JimBob
10-30-2008, 08:24 AM
Speaking in defense of OU defense
By The Picker
10/30/2008
Last Modified: 10/30/2008 3:11 AM
We predict the next press conference or two with the OU coach:
"Coach, your defense just gave up 777 yards Saturday. What's wrong?"
"That's not right. We had our sports information staff go back through the stats and found that somebody included a 15-yard penalty in there. So those total numbers were inflated in a bad way."
"Then could you please explain what if feels like to give up 762 yards?"
"We won the game, that's the first way it feels."
"You won 74-62."
"It's good to see you got something right. Thirty of those points we gave up came on various and assorted kick returns. And there in the last quarter, they only had the one drive over 90 yards in length, which to me says that when the game was on the line, we were lined up in a good way."
"Coach, some say your defense looks confused, that it thinks instead of reacts."
"Who says that?"
"TV."
"No sports anchor on our payroll said that did they?"
"No."
"Well, that's that. Did TV say we only give up 11 yards rushing?"
"Coach, they only rushed two times."
"Our rush defense stopped them in two good ways."
"Coach, you had one punt blocked, your kickoff man whiffed on one, you missed four extra points, and two kickoffs were returned for touchdowns. Do you think your assistants are earning their lofty salaries?"
"One of their touchdown returns came on an on-side kick. And we didn't miss four extra points. One was snapped over the holder's head, back to the 30-yard line. That's not a miss."
"Coach, are you worried about having lost all those BCS bowls in a row, as well as the possibility that your two arch-rivals could beat you in the same year?"
"Not as long as the media is in my hip pocket. Now have a good day in a good way."
PICKS
Saturday
Tulsa (-8 1/2) at Arkansas: Talk about a pressure-cooker, an undefeated season and a huge bowl is on the line.
Speaking of lines, this point spread is shrinking like Arkansas's fan base, it's down to TU by about 7.
It's true, Arkansas has served itself a heaping helping of trouble with the Daily Double of mismanagement, a bad fire and a bad hire.
Another dysfunctional reunion is at hand here, another coach run out of the state comes back with a better team, TU's offensive coordinator in this case.
Fortunately it is on pay TV. Get a few dozen to go in together, you won't feel a thing. Hopefully the cameras will keep the zebras from wearing those plastic hats.
Feels like a toss-up, TU by 2.
Nebraska at OU (-21): The glory days featuring these two are in Bruce's song, the rivalry has been rendered moot by hopscotch scheduling, and by Nebraska's fall from grace.
Concerning new coach Pelini, is he a hothead, a good hire, or both?
Nebraska did have Tech basically beaten in Lubbock.
It's still closer to a puce shirt defense than a black shirt defense.
The quarterback can move and throw a little, and all OU fans know what that means: another foe is fixing to hang a third of a hundred.
OU by 24.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (-31): When was the last time OSU was favored 31 over a legit team?
Easy answer, never.
OSU should be ranked ahead of OU in every poll.
Perfect time for a week off.
Will a wind farm replace the OSU Athletic Village?
OSU by 28.
Colorado at Texas A & M (-2 1/2): Could be Big Ten teams.
Colorado by 1.
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (-6): Irish just where they belong, mid to back burner.
ND by 10.
Tennessee at South Carolina (-6): Could be farewell tour for both coaches: Spurrier to Augusta National, Fulmer to phone sales.
SC by 12.
Georgia at Florida (-5): Shares prime time with the other great game in Lubbock.
A one-loss SEC winner is much better than Penn State, but could get cheated big-time.
Florida by 4.
Kansas State at Kansas (-11): Dribbling back to the future. Football season has ended.
KU by 20.
Texas (-6) at Texas Tech: The students are probably already at the stadium.
Would favor Tex by 28 in Austin, 17 on neutral; but this is the funhouse.
Huge Big 12 national angle should keep zebras on the straight and narrow.
OU might score 92 on this Tech defense in Norman.
Tech, 55-52.
Sunday
Tampa Bay (-7) at Kansas City: Could anybody care less?
Sure, convicts.
Tampa by 4.
Jets at Buffalo (-5): Could anybody care more?
Sure, gamblers.
Buffalo by 10.
Green Bay at Tennessee (-5): Why don't the pros run the spread? It's simple, good down linemen and corners.
Tennessee by 4.
Miami at Denver (-3 1/2): Denver fans must enjoy bad coaching.
Denver by 6.
Dallas at the Giants (-6): Cowboy-hater's delight.
Giants by 14.
New England at Indy (-5): Poutin' Manning almost smiles.
Indy by 6.
Monday
Steelers at Washington (-3): Polamalu's hair jumps off-sides.
