Jake Trotter

  (4:00 PM)

We'll get started in a sec. Keep sending in your questions and thoughts.

Mike (Idabel)

How would you go about the QB situation with was appears to be a mentally fragile Quarterback in Landry?

Jake Trotter

  (4:03 PM)

Mike, they have to find ways to get Landry his confidence back. How do they do it? They could up the tempo -- Landry plays more comfortable when the Sooners go fast. Really the biggest thing with Landry is that when he tries to do much, he makes mistakes. They've got to get Landry to play his game and not try to make a play on every snap. Landry is playing with a freshman QB mentality, and he's got to snap out of it.

Brandon (Texarkana)

It seems like there has been a disappearance in the TE game over the last couple of years. Do you attribute that to Heupel or just the fact there's no talent on a Gresham-like level?

Jake Trotter

  (4:04 PM)

Both. OU didn't throw the ball to Hanna last year. And the tight ends this season are average. Other players need to be touching the ball over Green, Grissom.

Jesse Ray (Guymon)

I think King as looked pretty good at time, but for the most part, been very unimpressed with the play of the defensive line. As much as i dislike it, next years rotation may look even worse. Am I way off in that statement?

Jake Trotter

  (4:06 PM)

You're way off in saying that the defensive line played bad. I thought they played OK against K-State. Really, the defense held up its end of the bargain, save for a couple of coverage breakdowns on third down in the fourth quarter. But you're right, the defensive line looks bleak for next season. You're probably looking at Chuka, Favors, Marquis Anderson and J Phillips being the starters. That's not exactly Dvoracek, Harris and Dan Cody.

Billy Joe Bob (Enid )

Aside from protecting the ball, what aspects of Oklahoma?s game require the most improvement?

Jake Trotter

  (4:07 PM)

A lot of little things. Despite having two weeks to prepare, the defense at times got so confused about who was supposed to cover who that Mike Stoops had to burn three timeouts. The running game remains average. I could go on. All of it has to be cleaner for this team to win its remaining games.

Aaron (Kansas CIty )

I was pleased with my alma mater's win over OU on Saturday. Did Oklahoma play 'bad football' or did KSU play very good football or a little of both? Will Klein win the Heisman?

Jake Trotter

  (4:08 PM)

Combination. And OU's mistakes were in stark contrast to K-State's sound football. I doubt Klein ends up winning the Heisman, but he has to be in the conversation this week.

kevin T (Huntsville,AL)

What is the chance that landry will be sitting and running Bell's goal line. After this last weekend he has showen all the fans that he cant handel the pressure that the line is missing. Note: I know that the loss is not his fault alown but he is the one that lost the ball at that 1!!!

Jake Trotter

  (4:09 PM)

Stoops said today there's no chance for a QB change.

James (OKC)

Bob Stoops needs to make some coaching changes. Consider this, had Trey Metoyer not gotten hurt, it is very unlikely that Sterling Shepard would have played as much as he did. Heck, he may not have played at all. How could the coaches be so wrong? Why were they not able to see that at this point in time Shepard is the more productive WR of the two? This type of poor evaluations are really hurting the team.

Jake Trotter

  (4:11 PM)

Nah, Sterling was always part of the game plan. Metoyer got hurt, but was back on the field the next series -- that had nothing to do with it. You can question the use of personnel like how they use Finch and Millard, but Sterling is not part of that equation.

Scott (Houston)

Contrary to popular opinion- I think what this team is TRULY missing is a defensive disruptor up front. For the first time in a long time, OU does not have a Ronnell Lewis, Frank Alexander, Jeremy Beal, McCoy, etc etc. Who do you think could step up and be THAT guy?

Jake Trotter

  (4:12 PM)

Agreed. That's something I said before the season. David King is the best defensive lineman, but he's not a future NFL starter. Sooners need guys like Phillips, Tapper, Onuoha to develop. But as for this season, they'll have to make do with what they have. Gerald McCoy isn't coming back.

David (Dallas )

OU didn?t lose because KSU is a really good team. They lost because the Sooners are a bad team. Oklahoma wins 8 games at most this season. Serious Coaching changes need to be made, starting with Bruce Kittle, Jackie Shipp, Bobby Jake Wright, and Tim Kush.

