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Friday, December 13, 2002
No. 1 Oklahoma
at No. 24 Texas A&M
By Will Weiss
BCSfootball.com
When the two teams met in Norman, Okla. last season, Texas A&M was ranked 10th in the nation, but Josh Heupel and the Sooners cried Boomer and thumped the Aggies, 51-6. This Saturday, No. 24 A&M looks to exact revenge on No. 1 Oklahoma in a game that could decide the Big XII South Division (ABC, 1 p.m. ET).
|  | | Texas A&M's Kyle Field has long been an intimidating stadium for opponents. |
During the week, media attention has circulated around two issues: the first being Josh Heupel's recent surge to the forefront of the Heisman Trophy race, the second is the 12th Man and the crowd noise at Kyle Field, one of the most difficult places to play in college football.
Oklahoma dealt with similar issues in Manhattan, Kan., without problems. The Sooners jumped on top early there and ended K-State's 25-game home winning streak with a 41-31 victory.
"The crowd will be a factor, but I don't think it will be the determining factor," said A&M guard Chris Valletta. "They've played in a lot of big-time football games this year. They've prepared for it and are ready for the crowd noise."
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ABC analyst Gary Danielson:
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Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz has as much experience in the Big XII now from coaching at Kansas, Colorado and now A&M that he is used to seeing every offense imaginable. He is as good as old Charlie McBride was at Nebraska at developing a game plan for a specific offense, whether it was the old option, or I-bone, or the wishbone or the Nebraska power option game. I have as much respect for his creativity with defenses as anybody in college football.
This will be a real challenge for Josh Heupel and Oklahoma's spread-the-field explosion offense. The biggest challenge in stopping Oklahoma is twofold: their receivers are like Michigan's receivers, only they have five of them. Their size poses huge matchup problems for every opponent. Most college defensive backs are undersized guys who are former high school quarterbacks or running backs. Oklahoma takes advantage of that.
The Aggies' linebackers have to do a good job reading Heupel's eyes and jamming receivers as they cross the field. They must be very active. The linebackers from A&M always seem to be up to the task. They have great athletes.
Second, the Oklahoma defense runs as well as an old Oklahoma defense. It centers around Torrance Marshall and Rocky Calmus -- two active linebackers who are tough to handle. They blitz well and are very physical.
For A&M to win, the Aggies have to create turnovers. It has been proven that you can't blitz Heupel into submission. He throws the ball backing up, almost giving a rope-a-dope style. You never get a clear shot at him. You need to sit in sound coverages and make him throw the ball downfield and see if you can grab a couple.
Nebraska and Kansas State challenged Oklahoma too much with the blitz. You have to be patient, and see if Oklahoma can take 10 plays to drive to the end zone.
Key players:
Texas A&M QB Mark Farris: You know going into the game that you are not likely going to shut down Oklahoma, so Farris has to go in with the mindset that a good defensive game by A&M is holding Oklahoma to four touchdowns. A&M has to go in there with the mindset of scoring 31 points.
Oklahoma RB Quentin Griffin: In the spread offense, he gives OU the ability to run the safest play in football -- the draw -- when you don't block anyone, hand it off, you run and you burn them. It's the linemen's rest play. He's the perfect back for the Sooners. He makes you miss.
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When Oklahoma has the ball:
How much more can we say about Josh Heupel and Oklahoma's spread offense? Opposing defenses have thrown as many possible stunts and formations at them, and the unit finds a way to drive downfield, gain positive yardage in large chunks, and put points on the board.
"People have tried everything, and it hasn't worked," said A&M defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz. "You have to mix it up. You can't do any one thing and expect to stop them."
Heupel is the man, plain and simple. He can beat a team in so many ways that the only hope is to concede yards and attack when possible. If he notices the opposing 11 men in front of him are overly aggressive, he'll jump on them.
"If you blitz, he's going to take you apart," said Aggies' cornerback Jay Brooks. "But if you don't, he's going to sit back there and do his thing."
The thing is, he'll do his thing regardless of what comes his way defensively. His eyes are always moving, and he knows where his personnel will be on every play. Even defenses that try to switch things up have been unsuccessful because Heupel recognizes defenses and makes adjustments as quickly as any QB in the country.
The Aggies have gotten to quarterbacks, evident by their 22 sacks this season. But Heupel feels the pass rush and absorbs punishment as well as anyone. He's like an inflatable clown -- he can bounce back up and hurt you just as quickly as you knock him down.
The man to watch on the Texas A&M defense is inside linebacker Brian Gamble, who leads the team in tackles (92), and is second in sacks (3) and interceptions (3). The rest of the defense feeds off of his energy in the middle.
