The Sooners dropped to the Insight Bowl following their Bedlam defeat against the Cowboys. The NFL hopes of Landry Jones took an even bigger hit. Al Dannity looks at what Oklahoma’s quarterback needs to do in the post-season to solidify his first-round status.
And you new Redskins quarterback is… That’s my very early landing spot for Landry Jones but he needs a better than average day at the office in Tempe. I’ve been drinking the haterade on Jones and his NFL prospects since last season but there’s no denying he has generated interest from franchises at the next level. The time he spends in the pocket and his decision making leave me convinced he will get killed when he turns pro but his gaudy numbers and physical traits means he’s still going to get paid. The question entering this game is how much?
For Jones to go in the top 10 in April he has to make better calls in this game. It’s not going to be about making big plays. That will help but an error-free game is going to matter more. Jones needs to make smart throws and avoid pressure from the Hawkeye pass-rush. If he can do that then the 40 picks he’s thrown over his three seasons in Norman won’t look so bad.
Hawkeyes must hold firm early College Football betting fans know the key to surviving against Oklahoma is not letting the offense kill you in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes have been in that kind of hole already this season. Michigan State scored two early touchdowns en route to victory over the Hawkeyes in Big Ten play. Iowa’s defense has shown glimpses of Kirk Ferentz’s hard-nosed style at times this year, most notably against Michigan. There have been far too many off days and Ferentz knows he has one shot to make amends before the end of the season.
The verdict These are not the 2009 Hawkeyes. That unit wreaked havoc with everything in its sight. The 2011 edition is far too inconsistent, as best seen in the dramatic overtime defeat against Iowa State. The Sooners, though hurt by injuries, remain stout on offense and should be capable of amassing some big drives. That will hurt a limited Iowa offense in the battle for field position. I like the Hawkeyes’ chances of keeping the game competitive early but James Vandenburgh is not the type of quarterback that can exploit the Sooners secondary issues. I like Oklahoma to finish with a win and earn Bob Stoops yet another 10 win season.
