prime time Saturday night affair even though they are promoting incessantly big brother ABC’s marquis match up between Ohio State and USC in Los Angeles. I can’t blame them for that but I, as a devout Sooner fan, am much more interested in what some perceive as a “trap game” for Stoops’ Troops that the national game of the week.
Tyrone Willingham’s Huskies are 0-2 but should be 1-1 after a heart breaking loss to BYU last week that was highlighted by a questionable call by the officials for excessive celebration which quite frankly defied the intent of the rule and also demonstrated a lack of common sense by the officiating crew. Strange that we are talking about Pac 10 games with psycho officiating but there will be no Gordon what’s his name replay jokes in this space today. One can’t grieve forever.
Here are some OU-Washington thoughts: - The key to the Husky fortunes is QB Jake Locker, #10, who has accounted for 426 yards of the Huskies 579 total offensive yards this season. Before anyone reaches for their calculators, that would be 73%. This quarterback has speed and plenty of it and if he is not contained Locker will impact this game. Containment on the edge and being aware of the QB draw are two facets of the game the Sooner defense must be proficient. The redshirt sophomore is ready for a breakout game and it doesn’t need to be Saturday evening. OU will likely not play a QB with better running skills than Locker this season.
Keep an eye on freshman tight end Kavario Middleton who, at 6’5”-255 lbs, reminds some in the Pacific Northwest of our #18 Jermaine Gresham. If the Sooners pass rush is intense, Locker will look for his big tight end.
26 year old safety Tripper Jones will start Saturday for the Huskies and he was a 1st round draft pick in the 2000 MLB draft. Nonetheless the Washington DB’s are ailing and could be vulnerable.
- Tyrone Willingham is a class act and has had some tough hands dealt him over the years including getting run out of Notre Dame when he didn’t deserve it. With that said, Willingham knows what’s at stake this season, his job, and an upset of #3 ranked Oklahoma at home in Huskyland would be HUGE for Willingham’s beleaguered program.
- Seattle won’t welcome Oklahoma with open arms having not forgiven “The Boz” for not working out for the Seahawks as they expected a big dollar, #1 draft pick back in the day and more recently Clay Bennett and his Oklahoma contingent for moving the NBA Sonics and creating the Thunder in OKC. The environment at the game Saturday could be interesting for visiting Sooner fans but if some Husky fans are obnoxious that doesn’t mean that Sooner fans need to retaliate which creates a natural segue.
- Oklahoma cannot continue to have retaliation penalties as we experienced last week against Cincy. There is no way to justify these types of penalties and they can negate opportunities that one needs especially on the road and against any good team. Discretion is the better and smarter part of valor on the gridiron when one is confronted by a frustrated opposing player who has been flagged.
- Washington has not sacked a quarterback this year and one has to assume that is an issue that they are addressing this week. Putting pressure on QB Sam Bradford increases any team’s chances of beating OU and one can expect the Huskies to do all they can this Saturday to get to #14.
- The offensive line once again holds the key to victory this week. Keeping Bradford “clean”, allowing the running game to open up the passing game, and keeping the Husky fans emotionally out of the game by leading the way on long drives will help enable the Sooners to return to Norman 3-0 early Sunday morning.
- The Sooner defense must tackle well Saturday and not give up big plays that invigorate the Washington faithful which then leads to an atmosphere contusive to titanic upsets.
- OU’s defensive backs and linebackers will be once again challenged this week as most insiders expect Washington to throw a variety of offensive looks at the OU “D” in hopes of exploiting a blown coverage.
- Two key names to keep an eye on for OU Saturday, #85 Ryan Broyles, who had a great “coming out” game last week and who can change the complexion of a game with a single catch, and field goal kicker Jimmy Stevens who is 1-0 in his career as a Sooner. A made field goal here or there may be just what we need Saturday and most assuredly later in the Big 12 schedule.
- The Sooners have reportedly had a strong week of preparation. The players must look at this long journey as a business trip and embrace the hostile atmosphere of which the Sooners can control with their play.
- The Huskies are a wounded bunch, both physically and emotionally, and we all know that the most dangerous animals are those that are hurt and who have their homes threatened. Something tells me that this game will be much harder to win that the victory over a stronger Cincinnati team last Saturday in Norman .
Thanks for checking out our two J.R.’s Family BBQ Restaurants, at exit 109 I-35 and Main Street in Norman and at exit 116 on the west side of I-35 in Moore. Our “football business” has been a blessing and we thank all of you that have visited our establishments. For more info on catering, to go orders, our menu, hours, etc I invite you to check out our website at www.jrsbarbq.com. Boomer Sooner! J.R.
