Those of you what know me know my college football loyalties lie with the Oklahoma Sooners. You know that I bleed the Crimson and Cream and love it when they win and hate it when they lose. Those of you what know me also know that I am somewhat level headed and have no problem giving credit where...and when...credit is due. That said...those of you what know me also know I am not adverse to dispensing criticism where...and when...criticism is due. So, my only dilemna in starting this post is what to start with...credit or criticism. I think, because he is becoming one of my least favorite people, I will start this with my continuing criticism of OU Defensive Coordinator/ Assistant Head Coach Brent Venables.

At least one game a year I get to sit through a Sooner game where the defense takes a day off. Not just mentally, or physically, but...like they ain't there at all. This years game, actually games in this situation, are the second half against Texas and the first half against Kansas. This unit plays with about as much emotion as...well...I'm actually hard pressed to come up with anything that shows less emotion...consistently...than OU's defensive unit...unless it is OU's special teams unit...and we all know there ain't a whole lot to be happy about there. I'll give you the point that these players should be able to get up for games...big games...by themselves. That said, part of the coaches job is to help motivate the players. Venables couldn't motivate a world class swimmer into the pool. I think there is probably a good reason why everytime there is a head coach position open in college football...you never hear Venables' name on the list of candidates. Texas hired a new defensive coordinator and announcers (if that is what you call Herbstreit and Musburger) have listed him on that "Can't Miss" head coach list. Venables...not so much. Is it because he can't, won't, or simply doesn't have an answer to anything that happens during the flow of a game. His game plan against Texas was to blitz early and often to get pressure on Colt McCoy. All McCoy did was dump the ball into the area opened up by the vacancy created by his blitzing and OU couldn't shut Texas down. Bradford put up better numbers than McCoy excepting the most important win column (yea, and he threw 2 ints but in reality the last one didn't matter as the last play of the game). Is the problem that OU's offense scores so fast the defense never gets a rest? Or is it that Venables can't adjust so his defense spends most of their time on the field chasing down big plays when they play an offense that never quits. Saw this same kind of thing against Colorado last year. Bottom line is this. Coach Bob...sweeten the pot and check out availability of brother Mike. The defenses he had at OU playe like they had a purpose. The defenses at OU since seem to have lost that purpose...or haven't gotten the message on the new purpose from their coach. I'm not sure what it is. And it didn't get much better this week...at least in the first 3 quarters. Reesing threw for 357 yards against the Sooners on Saturday and combining with Dezmon Briscoe for 269 of those yards managed to keep pace with the Sooner offensive machine for 3 quarters before the Sooners finally started making plays on defense. Four sacks on 4 straight possessions helped the Sooners slow down Kansas enough for Bradford and the offensive side to take control of the game. Thank God for Bradford and the offense or we'd be really worried at OU. Actually, with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State on the schedule, and Venables still around, we probably should be more worried at OU. The combination of Venables and the loss of Ryan Reynolds raises lots of concern in this Sooner fan.

As bad as it is at OU it isn't as bad as it is in other places. Did Missouri's coaching staff watch any video of the OU/Texas game before they played on Saturday? Hey, blitzing McCoy early and often IS NOT a successul exercise. And he proved it again last night. That, and as much ado as I make about OU and their defense, it is still better than Missouri's. Plenty of times they were there to make plays and...didn't make 'em. And I will go out on a limb here and say that McCoy and Bradford are better QB's than Chase Daniel. McCoy can move away from pressure and make plays while moving. And you can't question the heart. Bradford makes really good throws and throws better on the run than he gets credit for. He generally doesn't have to run. And while I think OU and Texas have better O-Lines their QB's don't throw desperation passes to the other team like Daniel has done the last 2 weeks. Don't mistake what I'm saying. Daniel is, obviously, very good. But he ain't the end all at QB...especially in the Big 12. And OU's defense is better than Missouri's and than Kansas' defense. Hopefully that will hold true for Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

So, I guess it is about time to give credit where credit is due. The Texas Longhorn's look...well...pretty freakin' good. The offense has an answer to everything the defense has for it (well...ok...they do) and the defense is playing like an experienced group instead of a group of young and inexperienced kids...which is what the "experts" told us they had. Oh, yea...those of you what know me also know I don't have much faith in the "experts." They get to the QB and they cover extremely well. Their linebackers are pretty freakin' good and they'll put a hit on you just to remind you that they are there. They showed me a lot more than I expected against OU. And then they showed me what I wanted to see against Missouri. If they bring the same passion and attitude...on both sides of the ball...like they have the past two weeks...they are going to be hard to beat. I don't think they are as skilled at some of the skill positions as teams they have played...or will play. But they are proving that some skill and a ton of heart and passion go a looooooooooong way. Coach Venables...are you watching?

The BCS will come out sometime after I post this which is going to be a good thing. Why? Because as much as I worry about OU's defense...they have only lost one game...to the number one team in the country. Granted, OU was number one and Texas was number 5 at the time, but the quality of opponent should be considered when you lose, just as it is disregarded when a top 10 team beats anyone outside of of the top 20. So, when this happens, and I think it will happen based on what I am reading and hearing, see if I have an argument. USC will end up in front of OU in this initial version of the BCS even having lost to an unranked team earlier in the year. Why? Because OU lost 2 weeks ago and went the distance against the number 16 team in the country this weekend, eventually winning by 14 points. USC hammered Washington State 69-0. It won't matter to the BCS that OU lost to Texas. To me, that is another problem with the BCS. If I weren't expecting it then it could possibly prompt another "Are you freakin' kiddin' me" post. But for now...I'll throw out these few criticisms and hand out credit where it is due...and let others sweat the small stuff. I have to get ready to face the kids tomorrow.

And that's the bottom line...BOOMER SOONER!!!