Bedlam Preview 2011: Redemption for Oklahoma State?
by CincyJoe on Nov 30, 2011 6:00 AM CST
in Oklahoma State Cowboys Football
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PrintOklahoma State has had the opportunity to "make history" in every bedlam game since 2009. That year, the only thing standing between the Pokes and their first ever BCS bid was a 6-5 Sooner team s looking to salvage a lost season. Final Score? OU 27 STATE 0.
2010 was no different. The #12 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys hosted the Sooners in Stillwater for yet another chance at a BCS berth and again fell short.
This year, the Cowboys find themselves, once again, matched up against an injured Sooner team with 2 losses. Ryan Broyles is out. Dominic Whaley is out. Their defense is bruised, both mentally and physically, but does it matter?
Can Oklahoma State put the past behind them and beat the Sooners for the first time since 2002?
It is important to note that this game will be held in God's country. You might know it as Stillwater, OK. We can thank the departure of Nebraska and Colorado for that. It's noteworthy because I highly doubt that anyone in the history of sports has had the opportunity to play their rival at home two years in a row. This has to be an advantage, right?
So what can Oklahoma State do this time to send Bob Stoops back to Norman with his third loss on the season and secure a spot in a BCS Bowl?
1. Defensive Pressure on Landry Jones
Landry Jones is a great QB, but he makes really bad decisions when he’s under pressure. The Oklahoma State pass rush, with Richetti Jones and Jamie Blatnick has been excellent at times this season. If the Cowboys can pressure Landry, and force him in to making some bad decisions, it will slow the Sooner offense down. Give Landry time and he will pick you apart. See Bedlam 2010. The defense as a whole is going to have to play well, but it all starts with the pass rush.
Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon are the best Quarterback/Wide Receiver duo in the nation. There is absolutely not doubt about that. They haven’t had many "off" games this season but they are both the kind of players that are so good, you know when they're not in the zone. There will be no room for drops and/or fumbles in the end zone. Weeden will have to be dialed in, like we’ve seen so many times throughout the season. It's the final time they'll hook it up in BPS. Think about Weeden in the first half against Arizona and Blackmon against Kansas State. Got it? That's it.
3. Run, Run, Run
Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith are coming off a tough couple of weeks. Randle lost two key fumbles against Iowa State and Smith has been hampered by a hand injury since Baylor. One of my biggest complaints about Bedlam last year was that we didn’t run the ball very much. I blamed Holgs for that decision so now that he's banging mountain mamas, we have got to run, run, run. We need to run the ball with authority early and often. The Sooners are a talented bunch up front and will be hard to run against. If the Cowboys can get going early, it will keep the pressure off of Weeden and force the Sooners to respect the play-action. And for the love of all things sacred, give Sims a few carries.
4. Dominate Special Teams
As we saw last year, this is the area where the Cowboys have the biggest advantage. Quinn Sharp leads the nation in average punt yards and has a knack for pinning opponents deep in their own territory. Justin Gilbert is as good as it gets in the return game. The Ryan Broyles injury hurts the Sooners on offense, but it might have an even bigger impact on special teams where he was an excellent punt returner. Field position will be key and the Cowboys should have a clear advantage. Any points they can get from the return game could be icing on the BCS cake.
5. Believe
Oklahoma is a big bad football program. As much as it makes me sick to my stomach, they really do play for championships. The Cowboys have not won Bedlam since 2002. The Sooners have dominated the overall series 82-16-7. But when the Cowboys take the field Saturday night, they’ve got to realize that none of that matters. What does matter is they are healthy and playing at home for the second year in a row. They've got a chance to win the conference outright and advance to a first-ever BCS Bowl. Sound familiar? The bottom line is, they've got to believe.
Oklahoma State has beaten the two teams that Oklahoma has lost to by a combined score of 125-30. There is no reason this trend cannot continue on Saturday.
