With Alabama taking on Oklahoma later today, long time friend of the blog, Jack Shields, joined once again to give his thoughts on Sooner program as a whole.
1. I asked you this last year, and I want to
follow it up a year later to see how you’re feeling. Are you still liking the move to the SEC? And are you starting to feel like a true member yet?
I love it, and I think most people are fully on board at this point. Yes, OU’s schedule was brutal in 2024, but that team’s issues were insurmountable no matter which P4 conference it was in at the time. Now that OU is putting a viable product on the field, it’s apparent that this program should be consistently competitive in the SEC (as should be expected of a blue-blood).
The biggest takeaway is that every weekend feels big. It always feels like there’s more at stake when you know you’re in for a dog fight. As a result, the crowds have been louder this year than they have been in a long time. Tailgating has been taken up a notch. The local economy has benefited from more opposing fans constantly traveling to Norman/OKC. It’s been great in so many ways.
It won’t truly feel like home until we win the conference (which will happen eventually, I promise!), but I’m definitely enjoying it.
2. This Ben Arbuckle guy…. Only 30 years old and already making a mark in the coaching world. Do you think he’s one of those up and comers who’s going to change the game and start getting head coach inquiries soon? Or just a solid Air Raid disciple that’ll be around for a while? Or, maybe you’re seeing cracks that he may flame out (this seems unlikely, from my outside perspective).
He was actually receiving some buzz for the Oklahoma State job early in the season. However, his stock has leveled out since the Texas loss. To be fair, a lot of that has to do with John Mateer’s hand, and the offensive line has its issues, but he’s received plenty of scrutiny in recent weeks. He’s an air raid guy, and while that philosophy has evolved over time, he has a tendency to abandon the run game if things aren’t going swimmingly. Fortunately, the rushing attack is hitting its stride to some extent. If things keep heading in the right direction, he could have some options.
3. Just how janky is John Mateer’s thumb still? If the game’s on the line for a 3rd and 10 conversion next week, do you trust him to make the pass? (no cheating and saying he’ll scramble, even if we all know it’s probably true).
It’s supposedly getting better. Venables says he’s gaining velocity. I tend to believe it, but I take it with a grain of salt. It’s definitely not 100%, and it probably won’t be until next season
Does scrambling with the intent to pass count? If so, yes I do think he can make the big throw on 3rd and long. It helps that he’ll likely be getting Keontez Lewis back this week, as he’s been a reliable safety valve when healthy.
4. I watched some of the game vs Tennessee, and I have to say, that running back, Robinson, looks absolutely terrifying. Has he just completely supplanted Tory Blaylock at this point, or will we see both? (and, as a bonus…. Just how good do you think Robinson can be with more volume?)
I would say he has seized the reins at the position. He seems to have regained DeMarco Murray’s trust — something that can be very tenuous.
I do think we’ll see a bit of Blaylock. He’s just such a solid back. He doesn’t dance around, but he can make one big cut and take off. He doesn’t turn it over either (other than when he ran horizontally in the endzone and took a safety against Ole Miss).
5. How do you feel about Brent Venables being the defensive playcaller? I know it was always his defense, but you have to think the time sink will wear on the head coach eventually. And it never felt like the Sooners ever even considered going to find a new DC or promote Jay Valai or someone.
They were somewhat close to getting Jim Knowles this offseason, but Brent calling the defense himself has actually worked out pretty well. I think it’s possible due in large part to the fact that the program’s new front office setup has allowed him to focus less on other matters and focus more on this role, which might not have been as easy to accomplish previously.
Like you said, it’s always really been his defense, and he takes a lot of pride in said defense. Unsurprisingly, reports have suggested that he may have been a bit of a micromanager on that side of the ball, so you might as well cut out the middle man if that’s the case.
6. If you were given payments in order to give Alabama info on the best way to attack the Sooner defense, what offensive game plan would you suggest?
Target Courtland Guillory. He’s going to be a great CB in the future, and he definitely shows some glimpses, but he’s still a freshman. He also decided not to wrap up on a few plays against Tennessee, so make him prove that he’s learned his lesson.
As far as dealing with the pass rush, Simpson should look to scramble if his first or second read isn’t open. Trinidad Chambliss had some success with his legs in long yardage situations. Simpson isn’t as quick as Chambliss, but he’s dangerous on the run and can probably extend some drives.
7. Give me one player on defense and one on offense who you think could be the guy to make the play of the game.
With R. Mason Thomas likely out, I’ll go with Kip Lewis on defense. He did it to Bama last year, so let’s run it back.
On offense, it’s Isaiah Sategna. OU really doesn’t have a deep passing game, as that just isn’t Mateer’s strength. However, Sategna is someone who can take it to the house if he makes the first man miss.
8. Imagine it’s 2027 – which Oklahoma players are getting talked about as All-Americans and/or first round draft picks?
Defensive tackles David Stone and Jayden Jackson will be eligible for the 2027 draft, and I think both have a great chance to be first rounders. They’re both monsters.
The only current offensive players I see as potential future first rounders are OT Michael Fasusi, WR Elijah Thomas and OG Eddie Pierre-Louis, and I’m banking on potential with all three. Fasusi and Thomas will not be eligible until the 2028 Draft, and Pierre-Louis likely won’t be ready after next season. But All-American consideration? Yes, they have the potential to be on that level in 2027.
9. If Oklahoma beats Alabama, they’re pretty much certain to be a playoff team. If the Sooners lose, do you think they have an argument anyway?
Before the season, I would have guessed that 9-3 would be enough. The problem is LSU falling off, which takes away what could have been a major statement win to close out the regular season. Without beating Bama, they’ll lack a “huge” win. They’ll have a decent argument if Notre Dame loses a game down the stretch, but if don’t see that happening. Texas would also likely need to lose to both Georgia and Texas A&M (which seems a bit more likely) to avoid the head-to-head conversation. The ACC and Big 12 seem likely to only send one team, but if one of them sends two, it’ll make it really tough. In short, a number of things will need to align.
10. Not including Texas, which SEC team(s) have you grown to hate already?
I’ll go ahead and take the liberty of excluding Missouri, as well, since we go way back. Same with A&M.
It’s not y’all. We respect each others programs, and our fan bases are kindred spirits.
Kiffin is easy to hate, but I don’t have a problem with Ole Miss or it’s fans.
I thought LSU would be the one, but Brian Kelly kind of ruined that, and their fans were supposedly okay when OU played down there last year. OU fans still talk how awful they were in New Orleans for the 2003 National Championship, and I know they have that reputation, but things seem to have settled down there for the time being.
Auburn whining about the refs in their loss to us wasn’t a great look, but their team doesn’t win enough games to produce much hostility on our end.
Tennessee fans are very annoying online but pretty nice in person, so it’s not them.
I think I will grow to hate Florida. I’m still salty about the 2008 natty, and their fans suck, so there’s some potential there. Same goes for LSU, just not quite yet.
Basically, of the schools that are actually new to us, no one has really solidified their spot yet. We’ll get there, I promise!
