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Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners, 12-1-18: In-game report

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The Oklahoma Sooners were able to get revenge for a loss against Texas earlier in the season by defeating their Red River foe in the Big 12 Championship Game.  Oklahoma used an efficient offense and an opportunistic defense to win 39-27 and clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff in the process.  DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson gives his impressions in this in-game report:

33 Gary Johnson (6’0 230) Texas LB-Senior

Johnson literally jumps out of nowhere to make plays.  The senior linebacker is able to contort his body,  get really low and explode past offensive linemen to make plays in the backfield.  Johnson had a third and goal tackle for loss on the Sooners first possession after he blew past the Sooners linemen to stuff the play in the backfield. Johnson also impressed with his hustle to the football.  After Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb caught a curl route and took it 50 yards downfield, Johnson snuck up behind him and poked the ball loose, turning what would’ve been a massive play for Oklahoma into a turnover for Texas.  Johnson’s pursuit to the football will catch the eyes of scouts, but he will have to work on shedding blocks once he is engaged. 

2 Kris Boyd (6’0 195) Texas  CB-Senior 

Boyd is a technician at cornerback.  His ability to mirror receivers and play off of their motions is NFL-quality.  The senior cornerback has had a pass deflection in all but two games this season.  Boyd had another pass deflection when he mirrored Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown on a fade route and then brought his hands through Brown’s hands to knock the ball away at the last second.  Boyd is also a willing tackler on the outside.  Look for a team, who is looking for man-to-man corners to target Boyd in this year’s draft. 

2 CeeDee Lamb (6’2 189) Oklahoma WR-Sophomore

The Sooners star receiver is a fluid route runner, who also has excellent hands in traffic.  Regardless of his slight build, Lamb has shown the willingness to extend his body and leave himself susceptible to shots to his ribs.  The sophomore receiver can make big plays as a receiving option on screens or he can make plays for others as a lead blocker on bubble screens to other receivers like he did in the first half against Texas.  Lamb caught a touchdown over the middle to bring the Sooners within one point of the Longhorns in the second quarter.  Despite his fumble, Lamb was productive, finishing with six catches for 167 yards and a touchdown.

2018, Team previews, NCAA FB, 2018, Articles

2018 Season Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

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Season outlook

Lincoln Riley will enter his second year as the Sooners head coach with a new quarterback under center. Junior quarterback Kyler Murray (5’10, 195) threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions behind Baker Mayfield last season and will assume the responsibilities as the new signal-caller in Norman. Around Murray is running back Rodney Anderson (6’1, 220) and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (6’2, 189) and Marquise Brown (5’10, 168).  All three  have made their respective position groups’ preseason watch lists. On defense, junior linebacker Caleb Kelly (6’3, 231) moves to the inside linebacker position and will be asked to quarterback the defense.

DC Mike Stoops’ unit allowed opponents a 38-percent conversion rate on third downs in 2017 (fourth in the Big 12).

Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops’ unit has to replace Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on the edge as well as five other starters. The defense’s new faces could very well decide the fate of the Sooners in a conference that features some of the best offenses in all of college football.

Troy’s player to watch

72 Ben Powers OG 6’4 313
Powers, a senior interior offensive lineman, has experience at both the left guard and right guard positions. Powers has started 22 games over the last two seasons and was named to the All-Big 12 second team by conference coaches in 2017. With the exception of Kansas State’s Dalton Risner, the other four linemen, who were named first team All-Big 12, have graduated on to the pros. Look for Powers to take the next step and lead the Sooners linemen in 2018.

Game of the season

November 23rd at West Virginia
Oklahoma will face its stiffest competition during the last week of the regular season. West Virginia and Oklahoma are both favorites to win the Big 12 and their meeting in Morgantown could decide the conference’s champion.  Oklahoma defeated West Virginia last season in Norman 59-31. The Mountaineers haven’t defeated the Sooners since 2008 and the last few contests haven’t been close.

DraftNasty’s Prospect Watch

75 Dru Samia 6’5 303 RG-Senior

Samia came to Oklahoma as a highly-regarded recruit and has lived up to the billing for the most part.  The Academic All-Big 12 selection has started 34 games at three different positions (RG, LG, RT) in his first three years on campus.  He’s capable of finding color on the move when the team runs its plethora of power run game concepts.  For him to take his game to another level, he needs to become more consistent handling inside movement by defensive ends (in pass protection).  In addition, he has to stand his ground better when fighting pressure in 2018.  The former River City Raiders (Calif.) product should once again challenge for all-conference honors in his final year in Norman.

Prediction: 10-2

According to Draftnasty’s Troy Jefferson, Oklahoma will fall twice against two rivals in 2018.  Texas will defeat the Sooners in the Red River Showdown and West Virginia will end Oklahoma’s regular season with another loss. The Sooners always replace talent with talent.  While Jefferson is predicting a 10-win season, he is not forecasting a College Football Playoff Appearance.