Sooner Nation Season One: Episode 2

Something that’s often overlooked is how our fans over the past couple years often forecast terrible defensive performances against these teams that are “offensive juggernauts” (i.e. Mizzou in Big 12 CCG, Texas Tech of 2008, OSU last year, etc.) and Venables seems to do his best gameplanning in these situations.

I can’t explain it, it seems like our defense tends to outperform expectations against either very good or very bad offenses, but we get shredded by average offenses.

I will say that I hate the 10-yards-off-the-receiver strategy, especially with the rising popularity of the bubble screen. It’s always seemed to me that the best defenses will play aggressively and get up in your face.

is that style based on coaching philosophy or lack of talent with DB’s? I have to believe it is a coaching philosophy – with which I strongly disagree. I could accept this “style” if it was applied like it was during switzer’s day – let the receiver catch the ball in front of you and then knock the s*#t out of them; might not be so eager to catch the ball next time. That style I can live with.

Thats a long time. Did you have a bunch of commercials or something. I hope there is a fast forward button. Just kidding guys

Very impressive. Look forward to the next podcast.

I’ll be at the Oregon-Tennessee game this SAT.

a live show on justin.tv It’s really pretty cool, all you need is an account(freebie), a computer, good web cam, microphones and people.

Ponder doesn’t have the gun that Peyton has. If he is like Peyton, it is in his ability to read the D and check the offense into the right play. He plays smart football. When you have the right play for the D you are facing, you can consistently pickup 5-6 yds and keep moving the chains. You won’t see Ponder throw many balls that travel 40-50 yds in the air. Think more like Joe Montana—lots of high percentage short and mid-range passes with guys getting YAC. Unfortunately, we don’t have anything like Jerry Rice or Broyles.

Homer anecdote: Ponder’s 1st game came as a redshirt freshman in 2007 when the Noles were playing Va.Tech. in Blacksburg. The Hokie D was crushing us and they knocked Drew Weatherford out of the game. Ponder came in and

performed admirably by leading the `Noles to 15 second half points…his first career TD pass – an 8-yard strike to De’Cody Fagg – gave the `Noles a 21-20 lead late in the third quarter…he finished the game with 108 passing yards.

Ponder isn’t anything like Michael Vick. He is mobile when pressured. He will hang in and look for the pass, but if a lane opens up he’s got the wheels to pick up 10-15 yds. Think more like John Elway type rusher. Ponder does not have Elway’s missile launcher.

The QB experiment that we had who flaked out mentally was Wyatt Sexton. Press story was that he got bit by a tick and caught Lyme disease. He may very well have had that, but he also had an affinity for some ’shooms with his steak. It was just too much pressure on the kid. I liked him as a passer.

As far as the many failed QB experiments go—they had one thing in common which was an offensive coordinator experiment called Jeff Bowden. FSU paid him to leave because the fans hated him so much. He couldn’t find a job anywhere until his brother hired him to be the OC for N. Alabama. There was no effective QB development at all. Chris Rix (a 4-yr starter) looked pretty good coming out of HS, but regressed more and more each year he was at Florida State. I believe the only audible he ever called was run up the middle. Every time he audibled, I told my wife—here comes, run up the middle. And I was right, run up the middle for 1-2 yds.

Jeffy took over one of the most prolific offenses in the country and drove that thing straight into the ground so that it became one of teh worst in the ACC. Man, I’m glad that’s over.