I know I am a glass half full type of fan but I am also a realist. I also think I am a pretty fair judge of football talent The bye week gave me a chance to watch a little more of some other teams, especially in conference. I am just not as scared of the top teams(Baylor and TCU) as most fans seem to be. Much like a horse race, Baylor and TCU are the speed horses in the field. In the shorter races(early season, easier competition) they set the pace and no one can keep up with them. Neither one has seen a defense with speed, depth, a fearsome front four, and a secondary with multiple cover guys.
But much like the Triple Crown, the endurance race is yet to come. What happens when they get bumped coming out of the gate? What happens is someone changes their pace? Boys, we got a good horse and maybe an even better rider(HC). I like the Gundy has paced this team so far. He knows he does not have a speed horse so why even try it. He also knows he will need a run game by seasons end in order to set the pace. I like what Adkins had to say about the OL. He seems satisfied they know their assignments and their technique is fairly sound. They need a nasty streak. We can still get it. Rennie has shown flashes. Yurcich has shown glimpses that he has some variety packs he can use. I know everyone would love to see them all game, every game but that would kill them in their tracks. The best bet is to continue to work on the between the tackles running game and get it toughened up. We don't "have to have it" until November.
Regarding TCU, fans seem to forget they have two last minute victories against mediocre competition just like we do. The TD in the TT game was out right luck. You have to give them credit for making the play but it was still more luck than skill. In the K St game, it came down to coaching. Snyder even admits he made a mistake going for the FG. I thought so at the time. You do not beat TCU or Baylor by settling for FG's. And you never give them the ball back late in the game. Late in the game, with a legitimate chance to win, Snyder should have went for it on 4th down. Two reasons. One-to continue to control the clock with your own offense, and two-to score a TD. NEVER, NEVER give the ball to a team like Baylor or TCU with over a minute left to play if you do not have to. Their offenses are built to score in 2 or 3 plays. Remember, our coach went for it on 4th and one at W Va to win the game. That was gutsy but it was the right call. He better be prepared to do it again.
Finally, as most have mentioned, our schedule gives us the best chance to get to the finish line undefeated. TCU is a very mediocre road team. They will have a tough time in norman but an even tougher time in Stillwater. And they will lose at home to Baylor although I would love an upset there. Baylor, for all of their might and all of their cockiness, just won't walk into Stillwater with nothing to fear. All of those players and all of that coaching staff know what has happened to them the last several years. Yes, they are coming with a chip on their shoulder. Yes, if they can, they will take full vengance out on a team that has basically mocked them in Stillwater. BUT, if they come in and get knocked off their pace early in the game, I just do not see them having the endurance to make a closing run. Mason will be starting his second season by then. The run game will be coming around. The defense will give them the most fits of any team they have faced all season. What happens when they face adversity for the first time? That is why we will all buy a ticket.
So, sort it out this way. If things play out according to par, TCU comes in undefeated and leaves Stillwater with a loss. They will also lose to Baylor and have a toss up game with uo. Doesn't matter, they are out. uo has a loss to texas and a guaranteed loss to Baylor. They are out. Baylor runs the table until they come to Stillwater. That game is for the Big 12 title and a final four appearance. Then, and only then, we have to play our most complete game of the season on both sides of the ball and ST's. That will need to be a perfect race for us. Even if(God forbid) we were to lose to uo the next week we would win the title by virtue of head to head. A loss might knock us out of a FF appearance but that is something that I do not see us prepared for this year anyways. It would be nice to go for the experience but even if we get past Baylor our OL is not ready for the big boys yet. Next year we have more of the appearance of a FF team but we will have to earn it with road games to Baylor, TCU,, and uo.
What a great time to be a Cowboy fan. I am having a blast!!!
But much like the Triple Crown, the endurance race is yet to come. What happens when they get bumped coming out of the gate? What happens is someone changes their pace? Boys, we got a good horse and maybe an even better rider(HC). I like the Gundy has paced this team so far. He knows he does not have a speed horse so why even try it. He also knows he will need a run game by seasons end in order to set the pace. I like what Adkins had to say about the OL. He seems satisfied they know their assignments and their technique is fairly sound. They need a nasty streak. We can still get it. Rennie has shown flashes. Yurcich has shown glimpses that he has some variety packs he can use. I know everyone would love to see them all game, every game but that would kill them in their tracks. The best bet is to continue to work on the between the tackles running game and get it toughened up. We don't "have to have it" until November.
Regarding TCU, fans seem to forget they have two last minute victories against mediocre competition just like we do. The TD in the TT game was out right luck. You have to give them credit for making the play but it was still more luck than skill. In the K St game, it came down to coaching. Snyder even admits he made a mistake going for the FG. I thought so at the time. You do not beat TCU or Baylor by settling for FG's. And you never give them the ball back late in the game. Late in the game, with a legitimate chance to win, Snyder should have went for it on 4th down. Two reasons. One-to continue to control the clock with your own offense, and two-to score a TD. NEVER, NEVER give the ball to a team like Baylor or TCU with over a minute left to play if you do not have to. Their offenses are built to score in 2 or 3 plays. Remember, our coach went for it on 4th and one at W Va to win the game. That was gutsy but it was the right call. He better be prepared to do it again.
Finally, as most have mentioned, our schedule gives us the best chance to get to the finish line undefeated. TCU is a very mediocre road team. They will have a tough time in norman but an even tougher time in Stillwater. And they will lose at home to Baylor although I would love an upset there. Baylor, for all of their might and all of their cockiness, just won't walk into Stillwater with nothing to fear. All of those players and all of that coaching staff know what has happened to them the last several years. Yes, they are coming with a chip on their shoulder. Yes, if they can, they will take full vengance out on a team that has basically mocked them in Stillwater. BUT, if they come in and get knocked off their pace early in the game, I just do not see them having the endurance to make a closing run. Mason will be starting his second season by then. The run game will be coming around. The defense will give them the most fits of any team they have faced all season. What happens when they face adversity for the first time? That is why we will all buy a ticket.
So, sort it out this way. If things play out according to par, TCU comes in undefeated and leaves Stillwater with a loss. They will also lose to Baylor and have a toss up game with uo. Doesn't matter, they are out. uo has a loss to texas and a guaranteed loss to Baylor. They are out. Baylor runs the table until they come to Stillwater. That game is for the Big 12 title and a final four appearance. Then, and only then, we have to play our most complete game of the season on both sides of the ball and ST's. That will need to be a perfect race for us. Even if(God forbid) we were to lose to uo the next week we would win the title by virtue of head to head. A loss might knock us out of a FF appearance but that is something that I do not see us prepared for this year anyways. It would be nice to go for the experience but even if we get past Baylor our OL is not ready for the big boys yet. Next year we have more of the appearance of a FF team but we will have to earn it with road games to Baylor, TCU,, and uo.
What a great time to be a Cowboy fan. I am having a blast!!!
