Why does everyone think Gray and Whaley out is close to a death sentence??? Brown/Bergeron and Desmond Jackson are all solid players. Wow, get a grip. Gray only has 2 100-yard games and 4 TD's all year. OMG, he was such a dominator. Brown/Bergeron will be just fine if the line blocks for them. Desmond Jackson has already played a ton this year in rotation. Research this thing before acting like we lost saviors of the team and have little answers behind them.
utempire, Me too. I asked this on another thread... Why is Overstreet not getting playing time? If he doesn't see more action now that Gray is out, it makes me wonder what is keeping him on the sideline (lack of production in practice, bad attitude, stupidity on the coaches' part). I can't see him sticking around next year if he doesn't see the field now.
I think it's very difficult to see this team on paper being able to score enough points to beat Ok. State. Their defense is significantly better than W Va., and they've got great balance on offense, which has given this team trouble (see last week). Not being able to load up against the run is going to be a problem this weekend, especially since OSU's wideouts are going to be better playmakers than I think we saw last week. But since this team has been all about defying what's on paper all year, there's still a chance!
prodigal, I hear what you're saying, but I'm not sold on OSU's QB's. Walsh and the other guy are decent and can look really good at times, but I've also seen them look really bad. If we can get consistent pressure on them with our front 4 (and I bet we can), I think they will turn the ball over 2 or 3 times. I expect the game to be close, but I really think OSU will fold at crunch time and our guys will pull another one out (34-30 Horns!!!!!!)
And I don't think that given the history of this series, that OSU ever walks out onto the field against us EXPECTING to win. They have been kicked in the gut by Brown's teams ever since has been here. Even when they were much better in 2010-11, both of those games were competitive. Sometimes you just have a team's number, ie us vs Nebraska and K-State vs us.
Brad, I too think Malcolm and Joe will do fine, but Gray is the best back on the team. I like Brown better, and up until a few weeks ago was in denial that Brown was the better back. Also the reason all of them have the ability to have a big game is because they all have fresh legs. There are not too many backs in the country that can carry it 25 plus times a game week in, and week out and not have the productivity drop off, or not get injured.
Sadly, I predict osu will cover the 3. Our defense, decimatied by injuries as it is (Hicks, Whaley, etc) will face a quality balanced offense. And our offense (also hurt by injuries, Ash, Gray, etc) will face a decent defense. That combination, plus osu is well coached and will be breathing fire, will be too tough for our guys. I think osu covers and wins by 7-10.
Gray is the best back on the team. Joe and Brown are very good, but they are not Gray. Losing Gray is a huge problem for this offense. Losing Whaley is going to be a big problem too as the freshness of to D line is going to be drastically affected.
Losing Ash and Hicks hasn't hurt us one bit. I still maintain that Jordon Hicks is the most over-hyped player in UT history.
I'm all over what Dillo said. Gray is outstanding...and I wish we could have him for more than just one more year. Hook'em!!!