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What Happened?
Published: 10/24/2010 9:15 AM
Last Modified: 10/24/2010 9:15 AM

First off, nobody gets fired.

Nobody's picture goes on the post office wall.

Nobody even gets demoted.

Lots get questioned: At OU, lots and lots and lots and lots.

What happened to OSU?

1. The Nebraska quarterback got hot. He hit some NFL passes. Versus Texas, they dropped them. Against OSU, they caught most of them.

2. OSU's defense is average.

What happened to OU?

1. Lousy coaching.
2. Terrible defensive effort.
3. Another second half road fold.
4. Missouri is good.

What do all OU big-game losses have in common?

A defensive collapse: receivers open by 10 yards, runners untouched through the line. Again in a big game loss, the TV commentators had this to say: The defense looks confused.

Since the defensive coordinator and staff seem to have free passes when it comes to criticism of any type, all we'll probably hear is the fumbles beat us. Bull. The defense was terrible. The defensive linemen were obliterated. The defensive backs looked lost.

Continued second-half breakdowns suggest a lack of coaching adjustments.

Stoops has never made worse calls.

You never go for two down nine because a miss ends the game.

And punting late was a give-up, a surrender, the white flag. What were they worried about, stats? Numbers?

How can the players be counted on to fight until the last second if the coaches won't?


Reader Comments 24 Total
Ignatz (2 years ago)
It's going to be Auburn this year, Picker. OU will win out and play in a BCS game. OSU will drop at least two more and be in a good bowl. Not bad for two teams that aren't as good as their fans would tell you.
sctsports77 (2 years ago)
We all found out this weekend the North is better than the South, FINALLY!
G-Block (2 years ago)
Nebraska's Martinez looked like Randall Cunningham on Saturday. I agree that OSU's defense isn't terrible, but completely "average." With few exceptions, their freshmen played like freshmen. Nebraska is pretty good; they are four dropped passes from finding themselves in the national title hunt.

OU played like they had read their own press clippings during the pre-game meal. I figured that MU's defense would give OU fits, but I was surprised at how Missouri was able to shred the defense with both the pass and run.
JS (2 years ago)
I'm an OU fan, but OSU just scored 41 and ran up 495 yards on the Big 12's best defense. What are OSU's receivers and running backs going to do to what is at best a mediocre OU defense in Stillwater?

OU is going to get routed.

Also, OU had better watch out against Baylor. Robert Griffin just passed for 404 yards against Kansas State. Of course the fact that Keith Burns coaches the defensive backs might have something to do with that.
Glenn616 (2 years ago)
Picker, you're 100 percent correct about the OU-Mizzou game. As an OU fan, I'm disappointed that the OU team has the same issues year after year after year after year. Some changes to the coaching staff after this season wouldn't hurt, would it?

OSU has a great offense that's fun to watch. Justin Blackmon might be the best WR in the country. However, they still can't figure out the defensive side of things against quality competition.
Tulsan in Exile (2 years ago)
For some odd reason, OU coaches decided to have a litte fun watching TU game film, yuck, yuck. Bad idea. The defense looked as confused as Tulsa'a, and Stoops did a spot-on impression of "go-for-two" Graham.
tulsandn (2 years ago)
So the Okie St. defense was average.... Average for backyard football.... OSU needs speed on defense if they are gonna let epople run by them & then try to play catch-up....

The Okie St. offense deserved better coaching & effort from the other side of the ball....

OU.... Wow, S.O.S.

The assistant coaches are fat & rich & don't have to be accountable to the fans or media & since they are the head coaches best friends, he won't critique or replace them....

S.O.S. for the Soonersnext season & all the seasons afterward until some changes are made....
BLA (2 years ago)
Pick, are you and I the same person? My commentary posts on FB for the game included the horrible decision to go for 2 at that junction. While going for 2 was definitely needed at some point, that was not it. Missing that conversion tells your team you still need 2 scores in very little time. It is deflating.

And for anyone questioning how Mizzou was able to move the ball so easily, the answer is Blaine Gabbert. Think Sam Bradford and add mobility. The kid has a big time arm (NFL strong). He will be an NFL first rounder when he comes out. Mizzou also has some very quality receivers (seems to be a staple of MU the last few years).

Robert Griffin shredding KState is not suprising. Central Florida controlled KState pretty easily until the turnover bug hit them.

The punt call by Stoops was horrible. It means he stopped thinking he could win the game and was trying to keep the score from looking like they were blown out.
ouhawkster (2 years ago)
I do not agree with not going for two when down nine. I've never seen a game ended early because of a missed two point conversion. If you are down nine after a touchdown you will have to go for two eventually. A kicked extra point will only get you to eight. I'd rather try the two point conversion sooner than later. That way, if I fail, I have more time to make up for the miss and I can plan accordingly. But of course, that might be why I am not a coach.
ouhawkster (2 years ago)
I do not agree with not going for two when down nine. I've never seen a game ended early because of a missed two point conversion. If you are down nine after a touchdown you will have to go for two eventually. A kicked extra point will only get you to eight. I'd rather try the two point conversion sooner than later. That way, if I fail, I have more time to make up for the miss and I can plan accordingly. But of course, that might be why I am not a coach.
MexiMike (2 years ago)
The OSU defense is a product of the coaching. Pick, I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic or not when you said "nobody gets fired or demoted" but if you weren't, I totally disagree.

