Jump to content
[[Template core/front/custom/_customHeader is throwing an error. This theme may be out of date. Run the support tool in the AdminCP to restore the default theme.]]

OU/Auburn debate


bigbadwolf
 Share

Recommended Posts

I got this from the subscribers area on ESPN. ESPN "tried" to prevent me from copy and pasting it since you can't highlight the text, but I just copied it from the source code. :D

 

Anywho, since there is so much OU vs Auburn talk right now on the forums I thought this would be a nice article to share. Draw your own thoughts from it.

 

 

Pollack, James Tough to block.

 

 

The BCS standings, computer rankings and polls may not agree, but Auburn is the second best team in college football right now. The Tigers are more versatile on offense, more athletic on defense and more explosive on special teams than Oklahoma.

 

 

Tommy Tuberville's club has a significantly better chance of beating USC in the Orange Bowl than the Sooners. If Auburn finishes the regular season undefeated, and emerges victorious from the SEC championship game, it will be much more deserving of a shot at the Trojans.

 

 

Here are the central reasons why:

 

 

Battle Tested

The two teams have played similar schedules to date. However, if Auburn beats Georgia, wins at Alabama and claims the SEC championships, with a second win against Tennessee or Georgia, there's no debating it will have faced a tougher slate than Oklahoma.

 

 

The Sooners simply will not have endured the same kinds of battles in the Big 12 this year. Both teams' non-conference schedules were embarrassingly weak, but Auburn had to knock off defending BCS champion LSU (6-2), and Tennessee (8-1) in Knoxville. The Tigers also beat an Arkansas team that is a lot better than its 3-5 record would indicate.

 

 

If Auburn can notch wins in its three remaining games, it will simply be more deserving than the Sooners. Oklahoma has posted respectable victories against Texas Tech (6-3), Texas (8-1), Oklahoma State (6-3) and Texas A&M (6-3), but it has an easy stretch ahead.

 

 

The Sooners get an overrated Nebraska team (5-4) at home, before traveling to Waco to face 3-6 Baylor in their regular-season finale. They also catch a break in the Big 12 title game, as no team in the North division would finish in the top three of the East or West divisions of the SEC.

 

 

The final factor worth mentioning, is the manner in which the Tigers have gone about their business. After upsetting LSU by one point, the Tigers haven't won a game by fewer than 18 points. The Sooners were trailing in the third quarter against Kansas State (4-5) and Texas A&M, and came within a 49-yard field goal of going to overtime against Oklahoma State.

 

 

Oklahoma's Defensive Woes

Schedules can be debated, points allowed can't. The Sooners are allowing an average of eight more points per game than the Tigers.

 

 

Both units suffered significant personnel losses to the NFL, but Auburn has simply recovered better. The Sooners have actually been stouter against the run, allowing 11.3 fewer rushing yards per game than the Tigers. But Oklahoma ranks 83rd nationally in pass defense, 51st in pass efficiency and 26th in total yards allowed.

 

 

The Sooners' last two outings have been especially concerning. Texas A&M shredded Oklahoma's defense for 360 passing yards, and Oklahoma State's freshman QB Donovan Woods had a career-high 207 passing yards against the Sooners.

 

 

From a personnel standpoint, the Sooners' problems stem from a lack of a consistent pass rush pressure, and inconsistent play at the cornerback position. Attrition was bound to occur, following the losses of DTs Tommie Harris (Bears) and Dusty Dvoracek (dismissed from the team), and DC Derrick Strait (NY Jets) to the NFL.

 

 

DEs Dan Cody and Jonathan Jackson have come on strong after poor starts. They are providing good perimeter pressure with 14 combined sacks. However, DTs Lynn McGruder and Carl Pendleton have just one sack between them, and the unit's lack of pressure up the middle has made it easy for opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket to avoid the outside rush.

 

 

Without enough pressure upront, the Sooners' secondary is left vulnerable too often. DC Antonio Perkins' injury has been a killer. There were high hopes for junior college transfer Chijioke Onynegecha, but he has been too inconsistent. Eric Bassey has been an adequate starter, but he just doesn't make many plays. Neither Onynegecha or Bassey has notched an interception this season.

 

 

Auburn ranks seventh nationally in pass defense. Nine different defensive linemen have combined for 27.5 of the team's 32 sacks, while the Tigers' impressive secondary (DCs Carlos Rogers and Montavis Pitts, and DSs Junior Rosegreen and Will Herring) has combined for nine of the teams' 12 interceptions.

