On The Riley Files, Oklahoma insider Kegan Reneau explained how Iowa State gave Lincoln Riley problems with the Sooners.
He went into Riley’s adjustments with Jalen Hurts at quarterback, and what this might mean when Pac-12 defenses use the Iowa State formula to try to stop Caleb Williams.
“You’re only gonna have three linebackers or really two linebackers on the field,” Reneau said. “We’re gonna get heavy and we’re gonna run the football at you. But what they (Iowa State) did the best was their gap scheme. Iowa State looks like they only have five in the box. It looks like they’re only committing five to the run, but they always have seven guys committed, whether it’s the centerfield safety, whether it’s another safety that’s deep, they’re gonna have seven guys committed, but they’re also committed to lanes and committed to gaps.
“So when Oklahoma was able to run their counter scheme in 2019 in those heavy packages, they’re able to account for more gaps. They’re able to be able to get more ‘hat on a hat.’ And they ran the football really, really well. What that does for Jalen (Hurts in 2019), that makes his keys a lot easier, right? If Oklahoma was able to run the football against it, they’re able to really dictate matchups in the passing game. Oklahoma is able to make the most of, and USC should be able to make the most of those situations whenever they get in them.”
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