The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Oklahoma Sooners 45, Texas Longhorns 40
Considering Charlie Strong’s amazing ability to get Texas ready to play Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, before the game, I’d take any win by any margin over UT in Dallas. Nothing has changed post-game.
OU is now 3-2 and has a real chance to salvage the season with a Big 12 title. The team is not playing great football for four quarters on either side of the ball, but the Sooners are fighting and winning. Especially on defense, OU is battling through an unreal number of injuries.
Never ignore the difference between winning and losing. Time for Bob Stoops to beat Kansas State in Norman for the first time since 2009 – emphasis on "beat," since we know that the Wildcats will not beat themselves. Losing the turnover battle and making special teams mistakes again won’t work against KSU.
The Great
Dede Westbrook
Simply put, Westbrook had the greatest single day of any Sooner wide receiver ever.
He looked like the Crimson and Cream's version of Antonio Brown on Saturday. He beat UT deep for long bombs and he beat UT with his speed and quickness to turn short passes into long gains.
Sure, UT’s secondary is in disarray, but Westbrook did a great job exploiting it.
Samaje Perine
Perine was the player Sooner fans have seen the last two seasons. While UT’s secondary has been total crap, the team has done a solid job stopping the run. Didn’t matter, as Perine smashed and bullied the UT front for more than 200 yards.
Those big runs set up...
Baker Mayfield
After a rough start with some bad overthrows and two interceptions that are really hard to hang on him, Mayfield, who was in a boot to help his sore ankle during the pregame, put together a great game. He shredded the woeful UT secondary with big play after big play to Westbrook and others.
Even Mayfield, though, could not avoid the WTF disease that seemed to plague OU on Saturday. What he was doing on the team's final conversion attempt on third down is inexplicable.
Offensive line
Hopefully, this unit is rounding into form. With 672 total yards, combining nearly 300 yards rushing and 400 yards passing, somebody up front is doing something right.
OU’s young trio (quartet if we include the injured Cody Ford) of Bobby Evans, Dru Samia and Orlando Brown show positives signs of recruiting and development.
The field goal drive in the fourth quarter
That really sealed the game. The time off the clock was just as important as the three points.
The Good
Jordan Thomas’ first half
OU fans have been screaming for a cornerback to make a play on the ball all season long. In the first half, Jordan had several key pass deflections.
Defense in the first and third quarters
With OU struggling with turnovers, UT could have jumped out to an early 14-0 lead thanks to excellent field position. The defense rallied and held UT to a single field goal.
Later, after giving up two bad long touchdown passes in the third quarter, the OU defense stopped UT three times in a row. Meanwhile, the OU offense was putting up touchdowns
to grab momentum and take the lead.
WRs not named Dede Westbrook
None of them had a huge day, but Geno Lewis, A.D. Miller and Dahu Green all made big plays to help OU. No real “drops,” and they were a key part of the passing attack.
The Bad
Joe Mixon
Mixon had a terrible day on special teams, with a no-near fumble loss and one terrible fumble play on a punt. His running game seemed to lack the explosiveness of previous weeks. His second near fumble at RB cost OU a chance to put the game away with a TD.
On the plus side, Mixon made several big catches to help keep Sooner Drives alive.
Mark Andrews' drops.
Bad day for one of OU’s key playmakers, including an interception due to his poor hands.
Just like Mixon, there was a bright side. Andrews made a clutch catch on a critical onside kick. He also had a big catch-and-run play to set up a TD.
Officiating
UT’s second INT should never have happened. UT leveled Lewis, causing the pick. Just ridiculous.
It’s the worst non-pass interfernce call I think that I have seen in a long time. Overall, it just seemed like every call went the Horns' way.
The Ugly
Fourth quarter prevent defense
In back-to-back games, OU has had double-digit leads in the fourth quarter, only to give up TD drives to make the contest a one-possession game at the end with the opponent having the ball.
The Encouraging
Young defenders
OU was missing as many as six defensive starters from the preseason depth chart. Injuries forced a number of young Sooner defenders on the field. The secondary at times featured Will Sunderland, Chanse Sylvie and Jordan Parker. Neville Gallimore, Amani Bledsoe and Caleb Kelly made it out on the field as well.
It was ugly at times, but the young defenders showed some talent and promise.
-Atlantasooner