Jake Trotter

  (4:15 PM)

Kansas State is ranked in the Top 10. I call that a good team. Too soon to call these Sooners are a bad team. Let's look at the whiplash coaching changes you called for: 1. BJW helped turn Frank Alexander into the Big 12 DPOY last year, and helped Ronnell turn the corner. 2. Shipp brought Tommie Harris and GK McCoy to Norman. It's too soon to make any judgment on Tim Kish. He's only been here a few months.

Chace Arnold (Broken Arrow)

Why After four years playing QB is Landry Jones still so uncomfortable in the pocket?

Jake Trotter

  (4:15 PM)

I don't have an answer for you. Neither does Stoops or Landry.

Billy Joe Bob (Enid )

Roy Finch and Brennan Clay are not getting a lot of playing time. Any chance either player decides to transfer?

Jake Trotter

  (4:16 PM)

Suppose there is a chance with Finch. He could start for a lot people.

Kyle (New York City)

Seems like most of the recruits at the game weren't too scared off by the loss... You think it had a real effect on our chances at getting a couple commits?

Jake Trotter

  (4:16 PM)

It couldn't have helped.

Patrick (Norman)

Should OU move Josh back to QB coach and go hire a high profile Off Cord ?

Jake Trotter

  (4:18 PM)

That's probably not a feasible scenario. I doubt Heupel would accept a demotion.

Herald (Houston )

The most disappointing thing about the game was that OU ?prepared? two weeks and they still made a bunch of mistakes at home. It wasn?t simply the silly mistakes by Jones and Bell. The defense was misaligned all night. KSU wasn?t holding anything back vs Miami and North Texas, so OU should have known all the different formations that they were going to face. And yet, somehow, Mike Stoops was unable to get his defense ready, even with two weeks preparation and playing at home.

Jake Trotter

  (4:19 PM)

Agreed. Essentially, they had 3 weeks to prepare if you count the FAMU week. So the mistakes were disheartening. But the defense played well enough to win the game.

Sammy (San Antonio)

There are only two things that separate good teams from bad team: superior talent and superior coaching. OU is missing one or the other. The problem, however, is probably both.

Jake Trotter

  (4:20 PM)

Something is wrong. I'm not ready to say the sky is falling. But OU has lost 3 of 4 Big 12 games. They lose at Tech, and it'll be time to look at some big picture issues.

TK (OKC)

Why can't Stoops admit that Landry is the problem on offense?

Jake Trotter

  (4:21 PM)

I don't think he acquitted Landry of blame for Saturday's loss. In fact, that's the harshest I've heard him talk of Landry, really. But he's not ready to make a change.

Greg (tulsa)

In my opinion the josh huepel(however you spell his name) experiment is over..There was absolutely no rythem to the play calling and he completely abandonned the run game halfway throught the game it seems like..The openning drive was nice,we mixed it up and even used the diamond formation n gashed them..But never saw it again..I think this is the wrong school to learn on the job at,do you agree or am i crazy??

Jake Trotter

  (4:23 PM)

It's been awhile since Heupel called a "great" game. It's not time to give up on him, but the Sooners, with the players they have, should be scoring more than 24 and 19 points a game.

Zach (Norman)

Predictions for OU/TX? Never thought David Ash would be playing like the better QB.

Jake Trotter

  (4:23 PM)

Let's wait and see what Texas does in Stillwater this weekend.

Tanner Johnson (Guthrie, Oklahoma)

Does OU still have a chance at The National Title after their loss on Saturday vs Kansas State?

Jake Trotter

  (4:24 PM)

Did that look like a national title game team to you?

Tony (Tucson )

Jake, I?m looking at the defense and it is very possible for it to be even worse next year. OU is losing 3DT and 2 DE.

Jake Trotter

  (4:25 PM)

And Hurst and Harris and possibly Tony Jefferson.

Michael (Washington)

I'm not in favor of changing quarterbacks now, but I wonder if the entire program would have been better off in the long run if he left in January as a Top 10 pick.

Jake Trotter

  (4:26 PM)

The question is, what if OU loses at Tech? Do you think they seriously consider a change? I don't. But at some point, you have to shake it up.

