WWE Hall of Fame Broadcaster, big-time Sooner fan and J.R.'s BBQ in Norman owner Jim Ross previews Saturday's showdown against Oklahoma State.
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all Sooner Football fans and here’s hoping you enjoy the holiday with your family and friends. Regardless of the heartbreaking loss at Texas Tech last week, all of us still have a great deal to be thankful for as it relates to our favorite football team.
Also, please don’t forget to include our troops in your prayers and thoughts this weekend. Many of us will be fortunate enough to be able to see OU play Oklahoma State Saturday, either in person or on TV, while many Oklahomans serving our country will have other priorities with which to address.
There is not much more that can be said about the disappointing play of the Sooners last Saturday down in Lubbock that hasn’t been already been repeated over and over. The team’s sense of urgency, or seemingly their lack thereof, was disheartening against Tech especially with so much at stake, including the opportunity to play for another national title on January 7. However, the Big 12 Championship and a BCS Bowl Game are still within reach with a Sooner win on Saturday in Norman against our in-state rival, who has designs on breaking hearts in the Sooners’ house Saturday at 2:30 pm.
***
Where does one start when looking ahead at this year’s Bedlam game? Several things come to mind.
Sam Bradford — The Sooner QB has practiced this week and is feeling much more like himself, but for any of us Sooner loyalists to think that Sam will ride his white horse onto Owen Field and save the day for OU against the Cowboys seems far-fetched. There is no guarantee that Sam will be cleared to play by the medical staff, and IF the redshirt freshman sensation is cleared to play how effective will he be just seven days from being K.O.'d at Texas Tech?
There is no doubt that if Bradford is able to play that he will provide the Sooners with a significant emotional lift, but with concussions being treated as they are these days, and rightfully so, the possibility of Sam Bradford playing against OSU feels like a long shot. I would love to be wrong about this, but as I write this the jury is still out on Sam’s status.
Joey Halzle — for a guy who had not taken many snaps in a game this season, Halzle had attempted on 10 passes in his career before the Tech game, and considering he had essentially no time to prepare to play in Lubbock, Halzle finished the Tech game strong. Joey definitely got better as the game progressed, which is encouraging.
Joey has been in the system long enough to understand the offense, and against OSU he will be asked to do what Bradford was asked to do early in the season — to “facilitate” the offense and to not implode. Can Halzle play well enough to lead the Sooners to a win Saturday? The answer is yes if Joey can build on the fourth quarter he had in Lubbock.
Keith Nichol- a talented, freshman with a cannon of an arm and the ability to “run the football” will most likely see action Saturday if Bradford sits, and specifically if Halzle isn’t as effective as needed. Nichol has received more reps this week than at any other time since Bradford was named the starter.
Allen Patrick- We need to see the A.P. that came off the bench last year to replace the injured Adrian Peterson, and who slashed his way through defenses with reckless abandon and pure passion. #23 is a senior who will be playing in his last game ever at Owen Field, and to be able to see Allen go out with a fumble-free, winning effort would be awesome. Let’s not forget that Patrick rushed for 163 yards last year in Stillwater.
Chris Brown- Even with “Murray Mania” abounding, the Sooner coaches never neglect to give Brown his props as one of the better running backs to play at OU in the Stoops era. Brown will get his carries this Saturday and no one should grieve over Demarco Murray not playing as the Sooners still can run the football if….
The offensive line plays their best game of the year and lives up to their hype and potential. Without question this OU O-Line has talent, but for some reason they simply have not played consistently tough and smart for four full quarters of a game. Getting “hustling” personal foul penalties are one thing, but getting personal foul penalties because of a lack of discipline is inexcusable. The offensive line of the Sooners being able to dominate the line of scrimmage is crucial in the Bedlam game.
Malcolm Kelly, Joaquin Iglesias, and Manny Johnson are all excellent wide receivers, but how well they BLOCK will be a key to OU beating OSU.
Senior tight end Joe Jon Finley, one of only two senior starters on the OU offense, will be playing his last home game in an OU uniform. What a great time it would be to see TE Finley, one of my favorite Sooners, have a career game. Speaking of tight end play, sophomore Jermaine Gresham is obviously an amazing physical specimen and, no, he’s not in the witness protection program as some fans have speculated. But one would think that big #18 will be a vital part of the Sooner offensive gameplan in this “must win” game.
Auston English — will the sackmaster DE and Hendricks Award semi-finalist play? A great question with unfortunately no conclusive answer, but we can only hope English is able to play at least a few plays and be able to contribute as he did prior to his injury. Perhaps English not playing in every defensive series would allow him to get on the field for a few series and create some problems for the Pokes.
To say that Auston English is simply “missed” is a gross understatement. Nonetheless, let’s not discount the abilities of DE’s Alonzo Dotson and Jeremy Beal. Plus, it doesn’t pain me to see Gerald McCoy or Adrian Taylor rushing OSU QB Zac Robinson off the corner.
Sooner Secondary — much-maligned and criticized and some of it rightfully so, one can argue. This group of outstanding athletes needs to ignore what some people are saying about them, rally together and play their hearts out Saturday. One has to assume that OSU will do all they can to exploit the OU DB’s after watching Baylor and Texas Tech have success throwing the football the past two weeks. A great game by the secondary helps the Sooner chances immensely of getting to San Antonio on December 1.
The Crowd — nothing will help motivate the Sooners more than a frenzied, LOUD, throng of Sooner fans making more noise than at any time this season.
***
Keys to the Game:
*OU must control the line of scrimmage and run the ball effectively. The world is watching, O-Line.
*Convert 3rd downs and keep the Sooner offense on the field.
*Contain OSU QB Zac Robinson, who is evolving into a star with both his legs and his arm.
*Tackle like madmen in that if that suggested aggression occurred outside the stadium one would be arrested for assault.
*The special teams need to be strong. Kicker Garrett Hartley, another senior playing his last home game, could be the difference on a cold, rainy day.
*Do not allow OSU to take our crowd out of the game.
*Never stop believing that OU will win this game.
***
This Sooner team still has a ton to play for, including accomplishing two of their pre-season goals — beating their in-state rival and winning the Big 12 South Title. Not to mention going to a BCS bowl game. As fans, we have a great deal to be proud of as our Sooners look to accomplish their aforementioned goals and win their 10th game of the season.
It may seem like a small consolation to some Sooner fans and leave yours truly wide open to be assaulted on the beloved message boards, but I have to believe that the VAST majority of college football fans would love to have their team win 10 games and play in their conference title game after beating their in state rival. Yes, I know that we are “Oklahoma” and that we expect to win “big” every year, but I consider 10 regular season wins as being “big”.
During the holiday season I am often reminded that I am thankful for many things in my life and, aside from my family and my health, the success of the Oklahoma Sooners Football Program is one of them. Let’s cheer like champions Saturday!
***
Hopefully I will see many of your smiling faces at our place after the game, J.R.’s Family BBQ, at I-35 and Main on the east side of the mile of cars. We will have plenty of slow, hickory smoked BBQ and old fashioned Oklahoma hospitality for all our guests. Come see us.
BOOMER SOONER!
J.R.
www.jrsbarbq.com 405-360-4BBQ (4227)
