Top 5 explosive players in the Big 12; Red River Rivalry highlights ChatterTV week 5 picks

By Staff     Sep 30, 2010

half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

I read an interesting stat the other day about the Oklahoma football team.

Opponents have outscored the Sooners, 40-17, this season in the fourth quarter.

Yet, coach Bob Stoops’ squad is still 4-0.

Good karma? Perhaps. OU was due for some better luck after losing four games last season by a combined 12 points.

More likely, though, it’s a case of Oklahoma simply not being able to finish its opponents (aside from Florida State).

during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against Iowa State and Kansas State Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Let’s take a look at the first three quarters of OU’s games to really put it into perspective.

Oklahoma: 126 points
Opponents: 53

Should Oklahoma have any chance of an undefeated season, it needs to improve in the fourth quarter. I don’t see how the Sooners can keep winning games by one possession or fewer and by letting teams stick around toward the end. They’ve done it three times in four games this year.

The Sooners may have to win another squeaker to stay unbeaten on Saturday at the Texas State Fair.

No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 21 Texas in Dallas highlights the slate of Big 12 games in week 5.

Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, right, fends off Troy linebacker Donnell Golden, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)

Texas has won four of the past five matchups. Before that, OU had won five in a row.

The Longhorns won by a field goal last season. This year, I expect another close call.

For my pick, check out the latest episode of Conference ChatterTV:

**So the Big 12 may not be the best conference** in the country. The SEC has held that title for a few years now. The Big 12 may not be known for its defense. That’s probably another SEC chest-puffer.

The Big 12 can score points with the best of them, however. These past few years, we’ve seen some memorable shootouts. With shootouts come guys who can turn a busted play into a big gain, guys who can take it for six any time they touch the football.

I was mulling over this last night after I caught up on the season 5 opener of Dexter (hey, after watching that show, you can’t immediately fall asleep or you have problems). And a question popped into my head:

**After the first four weeks, who have been the most explosive players in the Big 12?**

Put me down for these five, in no particular order:

• **Daniel Thomas, RB, K-State**

The senior leads the Big 12 with 628 rushing yards. The guy has a knack for finding the end zone as well, with six rushing TDs in four games.

Here’s what’s most impressive to me about Thomas: Defenses know what’s coming. How in the name of Carson Coffman can you not know what’s coming? I’m sure containing Thomas is easy to talk about in film sessions.

Despite defenses crowding the line of scrimmage, Thomas is still averaging six yards a tote. He’s lined up in different ways, too, occasionally out of the Wildcat. Guy’s an explosive player.

• **Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska**

The red-shirt freshman is making a habit of busting big plays from several rushing formations where it’s difficult to predict who will get the ball between Martinez or Rex Burkhead. Or Roy Helu.

Martinez is second in the country with eight rushing touchdowns. His long scamper this season was 80 yards, tops among rushing leaders in the Big 12. He also has the highest rushing average among conference leaders: 9.4 yards per rush. Nearly a first down every time he carries the rock.

• **Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State.**

Yeah, I know … who? He won’t go unnoticed for much longer.

Future opponents may want to take notice. The sophomore wide receiver is abusing secondaries. He leads the country with 143 receiving yards per game and eight touchdown grabs — in only three games. OSU has already had a bye and the guy still leads the country in scoring. His long catch this year was 81 yards.

Keep an eye on him when the Cowboys visit Lawrence on Nov. 20.

• **Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma**

Broyles is no secret on a national level like Blackmon. Still, no one in the country has more receptions (41) than Broyles, a threat to score in the red zone in bunches. He had 15 touchdown grabs last year and should flirt with the mark again this season.

• **DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma**

Murray is a guy who demands attention wherever he roams on the field. Taking carries. Catching passes out of the backfield. Returning kicks. The senior does it all and is a major threat to break one.

That should be all for now, friends.

I’ll be in New York this weekend for my cousin’s wedding and won’t be able to post my usual awards blog with reaction from the weekend. I will be back blogging next week.

Enjoy the games this weekend. And as always, discuss.

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