Kansas State Wildcats Examiner Eric Janzen and I played a little pitch and catch with five questions and answers about tomorrow's Big 12 game between No. 22 Oklahoma and unranked Kansas State at 6:00 PM at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Here are my answers to Eric's five questions. For Eric's answers to my five questions, click here.
1. How tough it has been for the Sooners offense to overcome major injuries in key positions this season, such as quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham?
The offense has struggled due to a leaky offensive line and a receiving corps that has more drops than a Little League catcher. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson has also called conservative plays. Nevertheless, I think the Sooners would be undefeated without the injuries to Bradford and Gresham. In fact, even with the injuries to those preseason All-Americans, I think OU is the best 4-3 team in the history of college football. Not even close. In fact, one Las Vegas oddsmaker said of Oklahoma (before last week's pasting of Kansas) that he would make them a 10-point favorite over Cincinnati on a neutral field.
2. Oklahoma has already suffered three losses this season (BYU, Miami, Texas). What type of mindset did the team have going into last weekend's game against Kansas?
They were focused and desperate. The workmanlike win showed the fruit of their pregame work and mindset.
3. Mid-way through conference play, what is the biggest weakness in this Oklahoma team, and why?
The offensive line was decimated by losing four of five starters to graduation and/or the NFL. So everybody knew this season would be a rebuilding job. Both Head Coach Bob Stoops and Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson misled Sooner Nation in the preseason with positive comments about the OL. (What, they could block their own defense in practice, one of the best Front 7's in the nation, but not an undersized and slow BYU?) There has been a rotating door on this OL and a different starting five each of the first seven games.
4. The Sooners have an astonishing 27-game home winning streak. With so much attention surrounding this record, how much pressure does that put on the team to continue to protect their home field?
The Sooners are the Tiger Woods of home winning streaks--and of homefield advantage, where they are 63-2 under Stoops. Oklahoma, owner of the longest win streak in college football history, knows that legacy is built on achievement, not emotion or temperament.
5. What player, that's off the radar, should K-State keep an eye out for this weekend?
TE/WR Dejuan Miller. He might be another Jermaine Gresham with bigger muscles, stronger legs, and, at this stage of his career compared to Gresham's, better hands. Kansas State might be the victim of his breakout game. If that happens, chances are QB Landry Jones will be 4-1 as a starter and he might be 14-1 or 15-1 before OU is seriously challenged again at home.
For more information:
Will Oklahoma be signature win for Kansas State?
Will Sam Bradford buy a garage of luxury cars?
Oklahoma's 27-game home winning streak
Kansas State continues to piece the puzzle together
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