Oklahoma Offense: Failing To Plan Or Planning To Fail?
by ccmachine on Nov 21, 2011 4:52 PM CST
in Oklahoma Sooners Football
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Oklahoma's two losses this season can be pinned squarely on the defense, particularly the secondary, but that doesn't necessarily absolve the offense from their short comings. The bottom line is, when you score 38 points it should be enough to win against Texas Tech and Baylor. However, why settle for 38 points when you could have more? That's exactly what the Sooners did in both losses by failing to execute an effective offensive game plan in the first half.
Saturday night in Waco was an extension of what we saw a month ago in Norman when OU lost to Texas Tech. The Bears have one of the worst run defenses in the Big XII and just like the Tech game the Sooners failed to exploit it. Not counting the "Belldozer" plays Oklahoma called 26 running plays for the entire game against one of the worst defenses in the conference. The result was 143 yards and a 5.5 yards per carry average. That would be a significant mark of success had it not been for a couple factors.
1) It wasn't enough! Oklahoma was always within striking distance and at one point carried the momentum and the lead. When your running backs are gashing the defense to the tune of 5.5 yards per carry why limit them to just 26 total carries? Just to be clear, when we're talking about a 5.5 yard per carry average is equates to a rushing attack that's unstoppable. More carries would have resulted in longer sustained drives, more scores and less time that the Baylor offense was on the field.
2) I'm sure that by all accounts Brennan Clay is s superb human being and model citizen. However, at this point he's not the answer at running back and quite frankly shouldn't be in the equation. I don't want to get into bagging on this kid because he has suffered some injuries throughout his career and I'm not sure he's 100% right now. All I'm going to say is this - Brandon Williams 8.7 YPC, Roy Finch 5.6 YPC, Trey Millard 4.0 YPC, Brennan Clay 3.5 YPC.
Then there's the issue of the slow starts this offense has gotten off to in their two losses. They had 7 points at the half of the Tech game and 10 Saturday night against Baylor. To their credit they've been able to get things rolling in the second half on both occasions but the ability to make in-game adjustments instead of having to wait until the half has been costly. Leaving points on the board in the first half has directly contributed to close losses rather than close wins. Its a disturbing trend!
The offensive stats aren't bad. The Sooners scored and racked up over 600 yards. In his first game without Ryan Broyles, Landry Jones completed almost 71% of his passes and threw for 447 yards. The problem is that the game plan set up to strike quickly and keep pace with Baylor instead of exploiting their struggles against the rush and keeping the Sooner defense off the field. Here's a perfect example...
At the 9:50 mark of the third quarter Oklahoma was in complete control of the game. They had outscored Baylor 14-0 to this point of the half and had just fielded a punt from the Bears while holding a 24-17 lead. Another Sooner touchdown coming off a time consuming drive would have pretty much put the Sooners in position to have this game put away. Instead here's what happened - Oklahoma passed the ball five times over the next three plays and punted it back to Baylor with less than two minutes taken off the clock. That one run, by the way, was a 13-yard scamper by Roy Finch.
For the most part the offensive players did what they were asked to do. Sure there were some mistakes (Trey Franks fumbled, Landry Jones threw a pick and the o-line gave up two sacks) but there's no way you can convince me that the offensive game plan put them in position to succeed. When it comes to offense, this one is on the coaches and not the players. Either they failed to adequately game plan for Baylor or failed to plan at all.
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Here's my thing: the defense is struggling.
Put Millard (I said it how many times) in front & grind out some yards. Not hard.
The defense carried this team in 2009, sometimes the “o” needs to step up & do a little more….
I'm spinning that hit from OU JJ
She has said it before and I was thinking the same thing – why not throw Bell out there a couple times outside the red zone (maybe even on a 4th and 2???) – worst case scenario he picks up a couple first downs, but we grind out 3-4 minutes. The way the secondary was playing that’s like saving 4 TDs! (thanks – I’ll be here all week)
Even crazier – have him throw a little swing pass or something to keep them honest or have the receivers clear one side of the field and have him heave a long one to Stills to keep the defense from completely stacking the box. Let Millard catch a pass out of the backfield and grind the defender into dust.
But even if those are crazy ideas, then just alternate Finch and Williams until we crush their spirit. Mix in some swing passes – or even better shovel passes – to keep LJ paying attention and then finish them off with the Belldozer.
I don’t think this will work in all games – I need to check the YPC in the Tech game, but against Baylor it certainly seemed like we could have established the running game to a higher degree and helped out the D by keeping them off the field for an extended period of time.
I do have to give them credit for changing things up in the red zone – it took too long, but at least they did something about it. Now hopefully they think about how the O can carry the D by grinding out some drives.
I don't even care if it's the dozer....
