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Red River Report Card: Grading Out The OU/UT Matchup

If you own a television, or computer, or radio, or read a newspaper, or even just have eyes or ears, you probably already know this. But just in case you still own a phone with a hand crank and get your stock tips from ticker tape — in which case, I’m not sure how you ended up here — allow me to break some news to you. There’s a big football game in Dallas tomorrow. No, it doesn’t involve the Cowboys. Amazingly enough, it doesn’t even involve JerryWorld either. It’s the annual Red River Rivalry game between the University of Texas and Oklahoma University at the Cotton Bowl.

Now, I know most of Dallas never attended either school, but considering it’s the biggest sporting even in town tomorrow, we have to say something about it. Does the fact that I’m a UT fan have anything to do with my unabashed interest in this game? Maybe. Does that mean that this post is a little biased? Possibly. But to the average fan of college football in Dallas, it’s a big game that’s happening right in your backyard, and with apologies to SMU, that’s something that doesn’t happen around here all too often. For the rest of you, this can just serve as yet another reminder to stay away from Fair Park tomorrow morning. Here we go…

The Offenses

Through the season’s first five games, Texas has the edge offensively. The Longhorns rank 7th in total offense (479.6 yards per game) while leading the nation in points per contest with a 47.2 average. Oklahoma, on the other hand, ranks 14th in total offense (457.0 yards per game) and 16th in points per game (35.0). It’s worth noting that the Sooners have faced stiffer competition early in the season, including two match ups with ranked teams. But Oklahoma’s worst offensive output of the year, a 13-point, 265-yard effort in their season opener, came against a BYU defense that surrendered 54 points to Florida State two weeks later. The Sooners were without the services of reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford for much of the BYU game, but considering teams like Colorado State, Utah State, and UNLV have all mustered more points against the Cougars this season, 13 points doesn’t look good even without Bradford.

Quarterback

Last year, the Red River Rivalry was all about the quarterbacks. And why not? Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy finished one and two in the Heisman voting, and Bradford led the nation in QB efficiency while McCoy smashed the NCAA record for completion percentage. But this year has a different feel to it. Bradford’s missed most of the early season with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, and McCoy hasn’t looked as sharp as many thought he would.

Still, McCoy’s been effective while again leading the country in completion percentage, while Bradford has mostly watched from the sidelines. Bradford returned to action last week against Baylor, and though he nearly threw for 400 yards against Baylor, he looked rusty at times and completed just over half of his passes. If all things were equal, the edge would probably go to the guy with the Heisman, but since Bradford is still working his way back from the injury, I’ll give it to the one that’s been playing since September 5.

Edge: Texas

Running back

This is where OU takes the lead, at least for now. The Sooners are known for producing great backs, most recently with NFL superstar Adrian Peterson. And though Oklahoma doesn’t really have a feature back that can carry the load quite like Peterson did, the backfield tandem of senior Chris Brown and junior DeMarco Murray have already combined for 744 yards on the ground through five games. Supposedly, the Sooners might stick Murray in as a slot receiver at times on Saturday, as he already has over 600 receiving yards in his three year career at OU, but no matter where the pair line up, they’ll be a handful for the Texas defense.

The Longhorns have struggled to find a feature back since the departure of Jamal Charles in 2007. It seems that the offense misses Chris Ogbonnaya more than his 373 rushing yards from a year ago would let on, as his 540 receiving yards made him a big threat out of the backfield and helped him serve as a tight end of sorts in the spread offense. Junior Vondrell McGee and freshman Tre Newton have gotten the bulk of the carries for UT this year, but both are questionable for Saturday’s contest, leaving the oft injured Fozzy Whittaker at the top of the depth chart. Don’t expect the Horns to run all too often tomorrow afternoon.

Edge: Oklahoma

Wide Receiver

At the end of 2008, the Longhorns looked to be in trouble at the receiver position as Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley, who combined for 181 receptions, 2,183 yards, and 21 touchdowns last season, were both preparing to graduate. But UT caught a break when Shipley was granted an extra year of eligibility and decided to return to the Forty Acres for a sixth year. So far, he hasn’t disappointed. Shipley is on pace for 113 receptions and 1399 yards, not considering a possible Big XII title game or bowl appearance. Sophomore Dan Buckner leads the team with four touchdown receptions and has been remarkably consistent, catching six balls in four straight contests. The biggest weakness in the receiving corps seems to be the lack of a deep threat. While Shipley can stretch the field, he prefers to play the Wes Welker role of finding holes in zone coverage and moving the chains. Even still, he leads all Texas receivers  at just 12.4 yards-per-catch.

A strength of the offense a year ago, a new batch of Oklahoma receivers have caused some problems early on. Joaquin Iglesias and Manny Johnson, who were nearly as prolific a year ago as the Cosby/Shipley tandem, moved on to the NFL, and All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham won’t play a down this season due to a knee injury. But the Sooners’ biggest problem come Saturday may be the health of sophomore receiver Ryan Broyles. Broyles, who leads the nation with seven touchdown receptions despite missing two of OU’s five games, was diagnosed two weeks ago with a fractured shoulder blade that would keep him out until November. But apparently the injury isn’t as bad as originally thought, and Broyles is now “questionable” for the game. Broyles, who hauled in 46 passes for 687 yards as a freshman last year, is easily Oklahoma’s most experienced and talented receiver. Still, even if he is able to play, he’s likely to not be close to 100 percent.

