Jim Ross' Blog: OU- Texas

For us Sooner fans, even if Saturday’s game wasn’t considered the marquis game of the week nationally, it still would be to us. I have great respect for Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn and the Army-Navy game but in my life nothing on the college gridiron compares to Oklahoma vs. Texas.    

Yours truly just returned from a road trip for the WWE after visiting Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington the past few days and even people in the Pacific Northwest are talking about Saturday’s nationally televised game on ABC with the brunch kickoff of 11:07 a.m. Cotton Bowl time.   

In a contest that has been analyzed to death this week, let’s cut to the chase and look at a few keys to the game from one fan’s perspective. 

• The Sooners have practiced well this week and will go into Saturday’s game mentally and emotionally ready.
• I think this game hinges a great deal on whose quarterback can find his comfort zone and avoid being physically abused.
• OU’s offensive line vs. UT’s defensive line, if one had to make a selection, may be Saturday’s key match-up.
• Keep an eye on OU center Jon Cooper, one of OU’s most underrated players, and his battle with Texas’ D-Lineman Roy Miller. “Coop” is government mule tough and the Sooners need him in a big way Saturday. The senior nursing a knee sprain says he is ready to play and that’s good enough for me.    
• Another key match-up is Sooners’ offensive left tackle Phil Loadholt vs. Texas’ red hot defensive end and sack master Brian Orakpo. Loadholt has played extremely well at times but he has also had his “West Virginia’s” as well.  
• Last week at Colorado, Texas hit the Buffs QB 11 times and created 14 QB pressures. Expect to see Texas blitz from every possible alignment and to come early, often and hard for Sam Bradford.         
• Following the old football theory, the team that has created the most turnovers in the last decade has won nine times in Dallas. BTW OU has yet to fumble this season if you’re keeping score at home.
• OU is the most efficient team in the nation in the Red Zone which speaks to the play calling of OC Kevin Wilson. The Sooners have 23 TD’s in 24 trips inside the 20. UT does well there also as they have scored 23 TD’s in 26 red zone visits.
• Colt McCoy is a much different player than he was last year as he is noticeably bigger and stronger. McCoy is the proverbial straw that stirs the Texas Kool Aid and if McCoy is able to have a big game it will be a long day for the #1 ranked team in the nation.
• How well OU defends McCoy and how aggressively they treat the UT QB would appear to be an important key to this game. I think McCoy is a great QB and is close to or on a level with Chase Daniel. Don’t kill the messenger.
• Will Muschamp is the new Texas defensive coordinator and is the highest paid assistant coach in the Big 12 knocking down about $450K. The emotional, calculated risk taking Muschamp was the defensive coordinator at LSU in the 2004 National Title game where the Bengal Tigers sacked OU QB Jason White 7 times in a game in New Orleans that many fans still say OU should have won.
• The Sooners are averaging a whopping 80 snaps per game but will Texas new, attacking, aggressive defense allow that to occur on Saturday?
• Field position is going to be another key to this game and statistically it appears that the Longhorns have the edge in special teams. Texas is netting 40.5 yards per kick which is impressive. Their punter has also dropped 4 inside the 20 yard line.
• Will the Sooners do a better job of covering kickoffs? Let’s hope that they do and that we get to see plenty of kickoff coverage opportunities on Saturday.
• Is #7 Demarco Murray physically 100%? I don’t know but it doesn’t appear that he is. However, there is nothing wrong with the young man’s heart as he has been running with vengeance between the tackles. Chris Brown and Mossis Madu, along with Murray, provides OU with 3 relatively fresh sets of legs which few teams can match.             
• Ryan Reynolds, one of our regular guests at J.R.’s Family BBQ in Norman, has been magnificent at Middle Linebacker and will no doubt have the opportunity to introduce himself again Saturday to Colt McCoy.  OU’s LB’s and secondary will be called upon again to make big plays and create turnovers in this all important Big 12 South showdown.  
• Apparently, injured DT DeMarcus Granger has an outside chance in playing Saturday but how effective he will be won’t be known until he gets on the field IF he gets on the field.
• DT Gerald McCoy has played like an All American thus far this year while “G.K.’s” leadership abilities contribute immensely to the Sooner success. DT’s Cory Bennett and Adrian Taylor have also had excellent years so getting Granger back would really add to Coach Jackie Shipp’s defensive tackle rotation especially on a hot day and a physical day in Dallas. Adrian Taylor has especially been impressive this season and I have always liked Bennett’s motor.
• OU’s defensive ends will be once again put to the test having to deal with the athletic, Horns QB McCoy.  Perhaps no players on the Sooner defensive will be under more pressure than English, Beal, and company.

 Oklahoma can throw the ball against any team in American as long as Sam Bradford is vertical. Again, it’s back to the Sooner offensive line versus the Texas pass rushers. 

Oklahoma needs to have a balanced offensive attack and perhaps throwing the ball on first down more often will allow the OU offensive to keep the highly touted Muschamp, who seemingly has a “rock star” persona in Austin, and his defenders off balance. 

Being able to “tote the rock” effectively for the OU running backs seems imperative. O-Line are you listening? 

Special teams play must be better. It’s that simple.  Will 5’6” field goal kicker Jimmy Stevens be called upon to kick his second field goal ever as a Sooner and if so how will Stevens respond?  

What I feel best about this game is that Bob Stoops is still the head man in Norman. Unlike some Texas fans, never confuse Bob’s confidence of his belief in his staff and is team with arrogance. Is there another coach in American that you would rather have calling the shots over Stoops? I can’t think of one in division one college football or the NFL.  

Oklahoma’s football program has been built on outstanding leadership from top to bottom and on winning with class. The winningest college football program of the modern era definitely has its work cut out for them on Saturday but my Sooner heart says OU by 10.  

Yours truly will be a guest on ESPN’s College Football Live this Friday at 3:30/2:30 p.m. Oklahoma time and we will be discussing Saturday’s game. I hope you can check it out.  

Plus, we have had a BBQ Bevo promotion at our J.R.’s Family BBQ in Moore this week as well as seeing plenty of hungry folks at our original location in Norman. We handle your “to go” orders and offer caterings of all kinds and for any number of people. If you want to watch the Sooners play Saturday drop either J.R.’s especially our place in Moore just south of the Warren Theatre where we have 14 HD flat screen TV’s which will be tuned to “the game.” For more info please check out www.jrsbarbq.com.  

Boomer Sooner

J.R.