Steff M, Claremore (10/8/2009 10:32:14 AM)

True about OU pass D but put Sam, Gresh and Broyles back out there and we win both those games by 2 TD's anyway. If I remember correctly we gave up quite a few points last year and still got a title shot. Odds wouldn't have been as good this year even if those guys were healthy because of the o-line and a few less targets for Sam but we'd be 4-0 and still in the hunt right now.

Whoknew?, Tulsa (10/8/2009 11:56:09 AM)

Laughoutloud OU is not good this year.

OU_Glenn, (10/8/2009 12:52:14 PM)

Mr. Picker,
You couldn't be more correct about the OU defense. When the offense isn't playing its best game and has injuries, the defense must step up and make the plays to win the game. Bob Stoops, Brent Venables, and the rest of the OU defensive coaching staff has been running the same stuff for the past 5 plus years that hasn't worked, and they continue to run the same defensive plays. Stoops need to try something different, even if that means firing some defensive assistants, Venables included, to bring in some new blood.

Octavio, (10/8/2009 12:53:33 PM)

Medium Game Bob is in danger of being demoted to Small Game Stoopr. Needs to beat Tejas to retain his title.

justanotherokie, (10/8/2009 4:15:56 PM)

Yes pickerman Defense is THE issue and has been for 9 years.

4th quarter fades and blown coverages are the rule.

Golden Sluricane, (10/8/2009 4:25:58 PM)

Boise by 20?! I'm normally right with you pick, but I think you got his one way wrong. I hope your willing to eat those words on the 15th.

soonerman37, Broken Arrow (10/9/2009 3:03:23 AM)

How did Bob ever get the name "big game bob"? Was there an award show I missed? Bob Stoops takes chances at times and sometimes he gets lucky and sometimes he doesn't. He has won many big games and he has lost some. I think he has won the BIG 12 3 years in a row. He beat Texas Tech last year which was a big game. However, we desperately need a new defensive game plan. Cover 2 zone doesn't work when we play teams that have recievers that are faster than our corners. Just look at how Franks gets beat on any deep route. We need to stop the pass first while we contain the run. We need to stop blitzing our linebacks every play. I think Bob Stoops is an excellent coach that has one flaw...he is too loyal to asst. coaches.

The Picker, Tulsa (10/9/2009 2:21:00 PM)

Soonerman37, he got that tag after the huge win at Iowa State.....

Nyyfan, Lake Mary (10/9/2009 5:02:41 PM)

As a longtime OU football fan that happens to live in Orlando, I still find time to watch, read and listen to comments about the Sooners thanks to the internet. In this area of the country all I ever hear is the SEC is the best, the toughest, and anything else you can think of that implies an outstanding brand of football. I make sure I promote the Big 12 as much as possible, and especially OU. The problem is as some of you have mentioned, OU can't win the big game any more. When those games are on national tv, it's almost embarrassing to watch. OU vs USC, OU vs LSU, OU vs Boise State are just a few of those games where it was clear that OU simply wasn't ready to play until the outcome was clearly decided. The way me and these SEC fans here see it, the biggest problem is definitely the defense of Brent Venables. He is very predictable all the time (12 consecutive blitzes against Miami, regularly unable to cover anyone with speed on long pass plays like the ones against Miami last week, etc.). Stoops used to be well liked here from Orlando to Gainesville, since he was Spurrier's defensive coordinator when the Ol' Ball Coach won the NCAA championship in '96. But because the Venables defense continues to make the same mistakes year after year, all of the luster and goodwill Stoops had here, is now gone. I'm certain OU could shop around and get the best defensive minds out in the coaching world, but Stoops refuses to do so. By being loyal to his assistants, or whatever you want to call it, he is doing to OU what Bobby Bowden has now accomplished at Florida State...he's turned a strong asset (an aggressive defense with fast corners) into a laughingstock. Neither coach wanted to change what had been working for so long, and now they're paying the price. OU is still far better than FSU, but unless the O-line learns the basics of blocking, teams like Texas, Texas Tech, and even OSU could make life no fun for Stoops and company. Some speed receivers or any receiver that is able to separate from the defenders is sadly lacking as well. Why can't a team with the recruiting base and history of Oklahoma football somehow manage to recruit talented receivers? Stoops got lucky when Iglesias and Kelly got a lot better mostly on their own. Screaming at them on the sidelines on national tv isn't going to make the receivers catch the ball, but good coaching may. Good recruiting would be better yet. Stoops created this team, so he better be able to objectively figure out why the newer recruits seem to be so stupid. When some of these guys can't even put the words together to make a meaningful comment, how does Stoops expect them to learn a complicated playbook? The bottom line of this is: Get rid of Venables and his staff, recruit faster and smarter players at the skill positions, and stop making mediocre teams look like champions.

When you see all of the talent that OU has in the NFL every week, doesn't it make the powers at OU wonder how the Sooners didn't run wild on teams like Boise State? The lines outweighed BSU by about 50 lbs a man, and OU had Adrian Peterson for crying out loud. With the team OU had then, just like it did last year, no one like a Boise State should be able to compete with OU, yet BSU was allowed to make a game of it, and you all know the rest.

huricandeoro, (10/9/2009 11:52:09 PM)

Boise was the better team in 07'. That's why they won.

The Picker, Tulsa (10/10/2009 6:15:17 PM)

NYYfan, fantastic note, it's time for somebody to earn his salary.

The Texas game next week could get rough.

Kenya, yes, it's true, I was the only human on earth to take Nebraska at Missouri. Thanks for noticing.

Steff M, Claremore (10/12/2009 10:03:24 AM)

Nyyfan, you should know better than anyone that having the most talent and best coaching doesn't always produce championships. Recruiting is a gamble and sometimes can't miss prospects just don't work out for a number of reasons. Also, I'm not really sure how you figure coaching is going to make guys catch the ball. I'm going with Bob on that one and getting in their grill, along with having them catch passes until their gloves have holes in them at the next practice.

The Picker, Tulsa (10/12/2009 11:42:20 AM)

Shadow, I saw that, it was nuts, Ariz can keep Mikey.

bingo, Jenks (10/13/2009 9:11:03 AM)

Since when has OU stopped the run against a good team?

DannyOK, (10/13/2009 9:16:38 PM)

Stoops or Brown? How about the Stoops that went west to Arizona. Bring Mike back.