During the game, it obvious, every time Millard was lead blocking particularly to the wide side, we picked up yards…. 3-4 at a clip, you get 3rd down?!?! You get bell dozed….
by OU JJ on Nov 21, 2011 7:13 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
The Dallas Cowboys
had an amazing rushing attack a few years ago. Julius Jones could do some damage to the opposing defense and wear them out. Then, Marion Barber would come in especially during the fourth quarter or inside the opponents 30 and bust for a big run, because he ran hard and they were tired.
We have that potential. Williams and Finch alone is enough, but Millard gives us that amazing bruiser. Why aren’t we using it? Remember against Kansas St. when Millard ran for 61 yards on a defense that was tired? Our running game could dominate every team, and it could break LSU, but we have never used it when it was most needed and we have no shot at the title because of it.
I agree that the offense needed to put more
points on the board, particularly in the first half, which would have made all the difference in the world, but the game plan was not at fault. Look at the first 5 drives of the game. In each case we mowed down the field, easily moving the ball and yet only came away with 10 points. That’s not the fault of the game plan. In fact I’d argue it shows the game plan was excellently thought out. Here’s the details:
first drive: move right down the field, ends with beautifully open td pass to Kameel. Nulified by quirky crack back block. Both Finch and the center did what they were supposed to do, but the timing just happened to coincide, a second off either way and it’s not an infraction. good call, nobody’s fault, really. Now were backed up and it’s 3rd and 28 and we don’t convert, But as far as the game plan went, it was mow down the field for wide open td.
second drive; mow down the field again, and on third down he hits Jaz wide open at the 19yd line, but unlike all the other times, Jaz bobbles it one too many times and is out of bounds. So we have to settle for a field goal. Once again, no fault of the game plan, we were mowing down the field on our way, just fine.
third drive: boom 26 yd. pass to Kenny Stills, we’re at the 50; boom, sweep to Trey Franks and we pick up another 20 or so yards, but he gets flipped and fumbles—Kameel is right there to fall on it, but showing his youth, he tries to pick it up instead and Baylor recovers.
Again the plays were there.
Moving easily from our 26 to the Baylor 33. One of your main criticisms was not enough run plays, but here two run plays go for a total of 6 yards, then we give up a sack on 3rd down. The game plan didn’t call for a sack on 3rd down.
Next drive we go 72 yards for a td.
In each case the game plan did just what you called for it to do, put the team in a great position to score points.
Go Big or Go Home
The Sooners need to play with more consistency on defense, and another thing I noticed is the best players are needing to many breaks during the game, suck it up fellows you are the best pick of the crop when it comes to athletes.
Conditioning the body conditions the mind.(More needed)
Since OU runs the No-Huddle the defense should always be ready for it during a game.
OU defense needs to deliver the blows to other teams like they did against Florida State(Best Defensive Game this year)
All this fire the staff is not the solution to the problems at hand so those statements need not even be spoken because OU takes 3-Star players and turn them into Heisman winners.
OU needs to play on the same level as some of those SEC teams do every week.
Also lets find a way to bring back Mike Stoops who to me was the heart of that defense, and don’t get me wrong but 2 great minds are better than one.
So OU will not be able to play in a National Championship but there are still some other goals that they can set.
Next years team will be great though so after this season (OU Good to Great.)
BOOOOOMER SOOOONERS.
In a weird twist.... The offensive staff over the years has done a good job
Of adjusting to the qb… You know they got a big12 championship with Paul Thompson, without AD most of the year. They go more spread with Sam & the next year go to the no huddle. Playing to sam’s strengths… Heck they played into Bomar’s skills & rode him to an upset of top 5 Oregon…. Why they are trying to run the Sam no huddle with Landry is mind boggling. 3 years later he can’t do it, when the games on the line. Even that throw to stills against of FSU was a crappy throw.
by OU JJ on Nov 21, 2011 7:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions
don't steal my argument ;)
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And I have decided that long ole look to the sidelines....
That usually ends in a run for 2 yards…. I think he takes the “safe option”….
by OU JJ on Nov 21, 2011 8:44 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I think they feel he can do it, because in the exact situation you refer to
with the game on the line, he took the team on two drives of over 70 yards, both of which resulted in tds.
As opposed to the drives that ended in 4& 14 from the 25ish
Where he famously thru into the 53rd row? Or the 1st & 10 inside the 30, that after 2 handoffs to clay he took a sack @ say the 42 & to punt? Or when finch desperately tried to point out the coverage & Landry to a huge sack, for a punt?
2 drives where we scored & 3 where we should have at least got FGs that we GOT NOTHING?!?!? 2 for 5…. You really want that side of the discussion?
by OU JJ on Nov 21, 2011 8:42 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
If you want to change the thrust of your argument, I'll go there, fine, but
what you said was, with the game on the line, he can’t do it. But he did. With the game on the line he drove 70 yards twice—two td’s.
I was referring in general terms to tight games. Games where we need him to step up.
