Headed to Miami with season on the line

Originally Published: Oct 2, 2009 1:47 PM CDT

Heading to Miami?looks like the weather in God-Country-Blue-Sky central Oklahoma will be better than the Sooners will see in south Florida. Chance of showers increasing, which may not be a bad thing.

I expect Miami to do everything it can to make freshman QB Landry Jones win the game. That means maximum pressure on the QB and shutting down the run game. The result of that is that Oklahoma’s receiver would have to make plays.

Specifically, I see four issues—each seeming to me to be problematic.  First the offensive line will have to protect Jones. Second, some sort of run game must emerge to keep the U from bringing the house at Jones with more rushers than blockers. Third, the receivers must be able to get off the line of scrimmage against what I would assume will be press coverage. They will have to run better routes than we’ve seen so far—man-beater routes might find success, and catch the ball when it’s in their vicinity and make yards after catch. Fourth, and most importantly, regardless of the self-imposed pressure, Jones must handle the defensive pressure and avoid loss yardage plays and turnovers.

I like what I’ve seen of Jones. However, I’ve been in this situation before. It’s not easy. A Cadillac team surrounding you, a make or break game, playing against a talented opponent and knowing that all eyes will be on you.

Jones personality seems good for the situation. He handled the pressure fairly well against BYU in the second half after Sam Bradford went down.

His two performances in shutouts against Idaho State and Tulsa were terrific. But playing in the friendly confines against inferior talent is different than playing at Land Shark where the football God’s have not been kind to the Sooners of late

Jones is faced with possibly the sternest test in the Stoops Era for a back-up QB He won’t see Potato Head defensive lineman strewn on the ground with a cushy pocket from which to throw. He’s see pure bred athletes looking to avenge the humiliation suffered in Norman two years ago.

Drama. Brent Musberger, “You’re looking live?” The can’t-find-saliva anywhere’s all nervous athletes get at some time or another.

Time to put up or shut up. We all know the clear-cut ramifications of a loss. But a win—especially knowing that Bradford is riding to  the rescue in the very near future—would do wonders for a team that needs something good to happen.

No middle ground on this one. Enjoy. DB