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

Let’s not over analyze the Sooner victory last week over an underrated and well coached UAB team. A win is a win, not a sin. The gamblers who laid the 21 points may have been somewhat peeved but that’s their problem. At the end of the season a “W” is a “W” and that’s how championships are won, with “W’s” not “L’s”. Let’s just say the win sure as hell beats the alternative.

I can assure you that the media took OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson’s words regarding AD’s play last Saturday night much differently than AD did. For one to suggest that Wilson “called AD out” is somewhat asinine. If a coach cannot coach his best player and answer questions honestly from the media specifically about that player then how can that same coach address the play of a second team tackle or a wide receiver? Every great player I ever saw could get better in some area and Adrian Peterson is no exception. AD will tell you that himself. As a matter of fact this summer AD was talking about how he had to improve as a blocker because in the NFL if a running back can’t protect the quarterback the running back doesn’t play or at least doesn’t play long.

Let’s not confuse the fact that AD is being coached up and motivated not “being called out”. In any event, for my money the Sooners # 28 is still the best running back in American but even he can improve. As a Sooner Football fan, I find that exciting.

The Sooners rediscovering the tight ends is merely a function of having some tight ends that can make plays in a variety of ways. Joe Jon Finley looks like a different player as he is up to close to 260 pounds and, at 6’5”, doesn’t resemble the high school quarterback he once was. Finley caught 4 balls last Saturday and should be in line for more opportunities this week against the Washington Huskies who run a 4-3 defense and allowed a ton of yards passing against San Jose State last week. Finley is no doubt headed for the NFL down the road. Finley may have run the wrong route on AD’s reception for a touchdown but call it “Sooner Magic” if you will as Finley’s block on the UAB linebacker was a Slobber-Knocker of a hit that lit up the OU bench and the Sooner faithful watching.

My guess is that Coach V and the defensive staff worked thoroughly on tackling this week which heretofore has been a Sooner strength. I don’t think anyone should panic about this deficiency last week. My guts say it will be rectified. The team’s will to hit is and always will be intact.

With Washington QB, 220 pound Isaiah Stanback, being such a great running and with Stanback’s speed and scrambling ability, good tackling, no different than any other fundamental football skill, is imperative Saturday afternoon on the game televised by ABC. Stanback, a former 100 meters champion, is not one dimensional as he has a cannon for an arm and can throw the deep ball well.

With the Husky punter averaging over 45 yards per punt, one could easily see this Saturday’s game being one of field position which then speaks to not having any turnovers. With the new timing rules which starts the clock on the ready for play after a change of possession, teams are getting fewer snaps which means the snaps we do get need to be productive ones as this timing change really magnifies turning the ball over and giving the opposition another chance. I am not a big fan of the television networks manipulating the NCAA to adjust the rules to shorten the game. Count how many TV timeouts the network dictates per game. It doesn’t seem like they have sold fewer commercials.

I can’t wait to see Reggie Smith get more offensive snaps and see what the talented play maker from Edmond does with the opportunity. I can visualize Reggie running reverses or counters from the slot as teams seem to over respond with AD’s every move.

Only two of OU’s freshman class of 2006 saw action against UAB. TE Jermaine Gresham from Ardmore had one catch and one fumble but is a marvelous looking prospect and Vegas’ Quinton Carter, a free safety, who saw mainly special team’s duty.

The punting job seems to be in decent hands and not the issue it became after Cody Freeby was dismissed from the team. We go from having no punters to having two.

The jury still seems to be out whether or not star recruit Gerald McCoy will be redshirted this season or not. The potential star defensive tackle currently seems to be log jammed behind 4 other DT’s. I can see DeMarcus Granger seeing a few more snaps especially against big offensive lines.

FB Matt Clapp played well enough that we might see the Sooner in more I formation sets this week. The former state of Arizona player of the year blocked well for #28. One would assume that the Sooners passing game out of the I when there are so many defenders in “the box” could potentially cause some defensive coordinators some sleepless nights (in Seattle).

It would seem that OU needs to sign two quarterbacks this season as that spot would appear to be a wide open horse race to determine next year’s starter. Outstanding JUCO QB Mike Greco from Pearl River Mississippi Community College is on the Sooners radar. Greco from Ft. Lauderdale originally signed with North Carolina State before transferring to JUCO and would have 3 years of eligibility at OU if he signed. Coach Stoops has always played the best player at any given position so a young athlete looking to play at one of the most storied programs in America would have to be intrigued and interested in the opportunities in Norman.

I look for the OU-Washington game to be another dog fight. The experts say OU is a 17 point favorite but I don’t see that. I am no expert not do I gamble but it just feels that giving 17 points to a well coached team with everything to gain and nothing to lose so early in the season isn’t viable.

I do think the Steers will beat the Buckeyes this Saturday night down in Austin. UT has 16 quality starters back from their National Championship team and playing at home has got to help Mack Brown’s team. Plus, with the distractions this week, Brown has had a chance to galvanize his squad this week and Mack is a smart cookie and won’t miss any opportunity to utilize any edge he can create. That’s good coaching.

Bob Devaney must be spinning in his grave and Tom Osborne must be nauseous regarding his old team. First it was Louisiana Tech last week, which is o.k., but Nicholls State this week in Lincoln?? I am not a big Bill Callahan fan and his recruiting of former Arizona State QB Sam Keller was classic “selling a bill of goods” as Callahan certainly did not want Keller to visit Norman. Sam Keller would have been much better served to have come to OU, paid his own way at school for one semester and then play his senior season as the Sooner QB with a loaded team returning in 2007. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

I appreciate you checking out our site and I enjoy reading your emails. I will answer as many emails as time will allow but I certainly read them all.

Enjoy another great football weekend and drop by our BBQ Trailer if you have time this Saturday before the game. We are located right in front of the old field house and between the north end zone of the stadium. Bring your appetite!

BOOMER SOONER!

J.R.