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Dave: Sooners need a game like Maine after second half collapse at Ol’ Miss

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Whether it was the new play caller or a new starting quarterback, the offense finally showed some life
against Ole Miss last Saturday. The offensive line opened holes for Javonte Barnes to have one of the
better games of his career, and Jackson Arnold was efficient, avoided turnovers and threw two
touchdown passes.

Jo Jon Finley’s play calling was more creative and I believe put his players in a better position to make plays. Especially Arnold, who was rolled out several times for passes to compensate for the offensive line’s struggles to protect against the Rebels pass rush.

All in all, it was a pretty good first half that saw the Sooners take a 14-10 lead into the locker room. Unfortunately, there was still a second half to be played.

And whatever worked in the first thirty minutes of the game, failed miserably in the second thirty minutes. Oklahoma was unable to score in the last two quarters and Ole Miss prevailed 26-14.

In my mind, one of a couple of things happened. Our coaching staff failed to adjust to the Rebel’s halftime adjustments. Or they tried to make those adjustments, but just don’t have the personal due to continuing injuries to implement them.

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Sooners make a game of it in Oxford

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This game will go down as an “L” in the win-loss column. But there was something different about it.

The 26-14 loss to Mississippi felt more like the loss on the road at Oxford that we expected pre-season instead of the humiliation we had recently expected (and Vegas predicted, making the Sooners a three-score underdog) after pitiful Sooner performances in October.

For the first time this year, we saw beginner QB Jackson Arnold look like a young quarterback — making some plays to show his talent and failing at some plays to show his inexperience — but, progressing in his development, rather than the young QB regressing into shell shock (which had been the case earlier in the year, resulting in his benching).

“I thought Jackson did a lot of really good things at times,” Coach Brent Venables said of Arnold.

So did the rest of the team. Given recent developments that has had fans in meltdown mode, it was possible this team could have tanked by now. But, their performance against Mississippi showed they have not.

“These guys aren’t going to flinch — I promise you… I think everyone on the outside might assume guys will give up or check out… Not these guys,” Coach Brent Venables said.

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Dave: Offense at generational low, but defense gives Sooners (small) chance

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Last weekend as part of Homecoming at the University of Oklahoma, my college class of 30 years ago
had a reunion.

It was an exciting two days of seeing great friends, reminiscing about times past and
catching up in the present. It was a wonderful and joyous time.

Then we went to the football game…

It’s hard to fathom the depths of how low the Sooner offense has plummeted. Not only are they
struggling to break single digits, but they’re also now giving away points to the other team.

With just over five minutes having gone by in the game, South Carolina was up 21-0. Oklahoma’s first three drives went like this. Interception, fumble with a scoop and score and a pick six. Just like that, Gamecocks by 21 points. And their offense had gained a grand total of 42 yards. Game over.

Michael Hawkins Jr. was overwhelmed by the SC pass rush and replaced by Jackson Arnold after his three turnovers. I probably shouldn’t say his turnovers. The entire offense and offensive coaching staff are on the hook for the disaster we have seen on that side of the ball this season.

Injuries or not, this just can’t happen at the University of Oklahoma. And it has now cost Seth Littrell his job.

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