January 7, 2009

OKLAHOMA - FLORIDA: Football Bloggers Sound Off

Tomorrow the Oklahoma Sooners face the Florida Gators to determine the BCS National Champion. We asked several OU and UF bloggers to share their perspective on the big game.

Q - Are you concerned about the distractions surrounding your team? (NFL draft talk, coaching rumors/changes, SEC/Big XII talk)

AlligatorArmy.com - The draft talk and coaching changes are not a big deal. WR Percy Harvin and LB Brandon Spikes should go to the NFL. On the opposite end, the talk of how Tim Tebow will not be a quarterback in the NFL fuels him. Florida benefits in all cases because the players are inspired. As for offensive coordinator Dan Mullen leaving for Mississippi State, it won't be an issue. Urban Meyer is a details guy and he won't allow something like that to affect the play calling. Plus, Meyer has done this before when he left Utah. That season, the Utes destroyed Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl. The trash talk concerns me though. Anytime college kids get over excited about something, they can lose focus. That won't happen to Tebow, but could to everyone else.

Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Not until Dominique Franks opened his mouth to the media on Saturday. The reality is Tim Tebow is very good and it is a very bad idea to call him out as an 'average Big 12 quarterback'. The OU defense has looked bad more often than it has looked good this season, and to win this game the OU offense is going to have to compensate for the 30-40 points the defense will give up to Florida. Don't give Tebow motivation to go for 40-50 points.

Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - Absolutley not...This Gator squad is used to hype, hyperbole, and media attention simply from the circus that follows around their leader...As well as, their leader seemingly handling the burden willingly...

OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - As a fan, I worry about any and everything that could distract our player's performance on the field, but I have to tell you, I have a completely different feeling about this game vs our last four bowl games, I think it may be the confidence I hear from the players when talking to the media. I truly think the Sooners will play with a new attitude and focus... besides; we have the best coach in college football.

Henry (Saurian Sagacity) - No, I'm not worried about it. I think Tebow not winning the Heisman is a blessing in disguise for the Gators. Though I'm generally not a big believer in the "distraction" excuser, the media attention that comes with winning the Heisman can be one of those few things that can cause a distraction. I'm pretty sure that although Harvin, Tebow and Spikes are thinking about the NFL they are totally focused on Thursday night.

Crimson & Cream Machine - Other than a little trash talking here and there the Sooners have seemed quite focused on the task at hand. There are tons of rumors about Bradford coming out after this game and Bob Stoops is linked to coaching jobs in the NFL but this point all we have really heard from the Oklahoma camp is "beat Florida!" Every impression that we've had from coached and players is that this is strictly a business trip for OU and everything else has been blocked out.

Q - How do you stack up on defense against that offense and the weapons they will throw at you?

Chris Short - OU is said to have an offense that hurt defenses. But, given OU's recent history in championships (conference and national) I honestly think that the Gators are going to crack that OU offensive line and create some much needed turnovers.

OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - There's no doubt our defense has to step up, in my mind, containing Tebow will be the # 1 priority. We have to make him beat us with his arm and not with his feet. OU's special teams has to step up and we can't afford any more injuries to our Line backing corp... I give Florida the edge on defense.

Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - No doubt about it Oklahoma is loaded on offense and they have been very good all year long at spreading opponents defenses out of position and letting their playmakers pile up the yards after the catch. Which is going to be a great battle with the ball hawking defense the Gator will match up with. The key is going to be if the Gators can get pressure on Bradford and disrupt the pace that the Sooners set.

Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Frankly not well. With Percy Harvin playing and DeMarco Murray out it is definitely advantage Florida. The key for the OU defense will be how well Austin Box can return from his injury. If he is unable to clog the middle Tebow will be able to run up the gut for first downs and throw short middle routes that go for big yardage. That was the key to Texas beating Oklahoma this year. I am most worried about Tebow beating OU with his running ability.

Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - This will certainly be the biggest test for a young Gator secondary that floundered harshly in the 2007 season but has seen a spiked improvement this season helped by depth and experience across the line... However, the depleted depth at line and the youth in the Secondary could be the deciding factor as to whether the Gators will be able to stifle the Okie onslaught...Youth and experience will come in heavily in both areas with the Sooners fast paced no huddle especially when looking for assignments and positioning in the secodary and likewise with the depth where the D-Line will be counted on for putting pressure on Bradford early and consistently all evening and still have the gas to do it late in the fourth...The Gators will need to minimize their mistakes on defense to get OU off the field and then grind it out effectively on offense with short yardage timing routes and a huge game from Moody and a continuance of the great field position they have received all season from special teams play...

