Oklahoma Sooners News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Oklahoma-Tulsa: One Big Thing

Originally posted on Oklahoma Sooners on SI
By John E. Hoover | Last updated 9/15/23

With Jeff Lebby’s family controversy behind him, the Oklahoma offensive coordinator should be able to focus on finding a way to improve the Sooners’ running game.

Tawee Walker was excellent last week, with a career-high 117 yards on 21 carries.

But Walker is currently the only OU running back averaging more than five yards per carry (5.55). Marcus Major (4.12), Jovantae Barnes (3.60), Kalib Hicks (4.67), Daylan Smothers (2.29) and Gavin Sawchuk (2.0) are all coming in below the 5.0 standard.

As Barnes said on Tuesday, they could all do a better job being elusive.

“I feel like we look pretty good,” Barnes said. “Just one-on-one battles, making people miss — I feel like we can do better on that. Just breaking tackles.”

The tricky part about improving a running game, however, is that it’s not always the running backs’ fault. In fact, most of the symptoms are caused by general problems on the offensive line — lack of communication, instance. It’s not always a blown assignment. Sometimes it’s just a missed step or a wrong angle, or someone misread what the defense was doing or where it was going.

“I mean, in all honesty, we still had a 100-yard rusher, which is still hard in college football, so, you know, it’s pretty good,” said transfer Troy Everett, who plays both center and guard. “But definitely, I think we need to be a little more consistent. I think it just needs to come from all five of us, all six, all 20—however many it is from scout team, all those guys.

“I think it really comes down to everybody being together. Because the more you’re all together, there’s not like one going back and forth; I’m not saying that happens or anything, but the more you’re all together, you feel more comfortable, and you feel like you’re about to get the best out of what you’ve put in.”

Tulsa’s defense — against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and No. 8-ranked Washington — is allowing just 105.5 yards per game on the ground. That’s tied for 49th nationally.

The OU offense, meanwhile — against Arkansas State and SMU — ranks 32nd in the nation in rushing offense, 204.5 yards per game.

Lebby and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh’s scheme won’t be mortally threatened by Tulsa this week. But Big 12 Conference play begins next week at Cincinnati. Iowa State’s stout defense is the week after that, and the Texas game is the week after that.

Working out any remaining kinks now should pay dividends later.