Portis is MVP.
Wash by 4.
By The Picker
10/30/2008
Last Modified: 10/30/2008 3:11 AM
We predict the next press conference or two with the OU coach:
"Coach, your defense just gave up 777 yards Saturday. What's wrong?"
"That's not right. We had our sports information staff go back through the stats and found that somebody included a 15-yard penalty in there. So those total numbers were inflated in a bad way."
"Then could you please explain what if feels like to give up 762 yards?"
"We won the game, that's the first way it feels."
"You won 74-62."
"It's good to see you got something right. Thirty of those points we gave up came on various and assorted kick returns. And there in the last quarter, they only had the one drive over 90 yards in length, which to me says that when the game was on the line, we were lined up in a good way."
"Coach, some say your defense looks confused, that it thinks instead of reacts."
"Who says that?"
"TV."
"No sports anchor on our payroll said that did they?"
"No."
"Well, that's that. Did TV say we only give up 11 yards rushing?"
"Coach, they only rushed two times."
"Our rush defense stopped them in two good ways."
"Coach, you had one punt blocked, your kickoff man whiffed on one, you missed four extra points, and two kickoffs were returned for touchdowns. Do you think your assistants are earning their lofty salaries?"
"One of their touchdown returns came on an on-side kick. And we didn't miss four extra points. One was snapped over the holder's head, back to the 30-yard line. That's not a miss."
"Coach, are you worried about having lost all those BCS bowls in a row, as well as the possibility that your two arch-rivals could beat you in the same year?"
"Not as long as the media is in my hip pocket. Now have a good day in a good way."
PICKS
Saturday
Tulsa (-8 1/2) at Arkansas: Talk about a pressure-cooker, an undefeated season and a huge bowl is on the line.
Speaking of lines, this point spread is shrinking like Arkansas's fan base, it's down to TU by about 7.
It's true, Arkansas has served itself a heaping helping of trouble with the Daily Double of mismanagement, a bad fire and a bad hire.
Another dysfunctional reunion is at hand here, another coach run out of the state comes back with a better team, TU's offensive coordinator in this case.
Fortunately it is on pay TV. Get a few dozen to go in together, you won't feel a thing. Hopefully the cameras will keep the zebras from wearing those plastic hats.
Feels like a toss-up, TU by 2.
Nebraska at OU (-21): The glory days featuring these two are in Bruce's song, the rivalry has been rendered moot by hopscotch scheduling, and by Nebraska's fall from grace.
Concerning new coach Pelini, is he a hothead, a good hire, or both?
Nebraska did have Tech basically beaten in Lubbock.
It's still closer to a puce shirt defense than a black shirt defense.
The quarterback can move and throw a little, and all OU fans know what that means: another foe is fixing to hang a third of a hundred.
OU by 24.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (-31): When was the last time OSU was favored 31 over a legit team?
Easy answer, never.
OSU should be ranked ahead of OU in every poll.
Perfect time for a week off.
Will a wind farm replace the OSU Athletic Village?
OSU by 28.
Colorado at Texas A & M (-2 1/2): Could be Big Ten teams.
Colorado by 1.
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (-6): Irish just where they belong, mid to back burner.
ND by 10.
Tennessee at South Carolina (-6): Could be farewell tour for both coaches: Spurrier to Augusta National, Fulmer to phone sales.
SC by 12.
Georgia at Florida (-5): Shares prime time with the other great game in Lubbock.
A one-loss SEC winner is much better than Penn State, but could get cheated big-time.
Florida by 4.
Kansas State at Kansas (-11): Dribbling back to the future. Football season has ended.
KU by 20.
Texas (-6) at Texas Tech: The students are probably already at the stadium.
Would favor Tex by 28 in Austin, 17 on neutral; but this is the funhouse.
Huge Big 12 national angle should keep zebras on the straight and narrow.
OU might score 92 on this Tech defense in Norman.
Tech, 55-52.
Sunday
Tampa Bay (-7) at Kansas City: Could anybody care less?
Sure, convicts.
Tampa by 4.
Jets at Buffalo (-5): Could anybody care more?
Sure, gamblers.
Buffalo by 10.
Green Bay at Tennessee (-5): Why don't the pros run the spread? It's simple, good down linemen and corners.
Tennessee by 4.
Miami at Denver (-3 1/2): Denver fans must enjoy bad coaching.
Denver by 6.
Dallas at the Giants (-6): Cowboy-hater's delight.
Giants by 14.
New England at Indy (-5): Poutin' Manning almost smiles.
Indy by 6.
Monday
Steelers at Washington (-3): Polamalu's hair jumps off-sides.
Portis is MVP.
Wash by 4.