Kyle (Oklahoma City)

OU has ground weapons in Dom, Damien, Millard, Finch, and even Ripkowski as lead blocker. The first two games against UTEP and FAMU we ran the ball well. We even started the KSU game well on the ground, but got away from it because mistakes made us have to play from behind. Won't a successful running attack take some pressure off Landry and a sputtering offense?

Jake Trotter

  (4:28 PM)

This offensive line is not built to mash people. It's athletic, it's quick, and people may disagree, but I think it's pretty good in pass protection. But there's no Duke Robinson up front. The Sooners seem to be in the midst of an identity crisis offensively. Like they're still trying to find what they are. They better find out quick.

Joe (Arizona)

Do you attribute this win/loss to the players or the coaches?

Jake Trotter

  (4:28 PM)

Plenty of blame to go around.

John (Norman)

Jake, SEC 7 straight national titles with nasty defense, strong running game and QB who takes care of the ball. Seems awful lot like OU in 2000. Seems like we want to be as far from that philosophy as possible. Any rationale for this?

Jake Trotter

  (4:30 PM)

Forget 2000, that was the style OU played with in 2006 and 07. The rationale is that you have a coordinator who likes to run the spread and throw the ball. I don't think it was any secret what Heupel was going to do when he was hired, considering his background.

John (Norman)

Any way we see another debacle like last year in Stillwater on the road against WVU? We can't stop anyone and can't score to save our life... Combine that against a high powered offense and I see a disaster on the horizon.

Jake Trotter

  (4:31 PM)

That's definitely a glass half empty approach. But it's very difficult to envision OU going to Morgantown and winning. They are very similar to OSU last year.

Eli (Houston)

Jake- what is with this fan base? The sky isn't falling. We lost to a top 15 team by gifting them some turnovers and points, and losing the battle on 3rd down. Simply beaten on the fundamentals, it happens.

Kyle (New York City)

What are your thoughts on the D line? If we can't get pressure this year, can you imagine what next year brings... It's gonna be rough.

Jake Trotter

  (4:33 PM)

I could be wrong, but I don't see the d-line being better next year.

Mike (Stroud)

Blake Bell also played worse than usual. He left points on the field. He didn't give any away either. Is he really better in the long run?

Jake Trotter

  (4:33 PM)

People have been giving him a pass on the fumble, but that was just as huge as Landry's fumble.

H W (Austin )

I love the Sooners, but fans have to stop asking stupid questions. No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We do not have any chance of playing for a NC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen (Houston)

Is the lack of defensive playmakers & quality O Line play a result of bad recruiting evalutions, injuries, program defections, or _______?

Jake Trotter

  (4:35 PM)

All three. Remember, OU lost 2 OL starters to begin the season. Then again, K-State played without two its starting offensive linemen Saturday, too. Those are things you have to overcome. Everyone misses on recruiting evals, everyone has injuries, everyone has players transfer.

Billy Joe Bob (Enid )

Would OU be better served with Sterling Shepard in the slot and Kenny Stills lined up outside? It just seems to me that Trey Metoyer and Justin Brown are really struggling to stretch the field. Kenny could help change all of that.

Jake Trotter

  (4:36 PM)

I think that's something they're going to take a look out. For whatever reason, Landry hasn't been able to find Brown and Metoyer downfield consistently.

H W (Austin )

I don?t like attacking players. They?re just college guys and don?t deserve that type of treatment from anybody. But I do think that it is fair to say that OU talent on the d-line and o-line is not what it has been in years past. The talent in other areas seems similar to years past.

Jake Trotter

  (4:36 PM)

There are no All-Americans on either line. I don't think that's news to anyone.

Allan (Norman)

Given the lack of success in the run game and the imbalance in offensive philosophy, does OU need to look at recruiting more run-oriented linemen?

Jake Trotter

  (4:37 PM)

OU has to figure out what it's offensive philosophy actually is. Then, you can go to recruit those players.

Luke (Norman)

Why don't we go back to running the bubble screens and swing passes to get Landry's confidence back... Let him complete some easy passes and then go from there! It's like we've completely abandoned that offense ever since Broyles and Demarco left.

