Run game means time of possession — and keeps ball away from Alabama
Big road win against the Tennessee Volunteers two weeks ago. Then again, they are all big from here on out if the Sooners want to make the College Football Playoff. Every game is a play off game now.
Oklahoma struggled in the first half with only 99 total yards offense to Tennessee’s 255. But inexplicably, the Sooners led at the half 13-10 thanks to a 71-yard scoop and score by R. Mason Thomas and two field goals by Tate “booty shorts” Sandell, one from 51 yards out, one from 55 yards.
Sandell added a 40 yard and yet another 55-yard field goal by the end of the contest. To me he was the MVP of the game and can wear whatever he wants if those are the results.
The offense finally understood the assignment, running the ball and controlling the clock while the defense found its footing in the second half. Again, big road win in the SEC.
However, biggest comes this Saturday (2:30 pm Central on ABC) when OU rolls into Tuscaloosa and looks to tap the Sooner Magic keg like it’s 2024 and take down the Alabama Crimson Tide.
To me these are two very evenly matched teams. Top defenses in the SEC and middle of the pack offenses. Alabama has the edge on offense and Oklahoma has it on defense.
Of course, Bama has the home field advantage which in a game like this is pretty big.
We need R. Mason Thomas to be back and healthy to rush the QB because they have a good one. (Thomas was listed as “questionable” on Wednesday’s SEC Availability Report). They also have good receivers…and running backs..and…well they have good everything.
After the season opening loss to FSU, they have righted the ship and are back to being Alabama.
But the Sooners have good everything too. They will have to put it all together early. They won’t have time to see what the Crimson Tide are doing and adjust.
They need to be on top of them from jump street.
Defense needs to get off the field on 3rd downs, and the offense needs to control the time of possession by running the ball like they did in the second half against Tennessee.
But they can’t wait for the second half. Big game in Tuscaloosa means a high Worry Meter this week at 95%.
At the beginning of the year, I thought 8-4 would be all that OU might be capable of with this schedule. But now I see the Sooners are capable of much more.
With all that being said…BOOMER!!!
-Dave
Dave is a diehard Sooner, prone to the anxiety that comes with knowing too much about the team and sharing all the ups and downs with like minded fans also steeped in crimson and cream
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