Crimson & Cream Machine - Florida is extremely dangerous on offense mostly because of their speed. I don't believe that there is a team in the country that would be able to stop them both on the ground and through the air. Since they are a lot less lethal through the air I would expect the Sooners to focus on stopping the run and forcing Tebow to beat them with his arm and not his legs.

What three keys equal another National Championship?

OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - Sam Bradford/Gresham (all night long)... Madu/Brown (100 yds each)... Special Teams/Linebackers (don't give up big plays and contain Tebow)

AlligatorArmy.com - Do not turn the ball over; Florida cannot put the ball down and give Oklahoma more chances. UF was second nationally in turnover margin. Oklahoma was first.

Stay focused; Twice this season the Gators have lost focus. The first time was when they allowed 17 points and had two turnovers in the third quarter against Ole Miss. The second time was the third quarter of the Alabama game when they allowed 10 points, blowing a 17-10 halftime lead. That cannot happen with Oklahoma. Florida has to play a perfect game.

Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Emotion, more emotion and Bradford. The key to the bowl losses in recent years has been lack of emotion. These days most players at OU are not from Oklahoma. They are recruited nationally and see OU as a football program stepping stone to the NFL. The players work had, are very business-like but are not passionate about Oklahoma and representing the state. When it comes to the end of a season they have their NFL minds on and a game like this is just one more chance for an injury that could cost them in their real goal the NFL. Each player on the OU side will have to play for something more than themselves in order to win this game. The other key is Bradford. He has to have a Bradford like day and get to 50 points. If he is off, OU has no chance.

Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - To win this game the Gators have to win the turnover battle. With the hurry up offense the Sooners run, the Gators need to control the clock on offense to keep their defense fresh. And if the Gators can shut down the running attack and force Sam Bradford and his high powered offense into a one dimensional team they should lifting the crystal football at the end of the game.

Crimson & Cream Machine - 1. Win at the line of scrimmage (protect Bradford and pressure Tebow). 2. Force the Gators to rely on the pass more than the rush. 3. Have early offensive success.

What trends have you seen in your conferences bowl games & how do they translate in this game?

Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - I think we have to be careful it trying to find any correlation from the bowl games so far and how it will affect the FedEx BCS National Championship Game. None of the teams that the Gators or Sooners faced this year are same now as when they matched up with them. The one thing that we can take from this bowl season is that there is a lot of parity in college football now and if you don't bring your A game you'll find yourself down 21-0 before you know it. Right Bama?

Grover (Fanblogs.com) - The trend is disturbing. The best team Oklahoma has beaten was solidly beaten by a 8-4 Mississippi team. Cincinnati lost. TCU won, but by 1 point. Missouri was supposed to win by 14, but won in overtime instead. Oklahoma State lost as a 4 point favorite. A month ago no one would have believed it if you told them the Big 12 south could go 0-4 in bowls. Texas needed a last minute comeback to keep that from happening. Clearly, the Big 12 south is not the juggernaut we thought it was in December.

Henry (Saurian Sagacity) - ... the team that beat Florida by one point was impressive over one of the teams that was involved in that three way tie in the Big 12 South. Also Texas (as of this writing) is looking ordinary against a perennially overrated Ohio State team. Both of these results are encouraging to Gator fans.

OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - Offensive line has to protect Bradford….Okla State and Texas Tech lost because the QB's were pressured all game long.

Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - The B12 defenses have given up an average of over 450 yds of total offense and allowed an average of over 30 points per game this bowl season enroute to a 4-2 bowl record...OU stopping that kind of Gator production will be the key...

Crimson & Cream Machine - Shockingly the Big 12 north has performed stronger than the south. I'm not sure how that translates into the BCS Championship game because the Big 12 doesn't have to be better, top to bottom, than the SEC for Oklahoma to win it. The Sooners just have to be better than the Gators.

Regardless of your thoughts on BCS/Playoffs/Polls and based solely on the 2008-2009 season & bowls... does anyone OTHER THAN the OU-UF winner deserve a share of the national championship?

Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - Not according to the BCS...And that's the sytem we have right now...

Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Only Utah can make that claim. If anyone splits the title with the UF-OU winner it should be Utah. Undefeated against good competition needs to count for something. Just because OU and Florida also lost does not excuse Texas and USC from their losses. The OU/UF winner is just lucky, not better than Texas and USC. With the BCS there seems to be a great desire to have a consensus national champion each year, without any good reason on why we need just 1 national champion. College football has a rich tradition of split titles, most recently in 2003 and 1997. There is no reason 2008 should not include 2 champions.

AlligatorArmy.com - No. There is a designated National Championship game, so there should be no sharing. The BCS conferences have chosen this method and now must live with it. If USC and Texas want a share, they should make their conferences drop the BCS. If Utah wants to be recognized as a legit team, ask the Mountain West to merge with the WAC, creating a football-only super conference. Everyone has only themselves to blame. Besides, if you want shared titles, go back to the old system.

Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - We have three teams in Utah, Texas, and USC that could make a good argument right now that they should be the National Champion or share the title. We had this same situation back in 2007 after USC destroyed Michigan in the Rose Bowl and Boise State shocked the world by beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. After the Gators routed Ohio State in the National Championship game all that talk was over. Let's wait till every team has wrapped their season up before we crown anyone National Champ.

OK. Enough talk. Predictions?

Henry (Saurian Sagacity) - Florida Wins, 34 -21

Grover (Fanblogs.com) - OU-35 UF-25. Never bet against Bob Stoops. Remember, our coach did not want their coaches lousy job :-)

Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - UF

AlligatorArmy.com - Florida; 52-20

OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - New Year, NCG, New Focus -- Oklahoma 38, Florida 31

Chris Short - I don't bet on the Gators, I don't talk trash to Gator opponents until after the game, and I don't make predictions on Florida games. I will tell you that it's likely to be a shootout.

Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - The Gators make a play on special teams and win the best FedEx BCS National Championship Game since Texas vs. USC. Gators 42- Sooners 32.

Crimson & Cream Machine - 42-35 - OU

Comments:

OKLAHOMA - FLORIDA: Football Bloggers Sound Off
Tomorrow the Oklahoma Sooners face the Florida Gators to determine the BCS National Champion. We asked several OU and UF bloggers to share their perspective on the big game.

Q - Are you concerned about the distractions surrounding your team? (NFL draft talk, coaching rumors/changes, SEC/Big XII talk)




AlligatorArmy.com - The draft talk and coaching changes are not a big deal. WR Percy Harvin and LB Brandon Spikes should go to the NFL. On the opposite end, the talk of how Tim Tebow will not be a quarterback in the NFL fuels him. Florida benefits in all cases because the players are inspired. As for offensive coordinator Dan Mullen leaving for Mississippi State, it won't be an issue. Urban Meyer is a details guy and he won't allow something like that to affect the play calling. Plus, Meyer has done this before when he left Utah. That season, the Utes destroyed Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl. The trash talk concerns me though. Anytime college kids get over excited about something, they can lose focus. That won't happen to Tebow, but could to everyone else. Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Not until Dominique Franks opened his mouth to the media on Saturday. The reality is Tim Tebow is very good and it is a very bad idea to call him out as an 'average Big 12 quarterback'. The OU defense has looked bad more often than it has looked good this season, and to win this game the OU offense is going to have to compensate for the 30-40 points the defense will give up to Florida. Don't give Tebow motivation to go for 40-50 points. Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - Absolutley not...This Gator squad is used to hype, hyperbole, and media attention simply from the circus that follows around their leader...As well as, their leader seemingly handling the burden willingly... OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - As a fan, I worry about any and everything that could distract our player's performance on the field, but I have to tell you, I have a completely different feeling about this game vs our last four bowl games, I think it may be the confidence I hear from the players when talking to the media. I truly think the Sooners will play with a new attitude and focus... besides; we have the best coach in college football. Henry (Saurian Sagacity) - No, I'm not worried about it. I think Tebow not winning the Heisman is a blessing in disguise for the Gators. Though I'm generally not a big believer in the "distraction" excuser, the media attention that comes with winning the Heisman can be one of those few things that can cause a distraction. I'm pretty sure that although Harvin, Tebow and Spikes are thinking about the NFL they are totally focused on Thursday night. Crimson & Cream Machine - Other than a little trash talking here and there the Sooners have seemed quite focused on the task at hand. There are tons of rumors about Bradford coming out after this game and Bob Stoops is linked to coaching jobs in the NFL but this point all we have really heard from the Oklahoma camp is "beat Florida!" Every impression that we've had from coached and players is that this is strictly a business trip for OU and everything else has been blocked out.

