Tag: Oklahoma Sooners Offense

Oklahoma Sooners offense showed improvement when it mattered most

The Sooners offense struggled for three quarters but showed growth when it mattered most.

Saturday wasn’t the best day for the Oklahoma Sooners offense. Many will fixate on the lack of execution or poor play calling through three quarters.

But enough isn’t being made about the growth on display in the fourth quarter. All offseason, the Sooners discussed wanting to be better in the fourth quarter. Among those that needed to be better in the fourth quarter was quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].

With 12:09 left in the fourth, the SMU Mustangs cut the lead to three.

More should be talking about what happened next.

Gabriel led a methodical, 11-play 75-yard touchdown drive. On the drive a penalty wiped away a score and another penalty put the Sooners behind the chains. It didn’t matter.

After the Oklahoma defense forced another stop, Gabriel put together another touchdown drive, which sealed the win.

Gabriel told reporters after the game there was a difference in how they closed this game out compared to a year ago.

“The mindset, attitude, a lot of things were self-inflicted as we know. But also, I go back to the offseason workouts. They’re intentional and the mindset part is huge,” Gabriel said.

This team has grown from what happened on the field last year. While a lot of the names on the field are the same, there’s a difference in this group of players.

How the Sooners closed games might have been at the top of list of issues Oklahoma struggled with. The way they finished against the SMU Mustangs on Saturday is a sign that this team has taken a step in Brent Venables second year in Norman.

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.

Sooners wide receiver Nic Anderson hoping to build off a strong Week 1

Nic Anderson flashed his big play ability in the Sooners win this past Saturday. Now he hopes to build off of it.

Early in the second quarter, just after the [autotag]Arkansas State Red Wolves[/autotag] missed a field goal, the [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners offense[/autotag] trotted onto the field. Out wide right was [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag].

The redshirt freshman is someone fans and the staff have been high on for a while, but now was his chance to make an impact. [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] took the snap on first down and slung it over to Anderson on an out route for 16 yards.

The very next play, Gabriel sat in the pocket before firing a deep ball down the opposing sideline to Anderson for a huge 52-yard gain to set up a first and goal. The Sooners eventually punched it in for a touchdown.

Anderson told reporters it was good to make some plays during a game.

“Honestly, just being out on the field was a blessing,” Anderson said. “Just being out there with my teammates. Gabriel gave me a beautiful ball. I didn’t have to do much. Just being out there with my teammates making plays means everything to me.”

With offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby saying the Sooners want to play 6-7 wide receivers this year, Anderson seems to factor into that equation. If he continues to make plays like he did on Saturday, he definitely will find a role in this offense.

Anderson and 2022 classmate Jayden Gibson bring something unique to the offense with their size. The Sooners just haven’t had that in a while. They’ll both have another chance to build off of their Week 1 performance this Saturday versus the [autotag]SMU Mustangs[/autotag].

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.

Jeff Lebby has seen ‘real growth’ in his offense’s situational execution

Jeff Lebby thinks there’s been real growth with Oklahoma’s situational execution.

We are ten days until the start of the [autotag]2023 Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] football season. While the Sooners offense has question marks, it is expected to be great once again.

Will they be elite like we’ve seen in the past? Probably not. It really depends on what weapons step up at wide receiver.

Offensive Coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] told reporters he’s seen some improvement this offseason.

“There’s been a lot of good,” Lebby said. “There’s been plenty that we’re continuing to work through and fix and just continuing to create depth at every single position. I do like where we are at. I like our guy’s attitude, effort, and toughness. We’ve got to continue to get better. I think our guys understand that as we work toward next Saturday.”

Lebby helped lead the 13th-best offense in the nation a year ago. It was an offense that played extremely fast, almost to the detriment of the team. Another thing they’ve really emphasized this offseason is situational football.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Lebby said. “I think as you stand here right now, we’re ten days away from game day, you always want more. I think that’s the natural part of coaching, but at the same time, there has been real growth.”

That now has to translate to owning the football field on game days. It’s something that hindered this team a year ago and resulted in so many close losses.

It’s been a big topic not just offensively this offseason but for the entire team to improve in their situational football execution. That will hopefully help them come out on the other side of those close games in 2023.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

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.

Jalil Farooq is part of what makes Oklahoma’s offense one of the best in the Big 12 for 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners will have one of the best offenses in the Big 12 in 2023 and one of the big reasons why is wide receiver Jalil Farooq.

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to replace a large amount of production that departed for the NFL in the 2023 draft. Gone are [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] and [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], and [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag] is off to Missouri in the transfer portal.

With players departing comes opportunities for guys to step into bigger roles. One player that showed he is capable of stepping into a bigger role in 2023 was [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], who had significant playing time for the first time in his collegiate career. He turned in 37 receptions for 466 yards and five touchdowns. He also carried the ball 15 times for 140 yards.

