Sooners having no problems with no-huddle offense
BY ADAM ZUVANICH
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
When Oklahoma began tinkering with a no-huddle offense, not even the guy who runs it was convinced it would work.
First of all, the Sooners already had a good thing going, having ranked fifth in the nation in scoring offense and 19th in total offense in 2007. And the new system didn’t work so well in Oklahoma’s annual spring game, when the offense threw six interceptions, including five on its first seven possessions.
“When we first started practicing it, I really wasn’t sure about it because I was uncomfortable in it,” OU quarterback Sam Bradford said this week. “I felt like everyone was just in a panic because no one really knew what was going on and we were just going 90 miles an hour.”
Bradford and the Sooners are glad they stuck with it, though, because now they’re running the up-tempo attack to near perfection. And it’s creating plenty of headaches for opposing defenses, which have less time and fewer opportunities to make substitutions and adjustments.
Oklahoma is averaging 51.4 points and 549.8 total yards per game this season — ranking first and fourth nationally in those categories — and it’s balanced offense is producing points early and often. The Sooners have scored on their opening possession in nine of their 10 games this season, and they’ve topped 50 points in six of those games — twice before halftime.
Oklahoma has 36 scoring drives of two minutes or less, and 16 of those have taken less than a minute. Only one of its scoring drives has lasted five minutes or more, but the Sooners still have held the ball nearly as long as their opponents.
“I think once we all got used to it and played in it for several months now together,” Bradford said, “I really enjoy it, and I think everyone else does, too.”
Having someone like Bradford at the controls has helped. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound sophomore has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for 3,406 yards with only six interceptions, and his nation-leading 38 touchdown passes have gone to nine different receivers.
“His accuracy, his poise, running the whole show out there, you couldn’t ask for anything else,” OU coach Bob Stoops after a 66-28 win over Texas A&M on Nov. 8, when Bradford accounted for five TDs as the Sooners set the single-game record for points scored by an opponent at Kyle Field. “The guy’s as flawless as they come.”
The Sooners also have several versatile weapons around Bradford. They’ve rushed for 1,943 yards and 30 TDs to complement their 3,555 yards and 39 scores through the air, and they can line up in many different formations with the same personnel.
“Their offense is good because they’re proficient in both areas — they can run and they can throw it,” A&M coach Mike Sherman said after their game. “I think in the end that they’re going to be difficult to beat because they’re proficient and diligent in both areas.”
Stoops also has credited the guidance of offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who’s been on the Sooners’ staff since 2002. Wilson operated no-huddle offenses during his time as offensive coordinator at Northwestern and Miami (Ohio), and Stoops said it’s “pretty obvious that his background” in the scheme has benefitted Oklahoma.
“Kevin has done a fabulous job,” Stoops said during the Sooners’ bye last week. “It’s obvious with the production and the way we have been playing, and really the way we have been able to produce while still burning the clock in the fourth quarter.
“… (Wilson and the offensive coaches) are very detailed on how they want to attack certain schemes and the things they want to do. He knows where our strengths are and makes sure that we are taking advantage of them.”
To comment on this story:
adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8733
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8735
More from this category
- You don’t know Darko: Texas Tech forward Cohadarevic talks soccer, Serbia
- Tech loses 83-64 to K-State
- Tech men lose heartbreaker to A&M
- Linehan: Tech’s new look starts at lectern
- Tech coaching plans for Saturday
- Red Raiders back at No. 23 in AP poll
- Baylor Depth Chart
- Baylor Facts
More from this author
- Tech hires Walker as football strength coach
- Tech ex Morris joins Cougars’ coaching staff
- LB Harvey de-commits from Tech; QB Young among players still on board
- Tuberville leaves lasting first impression on Tech players
- Prized receiving recruit still committed to Tech, keeping options open
Subscribe to this author
OU may be comfortable running the spread. TT version is like Denzel in “Man on Fire”. We are about to paint a master piece, we are that good. The OL are GH’s body Guards, and the Recievers and BB&SW are the Arsenal of weapons about to be unleashed.
