Tag: Robert Congel

‘They played physical’: Offensive line provides a lift in the Sooners run game

Oklahoma’s offensive line has a strong showing, helping the Sooners rack up more than 250 yards rushing in the loss to Florida State.

Oklahoma’s matchup with Florida State was going to be a difficult one upfront. The Seminoles came into the Cheez-It Bowl with a top-20 defense and boasted a really good group up front.

With [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] out due to injury and [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag] opting out, the Sooners started several players that were backups for much of the season in their 35-32 loss to the Seminoles.

Making their first starts were [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag] and [autotag]Savion Byrd[/autotag]. [autotag]Aaryn Parks[/autotag] took over for Sexton, who was injured on the first drive of the game, and received his first extended action in a Sooners uniform. [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] made just the fifth start of his career. [autotag]Robert Congel[/autotag] and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] were the only players up front that had started more than Guyton’s five games coming into 2022. Congel, who’d been a backup to Raym for most of the season, was starting his third straight game to close 2022.

It wasn’t always pretty. Oklahoma struggled in pass protection at times, but the Sooners’ offensive line helped OU have a great day on the ground, rushing for more than 250 yards. True freshmen Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk each ran for more than 100 yards. It was the first time since 1985 that the Sooners had a pair of freshmen run for more than 100 yards in a game.

The Seminoles came into the game allowing only 148 rushing yards per game at 3.9 yards per carry. Against a tough Florida State team, the offensive line rose to the occasion.

“The guys up front, they played physical, they played with purpose,” coach Brent Venables said after the loss. “The players played with a tremendous amount of physicality and toughness that we’ve asked from them. Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh did a great job getting these guys ready. … I love the sense of desperation they played with up front.”

The Sooners received a sneak peek of what the future holds at offensive line in 2023. Certainly, there will be questions about how they performed in pass protection, but their work in the ground game was fantastic.

Take the sacks out of the equation, and the Sooners rushed for 289 yards at 5.9 yards per attempt.

It was a strong showing for guys getting their first extended playing time at the college level. With three starting jobs up for grabs as Harrison, Morris, and Murray head to the NFL, the offensive line’s efforts in the Cheez-It Bowl provided the start to the retooling process upfront.

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Report Card: Sooners defense can’t hold up in finale vs. Texas Tech

Oklahoma’s defense was unable to get stops at the end as the Sooners fell 51-48 to Texas Tech. From @thatmanbryant

With an opportunity to solidify themselves above .500, Oklahoma traveled to Lubbock, Texas to take on the Texas Tech Raiders. Texas Tech took the first couple of punches from the Sooners on the chin before fighting their way back into the game. The game would eventually go to overtime, where a missed Zach Schmit field goal would lead to Texas Tech kicking the game-winner for a 51-48 victory to leave the Sooners at 6-6 for the regular season.

It was far from a horrible performance for the team as a whole, but it followed a similar script we’ve seen too many times this year. Oklahoma came out on fire before they eased up and let the other team back in the game.

The offense did a magnificent job from the opening snap, while the defense and special teams left a bit to be desired.

Here’s our report card from the Sooners’ loss to Texas Tech.

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Offensive line dominant in Oklahoma’s 52-point explosion vs. Kansas

The Oklahoma Sooners offensive line played a great game, keeping Dillon Gabriel clean and paving the way for a big rushing day.

It’s been brewing for some time, but the Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive line was absolutely dominant in the Sooners’ 52-42 win over Kansas on Saturday. The skill-position guys get the stats, but the guys up front paved the way.

According to Pro Football Focus, including the sack, Dillon Gabriel was only pressured three times in the win. Kansas’ sack leader Lonnie Phelps only played 15 snaps, limited due to injury, but the Sooners front didn’t allow anyone else to get to Dillon Gabriel either.

That pass protection helped Gabriel stand comfortably in the pocket on his way to a 403-yard passing day with two touchdowns.

