Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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NORMAN — The Tulsa World replies to comments and answers questions from fans and readers on X (formerly Twitter) after Oklahoma’s 44-0 win over Kent State and looking ahead to the Red River Rivalry game against Texas.
@MrEd315: “When was the last time OU came in undefeated against a Texas team dealing with a few losses?”
That would be the 2015 season. OU came to Dallas 4-0, with their wins including the Baker Mayfield miracle comeback at Tennessee. Texas entered 1-4 with losses to Notre Dame, Cal, Oklahoma State and TCU. But the Longhorns got the last laugh at the Cotton Bowl, upsetting the Sooners 24-17. UT rushed for 313 yards in that game, while quarterback Jerrod Heard only threw for 53 yards. It’s definitely not a performance OU wants to let Texas repeat this coming weekend.
@Colts_brigade: “After Texas’ loss to Florida, I am sure the Sooners have to be feeling good heading into the game next Saturday? How do you feel?”
Thanks for asking. Based on those Texas shortcomings against Florida, I think I’d definitely give the edge to the Sooners if John Mateer plays for OU. If Mateer doesn’t play, and it’s Michael Hawkins Jr. leading the offense, I feel far less confident, based on Hawkins’ up-and-down day against Kent State. But, I don’t think it would be impossible for OU to win with Hawkins.
@SoonerMatt7: “If Mateer can’t go, can (Ben) Arbuckle scheme up a good enough offense with Hawkins’ limitations to win Saturday? I know the defense will do its part but can the offense do its part?”
I think there’s reason to believe that, yes, Arbuckle can make it work with Hawkins. He now has all the tape from the Kent State game to see what Hawkins can and can’t do, and he can work off of that. Hawkins is also very sharp and coachable, as Arbuckle attested Saturday.
“He was really, really good and really receptive on the sideline,” Arbuckle said. “It helps having the tablet right there. You can give immediate feedback. ‘Hey, what were you looking at right here? Why’d you go here instead of there? And he was really, really receptive to any coaching that went on, but he was able to articulate what he saw on the field really well.
“And so I thought that was really big time, the fact that he could come off before we even watched the play and be able to articulate what happened. And then you watch it, and it’s like, ‘OK, yeah, I see what you’re talking about right there.’ So, just really receptive and really aware of everything that was going on.”
So, there’s nothing saying that Hawkins can’t fix some of the things he missed before the next game. Or that the offensive line can’t play better, challenging as Texas’ defensive front might be. Nobody expected the OU line to push Alabama’s defense around last year, but they did.
Ultimately, I don’t think Arbuckle will have to, or try to, wholly change the offense like Seth Littrell seemingly did for the Red River Rivalry last year, which is a very good sign. There’s also better talent around Hawkins than at the Cotton Bowl a year ago.
Run the ball. Get Hawkins to quiet his feet and take a little bit off some of his throws. Use him as a runner a little more, too. Get the line to block and get short passes to your playmakers in space. Do all that and you might have something.
@Kemptribe: “If they can get the run game going, OU is ready!”
Indeed, this is crucial. The team with more rushing yards has won the Red River Rivalry game 21 out of 25 times from the 2000 season to now. Fortunately, OU’s run game appeared to be turning the corner with 185 yards and solid performances from Tory Blaylock and Jaydn Ott versus Kent State. Now, was that a mirage against a bad Kent State defense? OU may have a tougher time running it against Texas. We’ll see.
@Boomersooner687: “Our O-line is… never mind.”
Yeah, giving up three sacks against Kent State, probably the least talented defense the Sooners will face this year, is not a good look. OU had only given up five sacks through the first four games coming into the Kent State matchup.
But, keep in mind that, due to injuries, this was the first time OU had its optimal starting offensive line since the Michigan game. I asked Ben Arbuckle about that postgame and he indicated that getting the best lineup together again was important.
“I think it’s really huge,” Arbuckle said. “Again, the offensive line position is all about cohesion and chemistry, so the more that you can get the same group playing together, the more the communication’s going to build, the stronger the communication’s going to get.
“Being on the same page, coming off violent, being a violent offensive line, it’s going to build the more and more you’re around the same guys. I think it’s a big thing for us, and we gotta keep on getting better.”
Now, after seeing the line against Kent State, is this the optimal starting five? Right tackle Derek Simmons got beat a couple times, for one thing. But OU has the depth to make changes and I would expect Arbuckle and Bill Bedenbaugh to do so if they feel the need to.
mason.young@tulsaworld.com
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Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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