NORMAN — One among Oklahoma’s largest issues in Saturdays loss to Baylor occurred to be the quick offensive possessions that constantly killed momentum. The Sooners’ empty drives carried plenty of weight.

Clearly, Dillon Gabriel’s three interceptions performed a giant half within the sport’s momentum swings. And naturally there are a lot of various things that go right into a loss like this, together with the abysmal run protection. 

However within the second half, Oklahoma’s offense stalling twice whereas combining for 28 yards between the 2 drives was the nail within the coffin.

“Offensively, we’re hitting our strides after which a pair occasions we simply shot ourselves within the foot,” Marvin Mims mentioned. “I feel that’s the story of the day. Numbers-wise, we’re wanting actual good, however there’s a pair drives we shot ourselves within the foot particularly of their territory, put the protection in unhealthy conditions. However apart from that, offensively we’re taking part in good ball. Simply a few errors.”

Out of halftime, the Bears went on a formidable 10-play 75-yard drive to increase the result in 10. Momentum was slipping and Oklahoma’s offense desperately wanted to generate one thing to provide the protection time to determine it out. Oklahoma’s response spanned three performs for negative-three yards and 1:29 off the clock.

Then, late within the third quarter, Oklahoma’s protection gave the impression to be discovering a groove. After forcing back-to-back punts, the Sooners had the ball trailing 31-28. Eric Grey was discovering success on the bottom, and the offense appeared to be stringing collectively a optimistic drive. 

After a false begin on second-and-short, Oklahoma was all of a sudden confronted with a third-down take a look at the Baylor 46-yard line.

With lower than 10 seconds left within the third quarter, and the sport clock working, the Sooners didn’t have to run a play. As a substitute, Gabriel hurried the offense to the road of scrimmage, and the Sooners hurried a run play to the left facet for just about no achieve. 

Oklahoma had an opportunity to consider the most important play of the sport for an additional tv timeout, however as an alternative, they settled for a deflating punt.

“We didn’t achieve fairly sufficient to go for it,” offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby mentioned. “We needed to have a chance to go pin them. That’s the thought there.”

Baylor marched proper down the sphere on the next possession, and despite the fact that Oklahoma’s offense got here alive late within the fourth quarter, it was too little, too late. The window was missed.

After the buildup of momentum behind two weeks of wins, Oklahoma’s crushing loss felt eerily just like the defeat to Kansas State. 

Alternatives had been missed by the offense when it mattered most, placing the sport within the fingers of the inconsistent defensive unit. Oklahoma’s offense appears to function significantly better with nothing to lose, taking part in catch-up within the closing minutes of the sport.

“We’re going to work at our velocity. After we’re going, we’re one of many quickest offenses within the nation. Coach Lebby harps on it on a regular basis.”

“It simply comes with the preparation. Us working the performs, us figuring out what we’re doing, not second guessing something, us getting lined up, Dillon on the brink of snap the ball. The quicker we play, we all know what we’re doing. Simply getting snug with the playbook. We have now the sport plan. We get it on Monday, undergo it all through that week. The extra we undergo that, the extra we are able to play quicker as an offense.”

Oklahoma’s closing drive towards Baylor took 5:12 off the clock on 14 performs, good for 75 yards and a landing. Towards Kansas State, the Sooners marched 75 yards in 1:23 for a rating. Neither rating ended up mattering, although.

Transferring ahead, Oklahoma must implement urgency and tempo to the offense all through the sport to keep away from deflating drives.