I could come up with a hundred reasons why TT has a better than good chance to win, (cut and paste the traveling teams roster and coaches, along with Pat Forde ESPN article) I think he’s been reading my post on this blog. “Confidence”, 12 game win streak. But you know what, it is time to change the toon of this baby. less than 48 hours, the bully on the block is going to be waiting at the corner and your dad knows, it time to walk to school. As I told my boy, you know whats out there, if you let him get in your face and punch you first, your going to get your but kicked twice, by the bully and by me when you get home. My boy was more afraid of me them him. Benny has been given permission by all the parents who sent their young men to TT, Make them better men. I said it weeks ago OU is the bully of the big 12 and its time to send them home with a bloody nose for once. We are 3 steps from history, now its time to take it. Play like its yours. confidence is worth 7 points. Skill 7 points and Will power and determination priceless. Guns UP#27 Raiders in the alley get your Guns UP!
Report this comment
(its time)
Report this comment
Can I get a RAIDER – POWER!
WRECK ‘EM TECH!
Report this comment
SO YOU ARE SAYING YOU DON’T WANT TO BE THE BULLY ON THE BLOCK HUH?
Report this comment
I do not understand all the hatred { ignorance} toward OU. Sooner fans have always supported Texas Techs sucess. Now it is down to one game and you act like we are vipers. If you win we wish you the very best success.but we will always be a great tradition for you to aspire to.
Report this comment
JONESSOONER
apparently you have not read all the crap your fellow sooners have been posting this week………
sounds just like the whorns the week before WE KICKED THEIR ASS. do not be fooled by the media’s last second win crap, LOOK at the box score and you can get the real scope of the game…..
I was at the tu game and there is no, none, no even close, doubt who is the better team……………
Report this comment
I agree with Jonesooner. I have always rooted for Tech since the formation of the Big 12. If the Red Raider nation wants to truly have a rivalry with “the bullys” then please act like the Nebraska fans do and not the tea sippers. Rivals should command respect for each other not hatred. If tech can come into Norman and win, I tip my hat and say we will get ya next time. I just hope the officials do not decide the game, but the players.
Report this comment
i was at the nebraska game also and they are great fans and wish all fans were like them!!!!!!!
Report this comment
ESPN, used the term Bully. and when you hear my son tell the stories of what the OU players say and do on the field. He laughs at them and protects himself at all times. This is football and there are bully’s out there, OU is one of them, OU size and power, try to crush there opponents, TT spead and Stamina, and skill, Bruce Lee, comes to mind. A well oiled machine is coming to town. A bully is always scared when is pray turns the table. The tables have turned. Guns UP#27 All The Raiders In The House Get Your Guns UP! Yea
Report this comment
Thanks Jonesooner
I appreciate seeing a good sport.
UT and OU have had the recognition and championship and deserve their respect. But it is no longer due.
Tech is on the rampage and Norman is our target this week.
Spread vs Spread. Stoops vs Leach, Harrell vs Bradford
The matchup sounds beautiful, but the only advantage OU has is their fans, and Leach said it matters not
Report this comment
We are the Bully and we are going to take somebody’s milk money on Saturday. Tech you have a great team – it will be a great game – but when all is said and done – we will be spending your money.
Report this comment
Wow.
I can barely read some of these posts because I can’t even determine what some people are trying to articulate.
Bottom line is that OU has payback on their mind (from their last two trips to Lubbock) and they need to re-capture their lost big game swagger. TTU is clicking right along (will the string of big games bite them like it did UT?) but is on the road playing a much different beast than KU or KSU.
This SHOULD be a great game. My gut says someone is getting blown out. The question is, who?