Don’t forget to show support for your favorite coach by voting him as the 2011 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year at www.coachoftheyear.com
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OU still more talented despite its personnel losses,
but the gap is minimal especially on offense. Pokes have a clear edge in Special Teams. OU has clear edge on defense, without R. Lewis it remains formidable but has shown Jekyll and Hyde tendencies. OU on offense has the edge when Good Landry plays but the frequent appearance of Bad Landry makes the edge very slight. Take the over and OU on the money line. My lack of confidence however has led to a booking in Vegas instead of Stillwater. I’m still regretting, what it could have been had both teams held serve. 6:45 a.m. CST on November 30, 2011 and Texas still Sucks.
by OUHoopitup on Nov 30, 2011 6:45 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions
OU without Broyles and Whaley has a slight edge on offense?
C’Mon Man!
Always have faith in God, yourself, and the Cowboys.
-Eddie Sutton
I am. Pretty certain he means the edge over the osu defense...
Even without them the OU offense > osu defense
by OU JJ on Nov 30, 2011 9:56 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I really don't think so
but fair enough then saying the OU defense has a “Clear edge” on arguable the best offense in the nation is equally dumb.
Always have faith in God, yourself, and the Cowboys.
-Eddie Sutton
I'm convinced OSU will win
1. If these were any other two teams and we were just looking at it on paper I think OSU would be favored by a lot more. Really OSU’s history of losing to OU is what a lot of people are relying on to pick OU more than what’s happened on the field, but; 2) Every streak comes to an end eventually and as good as OSU’s program has gotten it seems extremely unlikely that this streak will continue much longer. OSU is a top 25 program at this point. How many top 25 programs are going to lose this many in a row, even to a top 10 program?
Please win by 50.
And then we’ll see the voters still snub OSU after that. Crazy how different the perception of OSU is by the computers and voters.
USC knockoff uniforms, none of the results (including probation)
Wide Right & Natty Lite | @widertnattylt
I know.
It was a 99% joyous day for me, but the 1% was knowing you dicks and the Big 12 would probably get hosed out of the NC.
USC knockoff uniforms, none of the results (including probation)
Wide Right & Natty Lite | @widertnattylt
My thoughts of ISU after the loss.
“What you did was very spiteful, but it was also very brave and very honest and I respect you for doing that. But the content of what you said has made me hate you. So there’s a layer of respect, admittedly, for your truthfulness, but it’s peppered with hate. Hateful respect. "
Always have faith in God, yourself, and the Cowboys.
-Eddie Sutton
I'll take it.
and really, let’s all just be glad we’re not Aggies.
USC knockoff uniforms, none of the results (including probation)
Wide Right & Natty Lite | @widertnattylt
Now or never, fools
Broyles and Whaley injured. Best OSU QB-WR tandem you’ve ever had; OU secondary is a weakness; Game at Stillwater AGAIN; Everyone outside of SEC and Sooner Nation rooting for you guys; First and maybe only chance for you to play for a National Title. Damn, b!tches are you gonna let this opportunity pass you by?
I can only live with a loss if it allows you to punk Bama.
People don't know what it is to be a champion. Oklahoma invented it. --Barry Switzer
Blatant Homerism | @nativestate
A lot of the SEC outside Alabama
… are Cowboy fans this weekend. We are sick of Bama arrogance. Want to see LSU and OSU win this week and play in Nawlins.
by CeeDave on Dec 1, 2011 1:08 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
this one is on the coordinators
oSu has the edge in “playermakers”. in all 3 phases of the game.
will monken actually call unpredictable plays? will weeden actually look at the side of the field with only 1 db and 1 safety and 3 wide receivers or will he continue to force the ball into double and triple coverage? will monken not stop it if he does. will monken use the weapons he has, such as sims or roland if randall fumbles as a change of pace for smith? or will he call the same lame play again and again?
will bill young recognize that ou has to run to win? will he actually put players in position to stop run? bell? or will he use 3 de’s on the line and call 15-40 yard drops for lb and ss on third and 7?
will deForest tell his players they can call a fair catch on an onside kick in the air? will he recognize the fact that a team behind in the score might call an onside kick?
oSu used to be deficient in players. oSu coaches have recruited extremely well. now is the time to show that they can coach a game with superior players.
James Hanna
Remember his backside? Wasn’t last year your best chance to win? Or was the year before when you got shut out? No I think it was 2008…..
Just saying.
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