OUInsider - Owen Field

I pretty much despise these kinds of posts and the people who make them. It simply ignores history while taking cheap shots at OU and it's coaches and players.

Just a little reminder for all of us. In Demarco's five years at OU we won over 78% of the games. Demarco suffered a horrible injury that could have ended his playing career. His five years includes the worst year of the OU Stoops era where the team went 8 - 5.

In 2007, Demarco suffered a horribly debilitating kneecap injury that could have ended his career. It took Demarco a year to fully recover from that injury. Then he also missed games and playing time due to hamstring and ankle injuries. The guy simply played injured and at less than 100% for a significant part of his OU career. Still, Demarco is found repeatedly in the OU record book. OU used Demarco in almost ever facet of the offense. He was a running back, caught passes out of the backfield and in the slot and was a great and productive part of the return game.

Demarco is the #1 all purpose yard gainer in the history of OU. He is ahead of guys like Ryan Broyles [almost 900 yards] Joe Washington, Quentin Griffin, Greg Pruitt, Billy Sims, Adrian Peterson, and on and on. He is OU's all time scoring and TD leader.

Ya, OU did a horrible job with Demarco in his five years at OU.

OU and the OU coaches simply did a great job with Demarco. They fully utilized the kid's great array of skills and talents. They put him in the position to be one of the most productive players in the total history of one of the greatest offensive programs in all of the history of NCAA football. I believe that over the total of NCAA football, OU has scored more points than any other FBS team. And, Demarco Murray is at the top of the list of OU players in terms of scoring and TDs.

What a horrible deal Murray had at OU.

Here is what I would say about Demarco's NFL start. I would simply suggest that OU gave him the chance to shine in about every facet of the offense. It is likely due to OU's coaches having the foresight to train, coach and utilize the total of his skills and talent, thus giving him the tools to play a strong all-around offensive game in the NFL.

But, no matter how good of a job OU coaches do with any one player there will always be a few who resort to putting down what the OU coaches have done with the player.

Some simply can't accept the simple fact that every team/coach simply can't be the best in every facet of the game. So, they feel the need to pick apart every thing they do that somehow doesn't live up to their expectation.

Well, its very plain that OU would have another MNC but for the team's short yardage woe's inside the 20 vs Florida.

It is not a new issue for OU, and James' post explained the past, present, and what the coaches are trying to accomplish for the future. The use of Bell in short yardage situations is pointed directly at this issue, and is very telling of the current coaching staff's concern and efforts to address this issue going forward.

Whether DeMarco would have had an even better career at OU if the team had been better at run blocking is for message board speculation. The fact is DeMarco did have a great career at OU, in spite of several injuries, and is having a fantastic rookie year in the NFL.

You're absolutely right. I have no idea how we'll overcome the six-yards-per-game margin by which oswho has outrushed us this season. Just imagine how different our season might have been if we'd gained six more yards per game on the ground!

Average yards rushing per game in 2011:
oswho -- 171
OU -- 165

No, it isn't plain or a fact. If OU would have focused on the run it may well not even been IN the NC game. It was the tremendous offense we DID have that got us there in the first place. Revisionist illusion to make a point isn't fact and isn't even always good logic.

+1

Not to mention the aforementioned Mr. Murray did not play in the Florida game.

I suspect that he would have made a difference in the red zone within the same offensive scheme we ran all year.

Just sayin'

It doesn't matter what they were ranked good run blocking teams are still able to move the ball on the ground. 30 yards against TCU and I think under 50 against Texas just isn't good run blocking plain and simple. Florida Brown rushed for over a 100, but Florida was giving us the run between the 20s because they knew Brown couldn't hurt them so they loaded up on the pass. Then inside the 20 they owned our Oline.

It's tough to run the ball against teams that have close to equal talent when they can put 7-8 up in the box and have more players than can be blocked. The teams listed were top 5 defenses. TCU sold out to stop the run and got torched. Texas and Florida were great against the run that year. Sometimes credit needs to be given to the other team.