In the running game, the offensive line paved the way for a Sooners rushing attack that had more than 300 yards on the ground until Oklahoma kneeled down to close out the game in the final minutes. As a unit they helped the run game average 5.2 yards per carry five touchdowns. They provided the path for Eric Gray to have a monster day. Gray ran for 176 yards, averaged 8.8 yards per carry, and scored twice.

“Yeah, it’s, again, been one of our best units all season,” Venables said after the win. “They played well again today. And Kansas doesn’t do a whole lot. They’re pretty vanilla. So, from a mental standpoint, a scheme standpoint, what you see is what you get. And when they do bring pressure, they show it. So, not to take anything away from our guys. It’s about putting hats on people, and there’s fundamentals, and there’s a physical strain, you got to move people and hat them up the right way and gain leverage and pass pro, all those things. So, they played really well today. That was a huge part of our offensive success, obviously.”

Four of Oklahoma’s starting offensive linemen played all 101 snaps in the game. Left guard snaps were split between Robert Congel (60) and McKade Mettauer (41). Anton Harrison, Chris Murray, and Congel didn’t allow a pressure against the Jayhawks.

The Sooners had eight runs of 10 yards or more in the game and helped the Sooners convert 76% of their third downs.

On the Sooners’ second-to-last drive of the game, the offensive line came up big. The Sooners ran 16 plays on the drive, the Sooners threw the ball just one time and picked up 3rd and 2 or less on three straight occasions. They had a chance to keep the drive going, but a 2nd and 4 loss of two yards put the Sooners behind the chains, and Jovantae Barnes couldn’t pick up the first down on 3rd and 6, gaining four yards before Brent Venables opted for the field goal to make it a three-score game.

The Sooners ran 101 plays on Saturday against the Jayhawks, and a big reason Oklahoma was able to stay on the field was the play of their offensive line. They kept Dillon Gabriel largely untouched and created room for Eric Gray and Jovantae Barnes to put together big games on the ground.

It was a strong performance for the Sooners as they head into the bye before preparing for their road trip to Ames. They’ll get a stiff test against an Iowa State defense that’s one of the best in the country.

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Oklahoma Sooners 6th in ESPN’s future offense power rankings

The Oklahoma Sooners land at No. 6 in ESPN’s future offense power rankings.

As spring practice rages on for the Oklahoma Sooners, they’re in the midst of a turnover in the offensive system. Coming from Ole Miss, Jeff Lebby’s installing his up-tempo offense that has typically been in the top five in plays ran during his tenures with the Rebels and UCF.

Even with the turnover that Oklahoma experienced, they remain in great shape in 2022 and in the future on the offensive side of the football.

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN released his future offense power rankings for 2022. In 2021, the Oklahoma Sooners were first in the country, buoyed by former top quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams and a host of talented players. A third-place finish in the Big 12, a coaching change, and a transfer portal cycle later, the Oklahoma Sooners are now sixth in the updated rankings for 2022, just one spot behind the USC Trojans.

Let’s explore what Rittenberg had to say about the Oklahoma Sooners offense and its future.

2022 spring preview: Projecting the offensive depth chart for the Oklahoma Sooners

Projecting the offensive depth chart with spring ball right around the corner for the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners are less than a week away from the start of spring ball, and with everything that’s gone on over the last few months, getting on the practice field will feel like a breath of fresh air. Though workouts have been going on, this will be the first opportunity for the team to get the pads on and get to work preparing for the 2022 season.

The biggest question is how quickly can players adopt the new offensive and defensive systems Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby want to install? Veterans Dillon Gabriel, Marvin Mims, Theo Wease and Brayden Willis will help the Sooners adopt Lebby’s system, but the quicker they can understand it, the better the work on the field will be.

