The center-quarterback exchange is the most important play in all of football. It’s what starts the play and depending on how clean it is can also determine if the play stays in rhythm or not.
On Saturday, the Sooners botched that exchange twice, resulting in two turnovers. The first one looked like it was a direct snap to running back [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag]. It was a little high but Barnes needed to catch it but after the bobble, he should have just gone down instead of trying to hand it off to [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].
The second one was a play where [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] must have heard a clap and snapped it before Gabriel was ready. It hit him right in the shin and bounced forward also resulting in a turnover for the Sooners this time deep in their own territory.
Raym talked about those snaps after practice on Monday.
“I’ll take the blame on one of them,” Raym said. “On one of them, I maybe let the environment get to me. I heard something I shouldn’t have and went. I can’t take the blame for all of them.”
When plays like those go wrong, there are usually multiple factors as to why it didn’t work. Still having a three-year starter at center and a four-year starter at quarterback, you’d think those things wouldn’t happen. Especially not in a game like that. The shotgun snap has been an issue at different points this year. Whether it’s a bad snap or the running back direct snap, the Sooners have to clean it up.
Now Oklahoma has their backs against the wall. We’ll see if they can clean up the turnovers and come out swinging this week against West Virginia.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.