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Like the week before Christmas

Yeah, it is like the week before Christmas. And it seems like it's taking FOREVER! :)

It felt kind of weird watching Miami-Florida as the game had some kind of preseason game feel to it, but now I'm incredibly jacked for the games on Thursday and through the weekend, and the OU game in particular. Our neighborhood is having the Labor Day pool party Sunday afternoon and evening, but I've already told my wife that I will be leaving the party at least an hour before kickoff! ;)
 
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I am going 42-28 for a final score. The Cougars defense is nothing special. I am feeling a first game “low ball” for the Sooners offense....so 42 is my pick.
 
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kcstorm06 said:
I am going 42-28 for a final score. The Cougars defense is nothing special. I am feeling a first game “low ball” for the Sooners offense....so 42 is my pick.
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It's awesome that 42 is a "low ball".

EDIT: If 42 is a "low ball" for us and the defense makes the marginal improvements that I think we are all hoping for, #8 may not be very far away.
 
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frou said:
WhyNotaSooner, I am still a little scared of our defense, thus the 31 points. That little Houston Qb can be a lot to handle. We better make sure we can score on each opportunity.
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I'm taking the under. I think we get two turnovers and hoping at least one of them is a TD.
 
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I'm thinking this game is a little too close for comfort in the first half. Some up and down play by the offense and struggles by the defense allows Houston to keep it close. But, OU gets it together and starts playing better on both sides of the ball to pull away in the second half, 38-21.
 
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kcstorm06 said:
It’s more special than Houston’s that is for sure. Grinch will put us in a better mood....
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2018 Houston defense yielded 483 points in 13 games.....37 per game.
2018 Oklahoma defense yielded 466 points in 14 games....33 points per game.
So, yeah, I guess OU's defense is "more special".
 
CTOkie said:
2018 Houston defense yielded 483 points in 13 games.....37 per game.
2018 Oklahoma defense yielded 466 points in 14 games....33 points per game.
So, yeah, I guess OU's defense is "more special".
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Guess we will disagree that Houston’s defense will be more gashed than our’s. Shrugs shoulders.
 
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kcstorm06 said:
Guess we will disagree that Houston’s defense will be more gashed than our’s. Shrugs shoulders.
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Not really a disagreement, Houston played a very weak schedule compared to OU.....and then was mauled by Army 70-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
So OU may have had (or has) a "better" defense"....but once again, a defense that prevented #8, two years running.
 
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CTOkie said:
Not really a disagreement, Houston played a very weak schedule compared to OU.....and then was mauled by Army 70-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
So OU may have had (or has) a "better" defense"....but once again, a defense that prevented #8, two years running.
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Narrative is tiresome, time to turn the page. No one is asking you to wear OU colored glasses, but you incessant need to live in the past is ridiculous. You have identified OU’s major issue, defense. Do you trust Coach’s Riley? He fired his mentor’s brother after his defense laid down against our rival; in the middle of the season. Coach Riley took his time and hired a defensive coach he identified as a major improvement and up-and-coming coach. What more do you want at this time? The last two years are gone and over. How many years and counting are you at?
 
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31-17 OU. I believe the offense will need time to gel. Defense is decent this game but will need to get better.
 
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soonersoldier said:
Narrative is tiresome, time to turn the page. No one is asking you to wear OU colored glasses, but you incessant need to live in the past is ridiculous. You have identified OU’s major issue, defense. Do you trust Coach’s Riley? He fired his mentor’s brother after his defense laid down against our rival; in the middle of the season. Coach Riley took his time and hired a defensive coach he identified as a major improvement and up-and-coming coach. What more do you want at this time? The last two years are gone and over. How many years and counting are you at?
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All I want....as every thoughtful fan of this team wants....is defensively improvement and I have stated on other threads that Grinch is a good hire and that maybe he can get immediate results as Bob Stoops did in 1999 with talent that never had a winning season. I also have said I like the defensive recruits for 2019-2020, but that I wish there were more linebackers.
 
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CTOkie said:
All I want....as every thoughtful fan of this team wants....is defensively improvement and I have stated on other threads that Grinch is a good hire and that maybe he can get immediate results as Bob Stoops did in 1999 with talent that never had a winning season. I also have said I like the defensive recruits for 2019-2020, but that I wish there were more linebackers.
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That seems reasonable enough to me and I agree. The last two years hurt like hell, I am with you. It may not be this year, but I got a good feeling CT. If we didn’t lose almost our whole oline I think we are one of top two teams starting the year. As it is I believe with different dynamics and a different rhythm on offense combined with an acceptable improvement on defense (I’m just talking in the top 50-70 range) we can still have a memorable year.

I’m sure I will be off, but I think we are going to mudhole Houston; 45-17. I don’t know what that means in the grand scheme of things but I know it is more important this year than in recent years for this team to do well and gain confidence in each other. Something special about having the whole nation watching our guys on prime time this Sunday. Hope you enjoy the game.
 
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Well in defense of CTOkie, our defense has been atrocious for as long as I care to remember so until they show they are not the dead weight of the team they have not earned any respect or any of at least my high hopes. Been fooled for too long and I for one am sick of it.
I guess we will see if this D is any different. God I hope so.
 
