The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t planning to make a change at quarterback ahead of their matchup with the South Carolina Gamecocks. On the Rudy’s Barbecue Coach’s Show, Venables reiterated trust in quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.
Oklahoma was held to three points in the loss to Texas but Venables believes it’s important to give Hawkins more time to show what he can do.
“Mike has shown a lot of really good stuff,” Venables said, “both in his limited time against Tennessee and he had some really good moments where he did some good stuff against Auburn. And even (against Texas), he did some good things and some things where now we see if we can learn from it.”
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Hawkins has had some good moments for the Sooners through two and a half games as the starting quarterback. Oklahoma put a lot on Hawkins’ shoulders on Saturday in the Cotton Bowl, making him responsible on 55 of 72 offensive plays. Hawkins was asked to drop back and throw the ball 40 times and Seth Littrell called 15 designed quarterback runs, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hawkins has a lot of talent, but that’s a lot to ask a true freshman quarterback making just his second collegiate start.
The Sooners have to get more out of the running game and find a way to scheme receivers open in the passing game. Oklahoma’s offense is one of the worst in college football six games into the season. Sure, they’ve played some good defenses in Tennessee, Auburn, and Texas, but it’s not like there will be an easy defense on the schedule in the SEC.
Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley have to find a way to make things easier for their quarterback in the passing game and not put so much on him in the running game either.
Hawkins has the talent to be effective for the Sooners, but he can’t do it all by himself. Few quarterbacks could in the circumstances Oklahoma’s offense is dealing with. So the Sooners coaching staff has to find a way to create more efficiency in the offense.
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