With Lebby comes a new influence on how the offensive depth chart will look. With what we know now, let’s look at our first depth chart projection of the spring for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma adds Cal OL transfer McKade Mettauer

Oklahoma picked up another transfer portal addition as Cal offensive lineman McKade Mettauer announced he has committed to the Sooners.

New Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables said in his Early Signing Day press conference that he wouldn’t be bashful adding talent via the transfer portal.

The past two weeks have backed that statement up.

Former Cal offensive lineman McKade Mettauer announced this morning that he has committed to Oklahoma.

The 6-foot-4, 305 pound junior offensive lineman has played in all 29 of Cal’s games over the past three seasons and started 28 of those games for the Golden Bears at right guard.

Mettauer will have two years of eligibility remaining when he arrives at Oklahoma. The Woodlands, Texas, product signed with Cal in the 2019 class and was ranked as a three-star prospect according to 247Sports.

Mettauer earned All-Pac-12 second-team status from Pro Football Focus and he was also an honorable mention selection by the Pac-12 coaches for his play this season.

The junior was one of the key cogs that helped Cal’s offense record three 500-plus yard days of total offense this season (636 at Stanford, 534 vs. Sacramento State, 517 vs. Oregon State).

Mettauer and the Golden Bears’ offensive line also paved the way for four 200-plus yard rushing games for Cal this season (352 at Stanford, 255 vs. Oregon State, 246 vs. Sacramento State, 213 vs. Colorado).

It adds immediate, experienced depth for Venables and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh to work with entering the 2022 season.

Oklahoma also secured a commitment from Missouri tight end Daniel Parker Jr. out of the transfer portal last week.

This marks the third year in a row that OU has brought in a transfer offensive lineman from the Pac-12. In 2020, Oklahoma added its current starter at right guard in Chris Murray from UCLA. Redshirt senior Robert Congel has played in seven games and started five at center for the Sooners this season since transferring in from Arizona.

Junior offensive tackle Wanya Morris transferred to Oklahoma from Tennessee and has played in six games for the Sooners this season.

Oklahoma has already signed a pair of four-star offensive tackles in its 2022 class, Jake Taylor from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nev., and Jacob Sexton from Deer Creek in Edmond, Okla.

247Sports’ Parker Thune also pointed out that Mettauer is the older brother of 2024 quarterback prospect Mabrey Mettauer.

It’s worth noting that Mettauer is also the brother of 2024 quarterback prospect Mabrey Mettauer, a 6-foot-5 pro-style passer who already holds offers from the likes of Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Miami and Arizona State. Is this an indication that the Sooners may extend an offer to the younger Mettauer down the road? Time will tell, but one way or another, the elder Mettauer figures to play an immediate role in stabilizing an Oklahoma offensive line that had its struggles in 2021. – Thune, 247Sports

Venables addressed his approach to adding players from the transfer portal on Dec. 15 during his Early Signing Period press conference.

“We’ve got tremendous numbers to continue to build our roster and meet our needs. There’s a number of positions on the team that through attrition and some of the things that have taken place, they need to be addressed sooner rather than later, so we are certainly looking at transfer options. We’ve spoken to a few already and trying to vet those guys.

“The biggest thing is trying to again bring value to our locker room. Certainly meet the needs that we have from a functional standpoint where maybe experience lacks or playmaking lacks, but it’s very important that we do a great job of vetting the type of people that we’re bringing into that locker room because we’re trying to build a culture and protect the culture, continue to enhance the culture. It starts with making good decisions with those people,” Venables said.

In the form of Daniel Parker Jr. from Missouri and McKade Mettauer from Cal, it appears the Sooners have already found a pair of transfer players that Venables feels adds to the culture he’s looking to build at Oklahoma.

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3 key offensive players to watch for Oklahoma as they take on Oklahoma State

Take a look at the three key offensive players for Oklahoma as they get set to take on the Cowboys of Oklahoma State.

