Hey there. Let's football. Some serious and not so serious observations on the first day of our holy grail -- FOOTBALL SEASON.
20. How quickly will the fanbase turn on Lincoln Riley? Will it take a bad decision on a 4th down? Perhaps a timeout used in the first quarter vs. UTEP? It will be something, and it will be glorious. Because some people just can't be happy. This is all kind of a joke, but I'm also kind of serious.
19. Really don't think it has fully hit me yet that Bob Stoops is really gone. Will be interesting to see how much he truly is around the program during this transition phase. The golf game is really good right now.
18. Wonder if Hugh Freeze regrets calling a bunch of strippers? By far the funniest move of the offseason in the college football world. Yes, that has nothing to do with Oklahoma football.
17. What's the hottest take you can get out of a first week of practice? Someone out there will probably predict Oklahoma wins a national championship because of the way they came out and practiced this week. That's the kind of August hot takes I'm signed up for on Twitter. We'll keep an eye out and I hope you do the same.
16. Forecast in the mid-80s/low-90s this week. No that's not my average golf score, but rather the forecasted highs this week. No two-a-days, either. These kids just have it too easy these days. Back in my day ...
15. Speaking of two-a-days. Without them actually holding two-a-days it's my belief the first week of camp can still be called two-a-days. Against the grain. Controversial. That's what we do here.
14. Remember when Oklahoma started 1-2 last season and we decided as a whole this team had no leadership? Baker Mayfield, Orlando Brown, Steven Parker, Matt Romar, Obo Okoronkwo ... the list goes on and on. There are a number of returning starters that carry with them a voice in the locker room.
13. Who emerges as a kick return/punt return specialist? Jalen Saunders reminded us how quickly a game can change with a key punt return.
12. Back up quarterback? Back up quaterback, anyone? Kyler Murray has returned from the Cape. Austin Kendall has been around all summer. Tanner Schaffer is around just in case. I'll lean towards Murray, but wouldn't be surprised if Kendall wins the job. Regardless, you want to keep Mr. Mayfield as healthy as possible.
11. Depth wise this could be the best team Oklahoma has fielded in awhile. Number of very talented freshman will redshirt and that's a good thing. Who those guys are? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. That will be decided in the next week. Let the pads pop.
10. Wonder how nervous Lincoln Riley was last night. Today is kinda one of those days that you remember forever. First time you ... well you know. There's a first for everything and Riley's career as a head coach starts when the whistle is blown today.
9. Bill Bedenbaugh's offensive line unit enters the season as one of the more talented, deep groups in the entire country. Last week he told us the first few weeks would go a long way in determining the depth chart for the rest of the season. We know what to expect out of the Orlando Brown's of the team. But what about Quinn Mittermeier? Erik Swenson? Even Jonathan Alvarez to an extent. Lots of names that can contribute, perhaps no one more talked about than freshman Creed Humphrey.
9. Baker Mayfield is back in the saddle and I don't think you will find an Oklahoma fan that isn't excited by this. When you return a player of Mayfield's caliber you automatically are in contention to win championships. But even Mayfield knows there's room for improvement. At Big 12 Media Days he made it known that he's going to be better this season by doing less. Doing the small things correctly can go a long way. Paul Rudd's character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall would be proud. Do less Baker. Do less.
7. Unless Oklahoma plans on not kicking all season the Austin Seibert situation needs to fix itself. Yes there are other players on campus who can kick the ball, but I'm sticking with Seibert. He's talented. The kind of talent that is hard to find. I expect him to bounce back from a down sophomore season. That is if and when he returns to campus.
6. Because Will Sunderland put the safety position in flux when he decided an XBox was more important than the team Kerry Cooks has some decisions to make. Don't foresee Sunderland being an option -- ever. So hopefully we see a return of Will Johnson to his 2015 form rather than what we saw last season. I'm a big fan of Robert Barnes but find it hard to believe he's going to be ready from Day One.
5. Were Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon greatness recognized enough? I think so, but we shall see. The Perine and Mixon eras are over and now Jay Boulware starts the search to find their replacements. Rodney Anderson certainly can be that guy, but I'll need to see him healthy on Sept.2. Last year he didn't make it out of the first day of camp. We liked what we saw out of Marcelias Sutton during the spring. My darkhorse may surprise you. Time to get to work Abdul Adams.
4. Wide receiver has question marks. That's rather obvious for anyone that follows the OU football scene. Good news? The options for Baker Mayfield and company seem to be plentiful. Mayfield told reporters at Big 12 Media Days he's seen Jeffery Mead grow. Will that be enough? Nick Basquine, Jeff Badet and Marquise Brown are in the discussion. How about the freshman faces of Ceedee Lamb and Charleston Rambo? They have about a month to prove themselves before the season kicksoff.
3. Can Neville Gallimore be the next great defensive lineman to come out of Norman? Recent reviews would say he could be that guy. How will Ruffin McNeil fit in? That's kind of two questions in one, but equally important when talking about Oklahoma defensively. Gallimore and his DL brethern's play could be the difference in a good and great season.
2. Linebacker. Linebacker. Linebacker. Linebacker. Linebacker. Not just a specifc linebacker spot but the entire position as a whole is a big question mark. Caleb Kelly you are excused from all criticsm because you are perfect. A lot of eyes on John Michael Terry. Kenneth Murray will be asked to contribute. Probably the biggest question mark for a team that has a number of them.
1. Lincoln Riley has been rock solid in the recruiting world since taking over. Now the season is about to begin. That means winning football games. That's what he was hired to do. Should be fun. The anxiousness at the start of the season seems to be the same every year. This year maybe moreso than ever when you put all of the question marks together. Winning-- as always-- cures all. I do know that.
