University of Oklahoma Sports

[PhiAlpha]

I'm neither. But I have been a coach and a player of football before and I know what its like to have pressure to play certain players. But for Rattler to be booed by his own fans because he throws a couple picks has to be the worst feeling ever. Poor kid, just think he should of been given a chance to redeem himself. I'm sure he would of put the same numbers qs Williams against TCU. We are having this conversation because of 1 play. If Rattler never had fumbled that ball against Texas, we would be having different conversation.

That's not true at all because he still wasn't going to do enough to bring us back from a 21 point deficit. Nothing he, or the offense under him, had done leading up to that point indicated otherwise. Every yard seemed like a mile for the entire first half of the season with exception to maybe the second half against KSU. It wasn't just one play in Dallas either, he was shaky at best aside from one drive prior to the fumble. And while the pick may not have completely been his fault, he still threw it. The conversation would've happened after the UT game regardless of the fumble he lost...at least this way we won the game.

No, he likely wouldn't have put up the same numbers against TCU because he hadn't against anyone this year (and he definitely wouldn't have put up near the rushing numbers). I agree that the fans booing him was excessive but I'm sorry.. if you think he deserved another chance to redeem himself or didn't get enough chances in general, you haven't been watching the same team I have. It would be a different story if WIlliams hadn't so emphatically lit up the score board since stepping in, but he did. He is clearly the better option and it isn't remotely close. He makes the entire team better in a way that Rattler just didn't. If you haven't been in attendance for the last two games, I could understand why you might feel the way that you do...but if you were there, you would get it.

[PhiAlpha]

Let's not act like our defense isn't horrible. We have no problem scoring. But our defense has been subpar all season.

Again, not sure what team you've been watching. The defense has been pretty decent when healthy and has come up with game saving stops when needed (hell we won three games 76-0 (FCS but still a goose egg), 23-16, and 16-13). They have 4 or 5 starters out right now, primarily in the secondary, which has exposed some major depth issues at Safety and Corner but actually played very well in the second half against Texas despite the injuries. If everyone can get and stay healthy after the BYE week, I think they will be capable of playing at a level that can win us a playoff game given where the offense is now.

Also, yes...now we have no problem scoring which is the effect Caleb Williams has had on both the run and passing game. We were struggling to even get first downs consistently prior CW stepping in. Rattler couldn't read the zone read to save his life for some reason this season. There's no mystery as to why Kennedy Brooks has exploded over the last two weeks.

[soonergolfer]

I was super high on SR to start the season, but let’s be honest, he regressed. It was maddening to watch him roll out to the right at the slightest hint of pressure, instead of stepping up in the pocket. Every time he did it, he eliminates half the field. It had to drive Lincoln nuts and probably frustrated a lot of receivers.
It’s not a coincidence that studs like Mims, Woods and Hazelwood are coming off their 2 best games. Caleb will have some bumps in the road, but his upside is way higher. Especially knowing he has 2 + years left instead of maybe just a few games.

[okcoolcoolcool]

I'm neither. But I have been a coach and a player of football before and I know what its like to have pressure to play certain players. But for Rattler to be booed by his own fans because he throws a couple picks has to be the worst feeling ever. Poor kid, just think he should of been given a chance to redeem himself. I'm sure he would of put the same numbers qs Williams against TCU. We are having this conversation because of 1 play. If Rattler never had fumbled that ball against Texas, we would be having different conversation.

You keep ignoring the fact that he's been bad all year. I was at the Nebraska game and he was horrible. My whole section was losing it because he had open receivers all day that he never saw. He would've had 3 or 4 interceptions if our receivers hadn't played DB against Nebraska's DB's. It was super evident that Riley didn't trust him in the 2nd half and was literally just trying to run the clock out. We lose to Nebraska if they had an even semi-competent kicker, and we definitely lose to Texas if Riley sticks with Rattler.

Anyway, we're never going to find out. Lincoln Riley is also a coach that sees these two every day. If he thought Rattler was good enough, he'd find a way to play both of them, esp since Williams is so good at the RPO. I'd bet a lot of money that we don't see Rattler again unless it's garbage time or injury.

[soonermike81]

It seems crazy to say but feels like the college game is too fast for Rattler. And I didn't really think that last year, but maybe that's because the o-line was stronger and he had plenty of time. But just watching his games this year, he was constantly throwing into double and triple coverage. Many caught balls were behind receivers. But this is what irked me the most. I can't think of all the instances but it feels like more than a handful of times where he would lead his receivers into a collision course with a LB or someone in the secondary. I was seriously concerned that we would start having our stud WRs transfer out if Rattler remained at the helm. I don't see that happening anymore. It's been night and day since Caleb has started these last 6 quarters.

[Bellaboo]

Rattler should get a lot of time in the second half against Kansas.

[Bill Robertson]

Rattler should get a lot of time in the second half against Kansas.