Joe Deforest needs to step down from coaching special teams and the safeties. This has gone on long enough. Cox and Bryant hid the glaring errors on special teams well but the bottom line is that coverage units have been awful for quite some time.

The safeties are extremely talented and are full of potential but are not being coached up into becoming the players they could be. And the special teams...don't get me started.
Arbythree (2 years ago)
Saturday was a very long night. I agree with you Pick, we made no adjustments, at all, at the half.
The Picker (2 years ago)
MexiMike, told you so.

Ignatz, Auburn will not beat Alabama, period.

Now, conerning OU coaches. It has long been rumored that they can get away with anything. Venables has never stopped a good team in a huge game. How many times have TV people commented about OU's defense being confused?

And this business with Stoops punting with no time outs left.....that is absolutely awful. What is that if not quitting? How can anybody justify not trying to win until the last second is off the clock?

Dash Riprock (2 years ago)
Mr. Picker, While I would like to, there is nothing you've written about this weekend's OU and OSU games that I could argue with..not one single piece.

If Prince Amukamara is an All-American...Justin Blackmon is already All-Pro, the Prince got worked.
justanotherokie (2 years ago)
I know how Charlie Brown Feels after Lucy keeps yanking the ball.
The Picker (2 years ago)
Could it be that after, oh, a decade or so, some are tiring of the same old defensive collapses?

Might a new idea from a new person be a thought worth pursuing? A staff addition?

Losing all the fourth quarters is called seccumbing to pressure.
Your Brain (2 years ago)
If Prince Amukamara is an All-American...Justin Blackmon is already All-Pro, the Prince got worked.
=================
Did you people even watch the game? The 36 yard pass that Blackmon caught was underthrown with blanket coverage. Blackmon made the adjustment and came back to the ball... like he should 1 v 1. The 80 yard TD was again good coverage... not like Prince was beat bad.
The last TD was mop up work in a game so far out of reach that Prince could care less what happened.

Blackmon is a pro caliber player, I will give him that... I just dont understand why all the negativity toward one player when your whole TEAM got trounced.
Your Brain (2 years ago)
All week long I heard the OSU posters say two things:
1) Neb hadnt played anyone good all year long
2) Neb was 1 dimensional and would not be able to throw on the Pokes.

After this game, one of those two things is still true... I will let you figure out which one.
bravo (2 years ago)
@ Picker.

"A staff addition?"

A staff addition could happen, I suppose. However, the idea that there would be staff substraction because someone was fired would never happen. While it might promote a family environment, coaches that are not worried about losing their jobs get too comfortable.

Perhaps it is Bob's ego, but I cannot recall a coach leaving the program that wasn't hired away (thankful that Chuck Long went to San Diego St). Seems to send a message that despite whatever the record is at the end of the year, OU cannot improve the coaching...year after year.
LaffALot (2 years ago)
Good call Snicker, which Oklahoma school gets “schooled” by Baylor?

OSU is “lucky” they got the Kansas’s schools on their schedule

OU’s last 4 games are against South Division foes. Good luck down in Waco.

Could the OU/OSU loser be heading to Yankee stadium?

Will Bob Stoops ever admit he made a mistake?

Both OU & OSU run the ball quite well,
why don’t they ever throw short “screen” passes to them?

Is Blackman a man among boys?

Both Nebraska & Mizzu still have to play @ “Giant killer” Iowa St.

A Cyclone/Bear Big 12 Championship Game?
anm1135 (2 years ago)
I'm an OSU fan all the way, but I have to say calling the defense average might be giving them too much credit.

Pass defense and special teams killed the Cowboys. Run defense, it was ok especially against such a mobile QB.
MexiMike (2 years ago)
Your Brain, did you actually watch the OSU game? Blackmon was fantastic. He most certainly had Prince beat on both those long plays (on the flea flicker he had at least 3 steps). The fact he made the adjustment, came back, won the jump ball, and kept his balance to grab more yards is a testament to how good he really is.

As for your second comment, I believe the actual quote was "Nebraska had not faced an offense like OSU's all year long." What wasn't true about that? Keep spinning.
Gene M (2 years ago)
Mr. Picker, last week you wrote, "The BCS poll is brilliant . . . it is the ideal tool to select four teams for a playoff." And, your fans all agreed. Wonder if you might amend that conclusion this week?
The Picker (2 years ago)
Gene-o, might we keep common sense and logic out of the discussions......
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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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