BYU football: Oklahoma has big talent edge

ARLINGTON, Texas — Game films don't lie.

They reaffirm and confirm but don't hide truth.

That's why, watching films of the Oklahoma football team this past offseason, veteran BYU linebacker coach Barry Lamb witnessed over and over again what NCAA statistics clearly show — the 2008 Sooners, led by Heisman Trophy quarterback Sam Bradford, were something special.

Asked about his Oklahoma film sessions, Lamb put it this way: "They don't make you laugh."

The Cougars and Sooners kickoff Saturday at Cowboy Stadium in what will be the first-ever collegiate game in Jerry Jones' new $1.2 billion stadium. There, Lamb, his fellow BYU defensive coaches and players will be eyewitnesses as to whether the Sooners are better or worse than the ones enshrined forever on 2008 DVDs.

"The thing you notice right away is their players are not only gifted and talented, but they are talent that has received very good coaching," Lamb said. "You play teams with talent, but some of them are lax in coaching because they are so good. This Oklahoma team has talent that is coached."

It's a potent combination, one the Cougars hope to slow down today.

"Obviously, they're outstanding. We look for weaknesses and, gee whiz, we wish we could find some," Lamb said. "They have outstanding personnel."

Praise and respect aside, BYU isn't waving a white flag here.

The Cougars enter today's game carrying a huge burden for the Mountain West Conference, which boldly complained long and loud in the offseason over the unfairness of the BCS. The Sooners may not be the ideal suitor for the Cougars to pick up a win over an automatic BCS qualifier, but that's the challenge before them.

BYU is improved on defense, but the Sooners have become the Cadillac of offenses in the modern NCAA. Colossal advantage Oklahoma.

The Sooners lost four starters from an all-star O-line and return just one experienced receiver for Bradford. With All-American TE Jermaine Gresham out with a knee injury, everyone is speculating how it will impact OU's offense.

It definitely will impact Bradford's blocking and reads downfield.

The Cougars have no chance if Bradford gets untracked and blows up BYU's defense and races to a 2008 Sooner average of 32.5 points by halftime.

If it's a sloppy, mistaken-ridden game on both sides and the score is in the 20s, the Cougars have a chance. But Oklahoma only failed to get to 20 once last year and that was the 14 points in the national championship game against Florida — an outstanding defensive team. No Big 12 team could slow down the Sooners.