|
|
|
|
 Thursday, October 25, 2001
Chalkboard: Keys to an Oklahoma victory
By Terry Bowden
Special to ABC Sports Online
Bowden's Weekly Chat Show
For most teams, playing in a hostile environment would be a big factor in a game like Nebraska. But for a team that is as confident as Oklahoma, I expect the Sooners to thrive in that setting this Saturday in Lincoln (ABC, 12 p.m. ET). Don't expect Oklahoma to lose its poise because of a little crowd noise.
The most dominant part of Oklahoma is its defense, and if the Sooners win on Saturday, it will be because of these aggressive football players.
I almost never say that the defense must shut down the running game, but if Oklahoma can limit to Nebraska to half the production they usually get (a nation-best 338.8 yards per game), it changes the entire complexion of the game.
1. Punish Crouch
|  | | Rocky Calmus had 17 tackles in the Sooners' 31-14 win over Nebraska last season. |
In order to contain Nebraska's running game, Oklahoma needs to put a helmet on Eric Crouch on every play. I don't care whether Crouch is running the ball, handing it off, pitching it or throwing it, as soon as he gets through, Rocky Calmus and gang need to put a bonnet under his chinstrap.
The last two years, Crouch has had to play this game in pain. Although no one wants him to get hurt, the Sooners need to make Saturday's performance painful. It's very hard to throw a play-action pass when you have a severe headache or a sore shoulder.
If the game is close in the fourth quarter, this strategy could have an effect on his performance.
2. Limit big-plays
OU can't give up a 25-yard pass play. The way Oklahoma was able to shut down Nebraska's running game last year was by having safety Roy Williams making tackles close to the line of scrimmage. The only way you stop a running game like Nebraska's is with unblocked defenders, and the only way to have unblocked defenders is to outnumber the blockers.
Nebraska can offset this with big play-action passes on first or second down to Tracey Wistrom or wideout Wilson Thomas. If Nebraska gets no big plays out of its passing attack, Oklahoma's safeties will have a field day against the run.
3. Create turnovers
In seven of its last 10 games, Oklahoma's defense has not only caused turnovers, but scored points. No defense is better than the Sooners at using their aggressiveness and pressure to cause turnovers early in the game. Oklahoma needs to create one or two turnovers in the first half that lead to either seven or 10 points. In a game like this, that is likely to be the difference.
Offense
Oklahoma's offense is the one area where the Sooners must play better than they have in their first seven games. Make no mistake about it, this offense is not as good as the one that faced Nebraska last year.
The running game has been less effective in critical situations and no matter how much potential Jason White and Nate Hybl possess, it will be another year or two before they are running the offense like Josh Heupel did a year ago.
1. Get more on the ground
White has added more to the running attack, and is the only reason the Sooners are averaging about as much as last year. However, for Oklahoma to be truly effective against Nebraska, the yardage needs to come from Quentin Griffin, who is a lot more dangerous when he gets to the secondary.
If the Sooners can pop a few long gainers every now and then, the defensive front will not be able to lay their ears back and get after the quarterback.
2. Protect the QB better
Oklahoma can't give up eight sacks like it did last week against Baylor. OU got caught off-guard by a couple of injuries on the offensive line and was forced to use linemen who were not prepared. This led to two more sacks in one game than the Sooners had given up in the first six games combined. It appears the line will still not be at full strength, but offensive coordinator Mark Mangino should be able to solve this problem.
If not, Nebraska's league-leading pass rush could be devastating to the OU attack.
3. Score TDs, not field goals
Against a good defense like Nebraska, the biggest problem for Oklahoma will come when it gets inside the 20. When the field is reduced, it becomes more difficult to utilize the short, ball-control passing attack that Oklahoma uses. Still, for Oklahoma to win this game, they must come away from the red zone with as many 7s as they do 3s. Considering that a successful defensive performance by Oklahoma may merely limit Nebraska to 25-30 points, two or three field goals are not going to help the Sooners. Whether it's one of their many receivers or Griffin on the draw, the Sooners need to have a good goal-line plan.
Click here for the keys to Nebraska.
Prediction
So who wins the game?
I know you'd like me to point to one or two of these keys and say that will be the deciding factor, but I can't. We are going to have to wait and see as the game is being played which factor is going to decide the outcome.
But I will tell you who I am going to pick to win: Oklahoma.
The Sooners have won 20 straight and winning is what they do. Once they lose a game, I will focus on some other factor as to why they lost. They are going to win because that's what they do -- win.
Terry Bowden was the head coach at Salem College, Samford University and Auburn University. He is ABC's college football studio analyst and contributes regularly for ABC Sports Online.
|
|
|
|
ESPN.com:
HELP |
ADVERTISER INFO |
CONTACT US |
TOOLS |
SITE MAP
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.
|
|