Report this comment
The only real team the Raiders have played this year was Texas, and I hate to say it being a Horn and all, but Texas is not really that good of team this year, and were lucky to get past ou. After the loss Stoops chewed some butts out, made some changes, and they came out a whole different team and they mean business. Be well prepared to take an ass-whipping from the bully ou. No milk for you guys on monday, hell they will probably take your lunch money too LMAO.
sooners- 45 raiders-17
Report this comment
Its true that most Sooner fans are glad that Tech is having the success that it has had this season. I loved Leach when he was here and still do. Every school is going to have their idiotic fans, but I hope that overall this begins and stays a rivarly of respect. I have been on tons of messages boards and haven’t seen the hatred from OU towards Tech as described. I just hope Tech fans don’t turn into last season’s Missouri fans – all confident, arrogant thinking they are unbeatable because they haven’t been there before.
Report this comment
And they will not be there this year either after ou gets done with them, they as well as their fans are amateurs when it comes to this type of a situation, let’s see how they act after saturday night.
Report this comment
I stocked up on boxes of cleanex tissue for the ride back home to Lubbock, I just know we are gona get stomped. I’m afraid the only stormin, norman wil be the down pour of tears from the Raiders eyes after the game, but I will be there with my tissues in hand
Guns-up wreck-em Tech
Report this comment
OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OUSUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS
Sorry, it’s all I know, well they do suck
Report this comment
The key to the Tech-OU game is whether the Big 12 assigns Jon Bible and his Austin officiating crew to the game. If Bible shows up for purposes of getting Texas to the Big-12 championship game, all is lost.
Report this comment
Making excuses already, just like a tech fan, come on now give your Raiders a chance
Report this comment
Nobody knows what the key is to the game, cause there’s not one. It will be a blow-out ou-45 tech-17
Report this comment
NOT LIKE A TECH FAN AT ALL!!!!!!!!
we earn every win against tu and ou and the refs……..we all know those stories, we do not need a tu alum calling this game….
Report this comment
I just don’t see that happening, there would be alot of hell over something like that, especially in a scenario like this one where the big 12 championship is concerned. I am pulling for Tech, but have you really watched ou lately, they are at the top of their game, I know so is Tech, but ya’ll haven’t been here before, ou has and on numerous occassions, how will the Tech boys will do under this type of pressure is yet to be seen, I certainly don’t count them out. If I were to say there was a key to the game, it would be Tech coming out and kicking butt from the second the game starts, and never let up, that’s how ya’ll beat Texas, Tech wanted that game, but question is how bad do they want this one, cause this friend is the biggie, all eyes in the country will be on ABC Saturday night.
Report this comment
you name me how of the players on either ou or tu squads that have been here before. 2 against 5 for all the marbles, not one.
now josh on the sideline for ou has or sittrell on the tech side line have,but there is no active player in this game that has ever been in this situation…come on……….like i said tu fan and history…….
Report this comment
the ut and tech game was the most watched ncaa game so far this year country wide……before you get you ut pantys in a wad, osu vs tt was the 2nd most watched. guess what, this one will be the most, and ut does not have anything to do with it.
the facts are, tt is fun to watch, their a cinderella story to most, but this has been building since leach got there and should be no surprise to anyone that watches ncaa football.
i have seen ou just about every game and they have not looked as good as they did against ut since………
defense is weak and if you stop the run it’s bradford only………
Report this comment
Devin,
When has Tech ever been in a game where a championship was on the line. I am not that knowledgeable about football, but I don’t recall Tech ever being a situation that was worth a flip, come on dude, yall are having a good year, I will give that, but Tech has no consistency, maybe things will change, after this year and Tech will get better recruits in the future. Don’t get on your high horses yet, it’s a hard fall when you fall. What is Tech gona do when Harrel’s gone next year. Is Crabtree gona be there next year? Harrel and Crabtree make a hell of a combo, but one can’t do without the other.
Report this comment
Go Baylor
Report this comment
texas tech big 12 championships ?
texas tech national championships?
