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Save the Sooners
Published: 1/11/2010 5:12 PM
Last Modified: 1/11/2010 5:12 PM

All objectivity aside, somebody needs to do something about OU sports, which is experiencing its worst year since one of the nineties.

Are the Sooners good at gym this term? Hopefully.

The basketball team is comprised of too many big-shots from far away places; a few home-grown tough guys are required to get back to the NIT.

And the coach's policy of repeatedly denouncing his players in public hasn't work yet.

But OU is a football school. And just look where the team just wound up in the final poll: It was listen among OTHERS!

To see the Sooners lumped as an afterthought with the Mid Tennesses is shocking.

Matters are so critical, we must help for a change, and not analyze or predict.

How do we get OU out of the Others quagmire?

Injuries are bad luck. There's not much you can do except refrain from running the quarterback on an option play. You can always recruit a little better.

There is something you can do about the wimpy spread offense. Demote it. Get a running game. Monster-up. Make recruiting running backs a priority and start smashing and crushing and stomping people into the ground. Third and goal from the two with a common spread offense is an interception, a sack, or a field goal. It is time for OU to get back to basics, to its roots, to its tradition.

Also a fresh thought or two could help. A new assistant with a different perspective. Sometimes the OU sideline looks like a meeting of the good 'ol boys club.

You can't simply wish yourself out of the Others bone pile.

You need to take an action or two. Get a running game at all costs. Figuratively speaking. Hire somebody who hates bubble screens.





Reader Comments 15 Total
Marathonman (3 years ago)
So, the key to winning is to have a great QB and elite RB?  No kidding.....  

I find it interesting that the Picker has always trumpeted the correlation of great QB play to winning, almost to the exclusion of running the ball (see his criticism of the Big 10) but now has decided that teams need elite running backs as well. 

The problem with that theory is that if you run a spread offense, it's impossible to recruit elite RB and if you run the ball like Alabama, you get a QB like Bama's.
The Masked Assassin (3 years ago)
What he said.
The Picker (3 years ago)
It has been reported that the Alabama quarterback played with a cracked rib.

But you're probably right, Marathon Walker, the SEC and its power running and great cornerback games were lucky to have won the last 20 BCS titles.
Glenn616 (3 years ago)
The SEC has won 6 out of the past 12 BCS title games. Tennesse beat Florida State in 1998, LSU beat OU in 2003, Florida beat Ohio State in 2006, LSU beat Ohio State in 2007, Florida beat OU in 2008, and Alabama beat Texas in 2009. The SEC is 6-0 in BCS Title games and has won the last four. The last time the SEC lost an NT game? 1995, when Nebraska wiped out Florida, by running the football. Power football, anyone? Wanna beat an SEC team in the NT game? Run the football, don't turn the ball over, play-action passes, and play great defense. Mr. Picker, the SEC not only has great CBs, but has quick linebackers and superb d-linemen as well.
The Picker (3 years ago)
OU need to do something different to get out of the "Others" listings. Or, as some fans enjoy doing, retreat to the past. Quote scores about which the statute of limitations has expired. 

Same old offense, similar results.

Get a run game."Others."Just like Tattoo. Who didn't even say thanks for the OU, Mississippi and Alabama picks.    
Marathonman (3 years ago)
Picker, You can't even quote me accurately or, apparently, even understand what I wrote.
soonerguy (3 years ago)
Picker, doesn't OU generally land one (sometimes two) of the top running backs in the country? Seems like they have for the last several years.
So is it the players fault or the coaches if they don't live up to their HS rankings?

I agree it is time for some fresh blood in the assistants. Not calling for anybody's head, but just a fresh set of ideas.

Of course, last year OU did have two thousand yard rushers. So maybe the problem this year was the Oline?
Tulsan in Exile (3 years ago)
The spread was an offense that allowed second-rate teams with only a few blue-chip players to occasionally surprise the really good teams comprised of almost all blue-chip players.  The problem with the spread is that it was so successful at getting the ball into the hands of a few good playmakers, and making two uneven teams appear to be even, that now it doesn’t surprise anyone anymore.  You beat the spread by beating up the QB. The spread might be the right offense for Tulsa, which will continue to play opponents of modest talent, but it is the wrong offense for OU, unless the Sooners are happy with modest results.  If Texas is smart (and they are) they will keep that stud QB of theirs in the pocket, handing off to a truck, and they will have a chance against real teams like Bama.  The pin-head at OSU will continue to treat his QB like a pinata. But what will OU stoop to?  Hmm.....
The Picker (3 years ago)
Soonerguy and Tulsan in Exile, two great notes, after only 6 years in the blogging business here.

It's a puzzle, isn't it: for the spread to work at the top level, the quarterback has to be a running threat. But if he is, he goes to the hospital. The qb as a runner in the spread started some while ago, when linebackers weighed 230 instead of 250.The spread is perfect for fringe teams with a good thrower and a good catcher. But you can't run a back out of it so well -- OU couldn't win it all out of the spread even with the great Peterson.So it is clearly time to get serious and get to pounding.The inability to run for two yards out of the spread has wrecked teams like Missouri.
Glenn616 (3 years ago)
I watched Mizzou play in person at the 2007 Big 12 Title game. In two drives in the first half, they had two goal to go opportunities. They tried the spread and they failed to get in the end zone on 8 tries. Mizzou's biggest weakness? Lack of a power formation. You can't run the ball against a good team with a slow, fat quarterback in a goal line situation. Mizzou will never win a Big 12 Title as long as Gary Pinkel is their head coach.
dvstulsa (3 years ago)
Funny thing is you Idiots actually banter with him.  I love his perspective and he gets the reaction he wants out of you.  Get a life.
Lance-a-lot (3 years ago)
Thank the good Lord the Picker agrees with me about that awful bubble screen.

I puke every time I see OU line up in the spread on 3rd down.

I say to whoever is around me "punt".
The Picker (3 years ago)
Please see related blog and stories about how the Picks saved OSU football.If TU and OU will subscribe to our changes, this will be a banner year on the gridiron. 
Rand (3 years ago)
Were all the misspelled words and grammatical errors put in this column on purpose?
Rand (3 years ago)
Were all the misspelled words and grammatical errors put in this column on purpose?
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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