Farooq may not be a household name across the country yet, but in 2022, he displayed a playmaking ability that was enough for our friends at Longhorns Wire to take notice. In their rankings of every Big 12 offense, the Sooners came in at No. 3 and Farooq is one of the reasons.

The more film I watch on Oklahoma receiver Jalil Farooq, the more he reminds me of great Sooners receivers of the Bob Stoops era. Dillon Gabriel is perhaps the most proven quarterback in the league and his offense should score plenty in 2023. — Hickey, Longhorns Wire

Farooq proved a valuable asset in Oklahoma’s multi-dimensional offense, which asks its wide receivers to run reverses and jet sweeps, catch screen passes and run a traditional route tree. Farooq’s size and ability to run with the ball in his hands gives offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby a wide receiver that fits exactly what he’s looking for in a wideout.

With the departure of Marvin Mims and Brayden Willis, the Sooners need Farooq to take the step many are expecting. He has the skills to see 100 targets in Oklahoma’s offense and that should turn into a big-time season for the former four-star wide receiver.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

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 John on Twitter @john9williams.

Oklahoma offers 2024 three-star tight end Cooper Alexander

Oklahoma offers 2024 three-star tight end Cooper Alexander. Cooper’s an athletic tight end and displays good hands.

2024 tight end Cooper Alexander was offered by Oklahoma today and he’s a Sooner legacy. He’s the son of former Sooner [autotag]Stephen Alexander[/autotag]. He was at Oklahoma from 1994-1997, and now his son might be on his way to following in his footsteps.

Alexander has great size for a tight end. He’s 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He’s only a three-star prospect at the moment but could raise his star status before signing.

He has 12 offers at the moment. In addition to Oklahoma, he holds notable offers from Colorado, Stanford, Iowa State, Pitt, and Washington State.

Alexander has great hands as a receiving tight end and has shown he’s a great option there already in high school. He’s got a natural athleticism, which he displays at the catch point and after the catch. Alexander is a good blocker that shows a willingness to take on defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs alike. He’s a technical player, but displays finishing to his game as well.

The Oklahoma Sooners don’t currently have a tight end committed to the 2024 class and took just one player that projects to play the position in the 2023 cycle.

Not long after it became public that Alexander received his Oklahoma offer, Parker Thune of OUInsiders at Rivals and Josh McCuistion of Sooners Scoop at On3 issued predictions favoring the Oklahoma Sooners.

Cooper Alexander’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

Film

Hudl

Jovantae Barnes No. 2 in College Sports Wire’s list of top Big 12 running backs

Jovantae Barnes is ranked 2nd in College Sports Wire’s list of top Big 12 running backs.

It was a strong true freshman campaign for [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] in 2022. As the back up to [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], the former four-star runner provided the Sooners with a really good second option out of the backfield.

Last season, Barnes carried the ball 116 times for 519 yards and five touchdowns. That performance have many expecting Barnes to be the lead ball carrier and heading toward a breakout season in 2023.

Jovantae Barnes was ranked No. 2 in Patrick Conn’s College Sports Wire’s list of the top Big 12 running backs for the 2023 college football season.

Barnes is looking to be the next Oklahoma running back that causes headaches for the defense. Last year Eric Gray led the team but with his departure, there is ample opportunity for Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk to show they are ready to carry the load for the Sooners. – Conn, College Sports Wire

Barnes should be the lead back for the Sooners this season, but he could also split some time with [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] in the Oklahoma running backfield. Sawchuk had 15 carries, 100 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown in his extended appearance against Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl. Even if it’s a 50-50 split, there will be more than enough work for Barnes and Sawchuk in an offense that gave running backs 420 carries a year ago.

Barnes is eclipsed in these rankings by only Jonathon Brooks for the Texas Longhorns.

Brooks is projected to be the starter ahead of Keilan Robinson, C.J. Baxter, and Jaydon Blue in that Texas running back room. He only had 30 carries last season and also had 197 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He also had two catches for 37 receiving yards.

If you thought that the Longhorns would have a down year at running back after both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson were drafted, think again. This room is loaded with talent. Jonathon Brooks, Keilan Robinson, C.J. Baxter, and Jaydon Blue all gearing up for their shot. We project Brooks to be the guy and likely have a huge season for Texas. – Conn, College Sports Wire

The Red River Rivalry is going to be a running back showcase for the ages if these two running backs can perform up to these expectations.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

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 Jake on Twitter @jake_faigus

2024 4-Star OL Weston Davis lines up Oklahoma visit

2024 offensive lineman Weston Davis lines up an Oklahoma visit. Davis’ recruitment is heating up with four visits set up this summer.

Weston Davis has picked up steam in the 2024 recruiting class. Depending on which recruiting service you look at, he’s listed as either a three-star or four-star recruit. He’s a 6-foot-5 offensive lineman who weighs 275 pounds out of Beaumont, Texas.

