The Sweep

SI.com's All-American Blog Team

Mandel_stewart
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P1
The 'Horns may need a big day from Colt McCoy.
AP

Oklahoma's seemingly mundane rout of Baylor on Saturday garnered considerable coverage throughout the day. It was ESPN's first highlight of every in-game studio update and the lead story on SI.com's front page well into Saturday night. Part of it was due to a slow news day, but mostly it was due into the fact that the nation's No. 1 team faces Texas next weekend.

What of the Sooners' fifth-ranked opponent?

Texas, which has been flying under the radar due to a weak early schedule, jumped to a 28-0 lead at Colorado on Saturday night en route to an impressive 38-14 victory. On the eve of the Oklahoma game, the Longhorns answered their two biggest questions, at least for one night.

In response to their lack of a running game, unheralded senior Chris Ogbonnaya stepped up with a career night (187 rushing/receiving yards, two touchdowns). More notably, Texas' defense -- its unquestioned sore spot the past two seasons -- held the Buffs to 266 total yards. RB Rodney Stewart, coming off consecutive 100-yard outings against West Virginia and Florida State, managed just 27 yards on 12 carries.

Longtime Austin American Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls offered this assessment of the Longhorns' defense, which has allowed five touchdowns in five games under new coordinator Will Muschamp:

"This unit could draw comparisons with the 2005 national championship club that sent five defensive backs to the NFL and four defensive linemen, but this team even has quality linebackers. Big-time linebackers.

The Longhorns haven't had a defense with teeth like this in ages. And that is the reason Texas has a legitimate chance in the Cotton Bowl against top-ranked Oklahoma."

A more skeptical observer might note that the 'Horns secondary has not yet proven any different than in 2006-07. Texas ranks 96th nationally in pass defense, allowing 244 yards per game. Then again, the he 'Horns have jumped to big leads in every game, leaving their opponents no choice but to pass. If you go by pass efficiency defense, Texas ranks a more respectable 39th, with a 51.8 opposing completion percentage.

Texas certainly seems capable of shutting down Oklahoma's running game and turning the Sooners one-dimensional. As Bohls wrote: "Here's an early guess that neither team will run for 100 yards." If that's the case, the game will become a duel between QBs Colt McCoy (79.2 percent, 1,280 yards, 16 TDs, three INTs) and Sam Bradford (72.6, 1,665 yards, 18 TDs, three INTs).

What do you think? Are McCoy and the Longhorns' defense up to the challenge?

October 5, 2008  07:28 PM ET

I think that Texas??? front four is more than up to the challenge . Texas has issues to address on a number of fronts before Saturday. My top two are: giving up the big play and prevent the quick strike passes.

Texas can???t afford to give up the big play. There were hints in Saturday???s game against Colorado where the defense suffered single play mental lapses (missed tackles, blown coverages) that Colorado turned into big plays. The score could have been a lot closer if it were not for 3 missed field goals and a couple of mental errors on the part of the Colorado offense. I think that if those same plays happened against Oklahoma probably would have been turned into touchdowns instead of missed field goals.

Bradford???s ability to connect on the quick, short gain passes. Texas front four are going to push Bradford to the limit and here is my prediction that Saturday???s game will come down to a battle of Bradford vs. the Texas linebackers.

No matter what it should be a GREAT game.

October 5, 2008  09:43 PM ET

It should be a good game, but at this point OU has to be considered the favorite. Muschamp has the D playing well. UT has been able to generate a strong pass rush on the QB, but OU has a strong offensive line, so we'll see who wins the battle at the line of scrimmage.

One underappreciated factor will be tight end play. Last year Jermichael Finley gashed OU's defense, but he's in the NFL now. His replacement Irby tore his ACL a few weeks ago and is out for the year. The new starting TE, Ullman, was unimpressive against Colorado looking slow and having a couple of drops. He needs to step up his play this week.

October 5, 2008  10:17 PM ET

ANYTHING could happen. If one team is up and the other so so, it could turn ugly either way. I don't know the spread for this one, but I'm guessing the winner will likely exceed it. I'd have to bet on the Sooners.

October 5, 2008  10:38 PM ET

OU is ranked 15th in pass defense. TU is ranked 87th against a "weak early schedule" as mentioned by Mandel. They will have to put lots of pressure on Bradford to have a chance, IMO. Take away the running game. Then OU will light up the secondary.

Rushing defense TCU is #1, TU #2, and OU 18th. OU only had 25 yards rushing against TCU, but lit them up for 411 yards passing, against a much better rated pass defense.

October 5, 2008  10:40 PM ET

I think the UT 'D will step up to the challenge of Demarco Murry. Brian Orakpo and Sergio on the same side rushing, Sam Bradford should be gettin worried. As for the OU defense adn Colt McCoy? Colt will shred 'em. hook'em horns!

