Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tulsa coach Tre Lamb stood in a dingy locker room under the north end zone stands of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and took full responsibility for the Hurricane’s 45-7 loss to Memphis, the severity of which he didn’t see coming.
“I think there’s a lot of confidence that was lost tonight, and I’ve got to get that back,” Lamb said. “I thought we had our best practice of the year Wednesday, maybe since I’ve been here.
“So I don’t think there’s a lack of preparation. I think we got punched in the mouth a little bit early.”
TU enters its first off week of the season at a crossroads. The Hurricane is 2-4 overall and all but mathematically eliminated from American Conference championship contention after an 0-3 start. But TU’s three league losses are to teams that are a combined 15-1 and 6-0.
The schedule looks to get easier — the Hurricane’s final five conference foes are currently 12-13 and 4-5, while Oregon State is 0-6. But for the first time this season against the Tigers, TU didn’t look capable of taking advantage of that easier schedule.
“We played poorly in every phase, 100% on me,” Lamb said. “Couldn’t think of a phase we played well in, couldn’t think of a whole lot we did well tonight. We got our butts kicked by a good football team.
“They’re not that much better than us, but they’re good.”
Here are three observations as TU heads into an off week:
Time off can’t come soon enough
There had been one that got away (New Mexico State), a second half that got away (Navy) and a defensive line that got loose (Tulane).
But on Saturday, TU looked like the weight of the schedule and of four losses in five games was starting to take its toll.
We’ll get specifically into the quarterback situation in a little bit, but the TU offense is hapless at the moment. Coming into the game, TU was 108th in the nation in scoring offense and underperformed that ranking Saturday.
Memphis took TU running back Dominic Richardson and receiver Zion Booker out of the game. Receiver Micah Tease stepped into the void, but that wasn’t enough.
Perhaps the biggest concern — TU averaged 1.3 yards per carry in the first half against a team Lamb thought it had the advantage against in the run game.
The Hurricane did play without starting offensive lineman Cam East, but in consecutive weeks its running threat was mostly eliminated by a superior defense.
The good news: TU has until Oct. 16 to get things figured out.
“Yeah, I do,” Lamb said when asked if he thinks the off week comes at a good time. “I think we’ve kind of put the hard teams on our schedule behind us.
“We’re halfway through and 2-4 sounds awful. But we have done some good things. I do think we’ve got better days ahead.”
TU back to drawing board at quarterback
Lamb is in a tough spot when it comes to his starting quarterback. Sophomore Kirk Francis is the better thrower. Freshman transfer Baylor Hayes is the better runner. But so far, neither has been good enough.
Francis, who started the season opener, returned for the first time in three-plus games against Memphis after suffering a concussion against New Mexico State. He made a highlight reel throw on a 34-yard touchdown to Micah Tease, but ended 20-of-34 for 175 yards and three interceptions.
“It was a great feeling being out there with the team again,” Francis said. “It felt great to get some snaps, get hit a little bit, throw a touchdown to Micah Tease. I feel like we’re really sticking stuff in the right direction.”
Lamb said Francis got the start over Hayes, who had started the previous three games, because he had a much better week of practice. Lamb has been consistent in wanting to stick with one quarterback, so the next week-plus of practice figures to have a lot to say about the situation going forward.
“We’ve got a few days to work on it,” Lamb said. “We’ll have a plan in place, and play the guy that gives us the best chance to win. I don’t know that playing Baylor would have been a whole lot different tonight because we didn’t play well around him.
“I don’t want it to come back and forth all year. I’ve been pretty clear with that.
I want to stick with the guy the last six games and have some momentum into next season, have a chance to make a bowl this year.”
Little things starting to unravel for Hurricane
The most disconcerting thing about Saturday’s loss was TU did a lot of the little things that define what losing football teams look like.
Special teams breakdowns: TU missed a short field goal in the second quarter that could have cut the Memphis margin to 7-3. Right before halftime, the Hurricane muffed a kickoff and started a drive at its own 2. The error, which was later compounded by a turnover, helped the Tigers take a 28-7 lead into halftime.
Being loose with the football: Francis threw three interceptions, although one was tipped. Two of those three turnovers led to Memphis touchdowns, as did a fourth-quarter fumble by running back Ajay Allen.
Poor tackling: TU missed nearly 20 tackles against the Tigers, its worse tackling performance of the season. Memphis runners too often turned modest gains into confidence-crushing escapes.
It was the first time this season TU consistently made the mistakes you associate with bad teams, eroding a lot of the good feelings built by the win over Oklahoma State and the overall more competent look of these Hurricane.
“I think we’re playing hard, which is what losing coaches say,” Lamb said. “I hate that. You’ve got to play hard, and you’ve got to play well.
“And we’re going to get that done, and I have no doubt we’ll play better these last six.”
sports@tulsaworld.com
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Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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