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Prolific offense goes bust
Sooners' dominant attack was frustrated in BCS loss to Florida.
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 1/10/2009  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 1/10/2009  2:27 AM

MIAMI, Fla. — Everything that went so well, everything that often seemed scripted, everything that was so frequently flawless for Oklahoma's offense during the 2008 regular season — it all collapsed in Thursday's national championship game loss to Florida.

Scoring first? Bust. Scoring fast and never trailing? Bust. Scoring on 76-of-80 trips inside the red zone? Bust.

Scoring — an NCAA record 702 points and 97 touchdowns? Bust

The Gators' 24-14 victory over the Sooners was shocking for one reason: OU's strength this season became its weakness on the big stage.

"You've got to be frustrated. We came here to do one thing, and we didn't do it," said tight end Jermaine Gresham. "We're very disappointed. We didn't expect this to happen."

Said offensive lineman Duke Robinson, "It's real frustrating knowing that we have a great offense, great offensive line, great backs, great tight ends and stuff like that, and not to get it in (the end zone) was very disappointing."

The list is long, but there were mileposts on the Sooner offense's ill-fated journey:

OU failed to score on its opening drive — for just the third time all season — because quarterback Sam Bradford, who had been sacked only 11 times all season, held the ball too long and was dropped for a 14-yard loss on second-and-10.

OU failed to score on its second possession — missing a big chance after a rare interception of Gator QB Tim Tebow — because Robinson had a 15-yard personal foul (he blocked too long) and a 10-yard holding penalty, the latter wiping out a 27-yard Gresham reception that ended at the UF 14.

OU failed to score after another Tebow pick — he'd never thrown two in a game in his career, so this was a significant opportunity — because after Chris Brown was tackled inches short of the goal line. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson called back-to-back off-tackle handoffs to Brown, both of which went backward. Both calls were made in typical hurry-up mode, even though goal-line plays usually require more thought. Florida tackle Torrey Davis was more ready for the call than was OU blocker Brian Simmons, and Davis slammed Brown for a loss of 3.

OU failed to score on its next drive — its last of the half, after starting at its own 20 — because Bradford tried to force a first-down throw to Manuel Johnson in the closing seconds instead of recognizing Johnson was covered and throwing it out of the end zone.

OU failed to score late in the third quarter because fullback Matt Clapp missed a block on Gator linebacker Ryan Stamper, who mashed Brown for a loss of 4 on third-and-1. On the next play, OU kicker Jimmy Stevens kicked the ball into a Florida defender.

OU failed to score on its last important drive because on 2nd-and-7 at the 50, Bradford threw a ball too deep into double-coverage and Juaquin Iglesias didn't adjust to it early enough for the catch. The ball floated out of Iglesias' hands and was intercepted at the 24 by Ahmad Black.

"It just kind of hit my hands," Iglesias said. "It was another good throw by Sam. I just kind of broke on it late. I should have broke on it earlier, but it was another good ball."

Said Wilson, "We saw the pressure coming. We knew it was two-deep (coverage with two deep safeties). We can play better, we can make a play or two, I guess, but there's some calls I wish I had back."

The Sooner defense played better than most expected, holding Florida to less than half its per-game scoring average. But the Gators rode Tebow's tough running and clutch passing to convert 12-of-17 third-down plays and scored touchdowns on drives of 86, 75 and 76 yards.

"You win and lose as a team," said OU coach Bob Stoops. "You need to make plays together. Some games are going to be high scoring, and they're won in different ways. So I would say, no, the defense needed to play better to win. Regardless of what the score is, you've just got to find ways to make an extra play or two to win the game."

But the OU offense, coming up 40 points short of its season standard, shoulders the blame for Stoops' fifth BCS defeat. The Sooners are now 4-6 in bowl games under Stoops. It comes back to the red zone, where OU's offense was ranked No. 1 nationally this season and Florida's defense was ranked No. 2.

"That's the difference in the game," said center Jon Cooper. "We lost by 10 and we left two touchdowns and a field goal on the board.

"It doesn't mean much any more, 700-however many we scored. It doesn't matter any more."




John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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secuf79, (1/10/2009 1:56:51 PM)
Good grief, Mr. Hoover maybe you should get some cheese to go with all the wine in your article. You make out that OU "lost" this game all by them selves. How about a little humble pie and admit Florida just plain out played the Sooners and were the better team, and also were a MAJOR contibutor to OU's woes and loss. I dont think,..I know OU has a great football team and coaches, Please try and show a little class and professionalism in their loss....We may see you guys again next year, if so , may the best team win.

UF79
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SoCal Fan, Broken Arrow (1/10/2009 2:05:34 PM)
OU had one of the best offenses this year. The "No Huddle" seem to work for them all year. Against Florida on Thursday, Bradford looked lost. He took too long to snap the ball and often looked confused.
But it's not all Bradford's fault. Florida has one tough defense. They read him like a children's book.
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5055567475852000, Euless (1/11/2009 8:33:27 AM)
Said Wilson, "We saw the pressure coming. We knew it was two-deep (coverage with two deep safeties). We can play better, we can make a play or two, I guess, but there's some calls I wish I had back."

You're damm right, and more than some. Try "several", coach. This one is all on your shoulders, buddy...
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Oregonian, (1/11/2009 1:17:26 PM)
I'm not a Florida fan but I can see what a lame, biased, slanted viewpoint of the gmae this is. The ball "floated" out of Iglesias' hands? Are you crazy? Footballs don't "float." Iglesias had possession of the ball and the Florida guy just took it out of his hands. If he hadn't had possession it would have been an incomplete pass, not an interception. Or Robinson "blocked too long?" He did't "block" anything, he shoved a Florida player in the back and into a pile after the play was over. Or your field goal kicker "kicked the ball into a Florida defender?" It's called blocking the kick, get it? The Florida player blocked the kick, he didn't just sit there and have the ball kicked into him. I could go on and on but anyone who watched the game knows that Oklahoma lost because it played a great defense for the first time all year. Every one of the Oklahoma "mistakes" that you use as whining excuses for losing were caused by the Florida defense. Man up instead of writing like a baby whiner.
 

 
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