The 10 things which strike me as critical in Norman

1.    It’s not going into the mouth of hell but it just as well could be. .Memorial Stadium is fantastically kind to Bob Stoops coached teams. I don’t know that it’s the extra 5 - 7 hours practice and team meetings they get by being at home but whatever it is they haven’t even had a close home game in forever,  the margin of victory is averaging 21 plus points.(missed that LAJ says the scores are averaging 45 - 15,  30 points yikes) Not only is it essential for the Raiders to blot out the crowd drama, its critical they focus on routine execution, don’t even look at the score board. Focus is at a premium. Question is can Coach Tuberville sprinkle in some of that coaching Mojo that he had against Alabama.??

2.    It’s a cinch that we see the best blocking and block shedding the Sooner have to offer. So it’s critical that  When the Raider defense is in 3rd and 2 they defeat at least 50% of the Sooners  blockers between the offensive tackles. We are  talking Tackles for a loss. Optimistically we should expect to see 30 - 35 rushing attempts by the Sooners 20 must be stops at the line of scrimmage. Let Demarco Murray or Mr. Finch get 85 - 120 yards and the inverse success rate means the Tech defense sees nearly 100 plays overall. We don’t have the horses to play that way. It's recipe for 17 points a quarter and a blow out. Offensively it’s not essential that the Tech rusher’s match the Sooners output but it is essential they get  30 plus touches and over 4 yards per pop. That means a slower game, less defensive snaps inflicted on Duncan, Whitlock and Fehoko. It also means 40 - 60 passing plays are available to the Tech Passers 70 percent of which have to go for over 7.0 yards per reception.

3.    The concentric effect of offensive success and defensive stoutness means you can expect a lot of plays in the red zone. Tech has got  to score every time they breach the 20 yard line. No turnovers just 7 or 3.  BTW if Tech kicks more that 2  x FGs we going to find ourselves down by 2 scores and struggling if Tech kicks 3 field goals we will be down 21 plus by the 4th period. We can’t take the Sooner crowd out of it without creating some desperate series 3rd and long,  4th and 5 on the 30 yard line, you know the drill make them take risks that are way out of proportion to return. So its critical to finish in the Red Zone.

4.    Special team did ok versus Mizzou very nice kickoff returns totalling nearly 80 yards by Stephens (not sure here??) vs. Mizzou. Here is a weakness only 2 x punts not fielded by a Raider returner which hurt us. We flat got lucky. They covered pretty well on punts to Mizzou and they nearly stripped one.  Field goals 1 x good  and one missed/blocked. It is critical Tech not let some big play for OU on kicks get significant yardage. In fact it’s a must that the Raiders force an error on the Sooners. Like last week these guys are overdue for a strip or a block. The Raiders need at least one score from a special teams play to level out a quarter. Just regain the momentum put 7 on the Sooners, shut up the crowd. Working toward the all important 2  x scores up play down hill construct.

5.    Game management last week Coach Neal Brown ran the offensive set to the line scrimmage then stopped, surveyed and recocked. It worked LondonRaider gave me a half point for calling that scheme. But I think it’s an essential element of the Air Raid in that it causes opposing folks to over think and not get packages onto the field which in turn allows the QB to take what is offered by the defense. Recall  4 yards per rush,  7 yards per pass. Do that and we have a chnace.  Line up do it all over again. Keep the opposing potent Sooner attack off the field.

6.    Game Management Part II: the defense needs 3  x big plays per half. Doesn’t really matter what flavor just has to equal a sack, a stuffed rush or a tipped pass on 3rd and 5  in their end of the field. Coach Willis has limited numbers of full speed plays he can use before the depleted ranks are running on fumes. That being said I say it’s critical that a guy like Sam Fehoko or Brian Duncan get their arm around Landry Jones and or Demarco Murray and bring him down. We had about 5 x missed tackles on the Mizzou QB  B. Gabbert last week.  Landry Jones is slower than he is and it’s doable. Get your hand on him and spin him around.  Tackle well, tackle sure, get them off the field. I have just about given up on interceptions for this year. We can’t seem to catch break in this category of defensive stops.. Pass break ups have been ok well even, bordering on a D minus. Yeah I saw the play in the end zone last week by Neboh. And honestly we were one DB hand slap from giving away a TD in the 4th period. Go back and look at the SMU and Baylor games if either QB was slightly more accurate we are going into overtime in both those games. That’s the Defensive backs area and they aren’t making very many people fear for their lives back there.

7.    The critical thing about this Raider Team is its got weapons. I suggested at the beginning of the year that Coach Tuberville put / use /game plan 2 QBs per outing. Whatever caused that to be shelved i.e. Potts is better , reps in practice, Sticks hurt shoulder I don’t know. But it hasn’t been a weapon  that’s been availed of. Sticks can squeeze some juice from this team, Potts can out throw 99 percent of the D Backs we face. If Potts is good for 23.5 points and Sticks is good for 14.5  per game well then we exceed our average  PPG from last year. Roll Sticks in for 2 series in 2nd period then go back to Potts, Roll Sticks in for 2 series in the 3rd. Repeat. What the hell have they got to lose?

8.    It’s critical that more than the normal 5 guys catch a pass against OU.  I.e. Batch, Lewis, Leong, Zouzalic, Stephens …  Blake Kelley, Adam James and Cornelius Douglas, Ward and McRoy all need 2 - 4 touches. Because  Lyle Leong is going to get beaten on all day by the 6 starting OU D backs. Remember the walking, talking  a**hole Nick Harris in 08. Buckle up Folks.. Brent Venable is a pragmatic, calculating and programmatic teacher of the game. He’s going to man up on Lyle and try to push Detron out of bounds. Every play. He has shown a willingness to try and take away what the offense likes to do then roll the dice on how the other tools perform. If we run 7 plus scripted plays against OU Saturday they will force 3 straight 3 and outs. It will look disturbing like OSU this year. Second  best receiving options need to cut the Sooners up early and often. Its got to be to the tune of 70 to 100 yards when added up. I am looking for Taylor Potts to do this. If he fixates on Leong he’s doing what Venables wants. It’s critical Taylor not take this comfortable path.

9.    No one has stopped the Raider Wildcat all year. We just can’t seem to run it to any great advantage. It’s critical that when it gets called it yield more than 3 and half yards. I don’t know who is missing a block but if Cam Newton gets to play glorified RB Tech should be able to as well. Like others have said I am not buying this horse dung that the Sooners over match the Raiders. This kind of  begs the whole trick play thing for Tech. We aren’t executing very well.  Selling it yes. Doing it no. So what’s critical for this game is the Raiders get the play in , done and run off a big explosive play with the trickeration. Do that and you silence the Sooner crowd. Score and you erase one Sooner score. This type of game hinges on not letting anyone get up top and start taking chances on defense.  Man do I hate Brent Venables in Norman.

10.  Aggressive behavior yields results. Tech started slugging Mizzou and it paid off. If they take blows from OU. It will be over by the 2nd period. Offensively Tech the O line has to push these guys around. Like last week I don’t know that our D line can run into this freight train for 70 - 90 plays. It is critical on the first 40 or 50  snaps our front 7 hit and take out blockers and pressure the  Sooner QB or blow up the Running backs at the line of scrimmage. Then it’s all about staying on the field and keeping Colby Whitlock, Pearlie Graves and Fehoko fresh enough for the final period of flurried activity. All three sides making no unforced errors, being aggressive ,executing  at a high level.  Do that and it’s even in the last 5 minutes, where if we have the ball I like our chances. It's Matt Williams senior year and he deserves an Alex Trlica moment. Go forth and remove the Sooner  winning string in Norman.