Two games into the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners still don’t have any answers along the offensive line. Much of that is due to injuries, namely to Branson Hickman, Jake Taylor, Geirean Hatchett, and Troy Everett. But Spencer Brown was underwhelming in his start against Temple.
The Sooners have gone deep into the well up front to try and find the right mix. When Taylor went down on Saturday after just 23 snaps, the Sooners turned to redshirt freshman Logan Howland, who came in at left tackle, bumping veteran Michael Tarquin to the right side.
The offensive line was pretty good in pass protection, but struggled to create room for the Sooners rushing attack, which was held to just 75 yards on the night and under three yards per carry.
With Tulane set to come to town, Oklahoma will likely roll out an offensive line that has Howland at left tackle, Jacob Sexton at left guard, Bates at center, Febechi Nwaiwu at right guard, and Tarquin at right tackle. Far from the group Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell expected to enter the season with.
Though they gave up three sacks in the game, the Sooner’s offensive line regularly gave Jackson Arnold enough time to work within the pocket. But the passing game couldn’t find a rhythm as the wide receiver room deals with injuries itself and Arnold goes through early career struggles.
Brent Venables mentioned in his weekly press conference that true freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis has been working with the offense during practice. He didn’t indicate how much work with the first team he was getting, but the Sooenrs are high on the former four-star interior offensive lineman.
2024 is repeating 2023 in a way. Oklahoma opened both seasons with a huge win over an overmatched opponent. In week two of last year, the Sooners struggled with SMU, as they did with Houston on Saturday night. There wasn’t a clear answer at left guard last year, and injuries have created chaos up front this year. The running game was hit-and-miss, and OU didn’t really know who their lead back was until midseason.
The injuries the Sooners have suffered have made it difficult for the offensive line to develop much chemistry, cohesion, and communication. Three elements that are critical to good offensive line play. It’s a challenge the coaching staff is working through as they work to get more players involved in the offensive line rotation.
If the Sooners can find a consistent running game, it would open up so much for their offense. Teams wouldn’t be able to sit back and take away everything Oklahoma wants to do in the passing game.
Will they be able to find that running game this week against a Tulane team that allowed the Wildcats to run for 6.5 yards per carry? A Green Wave team that held Kansas State to just 2 of 10 on third down? We’ll find out this Saturday afternoon in Norman.
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