Another year, another inexplicable loss. Only this time it’s worse. Much worse. Coming off a bye week. Against Iowa State? At home? And they didn’t even have their starting quarterback? Iowa State beats OU for just the sixth time…
Beleaguered Texas Coach Charlie Strong came up with the perfect formula for defeating No. 10 Oklahoma on Saturday.
First, get a lead. It makes Oklahoma have to score on almost every possession. Second, run the football. It shortens the game and reduces the number of opportunities for the Sooners to make the sort of comeback they managed against Tennessee. And third, blitz and sack QB Baker Mayfield as much as possible.
All three came together Saturday for the unexpected 24-17 win for the Longhorns.
The Longhorns (2-4, 1-2 Big 12) came into the game with the program’s worst start in 59 years. The Sooners (4-1, 1-1) were 10th in the Associated Press poll after a 4-0 start.
“They covered us, they pressured us, they controlled the line of scrimmage. … Did I miss anything?” Bob Stoops said after the game.
That was probably the most disappointing win over Texas I can remember.
I think I have given up on this offense being anything but mediocre. If the coaching staff is not going to run Knight, that is all this offense will be is mediocre.
Knight has big trouble with accuracy and cannot read the defense as a drop back pocket passer. He actually improves on these issues when he rolls out. But they won’t even let him do that. So this is about as good as the offense is going to get.
We have to hope the offensive line can impose it’s will in the run game against eight and nine in the box. Tall order, but that is what we have to hang our hat on.
But the Sooners won the game and that is all that matters each week. You can look terrible on both sides of the ball as long as you win. And did we look terrible.