Jake Trotter

  (4:38 PM)

Can't disagree. That's what OU did during Bradford's freshman year to get him some confidence. Would also be a way to get the ball in the hands of Stills, Sterling and Finch.

Tanner Johnson (Guthrie, Oklahoma)

Will Stoops change the quarterback situation at all this year? The games that we lose, Landry makes SO MANY mistakes, but i think Stoops is to afraid to admit it.

Jake Trotter

  (4:38 PM)

OU would have to completely fall apart for Stoops to make a change.

Charles (Savannah, GA)

I like your answer to Tanner's question! What is going on in Norman? I'm actually really worried about Notre Dame coming in and handing it to us badly! Thoughts?

Jake Trotter

  (4:39 PM)

Notre Dame is going to be a very difficult game. The Irish are formidable on both lines.

Ryan (South Hadley, MA)

If you were to bet your next month's paycheck, which do you think is more accurate: This OU team is a 10 win team and will be figure some things out and competitive in the remainder of the Big 12 or this OU team is a 8 win team and will play in a bowl named for a pizza chain?

Jake Trotter

  (4:39 PM)

My wife would kill me if I bet my paycheck.

Landry Jones (Norman)

I quit let Kendal Thompson play!

Charlie Smith (Texas)

I feel the offense hasnt looked as good a it did with Kevin Wilson, it seemed he could get them into a rhythm better, there has been a few times heupel does, especially the first series, but it seems to take him a while to that rhythm back, do you think heupel will be on the hot seat even though he is one of the best at developing qb's. Is the offense that Kevin Wilson made too much for him?

Jake Trotter

  (4:41 PM)

Where are all those people who vilified Kevin Wilson when he was the coordinator here?

Brandon (craziness)

Optimus Klien looked better than landry...what gives?

Jake Trotter

  (4:42 PM)

Klein excels where Landry didn't Sat. That's playing sound football and making the small plays that are the difference in a tight game.

John (OKC)

Right now, give me your projected record for OU at the end of the season...

Jake Trotter

  (4:43 PM)

I'd probably go with 9-3. But OU could just as easily go 7-5 or 11-1.

PJ (Norman)

Is it just me, or has OU completely abandoned the prospect of recruiting a true "power back?" Having to rely on the QB for short & goal situations is a risky move.

Jake Trotter

  (4:44 PM)

No, I mean they signed Damien Williams to be just that. Dom Whaley can run between the tackles, too. I think that's one of the reasons why those two are playing over Finch. Sooners want to bring some physicality to the running game.

Eli (Houston)

I actually was very impressed with the defense saturday. The only thing I didn't understand was after the defensive line failed to get pressure, why did we continue to drop back into coverage and not blitz anybody extra. Colin Klein or anybody, when given time, can pick apart a d..?

Jake Trotter

  (4:45 PM)

The reason OU didn't blitz is that they didn't want to give Klein any running lanes. If you blitz and miss against a QB who can run like Klein, you're liable to give up big running plays. The Sooners were OK with giving Klein time to throw, so long as he didn't have anywhere to run.

Tanner Johnson (Guthrie, Oklahoma)

Landry Jones has NOT been really able to "Handle The Pressure!" He's been playing bad in big games since he was a freshman. The mistakes that he makes look like mistakes a first year freshman would make, NOT a fifth year senior. Oklahoma has been trying to make him do better when he's getting pressured, and in the big games, and NOTHING has seemed to work! Will Landry Jones just always be that way? Or do you think they can actually make him stop worrying so much under pressure and throwing it right to a Defensive player?

Jake Trotter

  (4:46 PM)

I think at some point, you are who you are. Landry does a lot of things really well. But that also comes with the bad, the mistakes.

Michael (Washington)

If we put a No. 85 jersey on Sterling Shepard and told Landry it's 2010, would that fix the offense?

Jake Trotter

  (4:47 PM)

Haha, not a bad idea.

Jeff (DeSoto )

Only now are people able to admit that Kevin Wilson was a really good OC. In 2010 helped win a big 12 title with bubble screens to Broyles and swing passes to DE Marco. Those two guys were basically all the offense that we had, but he really knew how to get the most out of our talent.

