1. Eliminate hope early
Player in charge: Baker Mayfield
Last week, Treyvone Boykin shredded the Texas secondary in the first quarter and that lead to a 30-0 TCU advantage after the first quarter. This allowed the Horned Frogs to play aggressively the rest of the game and really demoralized a young Longhorns team that has had little reason for optimism this season.
If Mayfield can connect on early opportunities, then a similar recipe, and Eddie Radosevich’s saucy prediction, may come true. However, an errant throw, a tipped ball, a misread, etc., could lead to a confidence-boosting defensive touchdown - a la Blake Bell’s pick six to Chris Whaley early in the 2013 loss.
2. Prevent big plays
Player in charge: Steven Parker
Oklahoma cannot allow a fragile Texas team the opportunity to gain confidence early and energize them for the rest of the game. Even with Daje Johnson likely out, that doesn’t mean the Longhorns will give up any hope of testing the Sooners deep. With nothing to lose, it’s not hard to envision Jay Norvell throwing everything he has at Oklahoma with play-action, double moves, and trick plays.
Steven Parker has had a solid year, but what has impressed me most is how he has improved from week-to-week consistently being in the correct position. The Sooners will be counting on their talented safety to not lose his composure early in this game, when the juices are flowing, as some of his teammates might not have settled down yet. Forcing Texas to consistently and meticulously drive the length of the field is a winning game plan for Oklahoma.
3. Control the line of scrimmage
Players in charge: Nila Kasitati & Matthew Romar
Nila Kasitati came into this season with lofty expectations for the finally healthy senior to showcase his power and strength at offensive guard. He was seen as a rock of reliability (if healthy) on a shaky and inexperienced line. However, the inverse has seemingly come true, as Kasitati has struggled to hold up in both pass and run blocking. Texas’ defensive line provides every opportunity for the senior to regain his mojo.
If the Longhorns are able to keep it close, they will rely on their running game to attempt to shorten the game and increase their chances of pulling off the upset. The Oklahoma defensive line can throw a wrench into those plans by disrupting a Texas offensive line that is young, injured, and struggling. Romar doesn’t have to have great quickness like three-technique Charles Walker, he just needs to be a fire hydrant at nose tackle that Texas struggles to push around.
Player in charge: Baker Mayfield
Last week, Treyvone Boykin shredded the Texas secondary in the first quarter and that lead to a 30-0 TCU advantage after the first quarter. This allowed the Horned Frogs to play aggressively the rest of the game and really demoralized a young Longhorns team that has had little reason for optimism this season.
If Mayfield can connect on early opportunities, then a similar recipe, and Eddie Radosevich’s saucy prediction, may come true. However, an errant throw, a tipped ball, a misread, etc., could lead to a confidence-boosting defensive touchdown - a la Blake Bell’s pick six to Chris Whaley early in the 2013 loss.
2. Prevent big plays
Player in charge: Steven Parker
Oklahoma cannot allow a fragile Texas team the opportunity to gain confidence early and energize them for the rest of the game. Even with Daje Johnson likely out, that doesn’t mean the Longhorns will give up any hope of testing the Sooners deep. With nothing to lose, it’s not hard to envision Jay Norvell throwing everything he has at Oklahoma with play-action, double moves, and trick plays.
Steven Parker has had a solid year, but what has impressed me most is how he has improved from week-to-week consistently being in the correct position. The Sooners will be counting on their talented safety to not lose his composure early in this game, when the juices are flowing, as some of his teammates might not have settled down yet. Forcing Texas to consistently and meticulously drive the length of the field is a winning game plan for Oklahoma.
3. Control the line of scrimmage
Players in charge: Nila Kasitati & Matthew Romar
Nila Kasitati came into this season with lofty expectations for the finally healthy senior to showcase his power and strength at offensive guard. He was seen as a rock of reliability (if healthy) on a shaky and inexperienced line. However, the inverse has seemingly come true, as Kasitati has struggled to hold up in both pass and run blocking. Texas’ defensive line provides every opportunity for the senior to regain his mojo.
If the Longhorns are able to keep it close, they will rely on their running game to attempt to shorten the game and increase their chances of pulling off the upset. The Oklahoma defensive line can throw a wrench into those plans by disrupting a Texas offensive line that is young, injured, and struggling. Romar doesn’t have to have great quickness like three-technique Charles Walker, he just needs to be a fire hydrant at nose tackle that Texas struggles to push around.
