J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q

Random thoughts from under the black hat from your resident BBQ lovin’, Sooner fan who thinks Saturday night’s game against the 23rd ranked TCU Horned Frogs will be a genuine Slobber-Knocker.

Hopefully the great fans of Oklahoma will remember the term “home field advantage” and be prepared to make a difference. I assure you that the players feed off that sort of thing much more than perhaps many fans think.  

• TCU, according to many football people, could well be the best overall defense the Sooners will face in the regular season. TCU is ranked #1 nationally in total defense and rushing defense and have allowed only 7.8 points per game. Yes, I have seen their schedule but no one can deny these numbers.
• The Sooner coaches rave about the fundamental soundness of TCU and how well coached that they are. Head Coach Gary Patterson is a defensive guy who prides himself on coaching physical football.  
• Patterson said this week that his Frogs would feel “no pressure” when they play in Norman Saturday night. Perhaps winning 11 of their last 13 games against BCS conference opponents gives merit to that statement.
• TCU runs a 4-2-5 defense ala Virginia Tech and they run it well. TCU’s defensive ends are athletic and are aggressively active which will challenge the Sooners offensive tackles more than at any time thus far in ’08.
• Because of TCU’s solid, ball control offense, Horned Frog opponents have averaged less than 60 offensive snaps per game. This is a telling stat as TCU is the type of team that has the ability to consume large amounts of time and to keep Sam Bradford and his offensive mates on the sideline. The Sooners’ defense needs a significant number of 3 and out’s Saturday night in Norman.
• TCU is an amazing 13 of 18 in third down conversions this year.

Read the rest of J.R.'s column at OUInsider.com »