Jake Trotter

  (4:47 PM)

I always thought Kevin was unfairly criticized here. I mean, he coordinated the most prolific offense in college football history in 2008.

BKB (Memphis)

Jake, safe to say OU still does not have depth on defense like last year? How do we only play two DTs the whole game? All these DTs on the roster and no others are game ready still? Defense looked worn down in the 4th.

Jake Trotter

  (4:49 PM)

Yep, the defense definitely had a letdown in the fourth quarter, and K-State appeared to wear them down. If the Sooners had other DTs ready to play, they wouldn't have moved David King there after Stacy McGee's suspension.

Eli (Houston)

Oh, I see. That makes sense. Thank you. I suppose as an additional, why would you stay in a 2 safety 10 yard deep defense on that 3rd and 3 to end the game? A safety coming downhill can tackle the runner after 1-2 yards, but it also allows the o-line to get the blocks set before they have to engage if the d-line doesn't get any push?

Jake Trotter

  (4:50 PM)

Tony Jefferson and Javon Harris are two of OU's better tacklers. They had 26 combined Saturday. I didn't have a problem with that defensive set in that situation.

KB (Tulsa)

You give me the Belldozer combined with the 08 offense... Do we win a National Championship down in Miami? Only problem with that offense was that we couldn't punch the ball in on short yardage situations.

Jake Trotter

  (4:51 PM)

Actually, OU led the nation in red zone offense that season. Short yardage was only an issue in the Florida game. But I don't think the Belldozer changes that result. Florida was the better team.

Joshua (Houston)

Is it me or did even Tress Way look off Saturday? Team is off...

Jake Trotter

  (4:52 PM)

You know fans are unhappy when they start going after the punter.

Adam (OKC)

Where has RJ Washington been? Has the guy even showed up on the stat sheet yet? I know BJW showed his displeasure in his play a couple weeks ago to the media.

Jake Trotter

  (4:53 PM)

Wright didn't start him Sat, because he thinks Chuka is better in run defense. Washington is the team's best pass rusher off the corner, but that's not what they needed against K-State.

Hector (Austin )

C?mon Stoops, we need Mark Mangino !!!!!!!

PJ (Norman)

Does Stoops have Mark Mangino on speed dial anytime soon...to return to OU? :-))

Jake Trotter

  (4:54 PM)

Last year, Mike Stoops was the savior. Now, it's Mangino.

Joey (OKC )

Something is wrong with a defense when your leading tacklers are all in the secondary.

Jake Trotter

  (4:55 PM)

That was actually Mike Stoops' game plan. The ploy was to clog the middle with the front seven, then have Harris/Jefferson come up and make tackles on the perimeter. The scheme actually worked pretty well. K-State did not dominate OU on the ground.

Eli (Houston)

Can we go ahead and give brennan clay a shout out? he has looked fantastic in limited action, and I think his offseason work has visibly payed off. He might be our starter next year!

Jake Trotter

  (4:55 PM)

Clay was a big part of that hurry-up touchdown there at the end of the game.

PJ (Norman)

From your perspective, is OU better served sticking to its spread offense, or maybe mix in some pro-style or option-style plays? I'm seeing more teams now implementing the zone-read with mobile QBs & more teams allow the QB to exploit a cover defense with option run plays. K-State

Jake Trotter

  (4:58 PM)

OU is trying to be what OSU was last season. OSU ran the pistol, but still kept the physicality in its running game with Randle/Jeremy Smith/Kye Staley. That's the reason why you run the pistol -- to keep the spread, while still being able to run the ball between the tackles downhill. The problem is, the OU line hasn't been able to do what the OSU line did last season. I don't know what the answer is. But clearly, the Sooners are lacking an offensive identity.

Eli (Houston)

Jake, I remain optimistic for this team. WE have a great hc, a qb with all the tools, and a d-coordinator that is a proven commodity- the more time this d gets with him,the better they will be. Agree?

Jake Trotter

  (4:59 PM)

I'm waiting to see what happens over the next two games. By then, we'll know which direction this team is headed.

Jake Trotter

  (5:00 PM)

Guys, that's all the time we have today. Thanks for all the questions. We'll do the chat again next week, same time, same place. Until then, everyone have a great week (or at least try to).