In the state of Oklahoma, two top-10 football programs are setting themselves up to fight an absolute brawl of a football game for in-state supremacy and ultimately decide one school’s fate as it pertains to the College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma dispatched of Iowa State last week behind their now healthy defense which is filled with playmakers at all three levels again. Offensively, they remained in a funk due in part to the play of their talented, yet unseasoned true freshman quarterback who seems gunshy right now.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State sports one of the nation’s best defenses. Oklahoma State has allowed one offensive touchdown in its last four games, allowing less than six points per game in four games since losing to Iowa State.

Oklahoma will simply have to make plays to win this game. Do we expect this to be a typical Big 12 track meet reminiscent of the Big 12 in the 2010’s? No.

It’s actually possible it looks like a Big 10 game eclipsing no more than 25 points on each side, but, regardless, the Sooners will have to sustain drives and hope to wear down this Oklahoma State defense which will be invigorated by being at home.

Who are the key cogs in Oklahoma’s attack this week? Check them out below.

Robert Congel/Andrew Raym, Center

While no real confirmation has come out about starter Andrew Raym missing this game, we’ll operate under the pretense that he does and, if so, that means more Robert Congel who replaced Raym in the Iowa State game when he went down with the ankle sprain.

Congel helped open some major holes in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma salted away the game and could do the same if Oklahoma leans heavily on the run against the Cowboys. If Raym plays, the same will be required of him.

Ultimately, this is less about the player and more about the position. The center has to win at the point of attack or this veteran and talented front seven is going to maul the Sooners and put them in unfavorable down and distance situations which currently is not a place you want a true freshmen quarterback going through a slump on the road.

Jadon Haselwood, Wide Receiver

Choosing Haselwood instead of the other receivers was really hard simply for the fact that the receivers as a unit need to step up. They go up against a physical and tough Cowboys’ pass defense ranked 10th in the country.

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles plays a 4-2-5 and it’s going to require some individuals to win at the line of scrimmage or go up and make a play to come out on top. Haselwood has a been a favorite of Williams since he’s taken over the spot.

They’ve connected on four touchdowns and if Williams is to break through, it’ll be because his favorite target made some major catches and plays for him. Another aspect of Haselwood’s game that simply won’t get enough credit is his run-blocking ability out wide. It’s opened up bigger plays for his team in almost every game. Look for that to be a factor as well.

Kennedy Brooks, Running Back

Kennedy enters this game as the bellcow of the Sooners’ offense. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that unless Riley opts to air it out, Brooks will be featured early and often.

The Sooners need a sturdy 100-plus yards from Brooks. He may not be the sexiest runner or the fastest, but he makes things easier for others with his production. They will need that production to keep this offense from getting too far off schedule.

They haven’t shown the proficiency needed to believe they can survive this game while getting into third and longs too often. With Brooks naturally toting the ball the most, he could see some action in the passing game where he can play a role catching or in pass protection trying to neutralize guys like star Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.

The bottom line is this: the Sooners don’t have to become the Baker/Kyler era offense to win games because of how well the Sooners can play defensively when healthy. However, they need to make the plays when presented to them and limit the opportunities their defense has to bail them out of poor field position after too many failed drives. If that happens, the Sooners will be knocking on the door of a win come the fourth quarter.

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Report Card: Defense earns highest marks as they stymie Breece Hall and the Iowa State Cyclones

The defense leads the way in this week’s report card after a sturdy and strong performance in a must-win game for the Sooners.

The Sooners won a rock fight with Iowa State 28-21, largely behind the inspired play of their defense. A unit who has found their swagger since getting back some major pieces from injury.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side of things, the Sooners have hit a wall of sorts behind their true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. Unlike the week prior against Baylor, he made enough plays to help get the offense over the finish line.

Ultimately, the Sooners walked away victors and with a chance to fight for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game.

As the page flips from Iowa State to the biggest Bedlam matchup in recent memory, we should close out the Iowa State week by passing out our grades for the Sooners 28-21 win over the Cyclones. .

