Defense is bright spot, forcing 6 turnovers and shutting down the Owls
If there is any takeaway from Oklahoma’s 51-3 win over Temple on Saturday night it was that the defense — which grabbed six Owls turnovers — was everything as billed. But the offense has a ways to go.
“I loved how aggressive and confident our guys were moving around, flying to the ball and being aggressive and knocking the ball loose,” Coach Brent Venables said. “Fantastic job by the defense.”
The Sooners had fumbles recovered by defensive tackle Da’Jon Terry, senior safety Billy Bowman Jr. and junior safety Robert Spears-Jennings.
Concern about the offense, which failed to convert on all but one of 12 third downs and saw starting center Branson Hickman get injured (sprained ankle), was not relieved, despite the offense scoring 44 points.
In addition Jalil Farooq’s season may have come to a quick end when he sustained a broken foot. Coaches later said he would be out at least six to eight weeks.
Farooq’s injury compounded a depth problem at wide receiver. Top returning receiver Nic Anderson was already out for this game and Jayden Gibson suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.
The offense started out good, with QB Jackson Arnold throwing four TDs toward a 34-0 lead in the first half. And Purdue transfer Deion Burks’ ability to get open and catch scoring passes is big time. Burks had three scores at halftime and finished with six catches for 36 yards.
Before the game the conventional wisdom was that the only thing good that could come from the game against serious Temple underdog, was demonstration that the Sooners’ kicking game was in good shape. That happened, with kicker Tyler Keltner hitting field goals of 50, 52 and 24 yards.
Last season OU ranked 78th nationally in field goal percentage, converting 71.43% of its attempts.
Redshirt senior kicker Zach Schmit was 15 of 21 on field goal attempts and 67 of 67 on extra point attempts last season, extending his 124 made extra point streak — the fourth longest in program history.
Schmit continued to do kickoffs for the Sooners against Temple. But Keltner, a redshirt senior, was OU’s place kicker on Friday. In addition to his field goals he was 6 of 6 on extra point attempts.
Arnold went 17-25 for 141 yards and no interceptions. That might end any concern about his ball protection which erupted after his only previous start in the Alamo Bowl. He also ran 11 times for 34 yards — a frequency that may not be ideal, although he showed his speed and skill running with the ball.
“We thought Jackson played really efficiently,” Venables said.
Arnold also showed his kicking ability, booting a 39-yard quick kick (shades of Bud Wilkinson’s Sooners).
Freshman RB Taylor Tatum scampered for 66 yards and one touchdown on just four carries. His best run was a 35-yarder.
But the highlight of the night — other than a spectacular 4th quarter tribute to the late Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith — was the elite defensive play.
The Sooner defense held Temple to just 69 yards rushing and 128 yards passing. The six forced turnovers was the most since 2003. First season defensive coordinator Zac Alley was given a game ball for the way he had prepared the defense, Venables said.
The Sooners’ second team’s offensive line’s inability to control the line of scrimmage against the lesser opponent was troubling.
“I’m not a very patient man… It’s our job to put these guys in a position to succeed.. There’s no doubt in my mind we will continue to help them get better,” offensive coordinator Seth Littrell said.
Venables described the offense as “very vanilla.” He also praised backup center Geirean Hatchett (Washington transfer), who stepped in when Hickman was injured.
Meanwhile, the 1974 and 1975 national championship teams were honored at halftime and former OU defensive great Dewey Selmon was honored for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
(An interesting note: NFL Hall of Fame coach Mike Shanahan, who was an OU assistant in the 1970s, was on the field with the 1974 and 1975 national championship teams.)
NEXT: Oklahoma vs. Houston. 6:45 pm. Sept. 7. Owen Field.
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