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Schedule Game 1: N. Mexico St. Game 2: Arkansas Game 3: Rice Game 4: Tulane Game 5: K-State Game 6: Oklahoma Game 7: Iowa St. Game 8: Baylor Game 9: Nebraska Game 10: OSU Game 11: Texas Tech Game 12: Texas A&M Orange Bowl: vs. FSU • Index • Methodology • The Real Schedule • Talk UT Sports |
Breaking Down The Matchup
By Matt Thompson
Austin360
Oklahoma Overview: How much do we really have to go into this? Who doesn't know how the Sooners have been the last few years, particularly those folks who wear Burnt Orange? They went 12-2 last year, their 36 wins over the last three seasons the most in school history. (And we're not talking about, say, the Akron Zips here.)
Particularly on offense, the team has no out-and-out standout superstar, although that might be a product of having so much depth at every position. In other words, with a star two- or three-deep at every spot, who can truly stand out?
Perhaps I'm overselling them a bit, but a lot of major annual preseason publications (already hitting bookstores the last week of May) apparently agree with me and are making them a preseason No. 1.
EA Sports tends to concur, as it has the 2003 Sooners at 5-0, 1-0 heading into this game with a smothering defense (ranked fourth nationally) and one of the most potent air attacks in the game.
Cyber-Jason White is healthy and the undisputed starter at quarterback, holding off Brent Rawls (a close No. 2 in the real world). Aside from White, nobody's stats are that stellar, a sign the QB is doing a good job spreading the ball around.
This is gonna be tough.
Records and Rankings: Texas 5-0, 1-0 Big 12, No. 3 in coaches' poll, No. 2 in writers' poll; Oklahoma 5-0, 1-0, No. 4 in coaches' poll, No. 3 in writers' poll.
Offensive Gameplan: My big fear is falling behind early, since that'll get me out of my pattern of a steady ground attack setting up the occasional deep ball. Already, that strategy is looking a little suspect due to the injury of workhorse Cedric Benson against K-State last week. Despite the best efforts of my cyber-trainers, cyber-ministers and even a cyber-Dr. Feelgood, he's out this week.
They're gonna stack the line against me, so I'm gonna try to go up top early, maybe get a deep ball to Roy Williams that'll make them think twice against playing the run exclusively.
I sure hope Cyber-Chance Mock is up to the challenge. He's shown sparks the last coupla weeks, but no consistency. Throw on top of that the likely increase in pressure in that backfield, and we may have trouble.
If they get in a situation where they know I'm going to be passing, we may have big trouble.
Defensive Gameplan: I'm going to try to mix up my defensive schemes to keep White as off-balance as possible. My defensive backfield should be up to the task of containing his receivers ... at least I hope it is. A little more cover-two might be in the offing if things start getting ugly.
I'll need a few more turnovers, too, to take the wind out of their sails.
Keys: As always, turnovers and mistakes have to be limited. (Sheesh, it's easy to lapse into coachspeak, even if you're only coaching the video variety of player.)
Seriously, though, Mock and Selvin Young have to make massive progress to score a lot of points on these guys. I'm not sure we're in a position to win a shootout. The defense will have to limit Oklahoma to fewer than three touchdowns.
Outlook: Yeah, I'm sweating it. But EA's Cyber-Lee Corso is convinced Oklahoma will win. Has that guy ever been right about the outcome of a big game?
On to The First Half.
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» Boat Dealers & Builders
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» Boat Repair & Detailing
» Boat Towing & Transporting
» Dock Builders
» Marinas & Storage
» Bowling
» Camps & Campgrounds
» Fishing Guides & Farms
» Fishing Tackle & Supplies
» Golf
» Guides
» Horse Boarding & Training
» Horse Saddlery & Supplies
» Ice Skating
» Martial Arts Instruction
» Recreation Centers
» Roller Skating
» Scuba Diving
» Shooting Ranges
» Skiing
» Skydiving & Parachuting
» Snowmobiles & ATVs
» Sports Clubs
» Sports Equipment
» Rental & Repair
» Sporting Goods Stores
» Sports Instruction
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