END OF STORY.
Report this comment
BILLY
i remember a time when tech has been in a game when the national championship, big 12 championship, and south championship were all on the line
TODAY!
Report this comment
My point exactly. Once in a blue moon, don’t get to used to it, you will not be there for long, then it’s back to playing all those crapy bowl yall been playing. No consistent wins at tech. ever.
Report this comment
RealityCheck, this is not an English writing class. Its a sports Blog. Dummy! Joke lol. Guns UP#27 Raiders lets get’um!.
Report this comment
Shut up you old washed up goat, quit trying to re-live your college glory days and go back to selling used cars #27 sucks
Report this comment
OUSUCKS, you must be a disgruntled Ut fan, because you keep crapping all over these articles. I think most Tech fans know OU is a very good team, and Tech will have to play very well to win. Here’s hoping for a good, clean, injury-free game.
Wreck ‘em Tech!
Report this comment
Billy, Tech played for the South division championship in 2002. No, we didn’t win it, but don’t say we haven’t been there before. And although we haven’t been to a BCS game (yet), at least we’ve won our bowl games including the Holiday and Gator bowls. Those are not crappy bowls.
Wreck ‘em Tech!
Report this comment
OU sucks, we will not tolerate you insulting Mr. Britton Sr. He has always and will continue to contribute more useful comments to these pages than a loser like you ever could. Just do us all a favor and get lost.
Report this comment
billy,
you made my point, we were talking about national championships, tu won in 05, the chances of many of the tu players being there and here now are slim and none. as for as the big 12 championship in the last 3 -5 years tu and ou have not been ranked this high and all the marbles still on the line………what i am saying is there is not one player for ou or tech that have been in this situation before. leach has, stoops has, and i know of several assistants that have……………but none of the players including ut. so your arguement of not being their before has to do with the players and the are all on equal ground.
before 05 when did ut when it’s last ncs forever…..so do not make it sound like ut or ou is in this position every year……….
Report this comment
ousucks, sailor, raiderhater, we do not need your type on this blog, go find your sister and play.
Report this comment
How interesting. All of this bickering is what I call “Tech rage,” which is very similar to road rage. Road rage is a result of an insecure human being operating a 4000-pound machine, giving one a feeling of power and the ability to be rude and flee the consequences immediately. Tech rage is similar, providing insecure people ( Tech fans ) an avenue to rave with absolutely no negative consequences (e.g., getting shot). What a great invention this internet is.
Report this comment
observe this ut elite, we beat your raggley ass two weeks ago!! so your opinion does not make a tinkers damn in this conversation….you do not control your destiny!!!!
worry bout the ags……..that you have not defeated in two years
Report this comment
Britton Sr. #27 has done some really great things this year and has has stepped up his game tremendously. This is a great team and everyone contributes. No one waits for the other guy to do something. They all do their job and make plays.
Report this comment
Discounting a couple of tea-sippers, this has been a rather civil blog with good-natured joshling. That’s good, and let’s keep it sportsmanship minded.
I think fans on both sides are apprehensive about this game. That’s the excitement building up to a top-notch championship game. This is a really big one–no doubt. And though disappointed, even the loser has no shame from this kind of game.
I wish OU well, but naturally favor Tech. My extra delight is from all the tea-sippers whining trying to barge their way in. Sit back, sippers, and watch two teams of character play.
Report this comment
Hey Mr Britton
I wish the press would give your boy his due. We know he held quite a torch in the UT game in particular, and has been my favorite reciever this season. Perhaps its the number 27 (my old number when I began playing ball as a kid)
Crabs has the spotlight now, but after this season (and maybe hopefully next season too) he will be NFL bound. So good ol’#27 can shine like the sun as Tech’s senior wideout.
Good luck today boys
Report this comment
tech will not have a team worth a flip next year, and more than likely will have a new coach as Leach heads to Tenneseeya.
Report this comment