According to On3’s Bill Embody, Davis is expected to make an official visit to Oklahoma on June 9.

Davis is the No. 12 offensive tackle on the 247Sports composite and the No. 8 OT in On3’s industry ranking. Both have Davis as a four-star prospect in the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag].

He’d be another big-time offensive line recruit for offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh to mold. Bedenbaugh has a long track record of helping Sooners get to the NFL. Most recently, Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris were selected in the top 100 of the 2023 NFL draft.

According to the On3 recruiting prediction machine, the Texas A&M Aggies are the leaders for Davis. Beaumont, Texas, is just under three hours from College Station, giving the Aggies the hometown appeal.

When you watch Weston Davis’ high school tape, you see an offensive lineman with a ton of potential. He has a lot of power and athleticism for his size, and that will only get better in college. Davis has natural gifts at the position that will only get better with time.

Weston Davis Recruiting Profile

Film

Via Hudl

Oklahoma Sooners hire former UNT head coach and OU alum Seth Littrell as offensive analyst

Oklahoma Sooners bring back former player and UNT head coach Seth Littrell as an offensive analyst.

The Oklahoma Sooners added to their coaching staff with the addition of former North Texas head coach and Sooners alum, Seth Littrell.

Littrell joins the Sooners staff after seven seasons with the Mean Green. Prior to that he spent time with Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina as an offensive coordinator.

“Great opportunity for us to get better on staff with former Oklahoma Sooner,” Brent Venables said when he met with the media to open media day. “A a guy that’s been around the country and he’s been a head football coach and did a fantastic job while he was at North Texas. And one of my favorite players that I didn’t coach per se, but one of my favorite players, a guy I love having in the locker room.”

Littrell played for the Sooners from 1997 to 2000 and was a member of Oklahoma’s national championship team.

As co-offensive coordinator with Arizona, Littrell helped the Wildcats average 28.2 points per game in 2010 and 30.2 points per game in 2011. As the OC under former Sooners assistant [autotag]Kevin Wilson[/autotag], Littrell helped the Hoosiers average 30.8 points per game in 2012 and 38.4 points per game in 2013.

Then with the Tar Heels in 2014, Littrell’s offense scored 33.2 points per game followed by 40.7 points per game in 2015. In his time at North Texas, the Mean Green averaged fewer than 30 points per game just twice in seven seasons. One of which was his first year at the helm in 2016.

With Littrell’s experience coordinating offenses, he’ll be a huge asset to Jeff Lebby and the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

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 John on Twitter @john9williams.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners’ 28-14 win over Iowa State

What stood out in this week’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners 28-21 win over Iowa State?

It’s always a good feeling to get a win. Though it would be nice to have a blowout win like Michigan, Notre Dame, or Ohio State got, that doesn’t seem to be the way things are going to work for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2021. They seemed destined to play as many close games as possible this season and Saturday was no different.

Oklahoma’s won a lot of football games in the course of their history, so it creates high expectations. But in a sport that’s seeing more and more parity all the time, it’s important to enjoy and cherish each win. With just one regular season game remaining, potentially a Big 12 championship game, and a bowl game, the Sooners may only have as many as three games left this season.

As has been the case for much of this season, it may not have been a complete performance for the Sooners, but they got the win and that’s the most important thing. Now they get set to face Oklahoma State with a chance to clinch their spot in the Big 12 championship game.

But before we look ahead, let’s look go back to Saturday’s win and take a look at this week’s “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” including some bonus “goods.”

Up Next: Is this a Defensive team?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Sooners’ 27-14 loss to Baylor

What stood out in this week’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners 27-14 loss to the Baylor Bears?

In one of the worst performances of Lincoln Riley’s career on the offensive side of the football, the Oklahoma Sooners laid an egg against the Baylor Bears, easily the best team they’ve played thus far.

It was the lowest point total for the Oklahoma Sooners in Lincoln Riley’s tenure. Though they’re 9-1 in 2021, things feel different with this team compared to Sooners’ teams of the past few years.

Though it wasn’t fun to write, let’s dig into this week’s “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

The Good: Brian Asamoah

At least through the first three quarters, the Oklahoma Sooners defense played one of its best games of the year. While the Baylor offense was able to make plays throughout the game, the Sooners defense made strong stands, like the fourth and 2 early in the game, to keep Baylor at bay.

The defense was led by Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Brian Asamoah who had his best game of the season. Per Pro Football Focus, Asamoah finished the day with seven solo tackles, four assisted tackles, five stops, a pressure, and a forced fumble. Most importantly, he didn’t miss a tackle, and though he allowed a 23-yard reception according to PFF, his other reception allowed only went for two yards. Asamoah was the Sooners best player on Saturday on either side of the ball.

Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t help out much on Saturday as they struggled to find any consistency throughout the game.

Up Next: Caleb Williams is Human

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3