Sooners need healthy offensive line to survive first test of the season
The pre-season game last Saturday provided some spectacular results, and some not so spectacular results.
John Mateer showed up and showed out. With little semblance of a running game to lean on, the new Sooner QB proved he is worth whatever NIL money he is being paid.
Throwing for almost 400 yards in his Oklahoma debut and breaking a record set by none other than Sooner great Baker Mayfield, Mateer catapulted himself into at least the top 5 of the Heisman discussion. (Even though any Heisman discussion this early is silly…but still…)
Mateer can’t just throw the ball, he can throw it with great accuracy. And he can throw his receivers open. He doesn’t need them to be wide open without anyone near them.
Add to that his running ability, and it’s not out of the discussion that Oklahoma could be looking at another statue on the east side of the stadium.
An important factor will be going in the Sooner’s favor. As good as this new QB is for Michigan, he is still a true freshman. He will be prone to rookie mistakes.
Of course, it helps tremendously that he has some players that can make some plays on offense this year. After a shaky start fumbling his first reception, converted linebacker, now tight end Jaren Kanak ended up with 90 yards receiving good for second on the team.
Budding star Keontez Lewis took the receiving prize Saturday though, with 119 yards and two touchdowns in his Sooner debut.
Add to that the always solid Deion Burks with another 88 yards and two touchdown, and we have the beginnings of a solid if not great receiving room that was nowhere to be found last year.
Not that everything was coming up roses on the offensive side of the ball. The running game left much to be desired. Humming along at just over three yards a carry will not get it done with much stiffer competition on the horizon.
I do know that three starting offensive linemen were out of the rotation, but given the talent disparity between the two schools, one would have hoped we still could have produced more in the ground game.
We should get back at least two of those starters on the offensive line this week. And we will need them as a huge blue blood match up is set for this weekend when the Michigan Wolverines match up with the Sooners for only the second time in the storied histories of these two giants.
Michigan is coming off a 7-4 record last year, however they beat eventual National Champion Ohio State in Columbus late in the season and Alabama in their bowl game. So, they have been on the upswing.
They do have a true freshman at quarterback this year, but he is tall, strong and can make all the throws.
People say this game will be won in the trenches. And that will be a big part of who takes this contest. But I think an important factor will be going in the Sooner’s favor. As good as this new QB is for Michigan, he is still a true freshman. He will be prone to rookie mistakes.
Whereas the Sooners have a veteran at signal caller who has played a full year as starting quarterback for a Power 5 school.
And he has played well in that role. Very well. And with home field advantage on top of that, Oklahoma deserves to be the favorite in this game.
This is a huge game for the Sooner program to prove that they are finally on firm footing under Brent Venables. As such the Worry Meter is 85% this week. Win this game and I think the Sooners are on their way to a really good season. Lose this game…well..let’s not think about that and just win! With all that being said….BOOMER!! — Dave
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