Ep. 432 - OU-UTEP Preview: What The Sooners Must Show in Week 1

Ep. 432 – OU-UTEP Preview: What The Sooners Must Show in Week 1

The show begins with the latest injury news on Oklahoma’s offensive line. Just when Jake Maikkula appeared to be the main injury concern at center, Ryan Fodje — listed as the top center on OU’s Week 1 depth chart — suffered a lower-body injury. The good news: reports indicate Fodje’s MRI was negative, and Jake Maikkula is progressing well.

Lee and Grant also break down Oklahoma’s Week 1 depth chart, revisit their pre-fall camp “unanswerable questions” and ask which ones actually got answered.

Then Lee and Grant preview Oklahoma vs. UTEP. They discuss UTEP quarterback EJ Colson, the Miners’ new-look offensive line, UTEP’s defensive strengths, and what OU’s defense should do against an overmatched opponent. For Oklahoma, the big questions are mostly on offense: can the Sooners run the ball consistently, can the tight ends help in the run game, will Ben Arbuckle show more 12 personnel and 13 personnel, and can John Mateer push the ball downfield while staying healthy?

The episode ends with the return of the weekly picks segment. Lee and Grant pick five Week 1 games against the spread: Coastal Carolina at West Virginia, Baylor vs. Auburn, Clemson at LSU, Louisville vs. Ole Miss, and SMU at Florida State.

Chapters/Timecodes

00:00 — Opening Take: Football is finally here 02:58 — Kickoff weather at Owen Field and a hot Friday night vs. UTEP03:19 — OU, UTEP and the 2000 season opener comparison05:07 — Lee’s OU hat falls, and Grant has thoughts on the old OU logo06:22 — Ryan Fodje and Jake Maikkula injury updates09:32 — Is OU telling us Caleb Nitta just isn’t very good? 12:40 — Maikkula’s MCL timeline and possible Michigan return15:16 — Week 1 depth chart nuggets begin15:38 — Parker Livingstone or Elijah Thomas at X receiver 19:44 — Running back depth chart: Lloyd Avant or Xavier Robinson20:33 — Tory Blaylock injury status and Jonathan Hatton’s opportunity 24:14 — Defensive depth chart lists 12 positions25:09 — Wyatt Gilmore backing up Taylor Wein26:47 — Tank Carrington fourth on the depth chart despite strong buzz27:10 — Bishop Thomas, Nigel Smith and interior defensive line depth28:21 — LeBron Bauer shows up at cheetah28:56 — Tristan Haynes vs. Dakota Fields as the fourth corner battle29:49 — Omarion Robinson’s flexibility at both safety spots31:15 — Revisiting the pre-fall camp unanswerable questions31:53 — Trell Harris makes it through Fall Camp healthy 35:42 — Is the running back room healthy goin