Q - How do you stack up on defense against that offense and the weapons they will throw at you?


Chris Short - OU is said to have an offense that hurt defenses. But, given OU's recent history in championships (conference and national) I honestly think that the Gators are going to crack that OU offensive line and create some much needed turnovers. OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - There's no doubt our defense has to step up, in my mind, containing Tebow will be the # 1 priority. We have to make him beat us with his arm and not with his feet. OU's special teams has to step up and we can't afford any more injuries to our Line backing corp... I give Florida the edge on defense. Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - No doubt about it Oklahoma is loaded on offense and they have been very good all year long at spreading opponents defenses out of position and letting their playmakers pile up the yards after the catch. Which is going to be a great battle with the ball hawking defense the Gator will match up with. The key is going to be if the Gators can get pressure on Bradford and disrupt the pace that the Sooners set. Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Frankly not well. With Percy Harvin playing and DeMarco Murray out it is definitely advantage Florida. The key for the OU defense will be how well Austin Box can return from his injury. If he is unable to clog the middle Tebow will be able to run up the gut for first downs and throw short middle routes that go for big yardage. That was the key to Texas beating Oklahoma this year. I am most worried about Tebow beating OU with his running ability. Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - This will certainly be the biggest test for a young Gator secondary that floundered harshly in the 2007 season but has seen a spiked improvement this season helped by depth and experience across the line... However, the depleted depth at line and the youth in the Secondary could be the deciding factor as to whether the Gators will be able to stifle the Okie onslaught...Youth and experience will come in heavily in both areas with the Sooners fast paced no huddle especially when looking for assignments and positioning in the secodary and likewise with the depth where the D-Line will be counted on for putting pressure on Bradford early and consistently all evening and still have the gas to do it late in the fourth...The Gators will need to minimize their mistakes on defense to get OU off the field and then grind it out effectively on offense with short yardage timing routes and a huge game from Moody and a continuance of the great field position they have received all season from special teams play... Crimson & Cream Machine - Florida is extremely dangerous on offense mostly because of their speed. I don't believe that there is a team in the country that would be able to stop them both on the ground and through the air. Since they are a lot less lethal through the air I would expect the Sooners to focus on stopping the run and forcing Tebow to beat them with his arm and not his legs.

What three keys equal another National Championship?


OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - Sam Bradford/Gresham (all night long)... Madu/Brown (100 yds each)... Special Teams/Linebackers (don't give up big plays and contain Tebow) AlligatorArmy.com - Do not turn the ball over; Florida cannot put the ball down and give Oklahoma more chances. UF was second nationally in turnover margin. Oklahoma was first. Control the line of scrimmage; Florida has to give Tebow time to throw the ball deep and they have to get in Bradford's face. Oklahoma is third in sacks allowed, with less than one per game. What happens when the Sooners' line fails? They only score 35 points. Against TCU and Texas, who recorded 4 and 3 sacks, OU only got to 35. That might not be enough against UF. Stay focused; Twice this season the Gators have lost focus. The first time was when they allowed 17 points and had two turnovers in the third quarter against Ole Miss. The second time was the third quarter of the Alabama game when they allowed 10 points, blowing a 17-10 halftime lead. That cannot happen with Oklahoma. Florida has to play a perfect game. Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Emotion, more emotion and Bradford. The key to the bowl losses in recent years has been lack of emotion. These days most players at OU are not from Oklahoma. They are recruited nationally and see OU as a football program stepping stone to the NFL. The players work had, are very business-like but are not passionate about Oklahoma and representing the state. When it comes to the end of a season they have their NFL minds on and a game like this is just one more chance for an injury that could cost them in their real goal the NFL. Each player on the OU side will have to play for something more than themselves in order to win this game. The other key is Bradford. He has to have a Bradford like day and get to 50 points. If he is off, OU has no chance. Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - To win this game the Gators have to win the turnover battle. With the hurry up offense the Sooners run, the Gators need to control the clock on offense to keep their defense fresh. And if the Gators can shut down the running attack and force Sam Bradford and his high powered offense into a one dimensional team they should lifting the crystal football at the end of the game. Crimson & Cream Machine - 1. Win at the line of scrimmage (protect Bradford and pressure Tebow). 2. Force the Gators to rely on the pass more than the rush. 3. Have early offensive success.