Pro Football Focus puts the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line in top 10 ahead of week 11

The Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is trending in the right direction and was one of Pro Football Focus’ top 10 offensive lines heading into week 11.

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It may have taken a few weeks to settle in, but the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is trending in the right direction for the stretch run of the 2021 college football season.

The Sooners offensive line took a while to find its groove, for the most part, because the coaching staff couldn’t settle on their primary five players up front. Though Andrew Raym didn’t start against Texas Tech, he is still the starter at center and played 44 snaps to Robert Congel’s 12.

Anton Harrison has taken control of the left tackle job, while veterans Marquis Hayes, Chris Murray, and Tyrese Robinson fill out the rest of the offensive line.

It’s a group that still has some work to do in the running game as they prepare for their toughest tests of the season, with Baylor, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State coming in the next three weeks. However, they’re trending in the right direction and land at No. 8 in Anthony Treash’s top 10 offensive line units over at Pro Football Focus, heading into week 11.

Oklahoma claims a top-10 spot for the work its offensive line has done in pass-protection. The Sooners actually have the highest-graded offensive line in the Power Five on true pass sets this season. Harrison and Robinson have been the standout performers on such plays, ranking fifth and ninth respectively among all Power Five offensive linemen in true pass set grade. Those two have given the Sooners the highest-graded tackle tandem in the FBS ahead of Week 11.

It’s their work as pass blockers, which has set the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line apart. Since Caleb Williams took over in the Texas game, the Sooners offensive line has allowed just five sacks of their true freshman quarterback.

With the best defenses in the Big 12 coming on the schedule, Caleb Williams and the Oklahoma Sooners need the offensive line to be at its best starting this week against Baylor. They’ll have to clean up the penalties that have plagued this team and get better in the run game. However, giving Caleb Williams time to throw is the most important thing they can do. Because when he has the time, he’s bound to make magic happen.

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Which under-the-radar Sooner can make an offensive impact vs. WVU?

Which under-the-radar Sooner can make an offensive impact in week 4?

This week, we find our under-the-radar player in the middle of Oklahoma’s offensive line. With the first three weeks of the college football season in the books, the spotlight slowly begins to shift toward position groups that have yet to declare a bonafide starter.

 Lincoln Riley told the media that he feels the offensive line will come together just fine, and Bryant Crews of Sooners Wire believes Andrew Raym gives the offense its best chance for success. 

In the second quarter of the Nebraska game, he replaced Robert Congel to start a drive and the Sooners immediately ripped off a 22-yard run in a game that saw them run the ball the best they had all season.

Raym, a sophomore, has all the natural talent in the world, and if the past game versus Nebraska was any indication, he can help take this line to another level. It remains to be seen who will get the start, but replacing Congel mid-game and not relinquishing the spot seems like a real possibility.

Does Raym give the Sooners their best chance vs. a sturdy West Virginia run defense?

Through three games, the Mountaineers are allowing a meager 2.6 yards per rushing attempt. That could be trouble for a Sooners’ offense that needed every inch of its 194 rushing yards to beat Nebraska. West Virginia has been winning the line of scrimmage with a cast of various players, as linebackers, defensive backs, and linemen have all found ways to push the ball backward.

Player TFLs Yards Lost
Jared Bartlett, LB 3.5 20
Alonzo Addae, S 3.0 11
Jackie Matthews, DL 2.5 13

Whether Raym or Robert Congel gets the start on Saturday, their performance is crucial to a Sooners win. The ability to hold up inside against lineman or extra box defenders could give Rattler the opportunity he needs to jumpstart the engine of Oklahoma’s passing game. 

Or, worst-case scenario, if big plays don’t appear downfield, the Sooners may need to fight through the teeth of West Virginia’s run defense or beat it horizontally. 

Either way, Andrew Raym’s play on Saturday or the impact of his absence makes him an under-the-radar candidate.

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