@BPrzybylo - As much as we thought we’d learn about Oklahoma’s defense against Nebraska, we flip it and say what are we going to find out about OU’s offense against Kansas State?
Despite KSU’s surprising upset loss to Tulane, it wasn’t the defense that let the Wildcats down. And one thing KSU’s defense has been able to do is create the turnover.
The Wildcats have seven interceptions this season compared to Dillon Gabriel’s zero. It might not be as simple as that, but if Gabriel does take care of the ball as he has in the first three games, OU will obviously be in a pretty good spot.
OU’s defense is giving up 10 points per game, and now the expectation is gearing more toward that direction than any sort of 40-30 shootouts from this point forward. Particularly when you look at how Adrian Martinez has struggled, the OU defense has the opportunity for another banner day.
Night game, LED lights spectacular, maybe some new uniforms, a lot of things to keep the fans engaged and loud, just up to OU to do the rest.
The Sooners will, even if it’s not all pretty. The return of Wanya Morris was a huge help for OU establishing its run game and that continues again Saturday night.
Eric Gray and Marcus Major both find the end zone, and Gabriel accounts for two scores as the Sooners earn another victory and get conference play off to a great start.
The Deuce gets loose once for a touchdown for Deuce Vaughn, but OU’s defensive response continues to be on-point.
OU 28, KSU 13
@Eddie_Rado - Lights. Cameras. Action.
Despite the Kansas State misstep a week ago this is the best team Oklahoma has faced to date.
The college football season is a prove it every week business and this one is no different than the last.
Can Dillon Gabriel clean some things up the pass game? Does the offensive line pass its biggest test? Will DaShaun White be the same guy he was before being ejected.
A nice little litmus test for Oklahoma as they embark on the conference season. A dominant performance on the scoreboard and I think we leave this one with reinforced expectations.
Kansas State 17
@Josh_M - Alright, you're two-time (of three) staff picks champion is back again to let you all know how this is going to play out.
Kidding, kidding...but let's take some educated guesses.
First off, I think this is the game we find out what Oklahoma's offensive line is. Now that doesn't mean they are going to be perfect or dominant or anything along those lines but Oklahoma needs to be able to consistently pick up yardage when it needs to. And while I think they'll make most of their living on the edge as Kansas State, as usual, is a little more about taking things head on and doesn't like being stretched laterally as much.
But still when OU is looking at third and short they need to be able to hand the ball to Eric Gray and Marcus Major and pick up what they need. It's no easy thing but if this team is going to be a playoff contender, these things are baseline requirements.
Defensively, the linebackers and safeties are really going to be tested on the edge with the RPO stuff that Kansas State wants to do with Martinez and Vaughn.
If they can handle that, I just struggle to see a world where the Wildcats are consistently putting drives together. So Bowman, Stutsman, Lawrence, Ugwoegbu and company need to answer the bell in a big way for the Sooners. If that happens and the defensive line continues to play the edge as well as they have - Reggie Grimes is picking up some NFL chatter - and this is a recipe for success.
Now, expect the Wildcats to throw Oklahoma some curveballs and maybe they find a way into a fluky score or something? But I just struggle to see Kansas State moving the ball as much as they'll need to keep Oklahoma's offense off the field.
Oklahoma 31
Kansas State 14
Despite KSU’s surprising upset loss to Tulane, it wasn’t the defense that let the Wildcats down. And one thing KSU’s defense has been able to do is create the turnover.
The Wildcats have seven interceptions this season compared to Dillon Gabriel’s zero. It might not be as simple as that, but if Gabriel does take care of the ball as he has in the first three games, OU will obviously be in a pretty good spot.
OU’s defense is giving up 10 points per game, and now the expectation is gearing more toward that direction than any sort of 40-30 shootouts from this point forward. Particularly when you look at how Adrian Martinez has struggled, the OU defense has the opportunity for another banner day.
Night game, LED lights spectacular, maybe some new uniforms, a lot of things to keep the fans engaged and loud, just up to OU to do the rest.
The Sooners will, even if it’s not all pretty. The return of Wanya Morris was a huge help for OU establishing its run game and that continues again Saturday night.
Eric Gray and Marcus Major both find the end zone, and Gabriel accounts for two scores as the Sooners earn another victory and get conference play off to a great start.
The Deuce gets loose once for a touchdown for Deuce Vaughn, but OU’s defensive response continues to be on-point.
OU 28, KSU 13
@Eddie_Rado - Lights. Cameras. Action.
Despite the Kansas State misstep a week ago this is the best team Oklahoma has faced to date.
The college football season is a prove it every week business and this one is no different than the last.
Can Dillon Gabriel clean some things up the pass game? Does the offensive line pass its biggest test? Will DaShaun White be the same guy he was before being ejected.
A nice little litmus test for Oklahoma as they embark on the conference season. A dominant performance on the scoreboard and I think we leave this one with reinforced expectations.
- Adrian Martinez forces a couple throws early and Billy Bowman and Woodi Washington get their hands on it.
- Eric Gray can I get back on the bandwagon?
- Jalil Farooq continues to solidify himself
Kansas State 17
@Josh_M - Alright, you're two-time (of three) staff picks champion is back again to let you all know how this is going to play out.
Kidding, kidding...but let's take some educated guesses.
First off, I think this is the game we find out what Oklahoma's offensive line is. Now that doesn't mean they are going to be perfect or dominant or anything along those lines but Oklahoma needs to be able to consistently pick up yardage when it needs to. And while I think they'll make most of their living on the edge as Kansas State, as usual, is a little more about taking things head on and doesn't like being stretched laterally as much.
But still when OU is looking at third and short they need to be able to hand the ball to Eric Gray and Marcus Major and pick up what they need. It's no easy thing but if this team is going to be a playoff contender, these things are baseline requirements.
Defensively, the linebackers and safeties are really going to be tested on the edge with the RPO stuff that Kansas State wants to do with Martinez and Vaughn.
If they can handle that, I just struggle to see a world where the Wildcats are consistently putting drives together. So Bowman, Stutsman, Lawrence, Ugwoegbu and company need to answer the bell in a big way for the Sooners. If that happens and the defensive line continues to play the edge as well as they have - Reggie Grimes is picking up some NFL chatter - and this is a recipe for success.
Now, expect the Wildcats to throw Oklahoma some curveballs and maybe they find a way into a fluky score or something? But I just struggle to see Kansas State moving the ball as much as they'll need to keep Oklahoma's offense off the field.
Oklahoma 31
Kansas State 14
