I know each season brings it's own different set of issues when going through this list but they all have one common factor. Tonight our issue was the OL just didn't hold up. They did a great job after the Texas game of getting it together, but Clemson was just better up front.
But this isn't the first time. I know there's a lot of discussion on this board about the talent level and the talent gap between us and Clemson. And I think this team is a good OL and DL away from winning a national championship. I think the young guys on the OL will really come along and prove themselves in 2016.
But why has our offense struggled soo many times in bowl games over the years? Does the 4-5 week layoff effect us that much? Of course, in playoff games and Championships, the defense you face is better than what you get by playing Iowa in the Nobody Cares Bowl. I know that plays a part, but Stoops has always had high scoring teams for the most part - and we seem to struggle putting up points in bowl games. It doesn't matter who the OC is, the QB, the guys on the OL...this is too many years for Oklahomas offense to score under 20pts.
2000: 13pts
2001: 10pts
2003: 14pts
2004: 19pts
2005: 17pts
2008: 14pts
2012: 13pts
2014: 6pts
2015 17pts
Landry and Bell had more success putting points up in bowls than just about any Stoops QBs. Although it was against teams like UCONN, Stanford and Iowa and not Florida, LSU and USC. ....Then came aTm in 2012 and they scored 13 points.
Why do we struggle on offense so badly against better competition in bowls? Is it the way we prepare? We've played good OOC teams throughout the years and scored more points in the regular season. Has the best competition in the B12 not been very good for 15+ years? Has our OL always been a notch below the rest for the better part of 15+ years? The 2002-2004 group was great but even they struggled. Does the layoff effect a spread offense this badly? I see other spread teams put up more points consistently in bowl games than we do.
In 2008 after we lost I said "we won't win an NC in this offense cause we can't punch the ball in from inside the 5." With a scrambler like Mayfield and a back like Perine I think you can; but it still comes back to: can you win the LOS? Even win it for a second to give a guy like Perine a chance? When you play the Florida and Clemsons of the world you better be able to run the ball when it matters. We didn't do that tonight, or in 2008, or many other years. As I said, with our backfield, I think we can if the OL improves. But there's been years I've thought we were good enough to win or at least put more points on the board than we have. And we didn't. Tonight was an example of that. Even when we did move the ball, for one reason or another, we didn't score.
I'm disappointed with this loss, as everyone is, but I'm proud of how far this team has come since last season. I'm not satisfied but I'm happy with how this season went. They exceeded my expectations!! I hated to see this season end tonight because this was a really fun team to watch!!!
But this isn't the first time. I know there's a lot of discussion on this board about the talent level and the talent gap between us and Clemson. And I think this team is a good OL and DL away from winning a national championship. I think the young guys on the OL will really come along and prove themselves in 2016.
But why has our offense struggled soo many times in bowl games over the years? Does the 4-5 week layoff effect us that much? Of course, in playoff games and Championships, the defense you face is better than what you get by playing Iowa in the Nobody Cares Bowl. I know that plays a part, but Stoops has always had high scoring teams for the most part - and we seem to struggle putting up points in bowl games. It doesn't matter who the OC is, the QB, the guys on the OL...this is too many years for Oklahomas offense to score under 20pts.
2000: 13pts
2001: 10pts
2003: 14pts
2004: 19pts
2005: 17pts
2008: 14pts
2012: 13pts
2014: 6pts
2015 17pts
Landry and Bell had more success putting points up in bowls than just about any Stoops QBs. Although it was against teams like UCONN, Stanford and Iowa and not Florida, LSU and USC. ....Then came aTm in 2012 and they scored 13 points.
Why do we struggle on offense so badly against better competition in bowls? Is it the way we prepare? We've played good OOC teams throughout the years and scored more points in the regular season. Has the best competition in the B12 not been very good for 15+ years? Has our OL always been a notch below the rest for the better part of 15+ years? The 2002-2004 group was great but even they struggled. Does the layoff effect a spread offense this badly? I see other spread teams put up more points consistently in bowl games than we do.
In 2008 after we lost I said "we won't win an NC in this offense cause we can't punch the ball in from inside the 5." With a scrambler like Mayfield and a back like Perine I think you can; but it still comes back to: can you win the LOS? Even win it for a second to give a guy like Perine a chance? When you play the Florida and Clemsons of the world you better be able to run the ball when it matters. We didn't do that tonight, or in 2008, or many other years. As I said, with our backfield, I think we can if the OL improves. But there's been years I've thought we were good enough to win or at least put more points on the board than we have. And we didn't. Tonight was an example of that. Even when we did move the ball, for one reason or another, we didn't score.
I'm disappointed with this loss, as everyone is, but I'm proud of how far this team has come since last season. I'm not satisfied but I'm happy with how this season went. They exceeded my expectations!! I hated to see this season end tonight because this was a really fun team to watch!!!