20. How quickly will the fanbase turn on Lincoln Riley? Will it take a bad decision on a 4th down? Perhaps a timeout used in the first quarter vs. UTEP? It will be something, and it will be glorious. Because some people just can't be happy. This is all kind of a joke, but I'm also kind of serious.
19. Really don't think it has fully hit me yet that Bob Stoops is really gone. Will be interesting to see how much he truly is around the program during this transition phase. The golf game is really good right now.
18. Wonder if Hugh Freeze regrets calling a bunch of strippers? By far the funniest move of the offseason in the college football world. Yes, that has nothing to do with Oklahoma football.
17. What's the hottest take you can get out of a first week of practice? Someone out there will probably predict Oklahoma wins a national championship because of the way they came out and practiced this week. That's the kind of August hot takes I'm signed up for on Twitter. We'll keep an eye out and I hope you do the same.
16. Forecast in the mid-80s/low-90s this week. No that's not my average golf score, but rather the forecasted highs this week. No two-a-days, either. These kids just have it too easy these days. Back in my day ...
15. Speaking of two-a-days. Without them actually holding two-a-days it's my belief the first week of camp can still be called two-a-days. Against the grain. Controversial. That's what we do here.
14. Remember when Oklahoma started 1-2 last season and we decided as a whole this team had no leadership? Baker Mayfield, Orlando Brown, Steven Parker, Matt Romar, Obo Okoronkwo ... the list goes on and on. There are a number of returning starters that carry with them a voice in the locker room.
13. Who emerges as a kick return/punt return specialist? Jalen Saunders reminded us how quickly a game can change with a key punt return.
12. Back up quarterback? Back up quaterback, anyone? Kyler Murray has returned from the Cape. Austin Kendall has been around all summer. Tanner Schaffer is around just in case. I'll lean towards Murray, but wouldn't be surprised if Kendall wins the job. Regardless, you want to keep Mr. Mayfield as healthy as possible.
11. Depth wise this could be the best team Oklahoma has fielded in awhile. Number of very talented freshman will redshirt and that's a good thing. Who those guys are? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. That will be decided in the next week. Let the pads pop.
10. Wonder how nervous Lincoln Riley was last night. Today is kinda one of those days that you remember forever. First time you ... well you know. There's a first for everything and Riley's career as a head coach starts when the whistle is blown today.
9. Bill Bedenbaugh's offensive line unit enters the season as one of the more talented, deep groups in the entire country. Last week he told us the first few weeks would go a long way in determining the depth chart for the rest of the season. We know what to expect out of the Orlando Brown's of the team. But what about Quinn Mittermeier? Erik Swenson? Even Jonathan Alvarez to an extent. Lots of names that can contribute, perhaps no one more talked about than freshman Creed Humphrey.
9. Baker Mayfield is back in the saddle and I don't think you will find an Oklahoma fan that isn't excited by this. When you return a player of Mayfield's caliber you automatically are in contention to win championships. But even Mayfield knows there's room for improvement. At Big 12 Media Days he made it known that he's going to be better this season by doing less. Doing the small things correctly can go a long way. Paul Rudd's character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall would be proud. Do less Baker. Do less.
7. Unless Oklahoma plans on not kicking all season the Austin Seibert situation needs to fix itself. Yes there are other players on campus who can kick the ball, but I'm sticking with Seibert. He's talented. The kind of talent that is hard to find. I expect him to bounce back from a down sophomore season. That is if and when he returns to campus.
6. Because Will Sunderland put the safety position in flux when he decided an XBox was more important than the team Kerry Cooks has some decisions to make. Don't foresee Sunderland being an option -- ever. So hopefully we see a return of Will Johnson to his 2015 form rather than what we saw last season. I'm a big fan of Robert Barnes but find it hard to believe he's going to be ready from Day One.
5. Were Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon greatness recognized enough? I think so, but we shall see. The Perine and Mixon eras are over and now Jay Boulware starts the search to find their replacements. Rodney Anderson certainly can be that guy, but I'll need to see him healthy on Sept.2. Last year he didn't make it out of the first day of camp. We liked what we saw out of Marcelias Sutton during the spring. My darkhorse may surprise you. Time to get to work Abdul Adams.
4. Wide receiver has question marks. That's rather obvious for anyone that follows the OU football scene. Good news? The options for Baker Mayfield and company seem to be plentiful. Mayfield told reporters at Big 12 Media Days he's seen Jeffery Mead grow. Will that be enough? Nick Basquine, Jeff Badet and Marquise Brown are in the discussion. How about the freshman faces of Ceedee Lamb and Charleston Rambo? They have about a month to prove themselves before the season kicksoff.
3. Can Neville Gallimore be the next great defensive lineman to come out of Norman? Recent reviews would say he could be that guy. How will Ruffin McNeil fit in? That's kind of two questions in one, but equally important when talking about Oklahoma defensively. Gallimore and his DL brethern's play could be the difference in a good and great season.
2. Linebacker. Linebacker. Linebacker. Linebacker. Linebacker. Not just a specifc linebacker spot but the entire position as a whole is a big question mark. Caleb Kelly you are excused from all criticsm because you are perfect. A lot of eyes on John Michael Terry. Kenneth Murray will be asked to contribute. Probably the biggest question mark for a team that has a number of them.
1. Lincoln Riley has been rock solid in the recruiting world since taking over. Now the season is about to begin. That means winning football games. That's what he was hired to do. Should be fun. The anxiousness at the start of the season seems to be the same every year. This year maybe moreso than ever when you put all of the question marks together. Winning-- as always-- cures all. I do know that.
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