Oklahoma 45, Kansas 31: Final Thoughts – Report Card

Oklahoma’s win on Saturday improved their season record to 6-1 and helped them debut at #4 in the initial BCS standings. I think that there may be more negative talk than necessary in regards to the defense but I also can understand the frustration of a team (even a ranked one) putting up that many yards and points. The bottom line though is that OU won by doing what needed to be done, including stopping the Kansas offense at crucial times in the second half.

Report Card

 

Offense

 

Quarterback – It was a record day for Sam Bradford on Saturday. He threw 3 touchdown strikes and 468 yards breaking Josh Heupel’s record set in 1999 with 429 yards against Louisville.

Grade: A+

 

Running Backs – Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray ran stronger than we’ve seen them in a while. Brown averaged 7.7 yards per carry on his way to 92 yards and a touchdown while Murray had two scores on 83 yards rushing with a 5.2 yard per carry average.

Grade: A+

 

Receivers/Tight Ends – Even with Manny Johnson out with an injury to his arm Oklahoma’s receivers shined. Juaquin Iglesias and Jermaine Gresham both cracked the 100 yard barrier, with Iglesias having a banner day (191 yards), and in all Oklahoma had seven players average at least 10 yards per reception.

Grade: A+

 

Offensive Line – Sam Bradford wasn’t sacked in 53 passing attempts and Sooner rushers averaged a combined 4.7 yards per carry.

Grade: A+

 

Defense

 

Defensive Line – Gerald McCoy, Jeremy Beal and Auston English combined for a total of 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles. They forced Todd Reesing out of the pocket on several occasions and came up big to stop some crucial drives.

Grade: A

 

Linebackers – In the first game without Ryan Reynolds we learned that Oklahoma’s linebackers are a work in progress. Nic Harris wasn’t spectacular at the middle linebacker position but then again he wasn’t awful either. There were too many busted assignments and missed tackles in this corps and the coaches know it.

Grade: C

 

Secondary – Lendy Holmes is the Big 12 Defensive Player if the Week but Oklahoma’s secondary was burned by Dezmon Briscoe for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quinton Carter led the team in tackles with 10 and Lendy Holmes had 2 picks to go with his 8 tackles.

 

Brian Jackson had a huge mistake when he slipped and left Briscoe wide open for a 69 yard touchdown strike and Carter went through the normal growing pains that go with his inexperience.

Grade: D

 

Special Teams

 

I’ve decided to go ahead and start including the special teams in the report card. I guess you can chalk it up to reader demand.

 

Jimmy Stevens missed two of his three field goal attempts but made all of his PATs. The Sooners averaged 37.2 yards per punt and allowed 21.35 yards per kick return. In turn Oklahoma 8.35 yards on punt returns and 23 yards per return yards per kickoff.

Grade: C