Oklahoma’s Run Game Could Provide Path to Red River Glory Amidst Quarterback Uncertainty

The quarterback uncertainty in Norman has softened expectations that Oklahoma will discover a Pink River rebound this weekend towards Texas.

Starter Dillon Gabriel exited final week’s contest towards TCU and entered concussion protocol, leaving backup Davis Beville in line to make his first begin for the Sooners.

After coming into within the second quarter, Beville solely accomplished 7-of-16 passes towards the Horned Frogs for 50 yards, an uninspiring efficiency forward of OU’s greatest recreation of the 12 months.

Behind Beville there don’t seem like many solutions, as both Common Booty or Nick Evers would additionally need to make their first begin for the Sooners on the Cotton Bowl, which is usually a recipe for fulfillment in one of the crucial distinctive settings in school soccer.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby could need to lean closely on the run recreation if the Oklahoma offense is to have any type of success Saturday, however there’s current precedent backing that the OU offense can depend on the bottom recreation take residence the Golden Hat.

From 2013-2015, the Texas Longhorns went 2-1 towards the Sooners regardless of coming into as heavy underdogs and getting underwhelming play from the quarterback place.

On all three events, the ‘Horns dominated the sport on the bottom, shortening every contest and much outperforming expectations.

In 2013, the Longhorns rushed the ball 60 occasions for 255 yards en path to a 36-20 embarrassment of the then-No. 12-ranked Sooners.

Johnathan Grey completed the sport with 123 speeding yards and Malcolm Brown ended up with 120 yards, guaranteeing Case McCoy would solely need to throw 21 passes within the upset win.

Texas was even in a position to stand up to a pair of turnovers in 2013, however Blake Bell’s two interceptions leveled the taking part in area, permitting the Longhorns to regulate the sport.

The next 12 months Oklahoma emerged victorious, however not with out one other late rating from Texas.

Brown and Tyrone Swoops led the Longhorn speeding assault, combining for 30 carries within the 31-26 loss.

Issues bought away from Texas when operating again Samaje Perine put the Sooners up 31-13 early within the fourth quarter, forcing Swoops to take to the skies and throw 44 passes. Texas tacked on a pair of late touchdowns to chop the result in 5 factors, however there’s little question the Longhorns would have most popular to proceed to pound the soccer on the bottom had they not fallen behind.

However in 2015, Texas executed that recreation plan to perfection.

The Longhorns jumped out to an early 14-0 lead with Jerrod Heard on the helm, permitting Texas to dictate the sport.

Heard and Swoops mixed to throw 12 complete passes for 55 yards as Texas rushed for 313 yards on 58 carries to take down the No. 10-ranked Sooners and Baker Mayfield.

Each Eric Grey and Jovantae Barnes have showcased loads of expertise out of OU’s backfield this season, and Marcus Main could be one other instrument to assist Lebby and the Oklahoma offensive line take the physicality to Texas on the bottom if Main is wholesome.

The Sooners even have tight ends in Brayden Willis and Daniel Parker who can transfer our bodies off the road of scrimmage in addition to making an impression within the passing recreation.

If Beville is certainly the reply, there will probably be a pathway to transferring the soccer on the bottom. However the Oklahoma offense should take a number of pictures downfield and throughout the center to melt up a Longhorn protection that may undoubtedly stack the field and dare OU to move the ball.

It’ll be as much as Lebby to judge what Beville can do, and scheme up some straightforward completions early to assist the Sooners proceed to maneuver the chains,

“There’s issues that we actually really feel comfy about all (the backup quarterbacks) doing,” Lebby stated on Monday. “And once more, that’s our job, that’s my job, to place these guys in positions of success, and provides ‘em the chance to go make some layups and create some success for themselves and for the unit.”

Crucially, Beville didn’t put the ball in peril towards TCU, even on the threat of taking additional sacks.

Staying in entrance of the chains and caring for the soccer will probably be two issues the offense should do to face an opportunity of stealing the sport from Texas.

“I used to be happy with (Beville) for the way he took care of the ball,” Lebby stated. “He had a chance a few occasions to let one go however did not be ok with it. He takes care of it, which we’ll reside on the correct facet of it. We’ll be aggressive however all the time need to be on the correct facet of that. Him getting reps and the extra he performs, the higher he’ll be.

“… Finally, it is gonna fall on myself to verify whoever’s out there’s put in positions of success. Create layups for guys and…shoot, once more, create a scenario the place we all know what the result goes to be earlier than we name the play.”

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