 

+

 

Auburn's significantly better pass defense would give the Tigers an advantage in terms of matching up against QB Matt Leinart, RB/WR Reggie Bush and the Trojans' versatile passing attack. If the Sooners played a full season in the SEC, with their defense playing so inconsistently, there would be no way they'd finish undefeated.

 

Auburn's Superior Special Teams Play

Heading into the season, few people would have belived that Auburn's special teams units would outclass the Sooners. Oklahoma has received strong play from PT Blake Ferguson, who is averaging 42.2 yards per punt, but the Tigers have done a better overall job in terms of net punting. It is a tribute to P Cody Bliss, and the entire cover unit.

 

 

The Sooners should also be more consistent in the kicking game. However, PK Trey DiCarlo has connected on just 7 of 13 field goal attempts. Auburn PK John Vaughn, who won the job from Philip Yost this past summer, has hit on 7 of 9 FGA's to date.

 

 

The real disappointment for the Sooners has been in the return game. Oklahoma ranks 95th nationally in kickoff returns, and 42nd in punt returns. As much as the Sooners have missed Perkins at cornerback, they probably miss his explosiveness in the return game even more. In comparison, the Tigers rank in the top 25 in both kickoff and punt returns. Auburn has gotten a huge boost by Carnell Williams, who has shown outstanding durability as the team's fulltime punt return specialist, and part-time contributor on kickoff returns.

 

 

Backfield Comparisons

Oklahoma QB Jason White has stepped up in crucial moments and has done just about everything that has been asked of him. But the defending Heisman Trophy winner hasn't outplayed Auburn's Jason Campbell. Nobody would have believed it just a few months ago, but Campbell has developed into a dual-threat. Campbell, who has great athleticism and arm strength, has become an efficient passer, a solid game manager and an impressive overall leader.

 

 

Both quarterbacks have been ridiculously efficient, but Campbell's completion percentage is higher than White's. Campbell has also done an exceptional job of

improving his touchdowns (14) to interceptions (3) ratio from last year.

 

At the running back position, Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson is all the rage right now. The freshman back has rushed for 1,373 yards and nine touchdowns on 239 carries, and almost single-handedly beat Texas and Oklahoma State. However, few coaches in the nation would take Peterson over the combo-platter of Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown.

 

 

The two-headed monster of Williams and Brown has combined for 238 more rushing yards and seven more touchdowns than Peterson, on just 23 more carries. Williams and Brown have also combined for 219 more receiving yards, and 15 more receptions, than Oklahoma's trio of running backs -- Peterson, Kejuan Jones and Donta Hickson.

 

 

White and Campbell are equally effective, and the "Cadillac" is just as productive as Peterson. It is Brown's versatility that gives the Tigers the advantage over Oklahoma's backfield.

 

 

Much like USC's Reggie Bush, Brown can line up all over the field. He gives the Tigers an extremely reliable receiver who can generate mismatches against linebackers. Brown isn't as explosive as Bush, but he might be the best blocking back in the nation. Brown is one of the reasons why Campbell has been sacked just 14 times in nine games.

 

 

If Peterson hits the "freshman wall", or if his lingering shoulder injury forces him out of the game, the Sooners will suffer a potentially devastating drop in production. Having two elite running backs like Williams and Brown not only gives the Tigers an advantage in terms of keeping the two fresh late in games, it also provides insurance should one suffer an injury.

Edited by bigbadwolf
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Deja vu all over again" - doesn't this sound exactly like the USC vs. OU vs. LSU debates of last year. If they all win out, the 3rd team will be pissed, just like last year, although I'd say Auburn is the most likely victim, but at least they probably won't be #1 in both human polls like USC was last year. I expect either USC or OU to go into the bowls as #1, although Auburn could certianly be #2 in both polls going in. It sucks no matter how you slice it...

 

And that means the winner of the Orange will most likely be the unanimous NC, also unlike last year. Auburn has the toughest road remaining between here and there now also, so perhaps they'll deserve the Orange, IF (a huge IF) they can stay undefeated. But of the 3 teams, Auburn is the most likely to get upset...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Difference is this is one mans opinion, and not the opinion of the Polls or computers which is what is important.

 

546951[/snapback]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...........and if were the other way around, you'd argue the oppostie point :D

 

 

 

Just admit it to yourself............Auburn vs USC for the title :D

 

 

It would be less embarrassing for OU not to go and remain undefeated than go and get an ASSPOUNDING, wouldn't it B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information