Tsn's Bowl Preview

Sporting News, The, Dec 25, 2000 by Tom Dienhart

SOONERS

When Oklahoma has the ball

Oklahoma's running game

Running game? You're kidding, right? With OU, the running game is no more than an excuse to rest QB Josh Heupels arm. The Sooners average 134 yards a game, but that was fattened against a weak non-conference schedule and the Big 12's bottom-feeders. OU's running game consists of deception with 5-6, 180-pound spark plug RB Quentin Griffin and freshman RB Renaldo Works. Forget about straight isolation or loss pitches, it's strictly reside handoffs out of the shotgun or sprint draws. OU's line is more suited for pass blocking in the spread offense. The run isn't a threat unless Heupel is successful in the passing game, but it picked up some steam late when opponents dropped as many as eight defensive backs to defend the pass. Those schemes leave the underneath exposed to draws and traps from the shotgun.

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Florida State's run defense

No one plays the run better than the Seminoles, who churn out NFL talent year after year. There's a key fundamental with Mickey Andrews' defense: If you stop the run, the ends can tee off on the quarterback. It's a brutal cycle that controls games. Freshman DTs Jeff Womble and Darnell Dockett have played like veterans and have received help up the middle from LBs Bradley Jennings and Tommy Polley. DEs Jamal Reynolds, David Warren and Alonzo Jackson are strong against the run. They use their side-to-side speed to stretch plays and give the linebackers and secondary a chance to read and recover. The Seminoles gave up 73.9 yards a game, so don't expect the Sooners to get much on the ground. But again. OU had only 11 yards rushing vs. an aggressive Kansas State defense in October and still scored 41 points.

Oklahoma's passing game

The key to Oklahoma's turnaround has been the passing game and the spread offense. The trigger to it all is QB Josh Heupel. The spread relies heavily on the quarterback to be decisive and accurate, and Heupel has an uncanny ability to make plays when the pressure is on. He knows the Hal Mumme/Mike Leach offense as well as anyone and benefits from an offensive coordinator (Mark Mangino) who has a long leash and a short memory. Heupel (3,392 yards, 20 TDs) has an underrated group of receivers, led by Antwone Savage, Curtis Fagan and Andre Woolfolk, who run well after catching the ball. Look for the Sooners to use slip screens, quick drops and fades in an attempt to negate Florida State's speed. Oklahoma must get Savage, its most physical receiver, matched up against Seminoles 5-9 CB Tay Cody.

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Florida State's pass defense

It's not so much the coverage as it is the pressure. The more pressure, the better the coverage. The more pressure, the more confidence the corners play with. Tay Cody and Clevan Thomas aren't the most gifted corners in the country, but pressure from the front four and various blitz schemes enable FSU to play more aggressively in the secondary. Ss Derick Gibson and Chris Hope are strong in coverage and support, which lets the Seminoles use various coverage packages. The OU offense is designed for QB Josh Heupel to throw to spots and for the receivers to go get the ball. The 'Noles used more zone late in the season and had success against Florida the last three years using mainly flood zone schemes. But if they can't get pressure from the front four, they will be forced to use pressure packages and leave the corners in man coverage.