Dean's List: Keys to OU Beating Texas A&M

Dean Blevins gives his take on what the Sooners must do to win against the Aggies.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:01 pm

By: News On 6

Dean's List: Keys to OU Beating Texas A&M

Originally Published: Nov 4, 2010 9:7 PM CDT

Dean Blevins
Oklahoma Sports Sports Director – Oklahoma City

Offensive keys

1. Fourth estate -- Landry Jones must buck the trend of fourth quarter stumbles and finish as strong as he and his offense seemingly always start games.

2. Limit turnovers -- Always a key, but in a road game expected to be close (OU favored by only three-and-a-half points) OU can’t afford to cough it up.

3. Pass to run -- Normally it’s run to set up the pass, but A&M is 101st nationally in passing defense, so the Sooners need to soften up the defense both horizontally and vertically.

Defensive keys

1. Pressure Tannehill -- OU chose to not blitz against Missouri and Gabbert made them pay. They’ll send pressure on A&M’s gifted but inexperienced QB who must hope his OL—only 113th out of 120 in sacks allowed-- will hold up.

2. Contain WR Jeff Fuller -- The big, smooth and gifted WR that almost signed with Oklahoma is a stud—858 yards and 11 TDs. Jamell Fleming and Demontre Hurst will have to be as good on the road as they are at home and prevent Fuller and Tannehill from playing pitch and catch.

3. Three-and-outs -- Incredibly, OU never forced Missouri to a single three-and-out. Didn’t win then and won’t at Kyle Field unless they do much, much better.

Intangibles
1. The only way to stop hearing the “Why can’t you play on the road?” question is to win and to play a complete game in the process. That’s obviously much easier said than done, but if the majority of these keys are accomplished they should head put themselves in position to be 9-1 when they travel to Waco two weeks from Saturday.