Horns247 Board

I would think Landry Jones has to be the favorite. Of course, I hope that his chances drastically change in early October.

Just thinking about ALL the possibilities the name Lache Seastrunk popped into my head for a moment. What a terrible thought. Baylor with back to back Heismans? The end would certainly be near.

I never go anywhere without my burnt orange-colored glasses, but I just don't see OU going undefeated. Here's how I see OU in the Bob Stoops era.

In 1999, they made quite a bit of improvement over their terrible 1998 team. Then from 2000 through 2004 (until getting blown out by USC in the national championship game at the end of the 2004 season), I think all of those teams were pretty well elite. And the defenses were incredible.

But since then, I think they've had only 1 elite team, the 2008 team. They've had a couple of others since 2004 that were really good but not elite, they've had a couple that were good but not really good, and they've had at least one (2005) not that much better than average. And in my opinion, the biggest difference in OU teams from 2000 through 2004 and the teams from 2005 through 2012 is how good the defense has been. Even as good as the 2008 team was, that defense wasn't close to dominant. Their 2008 team was offensive driven.

LIke Bobby said in his article yesterday where he previewed half of the Big 12 teams, Mike Stoops is a better DC than Venables, in my opinion. I don't think it's a coincidence that Mike Stoops left after the 2003 season to go to Arizona and then OU's defenses dropped off noticeably after that.

With Mike back, I do think their defenses (especially their secondary) will get better very quickly, but I think it will take a year or two. Also, I think their running game has been as weak as UT's the last few years and will continue to be weak (while I think UT's is about to real, real good starting this year).

I think when the national media thinks of OU, their perception of OU is still driven by the 5 year stretch from 2000-2004, but I just don't think OU has been nearly that good since losing to USC that one beautiful night back in January 2005.

I think OU will lose at least 2 games this year, and like Jeff posted in another thread, I agree that there's a real good chance one of those losses is to UT. The way OU played against UT last year, they would have beaten the Packers that day, but as we found out by OU losing 3 of its last 8 games, they probably weren't actually as good as they looked that day. They played as well they possibly could have, and UT's young team was probably a little shell shocked once things started going OU's way a little. I have a feeling that this year, our players will match OU's intensity right from the start, and I think our defense and running game will be the difference.

The closer the season gets, the more excited I get and the less I get done at work.

Yeah, I dont think it happens. Just saying it would suck.

Line or no line though, I'm sure they'll find a way to get the ball in his hands and we'll see some "wow" plays from him this season.

I am shocked that you have this view. Shocked, I say.

Watching KSU now with another impressive win on the road and watching WV go down (again)...................I thought this was interesting to look back at the Heisman thoughts.

Is Klein the odds on favorite and does Johnny Football get a trip to NYC?

I think yes to Klein as the favorite and no to Manziel on the invite. I think he's a really good player and a difference maker, but he's not truly elite like some of the past freshman to get invited. His performance this year reminds me a little of Colt as a RS frosh.

If he were to get an invite, I see that more as an indication of a weak field this year.

I love Colt McCoy but his (Manziel) performance might be even better. Manziel is the entire focus of the opposing defenses and still is a game changing player. I still think based on his past he will not finish his career in aggieland with some off the field issues but this year he has been a outstanding player.........