Tag: Spencer Ratter

3 Players who helped the Oklahoma Sooners knock off Nebraska, 23-16

It wasn’t always pretty, but Oklahoma grabbed the win over Nebraska on Saturday. Here are 3 Sooners who helped them get there.

Many people (myself included) expected Nebraska to buckle under the pressure of Oklahoma’s pass rush in the Sooners’ 23-16 win over the Cornhuskers. That only kind of happened. Ultimately, the Sooners defensive front did seal the win, sacking quarterback Adrian Martinez twice in the final four plays. But not before Nebraska gave OU everything it could handle for the first 59 minutes of the game. 

“A win is a win.” And while the Crimson and Cream won’t receive style points for how they took care of business, they finish non-conference play with a spotless 3-0 record.

Here are three Sooners that helped them get there:

Jadon Haselwood, Wide Receiver 

Jadon Haselwood caught Spencer Rattler’s first target of the game for a six-yard gain. He would finish with a team-high nine targets while catching two of three contested balls per Pro Football Focus. Through three games, it is evident that Rattler has big plans for the redshirt sophomore this season.

His six receptions against the Cornhuskers were a game-high. Haselwood continues to leave his fingerprints on the Sooners’ passing attack as both a blocker and a receiver.

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This under the radar receiver could make an impact vs WCU

This Sooner had the best game of his career in week one. He could take his next step tonight versus Western Carolina

The Sooners enter tonight’s game against Western Carolina without the services of Theo Wease, who is anticipated to miss several weeks with a lower leg injury. While Oklahoma’s receiving corp is at its best with Wease on the field, his absence allows other Sooners further down the depth chart to make an impact on game day.

Last week, Mario Williams and Jadon Haselwood did a nice job replacing Wease’s production in OU’s 40-35 victory over Tulane. The tandem combined for 10 catches and 84 yards against the Green Wave, with Williams scoring his first career touchdown behind solid blocking by Haselwood. 

But while Williams and Haselwood were complimenting No. 1 option Marvin Mims, another Sooner was having his own career day against Tulane. 

Brian Darby had just one catch in eight games played in 2020. The 6-0 wide out comfortably surpassed last season’s total with three catches for 26 yards in week one. 

Quarterback Spencer Rattler looked toward Darby in numerous third-down situations. The sophomore moved the chains on 3rd and 12 in the first quarter before picking up four yards on 3rd and six in the second. Rattler attempted to connect with Darby on another third down midway through the third quarter but would sail the ball over the receiver’s head. 

Spencer Rattler’s readiness to target Darby on numerous third downs against Tulane could indicate his trust for the second-year Sooner. Tonight’s game against the Catamounts should provide a clearer picture of how Oklahoma plans to use Darby this season.

Lincoln Riley says Spencer Rattler, Austin Stogner are ‘fine’ after injuries in Kansas game

What could’ve been disaster to Oklahoma’s chances at its sixth-straight Big 12 Championship has been avoided. Two injured players are fine.

What could’ve been disaster to Oklahoma’s chances at its sixth-straight Big 12 Championship has been avoided.

Spencer Rattler went down with a hip injury and was removed from the game against Kansas before returning for the next three drives, two of which coming after halftime. It was clear at the time he wasn’t near 100 percent and was laboring through the game.

“It was just a little sore,” said Lincoln Riley after the game about Rattler. “I think just trying to get through and finish on his throws, you could tell it was affecting him just a little bit. He was able at the end of his game to start getting it loosened back up and started throwing the ball fine again there at the end. He was fine. Had he not been, had the game not been out of hand, we certainly would have left him in.”

“Yeah, I got hit pretty good on my hip,” Rattler said after the game. “So, my hip pointer, just under my rib cage. It just kinda feels like a bad bruise. I couldn’t really finish … you could tell, I didn’t have any of my power the whole second half, and after that on some of the completions as well. I was probably playing at 50 percent, but sometimes you gotta toughen it out and go out there and just help the team in whatever way you can, but luckily, nothing serious. Just a bruise.”

Austin Stogner also went down in the game and was actually removed from the game and went to the locker room. It appeared his injury was a lower body injury.

Riley alleviated any concern about the two’s health for the game against Oklahoma State in two weeks.

“Oh, I mean, they’re both fine,” he said. “If we played this week, they’d both be fine. So we’ll use it to our advantage, but it wouldn’t be a determining factor on them playing or not.”

Oklahoma is on a bye week before playing Oklahoma State on Nov. 21 in Norman, Oklahoma.

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What Kansas State’s Chris Klieman said about Spencer Rattler, playing at Oklahoma

There is a scheduled game to take place in Norman, Oklahoma, this week and it’s the opener of Big 12 Conference play. 

There is a scheduled game to take place in Norman, Oklahoma, this week and it’s the opener of Big 12 Conference play.

Oklahoma welcomes in Chris Klieman and Kansas State, who pulled off one of the true stunners in college football in 2020. The Wildcats were more than three touchdown underdogs at home before prevailing at the end 48-41.

Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson returns as well as did most of the Wildcat defense, but Klieman is still breaking in almost a brand new offensive line. They suffered their first loss of the season in the opener in a major upset to Arkansas State 35-31.

Oklahoma did not lose its opener to FCS Missouri State, but the Sooners will be tested differently in week two. Spencer Rattler threw for 290 passing yards and four touchdowns in his starting debut as well as the defense pitched a shutout. Kansas State, despite its issues with COVID-19, will be a much tougher test for the Sooners.

Here is what Klieman said on Tuesday during his weekly press conference about Rattler and playing on the road at Oklahoma.

SPENCER RATTLER:

“Well, we have limited film, but just the fact that he’s working under Lincoln Riley, you know he’s going to be a great player ’cause Lincoln is as good as there is at coaching quarterbacks. I think he has tremendous arm strength. I think he does a great job of reading defenses, looking people off, knowing where he is going with the football. He’s an extremely good athlete. They didn’t run him and they didn’t need to run him much against Missouri State, but I know just doing some research, he can beat you with his feet as well as his arm. I know he’s a young player, but boy, I’ve been so impressed with his skillset.”

PLAYING ON THE ROAD AT OKLAHOMA IN A LIMITED CAPACITY:

“It’s a good question. I’ve not been to Norman before. Obviously seen a bunch of games on television. It’s still a home field for them. It’s still a home field advantage. The noise factor is not what it’s going to be what it typically is, but I’m sure as tight as those sidelines are that the noise will be a factor. So, something we have to practice for. But I think that’s going to be the kind of the interesting thing as you go across all these places and people coming here is what is the environment, and how do your kids adjust to it? Whether it’s very little crowd to no crowd or to 22,000 and the crowd noise that could come with that. I think every week will be a different adventure there.”

Oklahoma and Kansas State are scheduled to kickoff at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday from Norman, Oklahoma.

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