Normally yes. But I wonder if Riley will leave the first string in to give Williams practice snaps? Great opportunity to let a true freshman run some plays that are in the back of the playbook. I'm sorry it would be at the expense of the Kansas kids but that's modern major college football.

[Jersey Boss]

Normally yes. But I wonder if Riley will leave the first string in to give Williams practice snaps? Great opportunity to let a true freshman run some plays that are in the back of the playbook. I'm sorry it would be at the expense of the Kansas kids but that's modern major college football.

But it benefits no one if a starter gets injured in what at a certain score is a meaningless game.
It is also a bad look to keep the starters in if the lead is 40 or more.

[Bill Robertson]

But it benefits no one if a starter gets injured in what at a certain score is a meaningless game.
It is also a bad look to keep the starters in if the lead is 40 or more.

I agree with all of that. But it's a very rare case to have a true freshman starter that didn't even play his senior year of high school. I imagine we'll see Rattler but I expect Riley to leave Williams in longer than he won't in a normal situation.

And as far as it being a bad look. Is the selection committee going to give demerits for running scores up? I don't know but I don't think so. And they're the only people that matter.

[dankrutka]

NIL. Cash, cars, bling, babes. Got to the penthouse without earning it. College coaches will start pumping the breaks when they recruit players with so much hype. Look at the difference in the way Rattler and Williams carry themselves on the field. It's called CHARACTER.

Yeah, they’ll stay away from popular 5 star QBs with massive praise and marketability like… Caleb Williams. *eye roll*

[Pete]

Yeah, they’ll stay away from popular 5 star QBs with massive praise and marketability like… Caleb Williams. *eye roll*

And Malachi Nelson who has already committed to OU and is another 5-star QB.

[BoulderSooner]

Yeah, they’ll stay away from popular 5 star QBs with massive praise and marketability like… Caleb Williams. *eye roll*

lol read this just after hearing the Caleb Williams Schwab radio commercial .(which has been out for about a month) ...

[okcoolcoolcool]

This isn't a character issue. Spencer Rattler just can't do the job at this level, plain and simple. Caleb Williams is better and puts this team in a better position to win. Riley has probably known this would happen since the Spring game. If Nebraska's kicker was capable of making a field goal and giving the Huskers the lead at any point of that game, he might've done it then. But going down 21 in the 1st quarter to Texas was the opportunity he needed to pull the trigger.

[warreng88]

To me the benching of Rattler was the same as the benching of a running back who fumbled a few times. They have shown they cannot hold on to the ball and need to put someone else who proves they can. This has happened multiple times in years past at OU when an RB starts and doesn't have ball security so they put in someone else. In this instance, it just happens to be the QB and the heisman frontrunner.

[BoulderSooner]

This isn't a character issue. Spencer Rattler just can't do the job at this level, plain and simple. Caleb Williams is better and puts this team in a better position to win. Riley has probably known this would happen since the Spring game. If Nebraska's kicker was capable of making a field goal and giving the Huskers the lead at any point of that game, he might've done it then. But going down 21 in the 1st quarter to Texas was the opportunity he needed to pull the trigger.

he can do the job at this level .. and he would start at about 125 of the 130 teams in the country ..

and he will play in the NFL for a decade ..

[dcsooner]

i agree Boulder Soomer

[okcoolcoolcool]

he can do the job at this level .. and he would start at about 125 of the 130 teams in the country ..

and he will play in the NFL for a decade ..

I'll take that bet. He already plays with NFL level receivers in a conference with undersized secondary players. More and more NFL teams are drafting mobile quarterbacks and incorporating RPO into their offensive philosophy. I don't think it's automatically going to get easier for him at the next level.

[Jersey Boss]

Rucker will get more snaps than Ratler today.

[Bill Robertson]

As much as I would love to brag that I was right. Rattler isn't going to play much if at all today. I never would have thought it would be because we were behind until the 4th quarter. What happened to our d-line?

[dcsooner]

Nobody on OU played much today. This is an overrated team. Alex Grinch overrated. Speed D overrated

[Bill Robertson]

OU seems to play one really bad game every year since at least the Switzer era. This team is good. They just weren't today.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma Sooners 35 - Kansas Jayhawks 23

Gamecast: https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...meId/401287926

[Mississippi Blues]

That first half was abysmal. Granted KU did a fine job of playing the clock and capitalizing on their drives, (sort of) OU didn’t seem interested in even traveling to Lawrence. OU had less than 20 plays in the first half and if I’m not mistaken, KU’s first drive lasted longer than all of OU’s first half drives combined. The second half was a bit more encouraging with all of their drives ending in touchdowns and the defense at least not letting KU shove it down their throats at will but still, considering the competition, I’m not sure any of what I just said is truly a positive.

[BG918]

Yeah that was a bizarre game. Happy to see OU at 8-0 but still unsure how they stack up against really quality competition.

[BoulderSooner]

Nobody on OU played much today. This is an overrated team. Alex Grinch overrated. Speed D overrated

they do have massive injury issues on D currently ... 4 guys in the secondary out and a starting DT