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OUSOONER67 said:
Well in defense of CTOkie, our defense has been atrocious for as long as I care to remember so until they show they are not the dead weight of the team they have not earned any respect or any of at least my high hopes. Been fooled for too long and I for one am sick of it.
I guess we will see if this D is any different. God I hope so.
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Football's a different game now than it once was. There really isn't such a thing as a "shut down" defense or scores in which only one or two scores can win games anymore. I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing, just the way it is.
Seems to me like it has evolved into a game where victories are defined by a team being able to make one clutch stop in games where the losing team scores 30-plus points or more.
Football at Oklahoma (and CFB in general) in this era is more exciting than ever, but at the same time it's become more frustrating than ever....as last year's 48-45 loss to Texas.....among too many other examples....demonstrates.
It also seems to me that if OU puts a decent defense on the field this year and wins a few game because of its DEFENSE, then Mike Stoops and perhaps Bob Stoops, should be seen as the reason for OU's defense demise in recent years. Even those of us who haven't played or coached have seen the effects of poor defensive coaching....much more than we have seen a lack of talent.
I cannot understand why there have been defensive issues because I see the defensive talent as being better than the scores indicated. No, OU does not have the level of talent that Alabama and Clemson have, but there sure as shit shouldn't be games like the ones over the past 3-4 years. Enough is enough !
 
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CTOkie said:
I cannot understand why there have been defensive issues because I see the defensive talent as being better than the scores indicated.
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OU didn't have a single defensive player drafted in 2019 and only one drafted in 2018. OU has had a grand total of 7 total defensive players drafted in the past 5 years. The losing season Longhorns have had 9 including two in 2019. Compare that to teams not named Clemson or Alabama that have had decent defenses, like Ohio State (20), Auburn (14), and LSU (14), and it's clear that defensive talent has been a big issue at OU.
 
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Medic007 said:
OU didn't have a single defensive player drafted in 2019 and only one drafted in 2018. OU has had a grand total of 7 total defensive players drafted in the past 5 years. The losing season Longhorns have had 9 including two in 2019. Compare that to teams not named Clemson or Alabama that have had decent defenses, like Ohio State (20), Auburn (14), and LSU (14), and it's clear that defensive talent has been a big issue at OU.
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First of all, OU's recruiting on defense cannot be compared to Alabama's and Clemson's recruiting, although OU's last three classes have been ranked starting in 2017, 7th, 8th and 5th nationally according to Rivals. And while there have been a good share of 3-star players taken, history shows that OU historically has had very good defenses with these players who were "coached up".
But a team that has to score 40-50 points or more....so often....in order to win has coaching issues that, IMO, trump lesser defensive talent issues.
I believe that OU would have had two national championships these past two years with just an average defense....the NFL draft and Alabama/Clemson be damned.
I'm extremely eager to see how Grinch's efforts can turn these players up to a higher level.
 
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CTOkie said:
First of all, OU's recruiting on defense cannot be compared to Alabama's and Clemson's recruiting, although OU's last three classes have been ranked starting in 2017, 7th, 8th and 5th nationally according to Rivals. And while there have been a good share of 3-star players taken, history shows that OU historically has had very good defenses with these players who were "coached up".
But a team that has to score 40-50 points or more....so often....in order to win has coaching issues that, IMO, trump lesser defensive talent issues.
I believe that OU would have had two national championships these past two years with just an average defense....the NFL draft and Alabama/Clemson be damned.
I'm extremely eager to see how Grinch's efforts can turn these players up to a higher level.
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I didn't compare OU's recruiting to Clemson's or Alabama's. I also didn't say that OU didn't have a coaching issue.

Elite players are attracted to great coaches. Mike Stoops was not attracting elite defensive talent. I agree that with OU's ridiculous offense, OU could have won the National Championship the past two years, but OU's defense had neither the coaches nor the talent to get it done on the defensive side of the ball. Good coaching will certainly get better results from the current talent, but OU's defense won't be in the top tier to compete with the Clemsons and Alabamas consistently without bringing in elite defensive talent. It's much easier to field a great defense when your roster is lined with NFL talent.
 
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Medic007 said:
I didn't compare OU's recruiting to Clemson's or Alabama's. I also didn't say that OU didn't have a coaching issue.

Elite players are attracted to great coaches. Mike Stoops was not attracting elite defensive talent. I agree that with OU's ridiculous offense, OU could have won the National Championship the past two years, but OU's defense had neither the coaches nor the talent to get it done on the defensive side of the ball. Good coaching will certainly get better results from the current talent, but OU's defense won't be in the top tier to compete with the Clemsons and Alabamas consistently without bringing in elite defensive talent. It's much easier to field a great defense when your roster is lined with NFL talent.
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All I'm trying to say is that a better coached defensive unit...with the same cast of characters...could have gotten the job done in 2017-18.
 
CTOkie said:
All I'm trying to say is that a better coached defensive unit...with the same cast of characters...could have gotten the job done in 2017-18.
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I know. I'm saying I'm not sure OU had enough talent to get it done either year even with better coaching. The end of Bob's reign left the cupboard pretty bare. I'm hoping Riley's two classes have brought in a talent upgrade.
 
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Medic007 said:
I know. I'm saying I'm not sure OU had enough talent to get it done either year even with better coaching. The end of Bob's reign left the cupboard pretty bare. I'm hoping Riley's two classes have brought in a talent upgrade.
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Agree.
It's ironic how Bob Stoops was virtually deified his first few years, then so criticized for his last few years, mainly due to keeping his brother employed.
 
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