Edge: Texas

Offensive Line

The Sooners might’ve had the best line in college football in last season. But that was then. Now, Oklahoma has had to deal with the departure of four of their five starting lineman from a year ago: guards Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker, tackle Phil Loadholt, and center Jon Cooper. In truth, the best of the bunch from 2008 was tackle Trent Williams, who returned for his senior season and is currently anchoring the left side of OU’s O-line. But while Williams looks like a lock to be a top-ten draft pick next April, losing his linemates has left Oklahoma in a state of transition.

The Longhorn’s line has been solid for most of the season, led by Southlake’s Adam Ulatoski at left tackle. Chris Hall, another senior, started at least one game at every position on the line last year for UT, but he’s currently settled in at center. Though there is a bit of youth on the right side, where the Longhorns have sophomore David Snow and junior Kyle Hix, Colt McCoy’s quick release and craftiness in the pocket can make life pretty easy in the trenches.

Edge: Texas

The Defenses

This is where the Sooners can make up some ground. While Texas ranks 4th in the nation in total yards allowed (235.0 per game) and are best against the run (48.2 per game), Oklahoma is right behind them in both categories (9th and 3rd respectively), and they’re way ahead in the most important category: points per game. Thanks in part to two shutouts, the Sooners are allowing only 8.4 points per contest, while Texas has given up 15.0 points a game on average. OU has also averaged nearly a sack per game more.

Defensive line

Don’t get me wrong, any defensive line that features Sergio Kindle, Sam Acho, and Lamarr Houston isn’t bad, but, much like the Sooners’ offensive line, Texas’ D-line lost a lot from last year. Brian Orakpo, Roy Miller, and Henry Melton all departed after 2008, forcing Will Muschamp to move linebacker Sergio Kindle up into a defensive end spot to help with the pass rush. A defensive line that was ferocious last year has been merely good so far this season.

Oklahoma, on the other, might have the best front four in the nation. Gerald McCoy is one of the top tackles in the country and projects as a 1st round pick should he decide to enter the draft in 2010. Defensive ends Auston English and Jeremy Beal are both experienced, high-motor pass rusher, and sophomore Frank Alexander is a great option to. Nose guard Adrian Taylor might be the least known name on the OU defensive line, but he’s got good size, solid skills, and the enviable position of playing with guys that consistently command double teams.

Edge: Oklahoma

Linebackers

OU has plenty of experience here in the form of starters Keenan Clayton and Ryan Reynolds, both seniors. But the best of the bunch is sophomore Travis Lewis, who made the All-Big XII team in 2008 as a redshirt freshman and already projects as an upper-echelon NFL prospect. After racking up 135 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions in his inaugural campaign, Lewis could end up as one of the best linebackers in OU history if he continues to improve. Austin Box, another sophomore, can provide solid depth on the outside.

Texas’ linebacking corp is led by Roddrick Muckelroy, who is one of four seniors on the defense.  Muckelroy has supplemented his leadership skills with big plays on the field and has caught the eye of NFL scouts in 2009. But other than him, there’s not much meat to the middle of the UT defense. Outside linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, both sophomores, are talented but still coming into their own. After senior Jared Norton went down for the season with a shoulder injury in September, the Longhorns have only one non-freshman linebacker left on their roster.

Edge: Oklahoma
Secondary

This is another area where Oklahoma had to endure a major overhaul. Cornerback Reggie Smith and safeties Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes are all gone from 2008, leaving the Sooners with only one senior in the secondary.

Earl Thomas headlines the UT secondary and, as a sophomore, he’s already established himself as one of the better safeties in the country. The Horns lost only Ryan Palmer from last year, returning sophomore Blake Gideon at strong safety, and using a rotation of juniors Curtis and Chykie Brown and sophomore Aaron Williams at corner.

Edge: Texas

Special Teams

It probably doesn’t garner it’s own category, but there’s nowhere else to put it. Oklahoma has average an excellent 15.6 yards per punt return, but Texas is just a shade ahead of them at 16.8. The biggest difference, however, comes in the kick return game, where the Longhorns lead the nation at a ridiculous clip of 34.6 yards per return, while Oklahoma ranks 90th at 19.8. And then, of course, there’s the fact that the Longhorns have two kick returns for touchdowns, both courtesy of D.J. Monroe. The Sooners have zero. The Longhorns also have two punt returns for touchdowns, both courtesy of Jordan Shipley. The Sooners have zero. Add the fact that Texas has a pair of senior kickers — Hunter Lawrence and Ryan Bailey — with plenty of big game experience, while Sooners’ sophomore Jimmy Stevens is a career one for four on anything beyond 39 yards, and the advantage is pretty clear.

Edge: Texas