Sooners didn’t let up — that’s a good sign
I would be more excited about Oklahoma’s blow out win against Nebraska last weekend, but when you really look at the Huskers and the games they’ve played so far…they really are bad.
I admittedly got caught up in the idea that the firing of Scott Frost might somehow light a fire under the big red of the north to give an inspired effort against the Sooners. And for a few series that looked like the case.
OU took the ball first and had to punt it away after just one first down. The Huskers then proceeded to drive the field on the Sooners and scored on an easy 32 yard touchdown pass to take the lead 7-0.
Right off the bat, things did not look great for Oklahoma.
This year’s Oklahoma team is aggressive on both sides of the ball for the full 60 minutes.
But whatever juice Nebraska may have had coming out the locker room, they drank it all on those first few possessions.
After falling behind early, the Sooners opened up the playbook, and the flood gates, to score 49 unanswered points and cruise to a 49-14 stomping. Nebraska never came close to putting up a fight after that first offensive possession, only scoring once more in the final minutes of the game in garbage time.
But even though Nebraska was really that bad, the important take away from the game was that the Sooners did exactly what a great team does to a really bad team.
On the road, they beat them soundly in every phase of the game.
And when they got a comfortable lead, they did not take their foot off the gas. They continued to play as if it was 0-0.
How many times in the past few years have the Sooners taken a big lead on an inferior opponent, only to ease off and all of a sudden we have to sweat out what should have been an easy victory?
This year’s Oklahoma team is aggressive on both sides of the ball for the full 60 minutes. And although they have yet to really be tested, that is a great sign.
The first real test comes this Saturday night in Norman when the Kansas State Wildcats come limping into town after an upset loss at home to Tulane.
Even though K-State was upset by the Green Wave, they are still the best team we will have seen so far this season.
And as Oklahoma knows from last year, Tulane is not an easy out. And the Wildcats have a history of recent upsets against the Sooners.
But there is kind of a different feel to me with this year’s Wildcat team. They still have Deuce Vaughn who is the best player on their squad and has been a thorn in the side of Oklahoma the past few years.
It’s their new quarterback that too me is less than impressive.
After watching former KSU quarterback Skylar Thompson beat the Sooners 2 out of the last 3 years with his solid decision making and QB run game, he thankfully graduated.
The Wildcats went to the transfer portal and plucked Adrian Martinez to run the offense. Martinez was the Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback for the past 3 years.
Needless to say, this is a step down at the position for Kansas State. The Sooners saw Martinez last year when they beat the Huskers 23-16. Martinez is mobile, but his passing leaves something to be desired.
Tulane held him to 150 yards through the air. The Green Wave were able to commit to stopping Vaughn, who was held to only 81 yards rushing, and Martinez was unable to beat them throwing.
If Martinez doesn’t get the Wildcats moving early this Saturday, he could be replaced.
So while this game is a step up in competition, especially in the form of the Kansas State defense, the Sooners at home should win with few problems.
That would be another sign that this Oklahoma team is for real. Take care of a strong, though not on their level opponent at home.
I have the Worry Meter at 49% this week. It is still an in-conference Power 5 contest, but Oklahoma is the better team.
With all that being said…..BOOMER!!!
— Dave
Worry Meter: 49 Percent.
Kickoff: 7 pm Saturday night. TV: Fox
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