OUInsider - Owen Field

Lane Johnson needs to move back to TE when he isnt playing tackle.

I know whats reported, but when I watch him in the games, he does ok but not enough power. He moves very well despite being near 300lbs, so I would use him to seal the edge and with his mobility, he would be a great target on pass plays (unless he cant catch). Thats why IMO, Latu needs to come in and be the man. Id also try John Michael McGee at TE early to see if he can help us this year. Now, they are thinking outside the box by using Grissom and thats good, although I would keep him at DE since we graduate our entire line next year.

Our coaches are smart though, so we will see. Talking Xs and Os is fun though. What do you think?

I think if we get Gardner and if we either 1) get Jalen Saunders this year, or 2) Durron Neal, or Sterling Shepherd, or Derrick Woods turns out to be ridiculous good our offense will rock it all year as long as we're healthy.

RB is big because we need Whaley to completely recover and for D WIlliams to be the shiznit as advertised. Finch and Clay can be exceptional in the slot.

O Line is the Key. Who will show up on run blocking (we know they'll be good at pass blocking)?

red Zone will still be an adventure because we are a spread finess team and in the red zone teams that do well power run and throw to the tight ends and their QB has to make throws into tight windows. I think Landry has been told to throw it away down close if it isn't wide open. ( many throws 20 feet over everyone's head).

I think we shoudl run more prosets all over the field good balance and still can put multiple receivers in the pattern and protect the passer.

we will see and I hope I am wrong.

In my mind the key to the passing game is going to be the running game. If we can put together a run game that has to be respected by the teams we play that will lead to better productivity in the passing game. If our run game can be contained with six in the box we will have problems in the passing game. If teams are going to have to place eight or nine in the box to contain our run game then our passing game will flourish. We don’t need to put up all world rushing numbers but we do need to put forth the fear that we are able to put forth all world numbers if teams don’t do something to stop our run game. We won’t need to be able to rush the ball anytime we want to regardless what the defense is doing we just need to have great success in running the ball anytime any team drops down to a five or six man box. A balanced run/pass team isn’t one that can do anything it wants anytime it wants; it’s a team that has great success in exploiting anything the other team gives them.

I found it interesting what was said about Jazz. He missed a drug test or whatever it was that they called it but showed up the next day and tested negative. I think this was a case of the head ball coach doing his imitation of Judge Roy Bean (the hanging judge). Something seemed to be going on that he needed to take control of and send a message that I don’t care who you are if you’re told to be someplace, do something or don’t do something you better get it done in the way you’re told to or there will be consequences. I can see a reprieve from the governor or head ball coach coming in for Jazz in the early fall if he handles all his business in the correct manor between now and then. If he would have missed the test because he was dirty it would have been one thing. If he missed the test because he was studying so hard he lost track of what day it was or sleep through the appointment time or was chasing his girlfriend and went temporarily brain dead only to show up the next day and text negative or whatever excuse he used is something else again. Either case there should be a punishment involved but the degree of punishment might be open for review at a later time. Maybe not I’m just saying it wouldn’t surprise me if it was reevaluated this fall.

I think another key area for us this year is going to be special teams. What I saw in the spring game as for our kicking game got me very excited about the possibilities for next year. Things like a 40 yard FG into a 35 MPH wind and punting for a 48.5 YPA is a big time improvement and big time numbers. If the return game can match the improvement this could be big in winning some close games this year that we didn’t the last couple years.

I think what it’s going to come down to is what it comes down to every year. We have the 1’s and a majority of 2’s to win it all this year. We just need them to all stay healthy all year. If we can avoid the injury bug like we did in 2000 we have as good a shot at winning it all as anybody out there. If not we will have a good but not great year and play in a good bowl game. We are going to have to wait until fall to determine just how good we are going to be. Until then we are just like all the talking heads on ESPN and making a (WAG) as to this year.