The player who stepped up against Nebraska & osu last year… Hasn’t gotten past that at all. Did he perform or execute enough to beat tech? No. Baylor? No.
It’s not really fair to him to keep trying to run sam’s no huddle. Multiple times Saturday night he should have called a time out, or huddled to get it together….
by OU JJ on Nov 21, 2011 9:21 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Well you're entitled to your opinion,
but I don’t think the issues I’ve seen him have would be solved by running a huddle.
I also see plays that you think are problems differently. For example, if you think the sack he took from an unblocked defender storming up the middle after the two Clay runs was in any way his fault, I think you need to take another look. In a previous game, the pass to DeJuan in the back of the end zone that you criticized was a great throw, right where DeJuan could leap and get it, and just out of the reach of the defenders in front of him. I also don’t think Landry’s play was anywhere near the primary cause for our losses to Tech or Baylor, even though he had a couple of bonehead plays.
Is he perfect? Not nearly. Are there issues? Yes. But in my opinion he doesn’t deserve the “he can’t run the no huddle,” or “he can’t do it when the game is on the line,” cause the games I’ve seen this year, show a different story.
by soonermusic on Nov 21, 2011 10:06 PM CST up reply actions
All fair points.
But it’s not a couple of boneheaded plays its more like a couple of boneheaded drives, especially against tech & mizzou. And yeah not adjusting for an unblocked blocker…. That’s on him to get out of the play or roll out etc.
by OU JJ on Nov 22, 2011 6:50 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
When I look carefully at the play, I see an unblocked rusher, somewhat concealed
from Landry’s perspective who is on him before he could possibly do anything. From the time the ball hit Landry’s hand to the hit was 1.5 secs and way less than that from the time the guy could be seen as unblocked. If you see Landry running around and making a bad decision to eat the ball, i’d agree with you. But that’s not what happens. Here he had no time to react. Someone missed a blocking assignment. You want to blame him for everything, but this one’s not his fault.
Change of Pace
Let Millard run the ball and watch what he can do to opposing defenses.
What he did at K-State was no joke or fluke, and he is the real deal.
With him and Finch OU could have a Thunder and Lightening.
OU will need to play their best athletes these next 2 weeks to guarantee themselves a BCS bowl game.
I have a better idea
Give the ball to Brandon Williams. He destroyed Baylor for the few times he carried the ball. He is a legitimate threat and will help to open up the passing game which, frankly, needs a little help after the loss of Broyles.
We’re absolutely going to have to run the ball to beat OSU. If we’re intent on throwing it 60 times, we’ll lose. We have to find a way to keep their offense off the field some and Williams, along with Finch, can help do that.
And he is huge!
He looks like a man amongst kids….
by OU JJ on Nov 21, 2011 8:44 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
BRANDON. BRANDON,BRANDON
If Finch is nicked up and Clay is still on the mend, why not make Williams the feature back against ISU? Last week I couldn’t sleep and watched some of OUs games from Tulsa to Texas. Clay has some burst, can find creases and catches well out of the backfield- so I am not ready to throw him out of the mix—-he hammered Florida State on that games first drive. I think the kid needs more touches if and when he is healthy.
WIlliams on the other hand, the kid looks like he is just one move or defender away from taking it to the house. Give him 20 carries, play several full series. Any RB recruits that are considering OU could see the field sooner than if they went else where.
"Are you gonna do something or just stand there and bleed?"
this
I am all for BW getting more touches along with Millard. In fact JTE has a formation that could very easily be the ticket, but again who will ever see the masterpiece besides us?
The one thing being a lot older has going for it, most of us older have seen more CFB than most younger people have seen web pages.
From what I've seen, Stoops is as willing, maybe more, than almost any other
coach to put true freshmen in the lineup and give them ample playing time. It’s been speculated about plenty, but I gotta believe he has very real and serious reasons for bringing BW along slowly. When he does put him in, I bet we’re gonna get something amazingly great, though.
I have said it before, the two losses by OU is not all on the defense.
38 points should be good enough to win a football game but not in this conference. There are plenty of teams in the B-Whatever-the-number-is that put up that many points and still lose. It is a fact that OU’s defense has some problem areas but the offenses’ slow starts, wasted drives and lack of coaches to instill a semblance of a ball control game points to the OCC’s. OU has the talent to utilize a ball control offense now but I have a feeling that none of the staff has drawn it up and surely hasn’t practiced it. Maybe the light will come on in Norman but who knows.
I don’t think the no huddle should be shelved but I see no point in using that scheme all game long. Having the ability to use it is great but maybe OU should use the huddle more often, somewhere between 45-60% of time depending on how the game is going.
We’re all talking about the same things, basically a change in philosophy but I prefer to call it ‘strategy’. As bloggers and posters most of our ideas would in fact work but of course the coaching staff doesn’t listen to us.
The one thing being a lot older has going for it, most of us older have seen more CFB than most younger people have seen web pages.
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