Afrer seeing how bad we were against a mobile quarterback today and how good Ward was today against Florida St, I am much more worried about the opener at Houston next season.
Greg Ward Jr and Houston
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Didn't Houston lose to UConn? I think the Cougars were a very solid team. But I wouldn't worry about the start of the season. If you do, it's wasted energy.
I agree about worrying about the start of the season. I'm pretty sure, though, that Ward was out for the UConn game.
Ward was out for the UCONN game. Not an easy game to start the season with. Ward is a very good running qb and we never defend a running Qb well. Houston will lose several key players on defense. OU should win the game but it could be a lot closer than most people think.
Houston lost to UConn without Ward at quarterback and while UConn had a poor offense, its defense was pretty good.....plus the game was played at UConn.
Houston looks like a team to be ascending and is having good recruiting classes. Ward will return in 2016 as well and if healthy, he will give OU all it can handle.
Didn't OU lose to Texas? Just sayin'. Houston just beat FSU, so they're no Akron. OU better work hard on the OL in the offseason, as well as finding more production from the WRs with the departure of Shepard and don't forget, we lose Striker and Tapper, so we've got to find another way to generate pressure on QBs.
Houston is on the rise. I think they'll start off with a decent ranking. The game is in their backyard. It's too early for a prediction of course, but you bet that they will have this game circled. To start their season beating OU would be huge for their program. They know this.
Houston's rise could eventually earn it entry into the Big 12 and once in, I see no reason why the UH could not become a formidable team. Just a few years ago many here were throwing TCU and Baylor under the bus.....and once upon a time the UH was a national power under Coach Yeoman. Houston could play its home games with OU, Texas, TCU and Baylor at Reliant Stadium and the Big 12 would benefit from having the market of the country's 4th largest city.
As for next year, the OU-UH game could be a big game and could determine the season's successes for both teams.
CT, I'm not sure what the stadium holds, but UoH just completed a new starum. It maybe smaller than most stadiums, but it's equipped withe latest technology and comfort. I'll google it up.
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Exactly CT. Not sure why anyone would look at Houston and consider it "wasted energy" to be worried about facing them early in the season next year. Houston could very well be a legit threat that OU needs to take seriously and not consider it "wasted energy" and just chalk it up as a win just because it's Houston. Herman is a damn good coach and has done an incredible job at Houston. Some respect may be in order.
Playing Houston and Ohio State in non-conference is a very good schedule for OU. Maybe the best in the country. I like it.
I like it too because very early in the 2016 season, we will know what direction OU football is going with two games against Houston and Ohio State.
I expect another good year for Stoops' team in 2016....9-10 wins and a bowl berth. However, if OU somehow wins these two games to start the season and enters the Texas game unbeaten, I will really get excited.
But as you pointed out recently, OU and the Big 12 need to change their "culture" of spread offenses and shabby defenses. This post season has been a serious indictment of the weakness of the conference and its adherence to finesse, arena football style way of playing the game. It's fun to watch when the conference teams play themselves, but it doesn't translate into winning national championships.
You also mentioned that Bob Stoops, while accomplishing a HOF resume at OU, would likely be even more successful coaching in the SEC. Hopefully, I haven't misunderstood your statement....but it does give me something to think about that I had not considered before. Imagine what he could do at Florida for example.
CT, my reference to Bob possibly being more successful in the Big 10 or SEC was my way of touting an OU membership to one of those conferences. I can see how you came to your conclusion, however. That's my fault. I certainly don't advocate Bob leaving OU. I want the Sooners to compete for national championships and I feel that would be more of a possibility if we could attract big 4-5 star OL, DL and LBs that strengthens our opportunities to compete with more physical teams we are likely to meet in the playoffs. I may be way off, and probably will get critiqued pretty badly, but I see the Big 12 like the old 1960's AFC league. Teams that win a lot of games but falter when they go up against teams with a defense that can shut down the running game and run through the light weight backers and DBs. When you play in the Big 12, your LBs have to cover, so speed is necessary. That's great until they meet up big physical teams. Bob puts together a squad that must compete in the conference he plays in. If OU were to leave the B12, I am very confident he could field a national winning team where the strengthen in its defense and a capable balance offensive attack.
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I do not see how OU could have a better coach than Stoops, all things considered. The only way that ANY team should change coaches is if that change is an upgrade. I do not see an upgrade for Stoops anywhere, nor do I advocate replacing him.
I agree with your remarks about having a physical brand of football as opposed to finesse football. I miss those days of power football, but with Lincoln Riley on board, I do not see changes like the ones you mentioned happening and as long as such a style of football works within OU's conference schedule, nothing will change. Riley's a good OC for the style of offense played in the BIG 12, but my opinion is that OU relies too much on passing and now, on Mayfield's mobility. Personally, I really like the styles of Ohio State, Stanford, Clemson and Alabama with those big and extremely talented offensive and defensive lines and their ability to control, or at least contain, arena-style offenses.
Heck ya it's a good thing. I love that OU schedules some legit non-conference games.
Not going to happen CT. Stoops just brought in Riley to go Air Raid. It's the style of offense that Stoops identifies with and wants to run.
Well unfortunateely, the Big 12 does not attract these types of LBs. The big time LBs are NFL bound and wish to play for a team in a Conference that runs NFL style defenses. But I digress.
The UoH Cougars just landed the #4 recruit in the country today. A D-lineman from Westfield HS, he announced today.
