The OL got manhandled most of the game, but didn't we have 3 freshman starting? Young OL that will only get better over time. Offense couldn't help out the defense and they were gassed late in the 3rd quarter. Bottom line, sans the ST mistakes and injuries, OU has got to get better in the trenches. Btw, OU better get a lot better quick because next season's schedule is BRUTAL with Houston (just beat FSU in the Peach Bowl) and Ohio State to start the season with TCU and Texas following that.
Two freshmen starters. Brown held his own. Samia had a tough night. But he's a true freshman, playing in a position where that's really tough. Brown redshirted last season.
Speaking to ST's point, we really missed Walker more than they missed Shaq. I think the humidity got to OUr big guys a little. I may be wrong, but I was surprised that I never saw Overton. I have a hunch about that, but it would be a pure guess. But instead of seven guys alternating at three positions, we only had five, and the one I consider the best one was missing. They looked gassed at the end of the half, and then came out for the second half looking not so rested. It was a really muggy night. I wish we'd have played at night, like every other Orange Bowl in the last 45 years. Then when Evans pulled a pec, it hurt. Frank is a really competent back up, but he's not played a lot and he didn't shine.
We made a lot of mistakes that they didn't make and we got several tough breaks. But mostly Clemson was just really good. I don't think Baker had even normal time to throw it, close to half the time. BV used a lot of the same pass rush plan Texas did, with a non rushing spy at the los part of the time, and coming by delay part of the time. They really messed with OUr pass block reads, and had a great plan to limit Mayfield's scrambling. But the biggest factor was that their 4-3 defensive ends were as fast as he was. They tackled him better than anybody had all season. We didn't tackle their quarterback very well.
When we lost the momentum with first the ULC on Flowers, and then the fake punt shortly after, followed by the gadget to get them to the goal line on the next snap, the game momentum swung and we never could get much going after that. But once we lost both Mixon and Perine, we really lost any chance to come back. And it hung the defense out to dry. I think we had over 90 defensive snaps.
I will be likely pulling for Clemson. No SEC, thank you. And they're good enough to get after Bama pretty good. I wonder of Shaq will be able to play. They didn't need him Thursday.