As far as crowd noise, yes, it will be deafening at Kyle Field. Nevertheless, OU head coach Bob Stoops has an answer.
"We practice no huddle and silent snap counts a lot. Not just this week, but a lot," Stoops said. "We feel fairly confident we'll be able to do it in a consistent and efficient way."
Where A&M can be exploited is in the secondary. Former Killeen High School teammates Jay Brooks (left corner) and Michael Jameson (free safety), who are 5-foot-9 and 5-11, respectively, are at a major height disadvantage against OU wide receivers Antwone Savage, Andre Woolfolk and Curtis Fagan, all of whom are over six feet tall. How that trio beats defenders is with speed and leaping ability. Sammy Davis and Terrence Kiel want to prove last year's performance was an aberration, when Heupel threw for 372 yards and three TDs.
The defense must also worry about Josh Norman and then Quentin Griffin coming out of the backfield. That duo has totaled 47 receptions and 599 yards in OU's eight games. Aside from their receiving skills, they are dangerous runners as well, used as changeups from the air assault.
Hankwitz has given no indication to his defensive plans, but judging from how other teams have played the Sooners, A&M must simply react and then act, based on whatever formations OU gives them. If they can adjust with Heupel, they can contain the Sooners.
Texas A&M's special teams could be the difference in this game. Punter Cody Scates has averaged only 39.6 yards per punt this season, but has placed 13 inside the 20. If he can boot a few bombs and the coverage unit can pin Oklahoma deep, then the momentum swings to the defense, force the Sooners' offense to go the length of the field, and eliminate the big play.
When Texas A&M has the ball:
Credit Texas A&M's resurgence since a 3-2 start to a much improved offense, led by 25-year-old Mark Farris, who has completed nearly 62 percent of his passes and thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season.
|  | | Texas A&M WR Robert Ferguson is listed as questionable for Saturday's contest with Oklahoma. |
"Their quarterback is playing well," said OU co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops. "He's been the difference for them this year. He's able to spread the ball and make you defend the entire field."
In addition to Farris' numbers and leadership, the offense has become more diversified, thanks to offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe, who has integrated Farris' throwing abilities with the power running of Joe Weber, Richard Whitaker and 275-pound tank Ja'Mar Toombs to build an offense that averages 390 yards per game.
The offense has grabbed OU's attention.
"They put stress on you," said Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "This is the best set of receivers and quarterback at throwing the ball we have faced."
That set of receivers may be missing its most integral member, Robert Ferguson, who leads the Aggies with 50 catches for 780 yards and five touchdowns. Ferguson sprained his left knee in last Saturday's 21-16 victory at Oklahoma State. After an examination Sunday, doctors determined there was no apparent ligament damage and an MRI was not necessary.
"Robert's been getting treatment," said head coach R.C. Slocum. "It will be later in the week before we know his availability for the ballgame."
Don't underestimate the Sooners' defense, which put the clamp on two of the most high-octane offenses in the last month. Like their offense, they make adjustments and do not get rattled.
The matchup is the battle in the trenches. A&M will try to establish the run, which will be even more imperative if Ferguson can't go for the Aggies. If Oklahoma's front seven can gain penetration and force Farris to go to the air, OU can control the game and get the ball into the hands of its offense more quickly.
ABC's Brent Musburger mentioned earlier in the week how this could be a trap game for the Sooners. But consider this: Amid preparations for last week's game at Baylor, several OU assistants began breaking down tape of A&M in their Waco hotel rooms. This is a team that does its homework and prides itself on preparation, which is why the Sooners are the top team in the country.
News and notes:
A meter has been installed to monitor the volume of the fans at Kyle Field, in an attempt to become the loudest outdoor sports stadium crowd ever.
Josh Heupel figures to break two OU records on Saturday: He needs 358 yards to top Cale Gundy's career total offense mark (6,389 yards), and 175 yards to pass Gundy as Oklahoma's all-time leader in passing yardage.
Oklahoma is 53-5 when ranked No. 1.
Texas A&M's closing schedule, playing No. 1 Oklahoma Saturday and No. 19 Texas in two weeks is ranked second in the nation.
Texas A&M is undefeated in five meetings against OU at Kyle Field.
The all-time series is tied 9-9.
Quote of the Week: (referring to the crowd noise at Kyle Field) "About 90 percent of the noise you can blank out of your mind. It's just that last 10 percent that's loud."
--Oklahoma offensive tackle Scott Kempenich
Will Weiss is the assistant editor of BCSfootball.com.
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