It’s amazing how much practice and repetition can be a benefit to improvement. The more time you spend doing something, naturally you will get better at it. There’s no timetable on how long that may take but in a tale as old as time, if you put the work in, eventually you’ll see the fruits of your labor.
This rings true for the Oklahoma offensive line. Much maligned and the subject of a lot of criticism along, the offensive line of the 4th ranked Sooners has started to put it together.
It’s far from perfect but they are taking steps week in and week out. Their latest performance saw them stymie Texas Tech’s front seven and allow for Oklahoma’s quarterbacks to throw for a combined seven touchdowns.
This followed a span of a few games where they paved the way for running back Kennedy Brooks to run wild over the likes of Kansas State, Texas, and TCU.
This team still hasn’t reached its ceiling and that’s a great thing as they head into the most important month of their season with all of their aspirations and goals firmly in front of them.
The Big 12 title is staring them down like a linebacker ready to shoot the gap on 3rd and short. Another College Football Playoff berth is on the horizon if they can win their final four games, including the Big 12 championship.
How they get through these games depends on their play on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
The offensive line doesn’t have the star power that the defensive line has but they do have something to prove. After struggling for roughly five games, they began to put it together. A new quarterback was inserted and he’s started to produce like the other award-winning Oklahoma quarterbacks.
At this point, there’s no turning back to the line they were before. They can only go up.
Center Andrew Raym has solidified himself as the anchor of this line. Veteran guards Marquis Hayes and Chris Murray will likely not be here next year and they have started to play like guys who have one more opportunity to do something special. Right tackle Tyrese Robinson has cut back on his penalties and is doing an excellent job moving guys in space. He’s getting to his pass sets in time to keep his quarterback clean while left tackle Anton Harrison is figuring it out as well.
Rushing attack at @OU_Football has increased since noted QB change. Sooners (8-0) averaging 263.0 yds/game and 7.2 yds/carry over last 3 games; that’s 88 ypg and 2.6 ypc more than first 5 games. Big nod to @OutlandTrophy contenders @tyrese_robinson and @bigmo__54 up front. pic.twitter.com/051jQBVWvT
— NCFAA (@ncfaa) October 30, 2021
Harrison and Robinson have been really good despite their issues with penalties. If they’re able to cut back on those penalties, the probability of Oklahoma to get their Guard/Tackle counter play working again goes way up.
Coach Bill Bedenbaugh is at the helm of all of this. For a long time, he’s been considered a master teacher and a respected voice for offensive linemen. One could only imagine how the play of his unit affected him, but he continued to chip away at them and has this unit playing some of their best football.
They have a nice chunk of the season left to add to their evolution. Hopefully, it continues and we’re able to see the benefits of their hard work continue to manifest themselves on the field.