 "Photo: Jeffrey McWhorter/The Daily Texan")
It was supposed to be a rematch for the ages. Two undefeated teams — No. 2 vs. No. 3. McCoy vs. Bradford for the final time.Two high-powered offenses competing against each other for a second year in a row. One team playing to avenge a loss and the other playing to avenge a loss in the computers.
Instead, we have a Texas team that hasn’t lived up to its preseason hype and an Oklahoma team that resembles a MASH unit and has already lost two games and sits at 20th in the Associated Press poll.
With Oklahoma’s star tight end Jermaine Gresham out for the season, top receiver Ryan Broyles possibly out for the game and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford still recovering from a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, Oklahoma just isn’t the same team that people envisioned before the season started.
People are already starting to downplay the Red River Rivalry this year. The game was a win-win situation for Texas last year as the underdog heading into the game. If they won, it was a big upset; if they lost, it was no big deal because they were expected to lose.
Now, it is a lose-lose situation. Because Oklahoma’s injuries, the Longhorns are expected to win, and if they don’t, it would be a meltdown of epic proportions.
One thing folks are forgetting is that the Longhorns are almost as handicapped as the Sooners are at this point of the season.
The Longhorns’ co-starters at running back, Vondrell McGee and Tre’ Newton, are both dinged up, and whether they will play or not is still questionable. The Sooners at least have the luxury of having two productive backs in Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray.
Texas’ top tight end, Blaine Irby, is out for the season, as is Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham. While Irby is no Gresham, not having a tight end that can pass and block does limit what the Longhorns can do.
Also, Texas’ second-leading returning receiver from last season, Brandon Collins, is out for the season due to eligibility issues. That helps neutralize Oklahoma’s loss of Broyles. Texas’ offense hasn’t been able to get into a rhythm yet because it is missing a receiver that can run the hot route like Collins can. Collins’ reliable hands and swift route running made him one of McCoy’s favorite targets last year. James Kirkendoll and McCoy haven’t developed the same chemistry yet, and John Chiles can only run one kind of route right now.
Texas also lost depth on defense when starting middle linebacker Jarred Norton went down with an injury and safety Christian Scott was ruled ineligible. The linebacker corps isn’t very deep, and the team has virtually no one if one of the starters gets injured. Norton may not be missed right now, but he will be as soon as someone else gets injured.
Scott was impressing the coaches before the season started and could have been a key player on the defense.
In the end, both teams don’t have personnel they’d like to have. Excuses won’t matter when the burnt orange lines up across from the cream and crimson.
Sherrod Harris’ Twitter on Saturday night said, “Just hate to see a guy (even if it is a Sooner) struggle with injuries since I’ve been there. Damn Sam Bradford, just heal up!!”
The Longhorns can’t have this attitude. They need to, in the words of Mike Gundy, “kick a person when they’re down.”
A win over the Sooners without their full arsenal and a healthy Bradford won’t mean the same in players’ and fans’ minds, but in the eyes of the computers, it’s just another win.
And after last season, the Longhorns should be appreciative of the football gods trying to make their road to the national title a little easier this year.
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