What trends have you seen in your conferences bowl games & how do they translate in this game?


Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - I think we have to be careful it trying to find any correlation from the bowl games so far and how it will affect the FedEx BCS National Championship Game. None of the teams that the Gators or Sooners faced this year are same now as when they matched up with them. The one thing that we can take from this bowl season is that there is a lot of parity in college football now and if you don't bring your A game you'll find yourself down 21-0 before you know it. Right Bama? Grover (Fanblogs.com) - The trend is disturbing. The best team Oklahoma has beaten was solidly beaten by a 8-4 Mississippi team. Cincinnati lost. TCU won, but by 1 point. Missouri was supposed to win by 14, but won in overtime instead. Oklahoma State lost as a 4 point favorite. A month ago no one would have believed it if you told them the Big 12 south could go 0-4 in bowls. Texas needed a last minute comeback to keep that from happening. Clearly, the Big 12 south is not the juggernaut we thought it was in December. Henry (Saurian Sagacity) - ... the team that beat Florida by one point was impressive over one of the teams that was involved in that three way tie in the Big 12 South. Also Texas (as of this writing) is looking ordinary against a perennially overrated Ohio State team. Both of these results are encouraging to Gator fans. OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - Offensive line has to protect Bradford….Okla State and Texas Tech lost because the QB's were pressured all game long. Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - The B12 defenses have given up an average of over 450 yds of total offense and allowed an average of over 30 points per game this bowl season enroute to a 4-2 bowl record...OU stopping that kind of Gator production will be the key... Crimson & Cream Machine - Shockingly the Big 12 north has performed stronger than the south. I'm not sure how that translates into the BCS Championship game because the Big 12 doesn't have to be better, top to bottom, than the SEC for Oklahoma to win it. The Sooners just have to be better than the Gators.

Regardless of your thoughts on BCS/Playoffs/Polls and based solely on the 2008-2009 season & bowls... does anyone OTHER THAN the OU-UF winner deserve a share of the national championship?


Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - Not according to the BCS...And that's the sytem we have right now... Grover (Fanblogs.com) - Only Utah can make that claim. If anyone splits the title with the UF-OU winner it should be Utah. Undefeated against good competition needs to count for something. Just because OU and Florida also lost does not excuse Texas and USC from their losses. The OU/UF winner is just lucky, not better than Texas and USC. With the BCS there seems to be a great desire to have a consensus national champion each year, without any good reason on why we need just 1 national champion. College football has a rich tradition of split titles, most recently in 2003 and 1997. There is no reason 2008 should not include 2 champions. AlligatorArmy.com - No. There is a designated National Championship game, so there should be no sharing. The BCS conferences have chosen this method and now must live with it. If USC and Texas want a share, they should make their conferences drop the BCS. If Utah wants to be recognized as a legit team, ask the Mountain West to merge with the WAC, creating a football-only super conference. Everyone has only themselves to blame. Besides, if you want shared titles, go back to the old system. Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - We have three teams in Utah, Texas, and USC that could make a good argument right now that they should be the National Champion or share the title. We had this same situation back in 2007 after USC destroyed Michigan in the Rose Bowl and Boise State shocked the world by beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. After the Gators routed Ohio State in the National Championship game all that talk was over. Let's wait till every team has wrapped their season up before we crown anyone National Champ.

OK. Enough talk. Predictions?


Henry (Saurian Sagacity) - Florida Wins, 34 -21 Grover (Fanblogs.com) - OU-35 UF-25. Never bet against Bob Stoops. Remember, our coach did not want their coaches lousy job :-) Gatorhippy (Fanblogs.com) - UF AlligatorArmy.com - Florida; 52-20 OU_Ron (Fanblogs.com) - New Year, NCG, New Focus -- Oklahoma 38, Florida 31 Chris Short - I don't bet on the Gators, I don't talk trash to Gator opponents until after the game, and I don't make predictions on Florida games. I will tell you that it's likely to be a shootout. Josh Sawyers (GatorsNow.com) - The Gators make a play on special teams and win the best FedEx BCS National Championship Game since Texas vs. USC. Gators 42- Sooners 32. Crimson & Cream Machine - 42-35 - OU