October 5, 2008  11:07 PM ET

This game is really shaping to be an epic battle here in Dallas. I'm sure this will be ESPN's game of the week. Colt McCoy is really starting to impress me as far as pocket presence and scramble with the best of them. One thing is for sure, both teams hate each other and with the waning years of the Cotton Bowl looming...this will be one for the ages.

October 6, 2008  12:51 AM ET

I think this game is going to be great. I just think Bradford and the Sooners have too much firepower for Texas. If Texas's Leading Rusher is Colt McCoy, and he gets knocked out by running, Texas has no chance, but that one Running Back was running against Colorado's defense, so not like he did anything special. Go Sooners.

October 6, 2008  01:15 AM ET

Whether Texas wins or not, which I hope they do, it will be a nice set-up for MIZZOU whom they play next...hopefully they'll all banged up, lol.

October 6, 2008  01:16 AM ET

oops, I meant to say, "hopefully they'll all BE banged up".

October 6, 2008  01:25 AM ET

I'm sorry but Iglesias, Johnson, Gresham, Broyles, Murray and Chris Brown will be way too much Texas' secondary. There is no way Texas can shut Bradford down with all those playmakers; plus Bradford has the best O-Line in the country. Orakpo is a stud but come on, he can't do it by himself.

October 6, 2008  01:40 AM ET

Texas never beats Oklahoma. The best part about going to this game is the carnival in the parking lot. Oklahoma in another blow-out.

October 6, 2008  02:33 AM ET

Overall, OU is the stronger side. But if Texas steps up and plays big, they can win even if Oklahoma plays a decent game. On the other hand, if Bradford has a big day then Texas is finished, no matter what kind of day Colt has. Texas's front four need to get to Bradford quick and hope their linebackers can pick up the short screen plays and outlet passes. If that kid gets more than five seconds in the pocket, you can count on a 20 yard plus gain every time.

October 6, 2008  02:34 AM ET

For Texas, the key will be getting enough pressure on Bradford with their front four without having to rely on blitzing. Bradford is too good at quick releases and will expose the secondary if Texas has to play man coverage. Oklahoma needs to spy McCoy the whole night and prevent him from making 20~30 yard dashes down the field, which he will do if he sees the defense cheating back too far into pass coverage. McCoy will have to play near perfect to beat OU. Bradford just has to play well. Advantage goes to OU here, 45-28.

October 6, 2008  06:36 AM ET

Hook'em time.

October 6, 2008  09:16 AM ET

Anyone who has been around long enough knows this game is always unpredictable. This game reminds me of the 1984 15-15 tie in the pouring rain.

October 6, 2008  09:18 AM ET

I'm going with the ole Patriots v Giants super bowl philosophy. A great passer, bradford, can be shut down by a menacing pass rush.

Texas' lack of tight-end and shifty running game concern me though

It's gonna be a close one. too close for me to call. I just hope its competitive

October 6, 2008  09:24 AM ET

Mushcamp can not stop the pass as a defensive coordinator, never did it at LSU and sure didnt do it at Auburn, good luck stopping OU pass game you will need it.

October 6, 2008  09:29 AM ET

Mack Brown always finds a way to help his Longhorns snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when he sees Stoops across the field. It may not be another 63-14 pantsing, or 64-13 castration, but OU will win.

October 6, 2008  09:32 AM ET

Lost in the hoopla is that OU doesn't really have much of a run game. Demarco Murray was explosive last year -- as Texas learned -- but hasn't fully recovered, it seems, from a dislocated kneecap at Texas Tech last year. Despite OU's vaulted offensive line, it's not translating into many runs longer than five yards. Texas' D-line is the best OU has faced, of course, so even more of a burden falls on Bradford's arm. Unlike Colt McCoy, Bradford sticks more with the pocket, and tends to take off on the run only once or twice a game. (Speaking of which, you'd think it's just a matter of time before McCoy gets dinged up on those impressive, head-first runs he's been doing...)

Another concern is OU's special teams, which has generally given up a long kick-off return in every game.

In close games like this Saturday's is likely to be, these are the sort of intangible that worry me a little.

Expect OU to win though, by about 14.

 
October 6, 2008  09:43 AM ET

let's get one thing straight: even if Texas loses to OU, Texas still wins... becuase OU fills thier roster with Texas bred studs! hence OU is known commonly known throughout the WORLD as University of Texas at Norman!Sooner fans/alumni are too blind to see that the only reason they are number one and are always competing for a title is because their roster is littered with Texas talent. look up the OU roster and count how many players are from Texas. Silly Sooner fans: without Texas there would be no OU. Hook 'Em!

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