This may be the toughest of the non-conference games for the Sooners.
The challenge for Oklahoma on Saturday will be to stop Air Force’s option offense enough times to maintain enough possessions and scoring opportunities for the Sooner offense to get a big lead. Put Air Force behind and their option game is less effective (remember the wishbone days, Sooner fans?).
This will be tough for a young defense. Unlike most schemes against conventional offenses, there is no room for error by going rogue and not defending a position on the field. Air Force will also employ some mis-direction, getting their WRs into the option, in order to capitalize on OU’s usual over-pursuit on defense.
SEE JEREMY BEAL’S TAKE ON THE GAME – VIDEO
What’s at stake
Oklahoma continues it’s home winning streak (now at 32). A win will give the Sooners momentum next week when they go on the road to Cincinnati to play a Bearcats team reeling from two early losses against Fresno and North Carolina State.
Don’t stray from one’s assignment. OU’s defense has to play with discipline.
Do run the football. The weakness to AF’s swarming defense may be in the D-line. This is an opportunity for the OU O-line to shine.
Television
The 2:30 CT kickoff will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net to most of the nation and around the world and at sea on Armed Forces Television.
Preparation
The Falcons practiced this week back home with a bank of loudspeakers belting “Boomer Sooner”. The Sooners had redshirt freshman QB Blake Bell running the option for the scout team. But, no practice squad can easily simulate the kind of blocking schemes and precision that Air Force will bring.
Players to Watch
For Oklahoma: LB Ronnell Lewis. Lewis will play an important role defending the option, whether from the LB position or when lined up as the fifth man in a defensive end position.
For Air Force: QB Tim Jefferson. He’s the current Jamelle Holieway. He won’t throw precisely, but he will pass it enough to mix up the offense and keep the defense on their heels. RB Asher Clark. He’s the pitchman who can scamper.
Who has the advantage?
- O-Line: OU
- D-Line: OU
- Running Game: Air Force
- Quarter Backs: OU
- Linebackers: OU
- Secondary: Toss Up
- Kicking game: OU
- Receivers: OU
Hurry Up!
Both teams will run a no-huddle hurry up offense. So, get your hot dogs before the game. Otherwise you’ll miss a lot of yards and maybe a lot of points. Of AF’s seven TD drives against BYU last week, only two went longer than four minutes. Defensively Air Force won’t get quite as gassed from OU’s hurry up offense as did Florida State, but they also won’t be able to substitute defenses when the Sooners shift from an I to a three-wide out offense right before the snap.
Guests to attend
Former AF Coach Fisher Deberry will attend the game in Norman on Saturday. It will be an easy drive from his Grand Lake home near Grove. After 44 years in football, he made a clean break and moved out of town following his retirement from Air Force in 2006. He lives close enough to see his children and grandchildren in the Tulsa area — and, even closer to the golf course.
History
Air Force has played Oklahoma only once, a 44-3 Sooner win in Colorado Springs in 2001.
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