When the Oklahoma offense takes the field Saturday evening, it hopes to play much better than what it displayed last week against a very average UTEP squad. For that to happen, Landry Jones and company will have to simply execute their offense and play up to the talent level that the Sooners possess.
Against the Miners, penalties cost the Sooners at least 7 points as a chop block by Dom Whaley nullified a long pass play as well as wide receiver Trey Metoyer’s misplaced right foot that landed just out of bounds on a Landry Jones pass that nullified a touchdown. The Sooners also gave up three sacks to the Miners which is not a productive stat.
Oklahoma did manage to run the ball decently, averaging over 5 yards per carry, but that total could have and should have been much higher but busted assignments and OU’s inability to block properly on the offensive line cost the Sooners valuable yardage. JUCO transfer running back Damien Williams had a successful coming out party as he rushed for 104 yards on 9 carries and had a 65-yard touchdown run to boot. Dom Whaley returned from a broken ankle and ended his night against the Miners having run for 54 yards on 11 carries. He ran hard but couldn’t seem to find the right creases to run through most of the night.
Landry Jones had a modest night by his standards throwing for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns and a 58% completion rate. Kenny Stills led the Sooners from the slot position with 6 grabs for 122 yards and the 68 yard TD from Jones. Freshman Trey Metoyer and Justin Brown will look to stretch the field and allow Stills and true freshman Sterling Shepard to run free over the middle. Look for the Sooners to exploit the undermanned secondary of FAMU with short screens and over the middle dumps and then go long to Brown and Metoyer.
Oklahoma gets TE Geneo Grissom back this week after he served his one game suspension last week against the Miners.
Looking to shut down the OU offensive attack will be Florida A&M linebackers Mike Ducre and Brandon Hepburn. Both are seniors and played well last week in Florida A&M’s loss to Tennessee State (17-14). The Tigers were able to throw for 263 yards and rush for 138 (401 total yards) against the Rattler defense. Defensive backs John Ojo and Marvin Ross led the Florida A&M defense last week in tackles which is not good when your secondary leads the team in that category.
Florida A&M played on the road last week in front of 15,652 fans and this week will be inside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where more than 82,000 fans will await. The Sooners will score early and often and dominate (as they should) from start to finish. Last week the Sooners used Blake Bell in the BellDozer package but this week Bell gets in and actually get to play the more traditional quarterback role.
Sooners roll 56-10
- Mike DellaVecchio
- Staff Writer - OUInsider