Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 1/5/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 1/5/2009 3:47 AM

Should Sooners prep for air raid?: Florida's offense is the picture of balance. The Gators average 230 yards rushing and 213 passing, leaving opposing defenses guessing as to whether the game plan will focus on Florida's set of receivers or runners.

Maybe Gator left tackle Phil Trautwein helped Oklahoma's cause, however, during a media session Sunday morning.

"Instead of blitzing, they like to fill the gaps. They always like to have one extra defender in the box so it's hard for you to run," Trautwein said of the Sooners. "That's why we're gonna try to throw the ball a lot."

Hmm. Maybe there is something to this.

"There's gonna be a lot of deep balls. They're gonna test us vertically," OU cornerback Dominique Franks predicted. "We've just got to make sure we don't give up any big plays, keep everything in front of us."

Different perspective: On a day where Franks and Nic Harris let it be known they felt their defense had been disrespected, at least one Florida representative made it clear that shouldn't be the case.

"I just watch the tape, and I know what I see," said Steve Addazio, Florida's offensive line coach who will become the Gators' offensive coordinator after Thursday's game. "I see a defensive front that's really strong and powerful. I see pass rushers off the edge. I watch linebackers that run well. I watch safeties that really fit well in the run game. I see a well-coordinated, well-coached, talented defense.

"I can't speak to what people say. I only know what I see, and I see a very good defense that's really well-coordinated."

Homefield advantage?: The higher-ranked Sooners will be wearing their crimson home jerseys Thursday night. That might be the only thing that makes them feel at home, however, given the location of the game and the frenzy with which Gator fans are expected to gobble up whatever tickets they can.

"The Gator Nation, I'm pretty sure we'll fill most of the seats," Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes predicted.

"I guess you could say it is a road game," OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "But we have a great fan base, and our fans are going to be down here strong, yelling just as loud as their fans.

"At the end of the day, you could take both teams, put them on the practice field and play the same game. So it really doesn't matter. Fans are just fans. The game is still the game." By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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